How Much Does It Cost To Build An IOS App?

  • iOS App Development
cost to build an ios app
John Parker
by John Parker Jan 24, 2023

When you meet an IT representative of any mobile app development company, the first question that you will ask is here:

How Much Will It Cost to Develop an iOS App?

It is a very natural thing to think about price before we start anything. When it comes to the iOS app development cost, there are many factors that you need to consider before determining the price. 

  • Do you want to develop a simple iOS app with basic features?
  • Do you want to add advanced features and functionalities to the app?
  • Do you want to outsource the project? And if yes, in which country?
  • Which technologies do you want to use?

These questions must be answered first to determine the cost of the iOS app development. 

However, first, we will discuss why you need an iOS app. 

Why Go for iOS App Development?

Do you know that there are more than 6.3 billion people who use smartphones worldwide? 

An average American checks his mobile phone 262 times a day. 

What do they do on their smartphones? 88% of mobile time is spent playing games. 

A report suggests that total revenue generated from mobile apps will reach 935.2 billion by the end of 2023. 

In just 2022, more than 2.2 billion iPhone units have been sold. 

The iPhone’s market share is 18% of the global smartphone industry. 

If you have an app idea, this is the right time to develop an iOS app. You can reach out to your target audience using iOS phones and tablets by creating a robust, tailor-made, secure, and highly impressive iOS mobile app. 

Here is a list of benefits of going for iOS app development:

benefits of going for ios app development

Better App Revenues 

Whether it is in-app purchases or advertisements, iOS apps help earn more revenue compared to Android apps. Various studies have proved the same.

You can get a better ROI for your iOS app if you have kept a sharp eye on details during the development process and deployed the app accurately. 

High Data Security 

Apple is a synonym for security. There is a large number of data security measures employed with iOS. On the other hand, Android apps lack big time when it comes to data security. Some of the security measures are:

  • Highly integrated data handling systems.
  • Different measures to stop and prevent data duplication.
  • Security measures against loss of security due to data encryption.

If you have an iOS app, you can rest assured of the security and confidentiality of your sensitive data. 

High-Quality Apps 

Apple makes sure that the app is deployed on the App Store after going through thorough testing. You cannot deploy an average app on the Apple App Store. They follow strict deployment standards. 

When a user buys an iPhone from Apple, it is because he wants a high-quality app that assures a flawless experience. This is the reason Apple has a large number of loyal users who stick to Apple no matter what. 

On the other hand, Android app developers use free, open-source libraries for app development. Android apps might not perform excellently on some smartphones. 

There is no such scenario when it comes to iOS apps. 

Apps for All Business Needs 

No matter which business you are into, you can have an iPhone app for your business. Also, iPhone app development does not depend on the scale and size of your business. 

You can add mobility to your processes and improve the user experience when they deal with you by launching a mobile app. 

Though the average iOS app development cost is higher compared to Android, businesses still find Apple apps more trustworthy and lucrative. 

Already Established Customer Base 

Though 75% of the Smartphone market is captured by Android, Apple has millions of users who believe in the quality and performance that Apple devices offer. Also, an iOS app will not need to struggle once deployed like Android apps. 

Top-Notch User Experience 

If someone has used an Apple device, he will never go for any other operating system. This is the magic Apple offers to users. iOS apps pass through tough testing and then get deployed on the App Store, leaving no stone unturned to offer the best, out-of-the-world user experience to users. 

High Market Penetration 

The main problem with an Android app is that there are thousands of similar apps available on the Google Play Store. The competition is tough and cut-throat. 

It is not the case with iPhone apps. Thanks to Apple’s legacy and emphasis on quality, there are more chances that your app will become successful compared to developing an Android phone. 

Even if you spend too much to develop an Android app, there is no certainty that your app will succeed. In addition to that, Apple has a significant market penetration in developed countries such as the UK, the USA, France, and Germany. 

Less Development Time

If you want to develop an app in less time and don’t have any budget constraints, you should go for iOS app development. 

iOS app development takes 28% less development time than Android app development. The main reason is Android’s support for a wide range of devices. 

So, when you have developed an Android app, you have to test it for 20+ devices. It takes much time to deploy an Android app. 

Stunning UI/UX

To make an app successful, a user must spend more time on the app. That’s where the user interface of the app comes into the picture. 

iOS apps have visually stunning and intuitive user interfaces that lure anyone who visits the app. You will be spellbound by the visual richness an iOS app has to offer. 

Such unmatched user interfaces lure users to spend more time on the app. It improves user engagement, which results in more desired actions on the app. 

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an iOS App?

Now that you have determined to develop an iOS app, let’s delve deep into iOS app development cost. We will check out different parameters that affect the cost of iOS app development cost. 

Stay tuned! 

iOS App Size and Complexity of Features 

If you want to develop a simple app with basic features and functionalities, it might not cost you more than $5000 to $10,000. Also, the app development time would be one to two months. 

On the other hand, if you want to develop a medium app with some advanced features, it will cost you up to $10,000 to $50,000. 

Lastly, if you want to add highly advanced features and UI requirements with a strong backend, it might cost you more than $50,000 to $250,000. Also, it will take more than six months to develop an iOS app. 

Simple features are like adding a note, text-formatting, social media platforms, etc. 

On the other hand, advanced features are like adding AR/VR functionalities, AI capabilities, etc. 

iOS Talent Hiring Approaches 

You will need a wide range of expertise to develop an iOS app and you will need talented professionals for each of these expertise. 

ios talent-hiring approaches

You will need UI/UX designers, iOS developers, scrum masters, QA engineers, business analysts, and project managers. 

  • Hiring Freelancers

Now, if you hire these talents individually, it will increase the cost of iOS app development to a great extent. 

Also, freelancers work on multiple projects simultaneously, creating dedication and commitment issues. In addition to that, you will have trust issues while sharing sensitive data with freelancers. 

  • Establishing an In-House Team 

Another option is to establish an in-house team on your premises. It will also lead to higher costs. 

If you don’t have multiple projects to develop, it might not be a good idea to hire an in-house team. Also, you will find it difficult to evaluate the skills of iOS developers. 

  • Hire an Offshore Company

The wise thing is to hire an offshore iOS app development company with an in-house team of professionals who can develop an app from scratch. 

Whether you hire a company from New York or India or Ukraine, they have the state-of-the-art infrastructure and tools to develop highly secure, robust, and scalable apps. 

Furthermore, they sign an NDA with you to eliminate any data security breaches. Also, they plan and strategize in advance and deliver the app on time. It is an added advantage. It will cut down the app development cost by a great margin. 

iOS App UI/UX Design 

UI/UX design decides the success of the app. Hence, you need to ensure that you hire the best UI/UX designers on board to have an intuitive user interface that offers a pleasant and fulfilling user experience. 

You can divide the iOS app UI/UX design section into five sub-categories such as

  1. Research 
  2. UX Design 
  3. UI Design 
  4. Branding 
  5. Animations and illustrations 

1. Research: This part includes analyzing your competitors, market research, checking out the latest design trends, and others. The total cost of the research part is around $50 to $350. 

2. UX Design: This part is all about drawing rough sketches, and making low and high-fidelity wireframes that will take around 14 to 100 hours. The total cost would be around $2000 to $10,000. 

3. UI Design: The UI design part has tasks such as creating mood boards and UI mockup samples. 

Also, you have to finalize the UI mockups in this section. The total time would be around 30 to 200 hours and the cost would be around $1000 to $4000. 

4. Branding: Branding has tasks such as developing brand identity options and finalizing the best one. It will cost you around $5000 to $20,000. 

5. Animations and illustrations: This section includes creating a visual sense for the app that connects users with the content on the app. 

It also includes offering clear visualization of the actions of the users. It will cost you around $1000 to $20,000. 

iOS App Categories 

In which category, does your app idea fall? Do you want to develop a gaming app or a lifestyle app? Do you know that the app category also affects your iOS app development cost

For example, if you want to develop a gaming iOS app, it will cost you $50,000 to $250,000. On the other hand, if you are developing an academic or educational app, it will cost you just $15,000 to $80,000. 

Some of the categories are gaming, business, lifestyle, education, entertainment, food & drink, travel, shopping, social networking, and medical apps. 

Developer Location 

Now, this is a tricky part. Your cost varies substantially depending on the location of the developer you hire. 

For example, the iOS app development cost in New York is higher than the cost you will incur in India. It is due to the obvious difference in currency valuation of the two countries. 

However, it does not mean that Indian developers are not skilled ones and you have to compromize with the quality. 

India, Ukraine, and other countries are the new IT hubs that are offering high-quality, top-notch web and mobile app solutions. 

Now, let’s check this out cost-wise. If you hire a developer from the USA, it will cost you around $80 to $200 per hour. On the other hand, in India, it will cost you around $20 to $150 per hour and in Ukraine, $20 to $100 per hour. 

Online Vs Offline 

Online and offline apps, as the names suggest, also make a huge difference in the cost of developing an iOS app. 

Online apps run when the smartphone is internet-enabled and can facilitate some advanced additional features. So, it will cost more than developing an offline app. 

If you don’t want any advanced features to run during the app time, you can go for an offline app and cut down the cost to some extent. 

Native Vs Cross-Platform

Native apps are developed for a specific platform such as iOS or Android. On the other hand, cross-platform apps can run excellently on various platforms such as Android, iOS, and Windows.

Developing a native app costs you more than a cross-platform app. However, it is noteworthy that native apps are great at performance and speed. Comparatively, cross-platform apps have performance challenges. 

API Integrations 

APIs are integrated into the app to add some advanced features and functionalities. You might need to add a wide range of APIs to your iOS app to make it more engaging, efficient, and performance-oriented.

There is a wide range of APIs such as payment APIs, third-party APIs like Google Maps, Facebook APIs, Skyscanner APIs, Booking APIs, and others. 

If you want to integrate APIs into your app, you just need to tell the same to developer and he will do the needful. 

Testing

Before a developer deploys the app on the Apple App Store, the app must go through a wide range of testing. Apple has very high-quality standards and deploying an app on the store is very challenging. 

There are various types of tests you need to perform to ensure performance, security, functionality, and other parameters. 

Also, to publish an app on the store, it must adhere to all the rules and guidelines of the Apple App Store. 

Here is a list of testing methodologies that are used to test an iOS app

testing

1. UX Testing 

UX testing is done to check a wide range of user experience parameters such as visuals, navigation, workflows, interconnectivity, and interactivity. Generally, it takes 10 to 50 hours and costs around $500 to $1500. 

2. Functional Testing 

Here, a large number of iOS users are selected to install and run the app on their smartphones. They come up with feedback related to functional issues and bugs. It will take 50 to 150 hours and cost around $700 to $1500. 

3. Performance Testing 

Performance testing is done to check the performance of the app. Some of the aspects of performance testing are:

  • Speed
  • Response time
  • Network bandwidth efficiency 
  • App size optimization 

It takes 10 to 30 hours and costs around $150 to $500 hours. 

4. Security Testing 

Security testing is very crucial and must be performed by the QAs to ensure that the app does not have any data security issues. 

Here, QAs ensure code protection, jailbreak, and control third-party data transfer. 

It will take 50 to 120 hours to complete the testing part and will cost $800 to $1200. 

Conclusion 

You can turn things in your favor by developing an impressive, feature-rich, and highly functional iOS app. Whether you develop a simple or advanced app, the ROI is excellent. 

The iOS app development cost depends on various factors such as app size, scope, developer’s location, features & functionalities, and others. Ensure that you hire the best iOS app developer from the company for the project. 

New York Mobile Tech is a leading iOS app development company with a team of expert dedicated iOS app developers. Contact us now to discuss your project now.