2024. July 10.
Mobile apps have become an almost indispensable part of our daily lives. Whether it's reading the news, staying in touch or even running the household, our mobile devices and the apps that run on them have become indispensable. For businesses, mobile app development is not just another piece of software, but a powerful tool to improve the user experience and enhance customer interactions. They are key enablers to optimise business processes and increase competitiveness. The use of a well-designed mobile app can significantly simplify business workflows and open new opportunities in the market.
What is a mobile app?
A mobile app is a software that is designed and developed specifically for mobile devices. These solutions include smartphones and tablets, which have become integral parts of our everyday lives. Apps are designed to provide users with different functionalities, such as entertainment, work or communication.
Mobile apps run on two main platforms: iOS and Android. iOS is Apple's operating system, while Android is an open-source system developed by Google and is found on devices from a wide range of manufacturers. Both platforms offer apps in their app stores: the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android.
These apps make our everyday lives easier and more efficient while offering multiple challenges and opportunities for businesses.
Mobile app types and technologies
Native mobile apps
Native mobile apps are built specifically for a specific platform, such as iOS or Android. These apps make optimal use of the capabilities of a particular system, delivering superior performance and user experience.
They have the advantages of being fast, and secure and can be used offline, but they have the disadvantages of higher development costs and the need to redevelop the application for a different platform. Native development is a good choice if you want to achieve maximum performance on a given platform and offline availability is important.
Cross-platform native mobile apps
Cross-platform native mobile apps can be developed for multiple systems simultaneously, such as iOS and Android. They work with a single code base that is compiled across different platforms. They have the advantage of faster development time and cost efficiency, as there is no need to write a separate app for each platform. The disadvantage is that the user experience may not always be as sophisticated as a native application and compatibility issues may arise. This type of application should be chosen if you want to reach a wider audience with a smaller budget.
Hybrid mobile apps
Hybrid mobile apps are built by combining native and web technologies. These apps offer native and web experience, as they run within the native application framework but use web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. They have the advantage of being quick to develop and easy to maintain. However, they have the disadvantage that their performance is not at the level of native applications and integration with some native tools may be limited. Hybrid mobile apps are ideal for entering the market quickly and do not require a high-end user experience.
Progressive Web Applications (PWA)
Progressive Web Apps are a type of website that can be used on mobile devices and most of their functionality is available offline. They are based on web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. They have the advantage of not needing installation from the App Store or Google Play and can be used on multiple devices. Their disadvantage is that some features offered by native apps are not available and their performance depends on the browser capabilities of the device. PWA is a good choice if you have a smaller budget and if the availability of the app is more important than taking full advantage of native features.
Costs of mobile app development
The cost of mobile app development ranges widely. The hourly rate for an experienced development team can run into tens of thousands of dollars. However, the price depends not only on the references of the company but also on the services they offer.
The more reputable companies will typically work at a higher hourly rate, but the result will be of a similar quality. The best development companies not only provide programmers but also project managers, business analysts and UX/UI designers. This ensures that the application meets all expectations and is not only technically impeccable but also aesthetically pleasing.
The complexity of the application also has a significant impact on development costs. For example, a simple application with basic functionality can be implemented in 300-400 man-hours. Such projects generally require less user interaction, simpler navigation and basic functionality.
In contrast, a more complex application with a wide range of features, integrations and custom solutions can take up to 3000-4000 man-hours. Developing such applications is not only more time-consuming, but the testing and refinement process is also longer as the team works with more room for error.
The cost of mobile app development depends largely on the pricing policy of the chosen development company and the complexity of the application. Considering these two factors, it is advisable to request quotes in advance and discuss the requirements in detail with the development team to avoid unexpected costs.
Looking for a professional team for app development? SynerinSoft is ready to take on the most daring challenges! Contact us to discuss the possibilities!
