How much does it cost to build an app in 2022?

In the fast-paced world, application development is no longer an option; it’s a requirement. Mobile phones are used to make online purchases, bringing mobility into the digital realm. As a result, mobile apps remain a top priority for businesses aiming to attract, engage, and delight their target consumers.

How much does it cost to build an app in 2022? Perhaps the first query that comes to mind before starting a development project.

Consider it similar to buying a car. You can’t make an accurate price without knowing the vehicle’s brand, model, engine capacity, and other characteristics. Similarly, there is no fixed cost estimate to build an app as it depends on a plethora of factors such as the app’s features, design, platform, among others.

As much as I’d like to put a dollar value on the cost of app development, I can only come up with cost breakdown factors that affect the ultimate cost.

Fortunately, various app development budget-generating aspects can assist you in determining the cost of an app’s development.

Factors influencing app development costs

Purpose and functionality

What is your app’s sole purpose, and what can it do for the user? The app functionality is more like planning a home. The base price keeps rising with the addition of the new features.

Type of app

The cost is dependent on the type of app you intend to build. Some common app types include social networking, e-commerce, and on-demand apps. All of these take different approaches to build.

Your app may also fall into a specific area, such as gaming, music, business, health, travel, education, and so on. The price of your app will vary depending on the app category.

App design

The app design is an important step in estimating your app cost. The app design affects the platform, social media, and other tech stacks required. When deciding your app design, keep the app type in mind.

The cost of your app will be defined by the model you choose. Usually, there are two types of mobile applications.

Simple apps: include less complicated features, fewer functions, no backend infrastructure, and specific APIs. Simple apps cost less.

Complex apps: includes strong backend infrastructure, software libraries, continuous updates, and ongoing support with added features. Complex apps cost quite high.

App features

The final development cost is also influenced by the number of features and their complexity. For example, will the app be using features such as GPS navigation, NFC technology, motion co-processor, Augment Reality tech, and so on?

You can’t anticipate the price of features to stay the same in every project because they don’t have a set price.

Mobile platforms and devices supported

You can build your app using any of the two frameworks.

Native app development: these are the most complex of all, but because they are built and optimized for a specific platform like Android or iOS, they run well. As a result, native apps are also costly.

Hybrid/Cross-platform app development: with this framework, you can create a single app and simultaneously launch it on Android and iOS. As a result, you may reach a far larger audience in a lot less time and for a lot less money.

Development team and timeframe

The development cost also majorly depends on the development team you hire. Based on your project demands, you may choose freelancers with the required skillset or a team of professional developers.

The apps’ development time has a direct impact on their cost. The cost of meeting a project deadline rises because it demands more resources to complete the project on time.

Maintenance plan

Mobile apps, like any other software, include a maintenance element. Once an app development project is complete, the developer will have to provide technical assistance. The industry standard for software maintenance is roughly 15–20% of its initial development cost.

Final thoughts

I discussed seven essential aspects of app development cost in the above post. These are some of the factors that can help figure out how much your app will cost to develop. I hope that this resource assists you in assigning the appropriate budget for app development in 2022. But, to cut costs, you must first do your homework and choose the right team.

If you liked what you read above, keep an eye on this space to see what else 2022 has planned for you!