Mobile app development is becoming increasingly complex and costly as technology advances in this day and age.
In 2023, mobile app development is expected to cost even more than it does today due to a variety of factors.
To know the reason why, it is important to understand the various components that affect the cost of mobile app development.
These include the complexity of the app, the number of features, the platform (iOS, Android, etc.), the development team and the app design.
Each of these factors can have a major impact on the cost of developing a mobile app.
For example, developing a simple app with a few features will be less expensive than a more complex app with many features.
Similarly, developing an app for multiple platforms (iOS and Android, for example) will be more expensive than developing an app just for one platform.
The development team and app design also have a major effect on the cost of mobile app development.
Experienced developers and designers with the right skills and expertise can add significant value to an app, but they come at a price.
Let us understand these reasons one by one.
Mobile App Development Cost Breakdown
There are multiple factors that come into play when deciding the mobile app development cost.
WDI has compiled the major determinants of mobile app development cost for you so that you can get a rough estimate of how much your app will cost to develop.
1: Mobile App Complexity
App complexity can have a significant impact on the cost of mobile app development. As apps become more complex, they require more development time and resources to create. This can lead to higher development costs and can make the development process longer and more expensive.
The complexity of an app is determined by many factors, including the number of features and functions, the number of platforms and devices supported, and the types of technologies used.
The more complex an app is, the more time, resources, and money it will require to develop.
For instance, an app with a single feature may require a few weeks of development, while an app with multiple features, like a game or a social networking app, may require months or years of development.
Similarly, an app that supports a few platforms may be less expensive than an app that supports multiple platforms and devices.
The technologies used to create an app, such as cloud-based solutions, analytics, and machine learning, will also add to the complexity and cost.
In addition, the complexity of an app affects the maintenance and support costs.
As an app becomes more complex, it will require more maintenance and support over time, which can add to the overall cost of the project.
Overall, app complexity has a direct impact on the cost of mobile app development.
As apps become more complex, they require more time and resources to develop, and this can lead to higher costs and longer development times.
Organizations should consider the complexity of an app before beginning the development process to ensure they are prepared to cover the costs associated with development.
Here is a rough estimation of mobile app development cost based on app complexity.
| App Complexity | Features | Mobile App Development Cost |
| Simple App | Contains basic pages like login, dashboards, etc. | $20,000 – $70,000 |
| Complex App | Contains e-commerce, payment options, video playback, etc and the app can use the device’s features like GPS, camera, microphone, etc. | $40,000 – $140,000 |
| Advanced App | Contains features like augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and multi-language support. | $60,000 – $500,000 |
2: Features & Functionalities
Mobile app development costs are determined by a variety of factors, but the most impactful is likely the number and complexity of features and functionalities chosen for the app.
This is because the more complex the app, the more time and resources it will take to develop, test, and deploy it.
The cost of developing a mobile app increases as the number of features and functionalities increases. This is because the development team needs to spend more time and resources to ensure that the app works properly with all the features and functionalities.
This includes researching, designing, coding, and testing the app, as well as any necessary updates or adjustments over the course of the development process.
If a feature or functionality is particularly complex, the development team may need to allocate additional resources to ensure that the app meets the requirements.
For example, an app with a complicated user interface may require additional coding and testing time to ensure that the interface works correctly and is easy to use.
Additionally, if the app requires features such as a back-end infrastructure, push notifications, or data synchronization, additional resources will be needed to ensure that the app functions properly.
The cost of developing a mobile app also increases if the app requires specialized hardware or software.
For example, if the app requires the use of a specific type of device, the development team may need to purchase equipment and software in order to test the app.
The same is true for apps that require access to third-party APIs or other online services.
Finally, the cost of developing a mobile app increases if the development team needs to make changes or adjustments to the app after it has been deployed.
This often happens as the app is being used in the wild and user feedback is gathered.
Changes and adjustments can be costly as they may require additional coding and testing time.
This table will give you an idea of how much a particular feature will cost to implement along with the time it will take to develop.
| Feature | Time To Develop (In Hrs) | Mobile App Development Cost |
| Login | 30-40 | $1000 – $2000 |
| User Profile | 20-30 | $1,000 |
| Profile Editing | 40-60 | $2,000 |
| Search Functionality | 10-20 | $500-$1,000 |
| Push Notifications | 25-35 | $1,000-$1500 |
| File Upload | 20-30 | $1,000 |
| Admin Panel | 60-100 | $4,000 – $5,000 |
| Audio/Video Streaming | 100-150 | $4,000 – $6,000 |
| Map | 70-130 | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| Payments | 60-80 | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| Communication Tools | 200-400 | $10,000 – $20,000 |
In summary, the cost of developing a mobile app increases as the number and complexity of features and functionalities increase.
This includes the time and resources needed to research, design, code, and test the app, as well as any necessary updates or adjustments over the course of the development process.
Additionally, specialized hardware and software and changes or adjustments after the app is deployed can also add to the development cost.
3: Time Required For Development
Time is one of the biggest factors that determine the mobile app development cost.
Mobile app development companies have to pay their mobile app developers on a monthly basis and not for the features they develop.
Most mobile app development companies will give you their price quote based on the number of weeks the app requires to develop.
As mentioned in the previous points, the complexity of the mobile app is also a contributing factor. Complex features require more time to develop and this increases the mobile app development cost.
A simple app can be developed within a matter of weeks while a complex app can take months to even years to develop.
It is also important to be aware of the cost of additional features. Additional features may require extra development time, which will increase the cost.
For example, if the app requires additional security measures or a payment system, then the development time will likely take longer and cost more.
In summary, development time is a major factor that influences the cost of mobile app development.
The longer the development time, the more expensive the development cost.
It is important to consider the development time and cost when developing an app and be aware of the additional costs associated with additional features.
4: Mobile App Type
Mobile app development costs vary depending on the type of app chosen by the developer. Different types of apps have different complexities and capabilities, and each type has a different cost associated with it.
Progressive Web App (PWA)
PWAs are the least expensive type of mobile app to develop. PWAs are essentially websites that are designed to look and feel like native mobile apps, and can be accessed and used on most web browsers.
The cost of developing a PWA is typically lower than developing a native app since there is no need for additional development for different operating systems.
Native App
Native apps are the most expensive type of mobile app to develop.
Native apps are designed specifically for a particular mobile operating system, such as iOS or Android, and must be developed separately for each.
Native apps provide the best performance, as they are built specifically for the device they are running on, but the cost of developing a native app also reflects this complexity.
Flutter App
Flutter apps are a relatively new type of mobile app and are becoming increasingly popular.
Flutter apps are built with the Flutter SDK, which is an open-source mobile app development framework.
Flutter apps are typically less expensive than native apps, but more expensive than PWAs.
React Native App
React Native apps are built using the React Native framework, which is a JavaScript library for mobile app development.
React Native apps are often less expensive than native apps and provide a range of features such as cross-platform compatibility.
Hybrid App
Finally, hybrid apps are a combination of web and native apps.
Hybrid apps are typically less expensive than native apps and can provide some of the same features and capabilities.
However, hybrid apps can sometimes be more difficult to maintain and update, and the cost of developing them can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the app.
| Mobile App Type | Mobile App Development Cost |
| PWA | $20,000 – $60,000 |
| Native App | $20,000 – $100,000 |
| Flutter App | $20,000 – $80,000 |
| React Native App | $20,000 – $100,000 |
| Hybrid App | $20,000 – $80,000 |
Overall, the cost of developing a mobile app depends greatly on the type of app chosen. It is important to consider the features and capabilities of each type of app to determine which type of app is best suited to meet the needs of the project.
5: App Maintenance
Mobile app maintenance is an important aspect of the app development process that often gets overlooked.
It is the process of actively monitoring, maintaining, and updating an app to ensure that it is running smoothly and providing a good user experience.
App maintenance is essential for any app, as it helps to minimize user frustration and maintain a positive user experience.
The cost of app maintenance is often underestimated, and it can be a significant portion of the total cost of an app’s development.
Depending on the complexity of the app and the number of updates required, the cost of app maintenance can range from just a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars per month.
App maintenance is important for a variety of reasons.
It helps to ensure that the app meets the latest standards of usability and security, as well as keeps the app up to date with the latest features and bug fixes.
Additionally, regular app maintenance helps to prevent any potential issues that may arise as a result of an outdated app.
App maintenance is also important for maintaining the integrity of an app.
If an app is not properly maintained, it may not be compatible with the latest devices and operating systems.
This could cause the app to malfunction or become unusable, resulting in a decrease in user engagement and a decrease in revenue.
Furthermore, app maintenance is necessary to ensure that the app is able to keep up with the latest trends and technology.
As technology advances, users expect apps to evolve and remain up to date. If an app fails to do so, users may become frustrated and begin to look for alternative apps.
In short, mobile app maintenance is essential for any app and is an important factor to consider when budgeting for app development.
It is important to invest in regular app maintenance in order to ensure that the app remains functional and accessible, as well as to provide the best user experience possible.
6: Platform
Mobile app development cost depends on the platform chosen for its development.
Each platform has its own set of development tools, technologies, and programming languages, which can affect the overall cost.
For example, developing an app for iOS typically costs more than developing an app for Android, because iOS apps typically require more code and must be optimized to run on Apple’s proprietary hardware.
Apple requires developers to use the XCode development tool and the Swift programming language, both of which are more expensive than the tools and languages used for Android development.
Android app development, on the other hand, typically requires less code than iOS development, and the development tools and programming languages are typically cheaper.
However, Android app development usually requires more customization than iOS development, which can lead to higher costs.
Android apps must be optimized for a wide range of devices, with different screen sizes and resolutions. This means more testing, which can add to the overall cost.
Conclusion
So, these were the factors that contribute to the mobile app development cost. It is hard to determine an exact number but you can get a rough idea by analyzing these factors.
The best thing you can do is contact the mobile app developers and get a price quote.
With an incoming recession and the post pandemic effect, mobile app development cost will rise in 2023 and even more in 2024. This is why there is no better time than now to develop a mobile app and get your business started.
If you want WDI to develop your mobile app, contact us.
With many years of experience in mobile app development, we guarantee nothing but excellence. Contact us and get your price quote.
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