So you are here to find out how much an app costs? While there are many answers to stimulate, this blog works as a goldmine of information for you. 

With approximately 6.6 billion active mobile app development users worldwide, building your app in the modern arsenal can be persuasive. There is no need to pass them up given how well-liked they are and the amount of money they generate.

But first, it’s crucial to comprehend how much it costs to create an app. The majority of clients who come to us with an app concept ask this as one of their first inquiries.

So, how can you reduce the app development cost? You’ll discover a specific solution today, so grab a coffee and continue reading.

An overview of the estimated cost of developing an average mobile app

In a nutshell, the approximate cost to create a mobile app can be anything between $25,000 and $150,000, and it can even approach $300,000 for specialized, complex apps. We used tentatively since many variables affect the cost of developing a custom mobile app, like the complexity of the app, its features and functionalities, the development process, and more.

But don’t worry, we have a thorough analysis of every significant element affecting the cost of developing mobile apps.

Once you are familiar with these elements, you can use the standard calculation method to determine how much it will cost to build an app. The calculation or answer to how much it costs to produce an app consists of figuring out how many hours each step of the development process would take and multiplying that number by the billable hours of resources.

So let’s start by investigating some well-known apps’ development costs.

The most popular global apps and their development cost

Here are a few examples of well-known apps that are now dominating the app market and have redefined and revolutionized the idea of customer experience. The typical application development cost of these apps was also provided.

Uber

Uber is a well-known ride-sharing app that links drivers and passengers all around the world. Customers can request a car now or at a later time via the app. Drivers in the area hear those demands. An app like Uber can be developed at an average price of $30,000 to $100,000.

Snapchat

In the realm of social media apps, Snapchat has changed the game with more than 300 million daily active users. Through filters and interactive lenses, this well-known messaging software has been a pioneer in introducing augmented reality to its users. Additionally, you may use the app to send multimedia messages that “self-destruct” after up to 10 seconds. A Snapchat-like app might cost between $45,000 and $100,000 to develop for one platform, or up to $200,000 for both.

Build a social media app from scratch with us, start by reading this informational blog. 

WhatsApp

Whatsapp is a messaging service that enables users to send messages, make immediate video and voice conversations, upload photos and videos, and more. A messaging service similar to WhatsApp would typically cost between $30,000 and $70,000 to develop.

TikTok

This video-sharing app has taken over the entertainment industry and is now unavoidable. TikTok users may lip-sync conversations and recreate their favourite moments from various movies and music videos.

To improve your films and photographs, the program also provides several filters and effects. An app like TikTok will typically cost between $60,000 to $100,000 to produce on one platform, and up to $150,000 for hybrid development.

Coursera

Coursera is an e-learning program that has become extremely well-liked among students and instructors as a result of the great advantages it provides. The app provides a variety of online learning programs, from global university degrees to skill development courses. The price of creating a smartphone app similar to Coursera might range from $60,000 to $120,000.

Netflix

The most popular media streaming service in the world is Netflix. Users can stream television episodes and movies whenever they want. An app like Netflix typically costs between $25,000 and $200,000.

You might also like to know, how to build an app like Netflix

These were the estimated expenses for some of the top mobile apps on the market. Although this, we also need to talk about essential development aspects that impact the entire cost of developing mobile apps.

Top 8 Elements Influencing Your Mobile App Development Costing 

As we have stated earlier, the cost of mobile apps may differ by several factors such as the complexity of the project, feature integration, design and animation, and many others. Getting a thorough understanding of these elements will help you determine accurate price estimations while inclining you on the way to gaining the best ROI. 

Simply put, it will help you stay within your budget. 

Let’s discuss this in detail below:

1. App Development Complexity 

To define this in a sentence, deriving the price of your app development is much like planning to purchase a home. The more modern you make your home, the costlier it becomes. 

When your app is at the early stage of development, it does not require extra features or functionality, which directly removes time and money. However, once you start getting market values, you’d be willing to add more touch to your application corresponding to increasing the development time and you will have to pay double. 

Here are a few mandatory questions to ask yourself before hiring a mobile app development company:

• What and how many functionalities are you planning to integrate into your app?
• How complex your app’s business model is? 
• How do you plan to design your app? 
• Do you want a similar infrastructure for all the operating devices? 

Below we have bifurcated the mobile app development pricing based on your business model (Assuming the average app price is $40/hour): 

“We advise you to define your budget according to the complexity of your app project and then head on to the next stage for a more effortless workflow.”

IMAGE SOURCE

Cost Evaluation Of Core Feature Implementation

We know how complicated it may be when identifying the core functionality setup of the app. Therefore, to ease the process, we have created a list of features that are needed to build any app:

Note that: These estimations are again based on the earlier defined $40/hour as the average price. Also, the chart curated above is a standard breakdown of the core features needed to create a simple application. 

A few other crucial elements that impact the budget of app development are:

• An internet connection will be required for the application.
• Pricing options for the app, such as free, subscription-based, and single-purchase options.
• If the app will need back-end assistance.

2. The App Type

Mobile apps can be divided into three categories: Native, Web, and Hybrid. Based on its requirements, business logic, and functionality, each sort of app is distinct.

• Native apps are created in a language specific to the operating system of the target device, such as Java or Kotlin for Android and Objective C or Swift for iOS app development services.
• Web apps are websites that have been optimized for mobile devices and use responsive design to provide a fluid user experience on devices with different screen sizes, such as tablets and smartphones.
• Cross-platform apps are best suited to meet the needs of a broad audience because they are created utilizing a combination of online and native technology.

Here is a comparison between Native vs Cross-platform mobile application developments to assist you in understanding how much it costs to produce various app types. 

3. Development Region

Did you know? that the costliest region for mobile app development services is the USA, which is pretty obvious as the country replicates high standards and lavish. 

Although many regions offer affordable app development based on mobile app developer’s hourly rates. 

Here’s a chart of different regions with their development charges for hourly support: 

As you can see, prices are lower in Eastern Europe and India than they are in the US, UK, and Australia. You may create an app for almost 1/50th of the price ($120-150/hour) of one in these places.

Read the comprehensive guide on the mobile app development cost in the UK in 2024. 

4. App Development Platform 

An approximate price for creating an Android or iOS mobile app is as follows:

There isn’t much of a price difference between these two platforms. You have the option of creating an app for iOS or Android. You can even create an app for one platform, and then subsequently construct it for another, using a stair-step strategy. For instance, Instagram, which was first made available to iOS users in 2010, was only made available to Android users in 2014.

However, selecting a platform is another topic. You must take the following into account for this:

If you wish to simultaneously target the iOS and Android markets, you may also create a hybrid app. Developing these apps is significantly less expensive than developing native apps concurrently.

5. Development Approach 

You are mistaken if you believe that the mobile app development company has little bearing on and has little effect on the price of creating a mobile application. As a result, when developing a mobile app, you must consider the development approach.

The development methods listed below can be used to create a mobile application:

The most cost-effective choice, according to the table, is to hire a freelancer. But there is a cost involved. 

You receive no accountability from independent contractors. There is no assurance that an app was built well. 

So it makes more sense to hire an app development company. It provides you with accountability for your app and is less expensive than hiring an internal team or a neighbourhood firm.

6. App Design Complexity 

More adaptations result in increased expenditures, similar to application development. Consider the following factors for a thorough overview:

• User experience: Depending on user involvement levels and other factors, such as button placement, colour psychology, and users’ eye patterns, an app’s price may vary.
• User Interface: The price of a mobile app will also be significantly influenced by aesthetic factors including layout, screen, colour, and typography.
• Branding: To differentiate your app from the hundreds of other companies that are comparable to it, you would need to spend more on branding.
• UX writing: It will cost you more to hire a UX writer from a native English-speaking nation than from a non-native one.

What else is remaining when determining your app development cost? We are at the finishing of this blog. Only one more aspect to keep in mind– The Hidden Cost. 

Hidden costs related to mobile app development

You must consider the following additional expenditures related to mobile app development:

• Functional fees, such as those associated with third-party integrations. You may spend anything from $5,000 to $20,000 a year on them.
• Maintenance expenses include the cost of releasing updates, correcting bugs, and paying server fees. Around 20% of the annual costs of developing an app are devoted to upkeep.
• Costs associated with marketing your app development services. They cost about 40% more annually than the initial investment.

How DianApps can help you build a mobile app at affordable prices? 

Well, with accurate planning, and deriving your project goals, we come up with the best mobile app development services and costs. 

Hire our app development consultant, to find your average app development cost!