App Development Cost in 2024: A Detailed Guide

In the rapidly advancing landscape of mobile applications, understanding the intricacies of app development cost is essential for businesses looking to establish their digital presence. Besides, as the demand for apps continues to grow, so does the complexity and variety of factors influencing their development expenses.

Successfully transforming an app idea into a mobile application is about tapping your creativity, selecting the best concept on the basis of market realities, realizing that idea, but most of all, figuring out the cost of app development. App development is a complex process, and creating a successful app can burn a hole in your pocket without proper cost estimation.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty and find out the factors controlling app development costs and the cost of each app using a different platform.

An Overview of Average Mobile App Development Cost Estimate

Whether you are building an Android or iOS app, the cost of app development can vary  based on a number of factors such as app complexity, location, or team size. While the average app development cost for a simple app ranges between $10000 to $150000, some complex apps can cost as much as $300,000. The above cost should be tentative as the custom mobile app development cost depends on factors like app complexity, features, functionalities, development approach, etc. However, still, many business owners get confused and ask themselves, “How much does it cost to make an app?” The formula below can be used to calculate how much it costs to develop an app. Calculate the hours it would take for each development process and multiply it by the hourly rates of various resources.

The formula goes like this:

The Development Cost of Popular Mobile Apps

With the rise in demand for mobile apps such as on-demand and utility-based apps, many businesses have started to investigate mobile app development costs. The cost of developing an app is influenced by its objectives, goals, and services it incorporates. Let’s look at the examples of some widely used applications to understand how much it costs to build an app based on the underlying functionality, complexity, and design required for different types of apps.

Uber

Widely regarded as the leader in ride-hailing, Uber is a ride-sharing app, which connects drivers and riders from around the globe. Uber helps customers request a cab instantly or on a schedule. The request is sent to nearby drivers. The average cost of developing an Uber-like app is between $50000 and $150000 for a single platform.

Snapchat

One of the most downloaded multimedia instant messaging apps, Snapchat, has registered over 300 million active users and is a hit among social media apps. It offers augmented reality via filters and interactive lenses, allowing you to share self-destructible multimedia messages in 10 seconds. Development of the Snapchat-like app costs between $90000 and $100000 for one platform, and if you opt for both iOS and Android, it can cost you $200000.

WhatsApp

With over 2.7 billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is a messaging app that lets users chat via messages, make video/audio calls, make video/audio calls, upload photos and videos, and use other payment options. The average cost of building such an app can range between $50000 and $60000.

Coursera

Coursera is the leader among e-learning apps and is extremely popular among students and teachers due to the number of e-learning features and benefits it offers. It supports distance learning, university degree programs, and skill development programs from across the globe. An average Coursera, like mobile app development, can cost between $76500 and $103000.

Netflix

Undoubtedly, Netflix is the leader among all media streaming platforms. It allows businesses to stream shows and movies and earn based on subscriptions. Building a Netflix-type app can range between $60000 and $200000.

Holafly

Holafly is an eSIM app that allows seamless global connectivity for travelers. The development cost of such an app can be between $30000 and $300000 or more based on the features you select, their complexity, and the development team’s experience.

App Development Price Range

Whether you are planning to develop an Android or an iOS app, the cost of developing an app is subjective. Different factors impact the final quotation. Still, if you want a quick answer, we can provide a general range. Both operating systems have many differences. Android caters to a wide range of manufacturers like Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Nokia, and others.

On the other hand, iOS is exclusive to Apple smartphones. So, how much does it cost to create an app varies depending on your platform choice. If you want to develop an app that features both operating systems, hybrid development is your solution. An iOS app will cost you differently than an Android, cross-platform, and Hybrid app. The details are as follows:

It is essential to know about what each of the above applications means. Read on to unwrap them.

Cost of developing an iOS app

iOS apps are developed for the iPhone operating system and are intended to interact natively with the core components of iPhone devices. Developers use Swift and XCode for iOS app development. They seldom use Objective-C now, except for legacy apps that are still popular and cannot be modernized. Its cost can be between $75000 and $500000 and depends upon the intricacy and complexity of your idea plus the tools your hired or in-house team will be using.

Cost of developing an Android App

Android apps support Google’s Android operating system natively. They interact with OS components to guarantee the users the best user experience. Developers might use Kotlin or Java. The cost ranges between $70000 and $500000 based on the app’s complexity, compliance laws, and other factors.

Cost of developing Cross Platform Apps

Cross-platform mobile leverages a single codebase to run on Android as well as iOS devices. The app can be created using Flutter, React Native, Ionic, or MAUI. Development can cost between $90000 and $700000. Apart from the OS type, the app development cost depends on the region the development team is working in or their location.

Cost of Developing a Hybrid App

Hybrid apps use native app development and web technologies. They work equally well on web browsers and native iOS and Android devices. Such an app can cost you anywhere between $10,000 and $200,000. 

Cost of Developing a Web App Web apps are built using CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. They work well on desktops, smartphones, tablets, and iPads via mobile web browsers. A typical app costs between $15,000 and $50,000.

App Development Cost Benchmark

When it comes to developing an app, measuring and comparing your project costs with those of similar projects or organizations in your industry or sector is vital. While various types of apps based on technology have already been discussed, let’s discuss multiple common types based on their functionality and check their industry benchmarks.

App Development Cost Calculators

Having a ballpark for how much different stages of mobile application development may cost is what allows businesses to allocate appropriately the venture capital they raise along the whole cycle of mobile app development. App development companies created multiple online calculators to help businesses find the cost of app development, but we will highlight only the most popular ones. Below are four of them:

1. Cleveroad calculator

Developed by Cleveroad, the calculator can provide a good estimate for your app development project. It will ask you 10+ questions related to existing apps and app development requirements from scratch. Based on the answers you provide, the calculator will let you know the final estimated cost of app development.

2. Inoxoft calculator

Inoxoft calculator helps you calculate the cost of both desktop and mobile apps. It can give you an estimate of each step of app development. Moreover, if you have certain specific requirements, then you can mention them as well, and the Inoxoft calculator will let you know the final cost estimate of your dream app. 

3. Estimate My App

Estimate My App is another app cost calculator that, merely with your estimate details relevant to your app, can provide the cost of app development, which will let you plan your project with the future in mind. The Estimate My App calculator has all the filters on one single page. You are just required to state your estimates for each filter, and the calculator will calculate and let you know the final cost of your app development project.

4. Litslink

Listlink is yet another popular app development cost calculator. It will ask you around 27 questions in 7 steps, and you are required to provide your input. The calculator will then provide you with a summary of all your inputs. As you approve, the calculator will provide you with the final estimate for your app development project.

Cost of Hiring App Developer

If you want to release an app, you need to build it. To do that, most businesses hire a team of developers, which raises the question of what the cost of hiring an app developer is. Different experts will let you know different figures, and sometimes very drastically.

According to Clutch, most app developers charge in the range $25 – $150 per hour. The marketplace also mentions the average cost of mobile development projects, which ranges from $10,000 to $50,000. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your app’s cost will fall within that range.

Let’s find out:

Based in Countries

Based on Experience Level

Based on the Development Type

App Maintenance Cost

While the industry norm confirms maintenance costs to be about 15% to 20% of the original development costs, it generally depends on a number of factors. There are four categories of expenses associated with mobile app maintenance, as follows:

1. Hosting Fees

Hosting fees can range from $70 to $320 monthly, based on the size as well as the complexity of the app. If your app is simple and does not require user logins or databases, you can buy a basic shared hosting plan. 

However, if your app has more complex features, such as user login or an eCommerce component, you must pay more for dedicated or VPS hosting. 

2.  Updates and New Features

In the future, you will want to add or update new features. Usually, the cost of updating an app depends on the hourly rates of app developers. 

3. Support

Once your app is live, customer support will be a must-have. The cost of customer support depends on the number of customer service representatives you require and the number of hours. Customer support representatives can charge between $15 and $19 per hour, so again, the total cost will be based on the project’s scope. 

4. App Store Fees

Publishing your app is one of the essential moments for every app owner. Therefore, it’s important to know the steps and the charges associated with it. For a developer account, you must pay an annual listing fee of $99 for Apple or a one-time fee of $25 for Google. In addition, both charge a 30% cut of all in-app purchases made through their platforms, with some exceptions. 

Not only for maintaining a successful mobile app, you need to invest both time and money into its upkeep. If you lack an in-house team, you can outsource app development and get expert help to maintain your app.

Factors That Impact the Cost of Your Mobile App Development 

The ultimate cost of mobile app development depends upon several factors. Whether it is the mobile app’s complexity, features, or functionality, all influence the final cost of the mobile app development. Read on to find out the details with estimates for those which are most common.

Mobile app complexity

Some of the major factors that you need to take into account while estimating the cost of a basic app are basic user features like login option, profile creation, limited administration, and profile facility, while the moderately complex app requires features like app monetization, user engagement, social media integration, user privacy, audio/video streaming, payment gateway, etc. A complex app requires using the latest technologies like AR/VR, AI, and machine learning. Some other features of complex apps are multi-language support and high-end data. A simple app costs between $5,000 – $50,000. The cost of a medium-complex app is $50,000- $120,000. A complex app can cost $100,000 to $300,000 and above.

To sum up, the cost of the app based on complexity is as follows:

App features and functionalities

In addition to app complexity, the app’s features and functionalities also play an essential role in deciding app cost. Each new feature increases the app development cost. Hence, for mobile app development, it’s always advisable to work only on the core features for the initial version, as it will offer a great customer experience at the least cost. The best option is to develop an MVP with basic features. The MVP helps gain customer feedback with the least money and saves time.

Let’s research the app development cost and the time required for basic features.

For Complex features 

App Category

There is no denying that the cost of creating a mobile app varies based on its category. Many things change with the change in category, like functionalities, the number of users, etc., which can increase or decrease the cost of app development. Security features also change as the app category changes, expanding the app development cost.

Let’s have a quick look at the leading categories when it comes to mobile app development.

E-commerce apps—Revolutionized by Amazon, E-commerce applications are top-rated as they come with loads of features and perform their best in real-time. Numerous features help them ensure the best performance in real-time while handling millions of customers in parallel with solid security features.

Social Networking apps—Social media apps require third-party integrations to access hardware functions like audio, video camera, phone sensors, etc. They also need infinite support to simultaneously support millions to even billions of users. These are the main reasons why social media apps can cost more than other category-based apps.

On-demand apps—On-demand apps can have multiple users, like the Uber app, which has users, drivers, and the business as the user. It’s a web or mobile solution that can help users immediately receive or schedule services or instantly buy products from a specific company. It can also compare deals from numerous on-demand providers to help users select the best options. 

Hardware-dependent apps—IoT-based applications depend highly on hardware devices and sensors as they extract data from them. Several IoT-based apps are used in the automobile industry.

Below are the estimates of iOS app development costs based on their category:

App design & animation

When creating a mobile app, the app design as well as animation can significantly affect the cost. They ensure the best user experience for your app users, which lures them to invest more time in your app.

App design can comprise a standard UI or a customized UI. Customized UIs will undoubtedly require more hours and are expensive. However, they can significantly increase the conversion rate by 30%. Wireframes and animation also play a pivotal role in deciding app development costs.

Let’s have a rough design-based mobile application development cost breakdown based on complexity, location, and team type.

Based on Complexity

Based on Location

Based on Team Type

App design cost is evaluated based on several parameters, including the complexity, features, and time needed to create the application. However, there is yet to be a definite answer to how much it costs to design an app; comprehending the factors will help you get a better idea. If you are looking for an accurate figure on how much app design costs, consult the APPWRK team.

App maintenance

Let’s face it, the difference between successful and unsuccessful apps is not only in how they’re built but also in how they’re maintained. To maintain a mobile app, you have to consider several factors ranging from server and notification costs to emergency maintenance costs. The app maintenance cost varies depending on a number of factors, which are mentioned below.

Code reuse

Did you know that reusing existing code can reduce app development costs by 20-30% compared to developing an app entirely from scratch? The development cost will always be low when businesses reuse the existing app and change the branding elements. However, it’s advisable to reuse the login and contact elements and build others from scratch to ensure a separate brand identity. Code reuse, however, can reduce the app development cost by 20 to 30 %.

Size and location of the development team

Without a doubt, a crucial factor that you need to take into account when building a mobile app is the size and location of the development team.

Here’s a cost briefing based on the size and locations:

An app development team for various project durations can cost as below:

Bug fixing and updates

Regular maintenance keeps your app flawless and free from glitches as well as performance issues. Moreover, with updates in technologies, hackers too update their strategies. You must apply security updates and required patches to combat potential vulnerabilities. This will help you build user trust, protect data, and avoid illegal access. However, they come at a cost. For a simple bug fix, you will pay around $50. On the other hand, for a significant functional aspect, you would be spending around $1000 – $2000, as it will take 2 – 3 weeks to resolve these issues.

Performance monitoring

Over time, mobile apps degrade in performance. This can be due to increased data usage, changes in user behavior, or updates to the underlying technology. Businesses must opt for maintenance for performance optimization. They must identify and address bottlenecks. Such maintenance also requires optimizing code and improving program speed and responsiveness. The total cost can be as low as $25,000 or as high as $50,000. While an app with a few features (or MVP) will cost less, an app that includes all intended functionality will undoubtedly cost more when it comes to performance monitoring.

Platform updates

Both iOS and Android require annual updates. Businesses, hence, require app developers to adjust their code to comply with the new update. The annual cost estimate for platform updates can be between $5,000 and $30,000.

Server and backend maintenance

Server and backend maintenance involves a wide variety of tasks, ranging from managing server infrastructure to maintaining databases while also ensuring secure data storage and transmission. Businesses can anticipate the annual cost of Server and backend maintenance falling between $5,000 and $25,000.

User support and feedback

This comprises several tasks, like providing customer support, analyzing user feedback, and ensuring necessary updates. Annually, such platform updates can cost between $2,000 and $10,000.

Design and UX / UI updates

Several UX/UI  updates, like redesigning elements, implementing new UI trends, or enhancing user engagement, can cost between $5,000 and $25,000 annually.

Licenses and subscriptions

The mobile app licensing cost varies depending on the type of application. On average, it may cost $96,000 for 40 devices. Both downloads and the number of devices affect this cost. The marketing cost of an iOS app is, on average, $3.6 per app install, and for Android, it can be $1.22.
Also read: Mobile App Development Cost UAE: How Much Does it Cost to Make an App?

Hidden Factors Impacting Development Cost of Mobile App

While creating your own mobile app is a thrilling project that takes your ideas out of the lab and in front of people, many app owners make the mistake of not considering the full price tag of bringing an app to life, neglecting the numerous expenses that come after its initial creation. These “hidden expenses of application development” can quickly add up, leading to an increase in the overall cost. Read on to learn more about each of them.

Quality assurance

Businesses require hiring quality assurance agents if the app is small and a project manager if it is large. A business analyst is also needed to help reduce the development cost and fit it into the budget. They understand all the nitty-gritty of the app development project and will manage work more efficiently. Both testers and the business analyst play a significant role in quality assurance. The project manager helps manage the work.

Infrastructure costs

App development also requires paying for data storage, app hosting, and data delivery, which are the infrastructure costs that will influence the project cost and complexity. Some mobile app infrastructure cost items are servers, data storage, development libraries, and tools.

IT support costs

It goes without saying that IT support services and a technical support team are essential for the app’s success. However, support costs might increase with time. Some IT support services are iOS and Android updates, API maintenance, and bug fixes.

App publishing costs

Both Google Play and Apple App Stores charge an upfront annual fee for App publishing. Google bills $25 as a one-time fee to release an app successfully. At the same time, you must pay a yearly fee of $99 to release an app on the Apple App Store. Moreover, if you are distributing an app exclusively within your organization, you must sign up for the Apple Developer Enterprise program, which costs $299 annually in the App Store. The Google Play Store does not charge for such service.

App Security

App security is one of, if not the most, essential factors when deciding the app development cost. If a business plans for app security from the start, it will cost less to them. However, if it fails to do so, app security will cost businesses more. 
Also Read: Step-by-Step Process to Submit an App to the App Store Using App Store Connect

Step-by-Step Mobile App Development Process to Get Started 

Over the years, mobile app development has become immensely popular. With such a high demand for mobile apps across all industries, many business owners are looking to create their own applications.

However, creating a high-quality mobile app is no small feat, as it requires a well-thought-out process that can be challenging for those unfamiliar with app development processes.

Research the target market

When it comes to developing an application, make sure you research and find details about your target market. By researching the target market, you will understand how customers interact with the brand, who the leading players are, and much more. Furthermore, you should read reviews of various relevant apps to help them develop a better product.

Choose the right platform

Businesses can choose platforms like iOS and Android or cross-platform options. However, if your company is a startup with a limited budget, you should start with one platform. Later, if you succeed, you can choose multiple platforms.

Hire an app development company

Hiring an excellent mobile application development company will ensure your app has all the latest and trending features and functionalities. They will also ensure that businesses meet the deadlines per their goals and objectives. They can also provide businesses with valuable recommendations. They will also leverage the company with their expertise and latest technologies.

Build MVP

While a successful app has a long list of features and functionalities, businesses should always first target the development of a minimal viable product (MVP). MVP will help get the required user feedback, which can help enterprises further improve their app and save time in developing the final version with all possible features and functionalities.

Test your app

It should be ensured that test cases are written at the start and the app tested at each stage once the designing starts, followed by development. This will not only save money but also allow businesses to launch apps in the least time, as the testing will be complete by the time development work finishes.

Submit app to stores

Once the app is developed and tested, it can be published in an app store. The two most popular app stores are Apple and Google Play app stores.

Launch and track performance

After the app is published, businesses can use mobile analytics tools to track the app’s performance regularly. Bug fixing, regular updates, and patching can ensure the best app performance, eventually increasing customer engagement.

That’s the standard app development process. When a business hires a mobile application development company, they will handle the entire process, and businesses can suggest their recommendations to the development team throughout the process.

Also read: What is the Process of Mobile App Development?

App Development Cost As Per Various Stages

Let’s face it, developing a successful mobile app is more complex than it looks like. It requires a well-planned and executed app development process, which primarily includes five major stages: Planning, Designing, Development, Testing, as well as Deployment. Furthermore, each stage is mandatory and contributes to the overall success of the app. Each stage is a must and influences the overall success of the app.

Each stage has its own goals and objectives, which are different in terms of the cost chunk of the total app development cost. Let’s give more insights about each stage.

How Do Apps Make Money?

With millions of apps distributed worldwide (and growing), using the right strategy for monetizing your app is vital. While not every app is meant to make money, even the simplest apps can have a few effective monetization strategies up their sleeves. Whether it’s showing a small banner ad in a free calculator app or offering paid subscription tiers for an advanced health monitoring app, there are plenty of ways for apps to make money. Let’s discuss some of the most used revenue channels for apps that you can use to earn more revenue from the app.

Advertising

This is the most popular app monetization method, where the app owners promote third-party business products or services via their app for a certain amount. The popularity of the apps decides how much the app owner can charge from the third-party companies for whom they are advertising.

Freemium

The freemium model is an app monetization strategy where app users access certain basic features without paying a fee and premium features at a cost. The freemium model works well for internet-based enterprises with small customer acquisition costs, but more lifetime value.

Subscription

App owners can also opt for a subscription model, in which users subscribe to access the app’s most popular features. The subscription can be monthly, annually, or for two more years, as the app owner wants. Both Google and Apple platforms allow users to manage their subscriptions through them.

Sponsorship

An app owner can also look for sponsors in their app niche to whom they can offer a compensation plan. In return for the compensation, the owner can show the sponsors’ brand on their app or promote their product through the app.

How to Reduce Your Mobile App Development Cost?

It goes without saying that application development is costly—especially if you do not know how to go about it frugally and efficiently. Even though the cost of app development cannot be slashed 50%, there are a number of ways you can reduce it enough to make it affordable. Listed below are some of the methods to reduce the cost of app development.

Prioritize Features Early On

One of the best ways to reduce app development costs is to prioritize the features that help drive business values in the least time. Hence, it is always cost-saving for firms if they first opt to develop an MVP or minimal viable product.

Involve the Quality Assurance Team Early On

If you start mobile app testing early from the design phase, it can save you a fortune, as it prevents the loss that can otherwise occur if the app is found after the launch. Moreover, if the testing is done from the start, it’s always possible to end up with a fully tested app by the time the development process is completed. This saves a lot of time and, hence, money.

Plan for the Future

It’s always good for businesses to have their future goals and objectives in mind during any stage of development. All steps should be planned so that the plan remains sustainable even in the future, which can prevent businesses from achieving their goals later.

In-house or Outsourcing

Businesses need to decide at the start of their team type for app development whether they should have an in-house team or outsource the app development work to any experienced mobile application development team. An IT consulting firm can provide more options for choosing the best talent. It also helps businesses to cut down office expenses and equipment costs.

Consider Cross-Platform Development.

Businesses constantly face a dilemma when deciding whether to build an application for Android, iOS, or both. However, opting for a cross-platform app that works on both platforms is always a good idea. Thus, businesses can serve customers from both platforms. 

Also read: Mobile App Development Cost-Saving Tips

How will APPWRK make the Mobile App Development Cost Effective?

Whether you are a small or mid-sized firm or an old enterprise refreshing your digital presence, with our experience and expertise, APPWRK IT Solutions can help you develop an app at a price that’ll fit right into your budget. We develop Native Apps in iOS and Android as well as cross-platform apps using the latest versions of app development frameworks. Our applications are designed to execute flawlessly on all mobile devices. This includes Apple and Android devices like iPhones and iPads. Contact us now to turn your idea into a mobile application.

FAQs on Mobile App Development Costs

Q. How much does it cost to make a mobile application?

The cost of developing a mobile app is influenced by several factors, such as app complexity, category, design and animation, app platform, maintenance, code reuse, and the size and location of the development team. You must consider each factor to determine the cost of making an app. It’s not wise to list certain app costs, but reading our article to understand the cost of making an app would be good.

Q. How much does it cost to maintain an app?

Once an app is launched, your real work starts. You must maintain push notifications, servers, and payment gateways, look out for emergency maintenance, and pay the developer fee for the app store. However, this is not an all-inclusive list, and several other requirements are also there, like regular updates and patching as security measures and continuous monitoring of the app in a live environment. However, the app development company you hire might provide you with all these services at a specific cost, or they will recommend you some third-party services for maintenance services.

Q. How long does it take to build an app?

It depends upon several factors, such as app size, complexity, platform, code reuse, and the size and experience of the team you hire, which decide how long it will take to build an app.

Q. What are the factors that affect the overall app development costs?

The cost of developing a mobile application is based on factors such as app complexity, category, design and animation, app platform, maintenance, code reuse, and the size and location of the development team.