If you want to have an app built, you need to have an overview of the costs so that you can plan them early on in your budget. This is not always easy, as the price can vary significantly depending on the effort, complexity and experience of the programmers. We'll show you which tips you can still use to approach cost planning and how the cost estimate usually works in reality.
The first step for your cost planning is planning your app yourself. Your ideas decisively determine how complex the programming will be and how much time the developers have to invest in your app project. Therefore, record in as much detail as possible what exactly your app should look like and what purpose it should serve. For this, it is useful as a first step to UX/UI design to have it created as a blueprint for your app.
Ask yourself which devices they are used on and which operating systems they should be optimized for. Android apps and iOS apps are developed and designed in a fundamentally different way. It's the same with a mobile app that end users use on a tablet. If you want compatibility with all common devices, this can double the effort for the app agency and drive up app development costs.
The “classic” apps are the ones that users can easily download from app stores and use more or less intuitively. They are designed as native apps or as cross-platform apps and are thus tailored to the respective operating system on which they will later run. These variants have the advantage that they run quickly and usually without problems and can be quickly updated through updates.
The so-called web app, on the other hand, is opened via a browser and therefore cannot be used offline on the smartphone or tablet itself, for example. It is often slower and less user-friendly, but has the advantage that development costs much less.
Which option is the right one for your app idea is ultimately up to you. This depends on the complexity of your project and your budget. Make a good compromise Cross-platform apps: They can be used on different operating systems, so there is no need to develop multiple apps. This lowers the costs of creating the app and regular maintenance. At the same time, they fit well into the user interface, which is why they are considered pleasant to use.
The most common and therefore most frequently used operating systems are Android, iOS and Microsoft Windows. Which operating system your app should be programmed for depends on your target group. In the USA, for example, more than 50 percent of smartphone users use an iOS device, the other (just under) half use Android.
If you want to offer your app to as many smartphone users in the USA as possible, it is recommended to optimize it for both operating systems. You can achieve this with a native app or a cross-platform app, which in this example is significantly cheaper because the native app has to be developed twice. If, on the other hand, you want to offer your app in a country like India, your calculation looks different: Here, over 90 percent of smartphone users use an Android device, which is why you can only concentrate on this operating system in your development. A native app or a cross-platform app is also an option here. With regard to the native app, there is no need for double programming, which is why it is not significantly more expensive than the cross-platform app in this example.
You have a company with an appealing online presence. Now has the demand for an app increased or have you considered that you would like to “simply offer the same thing in a smaller size for a smartphone”?
Of course, it is not quite as simple as that. That's why you can't simply enter the code from your website into the framework of an app and thus conjure up an app in Android Studio. This would result in a shift in the once concise design, which would severely limit usability.
However, an app offers its users numerous other advantages and is therefore not just a copy of the smartphone-sized website. It can be easily opened and used on a smartphone with one click and can even be downloaded for offline use if required. In addition, it often uses the smartphone's integrated functions and accesses the camera, GPS or microphone.
All of these conveniences are omitted in the web app. In addition, it does not fit seamlessly into the user interface and is therefore not comparable with what the average smartphone user imagines an app to be. If there is a need for an app, the web app should therefore only be selected in exceptional cases.
If you want to save production costs with it, this can have a negative impact on your end result and lead to dissatisfaction among your target group. The principle of “completely or not at all” therefore applies here: A half-hearted solution can lead to more problems than the simple non-existence of an app.
If you want to build a house, you don't first get an offer for the individual bricks that you want to use. Instead, your path first leads you to an architect who designs a house according to your ideas. The result forms the basis for building your house.
It's the same with an app: First, you have a design created based on your specifications and a concept, which is then programmed in a second step. The total costs of the application can therefore usually only be estimated precisely once the design has been completed.
If you want to plan a budget in advance, you should expect at least 25,000 euros for an average app. Apps that are only used in-house and designed with an app kit usually cost a little less. If your project is complex and the UX designer has to invest a lot of time, the sum increases accordingly.
If you think about exactly what your app should look like and what demands you have of it before you first contact a developer, you can save money. Ask yourself why you want to have an app developed and what purpose it should serve. Ideally, you can name a problem exactly for which it offers the solution. In this way, you not only make yourself, but also your programmer aware of the goal of the project.
While setting up the design and programming yourself, numerous questions are likely to arise - but this is only a matter of fine-tuning if you can give everyone involved a precise route early on. This saves you and your developer valuable time and energy.
Once you have precisely defined the added value that your app should offer, the next step is to estimate the expected development effort. What functions does the app need to have so that it can achieve the goal? On which routes can the goal be achieved and which is the shortest/easiest? Are there ways to simplify complex functions without losing added value? The more complex your app becomes, the higher the costs.
Here, you should not only consider the basic functions of the app, but also other factors that influence the price: In how many languages do you want to offer your app? Is your local language enough or should it be accessible internationally? Would you like to make the app available offline so that users can download it and use it even without WiFi or mobile data?
If you are unsure, you can and should discuss your ideas with your developer. He will support you with his experience and can give you valuable tips to help you achieve the best result for you.
Once your app is complete, your costs don't drop to zero. With marketing strategies, you reach your target group and present your app to them. In the age of app stores flooded with offers, this is essential so that your app is even visible to a wider audience and interested parties find out about it.
Recurring maintenance in the form of maintenance, updates and the resolution of problems also comes at a price. Your app should be regularly adapted to market changes so that it can keep up with the times and provides its users with the latest features. Also include long-term costs in your budget so that your app is not only designed according to your ideas, but also has the long-term success it deserves.
Do you want to talk to our team about your project and just hear what we could do for you? Then simply book a free video call with us now!
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