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Understanding App Development Cost - 5 Important Factors to Consider

Understanding App Development Cost - Most Important Factors to Consider

A robust mobile application that offers impeccable customer experience and escalates revenue, is the dream of every business striving to capture a competitive market. But the cost of developing such an app is never fixed; it varies according to a number of factors.

In this article, we discuss 5 key factors that need to be considered for a better overview of the cost of app development.

  1. Type of App

Applications, basically, are of two types – native and cross-platform. While native apps are built using technologies inherent to a device OS (iOS, Android and Windows), cross-platform apps leverage technologies that can work seamlessly on all platforms.

All in all, developing a native app is expensive because of the truly native experience and superior performance it offers compared to a cross-platform app. However, developing a Progressive Web app is far more cheaper than the two as it is less complex and doesn’t require publishing on app stores.

  1. Complexity of the App

The type of features and functionalities of an app mainly determine its complexity; and so, the more complex the app is, the higher is the cost. 

Most mobile apps have user login, search options, push notifications, customer feedback section, etc. But when features such as geolocation, in-app purchases, media streaming, and the like, are integrated into the app, the overall development cost increases. The same is also true for incorporating innovative features like BLE, chatbots, AR/VR view, etc.

  1. Location of Developers

A business can hire either offshore or onsite app development agency and their hourly rates depend on their working location. 

While regions like North America and Australia offer expensive services, the cost of hiring developers from Asian and Eastern European countries is much cheaper. Hence, if you prefer to stick on to a modest budget, then opt for offshore app development.

  1. API Integrations

Certain applications like on-demand platforms integrate third-party APIs into the software. For example, a food delivery app will require a Google Maps API to accurately locate the address of a customer.

Though customized APIs can be built in-house, most businesses prefer third-party API integrations for apps since it is more economical. However, if you do a proper documentation of your in-house API, then maintenance costs can be reduced.

  1. Publishing on App Stores

Finally, to make your app go live, you need to publish it on an app marketplace where users can download and install it on their smartphones. For this, a nominal price has to be paid.

While publishing on Apple App Store (for iOS) attracts an annual fee of $99, Google Play Store (for Android) is far more affordable with a one-time payment of $25.

Conclusion

The expenses for app design, testing and QA should also be taken into account before finalizing the budget for your app project. Thus, you can always approach the best app development company that builds quality apps at reasonable prices.

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