How much does it cost to hire an apps development services?

The costs of building an app are not cheap, sometimes it can take up to a quarter of the investment resources. But there is another cost you need to consider, and that is the cost to hire a programmer. But which one should you choose? An apps development services team or a programmer?

1. How much does the app cost?

There is no definitive answer to the issue of how much an app costs because it is determined by a variety of factors. The typical cost of app creation ranges from $20,000 to $150,000, depending on the app’s complexity and features.

The following are the many aspects that influence the app development budget:

• The number of features and screens in an app
• The complexity of the software
• The level of quality assurance necessary to eliminate defects
• Integrations with third-party services
• Use of contemporary security and privacy standards
• Apps development services team size, level, and experience
• Number of app developers working on a single project
• Target platform

Aside from app functionality and complexity, various external factors influence apps development services costs. Developers and user management teams are compensated differently in different nations, hence the entire app development cost differs by country. Payment policies and apps development services costs vary by country. App development expenses depending on various tactics employed to create an app must also be factored into overall budgeting.

2. Mobile app development cost breakdown

App development costs depending on different stages of app development make budgeting easier. The following is a breakdown of mobile app development costs by development phase:

2.1. Strategy and planning phase cost

To acquire an objective definition, competitive analysis, and a clear MVP idea, around 10 to 15% of the overall mobile application development budget is committed to the research, planning, and strategy phase. Without a good plan, the cost of developing an app might be quite significant.

The initial step of designing a mobile app development project can go by many various titles, including strategy, planning, and discovery. Whatever name you choose, this is the first stage in which you must undertake a thorough market and business study to guarantee your app concept is realistic and marketable.

It is critical to creating a clear development strategy to guarantee that the entire apps development services process proceeds smoothly and successfully. Assume you’re working with a bespoke software development business or another mobile app developer. In that scenario, expect to be asked a lot of questions at this stage, since the developers and project manager will want to completely grasp your app’s needs and expectations.

2.2. App design cost

Any app development project must include app design. Contrary to common assumption, it is not a simple procedure, especially now that many elements must be considered in order to produce an appealing user interface and user experience.

Before beginning to construct the app’s wireframes, designers must have a thorough understanding of the desired functionality. This phase includes creating the overall UI and UX using wireframes and prototypes.

Figure 1. Design cost

Because an app’s attractiveness and user-friendliness are vital to its success, it is critical to invest significant time and money in the app designing phase to guarantee a proper design is created before beginning the development process. There is no set time or cost for the app design step. It often consumes 10% to 15% of the whole apps development services costs.

2.3. App development cost

When the mobile app design is complete, it moves on to the development stage. For the first time, clients may witness their ideas transform into practical products at this level. Most experienced developers can estimate the cost of development based on the design.

Figure 2. App development cost in mobile app

Other criteria, such as app complexity and the number of features, do, nevertheless, influence the cost of mobile app development. Aside from the added functions, practically all types of apps require some essential functionalities. These characteristics are as follows:

• Increase user engagement with SMS, email, and push notifications
• Registration and login for users
• Geolocation
• Integrations with payment systems
• The ability to sync

As a result, developers will go through all of the capabilities with you in depth in order to establish the overall apps development services cost.

2.4. App testing and deployment phase

After the app is constructed, the following step is to extensively test it to ensure that it meets the needs and expectations. Hiring experienced QA professionals necessitates a large expenditure, which might raise mobile app costs throughout the app testing process.

Figure 3. App testing and deployment 

The length of time required to test an app is determined by its features, goals, and complexity. If your app has a high degree of complexity and a big number of screens, you will need to devote a significant percentage of your cash to testing. Manual app testing is no longer sufficient to resolve glitches and problems in mobile apps, thus you may need to invest in an automated testing tool.

3. Mobile app development budget

Because the cost of app development is strongly related to the type of application you want to construct, most research on mobile app creation also provides the average cost based on the different types of apps.

According to research, the average cost of employing an app developer in the United States is $105,000 a year. Furthermore, the average cost of developing an app is:

4. What affects app cost?

Before you begin the process of designing an app, you should undertake a comprehensive business analysis to establish the features and functions you will require in your app. The entire cost of app development is greatly influenced by various factors. Let us go through each of these aspects one by one:

4.1. App complexity and features

The complexity and features of the app are critical in establishing the app development costs. It is conceivable that your app will just have three to four functions, but if these features are complicated, the entire app development cost will increase.

Generally, simple functionality like login and subscription need 20 to 25 hours of development. Developers, on the other hand, request 150 to 250 hours for sophisticated features such as visual data analysis and payment system integration.

Figure 4. App complexity and features

Integration of current APIs and machine learning models raises the cost of a mobile app even more. You might assume that features like geolocation are straightforward and inexpensive to incorporate, but they also cost a lot in traditional app development approaches.

Smaller and simpler mobile applications take fewer development hours and may thus be created on a tight budget. Even when developing a tiny app, you must consider your future ambitions to decide how much scalability you want in the app design. Keep in mind that complicated architecture necessitates more labor and greater app development expenses.

Complex applications often have a broad range of functions, such as real-time chatbots, media processing capabilities, animations, and other similar features that take a significant amount of time and money to design.

4.2. Development priorities

To keep app development expenses under control, you should thoroughly examine your app needs and establish clear objectives throughout the whole development process. Quality, cost, and speed are the three key aspects of software development. You cannot choose all three traits and must select either two of them.

It is conceivable for an app development business to promise that it can generate a high-quality app in a matter of days utilizing the traditional development technique. However, you cannot expect them to deliver the greatest results because a substantial amount of time and energy must be spent on the development methods in order to make a quality app.

4.3. Type of app

It is hard to estimate the cost of developing an app without first deciding the sort of app you want. It all depends on your needs. You may create a native app or a hybrid app.

4.3.1. Native app development

Native app development entails creating an app for a specific platform, such as an iOS or Android app. If you want to create native mobile apps for each of these platforms, you’ll need to design two different apps, which will dramatically raise the overall app development cost.

Large-scale firms, in general, prefer to create iOS and Android applications independently since they can afford to incur significant app development expenditures. One significant advantage of designing native applications is that they provide greater flexibility and customization choices.

4.3.2. Hybrid app development

As the name implies, hybrid app development is a current development method that allows you to design an app that works across many platforms. One of the primary advantages of creating a hybrid app is that it reduces app development costs. Because you don’t have to create Android and iOS apps individually with this sort of app creation, the overall app development cost is reduced.

However, extensive testing is necessary to ensure that Android and iOS apps function properly on the target operating systems. Otherwise, the quality of hybrid apps may be harmed by unreliable performance, a bad user experience, and a variety of other technological restrictions. When done right, hybrid app development is a viable approach for producing Android and iOS apps at a low cost.

4.4. UI/UX Design

Because the software development business is largely focused on offering a welcoming and fulfilling experience to app users, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) may make or break an app. The cost of developing an app is heavily influenced by UI and UX. People have a plethora of applications from which to pick. As a result, if an app lacks an appealing UI and UX, consumers are likely to abandon it in favor of a more appealing alternative.

As a result, it is critical to invest substantial effort and money in app design. Custom apps development services concentrate on tailoring the UI/UX design to employ the best buttons, icons, and fonts. Hiring UI/UX designers may be costly, therefore it has a significant influence on the entire cost of developing an app.

4.5. Development approach

The development strategy you use to create an app has a significant influence on app development expenses. Traditional development approaches are expensive since huge teams of app developers, UI/UX designers, QA specialists, and a project manager are required. As a result, with traditional development methodologies, the cost of creating an app is relatively significant.

The growing popularity of no-code and low-code development methodologies, on the other hand, allows you to dramatically reduce apps development services expenses. These various development methodologies will be addressed in depth later in this essay.

4.6. Maintenance

Many individuals mistakenly believe that the app development lifecycle concludes with the application’s launch. However, there is little purpose in releasing an app to the market if you intend to quit it soon after.

Continuous updates and app maintenance are essential for the long-term viability of an application. As a result, you must include app maintenance fees in your apps development services budget. Many various flaws and difficulties might occur in the program without ongoing maintenance and updates, causing you to lose the attention of your target audience.

5. THE AVERAGE COSTS OF HIRING A PROGRAMMER?

The price will vary based on various reasons like technology you choose, where you hire that programmer, experience they have, here are some examples:

5.1. COST OF HIRING AN IOS DEVELOPER

Because Apple wants iOS app development to remain standardized, it all comes down to learning Swift and Objective-C. This is why good iOS developers should be aware of the following:

• Solid iOS SDK (software development kit), OOP principles, and UI kit
• Multithreading, geolocation, networking, Apple purchase, APNS, and Core Data.
• Using GIT as a version control system (VCS)
• Making use of Swift testing tools

With that requirement, on average, iOS developers cost around 40000 $ per year in Vietnam and above $120,000 in the US or EU. And you will need to evaluate their hard and soft skills, know what questions to ask during the interview, and much more.

5.2. COST OF ANDROID DEVELOPER

Android is a much more open ecosystem, with a wide range of mobile device manufacturers using it. An Android developer must be able to write consistent, clear, and reusable code, as well as be proficient in a variety of programming languages. Must be familiar with:

• Java or Kotlin
• Android SDK, know how to use tools other principles
• Familiar with APIs, as these apps must interact with a ton of software through APIs
• Understand the back end, as this element can be pretty complex in Android apps

Android developers have typically been a high-paying profession, with yearly incomes as high as 130000 USD. Their annual salaries in Vietnam range from 6000 USD to 30000 USD. Cheaper when compared to some other markets.

6. SOME OTHER FACTORS CAN AFFECT THE PRICE OF HIRING A PROGRAMMER

6.1. WHAT KIND OF APP TYPE DO YOU WANT TO BUILD?

Is your app going to be an extension of your firm, or do you perceive it as a separate entity? Is it a straightforward app or a complicated one? What category does it fall under (education, lifestyle, entertainment, or perhaps a loyalty app development project)? Prepare answers to these questions before hiring a mobile app developer. If you need just basic functions, hiring a programmer is okay, but with a complicated app, you should using apps development services.

6.2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication is critical, particularly when dealing with offshore organizations. Before diving into the details, try to reach out to your potential vendor by chat, email, or phone to set up an initial appointment. Yes, hiring a programmer might be good for your budget, but an apps development services team will have more communication skills.

6.3. LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP

Development does not end with the release. After reviewing the feedback, a vendor should fix any bugs they missed, add new features, and make your app easier to use by the needs of the customers, so long-term relationships are required. When using apps development services, you will sign a contract and the developer team has the responsibility to fix bugs and other errors.

SUMMARY

The process of choosing a third-party app developer should not be rushed. Your choice will depend on multiple factors – your app type, business requirements, budget, deadlines. Depending on your project type, you can choose what suits you most. But definitely, choosing apps development services will be more secure and bring you the best result.

Sources: Internet 

——————————

L4 STUDIO – LEADING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IN VIETNAM

Website: https://l4studio.net/

Email: hi@l4studio.net

Phone: (+84) 28 6675 6685

Our Mobile App Development Services: https://l4studio.net/mobile-app-development/

For more interesting blogs: https://l4studio.net/it-knowledge/

Follow us at: https://www.facebook.com/L4Studiovn/

Read more: WHAT IS THE 3 TYPE OF ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE OUTSOURCING IN HO CHI MINH CITY?