- Six Factors Contributing to Android App Development Cost in 2024
- Level of app complexity
- Type and category of app
- App deployment on Play Store
- Android app maintenance
- Android app development team
- Calculator to Estimate Your Android App Development Cost
- Comparative Analysis of Android vs iOS App Development Cost
- 1. Cost of app development
- 2. App designing
- 3. Testing process
- 4. App launch
- How to Cut Android App Development Costs?
- 1. Create product requirement document
- 2. Prioritize features
- 3. Build an MVP
- 4. Choosing the right app development company
- How can Appinventiv help you with Android app development?
- FAQs Around Android Mobile App Development Cost Estimate
The global mobile application market was valued at $228.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $567.19 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 14.3% from 2024 to 2030.
By the time we read these figures, Android would have more than 3 billion active users covering 75% of the total market share for mobile application development. Furthermore, the latest reports suggest that Android held approximately 57.56% of the mobile operating system market share as more digital enterprises are adapting to Android app development.
The statistics clearly point to the fact that if you have an android app development project planned for your business, now is the right time to get started.
Ofcourse, your first question must revolve around the android app development cost and the factors that can impact your budget in 2024 and years beyond.
To give you a brief idea,the average estimated range of how much it costs to develop an Android app is about $20,000 – $300,000 and above, based on your project requirements.
There are multiple factors that directly impact the cost of developing an android app. Just so you don’t overrun your budget, this article is an excellent resource of all associated Android app development cost factors and how you can cut costs while developing your android app.
Let’s begin with the top factors that directly contribute to the cost of Android app development.
Six Factors Contributing to Android App Development Cost in 2024
When you are all set to develop your Android app, you cannot expect your outsourced mobile app development company to share the exact cost estimate right off the bat.
That’s because you and your development team need to analyze your app’s requirements first. These requirements will directly contribute to the development cost of your app. Here are some of those factors and requirements.
Level of app complexity
Level of app complexity also determines how much it costs to build an app. One of the qualities which contribute to an application being considered as “efficient” and incredible is the diversity of the features it has. So, let’s have a look at some prominent features that add up to the Android app complexity:
Model of deployment architecture- The app backend development consists of two types – BaaS and Custom. In the Baas development, you will be given a readymade backend architecture, allowing less room for change. On the other side, Custom backend development provides an architecture that is made from scratch complementing a particular application.
Integration of third-party apps- Your android application will need to interact with other third-party applications to perform specific functions. These functions can be anything from using Google, Gmail, or Facebook to sign up to interact with a monetary application for in-app purchases.
Construction of admin panel- An admin panel is an integral part of any application as it allows the users to keep a record of the functions and activities performed in the app, analyze statistics related to the application, and also update the content on the application without involving the Android app builders.
In-app purchase functionality- Your android app would require payment gateway integration to allow users to perform monetary transactions from within the application. This eliminates the app’s dependency on other modes of payment.
Using the device’s hardware- Your android app will also require access to the hardware’s functionality. For instance, the applications may need to use some functions like GPS Bluetooth. This will straight up add to your app’s complexity and ultimately the android app development price.
Here’s a breakdown of Android app development cost based on your app complexity:
| App Complexity | Level of Complexity | Average Timeline | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple app |
| 2-3 months | $20,000-$50,000 |
| Medium Complex app |
| 3-8 months | $50,000-$150,000 |
| Highly complex app |
| 6-14 months | $150,000-$300,000 |
Type and category of app
It is a given that the cost of android app development relies on what type of Android app is being developed. There are various categories we can divide the Android applications in and they all come with their own functionalities, demographics, security criteria, and more.
Although, Android app development is beneficial to any industry, here is a list of most popular android app categories with real time examples:
E-commerce/M-Commerce apps- M-Commerce applications such as Amazon and Wayfair are at the peak of their popularity because these applications are loaded with tons of features that enable the applications to perform effectively in real-time, handle millions of users at once, and have robust security.
For instance, Appinventiv developed an easy, trustworthy and personalized shopping experience for mothers called “Edamama”, a project that raised $5 million funding and is currently serving thousands of mothers.
Another example is Adidas, the global eCommerce mobile application crafted by Appinventiv that expanded its mobile presence with over 2+ million downloads.
Social Networking apps- Social media apps are developed with third-party integrations and have the ability to access hardware functions such as cameras, audio recorders, etc. They are also highly scalable in nature for they have to support millions of users at a time.
As a result, the social media app cost tends to be higher than the cost of less complex Android apps.
On-demand apps- Even the simplest of on-demand applications has three versions- For users, for individuals offering services, and for the business.
For instance, Acti drive is an on-demand service application modeled on IoT technology that enables drivers to drive hassle-free.
Hardware-dependent apps- All the IoT-based applications tend to be highly dependent on hardware devices for performing actions like extracting data or sending commands for a particular action.
One popular reference of IoT-based hardware-dependent apps is “Moo”, an eScooter application. Moo is the future of mobility that manages transportation at micro level which is why the application is completely hardware based.
Now, based on the category of your Android app, here’s an android app making cost and time estimate:
| App Type | Estimated Cost (In $) | Estimated Time (In hours) |
|---|---|---|
| On-demand app (Uber) | 50,000-400,000 | 1,600 |
| Gaming app | 60,000-250,000 | More than 1,800 |
| eSIM App (Holafly, Airalo) | $30,000-300,000 | 1,200 |
| eCommerce/mCommerce app | 50,000-150,000 | 1,200 |
| Social media app | 50,000-300,000 | 1,200 |
| Learning app (Duolingo) | 60,000-225,000 | 900 |
| UPI app | $30,000-300,000 | 1,200 |
| Dating app (Tinder) | 50,000-350,000 | 1,400 |
| Food delivery app | 40,000-150,000 | 900 |
| Healthcare app | 55,000-300,000 | 1,200 |
Android app animation and design
The app animation and design process is again a crucial factor directly contributing to the android mobile app development cost. There are various designs and animations out there, and the costs for implementing them can vary depending on the type and quality of these designs.
Material Design- Material Design is the type of design that is used for Android app development to add the spirit of creativity and simplistic boldness in the mobile app designs. Whereas, for iOS, Flat Design is more ideal. So evidently, the cost of Android app design is another notch in the belt that contributes to the final android app making cost.
Wireframing- To create effective user experience features and maps, Wireframing is employed by the developers. Special tools like MARVEL, Balsamiq, and Photoshop are used.
Animation- Animation has become a popular method to make certain aspects of any application interesting and intuitive. More often than not, gaming and social media applications employ animations to a great degree.
Here is the Android mobile application development cost breakdown based on the design requirements of the app:
| App Process | Design Tasks | Average Development Time | Average Development Cost (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App design research |
| Based on niche and available resource | $100-$350 |
| UX design |
|
| $2000-$8000 |
| UI design (visuals) |
|
| $10,000-$40,000 |
| Branding |
| Logos, icons and social media | $5,000-$20,000 |
| Animations and illustrations |
| Based on level of animations | $1000-$20,000 |
App deployment on Play Store
Everything leads up to this prominent point. Successfully submitting an app on the Play Store plays an integral part in the overall android app development budget. However, there are certain prerequisites that must be considered. To get any app selected, there are some Play Store guidelines you must follow.
Additionally, there is a one-time fee of $25 that Google charges to launch any android app.
Android app maintenance
Your android app development expense does not end with the application successfully getting published on the Play Store, there is much more ahead to do, i.e., App maintenance. However necessary this step is, the maintenance cost of Android apps’ frontend and backend eventually adds up to the final amount of total android app development price.
The Android app maintenance cost highly ranges from the scope of development and changes to the level of maintenance, therefore, make sure you consult your android app development team to get an estimate on app maintenance.
Android app development team
The total Android application development cost heavily depends on who you choose for the app development. There are multiple choices at hand – a proficient Android app development company, local team, inhouse development team or a freelance Android developer.
However, an experienced android app development company can work wonders for your business app when it comes to crafting high end applications with top notch features and functionalities.
Here is a rough estimate of what your app development cost should range to with an outsourced app development team.
| Cost Factors and Requirements | Simple App | Medium App | Complex App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development time | 4-6 months | 8-10 months | 10- 15 months |
| Developers | $30-40,000 | $50-60,000 | $100,000+ |
| UI/UX Designer | $4-5,000 | $5-7,000 | $10-15,000 |
| Project Manager | $5-7,000 | $10-15,000 | $10,000+ |
| QA Specialist | $8-10,000 | $15-20,000 | $20,000+ |
| Business Analyst | $2-3,000 | $5-8,000 | $8-10,000 |
| DevOps | $2-4,000 | $5-7,000 | $10,000+ |
| Solution Architect | $1-3,000 | $5-8,000 | $9,000+ |
| Total | $20-50,000 | $50-100,000 | $100,000+ |
Now that we are familiar with the factors that determine how much does it cost to build an app, let’s take a quick glance through the industry based android app development cost calculator to help you with your budget estimation.
Calculator to Estimate Your Android App Development Cost
To effectively calculate the cost of application development, a formula has been curated by industry experts. It involves the amount of time (in hours) taken in the app development process, which is then multiplied with the billable hours of the resources spent in the whole development process.
Once you have an estimation of the average cost, you would also want to do a comparison of Android vs iOS app development costs.
Comparative Analysis of Android vs iOS App Development Cost
Android and iOS are two leading mobile operating platforms. It’s possible to go all the way out and create an app for each platform or you can go for cross platform app development. To help you make a crystal clear decision on your operating platform, here is a detailed comparison of Android vs iOS development cost and the factors related.
1. Cost of app development
Well, the cost of app development depends on how long it took to build a mobile app and also the technology used in the process.
Now, Android apps are developed using Kotlin and Java programming languages, whereas iOS applications are based on Swift and Objective-C. It is observed that the developers of the latter languages can charge from 10% to 15% more in comparison to Java developers. This shows that Android apps are less costly than iOS in this regard.
2. App designing
The difference between the time spent on developing engaging and intuitive UI Design for both Android and iOS apps is minimal. What is more, there is a lot of room for experimentation and innovation in Android application development due to the flexible guidelines of Google.
3. Testing process
When it comes to the testing of Android apps, it can be a challenging task for the developers. As opposed to the iOS app development, an Android application needs to be tested across numerous screen displays and resolutions to get more unified and better user experience.
4. App launch
Due to the strict Apple Guidelines, it becomes arduous for developers to get the application cleared. Whereas Google does not have restricted entry. However, the updated Google policy may suggest some strictness in the process of app selection. This publishing criteria that both Apple and Google demands adds on to the cost to build an app.
After witnessing all the factors majorly contributing to the final charges of Android app development Dubai, US, UK and other countries, we can see that it is not possible to have a one-word answer to the question “How much does it cost to develop an app?’’.
However, there is an answer to how you can cut over the overall expenses in your android app development project.
How to Cut Android App Development Costs?
Here are some ways in which you can cut down on your Android app development charges:
1. Create product requirement document
Planning is key when it comes to kick-starting your Android app development process. For this, you should create a product requirement document that provides information regarding your app features and the projected tech stack you would use for developing Android apps.
Your document should include information such as company background, app features, timeline, thought behind developing app, budget estimates and platform requirements.
2. Prioritize features
In the planning stage of building an Android app, sit with your team and discuss the features your app needs. Filter down on the ones that are most important and logical for your app. Run this test app in the field and get feedback to know how to improve and move further with your Android app building process.
3. Build an MVP
If you want to save money on app development, then build a minimum viable product (MVP) with limited features that general users and mobile app developers can test in the early stages of app development cost. In case there is any issue, it could be solved immediately.
4. Choosing the right app development company
A company with experience in Android application development can only help you if it matches your budget and preferences. So choose the best app development company to get the best ROI on your investment.
How can Appinventiv help you with Android app development?
Appinventiv is a reliable Android app development company that guarantees scalability with expertise in everything related to a successful android application development. Our suite of services range from Android app development consultation to UI/UX design, software testing and multi-platform deployment.
Choosing Android for your mobile app development comes with several exceptional benefits, and you can get the most out of this platform when you know the various factors affecting your android mobile app development cost.
FAQs Around Android Mobile App Development Cost Estimate
Q. How much does it cost to publish an Android app on the Play Store?
A. Google charges a one-time fee of $25 as an Android app publish cost on the Play Store. Typically with millions of apps on Google Play Store and the platform’s updated privacy policy, it might take hours and even days to get your app published. This is why, it is suggested to partner with a mobile app development company to create even more flawless applications that get selected instantly.
Q. What is the average cost to develop an Android app?
A. The average cost to develop an Android app can be anywhere between $20,000 – $300,000 and above, based on your project requirements. Several factors as mentioned above also contribute to the overall budget of your Android app development, however, to get an accurate estimate, you can consult the experts at a reliable Android app development company.
Q. What is the average time to develop an Android app?
A. If you are planning to build an Android app, it can take from half a year to upward of a year to be completed. Check out , How much time does it take to develop an app for more insights.
Q. Should I patent my Android app?
A. It depends. If your application is one that is truly unique – targets a complete new group of users, use a never used before technology – you can think of patenting your Android app. But, to be double sure, you can refer to the USPTO website or Google patents for inquiring purposes.
Q. How to estimate the development cost of an Android app?
A. There is a simple formula that is used to calculate the average cost of app development – Hours spent in development multiplied by the billable hours of resources spent.
Q. Why should businesses go with Android Application Development?
A. We could present a plethora of benefits that custom mobile app development for Android offers to startups. Some of the major points from the benefits are:
- Exposure to a huge user base
- Easy Integration
- Cost-effective in many respects
- Scalable and supports customization
- Compatibility with a myriad of devices
Q. Can I make my own app?
A. You can make your own app, but it’s advisable to work with an experienced app development company, so you can save money in the process while getting a better end result.
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