There are no signs of stopping in the market of mobile applications leading to more and more people researching the cost to make a productive app. Creating your app is a matter of business for some, while others use apps for communication, business, food, games, lifestyle, and sports. The good news is – developing an app isn’t as expensive as most of us may think.
Moreover, plenteous resources are available to enable an individual to create an app by himself. Think about any latest products or services that you’ve bought; whether it’s a cell phone, car, or cleaning service; price points depend on definite elements.
The same is the case of the making of a mobile app. So how much does it cost to make an app in 2019? Well, the price is going to be depended on what you have in mind and trying to accomplish.
Just like any other thing, you get what you are actually paying for. It is quite ridiculous to expect to build a fantastic app for only a few dollars. But at the same time, millions of dollars doesn’t automatically interpret the success of the application.
App cost calculator
To give you the opportunity for your app cost estimation, there are many app cost calculators available on the search engines. There you can indicate the specifications, and send data to app development experts about your project or an app you want to work on eventually. Here are a few of the main factors that affect the cost:
- How your app gets built
- What you need your app to do
- Who builds your app
How much does it cost to make an app?
A moderate price to create an app by expert agencies is $171,450 that is the result of a survey conducted by Clutch. Online app cost calculators present an app with dozens of features between $200,000 and $350,000 whereas the typical cost range is $100,000 – $500,000, specified by app development companies but no need to panic. As small apps could cost between $10,000 and $50,000, so there’s an opportunity for any business, but it will have a few basic features only.
Typically, the cost of creating a mobile app varies immensely from zero to exceptionally high price, let’s say millions. However, due to multiple factors at play, there is no simple answer to the cost of the development of the mobile app. Different project complexity, developer rates, and time it takes to build an app to control the cost of a mobile app. The price to make an app depends on the following characteristics:
- Platforms (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc.)
- Type (mobile game, social networking, lifestyle, business, etc.)
- features & infrastructure
- design (basic, individual, custom)
Outsourcing App development:
In-house app development and outsourced app development and have their own pros and cons. How to outsource development, why outsource, and how much does it cost to make an app on outsourcing? These are significant queries, as the result of research beforehand, every researcher learns a lot before deciding to pay someone to build an app.
That is going to excessive help in the longer run. Your checklist should be something like before hiring anyone for mobile app development services
- Do I have a clear idea about my criteria for choosing candidates for app development?
- What platforms will it be based on? (iPhone and/or Android app development)
- What is my budget for this process of app development, and what is an average outsource app development cost in the market?
- Is it going to be an MVP or a full-feature app?
- Is my app/product idea clearly outlined?
- Do you have a clear idea of all mobile app features and functions?
- What is my end-game with an app?
- Do I have bright UX/UI design, QA, marketing, etc. requirements ready?
You know no long-term commitments, cheaper cost, and a wide range of options are the highlighted benefits of mobile app outsourcing. In contrast, there are many threats, starting from time, logistical to language challenges.
How much does it cost to hire an app developer in 2019?
Various expert opinions and best practices are gathered upon these factors to decide how much does it cost to hire a developer for mobile app development
- Discovery – the first step involves communicating about goals, deadlines, and terms;
- Development – it is the actual creation of an app; as coding of the app falls under this category
- Regulator and production procedure – the ongoing cycle of app development, as there’s always something to update or re-create.
- Scoping/evaluation – the full range of apps’ features and capabilities, mock-ups. etc.;
Moreover, before beginning the procedure of app development outsourcing, you should grasp:
- technical details,
- an agency or an independent developer the downsides of outsourcing,
- fixed bid or hourly bid,
- need for NDA,
- establishing regular checks,
- List of vital features and nice-to-have ones.
The main risk is the assurance of quality while outsourcing app development. So, regulation and surveillance are obligatory. Examining the code regularly and ensuring it meets your app project goals will help from any devious result at the end of the process.
Demonstration of features yourself, and ask to elaborate if there’s a need without hesitation is the right way to get work done through outsourcing. Voice your concerns on time as it is your money.
Now, let’s elaborate on each stage.
Identify the purpose
It means the accurate and particular set of demands of the functioning of the app and what are the expectations from it. For example, a fitness app with a paid subscription, and a free app for recreational purposes are entirely different spaces. The underlying subject matter of how to outsource app development always starts with this central point of discussion and ultimately helps to hire offshore developers with relevant and applicable skills.
Outsource app development risk assessment
There’s are many significant risks, among which could be miscommunication, unreliability, poor product quality, delays, source code insecurity, and many more. To save yourself from the hazards, weigh in all possible legal issues, limit database access, divide the code, etc.
Do the homework
Waiting after telling the developing team your requirements to build you an app is not enough. Supervision and direct surveillance throughout the process are required for better results. For that, project description, user flow, and UX basics, wireframes, list of features and screens, tech stack, etc., are required to perform tasks effectively.
Interview and select a developer
Start with interviewing the developer and perceive if you can apprehend and understand each other effortlessly. Asking specific questions regarding their work experience, skillset and knowledge are going to save you a fortune, like understanding outsourcing app development to see if he is confident about skills.
Always check the portfolio beforehand and call unexpectedly to see how a person reacts to judge the nature of your outsourcer. Considering the time zones difference ahead of time is also going to save you from a lot of trouble.
Project plan
Your set of tasks, including establishing milestones and checkups after every small period of time to tract the procedure. These are your short-term goals or phases, and these are decided mutually. A general rehearsal is to pay the developers after each stage is completed efficaciously. The use of project management tools (Trello, Asana, Basecamp) is considerable assistance as well. It would be an ace up your sleeve if you assign a project manager explicitly to control your offshore app development.
Oversee
Distracting the outsource developers by chatting too much and micro-manage everything is going to be a colossal disaster. As you have decided on the milestones already, so trust the workflow and don’t interrupt the process. One point to keep in mind, over the sighting of app development doesn’t mean you need to checkup on developers every day through calls and ask for daily updates, feedback, and updates.
Adequate tests
Just working is never enough. Ensuring that the app is working to its full potential is necessary. To have a better outcome, you need to run as many types of testing and user behavior scenarios as possible. Going through every possible user action is quite obligatory, and your outsourced app developer will also be doing the same and even more.
App release
For assistance, purposes consult experienced app developers as they have published dozens of applications to Google Play and App Store for customers.
How to outsource app development – Best practices
This is a highly searched question by many business owners but what you don’t know is, there’s absolutely no need to invent a bicycle with outsourcing app development. Here are general rules of selection and the best ways of dodging mistakes.
Beware of trends but stay unique
Skeuomorphism, flat design, and instinctive is alright, but what is the way of distinguishing your app? The right answer to this question is to be inspired but work to stand out, bring something new to the community, bring added value.
Security in mind
It is equal to Russian roulette, if you are not investing in mobile app security measures because there are hackers active as never before in days of the 21st century. Customer information is a sensitive matter, and sometimes you have to protect that data more thoroughly than your app itself. This proposes authentication mechanisms for proper security measures.
Know your users
For the purpose of accurate analysis, it is advantageous to start by bringing your audience in at early stages, firstly by sharing the idea if the app idea and collect their feedback and having this in mind, begin the process of app outsourcing.
Agreement and software documentation
If you are thinking of getting only the app itself, then you’re not on the right track. As a result of this, later on, you or your employees will not have that minimum reference on how to run and maintain the app. For responsible use, you need agreement and software documentation, preferably from the person/team building your app.
Legal representation
There are plenty of risks in the process of outsourcing app development, as not every agreement goes well. It’s quite an enhanced move to cover your bases beforehand to save yourself from ownership rights, data loss, and the defective end product. Getting advice from a law firm in the terrestrial of your outsource app development company is more accommodating.
Keep leverage till the end
It is a highly positive practice that you reserve a preordained part of the total payment until the time of acceptance of the outcome. This way, you will have the upper hand and power to force the developers to fix potential post-release issues for you. Because it is quite normal that the cost of your project can rise drastically if anything goes wrong.
Final Words:
After pinpointing the type of app you’re going to build, you should stick with it. Or else, the expenses will hastily increase.
If you start adding unnecessary features that change the category of the app, your $10,000 app could rapidly turn into a project of $50,000. Furthermore, it will confuse your audience. So stick to the first proposal.