How much does it cost to build a mobile app in 2022
The app development market has grown exponentially over the past decade or so as more companies compete to build feature-rich mobile applications that help them grow their reach globally. Research shows that mobile apps will generate an estimated $21.5 billion by the year 2025.
But let’s face it; building a well-thought-out mobile app is no easy task, and certainly won’t come cheap. In this article, we break down a few factors to consider when trying to estimate how much it will cost you to build a mobile app in 2022.
Let’s dive in!
Type of app
The type of app you choose to build for your business is the number one factor when estimating how much you are going to spend on development. There are different types of apps, ranging from basic informative apps to database apps and gaming apps.
Basic informative apps only show basic static information. Food recipes and diet planners are good examples of basic informative apps.
Database apps on the other hand rely on information from a website. Users can find information, add data, and much more. Building a database app is often expensive as these types of apps need more programming and APIs.
Gaming apps, which are now becoming pretty common, require excellent graphics, top-notch user experience, and social media experience.
Finally, utility applications offer quick access to information or tasks to be performed. Sports apps and stock prices are some common examples of utility apps.
Development platform
The development platform you choose for your app will greatly affect how much you spend on it. Gone are the days you needed difficult programming processes or user interfaces to develop an app. The emergence of low-code platforms like Microsoft PowerApps means even inexperienced beginners can now create their business apps easily.
Couple that with the availability of consulting services such as Valto and you will see how far the app development space has come for anyone serious about building an app.
Different platforms come with different features. Some have features that allow you to create an app from A-Z while some don’t support a lot of functionalities which means you have to combine several platforms to build a well-designed mobile app.
Below are two examples of decent development platforms and reasons to choose them when building your mobile app:
Codeless development platforms
If you are not very knowledgeable when it comes to complex coding tasks, perhaps you should consider codeless development platforms. This type of development platform will allow you to use a drag-and-drop approach to create your mobile app.
Mesh app and service architecture
This feature supports serverless, microservices, API mediation, and event-driven requirements for an app. Uber is a good example of a mobile app that uses the Mesh App Service Architecture.
Desired features
One of the most important questions for you to ask yourself before building a mobile app is what features you want it to have. For example, if you want your app to enable users to see taxi drivers near them, you will need GPRS.
How much you will spend to build the app will be greatly affected by these functionalities and features. The more features you want to be included in the app, the more you are likely to spend on its development.
Apart from the number, another thing you need to consider is the complexity of the features in the app. Do you want to build an app for one platform or multiple platforms?
Cross-platform apps or apps that are built for different platforms are generally cheaper to build and maintain compared to native apps. To determine the best option for you, consider your market share, device, and prevalence to decide the kind of app you want to build.
Whether you choose to build a native or cross-platform app, ensure that it supports the latest and earlier versions of the OS you are building it for.
AI services
When choosing the development platform to use to build your mobile app, it would be wise to settle on one with AI services. Artificial intelligence is without a doubt the newest craze right now and the earlier you adopt it, the better your chances of surviving this fast-paced app development revolution.
Monitoring and analytics
A good development platform will monitor and analyze an app’s performance before releasing it to the market. This will help you close any gaps and correct all niggling issues that could spell doom to the success of your app once it goes full-scale.
Conclusion
Mobile app development is not a walk in the park. However, if you choose the right development platform, the process gets a lot easier for you. We hope you now have a good starting point in this guide to help you choose the development platform to use for your next mobile app project. All the best!