How Much Does it Cost to Build an App?
There are several factors to consider when estimating the cost of building an app. Mobile apps built and developed by large companies can cost anywhere between $100,000 to $1,000,000. Sometimes more. Other agencies advertise up to $500,000, while smaller developers are likely charge anywhere between $5,000 to $50,000.
The mobile industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. In 2018, the industry generated over $360 billion dollars (USD) worldwide. In 2017, it was reported that 57% of all digital media usage comes from mobile apps. Therefore, because of these market trends, corporations are capitlizing on the industry. From fast food apps to music streaming services, and everything in between.
If you are looking to create or commission your own mobile app, you shouldn't have to worry about spending hundreds, or even tens of thousands of dollars. You may, however, expect to pay a few thousand dollars for a simple app. You can also learn how to build your own! :)
When building your own mobile app you will encounter a few expenses. Developing an app for the Android vs. iPhone market can cost a lot less upfront. We will go over more about App Development for Android in just a bit. Learning how to develop an app can also be costly when paying for courses online. You can, however, find some very useful courses online for free. If you are interested in learning how to develop your own iOS app then check out, CodewithChris.
To get started building your own iPhone app you will need access to Xcode. Xcode is a program available exclusively on Mac OS devices and is necessary for developing your own iPhone app. There are a few ways you can go about doing this.
- Purchase a Mac
Make sure the Mac laptop/desktop you purchase is a somewhat recent version in order to handle specifications needed to run Xcode. We were able to find a Macbook Pro at a local PC store for just a few hundred dollars and were able to get started building app right away! - Run a Virtual Machine
This may require some technical knowledge. - Rent a Mac in the Cloud
You can find cloud-based Mac OS plans starting at around $20/month.
How Long Does it Take to Build an App?
Again, it all depends on how big of a project you are willing to take on. A simple app can take some time to perfect. If you are looking to build the next best RPG app, then you may want to gather your own team of developers to help speed up the process. Most companies will estimate an average time of 4-6 months when building an app.
App Development Services
There are several app development services and companies available. We mentioned large corporations, smaller developers, and even creating your own app. There are tons of online tools and resources that can help you get inspired and begin the journey of creating your first app.
Website to App Maker
There are tons of website to app makers you can find online. There are a few available where you can simply enter in your URL and email and then receive a download link containing an .apk file for your app. APK files are third party apps not licensed by the Android app store. These apps can be downloaded exclusively on Android devices, given the proper settings and permissions. When submitting your project to the Apple or Android app store you need to purchase a license. Whether it is a one time fee for Android or a yearly membership fee for Apple. APK apps can not be submitted to either store and usually pose security risks.
The more reliable website to app makers online still charge a decent amount for conversion, features and publishing. These rates are easily comparable to smaller app developers. The difference being that when working with an app developer personally, you have more control over your project and a more refined version of your app. Online app makers often add additional lines of code which can include advertising, tracking or even branding.
As web developers and digital marketers, we understand the importance of mobile apps development for websites. We offer highly competitive pricing and are able to quickly convert your website into a lightweight, mobile app ready to submit to both Android and Apple app stores. If you are interested in creating your own mobile app or want to create a mobile app for your website, send us a message! :)
App Development Android
Developing an app for Android can cost a lot less upfront than developing a mobile app for the Apple App store. APK files can be created easily and downloaded for free online. Submitting an app to the Android app store consists of a one-time fee of $25. You can also develop apps for Android on virtually any OS. The official programming language for Android development is Java. However, you can create Android apps using C, C++ and Python as well.
iPhone App Development Language
The official programming language for iPhone app development is called Swift. Swift is the one of the main coding languages used in Xcode, which is available exclusively on Mac OS devices. Swift is powerful, intuitive and easy-to-learn. Swift code is similar to Python and Xcode makes it even easier to learn with it's GUI.
