Posted by Today, mobile app development costs are burning a huge hole in the pockets of clients. Small or large, in the present-day scenario, every business requires a mobile application either to manage their employees or customers or to automate some manual business processes. Due to rising demand, a mobile app development company unfairly charges high costs from businesses. However, this demotivates many unique business ideas from coming to the limelight as they never get developed owing to cost fear.
Well, are you also suffering from mobile app development cost fear? Unable to execute your unique business idea? Worry not! In this guide, we are giving 11 unique tips for Indian startups on how to negotiate and optimise the mobile app development cost. Surely, these tips will help you achieve your goals carefree. So, let’s scroll down and understand how we can control the cost of mobile app development!
Why Mobile App Development is Important for a Startup?
Before jumping straight to the tips for optimizing the mobile app development cost. It is more important to first understand if it is really necessary to have a mobile app for a startup. Well, yes! Today, every business requires a high-performing mobile application to elevate its brand image in the market and also to streamline some of its business processes.
However, it depends upon your business model whether you need a B2C (business to customer) mobile app or a B2E (Business to Employee) mobile app. The importance of mobile apps is really high for a startup and we can consider the following benefits:
B2C Mobile App Benefits
- Elevates online presence
- Creates value for the customer
- A high-performance and smooth-functioning mobile app keeps the target audience hooked.
- A well-designed UI/UX captivates the target audience and invites more customers to a business.
- Also automate certain business processes such as order management, inventory management, supply chain and logistics management etc. in case of an E-commerce business model.
- AI chatbots help E-Commerce startups to offer chat support 24*7 to their customers.
- Moreover, it collects important and sensitive customer data and analytics that facilitate comprehensive business and marketing planning.
Business Process Automation Mobile App
- If you get a mobile app for your employees or some business process automation, it too opens gateways for a plethora of benefits.
- For example, it streamlines human resource management by offering attendance, payroll, and leave management services.
- Moreover, automation in supply chain management, logistics management, and order management also serves as a boon for the business.
- Above all, for a startup, a business process automation mobile application is a one-time investment that saves the startup from hiring employees for the same and paying salaries and allowances on a regular basis.
- Also, powered by AI and ML, mobile apps perform calculative and clerical business processes effortlessly, error-free, and quickly.
- Eventually, the productivity increases.
Why Mobile App Development Costs are High?
Mobile App Development Services are really high in demand these days. Furthermore, especially after COVID-19, the IT sector has boomed a lot. Moreover, the number of software engineers is already quite limited and that too good software engineers are limited even further. Eventually, IT companies have started to exploit this situation by raising prices. Apart from this condition, there are also some genuine reasons that increase the software development cost:
- Any type of software development, including mobile app development requires great skill, effort, and time. Therefore, mobile app developers take great salaries and remunerations. Eventually, the mobile app development company also charges a good amount from the client.
- Furthermore, the IT sector requires huge infrastructure investment. There are many fixed costs associated with the infrastructure. These investments are expensive and it increases the production cost for the IT companies.
- Moreover, technology keeps on evolving day by day. New technology comes to the market every now and then. Therefore, engineers have to keep on researching and learning. Sometimes, due to such constant pressure, many engineers leave their jobs causing a shortage of developers. As a result, the application development services get costly.
- Additionally, when new technology comes every day, sometimes it becomes difficult to find, hire, and retain engineers specializing in particular technologies such as developers of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Augmented Reality, Blockchain, and certain frameworks are rare to find. Furthermore, their CTC is usually high which further increases the cost of development.
Well, the reasons for the high mobile app development costs are many. But with your wisdom, you can optimize the cost for your startup and get budget-friendly application development services. Let us now provide you with some tips that will help you optimise the cost.
11 Tips to Optimize Mobile App Development Costs for Startups
Follow these tips and keep the cost to create app under control:
- Research the Market Carefully
Firstly, always research the market carefully when deciding on getting a mobile app for your startup. Know what your competitors are doing and how much different mobile app development companies are charging.
This research will give you a quick idea of the type of mobile apps, UI/UX designs, and the development cost bracket.
- Plan Project Requirements Wisely
Now, having studied your competitors, consider your business model. Enlist the features you need on your mobile application. Plan the project requirements wisely and avoid adding any fancy or unnecessary features.
Document and discuss only the major functionalities of a mobile app with the developer in the beginning. If the budget allows, you may add fancy features later.
- Choose Common UI/UX Design
Remember that you must ask the developer to build app as simply as possible. Simple UI/UX design not only captivates the users but also costs less. Simple and menu-driven user interfaces are more common and comprehensive. Therefore, they do not cost high on the one hand, and on the other, they also do not cost much to the client.
Furthermore, if you ask the UI/UX designer for unique and more animated designs, then certainly it will add to the cost of development. So, during the launch phase, you have to keep your budget restricted, so that you can invest in the fixed costs later!
- Avoid Unnecessary Animations
Moreover, avoid the temptation for unnecessary animations on your mobile app. Your primary focus must be to get a highly functional app that provides a seamless performance. Say, for example, if you are an E-commerce startup and need a B2C E-commerce app, then focus more on navigation, sorting, filtering, and ease of search options.
There is no need to ask the developer for an animated chatbot that interacts with the visitor. However, you can launch this feature later as your business grows ahead. Likewise, pay attention to only major functionalities and avoid fancy features if you are a startup.
- Choose Open-Source Development
When you connect with the mobile app development company, ask the company to use open-source development frameworks and code libraries such as:
Frameworks:
- Django
- Laravel
- Express
- Ruby on Rails (for iOS app development services)
Code Libraries:
- React Native
- Flutter
- Ionic
Open-source development streamlines the development process by reducing the time and effort of development. Eventually, it reduces costs to a good extent. So, always discuss open-source development with the app development agency.
- Hire a Mobile App Development Company
Furthermore, Indian startups often fall prey to unscrupulous freelancing opportunities. However, freelance mobile app development is a great option, but when the freelancer belongs to your social circle. If you or any one of your acquaintances personally know a freelance developer, then congrats! You’re really lucky.
However, if you don’t then always choose a mobile app development for the same. It is because, during the initial phase the freelancer might tell you a small price. But once you start a project with them and you invest money, then your project is totally out of your hands. It may or may not be delivered on time. And the freelancer may even increase the prices at a later stage and you get stuck.
Apart from hiring a freelancer or and application development company, some businesses also prefer to hire an in-house IT team. However, being a startup, this option will neither be budget-friendly nor possible due to the attitude problems of engineers (usually people seek high packages and stability and hardly trust startups).
- Check Inflation Rates & Then Outsource the Project
It is not necessary to choose a company next to your residence in your own city! Why don’t you try remote mobile app development from a city which is less expensive than yours? Suppose, you are a startup based in Delhi, why don’t you take mobile app development services from a smaller town such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, or Pune?
Believe us! Research extensively about the top companies in these cities. Check their websites, reviews, and social media pages. Especially, if you find testimonials, go through them. You will definitely get a better quote in these cities and save a great deal!
- Ask for API Integration, Avoid Development From the Scratch
Startups usually require a custom mobile app development company to get bespoke and on-demand mobile applications as per their business model. However, it is not necessary to build a mobile app from scratch. Rather, you can ask the developers to integrate APIs and save the cost.
Application Programming Interface (API) in the simplest language may be defined as ready-to-use codes for certain features. Say, for example, Login and Signup, Audio Calling, Video Calling, and online payment features are common to most of the apps. Today, many companies sell codes (APIs) of these features individually such that you can get these features on your mobile app within 7 days without coding. So, buy APIs and reduce the development code.
- Avoid Extreme Customization
Do not breathe on the neck of the mobile app developers all day long. The more customization and changes you want in the ongoing mobile app, the more additional costs you will incur. So, leave the app developers free hand and wait patiently for the final product. This too will help you optimize the cost of development.
- Choose Cross-Platform App Development
Moreover, according to an estimate, among the smartphone users who exist globally, about 70% are Android Users and 30% are iOS users. Eventually, whether launching an app for your customers or for your employees, you will need both- Android as well as iOS App Development.
But don’t fall prey to the scrupulous development companies who charge hefty amounts separately for Android and iOS development. Choose Cross-platform app development technology and ask the chosen company if they are well-versed in cross-platform development.
Cross-platform development is a mobile app development technology, in which the developer codes an application in a way, that it runs like a native app on both Android as well as iOS operating systems.
A Cross-platform app costs are slightly higher than Android App Development and much lower than iOS app development. So, try to choose cross-platform app development.
- Finally, Negotiate!
Last, but not least, negotiate with the mobile app development company. The sales professionals will always tell a price which is open for negotiation. So, discuss your project requirements with the company and try negotiating the cost. Ask for available discounts and rebates. Surely, the company will adjust prices if they find your project engaging and great for their portfolio.
- A Surprise Tip!
Surprise! We’re not done yet! We have one more tip for you! Startups are the most underrated and underestimated in the Indian scenarios. But, on the contrary, they are far more potential and powerful than established businesses. Why don’t you partner with an IT startup which is 3 to 5 years old? Making profits is not the aim of startups, but building a captivating project portfolio is.
Eventually, every startup will offer you much better prices than a well-established IT firm. Moreover, do not worry about the quality of your work. Startups are usually found by either highly educated or highly experienced professionals. Eventually, they focus on great quality.
Average Cost of Mobile App Development in India
The cost of enterprise application development varies from state to state, country to country, and requirement to requirement. The more complex the features and functionalities of a mobile app, the higher the cost. Let us provide you with a general estimate of mobile app development costs in India:
- Android App Development: Android App Development Costs in India can range between US $600 and US $60000 on an estimate depending upon no. of features and app functionalities.
- iOS App Development: iOS App Development company charges higher than Android. So, the same mobile app can cost between US $850 and US $95000.
- Cross-Platform App Development: A Cross-Platform application can cost between US $825 and US $95000. Although, it is quite similar to iOS app development prices, but here you get compatibility for Android and iOS both.
- Simple Static Apps: Simple statistic apps such as OLX, Property Listing etc. with negligible animations and no fancy UI/UX cost between US $420 and US $780.
- Functional Apps: General functional apps, such as e-Commerce apps can cost between US $700 and US $42000. The more functional an app is, the higher the cost.
- Complex Apps: Complex applications such as Healthcare apps, Food Delivery Apps, and cab booking apps require complex functionalities. Say, for example, monitoring a patient, integration of GPS systems, in-app calling, video calling, tracking etc. Eventually, cost remains high. A complex mobile application cost varies between US $18000 and US $65000.
Moreover, remember that we have estimated these costs considering that you will approach a custom mobile app development company for your project.
Final Remarks
So, now are truly ready to optimize the cost of mobile app development for your Startup! In this blog, we have successfully unlocked some simple tricks to reduce the cost of mobile app development. Now you can start your research and follow the steps we have taught you. All the best for your hunt! Keep exploring the world!