What’s best—starting with an Android app or on an iOS platform?

If you’re planning to launch a new app, should you launch first on Android or on iOS (iPhone / iPad)? This is a mobile apps question we get asked very often by new clients, and it’s certainly an important one. Even if you plan to target both platforms in the long term, where you start can make a significant difference in business terms.

How not to decide

The first piece of advice we give to our clients is not to make this decision based on the type of device they (or their friends and family) use. Many people stick quite faithfully to one platform. For example, many iPhone users think their devices are of superior quality and would never buy an Android phone. By contrast, many Android users feel that their phones offer better value for money and so wouldn’t buy an iPhone.

Factors you should consider

Whichever side of that divide you stand on, it doesn’t give you a good business reason to prefer one platform to the other as regards where to launch. There’s more to iOS and Android apps than meets the eye. The key to making a good decision is to understand two crucial differences between the two platforms: spending behaviour and market share. Then, you’ll also need to consider the nature of your app. Let’s take these in turn.

a) Spending behaviour

Apple users spend more on apps than Android users. That might not come as a surprise. In fact, it’s exactly what you’d expect, given that iOS devices are typically more expensive than Android devices. If you’re prepared to spend more when choosing your phone in the first place, you’re probably going to spend more when using it.

What might surprise you, however, is the degree of this difference. iOS users don’t just spend a bit more than Android users, they spend a lot more. For example, data gathered during 2018 by Sensor Tower and App Annie suggest that iOS users on average spend around 4-5 times as much as Android users do. That’s a huge difference, and it’s one that we make sure all our clients are aware of.

So does that settle the issue? If Apple users are that much more likely to spend on your app, surely you should launch iOS apps first? Actually, no. Although iOS users are likely to be much more valuable to you than Android users, you may gain Android users a lot more quickly. That takes us to market share.

b) Market share of iOS and Android

The stats above tell us that there were between 2 and 3 times as many installs globally on Google Play as there were on the iOS App Store. That’s also a big difference. It means that you should be able to grow your user base much more quickly on Android devices than you can on iOS. Your decision about where to launch then turns on whether you prioritise having a wider user base or having users who are more likely to spend.

c) The nature of your app

Which of these takes priority will depend a great deal on your project. For example, some apps aren’t monetized. We’ve worked on free apps that were launched solely to make the world a better place. (Let us know if you’re in that position, because we may be able to make your app at a reduced rate.) If your app isn’t monetized, the point about spending behaviour is obviously less relevant.

To take a different case, maybe your app will target a specific geographic area. If so, then you’d want to look closely at the Android vs iOS market share in that area, rather than globally.

For example, if your app is going to be aimed at users in the U.K., the market share in that region (currently around 50-50) is more important than the global figures.

We’re here to help you decide

At Oxford App Development, we code natively for both Android and iOS.

We’re always happy to advise on your individual circumstances. Whether it’s about an Android app, iOS app development, or work on cross-platform apps, we’ll be happy to assist you.

Drop us an email at info@oxfordappdevelopment.com or use our contact form. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.