Quick Summary:
Are you looking for ways to reduce mobile app development costs? Read the blog to learn how to optimize your development budget.
Mobile App Development is expensive. Also, the most crucial concerns entrepreneurs, especially startups on low budgets, undergo.
Business owners often find ways to reduce app development costs, yet no one wants to compromise on the quality. And that’s the right approach.
Is it possible to build a top-notch mobile app on a limited budget?
Yes, certainly it is.
But before moving to that, it is important to know the factors contributing to the app development cost. It helps identify the factors that surge the development cost and the alternatives to control it.
Why Does It Cost So Much to Create a Mobile App?
The cost of developing an application depends on many factors, many of which can lead to higher app development costs.
One of the biggest contributors to the cost is the fee and location of the development team. Hiring an in-house team will surely surge the cost.
Another major factor can be the complexity of your app. The more complex the design & features it will have, the higher the cost. To add more functionalities, you need third-party integrations that add to the cost.
So, let us learn about the various factors that affect app development costs.
Factors Affecting App Development Cost
The Type and size of the application
What type of app do you want to build? The cost of app development depends on its size and type. Based on size, mobile apps can be divided into three categories: small, medium, and large.
- Small apps have limited functionalities and standard UI components and are limited to a single platform. They don’t require API integrations and backend development, such as a weather application.
- Moderate apps have simple but custom UIs and support API integrations. They can be for single or multiple platforms, such as the Apple TV app.
- Large or complex apps require backend development to manage databases. They offer a variety of features, including multi-language support, third-party integrations, professional design, custom animations, etc. Examples include Uber and Swiggy.
These are the different types of mobile applications-
- Simple functionality mobile apps
- Native mobile apps
- Mobile gaming apps
- Hybrid mobile apps
- Database-driven mobile apps
As we said earlier, the more complex the app is, the more the cost will be.
App Platform- Which platform is the startup targeting—iOS, Android, or both? The cost of building an Android app is almost similar to that of an iOS app. However, there is a misconception that iOS app development costs are higher than Android’s.
Hybrid or Native- When we talk of the development platform, the natural question arises about the development approach- whether you want to build a native app or a hybrid app. Hybrid apps bring the development to almost half.
Tech stack- The choice of technology stack affects not just the app development cost but the time, too. Some technologies help speed up the development process. Secondly, some apps may use new technologies and, thus, need expert developers. Specialist developers may charge higher hourly rates, increasing the cost of developing mobile apps.
Integrations- Third-party integrations can be expensive, especially if they are complex. They take more time to integrate and, thus, require more time, effort, and cost.
Requirement Changes- With the changing market demands, new technology releases, and shifting business priorities, businesses need to update and modify their applications. The more changes, the higher the cost.
What are the Ways to Reduce App Development Costs?
There are many ways to reduce the cost of developing mobile apps. One is to develop an app using a free or cheap development platform. However, such platforms only support developing basic apps with minimal functionality. So, the aim is to reduce costs, not compromise the app’s quality.
Here are ways to help develop mobile apps at lower costs.
1. Know the requirements
Business owners must explain their app requirements clearly and in detail. The more detailed explanation you provide to mobile app developers and engineers, the closer the results will be. So, provide the development team with the following details-
- app development purpose
- problems the app solve
- features and functionalities
A detailed explanation of your project requirements will also help the development plan the development strategy well. Moreover, you get an exact estimation of the app development cost.
2. Build an MVP
A minimum Viable Product (MVP) has the essential features to make your app ready to launch in the market. Launch an MVP and gather user feedback to improve the product further.
The cost of developing an MVP is less than the original application. Launching an MVP to test and improve the app idea after gathering user feedback is a good approach. Many brands, like Uber, Snapchat, and FourSquare, first launched their MVPs.
If we build a full-fledged app in the first place, it may have a few functionalities that your users don’t need. Or they may need some features you must be aware of.
In that case, you may save money on unwanted features or even want to rebuild the solution, adding to the app development cost.
Business owners can also plan the different versions of the app. It will help them add features their users demand while allocating the right resources and budget.
3. Choosing an outsourced app development
Outsourcing app development helps reduce app development costs significantly. Here’s how-
- Save time, cost, and effort on hiring an in-house team.
- Hire the specialist developers you need for your project, not the entire team.
- Hire and pay with flexible models- full-time, part-time, hourly.
- Get the development team immediately and save time searching for and hiring an in-house team.
- Access to globally talented app developers
- Scale up or down the development team as and when needed.
Thus, outsourcing gives business owners the right developers with relevant skills at the right time.
4. Cross-platform development
Cross-platform app development helps slash the development cost down to almost 50%.
Hybrid applications are compatible with iOS and Android platforms, enabling business users to increase their visibility.
The best part is that a single code base and common APIs work for both platforms. Thus, it helps business owners save costs on hiring separate teams to build apps specific to iOS and Android.
Here are some added benefits of cross-platform app development-
- Quick app development;
- Easy to maintain
- Quick app updates
5. Using existing platforms
Startups can save costs on developing a mobile app using pre existing platforms or third-party libraries. Instead of creating app functionalities from scratch, developers can use pre existing modules to reduce effort and costs. This approach can save a huge amount of time and effort. However, building the entire application using existing libraries is not recommended.
6. UX/UI simplicity
Your app’s interface design is crucial to its success or failure. It also contributes significantly to the development cost.
Startups can go for a minimal interface design and avoid unwanted expenses on complex app design. Ultimately, the aim is to make the design user-friendly for end users.
The design should be simple and clear, enabling users to easily search for and navigate various app features.
Designers can also minimize the number of separate screens and tabs to facilitate user navigation and cut extra costs.
It is a great way for startups to increase user retention and reduce app development costs.
7. Don’t Rush
To launch the app quickly or meet deadlines, business owners often push developers to build it quickly. Developing an app in a rush can have many negative consequences:
- Bad quality coding
- Increased errors
- Less Secure
- Deviation from app purpose
In such cases, developers have to make many changes to the application, which adds to the cost. Pressure to build the apps quickly leads to more mistakes, reworks, and diminished app quality.
8. Early Testing
Every business owner wants a perfect product before launching it to the market. Developers can plan and develop an application’s aspects in different iterations.
Testing the app from the initial stage of app development helps identify bugs and errors early and minimize errors. Thus, startups can plan and invest in quality assurance from the beginning to avoid unnecessary iterations.
Also, perfecting an app for quality before the launch is essential to avoid unwanted app crashes or bugs. Also, your app represents your brand, so build it strong. A low quality will affect your brand reputation and customer retention.
Mistakes to avoid when reducing the app development budget
Many mobile app development projects cost more than expected. Hidden expenses often add up, pushing the final cost beyond the original budget. Addressing these potential mistakes from the start is important to controlling and reducing mobile app development costs.
1. Underestimating QA and Testing Costs
One common mistake companies make is allocating insufficient budget and resources for UI/UX design and quality assurance (QA) testing. Cutting corners here can lead to poor user experiences and bugs that require costly fixes later. To avoid this, budget properly for comprehensive UI/UX design and thorough QA testing upfront.
2. Overlooking Maintenance and Update Costs
Many businesses must remember to budget for ongoing app updates and maintenance after the launch. Regular updates are essential for security patches, bug fixes, and keeping up with new OS versions. Planning for these from the beginning ensures your app stays secure and functional over time.
3. Choosing Between Native and Hybrid Apps
Choosing the wrong development approach—native or hybrid—without considering the app’s specific needs can lead to unnecessary expenses. Weigh factors like user experience, performance, and development speed before deciding. Choose the option that best suits your project’s goals and budget.
4. Failing to Account for New Features and Technology Costs
Another costly mistake is not considering the cost of implementing new features and technologies. Before adding the latest features, evaluate whether they align with your app’s goals and bring real benefits to users. Only invest in features that add value to your app.
5. Overlooking Deployment and Hosting Costs
It’s easy to focus solely on development costs while ignoring app deployment, server hosting, and third-party services expenses. Be sure to budget for these and any potential costs for scaling your infrastructure as the app’s user base grows.
6. Changing the App Concept Midway
Making major changes to the app’s concept or features during development can lead to delays and increased costs. To avoid this, ensure the app’s core idea and features are well-defined before development begins. Careful planning and collaboration with stakeholders can minimize costly changes down the line.
Summing Up
It is possible to develop a mobile app at a reduced cost while maintaining high-quality standards. Developers must follow the right practices and proper planning to build the app with optimal resource utilization.
Startups can seek professional help to build top-notch mobile apps while controlling the budget.
Valuetree is the top mobile app development company with over 12 years of experience in the domain. You can avail of our custom app development services or hire offshore app developers to guide and assist you in developing app solutions under your budget. So, why delay? Get going on creating that ideal app right now!
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