There is no denying that the budget estimate is indeed one of the most pivotal factors for most of the customers out there, whether, he is buying a product or availing any particular service from a company. The customers, nowadays, have become smarter and they always make it a point to research the market before making the purchase or offering a particular project. And if they are planning to launch an Android app for their business, they tend to take some additional measures and estimate the cost of developing the app. However, one would say that it is actually very difficult to provide an appropriate or exact cost of app development whether it is Android or iOS. The cost of developing a mobile app depends on a number of variable factors. Apart from that, one is also aware that the number of mobile apps has incredibly increased over the last few years and we have new and exciting apps coming up now and then. Therefore, the competition level has also significantly enhanced as N numbers of companies are offering their services. Talking of the figures, there are about 3.5 million Android apps in Google Play Store as per the current stats of December 2017. It was 2.8 million in March 2017. So, you can notice the vast difference in numbers in just nine months of the same year. So, let’s discuss few vital determinants that play a decisive role in determining the cost of an Android app. One more important point to note here is that the charges keep on changing with the passage of time. Thus, you need to calculate the cost according to the current market rate accordingly. Hire a Freelancer or a Mobile App Development Company There have been a number of past discussions and debates over this topic on whether the client should hire freelance app developer or should approach an app development company. Well, honestly speaking, both have their pros and cons but if you were to ask an expert, then it is highly recommended that you should hire the services of an app development company. By consulting the company, you get to communicate with an entire team and come across a wide spectrum of ideas. Plus, the biggest advantage is that they are professional app developers, who have extensive experience of working on various projects. You just have to explain them your requirements and get the app developed within the stipulated deadline. Of course, hiring a freelancer would cost less, but it is better not compromise with the project and want your business to remain on the top. The Development Team Working on the Project The cost of developing an Android app also primarily depends on the development team working on the project. The number of team members assisting on a project will actually depend on the size of the project. For instance, if you are developing an eCommerce app similar to Amazon or Flipkart, or a gaming app, there will be more people compared to a simple app such as a weather app, calculator etc. If we talk about the composition of the team, then it usually comprises of a project leader or manager who guides the entire team, an android app developer, a UI designer, a UX designer, a backend and a frontend developer, a tester or quality assurance engineer. However, in many projects, both UI and UX designs are tackled by the same person. Moreover, the numbers of Android app developers may increase based on the project requirements. Cost of Development Depends on the Team Location If you have some idea about the charging procedure of the app development companies, you would know that most of the firms charge their clients on the hourly basis. Let’s explain this by an example. Suppose you are planning to develop a restaurant searching app like Zomato, you would have to pay around $18,000 to $20,000. If the app development is complicated and requires more time, then the cost would also hike. Another significant aspect that needs to be considered is the change of trends that take place in Android app development. Obviously, the app developers always try to implement the latest development trends of the prevailing year. But the most important factor certainly is the region or the country where the app is being developed. Strictly speaking, the prices in countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European regions and Australia are comparatively much higher than in sub-continent countries such as India where it usually costs around $20 to $50 per hour. However, in the US the average is about $100 to $200 per hour. Taking the Technical Aspects into Account So, if we talk about the technical aspects there are a number of things that have to be taken into account. This would basically mean whether the Android app developer is including the third party integrations, the advanced AR or VR techniques, backend development or whether the app requires an essential admin panel. Some app needs third-party integrations such as implementing the payment gateway through Braintree or PayPal. If you are selling product or service then you need to incorporate payment features and also add a chatbot which allows users to communicate in real-time. Most of the apps also have social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter or Google+ besides the basic features. For Android apps like Uber or UberEATS you have to also provide geolocation feature to track the cab or food. This is also added into the costing of the app. If it is a gaming app, the Augmented or the Virtual Reality also becomes crucial for some app to offer the real look. You need to calculate the cost of developing a backend server if your app demands so. This allows API to exchange data between the device and database. Most of the apps like Uber or Paytm needs a necessary admin panel from where the entire app is controlled and managed. In addition, there are
