How Much Time Does It Take To Develop An App

Apps are the latest technology that businesses are going after these days. And it's not for nothing. There are multiple reasons why every business nowadays either has an app or wants an app. Apps make sure that you connect with your customers. They make sure that your customers get the messages that you send. They keep your brand at the front and center of your customers’ minds. They increase brand loyalty as well as visibility. Suffice it to say that apps have quickly become a necessity instead of a luxury. Now, they are affordable and every business can get one.

One of the questions that come to mind is how much time will it take to develop an app?

There is no simple answer to this question.

It could take weeks or even months. If you have a simple enough app, you can quickly have it made and launch it. If you want an app with intricate features, not only will it take time but also money.

One certain thing is that the longer it takes to build an app, the more expensive it is. Although app development is not as expensive as it used to be, it is still not as cheap as we thought it would be or wanted it to be.

We would love to tell you a specific figure for app development, but sadly, that is not the case. The one-size-fits-all strategy doesn’t work here. Every business is unique and similarly, their requirements from an app are unique. This greatly impacts the development time of the app.

This really puts a business owner into a quandary. You want to launch your app as fast as you can. The lower development time will also mean less expensive. But that might mean that the development process is rushed and there are bugs to be fixed and other issues to be taken care of. This might cost you more than your original estimate of the app. The key here is not to cut corners but to make sure that the quality is not compromised.

So, what’s the verdict?

You have to keep it in the middle. Don’t go to either of the two extremes.

Here are some of the factors that impact the development of your app. If you keep an eye on these, you can easily predict the timeline and act accordingly.

Quality

This is the first and most obvious thing that affects the outcome of an app. This is the one thing that you cannot compromise on. The quality of your app will determine the user experience of your customers, so you cannot hurry it up. Just make sure that you start with a realistic timeline. Don’t go around telling everyone that your app will be ready in a few weeks when you know it might take longer than that. For example, you are working with an Android application development company and you know they will deliver on time. You contacted them on the 1^st of January for the app. This doesn’t mean that you start telling everyone that the app will be ready by the 1^st of March. That is a recipe for disaster. Great apps take time and you should prepare for it. Talk to the firm to give you a realistic timeline that you can work against.

Size Matters

Now that we’ve discussed the quality of the app, the next thing is the size of the app. The larger the size, the more time it will take. The more complex features it possesses, the longer you will have to wait for it.

So, how do you know what is the size of your app? You are not an app developer (we’re assuming). Here are the four main factors that affect the size of the app:

Scope
Depth
Features
Purpose

Do your research and get to know these factors so you can guide the app development firm you are working with and get an app that you desire.

Budget

This is one of the main things that affect the app development phase. You have to do your research and find out how much budget you need for your app. For this purpose, you will have to find out the quality of your app as well as the size of it. Another thing that you must consider is who gets to make the app. More on that later.

What are your expectations from the app?

You need to set realistic goals. Don’t go overboard by adding features that you clearly don’t need. Also, don’t sacrifice features for the sake of your budget. Again, as we mentioned earlier, keep it in the middle.

If you don’t do this, you might find yourself between a rock and a hard place.

What does this mean?

You will find out that you’ve spent your entire budget and the app is still in the development phase. You don’t have anything else for the rest of the development phase or the marketing phase. A lot of businesses fall prey to this conundrum.

Who builds it

Who is going to be the lucky one to work on your app?

You could DIY and save a lot of money. But you reap what you sow. You might save a little money in the beginning, but it will cost you more over time.

You could go to a freelancer or a small firm.

Or, you could go to a big agency.

It all depends on your budget and the level of quality you want from your app.

Our recommendation?

Work with a professional iOS and Android application development company. They know what they’re doing. They do this for a living. They can handle it.

Bringing It All Together

So, how are we going to conclude this post?

By saying: good apps take time.

It is what it is. Sure, time is money, but saving time can sometimes cost more money. The more you want to cut corners, the more it will take. These are the major factors that affect the app development timeline. So, make sure you know as much as you can about these factors.