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“How much does mobile app development cost?” has to be one of the most asked questions in the app development market. This is understandable, as costs are one of the biggest concerns, especially for start-ups and small businesses looking to expand. But, unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. There are a lot of factors that can affect the final landed cost of a mobile app. Let’s look at a few of them:
Type of app:
This is one of the biggest factors that affect the price you would have to pay for an app. As a general rule of thumb, the more complicated an app is, the more it’s going to cost. For example, if the app you want just connects your smart home device to the internet, that won’t be very expensive. But, if you want something extremely complicated like a banking or a finance app, then it can cost from $50000 upwards, depending on the type of features that you want.
App complexity:
You might think that this is the same point as the type of app, but it’s not. Not all banking apps are created equally. For example, a finance app that has the ability to transfer money between accounts is much more complicated than an app that just shows the balance in someone’s bank account. Both can be classified as a “banking app,” but one is drastically more complicated than the other.
Extra features:
There are a lot of features that are necessary for an app to work outside of its core functionality. A calculator app that looks like MS-DOS might function just fine, but it can’t be classified as a complete app. Similarly, almost every banking app needs a login/registration system, an easy-to-follow and intuitive UI, the ability to push notifications onto the device, the ability to make in-app purchases, secure data encryption, and much more. All these things pile up and contribute to increasing the costs.
Development partner:
The cost of developing an app also depends heavily on the company or individual you are working with. A freelancer might charge significantly less than a proper app development company. You have to look at the pros and cons of both approaches and figure out what works best for you and what sacrifices you are willing to make.
Hiring a freelancer might be cheaper, but it is also a risk for the quality of the final app, accountability from the freelancer, future support, and the speed of the project. A development company, on the other hand, will communicate more freely, will get the job done quicker, and can also be held accountable for a nonfunctional final product. However, the costs may be significantly higher.
Conclusion:
Mobile app development is a complicated process. There is no set price for any type of app. The best way to figure out your costs is to talk to companies, explain what you want, and get a quote from them.
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This content is brought to you by Shahbaz Ahmed.
Photo: Shutterstock
