There’s no shortage of creativity in today’s pool of app ideas. Many bright entrepreneurs have a vision, and many third party developers are available to turn this vision into a reality. But perhaps the biggest question that looms over entrepreneurs’ heads apart from how do I make my app the next big thing is how much does it actually cost to develop an app?
Well, there’s no one answer to that. A quick Google search will tell you that simple apps will cost you a five digit figure, while more complex ones can cost you something in the six digit realm.
We’ve talked a bit about the factors that affect app development costs [link to article here] in the past. This time, we’ll take a look at app development costs from a different angle: by development stage.
App Development Costs By Stage
For the average joe, it may be hard to understand why app development can be so expensive. To get a better grasp of this, we’ll give a simplified picture of what happens at each development stage and an estimate of how much each one costs.
Discovery
To put it simply, the discovery stage, otherwise called pre-development or research stage, is where you meet with your developer to discuss what exactly you want in your app. This gives your developer an overview of what you want them to create.
Great developers take the time to understand your vision and your business needs, so this stage also includes any market research, timelines that should be followed, and all the nitty gritty details of your contract with your developer.
Estimated cost: $5,000 – $25,000+
Design
This is where UI and UX are discussed. Remember that design doesn’t only pertain to making your app look gorgeous, but also making sure it’s functional. This stage is collaborative; you’d typically have a few feedback sessions with your developer to work out the overall feel and flow of the app. Once that’s done, you’re given a prototype to evaluate, and once ample feedback is given, development can move on to the next phase.
Estimated cost: $5,000 – $50,000+
Development
Based on your input from the previous stages, your developer now has a clear direction for your app. The development stage, then, is where your app is actually built. Depending on the type of app you want and its complexity, development usually takes anywhere between three to six months long. The cost of this stage, therefore, depends immensely on how long it takes to build the app.
Estimated cost: $5,000 – $30,000+
Testing & Deployment
Once the app is built, naturally, you’ll want to take it for a test drive. It’s at this stage where quality assurance tests are run to ensure your app functions the way it’s supposed to. You’ll have your usual feedback sessions with your developer until you’re satisfied with the app and it passes all tests. Then, finally, it goes live.
Estimated cost: $5,000 – $25,000+
Maintenance
It’s important to note that app development doesn’t stop once your website goes live or once your app is published on the App Store or Google Play Store. Apps will inevitably need upgrading, so it’s important to remember this when thinking about app development costs.
Estimated cost: $5,000 – $10,000
Note: Figures presented are taken from a survey by Cluch.co. App development costs may still vary greatly depending on complexity, outsourcing location, etc.
Development Approach
One thing we’d like to highlight to any entrepreneur tinkering with the idea of building their own app is that knowing the development approach you want to take makes a considerable difference in cost as well.
Traditional Development
Many businesses go with the tried and trusted route of traditional software development. However, as illustrated, employing a team of developers who have to code your app means more time spent on the project, which means more money spent.
No Code
A fantastic alternative to traditional software development is no code development. If you have some coding knowledge, you can develop an app on your own or you could partner with a no code agency. Either way, no code apps save you a ton of time and money.
The Better Route
While making an app for business is on every modern day entrepreneur’s list, not everyone can shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars for the app of their dreams.
Here’s where we come in. At MVP.dev, you get top-of-the-line apps for extremely affordable rates. We’ll bring your ideas to life without breaking the bank.
Interested? Give us a call!
