How much does it cost to build a mobile app

How much does it cost to build a mobile app? Things to consider

The True Cost of Mobile App Design and Mobile App Development

There is no denying that mobility is the gateway to visibility online. At Core Mobile App Development we aim to help businesses reach their audiences via mobile devices through effective mobile app development and streamlined app design. We also have many startups and new entrepreneurs sending us great questions and the most common one is: “How much does it costs to build a mobile app?”

Mobile App Development Factors

First, let me state this; Mobile apps do not have a standard cost. This is because there are many variables and procedural factors to consider. So what are they?

Features and the complexity involved

The main aspect here is time, the more the time you spend in mobile app development the more you will need to spend. Some of the features that can be quite time consuming and therefore result in the increase of costs are;

  • API Integrations
  • Database encryption
  • Custom interface design/interaction
  • Sophisticated web admin panel
  • Features involving new coding or technologies
  • The incorporation of billing systems

If you are looking to keep your mobile application development project on a shoestring budget, you now know what to “avoid” but at the same time more features and more complexity usually means better performance overall(so keep this in mind). Find the right balance that is suitable for you.

How large is your app project? Look at well known apps

Besides the features and time, you can look at other well known apps to be able to get an idea of how

Mobile app development costs can vary greatly. Benchmark other known apps

much yours will cost. The best group to study in this case are start-ups. According to industry experts, start-ups can spend up to a total of $750,000 when it comes to mobile app development. Do note that this is not an actual figure but just a common round off of what they spend in case they want the whole package(see more on this below).

Scale and who you hire matters

The $750,000 figure includes legal fees and salaries for a team of four for a period of four to six months. This estimate would not be accurate when you hire freelance or outsourcing service company. This is because freelancers and outsource service companies come with their own fee structures, making it impossible to predict what it would cost going this route.

The breakdown is that the big guys spend more on mobile app development and mobile app design. The price can range between $500,000 to $1,000,000. The guys in the middle will spend anything between $100,000 to $450,000. Finally the entrepreneur who is simply starting out should set aside at least $15,000 to $100,000. This is a broad range, but at least having it in mind will void you of any major surprises.

Platform matters (iOS, Android or Both?)

Are you building an app for the iPhone or for Android? This question is important because Android apps are typically a bit more complicated to build hence taking up more time and costing more in many cases. This is what is referred to as paying the “Android tax”. It is advised that you start with the iOS platform before heading on to Android if cost is a major concern from the start.

What about the not so complex apps

These apps may not be complicated but still it comes down to the specific features that they contain. No matter what you cut or replace the best amount to start you off is $15,000, which is our minimum level of engagement(MLE). This is for professionally done trustworthy development utilizing our team of mobile app and web development experts.

Is that it?

Well the costs estimated above are simply the initial amounts you spend. After design and development there is management, updating and server costs. You also need to keep some funds aside for marketing purposes. Even if you are a one man show, budget for these uses because you will definitely need them later on.

I want something specific for me

We can help you with that simply fill this form and we will get back to you with a quote that matches your project needs.

Core Mobile App Development currently serves business in the following areas:  Orlando, Tampa, Miami in Florida and San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland in California. If your business is located within those areas we would be happy to help you with your mobile app needs.

Features of Tip Genie Mobile App

Tip Genie Mobile App – Game changer for service industry professionals

Every now and again, you see startups out there that have amazing ideas and put in the work to bring them to life through high levels of execution. In today’s competitive technology marketplace and where ideas are so abundant, seeing a company start from grassroots with an idea and actually bringing it to fruition is so inspiring!

TipGenie is a mobile payment app that helps service industry professionals earn more tips and gratuity by making it easy to tip without cash. Service industry professionals depend on tips to make a living, but we often don’t carry cash or forget to tip those that work behind the scenes.

Tip Genie Mobile Tipping App

Tip Genie Mobile App

Don’t just read this article, download the TipGenie app and start tipping some of the hardest working service industry personnel you know. They deserve it.

To learn more about the full features of the app, visit the official website: Tip Genie

Apple: “Clean up your act!”. Major changes to the app store in the works

Starting Sept 7th 2016, Apple will be be making some drastic changes to it’s app store SERP’s (Search Engine Results Pages) in an effort to clean up some of the rampant rubbish currently cluttering up their app store. The changes were spawned from an outcry within the the “legit” app development community that higher quality apps were getting pushed down in the search results due to those who use blackhat or obscure ASO (App Store Optimization) techniques to move up in the rankings. These underminers also used long-tail, misspellings or exact match titles in their app listings to trick unsuspecting users and garner larger quantities of eyes to their apps. In 3 days, if Apple comes across a mobile app that has not been updated since 2012, they will alert the app’s developer of any changes/updates that need to be made. If the requests are not followed in a timely fashion, measures will be taken towards removal from app store.

The search function is one of the main methods customers use to find and download apps from the App Store. With hopes of altering search results, some developers have used long app names which include descriptions and terms not directly related to their app. App names you submit in iTunes Connect for new apps and updates will now be limited to no longer than 50 characters.

In a recent blog post published on Apple’s developer site, the iPhone creator laid out a list of App Store improvements crafted to “make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs.”

Apple also wrote:

“You will be asked to submit an update within 30 days to keep your app on the App Store. If you are unable to make the changes within this time frame, your app will be removed from the App Store until you submit an update and it is approved. Please note that apps that crash on launch will be removed immediately.”

This change is long overdue and we are happy to see these measures being taken to improve the quality of the search results within Apple’s app store.

You can’t afford to ignore the mobile business revolution

A smart phone isn’t just a a phone any more, it’s a genius or one might say a genie that grants wishes. It is also an office, a cyber arcade, a library, a social gathering, a portal to the internet, an electronic mail service, a bank, a stock broker, a file cabinet and the list goes on.

Converging technologies are making the your smart phone smarter and much more useful. For those that doesn’t know, converging technologies are what you get when you cross new technology with an existing one or a new one. Around the world the popularity of smart phones has risen steadily over the last decade. A smart phone can even be a fully functioning virtual office. You can take online orders, process payments, hire employees and finish a gig. When you finish a job, you can have the funds transferred to your bank. There is barely a need to go to the office anymore.

The idea that smart phone software producers keep expanding the functionality of the phone is good. It means that one has the convenience of accessing things and people around the world anytime of the day or night. The younger generations have been utilizing this technological adaptability to the fullest potential of the mobile devices and their software. They are driving the industry ahead with a demand for greater and greater innovations. When they see a barrier, they break through it. These devices aren’t just for kids. As the kids turn to adults, they bring fresh ideas and the technologies they grew up on to the workplace. There are approximately 235 million mobile device users in the US alone. They are using the phones to work, play and socialize at an increasing rate every year.

The genie is out of the bottle and the ‘mobile revolution’ is moving ahead. Whatever you wish for, don’t get left behind.

App Icons – Why So Blue?

I woke up this morning and parsed through some email on my mobile phone while enjoying my morning cup of joe. I double tap the home button to do what I do best(arguably) – multi-task. 🙂

Here is what I’m looking at:

Blue Mobile Application Icons

Mobile App Icons – Blue

I then take a screenshot to show you guys. I go to upload it to Dropbox (ironically has another Blue App Icon) and think, man this blue is really playing itself out!

Am I the only one that notices this?

A few other incredibly popular apps with blue icons you may be familiar with: Facebook, Echophone, Police Scanner, PayPal, LogMeIn, LinkedIn, Skype, MapMyRun and about 3 trillion others I don’t have the patience or bandwidth to mention 🙂

Why so down in the dumps people? Feeling a bit sad about someone or something? Or have you just read about the color of blue like I have and know that it’s a color of stability, trust, happiness and integrity? I hate to break it to you but not all apps exemplify all of those qualities so it’s ok to roll with some other colors. Show some creativity and showmanship by deviating a little bit. I, for one, will remember you more for being an outlier than bell curver.

I digress. The main point behind this post besides my utter sickness of the color blue is that it doesn’t hurt to go with another color as your base. Don’t be afraid. Live a little.

Designer’s tip:
Use richer and bolder shades of blue with a contrasting color if possible. Two good colors I always find to work well are orange and green.

Ciao for now!