Summery
Discover the ins and outs of iOS app development costs. With the help of this blog, we’ve covered every inch that adds to the cost of developing an iOS application.
Okay, you decided to build an iOS app for your business or startup.
Although! A question still keeps rolling in your mind – how much does it cost to develop an iOS app?
Tired of finding a practical and proper answer to this question?
No worries. Here we’re with in-depth factors to help you get the estimated cost of building an iOS application.
Whether you’re a startup founder or a seasoned business owner, knowing the real cost behind the app will help you make informed decisions and avoid unexpected surprises.
To give you a quick glance, the ballpark figure of a custom iOS application development cost lies around $15,000 – $450,000. It can also go up to $450,000+ for the complex apps. This cost range mentioned here also covers many hidden factors that add to the final cost.
Let’s dive into the specifics and uncover the true financial landscape of bringing your iOS app idea to life.
We’ll begin with some standard formulas used by the various companies to get the estimated cost of iOS app development.
iOS App Development Cost – Estimated Formula
In this blog, we’ll break down the practical aspects of iPhone app development costs, providing you with a clear understanding of what to expect.
Basically, the cost of app development be it for any platform, is directly proportional to the time taken to build an application. In short, A practical formula would involve estimating the total hours required for each phase, multiplying by the hourly rate, and adding a buffer for unforeseen expenses. This comprehensive approach helps in arriving at a realistic budget for your iPhone app development project.
The iOS app development cost calculation looks something like the following image.
Besides the above, there are tons of tiny factors that comes into the play for cost of your iOS app. To give you a better understanding of the same let me define these factors in the next section of the blog.
Key Factors That Affect The Cost of iOS Application Development
Kindly note that business-driven factors always play a major role in Apple app development costs. Here is a quick view of these aspects. And we’re sure it will help you define the average cost of your iPhone app development.
1. Complexity of iOS App
If you want to get an answer for how much does it cost to build an iOS app, you first need to know about the complexity of your mobile app. The three core things that contribute to the iOS development cost.
Again, we’ve segregated these aspects into three levels to know the complexity of the application. These categories help you know how complex your iOS app is to develop.
1: Simple Apps
2: Medium Apps
3: Complex Apps
This is a piece of information that gives you an idea of what your iPhone app falls under. Now, we’re sharing with you the checklist of an iphone app development price range for all three levels of app complexity.
| App Type | App Development Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Simple App | $9,000 – $25,000 |
| Mid-Level App | $25,000 – $100,000 |
| Complex App | $100,000 – $2,50,000 |
2. Size of the Application
Kindly note that not only the complexity but also the size of the app plays a major role in the cost of building an iOS app.
As the size of your app increases so does the number of features and screens. As a result, the development time of your mobile application increases. And, it ultimately leads to an increase in the cost to develop an iOS app.
Here is an average cost range of three size categories of an iOS application.
| Small App | Medium App | Enterprise Level App |
| 2-6 Months | 4-8 Months | 6-12 Months |
| $ 6000-10,000 | $ 10,000-16,000 | $ 50,000+ |
3. iOS App UX/UI Design
UI/UX app design is one of the most crucial aspects for iOS app development. And thats the reason why app design plays a major role in the cost of app development.
Here, the design process involves creating intuitive, visually appealing interfaces that enhance user experience. Thus, the more complex and innovate your app design is the more will be the cost.
Cost of UI/UX iOS app design may cost you as per below given table,
4. iOS App Category
The category of your iOS app significantly impacts the overall development cost due to varying complexity and feature requirements. Different app categories, such as gaming, social networking, e-commerce, or healthcare, have unique functionalities and standards.
For instance, a gaming app might require advanced graphics, animations, and real-time performance optimization, making it more expensive to develop. An e-commerce app needs secure payment gateways, product management, and user authentication, while a healthcare app must comply with strict regulatory standards like HIPAA.
The specific needs of each category dictate the development time, resources, and expertise required, ultimately influencing the cost.
| iOS App Categories | Average Development Time | Average Development Cost |
| Gaming app | 4-25 months | $25,000-250,000 |
| Business app | 2-12 months | $7,000-150,000 |
| Education app | 2-15 months | $9,000-80,000 |
| Shopping app | 3-8 months | $5,000-50,000 |
| Social networking app | 5-8 months | $10,000-60,000 |
| Health and fitness app | 1-18 months | $12,000-250,000 |
| Medical app | 2-9 months | $33,000-87000 |
| Entertainment app | 3-15 months | $15,000-100,000 |
| Travel app | 2-16 months | $8,000-70,000 |
5. Member of iOS App Development Team
The composition and expertise of your iOS app development team play a crucial role in determining the overall cost. A comprehensive team typically includes project managers, UI/UX designers, front-end and back-end developers, and QA testers.
Each team member’s experience and specialization impact their hourly rates, with senior developers and designers commanding higher fees due to their expertise and ability to solve complex problems efficiently.
The more experienced and skilled the team, the higher the cost, but this often translates to a more polished and robust app
6. Third Party Integration
Integrating APIs and third-party services into your iOS app can add functionality but also increases development costs. These integrations may include payment gateways, social media logins, analytics tools, or geolocation services.
Each third-party service comes with its own set of integration challenges, licensing fees, and potential maintenance requirements. The complexity of these integrations can vary, influencing the amount of development time and testing needed to ensure seamless functionality within the app.
Additionally, any custom APIs required to connect with third-party services will add to both initial and ongoing costs.
7. Location of iOS App Development Company
The geographic location of the iOS app development company is another significant factor influencing development costs. The cost to hire app developers from companies based in North America or Western Europe typically charges higher rates. While companies in regions like Eastern Europe, Asia, or Latin America cost you low.
While hiring a local team may provide benefits such as easier communication and collaboration within the same time zone, it also comes at a premium cost.
On the other hand, outsourcing to a development company in a region with lower labor costs can save money, but it may also introduce challenges related to time zone differences, cultural nuances, and communication barriers. Balancing cost with the quality and reliability of the development team is essential when considering location as a factor.
8. iPhone App Launch
The iPhone app launch is a crucial phase that adds to the overall cost of iOS app development. Firstly, there are App Store fees, such as the annual developer fee of $99 required to list apps on the platform. Additionally, optimizing the app for the App Store (ASO) entails expenses related to crafting compelling app descriptions, selecting keywords, and creating promotional materials like screenshots and videos.
Marketing costs also play an important role; a well-executed marketing campaign, including social media ads, influencer partnerships, and press releases, can drive initial downloads and visibility, but these strategies require a substantial budget.
Moreover, compliance with Apple’s stringent guidelines may require additional development and testing, further increasing costs.
9. App Maintenance
App maintenance cost is an ongoing expense that extends well beyond the initial development phase. Regular updates are necessary to keep the app compatible with the latest iOS versions and devices, requiring continuous investment in development resources.
This even includes bug fixes and security updates, essential for maintaining user trust and protecting sensitive data. As user feedback and analytics provide insights into app performance, there may be a need for feature enhancements and performance optimization, adding to the development cost.
Furthermore, maintaining backend infrastructure, such as servers and databases, involves ongoing costs to ensure smooth app operation. Note that, neglecting maintenance can lead to performance issues and decreased user satisfaction, making it a crucial aspect of the app’s lifecycle.
How to Reduce the App Development Cost of iOS?
Reducing the cost of iOS app development without compromising quality is much needed for startups and businesses looking to launch competitive apps on a budget.
The first step is proper planning and documentation. Before diving into development, create a clear project scope with detailed requirements, wireframes, and features to avoid scope creep, which can inflate costs. Knowing exactly what you want from the beginning allows the development team to work efficiently, minimizing unnecessary revisions and costly changes during the development process.
Another important way to reduce costs is by opting for cross-platform development instead of building separate native apps for iOS and Android. Using frameworks like React Native or Flutter allows developers to write a single codebase that works across both platforms, drastically cutting down development time and expenses.
This approach is especially beneficial for businesses targeting both iOS and Android users, as it eliminates the need for two separate teams or duplicating efforts.
Lastly, prioritize agile development to build the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) first. Instead of launching with a fully-featured app, start with a core set of essential features to test the market. This approach prevents overspending on unnecessary functionalities and ensures that your budget is allocated efficiently for features that truly matter to users.
App Cost of Famous Startups
To give you a short glimpse, here we’ve mentioned the cost to build an app for some of the biggest startups.
For instance, Instagram, initially developed as a simple photo-sharing app, cost approximately $500,000 to launch, including its unique photo filters and social networking features. WhatsApp focused on secure messaging and later acquired by Facebook, had an initial development cost estimated at around $250,000.
Uber, a comprehensive ride-hailing platform with real-time tracking, payment integration, and a robust backend, reportedly spent around $1.5 million during its initial development phase. Airbnb, offering a global platform for home-sharing, required a more complex infrastructure for listing management, bookings, and payment systems, costing upwards of $1 million.
These examples highlight that while initial costs can be substantial, the investment can lead to significant returns if the app achieves widespread adoption and disrupts existing markets. The key to managing these costs effectively lies in careful planning, prioritizing essential features, and scaling the app in stages
Note that all the cost of ios app development mentioned above are the average cost range, and it may highly vary based on your requirements
How Does Excellent Webworld Help You With iOS App Development?
We’re an iOS app development company that has years of experience in building comprehensive and end-to-end iOS solutions.
At Excellent Webworld, we bring a wealth of expertise in iOS app development, offering tailored solutions that meet your unique business needs. Our team of experienced developers, designers, and project managers work closely with you to understand your vision and objectives.
We focus on delivering custom iOS apps that not only align with your brand but also enhance user engagement and satisfaction. From initial concept and design to development and deployment, we ensure every step is meticulously planned and executed.
Hire iPhone app developers who streamlined development process, from concept and design to coding and deployment, ensuring that every stage is handled with precision.
With Excellent Webworld, you can expect a reliable partner in every step of your iOS app development journey.
FAQs
A lot of app development aspects affect the cost tp develop an iOS mobile app. Some of the most important factors that adds to the cost of iOS app development are as follows
Well, it’s quite tough to give you the exact timeline of to create an iOS application. It varies based on its complexity, features, and design requirements. For instance, a simple app with basic features takes around 3-4 months to develop, while more complex apps with advanced functionalities takes 6-12 months or longer. This timeline includes stages like planning, design, development, testing, and deployment.
Yes, developing an iPhone app is highly profitable, especially if it addresses a market need or offers unique value to users. The iOS platform is known for its user base that tends to spend more on apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions compared to other platforms.
Article By
Mahil Jasani began his career as a developer and progressed to become the COO of Excellent Webworld. He uses his technical experience to tackle any challenge that arises in any department, be it development, management, operations, or finance.
