How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App in 2023? Cost Breakdown

How much does it cost to make an app for your business? It is the first question you should ask when you start determining app development costs in 2023.

The cost of developing an app can range from $40,000 to $300,000 and up.

Many factors influence the price, depending on the complexity of the app development, at 40$ per hour, the average cost will be:

• Simple App Development Cost – $40,000 to $60,000
• Average App Development Cost – $60,000 to $150,000
• Complex App Development Cost – from $300,000

This article will be an excellent resource for the founders.

Here, you can find information about the factors that affect application costs, hidden application development costs, and how to choose an app development company.

Want to strike a balance? Read on.

We have covered this topic of the cost of developing an app in detail.

If you prefer visual to text, then go straight to the bonus infographic “App development cost in 2023”.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App?

The cost of building an app depends on the app’s complexity.

App Type	Estimate Cost	Time
Simple App Development	$40,000 to $60,000	2-3 months
Basic App Development	$60,000 to $150,000	3-6 months
Complex App Development	from $300,000	9+ months

The answer to how much it costs to develop an app can quickly go overboard due to the app features.

There are several options to get the estimation of your app project. The most reliable one is to contact the developers. But you can also use the app cost calculator.

If you send a request to the development studio to estimate the typical cost range of custom app development without proper documentation and terms of reference, the cost will likely be very approximate.

In contrast, the proper and precise cost calculator needs to include a wide variety of mobile app development services and the required amount of time:

• the complexity of the design and the number of screens;
• development process;
• quality assurance phase;
• number of functions and features;
• the complexity of features;
• the complexity of the database;
• number and complexity of 3rd party integrations;
• implementation of security protocols like HIPAA or GDPR;
• size and level of the development team.

At SpdLoad, to determine the cost to create an app, we follow an iterative estimation process.

To know more about it, take a look at our project discovery phase.

To get an idea of the app development cost, let’s look at the world app development statistics.

App Development Cost Statistics

Data from reputable organizations and platforms suggests that owning a mobile application in 2023 will bring immense gains. Here are some statistics supporting this claim:

• App usage grew 36% between 2020 and 2022 (Businessofapps)
• Users spent $21.2 billion on the Apple store in the third quarter of 2022 alone (Statistsa)
• The number of app downloads grew from 140 billion in 2016 to 230 billion in 2021 (Statistsa)
• Google PlayStore receives over 100,000 new apps monthly, while Apple Store gets over 30,000 new mobile apps (Statistsa)
• Mobile app revenue is poised to increase from $318 billion in 2020 to over $600 billion in 2025 (Statistsa)

Now that you’re confident that the market is receptive to mobile applications. Does it genuinely make a difference in enterprises? Here are some statistics proving that it does:

• App-based startups have over 800% higher IPO than non-app-based startups (Appmysite)
• Business app usage increased by 90% in 2020 alone (Influencermarketinghub)

Thus, it’s evident that demand is growing for mobile applications, and owning one will significantly impact your startup.

The cost of app development dramatically depends on the type of application.

Now that we are sure that you are aware that the market is growing very actively and rapidly, let’s look at what the app prices depend on.

Cost of App Development by Type

The average mobile app development cost ranges from $30,000 to over $400,000.

The type of application is another important factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Below is a list of the most popular types of apps and the average development cost involved:

App Type	Estimate Cost	Time
Mobile App	$30,000-$300,000	1,200h
iPhone App	$55,000-$300,000	1,200h
Android App	$50,000-$300,000	1,200h
Web App	$60,000-$300,000	1,200h
Startup App	$40,000-$400,000	1,600h
Taxi App (Uber)	$50,000-$400,000	1,600h
Game App	$60,000-$250,000	1,600h
Retail App	$50,000-$150,000	1,200h
Augmented Reality App (AR)	$100,000-$250,000	1,600h
eCommerce App	$60,000-$250,000	1,600h
Social Media App (Instagram)	$50,000-$300,000	1,200h
Business App	$50,000-$200,000	1,200h
Learning App (DuoLingo)	$60,000-$225,000	900h
Video Streaming App	$80,000-$300,000	1,600h
Restaurant App	$40,000-$150,000	900h
Community App	$18,000-$150,000	900h
Shopify App	$30,000-$180,000	900h
Dating App	$50,000-$350,000	1,400h,
Food Delivery App	$40,000-$150,000	900h,
Hybrid App	$40,000-$200,000	1,200h
Healthcare App	$55,000-$300,000	1,200h
Typical App	$40,000-$300,000	1,200h

The Type of Mobile App Categories

The type of application is one crucial factor determining the average cost of mobile app development. 

Below is a list depicting the top three mobile app categories and the development cost: 

Mobile App Type	Cost
iOS app	$75,000-$500,000
Android app	$50,000-$500,000
Hybrid app	$90,000-$700,000

Are you confused about what each application type means? Let’s help you understand them:

• iOS App

An iOS application is a mobile app built primarily to work on the iPhone operating system and intended to interact natively with the device’s core component.

These apps are created using Swift, Objective-C, XCode, etc. 

iOS app development price ranges from $75,000 to $500,000 based on the intricacy of each idea and its complexity. 

• Android App

As its name implies, these are mobile applications built to work natively on Google’s Android operating system.

They interact with the OS’s components to guarantee users an optimum experience.

These apps are created using Kotlin and Java. 

The cost of creating an Android mobile application is between $70,000 and $500,000, with the exact price depending on the app’s complexity, compliance laws, and other intricacies. 

• Hybrid App

A Hybrid app is a mobile application created to work efficiently on Android and iOS devices with a single codebase.

These apps are created using React Native, Ionic, Flutter, NativeScript, etc. 

The cost of creating a cross-platform mobile app ranges between $90,000 and $700,000.

Besides the type, the cost of app development depends on the country. Let’s see how.

Cost of App Development by Region

A high price does not always indicate a high-quality product. It only shows the salary variations of programmers in different countries.

Let’s compare the programmers’ rates in different regions:

Region	Hourly rate, $
United States (USA)	120-150
United Kingdom (UK)	100-120
Australia	100-120
Western Europe	80-100
Eastern Europe	30-50
India	20-30

As we can see, the price difference is substantial.

At an hourly rate of $120-150, it costs more to develop in the US than in any other country.

Hiring a developer with a similar skill set in India often costs $20-30.

However, India is a country famous for low-quality codes.

For top-notch cost-effectiveness, it’s best to opt for a Ukrainian developer as they mainly adopt a mathematical approach to their coding process, thereby making the mobile app more scalable, resilient, and secure.

However, it is crucial to understand that the hourly rate will differ depending on the:

• programming language of the application development (Swift, Java, Kotlin, PHP, JavaScript, Golang),
• the complexity of the project, the specialists involved (programmers, testers, scrum master, business analyst, project manager),
• their qualifications (senior, middle, or junior).

The more information you have the better prepared you will be to evaluate the proposal.

These primary cost factors for an application will help you get an initial design for an application that meets your requirements.

Moving on with the next part of the typical app development cost, let’s take a few successful application examples.

Examples of App Development Cost

Below are examples of mobile applications along with the cost and development time.

It gives you a price estimate of mobile app development, not a precise figure.

Example #1: Tinder

Tinder is a geosocial networking and dating application with over 67 million annual downloads.

The app’s simplistic design allows users to swipe images to the right or left and connect with prospective suitors.

Tinder started by raising $485,000 as seed funding in 2012 and has attained enviable heights since then.

The company made a revenue of over $1.6 billion in 2021 and is poised to surpass that number in 2023. 

The cost of creating a dating app like Tinder is about $100,000, with features such as 

• Login pages, 
• User authentication, authorization, 
• User profile, 
• In-app messaging, 
• GPS location, 
• Push notification, 
• In-app payment gateway. 

Example #2: Ikea

Ikea is a brand-based application that was developed with the help of  Augmented Reality.

The photos of the furniture in their catalogs are mostly 3d models.

Due to the various new features and integrations plus security aspects, these apps increase the bill but add many functionalities.

The cost of such an application can start from $45,000, and it can take about 1,000 hours.

The features of the mobile app design include:

• 3D visualization of the products,
• compliance with social media sharing,
• 360-degree view of the products,
• real-time dashboard and analytics,
• CRM integration.

Example #3: Uber

Uber is a ridesharing app that connects riders with drivers within proximity. 

Uber’s first funding was a $510,000 investment, but it has raised above $25 billion since then. The app currently has over 118 million users. 

Are you interested in owning a similar product? The average cost to make an app like Uber is $80,000, requiring a development timeline of 1200 hours.

The company, which started in 2009, is currently one of the world’s most valuable organizations and has a valuation of over $ 91 billion. 

Core features in the Uber app are: 

• Location tracker, 
• In-app payment and withdrawal portal, 
• Routing and advanced route optimization, 
• Push notifications, 
• Authentication and authorization feature, 
• Profile page. 

Example #4: TikTok

TikTok is a popular social media application for video-sharing.

The cost of developing an app like TikTok can increase by the extent of app features and functionalities it offers.

The cost of such an application can start from $70,000 and can take about 1,200 hours.

The app features include:

• online messaging,
• video calls,
• multi-language support,
• sharing images, videos,
• user connecting, and much more.

Example #5: Airbnb

Airbnb is a mobile application that connects renters and people needing accommodation within a location for a specified period.

Airbnb grew from raising a seed fund of $20,000 to having a valuation of over $30 billion.

The company makes revenue from charging platform tax–guests pay 5%-15% booking fee, while the hosts pay 3%. 

This business model generated an income of $6 billion in 2021, a 78% year-on-year increase. 

Feeling inspired to create a similar app? Building a mobile application for Airbnb is about $100,000 and can require a 1000 hours timeline. 

Features in the Airbnb app include: 

• Search field, 
• Filters for targeted search, 
• In-app chat, 
• Calendar, 
• Reminder, 
• Review and ratings, 
• Listings. 

Example #6: Twitter

Twitter is a microblogging and social networking platform created by Jack Dorsey in 2006. 

The app raised its first round of funding at $5 million, at a valuation of $20m. It’s currently estimated to be worth $44 billion, with a net revenue of $1.2 billion in Q2 of 2022. 

The estimated cost of owning an app like Twitter is $500,000; the core features needed for the app to function: 

• Polls, 
• Timeline, 
• Pop-up notifications, 
• Related headline features, 
• Post publishing, 
• Add, remove, and block connections, 
• Audio streaming (Spaces), 
• Headers. 

Now you understand how much it costs to develop applications like well-known startups, it’s time to look at the factors that affect the app costs.If you choose this option, ta

Factors that Affect Application Costs

Before developing the mobile application, you need to analyze the target audience and business objectives, understand how to develop an app, and choose a platform to code.

The buttons, screens, and other elements make the application unique, engaging, and convenient, but each additional piece affects the overall project budget.

Therefore, it is essential to pre-develop a prototype and think over the functionality to the smallest detail.

This functionality influence the following factors that affect the price.

How much it cost to build an app depends on three things:

• The application’s complexity levels
• Design and Structure
• The platform on which the application will run

We will discuss these three aspects in detail, starting with the complexity.

Factor 1. Complexity Level of App Development

The smaller and simpler the application, the less time you will need for its development. When it comes to the timing of the application development,  you need to decide on the scale of the upcoming work.

How many features will be implemented in the product? How many screens, buttons, and functions will it have? How complex will the application’s business logic be?

The complexity level of the app depends on the features and integrations you choose and how to get an app developed.

Type of complexity	Characteristics
Simple apps	they are created without any added benefits, you will have the essential features, low-tech screens,  and the necessary UI solutions.
Mid-level apps	have more complicated things to offer, you can get integrations with API, more screens, custom UI, and features like real-time messaging.
Complex apps	they are apps with multifunctions, you can get advanced and complicated features such as real-time synchronization, chatbots, media processing, UI animation, and many more

If we’ve chosen an entire expert development team for our project:

• a project manager,
• a UI/UX designer,
• iOS or/and Android developer,
• a  backend developer,
• and a   QA engineer,

The terms of app development in each category will be the following:

• Simple Apps – 2 to 4 months
• Mid-Level Apps – 6 to 10 months
• Complex Apps – 8 months to a year or more

The cost of developing mobile applications is highly dependent on the level of complexity and the size of the project.

Type 1. Simple Complexity

It consists of basic features, three to four screens, simple functions, and no data storage.

That is an overview of a simple application.

Such an application will have the main features, including:

• Login
• Signup
• Profile making and editing
• Search
• Notifications
• Messages
• Admin panel or dashboard

The cost will be determined based on a collection of features offered through the app.

Examples: A calculator app, time tracking app, notes app, and social networks.

Type 2. Basic complexity: database and API-based applications

Why does an airplane cost more than a car?

Similarly, to develop an app, adding more features and databases will increase the cost.

In these applications, you are looking to add some extra features (other than the ones you find above)

• Social Media Integration
• In-App Purchases
• Payment Portals
• Geo-location
• Location Tracking
• Better Security

Apart from these, there is better accessibility and usage of robust infrastructure.

These are the applications that require data storage, retrieval from more than one database, and synchronization.

To build such an app, you should also understand how large the customer base is; it also helps define the cost and price range.

So, the higher complexity and number of features offered by the app will increase the cost.

Examples: Photo-sharing applications, taxi or food delivery applications.

Type 3. High Complexity: Feature-Rich and Large-Scale Applications

The complex apps are designed for big businesses.

Basically, the companies create a custom development without integrations or they use custom integrations with existing systems.

The complex apps are legacy or custom applications, that’s why it usually leads to higher development costs.

The total cost to develop the app can go way beyond how much you might expect.

Here’s how the development cost of this kind of app changes:

• Data Synchronization with more than two devices
• Native features
• Online streaming
• In-App Calls
• Messaging
• Video Chats

With such applications, not only the development work is highly complex but research and planning of the mobile app development cost estimate are also equally intricate.

The creation of dashboards and visualizations, development platform complexity, number of servers, databases, all require various infrastructure elements. Not to mention the high availability and redundancy requirements.

These may require heavy customizations; the developers have to write the code for the majority of functions.

It is difficult to determine the scope of an app project and decide how much it costs, especially before entering into lengthy meetings.

Examples are enterprise applications, CRM applications, gaming apps, trading platforms.

Factor 2. The Complexity of the Application Design

Moving on with how much does it cost to develop an app, we have entered the app design stage..

The design stage is an integral part of the development stage.

You cannot separate the two to decide on the cost to develop the app.

Designing is much like the development part; just as you add more features and cost rises, pro-rata. (Read more about the price of app design.)

Similarly, with designing, if you decide to use the templates, the cost estimate will be restrictive but more customizations in the design mean higher costs and more time.

There are a few things that we need to look at here as well.

Point 1. User Experience

UX is about how the application works. UX involves creating the screens on paper or a designing platform.

Ultimately, it also helps decide how much it costs to develop a mobile app.

The goal is to make the application easy to use for the end-user.

Creating that kind of experience, understanding the market, the user, your goals, and objectives is essential.

The cost of launching a mobile app will fluctuate on the engagement levels and intricate design.

Examples:

• Button Placement
• Color Psychology
• Following the user’s eye pattern

Point 2. User Interface and Visuals

There are a lot of ins and outs of application design. However, it begins with UI or how the application will look to the viewer.

Depending on the use of different visual elements, you can estimate the cost. In fact, it influences the cost of MVP design as well.

Better design not only means a better outlook.

Designing an application follows creating mockups that allow getting a visual hint of the solution.

Here too, the design will depend on your goals.

What do you require from your enterprise app?

• Engagement
• Sales
• Information

Furthermore, what kind of application you are developing will also play a role in app development costs.

• Basic app
• Authentication
• Social networking
• On-demand
• E-commerce
• Marketplace
• IoTВ

Different types of applications require different design solutions.

At SpdLoad, we put an equal emphasis on design and development to find the optimal cost to develop and app.

Examples:

• Layout,
• Screen,
• Colors,
• Typography,
• Shapes,
• Elements,
• Items.

Point 3. Branding

What does come into your mind when you think of:

• Apple,
• Nike,
• Reebok,
• Volkswagen,
• McDonald,
• Dominos.

All organizations have a brand value.

Their icons and their names stand out from a crowd of thousands of similar brands.

Why? Because they have invested in branding.

Now when you are developing a mobile app, you may not care to market your brand because of how much it costs.

Branding is a part of your business model.

So, there is no doubt about whether or not to include branding in the application development process.

However, the final cost you need to build an app will depend on branding; that is why you must keep it nominal in the beginning.

After capturing the market to some extent, you can think about scaling branding efforts.

Examples:

• Creating an Icon
• Marketing Efforts

Point 4. UX Writing

When you develop an app for a user, add copywriting to the total cost.

A creative copy must compel users to engage and interact more with your solution.

The fusion of good copy and impactful design is vital for an app’s success.

However, when it comes to the cost, you cannot ignore that a good copy needs good money.

To know how much it cost to have an app made, ask your developer to choose a copywriter first.

Or, if you want to hire one by yourself, include the price in the final tally.

Here too, you can select from a huge pool of writers globally.

Choose a writer that shows nativity and cost-effectiveness.

In comparison, selecting a writer from a native English-speaking country will cost more.

Examples are texts in:

• Landing Page
• Emails
• Newsletters

Factor 3. The Platform on Which the App Will Run

After knowing how much it costs to develop the app by considering complexity and design, we move on to the platform.

You need to decide between two things:

Option 1. Develop a Hybrid or Cross-Platform App

Hybrid here implies that the application will either run on Android or iOS devices.

In the discovery phase, which we adhere to at Spdload for deciding how much an app costs, this question is primary.

Before boiling down to one platform, take three things into consideration:

• Market Share
• Device Fragmentation
• Prevalence

All these depend on the market you are going to target initially.

It is helpful to find out the cost of iOS app development by knowing the market. You need to know where iOS is more prevalent than Android, The same theory relates to Android devices.

The development process for both platforms is different, but not how much it will cost you to develop an app.

Cross-platform applications get the benefit of easy-fit, and smooth operation, and they can use platform-specific features.

This helps create a better experience and lowers the “how much cost” answer of an app.

The cost to develop a native app is more than the a hybrid one. And this is for obvious reasons. You require double the human resources and effort to build two apps at the same time.

Option 2. Develop a Native App

In contrast to a hybrid app, a native application runs only on a single platform: Android or iOS.

Thus, if you want to build an app for both Android and iOS using native frameworks, you’ll need to hire 2  particular development teams.

One to create an Android version, and another one to create an iOS version.

You get the idea, right?

Since you will need to employ different people for different platforms, the cost will certainly double.

The question that you might ask is how much an iPhone or an Android app costs.

The answer is that the cost is the same to build an app on iOS and Android.

Although the technologies, SDK, databases, frameworks, and quality assessment systems are different for both, the price is the same.

Another integral part of the guide on how much an app will cost is a hidden cost.

Hidden App Development Costs You Need to Know

A few additional costs add to the final answer of how much it costs to develop an effective app:

• Functional costs as fees for third-party integrations. For example, SMS or push notifications, geolocation, or payment gateways.
• Admin or management costs. For example, content manager salary.
• Infrastructural costs. The payment for server, CDN, and integrations like Redis.
• Support charges. Additional costs to update an application, fix bugs or make future improvements.

Let’s look at the details. For example, it cost $75,000 to develop the app.

• Depending on the number and load of integrations, they can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 per year.
• Maintaining the application would cost 20% per year of the original development cost, i.e. $15,000

App marketing would cost 50%-100% per year of the original development cost, i.e. $75,000-$150,000.

The Major Hidden Costs of App Development

In estimating the cost of a mobile application, some easily overlooked costs can impact the success of your business. The most important among them are

• Marketing 
• Maintenance. 

Let’s discuss what each entails.

Hidden Cost 1. Marketing Cost

The marketing cost is the expense needed to popularize your mobile application and make it known to your target users. 

Your ideal marketing cost for app development should be X2-X3 of your initial development price. 

If the cost of developing your mobile app is $100,000, you should budget from $200,000 to $300,000 for your yearly marketing expenses. 

This money will be spent on the following:

• Social media ads,
• Search engine ads, 
• Sales funnels, 
• Landing pages, 
• Copywriting, 
• PRs, 
• Customer relationship management tools, 
• Email marketing costs.

Hidden Cost 2. App Maintenance Cost 

The app maintenance costs the expense required to keep the product accessible, maintain usability, and improve performance. Maintenance may be routine, on-demand, or both. 

The ideal budget for app maintenance is x2 of your initial development cost. The bulk of maintenance costs will be spent on the following: 

• App store registration and subscript,
• Cloud hosting services, 
• Server subscription fees, 
• Infrastructure costs, 
• 3rd party integrations, 
• SSL,
• Tech support team.

Your Options When It Comes to App Development

The final point to consider in how much it cost to make an app is the team you choose.

The assumption that the kind of development one chooses does not matter is not a valid.

On the contrary, choosing the right team has several benefits. One of them is lower costs and higher quality.

As a startup, your budget is low, but the need for a unique product is imperative.

So, if you want to get the best bang for your buck, choose the team wisely.

Here’s some expert guidance that will help you decide how much an app costs.

The choice of a team will significantly influence how much it does cost to make an app.

Pro Tip: Always keep three things in mind when you are hiring developers for your solution:

• Focus on the Product
• Don’t mess with the design
• Constant Marketing

Here is the description of each option in more detail.

Option #1: Hire a local agency

You can always choose a trusted medium-sized local company that provides a list of services, including SEO optimization.

Criteria	Description
Cost	To develop an app, the development cost by the local companies will be higher. There is no doubt about that. Depending on the country you are starting your startup in, the per-hour rates of a development team and a design team can range between $150 to $250 per hour per specialist. So, if the total work is for 400 hours and takes an average rate of $100, you are looking to spend $80,000. That is the app development cost breakdown.
Pros and Cons	No doubt, if you hire a local agency, you can maintain constant communication. Plus, you will get expert quality and the possibility to make changes easily. Lastly, a local team will be responsible and accountable for their work. However, the cost factor of these teams is over the charts. If you can and are ready to spend $40,000 on the product in one go, be our guest. But this cost is bereft of the maintenance, edits, copywriting, discovery, and market analysis.
Should you go for it?	Once you run a cost-benefit analysis, you will understand that it is not worth it.

For more complicated projects there is another option.

Option #2: Build an in-house team

An in-house team is a workforce of app developers working entirely as a part of your organization’s employees, receiving fixed monthly payments from your company and receiving daily instructions from your management. 

These developers are the most preferred option for solutions that collect sensitive information.

Criteria	Description
Cost	The cost of hiring an in-house team varies with the location of your startup and the developer’s expertise.  For startups based in the United States, the cost is  Full-stack developer = $180,000  per year,  Designer = $160,000 per year,  Native mobile app developer (iOS or Android) = 170,000. Here, the cost is even higher than contracting the work to a local agency. (You can compare the salaries using our calculator.) However, you can reduce your expenses by offering the developer some equity.  Additionally, it’s worth noting that the high development cost here also leads to twice as high maintenance costs.
Pros and Cons	As with other options, opting for an internal workforce has noteworthy pros and cons.  Its benefits are: You’ll benefit from a constant flow of ideas–provided that your work environment is conducive.  Communication will be smooth, as all team members will have close contact.  Its disadvantages are: You’re responsible for managing all technical and business processes,  It has numerous hidden costs, e.g., office, equipment, etc.
Should you go for it?	Hiring an internal team includes renting office space to accommodate your workforce. You’re also liable for a lawsuit if things go wrong due to the negligence of your management staff. Also, you’ll have to worry about both technical and business needs.  Although this is the most popular hiring model, it’s not cost-effective.

If you have decided to create an app, but you have a limited budget, then you can hire freelancers.

Option #3: Work with freelancers

If you need to quickly test a hypothesis or do a small project, you can work with freelancers.

If you choose this option, take in mind that you will need to spend a lot of time communicating with contractors and managing the project.

Criteria	Description
Cost	There are two ways you can go ahead with a freelancer. Hire them on a contract basis Hire them on an hourly basis Plus, there are plenty of platforms to find freelancers. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, Toptal, and so on. The average hourly price of a freelancer again depends on the country you are hiring from. US: $50 per hour Asia: $15 to $25/hour Ukraine: $25/hour Latin America: $20/hour These are the starting rates, and they can climb as per the experience. So, to figure out the cost to build a useful and excellent app, consider the hours.
Pros and Cons	Let’s face it; freelancing is one of the cheapest methods of creating a solution. With freelancing, you have the power to dictate the prices and still get a quality product. However, with freelancers, you can throw accountability out of the window. They can quickly leave the job and leave you hanging. Hence, here the question is not how much it cost for a freelancer to make an app, but will the freelancer see it through?
Should you go for it?	Hiring a freelancer is not a problem. But ensuring that the freelancer helps you till the end of the product development and adheres to your requirement can become an issue. So, we would not recommend going the freelancing way until and unless you have the time and energy to monitor them continually.

If your project requires more staff and specialists working on the project, the availability of high-quality software, and experience in promoting apps, then you need an outsource app development project.

Option #4: Outsource app development

By outsourcing application development, you’re contracting a foreign company to help you create your app idea and manage the overall architecture.

It allows you to focus on your business needs, and a team of experts manages your technical requirements.

Criteria	Description
Cost	Cost of development differs from country to country. For example, developers’ prices in the USA are 2x-3x higher than the cost of hiring developers in Ukraine.  Eastern European countries provide the perfect blend of cost and quality.  They adopt a mathematical approach to development and ensure solutions are resilient, robust, scalable, and secure. Ukraine can offer you access to developers at $40 while hiring the same talent in the US costs $100-$120/hour. The cost of outsourcing mobile app development to an offshore agency varies from $30,000 to $500,000. The exact amount depends on the product’s complexity.
Pros and Cons	Outsourcing your app creation is a good option, particularly for MVP development.  Securing the partnership of an excellent offshore app development agency provides you with several benefits, these include  Cost-effectiveness,  High-quality products,  Adherence to compliance laws,  Transparent development processes,  Quick delivery.
Should you go for it?	Absolutely! Outsourcing app development to an agency will certainly reduce the development cost of the app. However, before you choose an agency, make sure to leave no stone unturned. Check everything and talk to the team. Check the case studies References Past Experiences In general, the cost of outsourcing mobile application development by the outsourcing company can vary greatly from $ 30,000 to $ 50,000. As mentioned above, it greatly depends on the operating system, minimum viable product,  features, type of app, UX/UI design, tools, software, and other factors.

When it comes to the mobile app development process, you have to go through a lot of things, including

•  project management,
• business analysis,
• development process, front-end, and back-end,
• UI / UX design,
• app testing, optimization,
• deployment,
• and often app maintenance.

So, it’s better to be sure about the company you choose.

What to Pay Attention to When Choosing an App Development Company? [Checklist]

There are many IT outsourcing companies offering different services. But how to find a reliable partner capable of delivering high-quality products?

First of all, it’s better to conduct in-depth research regarding the IT companies and make sure they meet the requirements of your product.

Here are some tips that can help you in choosing an IT company that can fulfill your project requirements and create an app you need:

Tip #1: Decide on the Requirements for Your Application

You need to decide on the requirements for your application, the number of funds allocated for its development, the desired development timeline, as well as the platforms to run it.

It is also a plus if you get to know about the main popular technologies for mobile application development – it will help you to understand more clearly what type of application you need to develop.

It will greatly help when choosing a mobile app development company, as you can look for an expert in your type of application.

Tip #2: Try to Choose Full-Service Companies

By choosing among the software development companies that have already made a name and have an impressive portfolio for services, you can be sure that you can get qualified specialists.

Such a company will be able to provide you with all the necessary resources at every stage of creating an application, such as design, development, or testing, so you do not have to look for additional help or services anywhere else.

Tip #3: Interview the Developers Personally

Once you’ve found an app development agency that’s right for you, take the time to ask the development team some important questions.

Ask them for their experience in developing applications, tell them briefly about your app ideas, and ask them to provide their opinion on your project.

Such a conversation will help you understand how the app developers of this company find your idea and are ready to implement it.

Tip #4: Research the Company’s Portfolio

Ask the company representatives to name some of the best apps they have created, and thoroughly scrutinize them.

Think about whether you like the design of these apps, and whether you find them functional and user-friendly.

It is also important to remember that one of the main factors for the success of an application is its uniqueness. Do you see anything special about the apps of this company, or do they seem ordinary?

Tip #5: Learn about the Company’s Privacy and Data Security Policy

It is very important to discuss the security and privacy of your mobile application and the data associated with your business.

Developers should be prepared to sign a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement with you to ensure that your information is protected.

In addition, it’s better to discuss intellectual property rights in advance. These and other aspects of ensuring the protection of personal data must be discussed before starting work on a project.

Now Over to You

Our sole focus is to create a market-ready product for you at the best possible price.

We relate to success, progress, and scalability.

We aim for the success, progress, and scalability of your product.

SpdLoad is a leader in application development, and our “how much an app cost” exercise is meticulous and efficient.

That is to say if you want to build a successful app at a low cost, contact us to learn how we can help.

Interested to develop your own application?

Contact us. We'll be happy to share our expertise in developing startups from scratch. You'll get a project estimate in the next 24 hours.

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Bonus Infographic

Here you’ll find a summary of our in-depth guide. Learn the highlights of what to look for when estimating the cost of developing the app.