The price question: how much does an app cost?
Tags: ios, android, mobile
Published: 2020-12-18 07:52:32

Hardly any question is asked as often as the price of an app. That is because when you start to think about creating a mobile app, the first thought that arises is a [mobile app development cost](https://itechcraft.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-develop-mobile-application/). 
Each serious service provider will admit that without a sufficiently detailed description of the requirements, the question of the price can not be answered. Nevertheless we will try it in the following article on the basis of concrete examples. 

**Native, web, hybrid or cross platform?**
Before the development of an app can begin, a fundamental decision has to be made: on which technical basis should the implementation take place?
If you want to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the different technical approaches, where the topic is highlighted in detail.

**What should the app do?**
In essence, development costs are nothing other than the time it takes to implement, multiplied by a daily rate.
For each function, screen and requirement, the developer considers how long he will spend on it. The more precisely the requirements are defined, the easier this task will be. The sheer volume of functions therefore has a direct impact on the costs of implementation. At this point, we always say to our customers: less is more .
Because only then an app is created that can focus on the essentials and fun in the operation. Incidentally, this philosophy also means that the development costs are reduced - after all, no unnecessary functions are implemented, but the focus is placed on the actual core of the app.

**A few calculation examples**
To make the whole thing more tangible, we give three concrete examples in which one or the other may find again. And if not, just knock on the new department and we'll count together.
Your own app with your own team
The desire is to set up an app for iOS and Android with an internal team. What do you need for that at least?
A product manager keeps all the threads together and develops the long-term product strategy. A concept and designer in personal union is hard to find, if not impossible. In any case indispensable.
Of course you need an iOS developer, an Android developer and a developer for the backend.
Experts for marketing, PR and business development must not be missing. A person who feels responsible for quality assurance and end customer support completes the team.
For the sake of simplicity, we assume that each team member earns on average € 50,000 a year. In sum, including the additional wage costs for one year, you can calculate with about 430,000 € for this constellation. Then there are the costs that are incurred for Paid Advertising.

**A small iOS prototype with a team of freelancers**
The variant fits for customers, whose desire is to develop only for the iPhone a first prototype, or even [MVP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_viable_product) . For example, to test whether the resonances turn out to be positive.
The idea for the app is ideally simple. For example: All the table tennis tables in Munich are displayed on a map. The data is offline in the app. If you choose a location, you can then navigate to it. There is also a contact option via email, so users can tell if a table tennis is not there anymore.
The freelancer friend calls for a daily rate of € 500, as do the designers and designers. It is tested itself, there is no marketing.
Concept and design take three, four days and the development and maintenance of the data takes about two to three weeks. Overall, therefore, can be expected roughly € 8,000.

**The advancement of the prototype with a professional app agency**
When a prototype goes through the roof, new features have to be created quickly, maybe even a smart redesign or a version for Android smartphones.
1.The new features could be:
2.All sites will come from a CMS in the future
3.Users can register and create a profile
4.Through the app you can invite friends to a game of table tennis

For the concept and design of the new features on iOS and Android, the agency estimates ten days effort. Development requires four weeks per mobile platform and another week for the CMS. Accompanying expenses for project management and quality assurance. The daily rates are around 800 €.
All in all, the total cost excluding marketing will be roughly € 50,000.
In conclusion, we conclude: An app costs over one thousand marks