What is mobile app creation? This is the set of activities and processes involved in creating software for mobile devices. Mobile app development is the process of developing apps for various devices, including tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and other portable devices. Even web developers must consider the mobile compatibility of their systems and ensure that their websites look good on mobile devices.
When you start trying to use all of the features that modern smartphones have, like GPS, Bluetooth, near-field communications, and cameras, then things get complicated. The features of modern smartphones offer new possibilities for mobile app developers.
However, they also make the process of developing apps more complex. The best app developers in this market are forced to squeeze all of the features they can into mobile hardware, which is less powerful. This allows them to compete with web applications.
How long does it usually take to develop an app? In order to answer this question, we must first understand the phases of app development as well as the factors that may impact the final development time.
The average time to complete an app, if we compare different apps with different complexity or number of features, is:
- Simple App Development - 2-4 months
- Average App Development - 4-6 months
- Start developing complex apps in 9 months
The time frame can vary depending on the complexity of the app, the final model structure, the partner company that developed the app, and more. This article will define mobile app development and give examples of the timeline.
You can also view the infographic entitled "Key mobile application development points that affect development time" if you prefer to read.
How Much Time Is Spent On App Development?
The time it takes to develop a mobile application can vary from 4 to six months, depending on the app's complexity.
Simple App Example
Simple applications usually have five screens or fewer, do not exchange data with databases of other systems, do not collect analytics on user stories and actions, and register users via email. Simple apps include business cards with information about your company.
An Average App
Apps can be divided into multiple steps. Apps have about ten screens, a user account, social network authorization, integrations to a server or website, and a payment system. Some examples include online shops, booking systems, and applications built using an application builder.
An Example of a Complex App
It's important to note that complex apps are not just applications without code. They can include real-time synchronization with databases, interactivity, animation, data downloads, and more. Popular social media apps are examples.
Let's look at some other examples that can impact the timeline for development.
App Development Timeline By Three Types Of Apps
Let's look at three different types and the time it takes to develop them.
Healthcare App
It's now possible to track your health using a variety of online diaries, mobile apps, and calendars that store and analyze information about our bodies.
MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular health applications. Other top choices include SleepCycle Alarm Clock and Medisafe.
The average time to develop a healthcare app is 6-9 months. This is because the process requires a healthcare team, HIPAA compliance (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and features such as:
- Integrate with Real-time Heart Rate
- Integrating electronic health records
- EHR
- Message system built-in
- HIPAA compliance
- Telemedicine
- Goal setting
- Daily Advice
- Tracking progress
Educational App
More and more educational apps are available to users of all ages. Khan Academy, Duolingo, and SoloLearn are the most popular educational applications.
The average time to develop an educational app is between 4 and 8 months, depending on how many features and integrations it includes.
- Screen sharing
- Session Recording
- Chats in session
- Streaming
- File sharing
- Chat admins
- Polls
- Breakout rules
Food Delivery App
Since the pandemic, the competition among food delivery apps has been fierce. People prefer to order their food online to save time and avoid going to restaurants and grocery stores.
UberEats is one of the most popular apps for food delivery. Other top choices include Deliveroo. Seamless.com, DoorDash.com, and GrubHub.
Food delivery apps take 4 to 6 months on average. This depends on their complexity, advanced features, and the type of platform they are developed in. It usually includes features like:
- Map Integration
- View Cart
- Push notifications and alerts
- Social Media Integration
- Tracking delivery system
- Order tracking status
- Restaurant filters
- Delivery Tips
After you choose the type of app, there are other factors to consider that will affect the timeline for the development of your business or startup mobile app.
Factors that Impact the Development Timeline
Don't forget about many factors when estimating the development time of an app. We have gathered some factors and calculated the impact of each on the timeline.
Factor 1
It is important to consider the complexity of an application when determining its timeline. The complexity of an app is determined by the number and type of screens, functions, and roles. The complexity of an app idea determines the software development and design effort required.
A simple app may take several weeks to design, whereas a more complex one can require months. Then comes the front-end, back-end, and testing. Apps like Calm take about 880 hours to develop, whereas Uber takes approximately 1100 hours.
If you want to build something new, like SaaS (Software as a Service), it could take up to 1200 hours.
Factor 2
In a description of requirements, the main features and purpose of an application are outlined. The more detailed your requirements are, the faster you can build an application. App development time can be affected by the functionalities of an app, such as selecting a CMS or integrating third-party services.
If you decide to add additional features, your overall application development cost and time will increase. Indirect costs will also increase. Spending on business analysis or project management, for example.
Here are some of the features that founders search for:
- Join us on Facebook or Email
- Chat or messaging
- Push Notifications
- Portrait or landscape view
- Payment Integration
- Maps Integration
- Login to your account and more
Additional features can vary depending on the application type. It can take up to 80 hours to develop the required requirements for apps such as chat applications, while other apps, such as Ads Manager, may take over 160 hours.
Factor 3
Documentation is crucial to determining the app development timeline and final goal. The design team will use these documents to wireframe mockups. These are digital blueprints that show how the minimum viable products will look.
It is primarily two things:
- This guide provides the information necessary to identify possible pitfalls.
- This includes only the essential functions.
The project will be hampered if the project requirements for the final product are unclear at the start. Use agile product development.
Wireframes are used to solve all customer pain points and create a unique experience for the user. What happens in the process?
- You can create wireframes as a team using a digital tool.
- You then present the document to stakeholders and ask for their feedback.
- Make the changes suggested.
- If necessary, carry out the procedure again to produce the desired outcome..
Wireframes can take up to 2-3 days, depending on the complexity of the app.
Factor 4
If you're a coding expert, you need only help with product and design strategies. If you are just starting as an entrepreneur, then you will need assistance from the beginning to the end. There are also other factors. If your business model includes hiring an internal team, you should consider how much time it will take to train and hire the team.
If you have an existing team, only the time spent on design and development will be considered. If you don't have much time, then hire a mobile app developer or product development company to share your timeline. In this case, you will save a great deal of time.
App Development Timeline And Stages
Each stage in the development of an app determines what you will need to do and how long it will take. You should consider the time required for each phase, starting with the planning of your application.
Planning Stage
This is the most important stage for estimating the timelines of an app's development. It is aimed at both the dedicated app development team as well as the customer. This stage is used to set expectations and determine the scope of a project. It takes around 2-3 weeks.
In this phase of application development, you will collect and analyze data about the project and its market, competitors, and audience. The discovery stage can be performed at different times. You should focus on the following aspects:
Requirements & Specifications: It can take two weeks to write and handle specifications. Here are some things that you should include in the brief to give you a first idea:
- Project goals and success metrics
- Request for Proposals (RFP)
- Budget Range
- Non-disclosure Agreement
- Date of the approximate delivery
Design Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Wireframes in low fidelity are the first visual representations of a product. It allows designers and clients to get a clear idea of the design as well as the product's functionality.
These tools are flexible, speed up the development process, and keep the initial costs low. They also help reduce the average time to develop an app.
Define Tech Stack
You should also analyze the technology stack you will require to develop an MVP. Mobile app development projects can be classified into three types: native, hybrid, and web.
A native app is a software application that is developed specifically for a mobile platform (Objective C, Swift, Java for iOS apps and Kotlin, Kotlin for Android apps), while a hybrid is a web-based app created using Flutter React Native, Xamarin, and other technologies.
Design Stage
During the design phase, you will conceive the UI design and UX of the product and then iterate on them. This leads to a blueprint that is handed to app developers so they can start building the product.
Create High-fidelity Wireframes
High-fidelity is a computerized representation of a product. It is the most accurate version of the final result.
Testers can see the final product through high-fidelity wireframes. It starts by creating low-fidelity wireframes that match the content strategy with storytelling. It then creates high-fidelity wireframes to determine the app's layout and hierarchy.
Create UI Kit
Users get functionality from the user interface components in the UI kit. A UI kit includes application elements such as buttons, navigation buttons, and checkboxes. UI kits include all the UI elements so that you do not have to create them yourself. They adhere to the timeline for mobile app development.
In total, the design phase takes between 40 and 80 hours. The planning and design phases can last from 2 weeks to 1 month. The SwiDate project took 150 hours to design the UI/UX.
Read More: How to Create an Excellent Mobile App Development Team?
Development Stage
The core of the app-development process is the development phase. The development phase focuses on both the front-end and back-end. It also includes the beta-testing and uploading to app stores.
Back-end Development
The back end is the part of an application that is hidden and responsible for data storage and security. It has the same function as a server.
You can use API (Application Public Interface) to access it over the Internet. Custom servers, cloud servers, and MBaaS are some of the most commonly used back-end server alternatives.
The back end includes components such as:
- Data storage
- Server-side logic
- Users Management
- Versioning
- Data Integration
You can also hire a third-party company to provide the storage capacity required by your back end. You can hire an internal team to develop the back-end of your app. Remember, not every app requires a back-end.
We had an interesting case in our practice. Videonext's founder contacted us to ask for help moving their website to the cloud.
The most difficult part was to integrate the back-end functionality of the platform.
Front-end Development
The front end is what a user sees. Front-endFront-end developers curate everything a user can see, from structure to design to behavior and content. It uses elements like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. It is also responsible for the performance and responsiveness of the application.
Below you will find the front-end :
- Front and front-end logic
- Synchronization
- Caching
- Wireframing
- UI Design & Development
The average time it takes to build an app is between 3 months for an MVP to launch and nine months to scale up the product to a large one.
Testing
The testing phase is the final and most critical of the entire app development process. You may need to wait between 4-6 weeks. 340 hours were spent on the SwiDate Project QA testing.
How To Speed Up App Development?
With the joy and satisfaction that comes with building an app, there is often a desire to accelerate certain stages. You should discuss with your dedicated team to see if there are any ways to reduce the timeline.
We offer these solutions when a stakeholder is not satisfied with the timeline for the development of a mobile app and wants to save some time.
The Stakeholder Should Spend Some Time On Communication
The communication process is the most important part of app development. As soon as you begin working with an outsourcer, be prepared for an increase in the number of Slack and Zoom messages.
It's inevitable. It's inevitable. According to my experience, dedicating 10-20 hours per week to the project is a good idea.
Start With Mvp And Focus On Core Moments
You can create an app in two different ways. You can either build as many features as you like with minimum effort or release minimal features to maximize the quality. I would advise you to go for the latter.
The solution is easy, especially if you want to launch quickly. Just build an MVP. Focusing on core values and minimizing features will always speed up the delivery of a product. Don't hesitate to leave certain features and customizations for future app versions.
You can speed up app development by doing these things. You're not alone in affecting the speed. This is what Cyber Infrastructure , your app development company, can give you.
Set the Contact Faces
We assign a person to be responsible for communication. Instead of having the entire team participate in meetings or create a bunch of group chats, it's better to have a single person. Usually, it's a solution architect or product manager. They keep you informed about the status of your project, any delays or changes.
We do it to avoid a mess. As a project stakeholder, you have a single point of contact to clarify and update all questions regarding the project. This saves a lot of time and reduces the chances of miscommunication.
Set Business Goals and Say "No" When Needed
In all the projects I worked on, I realized that working with stakeholders correctly is a skill. Cyber Infrastructure is not just about tasks. Cyber Infrastructure's focus is on working with clients.
We will do all we can to achieve the goal of the client, which is to test an idea quickly. It is part of the process to say 'no.' We make an extra effort from our end to keep clients informed about the final goal. You can save time by communicating clearly with the goal of the business.
Mobile App Development Guide
You now understand why it is important to build an application. Where do you begin? How can you create a plan for mobile app development and select the right technology? This is a brief guide to mobile app development.
Mobile App Strategy, Goals, and Monetization Model
Let's first identify your app development strategy and objectives.
Building a mobile app involves four steps:
Define A Clear, Unique Value Proposition
UVPs should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. What value will your application provide to your customer? What problem will it solve?
Establish the goals and Performance Standards
Set goals that are in line with the business decisions you make. You might, for example, want to increase customer satisfaction or unlock new revenue streams.
Set clear performance standards and KPIs that will allow you to evaluate the success of your app - such as load speed, crash report, retention rate, and others.
Establish user Profile
What is the target audience, and what problems are you trying to solve for them? What are the needs and wants of your target users?
App Features: Define What Features Will Be Included In Your App
It is not a good idea to try and solve all problems with one solution. The complexity, navigation, and features will overwhelm and confuse users, and they will abandon your tool.
Ensure The Security Of Your Data
Your mobile app will store and handle a large amount of data, including sensitive information about your customers. Your reputation is on the line when it comes to security. Exposing customer data could have very serious consequences. Decide on how you'll protect the data of your users and company.
Choose How You Want To Use The Data Generated
What will you do now that the data has been secured? How can you use vast amounts of data to enhance your business and increase profits?
The collected data can be used to gain insight into the market, identify behavioral patterns, engage the audience, and promote new products.
Select The Monetization Method
The monetization of an asset is the process by which it becomes a source of revenue. If your revenue generated does not surpass the expenditure, then you will fail and go bankrupt. If, on the other hand, new clients are worth more than what you spent to get them, then your business will be a big winner.
Custom App Development: How Can It Be Effective?
Outsourcing
A cost comparison has already been made. The trend of outsourcing to Eastern Europe or Asia is due to this large difference. These countries have lower living costs, which allows them to offer more affordable app development. Outsourcing not only saves you money but also allows you to access a wider pool of talent. You can delegate your entire mobile app development process to an iOS or Android app development company and focus on your business goals.
MVP
Your success is based on Proof of Concept, prototypes, and, most importantly, MVP. MVP reduces the fear of not developing enough features, which makes app design much more efficient. App developers who are at the top of their game will not be distracted by extra features but instead focus on those that are functional to launch an MVP. You can also detect bugs faster by releasing smaller products every cycle.
You have no chance of competing in the market if you don't test your ideas for technical feasibility, get user feedback and learn from your mistakes.
Security Testing
Cyber attacks can easily target mobile apps. Do not think that your app is invulnerable. From the time your app is in development to when it goes live, many mobile app security (MAST) tools are available.
As part of your journey, offer real-time security to your customers. Avoid bugging, stalling, and malware. Your app can be improved to provide a safer experience for users.
Moving Forward
We will give you an average time for developing your app based on your requirements. For more information on our approach, you can check out our guides about app design costs and app development costs.
