iPad App Development Costs

The question we’re most frequently asked is “How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?”  The fact that that question doesn’t have a definitive answer is only slightly more frustrating to us than it is to the hundreds of entrepreneurs we serve, but truth be told, “it depends” is really the only honest answer that we or anyone else can give.

To be sure, for a stripped-down, bare-bones, information-only app (screen savers and wallpapers, for example) that doesn’t need to communicate with anything outside of the device onto which it’s been downloaded, development is cheap.  But for every additional layer of sophistication, expect your development costs to rise accordingly.  Here are a few of the whistles and bells that can raise the initial development costs:

• Does my app need a database?  In other words, will the app need to communicate with an external server in order to function?  This applies to just about anything with a “shopping cart” feature, which can’t be handled within the hardware of the device itself.
• Do I need sophisticated graphics?  By “sophisticated,” we don’t mean “pretty.”  But if your app is a game that requires intricate pathing algorithms and a seamless experience for the user who’s trying to shoot whatever they’re aiming at, expect your development costs to rise.
• Will the app need to exploit the device’s hardware?   Smartphones are coming with more and more sophisticated features and some of the best apps out there are going to make use of them.  Will your app need to access external speakers, like Ocarina?  Will it need to tap into GPS functionality or the accelerometer?  Will it need unfettered access to the battery when you need to warm your hands?  All of these will require a bit more coin when you take your idea to a developer.

Of course, these are just a few of the factors at work when determining mobile app development costs.  That said, if you already have an idea for an app, drop us a line and we’ll set you up with three free development quotes so you can know in advance precisely what you’re getting into.