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“How much does it cost to build an app?” is one of the most common questions for anyone creating a digital product—especially startups that depend on the app to deliver their services.
November 28, 2019
How much does it cost to build an app is one of the most common questions for anyone who wants to create a digital product—especially startups, which often depend entirely on the app to offer their services and establish themselves in the market.
However, setting a price for an app is not an easy task. That’s because there are dozens of variables that need to be considered, from design all the way to the technology used.
To make the process easier, we’ll clarify the main variables involved in pricing so you can understand—on average—how much it costs to build an app.
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But first, think carefully about what you need
The first thing to keep in mind is what you really need. Keeping something “just because” can make your app much more expensive and won’t always add value that justifies the investment.
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Apps can be simple or complex, but to succeed with users it’s essential that they have a light, practical, and easy-to-use interface—without that, people won’t think twice before uninstalling it.
Next, define the following points:
- Platform (Android, iOS, Windows, or all of them)
- Need for login and user management
- Integration with other systems
- Foreign languages and internationalization
- Monetization (ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions, etc.)
Another important point is the level of security required. E-commerce apps, for example, usually cost more because they require more security for financial transactions.
Of course, it’s not always possible to define all of these points on your own. That’s why it’s always recommended to contact a specialized company and request a quote.
Costs and considerations when hiring the development team
There’s a big difference between hiring a freelancer and hiring a company specialized in apps.
But regardless of the choice, it’s important to understand that quality always depends on a multidisciplinary team specialized in app development.
The first role is the Designer, responsible for creating the app’s layout. They also think about usability and user experience, which is essential.
The Front-End Developer will implement the layout created by the Designer. The work of both also depends on the Requirements Analyst, who builds the brief with the client and defines the real business needs.
When programming starts, other professionals are involved. It begins with the Software Architect, responsible for defining the technical architecture that best fits the project, and then moves to the Back-End Developer.
This professional is crucial, because the app only becomes real after they “turn the project into lines of code.”
Two other roles you should not overlook are the QA/Test Analyst and the Project Manager.
While the former evaluates the product and checks for issues before the app is distributed to consumers, the latter divides tasks and creates a plan to ensure not only deadlines, but also the absolute quality of the app.
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So, how much does it cost to build an app?
A small app consumes between 200 and 1,000 work hours. Costs vary widely, and can exceed R$ 100,000, depending on the size of the project.
Project timelines also vary, ranging from 2 to 4 months for smaller apps and up to 1 year for more complex ones.
For startups, it’s also important to include maintenance, updates, and hosting on secure and fast servers in your budget.
Those costs vary and may increase with user volume.
How to save on app hosting
Some specialized companies use partnerships to reduce client costs. Startups that develop software with X-Apps, for example, receive a benefit of US$ 750 per month to use Microsoft’s Azure cloud hosting platform.
In the end, this can represent savings of up to US$ 27,000 in maintenance costs—without losing a complete structure, with backup servers and the capacity to handle many users.
How to request a quote for your app
As shown above, answering the question “how much does it cost to build an app?” isn’t as simple as it often seems.
So, if your goal is to create an app or turn your service into a dynamic and scalable platform for your business, the best approach is to contact a specialized and experienced company in app development for startups.
