What to Expect: iOS App Development Costs in 2024 and Beyond
- Mobile
- August 20, 2024
Just knowing the potential of your app idea isn’t enough to proceed with iOS app development. One of the major aspects to consider is the cost of developing it. This blog provides a detailed overview of how much it costs to develop an iOS app, highlighting some of the key factors that influence it.
In today’s mobile-first era, having a mobile app has become an essential business strategy. Not only does it make your services and products more accessible, but it also allows you to reach a global audience with ease. Among the various mobile operating systems, iOS stands out as one of the most popular globally, with a customer base that is likely to spend on apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. This makes iOS a highly lucrative platform for businesses looking to generate direct revenue from their apps.
The next obvious question businesses often ask is, “How much does it cost to develop an iOS app?”
While the cost can vary, there’s a reliable way to estimate the expenses for your app project. The key lies in considering all the factors involved at each stage of the development process, from initial concept to post-launch maintenance.
Let’s explore this blog further to understand the factors that affect how much does it cost to make an iOS app.
How Much Does It Cost to Make an iOS App?
The cost of iOS app development ranges from $6,000 to $300,000 or more depending on the complexity of the feature and scope of the project. While this wide range can be overwhelming, not all costs may fit your budget, leaving you uncertain about the financial feasibility of your app idea.
To provide you with a detailed breakdown of the cost to build an app, we have listed the crucial factors that impact iOS app development costs.
iOS App Size
While not the sole determinant, app size has a substantial impact on various aspects of development, including development time, cost, feature complexity, development team composition, and more. This is why considering these initial crucial factors is essential for building a strong understanding of what to expect in terms of iPhone app development costs.
Here’s a breakdown of the cost to build an iOS app based on its size:
| iOS App Size | Cost Estimation |
| Small | $15,000 – $30,000+ |
| Medium-sized | $50,000 – $150,000+ |
| Complex | $200,000+ |
Complexity of the iOS app
A fitness tracking app like Ignite might cost around $150,000 or more, while developing an enterprise-level app like J.P. Morgan Mobile or Bank of America can cost around $1,000,000 or higher, due to the need for complex features such as advanced security and banking services.
In this case, the cost to create an app for iPhone largely depends on the complexity of the app’s features and functionalities. Below is a simple breakdown of how much it cost to make an iPhone app based on app complexity and the associated features:
| Complexity Level | Features | Cost Estimation |
| Basic | Simple UI/UX designMinimal navigationUser authenticationBasic analyticsLimited backend | $15,000 – $40,000+ |
| Medium | Multiple featuresDatabase integrationThird-party API integrationIn-app purchasesEnhanced UI/UX design | $40,000 – $100,000+ |
| High | Real-time data and communicationAdvanced technology integration( AI/ML, AR/VR, etc)Complex backend infrastructureAdvanced security measuresCustom-built design/features/functionalities | $150,000+ |
iOS app category
The category in which your iOS app falls lays the foundation for its development cost. For instance, creating an app like Amazon, which involves complex e-commerce functionalities, will be more expensive than developing a simpler app like Instagram.
Similarly, on-demand apps, such as those for ride-sharing or food delivery, generally have higher costs compared to many other categories, though enterprise apps might still exceed these costs due to their extensive features and integration requirements.
To give you a better idea of what your app might cost, here are some of the popular categories that businesses opt for when developing an app, given their wide user base and profitability, along with the associated iOS app development cost
| iOS App Categories | Cost Estimation |
| Gaming app | $20,000 – $500,000+ |
| Education app | $30,000 – $150,000+ |
| Entertainment app | $15,000 – $200,000+ |
| Social media app | $20,000 – $250,000+ |
| eCommerce and Retail app | $50,000 – $200,000+ |
| Health and Fitness app | $30,000 – $250,000+ |
| Travel and Hospitality app | $40,000 – $180,000+ |
| Real Estate app | $30,000 – $150,000+ |
| Business app | $10,000 – $150,000+ |
iOS App Design
A well-thought-out design has contributed more to the success of some apps than their unique selling proposition (USP), underscoring the importance tech-driven businesses place on UI/UX design.
Whether it’s Duolingo‘s gamified learning experience, featuring custom animations and playful graphics to engage users, or Slack’s consistent experience across devices, UI/UX design has been a strategic investment for these apps.
App design is more than just layouts, color schemes, typography, and icons—it involves optimizing how users interact with your app to enhance its appeal. Here are the various aspects of an iOS app’s UI/UX design process that will impact the cost of creating an app for iPhone:
| iOS App Design | Deliverables | Cost Estimation |
| App design research | Market research and competitor analysisUser research and persona creation | $2,000 – $5,000+ |
| Wireframing and Prototyping | Low-fidelity sketchesUser Flow DiagramsClickable models | $5,000 – $10,000+ |
| UI/UX Design | High-Fidelity MockupsUI ElementsUX SpecificationsDesign System | $10,000 – $30,000+ |
| Graphic and Animation Design | Animation PrototypesCustom GraphicsAnimated Assets | $5,000 – $20,000+ |
| Branding and Identity | Logo DesignBrand Style GuideApp IconBrand-related assets | $3,000 – 20,000+ |
| Usability Testing and Iterations | Usability Test ReportsIteration DocumentationUpdated Prototypes and Mockups | $3,000 – $7,000+ |
Hiring Model
Say, you are a tech startup in San Francisco planning to develop an iPhone app. You have two alternatives to get it done: you can either recruit an in-house team or partner with an iPhone development company and hire their developers or a dedicated team who would work remotely but bring the required expertise and experience to develop your app.
This leads us to the dilemma most businesses face: In-House vs. Outsourcing.
To begin with, the iOS app cost associated with each option can vary significantly. Additionally, here are some things you need to be aware of when choosing between the two.
When you opt for an in-house team, you have to consider the costs associated with the recruitment and onboarding process needed to find the developers. Once hired, their salaries add to the cost. Further, you would be responsible for their paid time off, health insurance, and other employee benefits.
Additionally, overhead costs include office space, equipment, software licenses, and other operational costs.
On the other hand, when hiring a dedicated development team, you only need to select the engagement model that fits your budget.
The beauty of outsourcing your development needs is that it can address the tech talent shortage or help scale your team without going through the exhaustive process of hiring an in-house team.
| Hiring Models | Cost Estimation |
| In-house | $400,000 – $1,000,000+/annum |
| Dedicated Development Team | $50 – $150 per hour |
Development Team Size
Depending on the complexity of the iOS app you are developing, the requirements for the team will also vary.
For instance, only a couple of iOS app developers would be needed to develop an app with basic features like a to-do list app or a notes app. However, if you are planning to develop a ride-hailing app like Uber, you would require a team of around 7+ developers, including a project manager, technology experts, QA engineers, and more.
Each of these experts has a different cost of iOS app development associated with hiring them or augmenting them into your team. Here is a detailed breakdown of cost to create an app for iPhone based on team composition:
| Development Role | Cost/hr |
| iOS app developer | $35 – $60 |
| UI/UX designer | $25 – $70 |
| Project Manager | $30 – $75 |
| Quality Assurance (QA) Tester | $30 – $65 |
| Business Analyst | $30 – $60 |
Development Team Location
Asia has recently become a hub for companies seeking cost-effective development services from teams with strong technical proficiency. However, tech talent is scattered around the world, and companies can access it by outsourcing their iOS app development.
Each of these countries offers iPhone development teams, but prices vary. Here are some popular choices among business owners based on cost-effectiveness, quality of work, and the associated costs of hiring developers from these regions.
| Region | Cost/hr |
| India | $20 – $50 |
| United States | $100 – $250 |
| Australia | $70 – $150 |
| Russia | $30 – $70 |
| Ukraine | $25 – $60 |
Development Platform
One more factor that adds to the iOS app cost based on complexity is the development approach you choose. You have two alternatives: you can opt for native development if you plan to build exclusively for iOS, or you can choose cross-platform development if you intend to offer your app to Android users in the future.
Native iOS App Development
The cost of developing a native iOS app ranges from $50,000 to $350,000. Typically, native iOS app development is more expensive than cross-platform development because developers must use Apple’s programming languages, such as Swift and Objective-C, as well as development tools like Xcode.
Additionally, the cost of customization for native iOS apps can significantly increase the overall expense.
Cross-platform App Development
If you want your business idea to be future-ready and available to a broader audience by incorporating Android support in the future, then opting for technologies like React Native or Flutter allows you to develop an app for both platforms using a single codebase.
Compared to native app development, cross-platform app development is more cost-effective and typically ranges from $20,000 to $150,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the features.
Achieve Your iOS App Goals with MindInventory’s Proven Development Solutions
Just as iOS stands as a premier platform with a vast user base and unparalleled user experience, MindInventory stands out as a top-notch iOS app development company. Our iOS app developers have a proven track record of delivering exceptional iOS apps.
With a deep-rooted understanding of Apple’s ecosystem and a commitment to innovation, our developers create applications that seamlessly blend aesthetics, functionality, and performance.We offer a wide range of iOS app development services tailored to meet your specific app development needs. If you’re ready to transform your app idea into reality, contact our team to discuss how we can bring your vision to life.
FAQs
The estimated timeline for iOS app development ranges from one month to 6 months or more for a complex app. Factors that affect the development time include app complexity, design intricacy, development team size, team experience, backend development, and more.
It is often expected that iOS app development cost is more than Android. However, the cost of iOS app development typically ranges from $20,000 to $300,000 or more, while Android app development generally ranges from $15,000 to $250,000 or more.
