Key takeaways
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- Software development includes defining a concept, designing, programming, and testing an app for desktop, web, or mobile devices.
- Software development costs depend on the app’s type, complexity, features, technologies used, and how you hire your developers.
- There are 3 common approaches to determine software development cost: fixed-price, time and materials, and the hybrid model.
- A simple app could cost from $25,000 to $60,000, with no upper limit. It depends on the sphere you are interested in.
- To reduce software development costs, the best options are to hire an outsourcing firm, choose cross-platform software development, and create an MVP to check your business hypotheses first.
What is software development?
Software is a general term used to describe programs on PCs, laptops, and smartphones. This includes mobile, desktop, and web apps.
Software development includes the designing, programming, and testing phases a company faces when creating and maintaining apps. Usually, it starts with your company needing an upgrade or a completely new product. At this stage, you need to think about how to transform the concept into a functional and usable software product.
Some apps are created for the employees and the company itself. For example, business automation apps, team communication platforms, project management systems, etc. Other apps are created for interacting with customers, such as marketplaces, financial apps, fitness apps, etc.
The types of software
In general, software can be divided into four categories: native mobile software, cross-platform mobile apps, desktop programs, and web apps. Let’s go into more detail on these types of software below.
Native mobile apps
Native mobile applications are created for a specific mobile operating system using platform-specific frameworks and programming languages. They take advantage of the OS they are built for and work efficiently with APIs. Native apps have direct access to the hardware and functions of the device like the camera, GPS or contacts.
For instance, native iOS apps are built using Swift and Objective-C programming languages and the iOS development environment. They run on Apple devices — iPhones and iPads.
For native Android apps coders use the Android Software Development Kit and mainly Java and Kotlin languages. These apps work on Android devices from different manufacturers.
Creating native mobile apps for multiple platforms requires developers to use separate codebases. This is time-consuming and the cost of software development is higher if the product is built to be compatible with several operating systems.
Cross-platform mobile apps
Cross-platform development is a great way to save time and money and cover both mobile operating systems at the same time, as these mobile apps are based on a single code base. Developers use specific frameworks and technologies to write code once and deploy it to both iOS and Android.
As opposed to native programs, cross-platform software significantly lowers development time and effort, as well as being more cost-effective in both the software creation and maintenance phases.
React Native and other cross-platform frameworks simplify the development process and provide UI libraries that copy the look and feel of target platforms. Here’s how we designed a crypto wallet using this method.
One disadvantage of cross-platform frameworks is that they rely on bridging technologies to work with native APIs, which may lead to delays in accessing certain functions. However, experienced professionals can solve this issue.
Web apps
These are apps accessed through a web browser. To create web applications, programmers use a specific technology stack, including CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. You can access a web app through any browser on a laptop, PC, or smartphone.
Web apps are not tied to a specific operating system and so must be responsive and easily adaptable for different devices, screen sizes, and orientations. They also don’t require downloading on user devices, as they are usually hosted on servers and deployed centrally, maintaining and updating web apps is generally easier than native or cross-platform ones.
Take a look at how we developed a healthcare web app that helps users find the right therapist and take care of their mental health.
Desktop apps
This is software designed to run on desktops or laptops. It’s installed and executed directly on the user’s operating system. Desktop apps are specific to a particular platform: macOS, Windows, or Linux.
Desktop software has direct access to the computer’s storage. Some of them can work offline without a permanent Internet connection, while others have online functions that require a connection to the Internet. Apps for PCs provide the most personalized user experience possible.
Our client, a stun gun manufacturer, asked us to build a unique desktop app. Check out how we managed to do it: a stun gun data analysis app.
Steps to develop software
Your future app can be whatever you want it to be: you can choose any features and UI/UX design you like. However, we advise starting with a minimum viable product. An MVP is an app that has all the necessary basic functions to work smoothly, which is the best choice if you want to check your idea in the marketplace.
App development stages
Below, you can find the key steps you go through when you create your product with us.
Market analysis & planning
The journey begins here, by defining the concept of the project, finding out more about your target audience and current market trends. Identify the problem your product is intended to solve. At the planning stage, you’ll also need to choose the main features you want to include in the software to set priorities and estimate project timelines.
Design
The design phase focuses on visualization. At this stage, we’ll create a visual representation of the project’s structure, functions, and user flow. Gather references and examples of design styles that match your vision.
We use mind mapping to organize ideas and build wireframes that reflect the layout, placement of content, and key interactions. This way you’ll get a high-quality UI/UX design.
Development & testing
Now, it’s time to convert the design into functional software. A software development team will code your app using frameworks to implement the features defined in the previous steps. To make the software function perfectly, you’ll need quality assurance. We always test early and often to identify and troubleshoot bugs.
At Purrweb, we use React Native for cross-platform mobile apps, React.js and Node.js for web apps, and Electron.js for desktop apps. We get the best out of these frameworks to create apps that meet the needs even of the most demanding clients.
Release & post-release maintenance
Upon release of the software to the market, is when you can make it available on app stores and start a marketing campaign. Gather feedback and reviews from your first users to understand their experience, identify areas for improvement, and gather ideas for future updates. Our team will help you maintain your app after the launch to solve any problems that may arise.
What influences software costs: 5 factors
App development price varies depending on:
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- type of app,
- the complexity of the app,
- technologies used,
- a number of features that the client wants to add to the app,
- a number of team members and hiring methods: in-house, freelance, outsourcing.
Each company has its methodology, level of expertise, and rating. Therefore, it’s hard to give the average costs of software development. As each app has individual requirements and serves a specific goal, it’s difficult to say for sure “your app will cost this much”, without research and planning. We will still do our best to look at some approximate estimates below.
Let’s discuss the main factors that affect the cost of software development in more detail.
1. The complexity of the app
The complexity of the application varies, based on the features that the customer chooses to include and the user interface design. All of this requires careful planning. If you want to create a custom app with complex user interactions and advanced animations, developing your app will be more complicated.
The complexity also increases when your software needs to interact with other services, such as payment gateways, social media platforms, and third-party Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
2. The technical stack used
To create an app that covers several platforms at the same time, it’s better to opt for cross-platform development, otherwise, the costs and time required to develop software increase dramatically. This is due to the need platform-specific coding, optimization, and testing for two mobile apps (iOS and Android) or three desktop apps (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Additionally, the choice of the technical stack affects the development time, which will ultimately impact the cost of software development.
3. The type of contract
There are three ways to find a software development team: employ an in-house team, hire freelancers or turn to an outsourcing company.
In-house: hiring a team that works directly for your company. This option provides better control over the development process and makes collaboration easier, but is also the most expensive. You’ll face extra overhead equipment and office rent costs, as well as the expense of recruiting and HR management.
Freelance: hiring specialists to do a specific project. This can be good for flexibility and a low-cost option. However, finding the perfect specialist with the right portfolio takes a lot of time and effort. Managing several freelancers can also be a challenge.
Outsourcing: partnering with a software development company. Outsourcing companies give you the opportunity to work with a ready-made team of talented and experienced professionals. These software development companies have robust project management processes in place, so they can handle project planning, coordination, and communication effectively. Outsourcing is also a cost-effective option.
If you think outsourcing is the right solution for you, learn more about Purrweb’s mobile app development services.
4. Industry and regulation requirements
The industry you plan to operate in will impact your software development price. Certain sectors and markets are bound by stringent regulations, for example, HIPAA for healthcare or GDPR for apps that work with European Union residents. In order to comply with these regulations, developers must navigate through legal requirements, implement specific security measures, and sometimes undergo extra testing. This adds complexity and makes the development process more expensive.
5. Location and experience of your team
Consider where your team is located and what projects they have had under their belt. These factors play a key role in determining average software development costs because salaries for developers vary widely across regions and countries. For example, developers in Eastern Europe typically expect lower salaries compared to those in the United States or the United Kingdom. Statistics reveal that the average annual salary for a software developer in the United States is around $127,000, while in Poland, it averages approximately $49,000.
On top of that, the experience level of the development team significantly impacts the costs. Senior developers with diverse and versatile portfolios ask for a higher hourly rate that reflects their proficiency and skill set. Junior developers may be more cost advantageous but will require more supervision from your side.
3 payment models for software development
Software development projects often involve different payment models that determine how the work is priced and charged. Let’s focus on the 3 most common payment models: fixed-price, time and materials, and the hybrid model.
Fixed price model
Imagine, you walk to a store and buy a piece of clothing. The price tag is set, so you just pay what it says and leave. With no negotiations, discounts, or changes. This is a fixed-price model for software development costs.
In this approach, a development team defines a project’s scope, requirements, software complexity, and deliverables before work begins. Then, they calculate the cost of the software development project upfront, providing clarity and predictability.
For example, if you want to develop a basic mobile application with specific features, you might negotiate a fixed price with a development team based on the agreed-upon requirements. However, any changes or additional features requested during the software project might lead to extra costs or timeline extensions.
For whom: This model is suitable for projects when you have clearly defined scopes and don’t expect many changes throughout the software development process.
Time and materials
The time and materials model, or T&M in short, offers more flexibility for software development. Imagine, you hire a catering company for a party and receive an estimation that includes the costs of groceries (materials) and an hourly rate for a chef to prepare the food (time).
With this approach, you pay for resources used and the time spent during the development process.
At Purrweb, we use a T&M model, and bill clients for the hours worked and the materials utilized. This model allows us to provide more flexibility and accommodate changes and evolving requirements as they come up. There is one potential downside of this model: the final software development costs can be unclear, especially if your scope expands significantly. We recommend discussing your budget with the development team and setting an upper limit on the budget.
For whom: If your project scope is not defined at the start and you feel like things can change.
Hybrid model
The hybrid payment model combines elements of both fixed pricing and time and materials. It’s a balance between flexibility and predictability.
In this model, a development team prices the core features or initial phases using the fixed price approach, while additional features or subsequent phases are charged based on time and materials.
For instance, your project team can use the fixed-price model for the basic platform features and then employ the time and materials model for additional features or ongoing support.
This approach provides a balance between a clear budget for the primary project phase and flexibility in the following software development stages.
For whom: If your project has defined basic requirements, but you expect things to change later on in the software development.
The average cost of software development: 5 examples
Let’s talk numbers. Below, we’ve gathered several apps with different functionality and design that the Purrweb team has evaluated. We’ve chosen 3 categories of applications for comparison: healthcare, dating, and FinTech. Let’s talk about the average costs to develop an app.
Memo
Here is a short summary of the information below for busy readers.
| Type of app | Estimated cost | App features |
| Healthcare app | $25,000-$45,000 | Differ significantly from app to app. |
| Dating app | $55,000-$70,000 | – secure registration form
– user profiles – geolocation – partner search algorithm – audio/video chatting – in-app purchases |
| Fintech app | from $59,000 | – linking a card
– payment gateway – basic financial transactions – advanced data encryption – security protocols – custom notifications |
| Marketplace app | from $80,000 | – user registration
– product or service listing – search and filtering – order tracking – payment processing – reviews and rating |
| Social media app | from $56,000 | – sign in and onboarding
– profile settings – messaging functionality – content creation functionality – push notifications |
| IoT apps | $47,000-$70,000 | – user profile
– dashboard – push notifications – onboarding – security features |
Healthcare apps
Wellness and health management apps are of great help to both users and doctors. Allowing them to use modern methods of care, track symptoms, and improve the interpretation of physical and mental health analyses. For example, you can find medication delivery apps, apps for communicating with a doctor, and fitness trackers in this category.
App features: differ significantly from app to app. Usually, there is a smart search, a user profile, a key metrics overview, a dashboard, and push notifications. Additionally, you can also integrate a chatbot, appointment scheduling, interactive map, and customer checkout. Also, don’t forget that you might have to build a HIPAA compliant app, which means additional costs has to be accounted for.
Costs: A simple app with basic features will cost you approximately $25,000. The cost of an average-complexity app with elaborate functionality and design will be around $45,000.
Dating apps
Apps like Tinder are incredibly popular, helping users chat with people and find partners. There are three kinds of dating apps: with location-based, profile-based, or niche-based search options.
App features: a secure registration form, user profiles, geolocation, partner search algorithm, audio/video chatting, and in-app purchases.
Costs: an MVP for dating will cost you about $55,000, and a full-fledged mobile app will be close to $70,000.
Fintech apps
Financial technology allows us to access and manage finances digitally. There are several types of fintech software: banking apps, payment processing programs, insurance, investment & personal finance management apps, and exchanges.
App features: linking a card, a payment gateway, basic financial transactions, advanced data encryption, security protocols, and custom notifications. Additionally, personalization, use of AI algorithms, and blockchain solutions.
Costs: the average costs of software development in fintech start from approximately $59,000. But banking app development cost can fluctuate a lot, so do proper research, if you want to complete your project.
Marketplace
The marketplace app is a platform where buyers and sellers can connect and trade goods or services. The complexity of these projects varies depending on desired features and factors such as customization, integrations with third-party services, and scalability requirements that contribute to higher development prices.
App features: user registration and authentication, product listings, payment processing, and rating systems.
Costs: on average, the estimated software development cost for a marketplace app ranges from $80,000 to $100,000 for a basic version with essential features. However, more sophisticated marketplaces with advanced functionalities can cost upwards of $120,000 or more.
Social media
Social media apps facilitate communication, networking, and content sharing among users. The complexity and scale of these platforms significantly impact development costs. For example, factors such as platform compatibility (iOS, Android, web), UX/UI design requirements, and backend infrastructure can increase or reduce software development costs, depending on your strategy.
App features: user registration and onboarding, newsfeed, photo and video sharing, content creation functionality, messaging functionality, and push notifications.
Costs: an average social media app can cost from $56,000 for a basic version with core functionalities. However, more comprehensive platforms with advanced features like real-time messaging, live-streaming, and augmented reality filters can exceed $90,000 in development costs.
IoT
IoT (Internet of Things) applications enable communication and data exchange between connected devices, sensors, and systems. These platforms require complex integrations with hardware components, cloud services, and data analytics services, which subsequently impact software development prices.
The costs of an IoT app will directly reflect how complex your project is. To give you an example, some sophisticated IoT solutions require custom hardware development, machine learning algorithms, and real-time data processing capabilities. All these features contribute to higher expenses.
App features: differ from app to app, depending on your industry. Some of the key ones are user profiles, onboarding, dashboard, push notifications, and security functionality.
Costs: an average price for an IoT application can range from $47,000 to $70,000 for a basic version with fundamental functionalities. The final costs widely depend on factors like device compatibility, data security, scalability, and interoperability with existing systems.
The average cost of software development by size
To help you estimate software development costs and show how a budget can vary depending on a company size, we calculated approximate costs for a simple mobile app and chose the best payment model. Dive in and make informed decisions!
Startups
Average software development cost: $13,000 to $75,000
Best payment model to choose: time & materials
Startups often operate with limited capital, but aim to bring innovative ideas to market. That’s why they typically require cost-effective but flexible solutions. The custom software development costs can range from $13,000 to $75,000 for a simple mobile app.
Most startups start with an MVP, a minimum viable product, and a limited budget. The T&M model provides an opportunity to set financial limitations for the development phase, but stay flexible on adjustments. If you discover new features you want to add, after working with user feedback, the software developers will have the capacity and resources to accommodate your requests and ensure the timely launch of the product.
Small and mid-sized companies
Average software development cost: $35,000 to $136,000
Best payment model to choose: hybrid
Small and mid-sized companies often need more complex and feature-rich software solutions than startups. The cost can vary from $35,000 to $136,000 for a simple mobile app, depending on functionality, design, and other requirements.
As small and mid-sized companies are often interested in growth and scaling up, for these projects, the hybrid model is a great choice. The basic fixed price for the core functionalities or the initial project phases ensures a clear budget and a defined scope, while the T&M approach caters to any adjustments or ongoing maintenance costs. The hybrid model provides a balance between budget certainty and flexibility, and creates room for adaptations during custom software development.
Enterprises
Average software development cost: $56,000 to $185,000
Best payment model to choose: time & materials
Enterprise software includes complex integrations, high-security standards, and a need for scalability. That’s why the software development cost estimation is always high. For a simple mobile app of this level, you would pay from $56,000 to $185,000.
The time and materials model is a great help for enterprise development. On one hand, you will be flexible with ongoing changes in project scope and requirements. On the other hand, your developers will have enough resources to address the evolving requirements in the industry. For example, new data security standards.
Software development cost breakdown at Purrweb
Costs of software development projects can depend on many factors: payment model you choose, complexity level, functionality, and location of developers. We could go on and on, describing how different prices can be. Instead, we want to provide you with some clarity — here is the development cost for a mobile app built by our dedicated team.
🚨Disclaimer: The estimation of software development services is provided by Purrweb and can vary from team to team. We don’t guarantee that other companies provide the same quotes and timeframes for similar projects.
| Stage | Scope | Approx. time | Approx. cost |
| Initial meeting | Define project requirements and estimate resources needed. | 1 day | Free |
| UI/UX design | Map user journeys, create interface concepts, and get approval | 4 weeks | $5,400 |
| Development | Built on architecture and the interface on both client and server-side | 9 – 10 weeks | $36,000 – $40,500 |
| QA Testing | Test the code to locate bugs and fix them before the release | concurrently with the development | $5,400 – $6,000 |
| Project management | Manage the development process and control deadlines | during the whole project | $3,950 – $4,100 |
About us
At Purrweb we provide mobile and web development services with user-centered and simple UI/UX to elevate interactions with our software. We help startups and existing companies build an MVP and test a business idea with real-world customers.
Want to move forward with your idea and consult our developers? Drop your email and we’ll get back to you soon
We have extensive experience in developing mobile apps, websites and portals, native apps, and PWAs. Our dedicated team can accommodate different budgets and make sure custom software development cost meet your expectations. Check out our portfolio with the latest cases.
How we work
We prefer to use the time & materials payment model to provide flexibility for MVPs. This way, our clients can adjust their project ideas based on initial release and feedback collection.
To help startup owners estimate development cost and avoid surprises, we provide a general idea, but always leave room for additional testing or change of features and color scheme, in case you need it.
Tips for minimizing software development costs
Not all the software development cost factors we discussed above are unavoidable. Meaning, it’s not essential to create a fancy custom app with advanced functionality and hire an in-house team to do this. Usually, a good MVP would suffice. Let’s see how you could cut costs and boost efficiency.
Go for cross-platform mobile app development
As a rule, any company that provides mobile app development services works with both operating systems. It is possible to design two apps for iOS and Android systems separately. Would you want to practically double the costs to get native apps? If not, cross-platform development is a solution.
At Purrweb, we use the React Native framework to build compatible native-like applications. The large library of pre-built components and plugins, available in the React Native ecosystem, significantly speeds up the development. It’s a perfect solution to minimize the software development cost.
Start with a minimum viable product
We have more than 8 years of experience in developing apps for businesses, and the idea we always come back to is “start with an MVP”. The main pros of developing a minimum viable product include:
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- Launching your product and entering the market faster.
- Testing your idea in the market without spending much money.
- Getting feedback from real users and finding ways to improve your app.
- Attracting investments for your company’s further development.
There are many more advantages to building an MVP first and turning it into a fully-featured product after testing in the market. Learn more about this in our article on MVP product development.
Outsource instead of hiring an in-house team
One more way to reduce the software development cost, is to hire an outsourcing company. This way you don’t spend time and resources searching for each specialist individually, checking CVs and portfolios, establishing communication between employees, or renting an office.
Outsourcing allows you to choose a team that has been working together successfully, for a long time and has already streamlined all the internal processes. Communication through the project manager and analysts will be convenient both for the team and for you. Read more about outsourcing for startups.
Summing up
The software development cost varies from case to case, and there’s no one-size-fits-all price. In most cases, you’ll need an individual session with an analyst to draft a plan and estimate potential costs. Good news: this is actually free at Purrweb! Fill in the form to contact us and get an offer.
