App Development Cost

First, the cost of developing an application strongly depends on the characteristics of the project. Depending on the size of the application, the number of features, innovative improvements, scalability, and platform, the price will vary. The application development cost includes several UX / UI design, coding for each of the selected platforms (it is worth adding that when using cross-platform frameworks, only one code base is used), testing, technology consulting and other additional services. In complex, extensive application projects, a larger development team will be needed, resulting in a higher price. Exemplary estimates are:

• MVP / basic functionality app – $ 20,000 – $ 50,000
• A medium-complexity app for 1 platform – $ 50,000 – $ 100,000.
• A complex, dedicated app for Android & iOS – from $ 10000

The project estimation process requires, first of all, understanding the client’s idea. Therefore, it’s preceded by a thorough diagnosis of the vision for the product, business needs and requirements, and goals that the stakeholder wants to achieve. It’s the basis for starting cooperation. At BinarApps, we organise Discovery Workshops to discover all the aspects that need to be addressed in the application development process. We study the market, user demand and needs. We get to know the client’s business precisely. Together with the client, we build the outline of the project, determine the functionality of the application and all its features. Technological experts advise on the selection of the appropriate technology stack and tools. Based on the established issues that define what digital product is to be created, our analysts estimate the project. They take into account the time necessary for the development of each element, including the necessary work of developers, designers or testers, and depending on the scope of the project; they estimate how long it will take them to complete the project. Based on this, they’re able to calculate the price.

The costs of building an application yourself, in-house, seem to be lower at first glance than in the case of outsourcing. Yes, this can happen in different projects, but there are some critical points to consider. In-house development is primarily the responsibility for completing the development team and the entire development of the project. So you pay for each team member’s work and all costs related to recruitment, bonuses, or bonuses. In addition, you develop software, and you need the right tools for that. You have to pay for all licenses, purchase software supporting the development process and team communication. It’s also the cost of maintaining the office where the team works. You also have expenses related to marketing, taxes, liability cover, professional indemnity insurance and others.

It’s also a cost that is often overlooked – energy. By devoting time to project development, you have less time to take care of your business and company. Therefore, the decision of whether to build software on your own or with an experienced outsourcing team should be carefully considered.

There are many solutions available on the market that allow you to build an application for free. Open-source platforms enable easy and cost-effective mobile app development. Usually, however, they require a certain level of expertise in programming and designing mobile apps. Also, they often don’t have extensive customisation capabilities and don’t let you create unique functions, which may be unprofitable from a business point of view. After all, to stand out on the market, your product should offer a specific value, be a unique solution and solve a specific problem. Therefore, if you want to develop a dedicated application that will satisfy all your and your users’ needs, it’s wiser to outsource your app development to an external IT company.

There are certain areas where the application of specific practices can lower the cost of developing mobile applications. 

The first method is the appropriate approach to prioritizing app features. Do this early, before you start creating the product. Usually, you just develop a backlog of application functions, from which you choose the most important and add the rest later in the development. It’s the method used in creating the MVP. This approach will help you quickly generate business value and build a successful product without investing a lot of money in a high-risk project. 

Also, be sure to have an appropriate QA strategy and implement it from the very beginning. Identifying and eliminating problems in the early stages of development will save you from the high costs of rebuilding or repairing the application in the future. Also, remember to plan the development ahead and keep your long-term goals in mind. Thanks to this, you will always be prepared also in terms of budget.