How Much Does Android App Development Cost?

Understandably, customers ask the most common questions about the cost of developing an app. As companies face crowded markets and intense competition, they are feeling the pressure to digitize. But you still want to make it as cost-effective as possible. You’re not alone in these concerns; we’re here to help you navigate them.

Depending on the scope of these project areas, the price range can range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand. There is no upper-cost limit because apps can also be complex technical systems with many interfaces. Information about the functions, design, and programming schedule is crucial for estimating the price of an app. An independent assessment of the use case is also important to know how much Android App Development Cost.

Generally, the estimated Android App Development Cost in 2024 ranges from $20,000 to $300,000 and beyond, given that every project has its distinctive requirements.

6 Factors Contributing to Android App Development Cost in 2024 

After your agreement with the app development agency to outsource mobile app development, they will also inform you of how much time it will take to build an Android app.

The following are the main factors that affect the calculation of Android App Development Cost.

1- Complexity of the project

The more complex the mobile application, the more time the engineers need to develop it, and the costs also rise accordingly. The degree of complexity is primarily determined by the application’s functions, their number, and type. Additional fees are incurred by the app’s compatibility with modern devices such as smartwatches, glasses, bracelets, and other wearable devices that have become integral to everyday life.

Another thing you’d need to keep up with is advanced technologies like webRTC, AR/VR/MR, Blockchain, Machine learning, IoT, and many more. Furthermore, the choice of app monetization (in-app purchases, freemium, and many more) is also highly valuable; it takes some of your time and money to develop them. If we consider in-app subscriptions as an example, we have to provide hints on the suggestion process of a new version, the cancellation, and the billing details.

Here’s a breakdown of Android app development cost based on your app complexity:

App Complexity	Level of Complexity	Average Timeline	Average Cost
Simple App	MVP functionality Basic UI One platform	2-3 Months	$20,000 – $50,000
Medium Complex App	Sophisticated features Custom UI One platform	3-8 Months	$50,000 – $150,000
Highly Complex App	High level advanced features Bespoke UI Two platforms	6-14 Months	$150,000 – $300,000

Simple applications:

The simple application ensures a minimal user interface and functionality. It is a mobile application’s MVP (minimum viable product), which ranges from $20,000 to $50,000. The expense supplies elements for app development activities like creating and structuring, programming and testing, and final deployment. Moreover, it implies that the design features will ease user interaction with the app. 

Medium Complex applications:

The medium complexity application boasting high-complexity features will have a unique interface built to user demand and will only work on the platform it was developed for. The development period, which can last between 3 and 8 months, ensures the completion of complex details and delivery of difficult features.

Highly complex applications:

This app’s level of complexity will require more effort to be put into it in terms of more planning, coding, testing, and bug-fixing to have a finished product that exceeds our expectations. 

Having a sensible scope for the project is crucial, and this should be done through extensive development and precise testing to achieve a desired baseline for successful platform operations. The creative and large-scale nature of the exact project can make the total Android App Development Cost between $150,000 and $300,000. Among the investment elements is the app development process, which covers support and maintenance to take the app to the maximum level of performance and influence for end users.

2- App Functionalities

Each option requires some development time. Some of these are “easy” to set up and don’t take much time for the app developer. However, others require more effort and are therefore associated with higher Android App Development Cost.

For example, a contact form can be quickly added to the app, but a geographic tracking system will require more effort.

3- App Design and User Interface 

The user interface and design are important to your mobile app’s offering and success. At this point, it is also crucial that the client and developer are clear about the goals to be achieved. By clearly sharing your ideas with the app developer, you ensure you get a complete application without unnecessary functionalities.

4- App Deployment 

Everything leads up to this prominent point. Successfully submitting an app to the Play Store is integral to the overall app development budget. However, particular prerequisites must be considered. To select an app, you must follow some guidelines.

Additionally, Google charges a one-time fee of $25 to launch any Android app.

5- Android App Maintenance

While the Android App Development Cost is not limited to the publishing stage, the expenses continue after uploading your app to the Play Store. Then, there is the issue of the app’s maintenance. On the other hand, it could be much more expensive in the long run when the development team spends enough time maintaining both the front and back end of an Android app.

The price of Android app support varies greatly and directly depends on the scale of development and the steps involved in supporting modified levels. Communication between your Android app development team and you is key to obtaining the maintenance price.

6- App Development Team

The composition and expertise of the project team are crucial. Every mobile development project requires the involvement of specific human resources: mobile developers, QA engineers, project managers, business analysts, UI/UX designers, architects, and possibly others.

One of the most important factors is the deadline. With a tight schedule, the development team needs to be expanded. It should also be noted that time is also required for software testing, the CI/CD process, and communication.

Tips to Reduce Android App Development Cost

Here are some ways in which you can cut down on your Android app development charges:

Focus on important functions

Teams new to app development often try to emulate desktop software or pack their apps with features they think are cool but have little to do with the app’s primary goals.

Only features that align with its main goals should be included when creating a mobile app. The more straightforward the app, the lower the overall Android App Development Cost. It’s better to create an application with fewer features that work well than one with many features that could be better at best.

Consider choosing a minimum viable product (MVP) approach. MVP products have limited functionality but need more features to achieve the app’s primary goals. Teams can add additional features in later versions if needed. In this way, the product will be released sooner, saving time and money.

Organizations should be clear about how users will use the app to avoid giving them a feature glut that prevents development work.

Build an MVP

If you want to save money on app development, choose the lean method and create a minimally viable product (MVP) with only the core features intended for general users and mobile application developers. Then, in the first few periods of app creation, the developers can perform the tests. So, if there is any issue, it can be solved immediately.

Choosing the right app development company

If the company you are considering has experience in Android application development, you will be in a position to strike a balance between your budget and your unique requirements. Therefore, pick the top app development agency to receive outstanding ROI on your investment.

Conclusion

It becomes clear that many factors determine the price of an app and that the exact Android App Development Cost cannot be reliably stated in general terms. It takes a lot of experience to estimate the cost of your app accurately. Basic things such as design, operating system, requirements, and functions must be clarified. Since apps are often developed agilely, the total costs are usually 10% higher than the initial price estimate.

That’s why choosing trustworthy and experienced app agencies and developers who have already developed similar applications and are interested in a long-term, collaborative partnership with you is all the more important.