Most of the devices that make life easier have one thing in common, and that is their OS. Worldwide, Android is a top OS that powers more than 3.6 billion active mobile devices (2023).
It works fantastically, from 5G devices to stellar tablets. That is why all-size businesses are leveraging Android apps for business. There is no wonder that Google Play Store is called the largest app store, with over 3.5 million apps according to Statista.
Developing an Android app is beneficial, but do you know – How much it costs to develop an Android app?
If not, then this article will cover all your queries related to the cost. However, mobile app development costs between $10,000–$100,000. But there are some factors associated with it that you will read later in this blog.
Let’s start with the basics!
It is a process to create mobile apps that run on Android-supported devices. These apps are being developed with Java and Kotlin programming languages using Android SDK (software development kit). The kit includes Android development tools and libraries that Android app developers utilize while coding for an app.
Although Android app development is a complex process, some key advantages are associated with it, as follows.
Behind the game of app development, cost plays an important role. It can influence the decision, so it is better to know about the cost of Android app development, especially when you are looking to develop a startup.
it is crucial to plan the budget for mobile app development. If you know the development cost, you can plan your overall project budget accordingly, including marketing costs.
features and functionalities directly influence the cost of Android app development. Knowing the budget lets you make informed decisions for prioritizing features and functionalities based on their cost.
With a cost estimate, you can compare different development options, such as hiring an in-house team, outsourcing, or using a no-code platform. It will help you decide which option is the best per your budget.
The cost to create an Android app like:
It is just an estimated cost for an Android app. The actual cost may be different based on your requirements. Do you know why the cost is different for different versions? Or what influences the cost of developing an Android app? The answer is there are some influential factors to the development cost.
Let’s see what these are!
Based on a single point, you can’t depict the cost of a mobile app. Multiple factors decide the development price evaluation. Here are some of the key factors as follows:
The scope of the app plays a crucial role in deciding the cost. For example, a single-feature app requires a nominal cost compared to a multi-feature app, which remains costly. Another example is an app for in-house use has different costs than an app for global customers.
App complexity is a significant factor affecting app development costs. The funda is clear- the more complex your app is, the more its cost. Here you might be interested to know more about the factors determining the Android app’s complexity. It includes:
Another significant cost-determining factor is the type or category of an app. Android apps come in multiple categories, and they have their own characteristics.
There are multiple categories of apps available on Google Play Store, such as Gaming, music, video streaming, social media, messaging, and others, where popular Android app categories require more cost to develop.
Let’s understand it!
Where gaming apps like Coin Master counted as pioneer apps with 47.96% global revenue out of the total revenue generated by Android apps. You will be surprised to know that gaming apps generate more revenue.
On the other hand, due to features, functionalities, and complexity, gaming apps are costlier to develop. The cost to develop an Android gaming app range between $40,000-$100,000.
eCommerce app development is trending, but it requires a good amount of cost to develop, and the reason is a requirement for more resources, tools, APIs, and libraries.
If you want to develop an app like Etsy, Amazon, or Walmart, you need to spend $30,000-$50,000 based on the features, functionalities, and user demographics. If you need a simpler eCommerce app, it may take $15,000- $20,000.
Social networking apps require a robust backend to handle the users’ requests, such as messaging, media sharing, in-app calling, live streaming, and others. So, implementing these functionalities requires resources such as an experienced team of social media Android app developers, a capable server, app hosting, and more.
Time is also a constraint to developing these apps, but from the cost point of view, it is expensive, and the social media app cost range can be USD 35,000 onwards. The rest of the things depend on requirements.
The data-driven app is an umbrella term, and it can be any such as gaming, social media or any professional app, but based on the data transaction, the cost will be accordingly. You can develop a simple data-driven app at the cost of $15,000+, but an advanced-level app’s cost can reach up to $100,000.
On-demand application development costs remain less; it is a myth. The whole game is of requirements. If your requirements are less, you can have up to $10,000, but if requirements are high, then it may cost you more than $40,000.
App size is an obvious factor influencing the cost of developing an Android app. Based on the size, you can also categorize the apps into three areas such as small, medium, and enterprise. So, their cost will be accordingly.
App designing also contributes to an overall cost or Android app development budget. The design includes UI (stands for user interface containing visual components) and UX (stands for a user experience, like how the user navigates through the app). The estimated app designing cost ranges between $5,000-$10,000+.
For developing a professional app, you need an Android app development team, so the hiring cost is one of the significant factors determining the cost of developing an Android app.
The team will comprise multiple professionals, from Android developers to Quality analysts. An average hiring cost will be like this:
| Professionals | Hourly Hiring Cost |
|---|---|
| Junior Android Developers | $15-$20/hr. |
| Intermediate Android Developers | $25+ /hr. |
| Expert Android Developers | $50 -$60+ / hr. |
| UI/UX Designers | $15-$20 / hr. |
| Graphic Designers | $10+ / hr. |
| Project Manager | $100-$150 / hr. |
| Quality Analysts | $20-$30 / hr. |
| Business Analysts | $20-$30 / hr. |
| Solution Architects | $100+ / hr. |
The mentioned above hiring cost is just an estimated price. If you want to know the exact or detailed price, then talking with an Android App Development Company would be perfect.
Some additional components remain hidden while evaluating the cost of developing an Android app. Here is the list of these.
| Additional Components | Cost |
|---|---|
| App Hosting | $70-320/ Month |
| App Maintenance | 15%-20 % of the app’s cost per year |
| App Updating | On requirement basis |
| App Submission on Play Store | $25/ app (one-time investment) |
| SMS Gateway | $20 onwards |
| Push Notifications | On a service provider basis |
| Email Integration | Depends on the E-mail API plan |
| Payment Gateway | 2.9%+$0.30 per transaction
(Common for Stripe, PayPal, and Amazon Pay) 3.5%+$0.35 per transaction (For 2Checkout) |
| Firewall | $50-$300/ month |
| Content Delivery Network | $50-$300/ month |
If you are wondering how to estimate the cost of developing an Android app, here are some points you need to consider. Here are these:
First, you need to decide what kind of app you need, for example, eCommerce or gaming apps.
Make a list of features that you want to add to your app. Remember that the more the number of features, the more the cost.
Decide how many users can log in to your app, what kind of activity they can perform with it, and how users will remain engaged.
Integration can expand the functionality of your apps, but it comes with a cost. So, make a short list of integrations you need, such as cameras, geo-fences, Bluetooth, public APIs, and third-party APIs.
Choose which payment gateway you need in your apps, such as Stripe, Amazon or PayPal. All these are the top-most payment gateways, but they are decided as per the preference of the targeted customers.
App maintenance will also contribute to the overall cost of your specific Android app. So, choose what you need, although it will take only 15-20% of the total cost annually.
Based on your work, you can also choose and hire developers. If you need a basic app, junior developers can help you, but it would be best to hire expert developers if you need a professional app. So, make your decision accordingly.
Once you finish all the points, it is time to ask for a quotation from a Top Android app development company to have an actual cost estimation.
Most business owners remain concerned about – how much it costs to develop an Android app. Although with this article, you will have an idea but still, if you also want to know how to reduce the cost to develop an Android app, then the best idea is to hire a top mobile app development company, you will have a fair cost.
Here are some other tips that you can follow:
Launching an Android app for business is your perfect decision, as it is a top mobile OS used on millions of devices. If you want to know about the cost of developing an Android app, then it varies on multiple factors that you have already read in this blog.
For the best results, it is essential to create a detailed project plan and get quotes from top Android app development companies to get an estimate. Last but not least, avoid falling into the trap of low cost offered by some random mobile app developers.
It would help if you balanced the cost with quality, and only an experienced Android app development company like Arka Softwares can help the best.
We are here to address all your queries related to the Android apps. Feel free to contact us any time.
Jeeto11
The app quickly earned over 1,000 downloads within two months of launch, and users have responded positively. ARKA Softwares boasted experienced resources who were happy to share their knowledge with the internal team.
Archithrones
While the development is ongoing, the client is pleased with the work thus far, which has met expectations. ARKA Softwares puts the needs of the client first, remaining open to feedback on their work. Their team is adaptable, responsive, and hard-working.
Service Provider
I started my project with Arka Softwares because it is a reputed company. And when I started working with them for my project, I found out that they have everything essential for my work. The app is still under development and but quite confident and it will turn out to be the best.
