In today’s digital era, mobile apps have become a necessity in our daily lives. From booking cabs to ordering food, mobile apps always fulfill all our needs. If you are planning to build your own app, there are several things to consider, and above all of them, budget is the most important one. However, there is no exact cost of app development. It completely varies depending on a number of factors including app complexity, features, development platforms, etc. This blog will shed light on how much it costs to make an app and how to calculate it precisely. Let’s get started. 

What factors influence mobile app development cost in India?

As mentioned above, the cost of creating a mobile app widely varies depending on various factors, from design complexity levels to geographical locations. Let’s have a look at some important factors that play a big role in determining mobile-making costs in India.

1. Complexity levels

App complexity is the most prominent factor that can influence the total cost. Mobile apps can be categorized into three levels of complexity such as simple, medium complex, and highly complex. 

• Simple apps: Simple applications are designed with basic features and functionalities. The cost of making simple apps ranges from $5,000 to $20,000.

• Medium complex apps: Moderate apps mostly include some custom features like push notifications, third-party integration, push notifications, etc. The average making cost for medium complex apps falls between  $20,000 to $60,000.

• Highly complex apps: Highly complex or advanced apps involve a number of sophisticated features like payment gateways,  real-time data synchronization, geolocation, etc. The development cost for highly complex apps starts from $60,000 and it goes up to $150,000 or more.

2. Choice of development platform (iOS, Android, or Both):

The choice of platform is another big factor that you need to consider. Developing for Android & iOS usually requires different coding, designing, and testing methods that effectively increase the overall cost of app development. 

• iOS platform: Developing an iOS app tends to be more expensive than Android as it requires specialized tools and strict guidelines. The average cost of iOS app development ranges from $15,000 to $250,000.

• Android platform: Creating Android apps is a more cost-effective option than iOS as its development tools are widely available and app publishing fees are also less. On average, Android app development cost in India falls between  $10,000 to $2,00,000.

• Cross-platform: Opting for cross-platform app development that uses several frameworks like Flutter or React Native that minimize the overall cost of app development. The cross-platform app making cost in India mainly falls within the equal range as native mobile app development but may need additional optimization.

3. Design & user experience (UI/UX):

The user experience and design of your mobile application play an important role in making the app appealing and user-friendly. Investing in advanced UI/UX design improves user engagement but also increases the overall app development costs.

• Basic UI design: Creating pre-designed templates, and basic user interface designs minimize the total cost of app development. Basic UI design costs usually range from $1,000 to $12,000.

• Custom design: Opting for bespoke UI & user experiences based on the client’s requirements adds additional costs. Custom UI design cost usually falls between $10,000 to $50,000. 

4. Development team size: 

The size of a custom mobile app development team can highly impact the total cost & timeline of any app development project. Whether you hire freelancers or outsource to a reliable app development company, you need to consider different pricing structures.

• Freelancers: Selecting freelancers can be a lucrative option for specific tasks or small-scale projects. However, you may face reliability and consistency issues with freelancers. Freelance app developers usually charge $50 to $200 per hour based on your project's complexity. 

• In-house developer’s team: Developing an in-house developer’s team gives you excellent flexibility and control. However, this option is quite expensive as several overhead costs are there like employee salaries, development infrastructure, etc.

• App development company: Outsourcing custom app development to a reliable agency can be the most cost-effective and beneficial option among others. Development companies usually charge project-centric fees that range from $50,000 to $200,000. These fees totally depend on project complexity levels and a number of features. 

What is a mobile app cost calculator?

An app cost calculator refers to an online tool that allows users to accurately estimate the potential costs of mobile app development. This tool usually takes into account several factors like features, design, platforms, and features to help users with detailed and transparent budget estimates. 

Users mainly input their details like target platforms (iOS or Android), intended functionalities, design preferences, and features, and based on all these inputs, the tool calculates the total cost required for mobile app development. 

While mobile app cost calculator helps to understand the financial implications of mobile app development, it’s essential to keep in mind that this is a rough destination. Factors like design complexity, developer experience, team size, and geographic location may influence the total cost of development. 

Final words

No doubt, the total cost of creating a mobile application significantly varies depending on diverse factors like project complexity levels, the size of the development team, post-launch expenses, etc. While it’s important to budget & select cost-effective alternatives, it’s equally important not to compromise on app development quality. By focusing on core app features and strategic planning, you can streamline your app development project without budget overruns and financial constraints.