The first thing every client wants to know is how much it’s going to cost to make their app.
In broad outline, the answer depends on two factors:
- How complex is the app project?
- Who are you going to hire to make it?
In part 1 of this article, let’s look at the first factor: project complexity. (We’ll move on to the second factor in part 2.)
App projects vary enormously in complexity: a simple app may only take a week or two to build, whereas a complex one may take a number of months. Clearly, a simple app that can be built quickly is going to be less expensive than a complex one, so as a client it’s useful to have an idea of where your project ranks on the complexity scale. Here are some useful questions to ask yourself:
Is the app for Android, iOS or both?
Coding for Android doesn’t take significantly longer or shorter than coding for iOS, but if your developer is coding for both platforms then that will take longer than coding for just one.
Does my app need a server element?
Some applications need to connect via the internet to some kind of server / backend element. This would be the case, for example, if there’s a need for data of any kind (e.g. media, user details, authentication data) to be held away from users’ devices. Not all apps need a server, however. For example, a simple note-taking or camera app might not need one.
If my app needs a server, does it already exist?
If your app does need to access a server, then the server may or may not already exist. (If it does, it’s often because you already have a website which hooks up to it.) It’s likely to take less time for your developer to connect your app to an existing server than to create a new one.
Does my app have in-app purchases?
Some apps contain in-app purchase or subscription options for their users. If your app falls into this category, your developer will need to write the code to support the relevant payment options.
What other features does my app need?
Aside from purchase options, apps may require other features such as user accounts, push notifications, analytics, or custom algorithms. Features such as these will add to the development time.
Does my app have complex design requirements?
Apps also vary hugely in their design requirements. At one end of the spectrum, an app might have many screens with large numbers of graphic elements which all need to be positioned in exactly the right way, custom logos might need to be designed, and so forth. At the other end of the spectrum, some clients approach us with designs already in hand, so that part of the process is bypassed altogether.
Thinking about questions like these will give you a better idea of whether your app project counts as relatively simpler or more complex, which will be one key ingredient when it comes to determining the cost.
At Oxford App Development, we like to discuss these sorts of questions with our clients at an early stage. This puts us in a position to give clients a ballpark figure for pricing, which is what clients need when deciding whether to go ahead with us for their project. If you’d like further advice, get in touch with us at info@oxfordappdevelopment.com or use our contact form. We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.
Is Oxford App Development the right option for you? That depends on your priorities. Is it important that your app should be built quickly? Do you need to be sure that it will be built to a high standard? Do you need good value for money? Do you need clear, regular updates from your development team? We’ll look at these issues, and their implications for choosing the right development team, in part 2 of this article.
