iOS App Development Cost in 2024: A Complete Cost Breakdown

• App Complexity

When you estimate the cost to build an iOS app, make sure to understand how complex an app idea you are going for. The more complicated features and functionalities you want to implement in your iOS app, the more hours it will take to develop. It will also need more resources and skilled iOS developers, which can affect your budget for iOS app development.  

With emerging technology trending, businesses should consider integrating them with their iOS app. However, it can increase the complexity. When you add AI, Blockchain, IoT, or AR/VR into the mix, the cost of developing an iPhone app can rise exponentially. Here is the cost breakdown for iOS app development based on the complexity of the app.  

• Technology Stack  

For a business owner, reading the word tech stack is too technical, so let’s break it down. Technology stacks mean tools, frameworks, or programming languages that are utilized to develop your iOS app is tech stack; this also true for any app or software. While which technology to use is dependent on your app, and the developer will suggest this for you, you can learn more about it to stay informed as iOS app development cost depends on it.   

Open sources tools can lower the app development cost, but they lack security. The combination of open source and reliable paid tools will minimize the pricing. When you add emerging technology, yes it will enhance the experience, but it will drive the cost of creating iOS app.  

• Design Requirements

One of the most important parts of iPhone app development is design and Apple put emphasis on it. Apple is proud of itself as one of the best phone manufacturers and they want to help users enjoy their time on their phone. For business owners, creating visually appealing apps is the foot in the door when you are trying to compete in the market. Thats why most brands spend around 20% to 35% of their total budget on designing their iOS app.  

Based on human interface guidelines by Apple, for a successful app design, you need to focus on a better experience. There is a wide range of components that affect the user experience; for example, the app layout is important. You need easy navigation and to create better boxes, columns, labels, lists, and more. Similarly, designing a menu and how users will interact with it is also essential. Here is the cost breakdown for the iOS app design.

• Development Time  

Duration of app development for iOS platform is the critical aspect to calculate the cost of building iPhone app. The formula to calculate app development cost is total app development hours multiply by hourly rate. Thats why when you want to develop an app, you need to make sure the features, design and other parts are in sync with your budget.  

Most iOS development companies use agile methodology for app development as it can cut down the cost. Mix agile with a time and material engagement model, and you can lower the iOS app development cost based on the duration of the project. In this model, you only pay for resources and time spent on your project instead of fixed costs. Here is a table of the iOS app development process. We added estimated cost and duration based on the steps,  

• Platform Compatibility   

When you think about Android, there are not many variants available. However, Apple has iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS variants. If you want to develop an iOS app, you cannot limit it to just an iPhone. You need to expand it to iPadOS and other apps that are compatible with your app functions. Also, these devices have different size and you need to consider this before developing an iOS app.   

By creating an app that works across various devices, models, and versions, you are saving a lot of money in the future. When you consider platform compatibility in terms of cost, it will allow you to expand your reach while doing minimum updates and maintenance.

• App Store Fees and Other Hidden Charges  

While all of the above are some of the common charges and costs to develop an iOS app, what about hidden charges? As a leading iOS app development company, we often find clients talking about lower-cost development, but it’s not always an accurate estimation. One of them is app store fees to deploy your iOS app to the Apple app store. This is a mandatory charge and costs around $99.   

Also, you need to consider third-party service integration. You also need to consider updates and maintenance. We understand most development agencies don’t mention it, but we believe in transparency. Here is a list of various hidden costs of iOS app development,  

• Marketing & Ongoing Maintenance  

Marketing is an integral part of app development. Without a though app marketing strategy, how can you reach your target audience? This way users will learn about your app and how it can help them and what problem it can solve. This will also help increase the number of downloads, once you start getting engagement, marketing will continue that momentum.   

Similarly, maintenance, updates, and security patches are important too. It will help you maintain your app and ensure that it performs well. Apple hates apps that have glitches or are slow, and they could drop them from the app store. Also, with proper maintenance, users can get new features and keep their data secure.

• Development Team Location & Structure

Last but not least, the development team is the most important factor that affects your iPhone app development cost. When you want to develop a mobile app, you can either hire a house team, go to a freelancer, or outsource development to an agency. While a house team is suitable for big brands, the overhead cost is too much for small businesses and startups. Also, a freelancer is the most budget-friendly option, but it will take more time, and there is no guarantee of development quality.  

That’s why most businesses outsource iOS app development to agencies. Their hourly rate for iOS app development is lower, while they maintain the industry standard. This option will help you save money, but make sure that you hire iOS developers who are professionals and have experience working on apps like yours. Here is the hourly cost of iOS app development in different regions where you can outsource,  

• Proper Planning & Scope Definition  

Before developing your own iOS app, it is important to take enough time to clarify the purpose of your app, target users, and core functionality. This will help you create a detailed product requirements document that mentions essential features and initial timelines.    

To make sure that your iOS app meets the needs of your users, do user research, such as surveys, to gather ideas and establish goals. You can then create a list of features that are useful for users and how you want to present them. All of this can help you save costs when developing your iOS app. Once you have a clear understanding, the development process will be streamlined. Also, it will reduce the last-minute changes and avoid delays, which can affect the budget.  

• Prioritized Feature Development

We understand that you want to add as many features as you can to stand out from the crowd, but it’s not feasible. First, find out the minimum number of features and functionalities you need to help your users. Then, start with an MVP to collect feedback on how it helped end users.  

Use this feedback to expand the app and add other features or functionalities that are necessary. This way, you can prevent excessive costs by building only the functions that are needed. After that, you can check the feedback and make adjustments by updating the app. This will save a lot of money, and most businesses don’t realize it.  

• Leveraging Open-Source Solutions  

Building a mobile app needs a lot of resources, and relying on paid tools is not cost-effective. Looking for a large open-source repository for the pre-existing features could make the process of developing custom iOS app development much easier. Find reliable resources with active communities for regular maintenance to avoid long-term issues with structure.  

To make sure that your app solution works for a long time, it’s also important to carefully evaluate open licensing and quality control. When it’s possible, developers can use verified, reusable codebases to help concentrate efforts on developing better user experiences that differentiate themselves in competitive markets. This will help you save the financial aspects of iOS app development. 

• Agile Development Methodology

As we mentioned above, Agile is the perfect option for businesses that are looking to save costs in app development. They can use development model within agile like Scrum and kanban. It will help iOS developer stay flexible and respond quickly to unexpected demands. To do this, break down the app development into a two-week spring session. With this, developers will regularly update you on progress and show the work for feedback.  

This way, iOS developers can prioritize what needs to be done next. Providing feedback early on can help them avoid adding features that are not needed, and regular check-ins can help catch bugs before they impact users negatively. By being adaptable, you can take advantage of changes in your environment without getting overwhelmed.  

• Outsourcing 

Hiring an iOS app development company is one of the common strategy to save money. However, it needs better planning. First you need to find the right agency, research their expertise and previous work. Evaluate their communication styles to ensure they are a good cultural fit.   

Make sure to establish clear management processes and confidentiality terms to build fruitful long-term relationships, despite physical distances. Trusted partnerships can lead to outstanding results that meet budgets and deadlines. Most businesses can save up to 40% of the cost to develop iPhone app, when they outsource.