How Much Does It Cost to Maintain an App in 2024?

A successful app project deserves a pat on the back, but its launch is not the end. The work to maintain it begins once it is out in the market. Maintenance and updates are part of every app’s upkeep after it is launched. Why do you need it, and how much would it add to the total business app development cost? These are questions you must have answers to before you set out to build your dream application. 

The minute an app is launched, the race begins to keep it from becoming obsolete. You cannot leave your app unmodified in the app store after you have built it. Maintenance becomes the need of the hour shortly after people start using them.

The market is unforgiving with its constantly shifting trends. Your investment is likely headed to ruin without proper upkeep. It is up to you to ensure your app does not leave a wrong impression in the minds of the users or, worse yet, get removed from stores altogether.

Why is Mobile App Maintenance Necessary?

There are several reasons why app owners must consider long-term mobile app maintenance costs beforehand. To do so, they must understand the importance of this process and the repercussions of avoiding it in the long run.

Staying Relevant

Technologies are progressing rapidly, and apps need to reflect that they are in tune with the advancements. People notice when a business shows consistent efforts by adding new features and fixing bugs on time. They also respond well when you work on renovating the app by removing outdated components in favor of improved ones.

Note that two-thirds of app users uninstall an unsatisfactory app in less than three months. This is often because it does not provide enough value for the time it takes from them. The best way to do this is by making changes regularly based on the feedback received from existing and previous users.

Keep Users Involved

Most users prefer an app that is visibly maintained and updated according to emerging trends. They are quick to delete apps that do not seem to keep up with the latest developments.

Mobile app maintenance and support become important here because it requires continuous monitoring of user preferences and expectations to devise the right updates. It also plays a vital role in meeting the strict quality guidelines set by app stores. Apps that fail to match those standards stand a chance to drop in the rankings because users no longer show interest. In worse cases, they fall low enough to get removed from the store.

Improve User Experience

You built the app for its users, and maintaining aspects related to UX helps deliver a superior experience. Users want to get where they are going fast – your app cannot underperform in any respect.

Therefore, to make an app successful in the market, you need to focus on navigation and loading time. The better the UX, the more users you can keep engaged to maintain a decent user retention rate. A flawless UX will pull more customers, enticing them to make in-app purchases and contribute to advertisement revenue.

Users will even want to go as far as to leave a glowing review, and we all know how important those are in attracting more users and improving app store rankings.

Prevents Security Issues

App and business reputations stand to lose big when their worst security fears come true. Mobile apps are often easy targets for cyberattacks because they are more likely to contain sensitive data.

The absence of proper maintenance will make them vulnerable and expose user data to malicious attacks. That is why they need frequent security patches and updates to keep them resistant to hacks and breaches, which fall under app maintenance.

Fewer Downtimes Due to Bugs

Although less likely, extremely well-tested apps can also face unexpected problems. Not every real-time case can be replicated during testing, and these unintentionally missed situations are when bugs can creep in unnoticed.

Matters also get more complicated once the app goes online, and user-driven data indicates a wider variety of user interactions than anticipated. Well-organized mobile application maintenance services also take into account custom operating system variants that come with their own modifications. It makes sure app performance and stability do not take a dip whenever such issues arise.

Types and Aspects of Mobile App Maintenance

Various situations and requirements arising after iOS or Android application development call for different types of app maintenance services. The major categories are listed below.

• Adaptive – This type is responsible for keeping the app in tune with the changing operating system versions, as well as software and hardware upgrades. Developers need to make the app compatible with the new environments because it was developed to work in the previous ones and may face performance issues due to version conflicts.
• Preventive – An app can face errors at any point due to its complexity. Preventive maintenance aims to reduce the complexity to stop those issues from arising in the first place. Developers scour the code to optimize it and may restructure some of it as part of their preemptive measures. Updating documentation is also a part of this category since it works to boost efficiency and keep the app clear of future problems. 
• Corrective – If the app has certain issues or defects in its functions, it requires corrective maintenance. This includes design and coding defects being fixed within the mobile app development cycle after they have been reported, making it different from preventive maintenance.
• Emergency – Apps may sometimes face unforeseen difficulties needing urgent attention. Such cases can come from nowhere and quickly interrupt the app’s functioning. Emergency maintenance is designed to handle these unpredictable cases swiftly to keep UX smooth. 
• Perfective – As its name suggests, this type of maintenance helps perfect the app with evolving user needs and smartphone features. It involves listening to user feedback and implementing it to keep them satisfied over time. Every niche needs it, from eCommerce and retail to healthcare and education app development. 

Factors Affecting the Cost of App Upkeep

The cost to make an app must include the resources needed for maintenance, the extent of which depends on the following factors.

• Technical Complexity

The complexity of a mobile app can be different based on its purpose. Utility apps like calculators and file managers are simple, but apps with multiple sophisticated features need more time and resources to build. They will also need professionals for application development and maintenance due to their intricate coding structures.

This is why app maintenance increases with complexity. Some technical aspects also add to the overall app development cost. These include intricate algorithms and advanced functionalities, which often need continuous updates to meet the evolving industry standards.

• Number of Platforms

If an app is designed to run on more than one platform, it will need separate maintenance for each one. Each requires continuous adjustments to ensure the best performance according to its specific features. Now, iOS app maintenance cost will surely be different from that of, say, Android.

Developers have to adapt to the coding standards and UI guidelines as well. Compatibility across various devices also needs to be taken into account here, which adds another layer of complexity.

Workload rises because of parallel native or hybrid app development and testing. This raises the overall iOS or Android app maintenance cost.

• Regular Updates

Mobile OSs undergo frequent updates, which app developers need to keep up with. About a fourth of Google Play Store apps are updated on a weekly basis, and 64% of apps receive them every month. This is because operating systems are constantly improving, with new versions and security patches released as needed.

The app must stay aligned with the latest industry standards through frequent releases. Such modifications will need resources, which will be included in the cost of updating an app. In other words, keeping up with user expectations comes at a price. If the developers cannot release them according to OS changes, they expose the app to compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities.

Users are rarely satisfied with a product that fails to address their security concerns, either. Delays in mobile app maintenance and updates can cause the app’s reputation and user base to tank.

• Codebase

We must consider the foundation of the app, and that is its codebase. Developers will take less time to perform maintenance and updates if the codebase is properly organized and modular. They will also be able to refactor the code faster and follow coding best practices more easily, building a strong foundation.

If the codebase is outdated or messy, it will take more time and resources to fix since the developers will end up spending more time understanding and correcting issues. This is true for both Android and iOS application development.

• User Feedback

Apps that cater to a large user base must be designed according to their diverse requirements. They often receive feedback based on the audience. 

Developers need to take action on what users say to show their opinion counts. These include understanding the concerns raised by users, based on which they search and fix bugs. All of this falls under mobile app maintenance.

They also add new features as user demand rises, making sure they are always satisfied. Of course, these efforts add to maintenance costs, which can be avoided if you want to build a loyal user base.

• App Security-Based Requirements

Cyberattacks will never stop growing as long as user data hangs in the balance. Apps need the best possible security measures to counter these threats. Publishers and mobile app developers make them undergo regular security audits to check if the encryptions need updates. 

Vulnerability assessments are also carried out frequently to protect sensitive information and user trust. Other security-based measures to manage compliance and protect the app from possible data breaches are vital, but the more you include, the greater the final costs will be. Consult with an experienced app maintenance company to incorporate what is necessary to keep the app viable in the long run.

• Third-Party Integrations

Many apps contain third-party APIs to provide certain functionalities. Once integrated, they will also need to be looked after because any changes or updates to these external services can affect app performance. For instance, if you are working on travel app development, you may have to integrate payment gateways to enable transactions.

Therefore, these require regular monitoring and changes corresponding with third-party changes to prevent disruptions. The process of maintaining third-party integrations is not always without its issues, however.

This is why developers must be careful when there are changes in external services. They need to make adjustments quickly if they want to prevent apps from becoming incompatible with the devices they were designed for in the first place.

How Much Does it Cost to Maintain an App?

The cost to perform updates and maintenance for the app can reach as high as 50% of the total development expenses within the first year of the app’s launch. This is because it takes time to understand market requirements and respond to predictable as well as unpredictable issues concerning user feedback.

After that, the expenses typically amount to 15 to 20 percent of the overall application development cost estimate. You may need to re-evaluate these expenses if you have to spend more than that, although building in a field, such as healthcare app development, could have different costs.

Follow these tips to make sure you do not pay more than you have to, whether you are considering maintenance with app startup cost or as a separate service.

• Proper Monitoring

Use monitoring tools to identify potential issues before they grow bigger. Carry out performance checks as often as possible to simplify error tracking. Conduct user experience assessments from time to time, as these will help you intervene in time whenever a problem occurs.

For example, you may conduct surveys after your retail app development is complete, and the application is launched to understand how well customers are taking to your app. The quicker you respond, the better control you will have over the long-term software maintenance cost.

• Agile Development

Adopting Agile methodologies contributes to a streamlined process because they are made to improve flexibility and responsiveness. It makes version control systems more efficient by breaking down development tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This will help your teams save time by resolving bugs and adding features quickly.

• Plan for the Long Term

The ideal app development firm foresees technological advancements and market trends. It can help you prepare ahead and be more aware of user expectations. One major benefit of this is the development of a long-term maintenance plan that will include measures to handle its costs effectively.

A detailed strategy enables developers to prepare better for future updates and the obstacles they might bring. You will not be caught unaware as often, saving the project from unexpected maintenance costs.

Conclusion

As an app owner, you will want your app to be the most successful in its market. After all, you are investing a lot of money and time in building the perfect product. To achieve this feat, however, you need to create and maintain an app users love. 

Establishing a strong relationship is key to building a loyal user base, and mobile application maintenance plays a crucial role in making it happen. Fortunately, there are experts like AppsChopper who can take over this process. Let us know if you want exact numbers on how much it costs to maintain an app.