Once, Steve Jobs said, ‘The only way to do best is to love what you do.’ But sometimes this love asks for cost, such as to increase the growth of your business, you love to develop an app. But it might be it is out of your comfort zone or budget. 

What if we say that it is in your budget now, and you can also ensure the quality of your application?

Yes, you read it right. App development is cost-effective now; you don’t need to do many more expenses and worry about the budget. The only thing you need is Awareness. Awareness about the factors that can impact your development cost and some intelligent tricks to calm them down. 

Here we are, with some exciting stuff that can help you to understand that app development is not restricted to some sections; you, as a small and medium-scale industry, also have it if you have to do it. 

Factors Affecting Android App Development Cost

Budget is essential to developing something, and App development also requires a budget to go further. Planning for a budget depends on the following factors, which need to be kept in mind while drafting.

     1.  Project Complexity

     2.  Design and User Experience

     3.  Development Platform

     4.  App Size and Features

     5.  App Maintenance

    6.  Developer Rates

1. Project Complexity

The complexity of your app depends on the features you will offer your users. Several features decide the complexity. Complexity impacts the cost of the project. Higher complexity means a high budget and Simple apps with basic features are cost-effective.

Simple App: Minimal features may cost between $5,000 and $20,000.

Medium Complexity App: Moderate complexity and features could range from $20,000 to $50,000.

Highly Complex App: A complex app with advanced features might cost over $50,000.

2. Design and User Experience

A well-designed app always looks good and is easy to use, which helps retain users, but it may increase the cost because designing evolves at a high price.

3. Development Platform

Many kinds of apps exist, such as native, cross-platform, and hybrid. Native apps are for Android only, and they may be expensive. Cross-platform and hybrid apps support both platforms and can be downloaded on the Google App Store and Apple App Store. 

The development platform choice, whether native, hybrid, or cross-platform, has cost implications. 

4. App Size and Features

App size defines the traffic on your app, and its features make the app accessible for the user and enhance the user experience. The larger the App size and number of features impact the project's cost. More features and larger apps require additional development time and resources, directly increasing the budget.

5. App Maintenance

Technology always needs upgradation and regular maintenance for smooth operation and better user experience. Ongoing maintenance is also included in the budget and will be the app development cost. Regular updates and bug fixes are necessary to keep your app competitive and secure.

6. Developer Rates

Hiring a developer might be costly because they charge according to their skills and are generally expensive. But another option is to develop it independently if you have the proper team and logistics for creating a well-designed and perfect-for-user app. 

You can choose any of them, but here is a suggestion from our side: if you need a proper setup for app development, go with a developer; you can search for many developers and hire freelancers for cost-effectiveness. Expertise deserves rewards.

It’s a Tip!

These are the points or factors that can increase the cost and impact the budget of Android app development. 

But if there is a problem, then a solution is also there. 

Let's talk about tips to economize the cost of Android App Development without compromising the quality.

Here are some suggestions that can help you achieve high-quality app development. 

1.  Make correct choices

2.  Be focused

3.  Well aware-of design and codes

4.  Test properly

5.  Consider the best type of app

Let's discuss them one by one.

Make correct choices

Before hiring a software-developing company or a freelancer, do proper research and make notes about the rates and services available. Then, compare all the options carefully and choose the one that best suits your budget. 

Remember, if there are too many options, you can choose the best; you must be concerned about your limitations. 

Your healthy research comparison lowers your cost.

Be focused

Yes, your competitors offer too many choices and features, and you need to beat them. When planning a better app than your competitors, it's essential to develop a well-featured and designed app that is better than your competitors. Being aware of your budget and focused on the features and the design may increase your cost.

Well aware-of design and codes

Complex designing and codes take longer than usual, directly affecting your budget. To reduce time and cost, you must design an app that is less complicated and involves basic structuring that suits the user's choice and convenience. 

Test properly

Testing is the most essential part before deploying an app to the platform. It is recommended to design an MVP instead of developing an app. MVP is suitable for cost-effective application development as you can quickly change it and fix bugs without additional costs. 

Consider the best type of app.

Two types of platforms are available to download an app: Google Play Store and Apple App Store. There are two types of apps: hybrid and native. Hybrid Apps supports Android and iOS, but native apps are made for only one platform. Developing hybrid apps is best because they are more cost-effective than natives. It eliminates the need to update an app for other platforms per the user's need.

Step-by-step guide on how to develop an app.

After deciding on a budget, now is time to start the development process; for this, you need to follow the steps:- 

1.  Research and planning

2.  Designing and Prototyping

3.  Development

4.  Testing and Quality Assurance

5.  Marketing

6.  Updating

Research and planning

Research comes at the very first stage of doing something: creating a foundation. 

Designing and Prototyping

Designing takes place before the development process, ensuring a smooth operation without making many changes in the application's structure.

Development

After designing the now, it's time to generate codes and program an app according to the need.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Development is the process, and the application is still fit for the users. It is important to fix bugs and application malfunctions, which can create a hurdle for the user. Testing helps in fixing these bugs. 

Marketing

The application is ready and deployed, but how your users know about it and its unique features requires marketing.

Updating

Technology is not permanent; it evolves and changes according to time, so app integration is required for seamless performance.

Resting the Case!

That’s all from our side, and now it's your time to ensure the proper use of this knowledge to make your app development the most cost-effective and user-friendly. We have done our bit; the ball is in your court. 

You have the factors that can increase your cost and some tips to economize the cost of app development. So follow them and enjoy the development process without surpassing budget tension and overthinking about money. If the best design can enhance your price, you can go with the MVP model, which ensures quality on a low budget. Yeah! If you think that native apps are best to choose instead of Hybrid, be aware that your users come from both the App stores, so if you choose only one platform as your preference, then it may increase the upgradation charges because it involves the new coding and this will increase the cost.

For a cost-effective and quality-wise best app, working on every single aspect of the application development process, even on the platform to deploy, is essential.