How Much Does Mobile App Development Cost In 2024?

Did you know that by the end of 2022, there were 1.64 million apps available on the Apple App Store and more than 3.5 million apps on the Google Play Store? The number is increasing day by day at an exponential rate. Clearly, people are relying on mobile solutions now more than ever. According to the survey conducted by Statista, mobile app users have spent USD 33.7 billion in the first quarter of 2023 globally. This shows that investing in mobile apps is no longer an option but a necessity.

Many businesses want to invest in mobile apps, however, the idea is stalled as they know nothing about the investment amount. Are you an entrepreneur looking for an answer to ‘How much does mobile app development cost?’

This guide is designed to give you a detailed answer along with some more useful information. We’ll look at the factors that affect the cost of developing a mobile app and how you can save money on the app development process.

So, let’s begin…!!

An Overview Of Average Mobile App Development Costs

After analyzing the current market trends and statistics, the average mobile app development cost in 2024 can start from $10,000 to $350,000 and may go up to $500,000. The number can also increase or decrease depending on the level of customization, features, and design required.

Don’t worry, we’ve done a thorough analysis of all the essential elements that influence the cost of mobile app development. After getting knowledge of these factors, you’ll be able to determine an estimated budget for your project.

The actual answer to ‘how much does it cost to develop a mobile app’ resides in the number of hours and hard work required in different stages of mobile app development.

Let’s go through the app development cost of some of the popular mobile apps in the market today.

Some Popular Mobile Apps & Their Development Costs

Here we will talk about some of the most famous and loved mobile apps by customers. They have redefined the concept of User Experience and are at the top of their game. Also, keep in mind that the app development expenses below are averages and not exact values.

• Uber

Uber is a platform that has made life easier for people by allowing them to book and share rides/cabs, deliver food, and complete local deliveries. The app has an embedded geolocation feature to provide personalized and quick services. The average cost of developing an Uber-like app can be between $30,000 to $950,000.

• Netflix

Netflix is a leading OTT streaming platform. It delivers video content i.e., movies and web shows directly to customers over the Internet. The average cost of developing a Netflix-like app would be somewhere between $25,000 to $300,000.

• WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to connect and share messages, videos, pictures, and other types of content around the world. More than 2.24 billion people worldwide use WhatsApp monthly. The average cost of developing a Whatsapp-like app would be between $30,000- $80,000.

• Snapchat

Statista reveals that as of the first quarter of 2023, Snapchat had 383 million daily active users from across the world. Snapchat is a game-changing app and also brings the power of AR into its filters and interactive lenses. The average cost of developing Snapchat-like apps is between $35,000 to $100,000.

Factors Impacting The Cost Of Mobile App Development

Mobile app development expenses vary depending on multiple factors. The knowledge of these factors will help you make cost-effective decisions and save money. So, let’s dive into the major factors affecting the cost of Android and iOS app development services. 

1. Complexity Of Mobile App

The mobile app development pricing is directly proportional to its complexity level. There are three types of apps based on the complexity level:

• Simple Apps: These are simple yet essential apps with limited functionalities such as a login system, a calculator, etc. The average cost of developing a simple app ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.
  
  
• Moderate Apps: These medium-complex apps consist of more features and functionalities. In addition to basic features, these apps also include integration of payment gateway, social media platforms, geolocation, or tracking functionalities. The average cost of moderate mobile apps would be $20,000 to $50,000.
  
  
• Complex Apps: The cost of a complex mobile app development can range from $75,000 to $250,000 or above. These apps will have advanced features and functionalities like multi-language support, real-time synchronization, offline mode, etc. These apps include modern technologies like AR/VR, AI, Machine Learning, and more.

2. Type Of Mobile App

Mobile app development cost varies a lot for one or the other category. With the change in category, the features, functionalities, safety parameters, and many more things also change. Here we are going to discuss some top categories of mobile app development:

• E-commerce/M-Commerce apps: These apps like Amazon, flipkart, or Walmart are highly popular because of their easy user experience and the problems they solve. Their high-end features such as effective performance in real-time, handling millions of users at the same time, interactive UI, high security, and more make them a valuable addition to the world. The cost of developing an eCommerce app is $15,000 to $45,000.
  
  
• Social Networking apps: These apps are built with third-party integration and also require hardware functions like camera, audio, location, etc. These apps should be scalable as they have to handle millions of users at the same time. Their processing speed should be high as they have to process a lot of data. This is the reason why the cost of social media app development is higher than simple apps and it ranges between $30,000-$200,000. Examples are Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
  
  
• IoT-based apps: All IoT-based apps are heavily reliant on hardware devices to conduct tasks such as data extraction or command transmission. These apps are developed to improve the functionality of physical devices. The cost of developing IoT-based applications is $50,000+.
  
  
• On-demand apps: These apps are made to satisfy specific user needs and come in three versions – for users, for individuals, and for enterprises. Common examples of such apps are Uber, Swiggy, DoorDash, etc. The cost of on-demand apps is more than other apps and could be $30,000 – $200,000+.
  
  
• Gaming Apps: The gaming and entertainment industry is highly competitive, but also has a lot of scope. It is necessary to understand the features that are lacking and smartly implement them to attract more users. Some highly popular gaming apps include Clash Of Clans, PUBG, Call of Duty, etc. Such apps cost around $30,000 to $200,000.

3. Design of Mobile App

Moving on with ‘how much does it cost to create an app,’ understand that appealing UI is essential to attract and hook customers. You need to focus and design the app as per users’ needs to ensure that they spend more time on your app. The mobile app development cost fluctuates depending on the target customers. Further, it depends on the number of screens, custom visual elements, and complexity of the design.

Here are some things that you need to consider while estimating the app development cost:

• User Experience

UX design is all about the way an application works. The purpose is to create a user-friendly and engaging design that guides as well as persuades users to take the intended action. This includes CTA placement, color psychology, and designing UI as per the perspective of target audiences. 

• UI And Visuals

The look of the app plays an important role in attracting viewers and converting them into potential customers. The cost of app development also depends on the type of visual elements used and how they are used. This also influences the cost of MVP development. It is suggested to develop a mockup or prototype, get validation or feedback, and then follow it for the actual design of the app. This will help you save money as well as time. 

The app design depends on the purpose i.e., what actually you want to gain from the app. It could be engagement, sales, leads information, or more. Another thing that influences the app design is the type of app you are going to develop be it basic, social media, e-commerce, real estate, etc. 

4. App Features & Functionalities

The Android or iOS app development cost highly depends on the features and functionalities you want to embed in them. Mobile app development expenses keep on increasing with the addition of new features or functionalities. This is why rapid prototyping in mobile app development is considered beneficial. This helps save money and time and get validation from customers before the actual development.

Mobile App Development Cost Breakdown Based On Integration of Advance Features

5. Platform For App Development

Whenever you start planning to get a mobile app for your business, an important task is to choose the right platform for app development. After evaluating your target audience, you can decide to build either an Android, web, iOS, or cross-platform mobile app. If you are a startup owner and have less budget for app development, you should start with one platform and upgrade to more in the future. 

Some popular platforms for app development include native, cross-platform, and hybrid.

6. App Maintenance

Mobile app development costs do not stop at the end of the development process. If you are building an app to get business for a long time, you need to invest in its maintenance too. To meet the ever-changing needs of customers, it is crucial to update your apps and add new required features. The maintenance of an app includes removing bugs or errors, changing design or content, adding new features, integrating new tools, etc. The average cost of mobile app maintenance is 20% of the complete app development costs.

Also Explore: Top Mobile App Development Companies

Hidden Factors That Affects The Cost Of Mobile App Development

This section focuses on the hidden factors that affect the cost of developing a mobile app. Having knowledge of these factors will help you save uncertain expenses and time. Let’s have a look at these factors without wasting time anymore:

• Multi-platform Compatibility: When a company starts making native apps, they often forget to add support for other operating systems after the first version of the app is released. Do a thorough market study to find out which platform is aimed at people like you. Check out what their app does and what platforms it works on. This will show you what needs to be done and where you can improve.
  
  
• Third-Party Integrations: At some point during development, your team may decide that your app would benefit from connecting to a third-party API, customer relationship management system, or service. It can increase the time required to create an app and its final price. Hire a company that also creates a wireframe or prototype of the app along with app development. This will give you an idea of the number of third-party connections that will be needed. As a result, you can avoid surprises in terms of cost and development schedule.
  
  
• Marketing Costs: Marketing is an important way to promote businesses but it is often overlooked. You need to work on promoting your app even before you launch it on the market. You can start by making people aware and excited about your app by giving them sneak peeks, working with influencers to test your app, and getting them to talk about their experience with their own audiences.

These are some points where you should and have to invest your money. So, it is better to get a detailed understanding to make informed decisions.

How much does it cost to develop an app, then? Well, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. When you think about all the factors, you should be able to get a pretty good idea of how much it will cost to make your app idea a reality.

If you still think it’s hard to figure out how much a mobile app will cost in the end, you can talk to experts at a reputable mobile app development company like Debut Infotech, who can give you a detailed cost estimate for mobile app development services.

So, if you want to get an idea of how much it will cost to make an app for your business, get in touch with our experts.