How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App?

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For many, one of the factors that stop them from building an app is budget. A lot of beginners are unaware of how much money it costs to build one since it always depends on their wants and needs.

If you’re planning to build an app, this article will help you understand your options and the difference between them.

Hire a company that can build your app

This is the easiest yet the most expensive option. But it also gives you the highest chance of getting a great mobile app because agencies and companies have teams of highly skilled and professional developers, project managers, and designers who will work with you and get the job done.

A lot of these companies are also those who have built apps that are featured on the top charts of the App Store. Because of that reason, most of them will charge an hourly basis of around $150 to $200 per hour. So, if budget is not an issue, this is your best option.

Pay a freelancer to build an app for you

The second option is to hire a freelancer, which costs a fraction of the first one but is still assured of a potentially great quality app. There are risks though.

Working with a freelancer means you don’t have a project manager to make sure your project is delivered on time and on budget. It also means working directly with different people including your programmer and designer, who most likely have not worked together before. Strangers who are working for the first time together have a risk of having miscommunications that can lead to potential issues.

You also need to have a clear idea of how the app is going to look and work because freelance programmers are most likely just going to build based on what you tell them to build. This is in contrast to paying a company that usually works with a designer to bring some creative flair into your idea.

There are also instances where freelancers fail to deliver projects on time, have unforeseen costs, or are unreliable. However, Upwork is a great source to find good freelancers because they have ratings and reviews that you can check before hiring them.

Buy an app template and customize it yourself

If you don’t want to hire expensive designers and developers for your project, buying app templates is the way to go.

Our very own CWC Kits offer iOS app templates for Figma and Xcode. These kits are made for smooth implementation and customization and come with realistic UI design created by our in-house staff.

You can choose from our variety of iOS templates such as the Recipe App, To-Do List App, and Pomodoro App templates, depending on your project. The good thing about this is that once you buy the kit, it’s yours forever. If you need customization, you can send us an email and we’ll be happy to help. We also have free email support for troubleshooting in case you have problems with your design or code kit.

Use an online app maker or app maker software

Want to build an app without any coding knowledge? Well, it’s possible with an online app maker or app maker software.

There is so much variety when it comes to app maker software that prices can range from $10 a month to a one-time payment of $5,000. While there are free app makers available online, you can’t expect them to be fully equipped with all that you need.

Some great sources to find an app maker are Buildbox for games, FlutterFlow, and Appy Pie for applications. One important thing to note is that you need to understand how these tools work in order for this to be a viable option. If you’re planning to design an app yourself, you might as well familiarize yourself with the design principles to make sure you’re doing it right.

Learn mobile app development and make your own app

If you’re on a tight budget but want to build your own app, learning mobile app development is the most affordable and realistic option for you. The return on investment is also good in the long run because you’ll be able to apply your coding knowledge in future applications and the knowledge stays with you forever.

With a lot of free and readily available information online about iOS development, it’s all about finding the best resource. But if you want to save time and learn efficiently, investing in a coding course is a great foundation to get you started.

Our courses are perfect for beginners even those with no coding experience. We cover a variety of topics about iOS development and release new lessons every week to make sure you’re up to date with the latest and have continuous new learning materials.

Now that you have an idea of how much it costs to build an app, which option do you think is the most practical for you?

If you’re leaning towards learning mobile app development and building the app on your own, CodeWithChris has courses to get you started. Plus, we have our CodeCrew community where you can ask for any help and learn from fellow students and experts about iOS development.