Today, many companies have their own app for various reasons: either to access content they publish, their catalog, or to facilitate purchases in their online stores. An app that facilitates user access to a product or service is an opportunity that many cannot and should not miss. Making the decision to design and develop an app is simple. But to make the decision it is also necessary to know how much it costs to create an app.
The answer to this question is not simple. And it may sound cliché, but it depends, that’s the reality. It depends on the features we want it to have, the degree of complexity involved in its development, or the time frame in which we want to complete it, among other factors. As a result, developing an app can cost between $1,000 and $200,000. Or even more. If the app is simple and does not require, for example, the use of the positioning system, its price will not go much beyond $1,000 or $2,000. But as soon as it is necessary to use other elements and complements, let alone if it is for the development of an online store, its price can go up dizzyingly.
How much does it cost to create an app: everything counts
For app developers to draw up a budget for creating an app, it is not only the factors mentioned above that must be taken into account. There are a multitude of factors that influence its cost. Even the operating system for which it is developed. Therefore, first of all, to know how much it costs to create an app you must be clear about everything you want it to do. And then see if the budget you plan to allocate to it is sufficient or not. Therefore, the first step to take is to decide who is going to develop the app. In the case of large companies, the cost of the application may be lower if they already have a department in charge of software development internally.
In these cases, it may be enough to hire two or three expert developers who can support the professionals already working in that department. Even less if the app is not very complex. The cost of the app, therefore, would be equivalent to the salaries of the developers during the development time. Afterwards, the developer(s) may want to remain on staff to perform maintenance tasks, add new features or even develop other apps.
However, in most cases what is usually done is to hire the services of app developers or external specialized companies, with professionals trained in app development. Therefore, the first thing to do is to meet with them to discuss what is expected from the app. Only then, after analyzing its functions, degree of complexity and other points, will it be possible to assess how many developers will need to be employed, how long the development is expected to take and other factors necessary to draw up a budget and know how much it will cost to create an app.
Define the budget knowing the details
If the application is more complex, it is logical to think that its development will take more time. And more developers and designers will have to work on it. Therefore, it will be more expensive. Before even drawing up a budget, the company or developer who will be in charge of the project must know all the details of the project. He has to know exactly what the company wants to be able to do with the app, what is going to be accessed with it, if it will include a store, if it will interact with other tools, etc.
With all this, the future developers already have the basis to prepare a budget. It is advisable to contact several development teams or companies so that they can present you with a budget for the app. When you receive the budgets you will surely see significant variations between them. Mostly because each company sets their rates as they see fit, depending on several factors. Among them, their prestige, relevance, experience, knowledge of their professionals, or size of their staff.
App design: everything matters
The development of an app has a lot to do with its future functions and the steps to be taken to develop them. But the price will also be influenced by the design of its interface. That is, what users see in the app and the screens they use to interact with it. This is therefore an aspect where you should not skimp on costs.
But this also depends on its functions, so you have to be careful with the adjustments in case you want to cut costs. You have to balance the cuts so that the app does not run out of attractive content, and that its interface is not only functional, but also attractive.
How much does it cost to create an app: for how many platforms?
Currently, it is usual to develop it for both Android and iOS. However, if you want to adjust the budget, and depending on the target audience and the type of terminal they mostly have, you can choose to develop it for one, at first, and later, depending on budget and success, for the other.
But in the development of apps for one or the other platform you not only have to consider the operating system. You also have to take into account that each version of these systems has its own particularities. Therefore, the development has to take into account that the app, as well as its subsequent updates, must be compatible with different versions of each system. Therefore, if universal version compatibility is required, the cost of the app will also be higher. To reduce it, you can choose to develop an app for the last two or three versions, apart from the current one, in the case of Android. And in iOS, for the current and the previous one.
In short, knowing how much it costs to create an app depends on many factors. Only if you agree with the developers about its functions and design, they will be able to give you an estimate so that you know the total cost.
