The Complete Guide to Mobile App Development

What Is Mobile App Development?

Let's start with the basics—what exactly does mobile app development mean? Essentially, it's the set of processes through which developers create software that runs on our mobile devices.

Creating a mobile app development process is not just about writing code and then making sure it works on mobile platforms. For an app to be market-ready, it must go through several stages and development processes: from validating the app idea to studying the audience and creating sketches, testing stability, and then performing regular maintenance.

Types of Mobile App Development

In the past, the only way to ensure an app would run on a specific device was to build a native app. Now, it's possible to create a cross-platform app that works on any platform. How do they differ, and who wins in the battle between native and cross-platform apps?

Native Mobile App Development

Native apps are built for a specific platform (iOS or Android) using software development tools and languages supported by those operating systems. For example, Android developers use programming languages like Java or Kotlin, while iOS developers use Objective-C or Swift.

Because these apps are optimized for a specific platform, they are generally more secure, faster, and therefore perform better. Native development also gives developers full access to the device's capabilities—from the camera and microphone to various sensors.

However, performance and convenience come at a cost—literally. Developing native apps is more expensive because they must be coded separately for each platform you want to target. If you want to create a native app for both iOS and Android, you'll need to develop two separate apps with mobile app developers—and likely pay twice as much.

WhatsApp is a great example. Because it requires access to the device's camera and microphone to function properly, there are separate versions for Android and iOS on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Cross-Platform Mobile App Development

The second option is to build a cross-platform app. Using tools like Flutter, mobile app developers can create a single app with reusable code that performs equally well on both systems.

If you want to launch your mobile app on multiple platforms but have a limited budget, cross-platform apps might be just what you need. Since developers don't have to write unique code for each operating system, overall costs are significantly reduced.

However, creating an app that works well across multiple platforms requires a team of experienced mobile app developers. The main challenge is accounting for all the small differences between operating systems and hardware. This can be particularly difficult when implementing complex interfaces and features. Cross-platform apps may run slightly slower than native ones, and their feature set is somewhat limited.

Yet for many companies, a cross-platform app works fantastically. Take Slack, one of the most popular collaboration tools—can you even tell it's a cross-platform app? In addition to a web browser and desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, Slack offers a mobile app that works just as well on Android as it does on iOS.

Advantages of Mobile App Development

Looking at the number of new apps appearing in app stores every day, you might wonder where the mobile app boom came from. Here are some statistics that show why everyone wants their own app today.

1. The Mobile App Market Is Growing Rapidly

Currently, half of the world's population owns a smartphone. And often, they have fast internet connections to download various apps at any time. In 2023, smartphone users downloaded 218 billion apps, and that number is expected to grow. So it's no surprise that mobile industry revenues are also rising. According to Statista, mobile app revenue will reach 935 billion rubles by 2025, with most revenue coming from paid downloads and in-app advertising.

2. Mobile Apps Are More Effective Than Websites and Offer the Same Functionality

Modern apps can offer exactly the same functionality as any website, but they are simpler and more convenient for the average user. Think about it: if you could order a taxi with a single button press in an app, or if you had to search for a company through a website, which would you choose?

Since smartphones are always with us, we can access services or find information no matter where we are. Push notifications have also made our lives easier. As soon as we receive a new email or task, we can instantly get a notification and respond within seconds.

3. App Development Can Be Cheaper Than Website Development

Building an app can cost you less than building a website. Mobile apps are much more affordable and easier to update, meaning you can get a wide range of modern features for mobile operating systems without having to develop everything from scratch.

4. An App Can Enhance Your Company's Image by Providing Information About Your Products and Services in a User-Friendly Format

One of the main advantages of a mobile app is that all the information you want to provide to your customers—including special sales and promotions—is at their fingertips. If they need to read more about a product they want to buy or find an answer to a question, it's much easier to find it in the app. With push notifications, you can also gently remind customers of your products and services.

5. Smartphone Users Spend More Time on Mobile Apps Than on Other Media, So It's Crucial to Have an App That Customers Can Use When Searching for Your Business Online

Another key advantage of mobile apps is that they are designed for on-the-go use. No matter where your customers are or what they're doing, they can connect with your business by simply taking out their phone. In Russia, 96% of map usage and 86% of weather content consumption happens via smartphone apps. This makes sense—people need access to maps and GPS services while on the road, so a smartphone is obviously the best choice. It's likely that someone is already looking for your business in an app!

6. Mobile Devices Account for 70% of All Web Traffic, Making Them the Most Popular Way to Access the Internet Today

With many more people having access to high-speed mobile internet, it's become much more convenient to browse the internet from their devices. For example, people no longer need to sit in front of desktop screens to check their email—it can all be done on mobile devices. As mobile internet speed and quality continue to improve, the number of people preferring to use their phone over a computer will only increase.

Thus, more than half of people worldwide access the internet via mobile devices, while only 43% do so via desktop, and that figure continues to decline each year.

How Much Does Mobile App Development Cost?

Now let's get to the main question: how much will it cost to build a mobile app for your brand? This is not an easy question, as the final price of the mobile app development process depends on several factors. Primarily, how complex you want your app to be, what type it is, and how many features it includes. Additionally, development is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to app expenses. Once the app is ready for use, you'll have ongoing costs for regular maintenance, environment development, updates, marketing, and fixing any bugs.

Let's assume you're building a full-featured enterprise app, and its final cost will be around 500,000 rubles. What does that include?

Design and User Experience: at least 150,000 rubles.

You cannot skimp on design or user experience, as these are the main factors that can attract (or repel) users from your app. Poor user experience is also regularly cited as the top reason people abandon apps shortly after downloading, so it should be a priority.

Coding and Programming: at least 150,000 rubles.

The app development process is usually divided into two parts: front-end (design) and back-end (coding). The more complex the project, the more time development teams need to create stable code, and thus the more expensive this stage becomes.

Testing: about 50,000 rubles.

You don't want complaints piling up that the app doesn't work on certain devices or crashes frequently. That's why you need to test the app on multiple devices (and carriers) for usability and compatibility issues. Start with beta testing, then move on to security and performance testing.

App Deployment: 100,000 rubles.

To make the app available to active users through major app stores, developers must install and configure it to run on a dedicated server. Then, the link to your app is added to one or more app stores, where your active users can not only download it but also receive subsequent software updates.

Maintenance: 50,000 rubles.

Your app will also require regular maintenance to ensure it runs smoothly and to fix any issues and bugs.

Although you can find plenty of information online to estimate app costs, remember that all this data is just an approximate cost estimate. For more accurate information, it's best to send your proposal to several development companies and compare the costs of each proposal.

Of course, there may be additional costs related to digital products, mobile development teams, other elements of the product roadmap, incorporating artificial intelligence, and anything else that comes to mind during mobile app development. This depends on the specific mobile app development company, as each may have its own pricing for mobile app development.

What Should You Know Before Developing a Mobile App?

With the growing number of mobile apps on the market, competition is also increasing. This means there's always a risk that your app might go unnoticed despite your best efforts. How can you reduce that risk? Here are 7 questions to ask yourself before starting app development.

1. What App Are You Developing and What Will It Offer Your Customers?

Mobile apps can significantly help you boost brand awareness and increase profits, but generally only if they are used regularly. And for people to use your app, it must meet their needs or solve a specific problem with its built-in features.

Therefore, first, think about what exactly you want from your app and what features it should have. You also need to consider some mobile app development technologies.

For example, suppose you want to create a shopping app for your customers. For such an app to be useful, it should store customer data, such as login credentials or purchase history, so they can make purchases more easily through the app. For a financial tracking app, you could add digital solutions, budgeting tools, or push notifications for bill payment due dates.

2. Who Is Your Target Audience and How Large Is the Market for This Type of App?

Building mobile apps is quite expensive, and competition is fierce these days. Therefore, before starting development on a new app, always begin with a detailed study of who you think might benefit from your app and how crowded the market you want to enter is.

For instance, proposing a mobile app that helps users manage their medical plans and make necessary changes could be useful for people who want better control over their health. But if several similar apps already exist on the market, unless your app offers something new and unique, it will be difficult to attract a large number of people's attention.

3. How Much Money Can You Spend on Development, Marketing, and Other Expenses?

To stay within budget, you should roughly calculate how much you can afford to pay for development, marketing, and maintenance of your new app. If your budget is limited, pay special attention to the ongoing costs that will be added after launch. A good mobile app development company should help you with this.

4. Does an Existing Product Do Something Similar to What You Plan to Create?

If an app already exists with features similar to what you need, it might be better to try using the existing app first rather than building your own. Considering that building an app from scratch requires a lot of time and money, it might be cheaper to buy or license an app from another company instead of creating your own version.

If the app you're interested in was created by a development company, our advice is to ask if they offer app licensing services. If so, purchasing a license could be a much faster and cheaper way to get the tools you need than building your own unique version.

5. What Is the Best Way to Get Feedback from Potential Users Before Launching the App?

When it comes to a successful app launch, feedback is crucial, especially user reviews. But where can you get it? Start by studying similar apps and see what users are saying about them. But for the best results, consider creating an MVP app that your users can test before the official release and leave their comments.

This will save time that would otherwise be spent adding numerous modifications or fixing bugs spotted by users. A mobile app development company may also offer beta testing or pre-launch testing services for the mobile apps they develop, or provide suggestions for improving UI design and functionality before releasing a viable product to a broad audience.

6. What Happens If You Don't Have Sufficient Funding—Will You Lose Data or Information If You Can't Pay for Hosting Services, Etc.?

As your app grows, the costs for maintenance and server storage can increase. Sometimes to the point where you struggle to pay. What should you do? In such cases, contact the app development company and explain your situation.

They may help you find a more affordable hosting plan if your app requires a lot of storage space, or advise on how to spread out app development costs over time.

7. Do You Need an Intellectual Property Lawyer Before Starting Mobile App Development (e.g., Patents)?

Since mobile apps are considered intellectual property, you can protect your rights with patents or copyrights. You don't necessarily have to hire a lawyer or fill out the documents yourself. Most mobile development companies know how to secure your app and your intellectual property and can assist with filing a patent or copyright.

The Mobile App Development Process from Start to Finish

Every day, thousands of mobile apps are published on Google Play and the Apple App Store—from games to social networks and e-commerce apps. But before an idea becomes a full-fledged app, each must go through certain development stages:

Idea Research and Planning: At this stage, define the goals of creating the app, specify the target audience, and list the required features.
Market Research: Proper market research will help determine if there is demand for your app and what competition to expect.
Design and Wireframing: By creating sketches of what your mobile app should look like and how it should work, it will be easier to visualize the final viable product.
Mobile App Development: This is where your app begins to take shape as developers code the front-end and back-end of your future app and implement all the necessary features.
Mobile App Testing: This ensures the app works as intended without major bugs or issues.
App Deployment: After the app is installed on a server and added to an app store, it becomes available for users to download.
Post-Launch Activities: The final stage includes promoting the app, regular maintenance, fixing bugs, and adding updates to the app.

Common Mistakes in Mobile App Development

As many companies have learned too late after making a mistake during app research or development, these missteps can directly impact how successful (and profitable) your app turns out. What are the most common issues to be aware of?

Failure to Understand What Your Users Want: One of the most common mistakes business owners make is confusing their own needs with those of their customers. The end result: An app that no one wants to use. Thoroughly researching the app idea and future user expectations before starting development will make it much easier to focus on how the app should work to be useful for your customers.
Budget Overrun: This is a sad reality for many companies—realizing they have exceeded their budget or don't have enough funds to cover the operational costs of the mobile app development process. Before starting development on a new app, you need to create a (as detailed as possible) budget plan and stick to it. But since it's hard to predict everything, you should also set aside extra funds in the budget for unforeseen issues.
Lack of Skills/Time When Doing It In-House: Many companies have tried to first build an app in-house. But during the process, it turns out that their developers lack the necessary experience to solve the problem at hand. Or they simply have so many daily tasks that app development hardly progresses.

Outsourcing the project to a mobile app development company can help you avoid this issue because you can build your team from people with the necessary experience and skills to complete the project successfully. In the long run, the cost of hiring an outsourcing team may also be much lower than keeping it in-house.

Imitating a Website or Desktop App: Since mobile screens work differently than desktop screens, trying to copy your website's look is a recipe for disaster. While it's good to maintain an identical color scheme and theme for branding purposes, app UX should always be a priority. When building an app, you need to ensure it's optimized for the specific platform (iOS, Android, Windows, etc.) and as intuitive as possible for users.
Overcomplicating the App: A successful mobile app is simple enough that customers can easily find the information they need and has exactly the features they require. If you try to cram multiple features into an app, it only confuses users. Additionally, you risk quickly exceeding your budget.

Should You Outsource Mobile App Development?

In the past, companies were quite skeptical about outsourcing the mobile app development process to third-party developers, worried about the quality of the product or service, as well as data security. Moreover, outsourcing was considered quite expensive. But that's no longer the case. With a little research and planning for app development, outsourcing can be significantly cheaper than building the app in-house, and it's a great way to cut at least some of the costs associated with app development.

Over to You

Creating a new mobile app for your business doesn't have to be complicated. Even if you have no experience in mobile app creation, after reading our guide, you'll understand what to focus on. Spend some time researching your mobile app idea and planning expenses, and who knows—maybe your app will be the next big thing?