Often clients in five words outline functionality and ask to name the approximate price of a mobile application at once. Unfortunately, five words are not enough – without a detailed description of the project it is impossible to do it.
Any calculations on the calculator or price plug only mislead, because they indicate the lower limit. The real cost of the expected functionality is often 2-3 times higher.
We tell you what factors influence the price of a mobile application and what you need to know about them, so that you don’t have to pay for the work that is of little importance for the result.
Number of mobile platforms
In 2018, Android and iOS accounted for 99.9% of the mobile operating system market. The number of devices on other mobile platforms is now so small that it makes no sense to create applications for them.
The fact is that operating systems are different, and it will not be possible to create an application that will work equally well everywhere. Development under Windows or BlackBerry OS will not pay off now.
iOS and/or Android
Development for Android and iOS takes into account the following differences in operating systems:
- Interaction of the application with the architecture of the mobile device: processor, RAM, graphics core and other components.
- Design. On iOS, the previous screen returns the pile from left to right to the previous screen, and on Android – a click on the navigation panel. There is no navigation panel on “iPhone”, so when you adapt someone else’s application, you need to cut it out.
- User experience. On Android, the date is selected by calendar, similar to a pocket date. In iOS, it resembles a slot machine window. With an unusual calendar, it will be more difficult for the user to arrange delivery or sign up for a service.
You can create an application that only works on iOS or Android. This will save on development, but will “cut off” the users of one of the platforms. The application for both platforms will cost more, but will give a full coverage of the mobile audience.
Target audience analysis
iOS users
Mobile devices on iOS are used by 19% of smartphone and tablet owners. Frequent iPhone and iPad customers are people under 45 living in large cities. They have their own business or a highly paid job, a car, and they often travel and shop online.
Mobile devices are actively used for work, business contacts and automation of household tasks. IPhone owners are more likely to use social networks and messengers, work applications and tools, food ordering services, taxis, carschers, online shopping, etc.
iOS users are comfortable with mobile app shopping, so it’s easier to monetize with paid versions with enhanced functionality.
However, IPhone users can also be found on the bus playing Zuma Deluxe.
Android users
Android accounts for 80% of the mobile market. The portrait of a typical user is blurred due to the wide range of device prices. Yes, I do:
- Budget smartphones for 3-4 thousand rubles.
- Popular among the middle class “Honor”, “Xiaomi”, “Mezu” for 10-15 thousand.
- “Flagship Killers” for 15-25 thousand.
- Real flagships for 50-80 thousand rubles, the level comparable to the “iPhones”.
According to SvyaznoyEvroset, the average price of a smartphone in 2018 was 15,000 roubles. In the price segment, over 40,000 IPhone models are sold better than Samsung, Honor and Xiaomi flagship models. This means that the main sales of Android devices are in the budget and average price segment.
The average Android user has an average income or lower than average, while striving to get adequate quality for little money, preferring the camera powerful iron and battery with a large capacity.
He uses social networks, messengers and working software less actively than games and entertainment applications.
There are a lot of free applications for Android in the stores, users do not pay so actively, so there is more often monetization of advertising.
Distinguishing the target audience of Android users, factors of a large number of operating system versions and screen sizes are taken into account.
Support for Android versions
Android users are less willing to update the operating system, because the resources of budget and obsolete devices are not enough for more demanding new versions of the OS. When developing a mobile application for Android, it is necessary to take into account what versions of the operating system will support the device, and the price depends on it.
To determine which versions of the OS should be supported by the application, here is an example of a taxi service:
- Taxis are most often ordered online by advanced users with average income and above, so the application for the passenger should support the latest versions of the OS, be quickly updated and updated. There is no need to support older versions of the application.
- Drivers, on the contrary, often use budget models of smartphones, so support for Android 6.0 or even 5.0 is mandatory for them. Update the application for drivers can not be as fast as the passenger one, because the devices are not replaced regularly.
Support for screens and mobile devices
iOS differs from Android in that the number of devices equipped with it is limited. It is much easier to ensure stable operation of the application on each of them.
Android” has thousands of devices with different screens and operating system variations, modified by iron manufacturers. Developers of applications for Android are constantly faced with the fact that it does not work or works incorrectly on a particular device.
Based on the analysis of the target audience, a list of priority mobile devices is determined, to which the application should be adapted in the first place. The price depends on the number of devices in the list.
Native or cross-platform application
The native application is written specifically for iOS or Android, taking into account the architecture of the selected mobile platform, design features and user experience. In this case, separate applications are created for each platform.
Advantages of native development:
- Higher speed of work.
- More individuality due to fewer restrictions in the interface and design.
- Ability to perform complex calculations and implement any functions supported by the device.
- Design and usability are fully adapted to the user experience of the device owner on the OS.
- Lack of it:
- High price.
Cross-platform development creates only one application that adapts to both platforms using special software.
Advantages:
- Relatively low price.
- The project is launched faster because of less work with the code.
Minuses:
- The application works slower than the native one because it is not optimized for the architecture of the “alien” operating system.
- It may not be possible to use some functions of the devices.
Application functionality
Today’s mobile applications can perform a huge number of tasks. For example, let’s take the functionality of Sberbank’s mobile application, one of the most stuffed in runet:
- Demo mode for new or potential users.
- Automatically checks your device for viruses at login.
- Automatic generation and sending of the code to enter the application.
- Possibility to set a PIN code or graphical code to enter the application.
- Sending event notifications.
- Search for Sberbank branches on the map.
- Card transactions: sending a payment, transferring money between accounts, blocking the card, maintaining the history of transactions.
- Transactions with payments: sending payment to the client of the bank by phone number, card number and account number; payments by QR-code, payments to organizations from the list without specifying details; connection of auto-payments, accumulation accounts, payment templates.
- And much more.
Of course, the cost of developing such an application is measured in tens of thousands of dollars, but it is only an example of possibilities. Let’s take a look at the main features that are used in most cases and affect the price of mobile application development.