The question “How much does an app cost?” is similar to “How much does it cost to build a house?” The answer depends on how many rooms there are, which materials are used and where the house will be built. With a mobile app, too, what determines the budget is how much work the app will do. Below we list the items that affect cost the most. Knowing them helps you understand the quotes you receive and compare them correctly. It is also worth knowing this: the figure in a quote is largely payment for labor. The more time the team that designs, writes and tests the app has to spend, the higher the budget. Each item below is a factor that increases or reduces that time.
The number of screens and features is the biggest factor
An app that introduces your business on a few screens and shows contact details and promotions does not take the same effort as an app with membership, a shopping cart, online payment and order tracking. Every new feature brings three separate jobs with it: design, coding and testing. The number of user types matters too. There is a serious difference in effort between an app used only by customers and a system where the customer, the courier and your staff each see their own screens. Some features look small on paper but have a lot of work behind them. For example, the sentence “users should be able to message each other” brings with it instant messaging, notifications, blocking users and a way to report inappropriate content. That is why, when you get a quote, it is important to discuss exactly what each feature covers.
One platform or two?
Whether the app is built only for iPhone (iOS), only for Android or for both directly affects the budget. In the past, two platforms meant two separate teams and almost twice the effort. Today, with tools like Flutter, an app can be written with a single codebase and run on both platforms. With this approach, the second platform does not double the cost. Still, each platform needs its own testing, store preparation and some platform-specific settings. Even if you start with only one platform, writing the code so that it can later be moved to the second platform reduces the work needed down the line. Also keep in mind that if you want the app to look right on tablets too, the screens need to be adjusted separately for different sizes.
Admin panel, integrations and design
- Admin panel: If you want to manage products, orders, promotions and users yourself, the app comes with an admin panel. This panel is a separate piece of software that runs alongside the app.
- Server side: The system where data is stored and that runs behind the app is an important part of the work, even though users never see it.
- Integrations: Every additional feature, such as online payment, maps, push notifications or a connection (integration) with the accounting or customer tracking software you use, is a separate line item.
- Design originality: Screens drawn specifically for your brand and animated transitions take more design time than ready-made templates.
- Security and sensitive data: Apps that work with sensitive data such as personal data, payment or health information need a more careful security setup and more thorough testing.
- Number of languages: If the app will be offered in more than one language, the texts, screens and store pages need to be prepared separately for each language.
- Data migration: Moving your existing product list, customer records or data from an old system into the app can be a separate job.
Factor in the costs after launch as well
The cost of an app does not end on launch day. Phone operating systems are updated every year, and the app needs regular maintenance to keep working. Maintenance is usually handled through an ongoing agreement, and its scope is set according to the size of the app. Leaving maintenance out of the quote lowers the budget at first glance, but when the app needs an update a few months later, that cost comes back to you anyway. On top of this, there may be server costs, store developer account fees and usage fees for some outside services you use (such as notifications, maps or SMS). Asking about these ongoing costs when you get a quote lets you see the real budget for the first year.
The timeline depends largely on the same factors. As the number of features grows, design, development and testing take longer. Sending your texts, product lists, images and approvals on time also directly affects the schedule. You also need to leave a few days in the schedule for the store review. At Adorb, we clarify these items with you in the first meeting, then present you with an itemized quote.