When you decide to build an iOS app, the first thing that comes to your mind is iOS app development cost because it affects your budget and the success of the application.
Startups and businesses need to estimate the cost of building iOS apps so that they can utilize their resources properly. Ultimately, iOS app development cost is important to start a secure and reliable app development journey.
If you’re also interested in knowing the cost of building an iOS app in 2024, then you are at the right place. In this blog, you will know everything related to iOS app development cost to start your iOS app project. But before that, let’s understand:
Importance of Estimating iOS App Development
Estimating the cost of building your iOS app is essential for creating the roadmap for your project. This estimation helps you follow a seamless development process with financial clarity, make informed decisions, and increase the chances of success. Take a look at the reasons behind estimating the cost:
- Knowing about a figure helps you understand if your budget aligns with the project. Estimation is important to work on a project that lets you work without any worries.
- Accurate estimation is important to allocate resources effectively, making development costs, marketing costs, marketing expenses, and ongoing maintenance easy.
- If you’re planning to seek investment, a well-defined cost estimate shows your preparation and seriousness about the project.
- An estimate is important to manage expectations for yourself and stakeholders, It’s important to prevent disappointment or surprises later in the development process.
Factors That Affect The iOS Development Cost
It’s important to know about the factors that affect the cost of developing an iOS application.
Businesses need to understand these factors to make informed decisions, manage budgets, and ensure project success. They are important to avoid unnecessary expenses while developing the iOS app. These factors are:
1. App Complexity
The complexity of applications is the single biggest influencer of app development cost. Simple apps with basic features require less development time and resources. This reduces the overall development cost. Building complex apps with a lot of features can demand significant expertise and development. So, you need to choose the complexity of the application that you are ready to launch on the App Store.
2. Number of Features
You should decide the number of features in your app carefully because it impacts the cost. Each feature adds another layer of development, resulting in increased development time and money. For iOS apps, every feature needs a dedicated process which totally increases the timeline and budget.
3. Rate of The Developer
This is one of the most important factors that one should consider while deciding on iOS app development cost. While hiring iOS developers, you need to decide the rate that falls under your budget. Due to geographical locations, developer rates may vary. So, you can hire developers from Asia or Eastern Europe which offers budget-friendly rates of developers. For example, an iOS app development company in USA may charge approximately a $120 – $150 hourly rate but the rate for the same service will be $50 to $100 in India.
4. iOS Developer’s Experience
You will hire a developer who is highly skilled and experienced to get a top-quality iOS app. With an experienced developer, you can easily solve problems, write cleaner code, and make updates. This reduces the time during development but the rate of an experienced developer is higher than beginners. However, less experienced developers can take more time which can result in late release of the application, increasing overall cost.
5. Integration of Emerging Technologies
If you want to make your iOS app ready for the future, then you should integrate emerging technologies such as AI, ML, IoT, AR/VR, etc. This integration can help you maintain your position in the long run. When building iOS apps, these technologies require experts which impacts the overall cost so you need to make an informed decision.
iOS App Development Cost Breakdown
Now that we know about the factors that affect the cost, it’s time to understand the development cost. On average, $10,000 to $150,000+ is the cost of building an iOS application. The final cost will be impacted by the factors discussed above. An experienced mobile app development company can tell you how much will it cost to build your dream app.
Businesses can face some challenges while deciding the cost of building an iOS app. So, we have included a detailed breakdown of iOS app development cost. Take a look at this breakdown:
| App Size/Complexity | Description | Estimated Cost (USD) | Development Time |
| Small/Basic App | Simple apps with basic features like content, minimal functionality, and no backend integration. | $10,000 – $30,000 | 2 – 4 months |
| Medium-Sized App | Apps with moderate features such as user login, data storage, API integration, and basic UI/UX design. | $30,000 – $80,000 | 4 – 6 months |
| Complex App | Advanced apps with real-time updates, complex functionalities, custom animations, and scalable backend. | $80,000 – $150,000+ | 6 – 12+ months |
iOS App Development Cost: Based on Development Stages
| Development Stage | Estimated Cost Range (USD) |
| Planning & Research | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| UI/UX Design | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Frontend Development | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| Backend Development | $15,000 – $40,000 |
| Testing & Quality Assurance | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Deployment | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Maintenance & Updates | $5,000 – $10,000 per year |
Conclusion
iOS app development cost can be estimated after considering some factors which are important to make informed decisions. Now, you have understood that the average cost of building an iOS app is $10,000 to $150,000+. However, building a mobile app isn’t an easy task and you need to partner with an experienced iOS app development company to build a next-level app. This partnership can help you thrive in the competitive market.
