Everyone knows great applications like: Angry Birds, Candy Crush, Facebook, Twitter, Uber or Instagram. The development of mobile apps has become a multi-million dollar industry with great expectations for the future. But, how can an entrepreneur enter this business? How much does it cost to create an App and how is it built?
We share some points that should be considered before making this decision. Creating a mobile App is a very complex process, but it can bring great benefits for the companies or startups that decides to start this type of business.
According to its functionality
Basic functionality: Think of this as a hierarchy, open large topics on the screen and click on one and you will have a set of new lists. Email on the iPhone is a good example of this. No doubt it is easy to build and design and a good option for companies that want a simple application that shows basic information.
Database with customized functionality: Imagine you have a full amount of content you want to use. An example would be to have hundreds of bird races that you want to organize and show differently. This can be done beyond the basic table format, the development becomes more complex.
Games: The range of complexity in this type of App is very broad, you can start with something very simple until you get to 3D or the incorporation of the user experience through the physical movement of the device. Everything is possible in the Game Center.
Improvements or modifications of the hardware of the device: This means that when you create the app you take certain phone functions, such as the alarm, the camera or the flash, to do it better. For example, the camera + app that adds filters to the images you take with your phone.
Fully dynamic applications: Similar to database applications, these apps are based solely on external information – Twitter, Weather Channel, Flipboard.
Custom services: These applications are designed to allow users to enter the content in a specific way. Examples are Microsoft Word 365 for mobile, Google Spreadsheet, etc.
According to the development technology
Native applications: They are those that are developed with the software offered by each operating system called Software Development Kit or SDK. Native apps are designed and programmed specifically for each platform, whether Android or iOS, in the language used by the SDK. Among its features is that they are updated frequently and it is the user who downloads the latest version. It is especially designed for apps that use phone hardware, such as the camera, buttons, flashlight …
Web applications: Web applications or webapps are based on programming HTML, JavaScript and CSS. As a web. Unlike the native ones, they do not need to be installed because they are displayed as a normal web using the browser. We can say rather that it is a web, instead of an app, although it is used as an app.
Hybrid applications: It is a combination of the previous two. These are apps that you can install from the App Store or Google Play, but the code is HTML, CSS and JS. The advantage of this type of apps is that they are cheaper and faster to develop. Today you can develop great apps in this way. We, at Eblana, only recommend developing native apps when you are going to use the phone’s hardware. If not, the best option is a hybrid app. Almost 80% of apps can be developed in a hybrid way. Is the best option. A few years ago the technology was different. Today, really, the best option is almost always a hybrid app.
Mobile application development process
The process of creating an app can be divided into five parts: idea and taking requirements, planning, design, functionality and testing.
1. Idea and taking of requirements
It must capture well what is needed. For this it will be necessary to have several meetings with the client. The needs of the app will be written and rewritten many times until the definitive version of the product is defined.
2. Planning
This is what we call wireframes and flowchart. We need to define with images what each screen will look like, what will happen when you press a button. It is a task that seems simple but it is really tedious. When you plan an app, there are dozens of situations that you did not expect.
3. Design
It is an advanced part of the first wireframes. In the first wireframes we make a very basic design, to know where each button will go, each menu, etc. Now, in this step, we define the color of everything, the positions, the movements, effects, etc. It is a very advanced graphic design work.
4. Functionality
In this part we start with the functionality of the app. That is, with the code. Everything we had defined in the contract for taking requirements, in the flowchart or in the wireframes … Everything is now converted into code.
5. Testing
A fundamental part of any software process is testing. Both the development team and the client will have to try the app for a few days and maybe some small detail should be changed. The most important thing for us is that our apps and websites are always to the client’s liking.
And once we have finished these 5 steps, we upload the app to the Apple and Google stores. Do you have an account with Apple and Google? We will upload the app to your account. You do not have an account? We can use our Eblana accounts or create an account for you. We help you in whatever you need.
Mobile application development costs
Keep in mind that these costs may vary depending on what devices the App is going to be created for: iPhone, iPad, Android phones, tablets with Android, iPods, all of the above…
Simple application between €2000 – €4000
You provide all the content, a clear address, and sample applications of what you want to develop. The additional costs will come when you want to add for example GPS locators, integration of social networks or email, several languages or characteristic sounds.
App with Database between €5000 – €30,000
Includes content, image, writing, sound, etc. The cost will come from the creation of the “logic” within the application and the architecture of the entire capacity of use. As you can see, the prices are very different. It will depend a lot on the needs you have, the size of the database, etc.
Games between €20,000 – €150,000
It is the most difficult type of app to calculate. As a point of reference it is said that the development of Angry Birds cost between €90K – €130K (even though they were the pioneers). Games evolve and get complicated very quickly, and presets for games in mobile applications are beginning to look more like those of video game development. The advantage of a game is that it is downloaded in a much higher number, there is nothing more viral than a fun game. They are clearly the most economically profitable apps since they have a very large return.
So, how much does it cost to create an app?
The total cost of an application can vary based on many variables. At first glance it may seem expensive but you have to always think about the return, the marketing of the app, how to get more downloads… The part of the app is very important but an app is not just code. “An app is a company” that has an initial expense and that if you know how to promote, you can generate large amounts of income.
Maybe that’s why it’s very interesting to work with Eblana. In addition to the experience in software development since 2008, we give you the experience in digital marketing. We offer our clients a complete product, both in software and in sales promotion.
And finally… How long does it take to develop an app?
It is clear that like the price, the time of an app varies, according to its characteristics. What we can say is that it will take “months“. You can not develop an app in days. They are very large projects and take a long time and many people working on the designs and the code. So keep this information: months. 🙂
Conclusion
So if you are in Ireland, in Co. Dublin, Co. Kildare, Co. Meath, or anywhere, we are at your disposal to explain everything carefully and calculate the price of your app.
You can find more information about us at mobileapp.ie or in our Apps section.
Regards from Naas, Co. Kildare.
