How Much Does It Cost to Make an iOS App?

iOS Apps open a market opportunity of over 2 billion devices for your business. The Apple App Store has over 2 million apps for download. The number is ever-increasing, and organizations are investing in iOS development more rapidly than ever due to several benefits of iOS app development.

However, every business owner who is looking to develop an iOS application asks a million-dollar question to an iPhone app development agency they consult – how much does it cost to create an app for iPhone devices?

Whether you are a startup or a large enterprise looking to develop an iOS app, the cost will indeed concern you. The iOS app development cost is based on several factors, such as app types and complexity. It ultimately helps you determine the average iOS development cost estimation.

To put it simply, there is no fixed iPhone application development cost because no two iOS apps are the same. Application development companies cannot give you a “one-size-fits-all” estimate that will apply to all forms of iOS apps. That said, it is vital to get a rough estimate of the iOS app development project. This requires an understanding of the nitty-gritty of iOS app development, why you should choose it, and the stages of iOS app development.

Why Choose iOS App Development for Your Business?

It is always a dilemma for companies that want to develop an application, whether to have an app in iOS or Android. It is one of the heated debates in the internet world, and it needs an analysis of both iOS and Android app development. However, the emerging iOS app design and development trends always attract many businesses, besides which there are multiple reasons to choose iPhone app development for your business.

The first and probably the best reason for iOS app development that lures businesses is impressive ROI. Consumers spent $86.8 billion at Apple’s App Store in 2022.

Besides that, Apple promises uncompromised security, which ignites trust in quality standards. Its platform gives you international market exposure, best-in-class UX, cost-effective development, and, most importantly, offers higher scalability.

This is the reason why you should invest in iOS application development.

Factors Influencing App Development Costs

There are aspects that influence how much it will cost to make an iOS app. These are explained below.

Discovery Process

As the name suggests, this is the part of the app development process where you justify the app idea. Market analysis and research, deciding user personas, market capitalization, features, development time, and many other considerable things contribute to the discovery phase that affects the overall iOS development cost. This step includes a series of activities undertaken, contributing significantly to the iOS app development assessment.

For starters, market research needs to be thorough for entrepreneurs to spot pain points and the unique features that can improve user experience, Once you define user personas, you can understand what personalized features will attract them. Proper market study will also help you include the right feature sets, form development timelines, and add other critical elements that form part of the discovery process.

Development Type

Choosing the mobile app development type between native and cross-platform is one of the most complicated decisions for business owners. 

The native approach gives immersive UX, better security, and supports more functionalities, though it is a bit of an expensive method. Native development will involve platform-specific optimizations later down the line, and it is often preferred when app performance is what you want to focus on. The cost here will depend on the specific platform or platforms your app will target. Whatever you choose, you will need development skills specialized for those platforms.

The hybrid approach, on the other hand, provides business owners with multiple platform accessibility. Due to one codebase, the iOS app development price and development time are lower than native. However, these apps need to be compatible with different platforms and devices. Ensuring this compatibility will cost extra because you will have to address platform-specific needs, which will take more time the more platforms you involve.

Analysis and Scoping

This factor finalizes all the major decisions related to the app, such as functions, features, and technologies used. Analysis and scoping are crucial parts of an ideal iOS or iPad app development process and are specifically responsible for understanding app complexity, including deployment model of architecture, third-party integrations, use of device functions, etc. Features and app structure determine whether the app will be simple, medium, or large.

Categories

An app category plays a vital role in deciding the cost of iOS app development. Each category comes with different functionalities, demographics, security criteria, goals, etc. Therefore, it requires effort, time, and money accordingly. As a result, cost varies. Stand-alone apps, m-commerce apps, social networking apps, enterprise apps, on-demand apps, and others are popular categories businesses choose to develop their iOS apps.

Design and Animation

Design is a crucial part of any app development. The app design and animation are other prominent factors that directly affect the custom iPhone app development cost. To attempt an estimation of your iOS app design, you have to know its complexity. Different designs will lead to different prices for the same app. Wireframing, UI design, and animation play a vital role in the app design game.

Launch

You can not launch your iOS app on the App Store just like that; the store only selects the app that adheres to all the guidelines. And this is the reason why approval on the App Store is considered a tough nut to crack. Tick off all the things mentioned in the guidelines to get your app approved. Hence, make sure your app is ideal for the launch.

Maintenance

If you think the work is done once you have published the app, you may need to think again. Other additional elements contribute to the increment in the iOS app development cost. Maintenance is one of them. Constant updates, troubleshooting bugs, changes in app design, and many other considerable things impact the iOS development cost even after your app is developed and launched in the market.

Team Size

Last but not least, your overall cost to build iOS apps also depends on the iPhone app developers you hire for the task. For instance, the cost of a freelance developer and an eminent mobile app development company will vary. A startup company or a freelancer may charge less than an experienced, well-versed app company. That said, the app quality also varies depending on who you choose to develop your app.

iOS App Development Cost Based on Size & Scale of the App’s Nature

Here is a quick breakdown of app types and their costs based on their size, scale, and complexity. 

Simple Apps (With No Backend)

A simple app with basic features, standard UI components, predefined templates, and analytic features costs less. A scheduler, logger, email client, or calculator for specific variables are examples of some simple apps. The cost to build an app for iPhone devices in this category would be somewhere between $25K – $50K.

Mid-Level Apps (A Bit Heavier with DB/ Server)

A mid-level app with API integrations, custom UI, real-time messaging, and simple backend costs higher than simple apps but lower than complex apps. Using the functionality of the camera/GPS device and little else would cost between $50K – $100K.

Complex Apps (With Decent Server Side)

A complex app with custom animation, media processing, real-time sync, complex backend, and more costs you a bit more than the other two types. A well-customized app tailored to a specific business goal costs from $100K (for the release version with unique features) to 300K+ (for advanced versions after achieving a good user base).

iOS App Development Costs, According to Industries

Let us break down the expenses according to different industries to provide a more comprehensive understanding.

Healthcare

Healthcare iOS apps have been on the rise since 2019, offering features like telemedicine and electronic health records. These can get quite complex, and the costs reflect that, ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. The complexity is because of the need for regulatory compliance, data security, and advanced healthcare features, especially when considering the numerous areas of medicine and healthcare these apps can cater to.

eCommerce

eCommerce apps need some features that are quite detailed, such as real-time inventory and secure payment gateways. Giving users personalized features and extensive backend support are also necessary for a seamless shopping experience. The resulting app may cost between $30,000 and $150,000.

Travel and Tourism

Apps in this category often have features like booking and travel itineraries. They offer location-based services that push expenses from $25,000 to $100,000, depending on market reach and requirements. Other functionalities that may cost extra but can be important for such apps include real-time data exchange, integration with booking systems, and interactive mapping.

Education

Education apps these days come with many interactive learning features and student management systems. Therefore, an eLearning app must have engaging content, which makes features like user progress tracking and interactive lessons vital. They may cost similar to travel and tourism apps, i.e., $25,000 to $100,000.

Entertainment and Gaming

These apps can be extremely diverse, with costs varying from $50,000 to $200,000 or more. This is because game development involves interactive storytelling and high-quality graphics that can get quite complex. Games and entertainment apps often have features that integrate technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality as well. Prepare to spend extra if you want such features in your entertainment or gaming app because implementing these technologies needs experienced market players, of which there are not that many.

Food and Beverage

iOS Apps related to the food and beverage industry, including restaurant delivery and order, often cost around $25,000 to $50,000. The most important features of such apps include integration with restaurant systems and real-time delivery tracking. If you own a restaurant, you may have considered customizing your outlet’s menu as well. However, bear in mind that customization always costs extra.

Finance 

FinTech iOS apps must have outstanding security measures in place to show their reliability. Finance apps grow more complex because they must process secure transactions, maintain data privacy, and carry out complex financial calculations. You cannot compromise on them or the real-time data and financial management features you must include during iOS app development. A complete FinTech app can range from $80,000 to $250,000 or more based on the specific features its users need.

Automotive

Apps related to the automotive industry offer features like vehicle and maintenance tracking. Virtual showrooms are often added to apps in this sector as well. Integration with vehicle sensors may be involved, along with navigation (with GPS integration), remote vehicle monitoring, and telematics for diagnostics and maintenance. These can bump up the price range from $75,000 to $100,000.

Social Media Apps

Highly complex social media apps involve features like user-generated content and real-time interactions. These can get really complex, especially if the user interactions need to be updated in real time. Let us not forget content moderation. Think of apps like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for a clearer understanding of the features you will need. If you want to build a social media iOS app, it may cost between $50,000 to $200,000 or more.

How Can AppsChopper Help You with iOS App Development?

We hope this post helped you understand how much it costs to make an iOS app. From affecting factors to cost estimation based on types and complexity, we covered everything to help you prepare a rough estimation of the cost for iPhone app development.

Just remember, you will need to invest according to your iOS app type, features, functionalities, and complexities. The factors mentioned above will enable you to understand, predict, and control your iOS app development project price roughly.

If you need professional assistance in this regard, trust our team of experts at AppsChopper. We can help you determine the costs and build the app for you as a company that has been providing iOS app development services for over a decade.

We would love to hear your comments relating to the post. Got some other thoughts? Drop us words through our contact page.