iOS app development cost breakdown: Complete Guide
Tags: ios, appdevelopment
Published: 2024-03-27 11:15:02



In today’s digital world, having a feature-rich mobile app has become a necessity. As iOS devices have worldwide popularity, developing iOS applications can significantly boost your brand accessibility and visibility. However, according to [app making companies](https://www.sphinx-solution.com/blog/how-to-find-the-best-ios-app-development-companies-in-india/), the total cost of developing mobile apps depends on several factors, from app complexity levels to developer locations. Knowing these factors will help you make well-informed decisions & set up your budget efficiently. This blog will shed light on different factors that significantly influence iOS app development costs. Let’s get started. 

Factors that influence iOS app development cost
There are diverse factors including features and functionalities ensure the total cost of [iOS app development](https://www.sphinx-solution.com/ios-app-development/). Some of the prime factors include: 

1. App size and complexity:
Total app size & complexity play a huge role in determining the total cost of iOS app development. Simple apps with only core functionalities usually cost less than advanced apps with bespoke features, and top-notch functionalities. Let’s have a look at the average iPhone app development cost breakdown based on app size and complexity levels. 

App size
Features
Average costs
Estimated timeline
Simple iOS apps
Basic UI
MVP functionalities
$10,000 to $25,000
2 to 3 months
Medium iOS apps
Intuitive features
Bespoke UI
$25,000 to $60,000
3 to 6 months
Complex iOS apps
Advanced features
Custom UI
$60,000 to $2,50,000
6 to 12 months


2. iOS app categories
There are diverse types of iOS apps and the cost of these applications significantly depends on their categories. Each app category comes with a set of functionalities, features, security criteria, demographics, etc. Let’s have a look at the overall cost breakdown based on the category.

App categories
Estimated costs
Development timeline
Gaming applications
$30,000 to $250,000
4 to 12+ months
Education applications	
$10,000 to $80,000
2 to 12 months
Business applications
$5,000 to $150,000
2 to 10+ months
Entertainment applications
$15,000 to $100,000
3 to 15+ months	
Shopping applications
$5,000 to $50,000
3 to 8 months
Travel applications
$10,000 to $50,000
2 to 8 months
Social networking apps
$15,000 to $60,000
5 to 8 months
Medical applications 
$30,000 to $90,000
2 to 6 months
Health & fitness applications
$20,000 to $150,000
3 to 12+ months


3. iOS app design
The [app redesign](https://www.sphinx-solution.com/blog/cut-the-complexity-its-time-to-redesign-your-mobile-app-3/) process is one of the prominent factors that significantly determines the cost of app development. When considering iOS app design, you have two options – standard and customized. Customized user interface is quite difficult to create and it requires specialized tools. This makes it more expensive than the standard UI. Let’s have a look at the iOS or [iPad app development](https://www.sphinx-solution.com/blog/how-to-make-your-ipad-app-development-easy/) cost breakdown based on design complexities. 

App design parameters
Average costs
App design research
$100 to $500
UI design (user interface)
$10,000 to $50,000+
UX design (user experience)
$4000 to $10000+
Branding
$10,000 to $20,000
Illustrations & Animations
$4000 to $20,000


4. Developer’s locations
Location plays an important role in determining the iPhone app development costs. For instance, the average cost of [iOS app development in India](https://www.sphinx-solution.com/mobile-app-development/) is less expensive than iOS app development in the US. Here is the location-wise hourly cost breakdown:

Regions
App making costs
India
$20 to $50 per hour
US
$80 to $150 per hour
Australia
$50 to $120 per hour


Hidden iOS app-making costs
Apart from the above mentioned factors, there are some of the hidden factors that also influence total cost significantly. Let’s have a look at the hidden iOS app development costs:

Hidden factors
Average costs per year
CDN
$150
Data storage	
$500
Annual iOS updates
$1000
Maintenance & Monitoring
$5,000 to $15,000
Developer account cost
$99



What is the iOS app development cost calculator? 
An [app cost calculator](https://www.sphinx-solution.com/app-cost-calculator/) refers to a tool that estimates the total cost of iOS app development based on different factors like features, design requirements, complexity levels, etc. This is a web-based tool that allows users to add details about their iOS application and generate detailed cost estimates based on industry standards and predefined algorithms. Some of the prime benefits of using an iOS app development cost calculator include:

User-friendly interface
Detailed & transparent estimates
Intuitive features & functionalities

It’s essential to note that the iOS app cost calculator helps you estimate based on project parameters. Actual cost significantly varies depending on a number of factors like project requirements, market dynamics, development team size, etc. Therefore, it’s important to properly consult with app making companies or developers for accurate budget estimates. Apart from that consulting with developers before you start your project will help you address potential challenges and make cost-effective strategies. 

Final word
iOS app development is a long process and it involves a number of unique steps, from planning to development. Therefore, many app owners face challenges while estimating their project budget. Understanding the above-mentioned factors will help you invest in iOS app development wisely. This will also improve your app development success rates. Moreover, considering all these cost drivers, it's important to plan for iPhone app development carefully to ensure seamless high-quality product delivery within an estimated timeframe.