App Design Cost: What It Really Takes to Build a Mobile App?

If you run any kind of small or large business, you must have asked yourself this one question: does it cost money to create an app? And if yes, then you also wondered how much does it cost to develop a mobile app? Well, these are the frequently asked questions that many companies and startups look for when they get into mobile development.

Developing an app is a large investment and if is your right to know how much an app cost before you allow someone to write a single line of code for you.

Basic Difference Between App Design and App Development

People are normally confused between these two things, the cost of designing an app and the cost of building mobile app. Basically, an app design refers to the feel of your app whereas, app development is how your app functions.

Design also refers to the user experience (UX) strategy, user interface (UI) graphics, interaction patterns, branding and usability testing. Whereas, it is the coding part, databases, and APIs that make your app work.

App development cost may be very high. A plain MVP is much less expensive than an advanced app. It depends on your budget, experience of the app design team, and the kind of customization you need. Furthermore, whether you want an app that suit iOS or Android or both. Knowing these factors at the beginning will allow you to plan your budget more properly. It also saves you from surprises, and help you make wise decisions.

What Is Included in the Design Cost of App?

The design of apps is not just about creating some pretty screens. Good design is intelligent, people-friendly and step-by-step. Professional app design services consist of the following.

UI Design vs UX Design

The UX design is everything that users feel about your app. For UX, you need to know you audience, see how they interact and then make an app that is friendly to them.

UI design is the look of it which comes through colors, fonts, buttons, layouts, and icons. When you work on both UI and UX, you get an app that is not only appealing but also get you sales.

Wireframes, Mockups and Prototypes

It is true that wireframes are basically the blueprints of your app screens. There is focus on mockups and prototype because that’s how you get to see the real look and allow users to test interactions before app development.

Through these, you can find the issues in the early stage and save yourself some resources. There is no doubt that each of these steps take enough time but the outcomes are worth the money and effort.

Interactive Design and Visual Branding

When we talk about branding, it is not just logo but more. It is about using custom colors, animations and interactive features to look professional and attract users. When you add these things, your app design cost may increase but you do achieve user satisfaction, and trust.

These cost of app design reduce when you avoid mistakes otherwise, you get to redesigns for users who left your app in a second. Remember that a good app is not about looks but it’s a clever business.

Realistic Price Ranges: Average Cost to Create an App

The price of developing an app actually relies on its complexity. According to the standards of major app design firms, here is a realist view of design-centric pricing:

Simple Apps

Simple apps are basic and have fewer screens, simple navigation, and low customization. Consider calculators, note taking applications, or basic booking services. The apps are ideal for startups who are trying out an idea but want an affordable initial design cost.

Medium Complexity Apps

Medium apps are more interactive and featured. These may include dashboards, user profiles and moderate integrations. It could be social feeds, fitness apps, or marketplace MVPs. The apps need more content-rich UI, which, in turn, demands higher design time and cost.

Complex Apps

Big league apps are complex as they require sophisticated UX, original animations, and design systems that are scalable. Most fintech, or massive e-commerce shops go for complex apps. You do have to pay a lot of upfront costs but in return you experience long term smooth user experience.

Startups start with focused MVP to keep the initial costs of apps under control. However, big brads having big budget invest in complex apps to enjoy long lasting benefits.

Factors that Majorly influence the Cost of Making an App

Asking how much does it cost to design an app is common and the answer is never numbers. App design cost varies based on what you want such as how many screens, features and platforms you want it to work on. And yes, the price also varies based on the kind of designer you are hiring it for. Knowing about these factors help you set realistic budgets and save you from future surprises from app design companies or freelancers.

App Complexity and Features

The complexity of app design directly affects the cost of apps. If it is simple app such as calculator or note taker, the price to create an app will be less. When you add more features like dashboards, user accounts, social feeds, push notifications or in-app payments, the cost will increase. Whenever you add any new feature, plan it first. Make prototype and test it well so save yourself from future burden.

Platform Choice

The location of your app is an important factor in the app design cost. Both iOS and Android have different design principles, navigation patterns, and gestures. It is less expensive to design to a single platform but for both, you need unique layouts, icons, and interactions. Having two platforms can increase the app design cost because now the designers make your app that suit every audience.

Design Customization and Branding

Another factor of the app design cost is how unique your app is. If you go for template-based apps, they will fast and cheap because you will have ready-made layouts. But, if you go for custom designs with original visuals, animations, and interactions, it will be expensive.

To make your brand app shine, always invest in hiring professionals as they can help increase usability, and credibility. Investing more in the initial stage save you from future investment in redesigns and retention.

Designer Location and Experience

All designers do not charge equally. An experienced designer in the US or the UK will earn more than a freelancer in South Asia or Eastern Europe. It is better to hire a professional app design company as it saves money by reducing errors and you get quality design on time. And if you go with less experienced designers, you may save on initial app design cost but with poor usability, the total cost can make you gag.

Screen Count and User Processes

Each screen in your application is work. A 10 screen app is much cheaper to design than a 40-screen application. The app design cost also depends on user flows such as the onboarding, checkout, profile management, or support.

Each screen of the app requires new wireframes, prototypes and clean visuals. This is to ensure that the user has a smooth experience. Remember, the more the number of screens, the higher the app design cost. Why? Because designers then work on each screen to make everything consistent and easy to navigate.

User Research and Discovery Phase

Most businesses do not value research. The discovery phase is comprised of user interviews, competitor analysis, personas, and journey mapping. By omitting this we can save money on design, however, it can result in usability problems and redesign costs. Making the right investment in initial research can guarantee that your app design price is in line with your user expectation and in the long run, will reduce the total app design cost.

Interaction Design, Animations and Micro-Interactions

The cost of creating an app depends on the interactivity of the app, with less interactive screens being cheaper to create, but with more complex micro-interactions, gesture control, loading screens, and transitions requiring more time. These details not only add more appeal and a polished look to your app, but also increase the app design cost since every animation and interaction must be thoroughly thought out, tested and device-specific.

Design System and Scalability

There is a need for design system when the apps grow in size. It is a set of reusable UI elements, color sets, type rules and design standards. Developing a design system makes the initial app design more expensive but less expensive in the long run. With good design system, you experience consistency which is very important for businesses.

Accessibility and Compliance

Accessibility is no longer a choice. The color contrast, screen readers, correct font size, and touch target designs will make your app accessible to all. Although this will increase the design cost of an app, it will increase your audience, increase usability, and decrease legal risk. Companies that do not consider accessibility end up paying more in redesign and end up receiving user complaints in future.

Type of Industry and App Category

Lastly, the app design cost depends on the industry you are in. Fintech and healthcare applications demand very accurate design which increases the app design cost. For E-commerce apps, optimization is important so that people can easily find the products and checkout. Then comes gaming apps which require intensive custom visuals and effects. All these app categories are expensive because they have their own set of user expectations.

Design vs Development: Where Your Budget Goes

As a freelancer or an agency, you will be asked this one common question: how much does an application cost? A lot of people do not understand that design and development is not a piece of cake. This is why app design cost takes about 15 to 25% of the total budget and development takes about 60 to 70%. And do you know where the rest 10 to 15% goes? In testing and maintenance.

Good design is not just about the looks. A professional mobile application design company will reduce the number of times a company has to rework on the development. It will work on speed testing so that there is no maintenance cost in the future. Misplaced design can however give you headaches- consider costly repairs, exasperating redesigns and late releases. To put it another way, intelligent design is not an added expense, but it saves money in the long term.

Freelancers’ vs Agencies Which Is Worth It?

To design an app, you can either hire a freelancer and or app designing agencies. Both have pros and cons but if you know them beforehand, you will be able to balance the cost and choose quality.

Freelancers: Fast and Cheap, but Restricted

Freelancers have lower per hour rate but that does vary according to experience and expertise. According to Upwork data, new freelancers usually earn between 10 to 25 dollars per hour, whereas experienced freelancers earn about 41$ per hour. This makes their annual income at about 85 thousand dollars.

Freelancers are shining at startups that are testing an MVP or working on smaller projects as the project cost is low. If you have a low budget project, you must go with freelancers as they are quick to respond.

Agencies: More Investment, More Payoff

The professional mobile application design companies are more expensive. They usually cost between 75$ and 180$ an hour. Yes, the cost is high but the workflow and the team is organized.

According to a survey posted in a blog by Insivia, 78% of businesses believe that outsourcing of UX app design to agencies enhances the user experience. This is another reason why people prefer investing in agencies because it save expensive changes after the launch.

Agencies provide you with QA, UX research or project management which you won’t get with freelancers. Hiring agencies is a preferred choice if you want to upscale in the long-run.

The payoff? The agencies develop and design app with retention rate 35 to 50 times higher than those led by freelancers. This way, you experience improved engagement, scalability, and less cost related surprises.

Picking the Right Option

You can hire a freelancer for a small project or MVP on budget. But if the goal is advanced apps with personalized and interactive feature, you have to go for professional app design services. They make sure that your app works and look well. With professional services by agencies, you experience high levels of user engagement and retention.

It is true that an agency is unmatched in terms of value. You pay less to freelancers now but then pay more for future redesigns. So, instead of doing this, hire professionals and avoid expensive errors, and get premium products.

DIY Vs Professional: How Much Does It Cost to Make Your Own App?

Small businesses and many entrepreneurs ask themselves, “how can I make my own app and how much would it cost to create an app? Using DIY platforms and AI-based tools, it appears easier and less expensive to launch an app than to employ professionals. However, the initial cost is not the only factor to consider.

The Unspoken Limitations of DIY App Builders

DIY platforms are easy to use, but they are usually limited. These come with ready to make templates which limit you from experimenting and coming up with exciting features. With them, you do get to make an app which goes live in a short time but the experience is not as smooth as users want. These limitations slow growth and increase the total app design cost in case you require fixes in the future.

Scaling Your App Is Not an Easy Task

It is not easy to grow your business with an app made using a DIY platform. These do have limits on number of users, data storage and you cannot use endless features. As your business grows, it is must to hire professional services because they come up with more ideas, creativity and features in your designs. This added cost may look a lot but is always worth it.

Performance and Redesign Challenges

With DIY apps, you face issues with performance. People prefer them because they are affordable but that’s not completely true because DIY apps require redesign. You cannot have an app that load slowly. Redesigning makes your app work well on every platform and increase its functionality. Redesigns are often necessary due to slow load times, cross-device incompatibility, and reduced functionality.

Why App Design Services Are a Good Idea?

Investing on an app design may feel costly but it provides with long lasting benefits. The professional services cater to your brand goals by studying you and your brand completely. They get you personalized app designs that fulfil customer expectations.

Finally, the price of creating an app is not only about the money but the quality, scalability, and ROI. When a company wants professional quality work and is willing to grow in the long term, it is better to invest in professional services than rather trying DIY or hiring freelancers.

When and Why, You May Have to Redesign Your App?

As time passes, most businesses find out that the app they have is no longer meeting users’ expectations. This is something that really challenge business objectives and then they start looking for an answer to this question: how much does it cost to redesign an app? Before looking for the answer, think about why you need to redesign and what will you focus on when redesigning.

The redesigning of an app is not only about making it pretty but also engaging, usable, and affordable. Let’s discuss when and why’s related to app redesigning.

Look For the Signs

When users are quitting, posting negative reviews, or there is low interaction it is a definite indication that your app is not doing as well as its existing design. Old graphics or an app that is already having difficulty keeping up with new features or a larger user base can also mean it is time to update. The act of ignoring these signs may increase the app design cost in the long term because of low retention and increased support needs.

Minor Changes in UX vs Complete UI Repair

Incase you have an app design that is not working in your favor or not fulfilling your brand goals, you must redesign it. Now, most people think the app redesigns always empty pockets which is not true. It depends on what kind of redesign you want. If your app design needs minor changes like working on navigation, onboarding or content, or changed content, this won’t cost you a lot. And yes, these changes are sometimes enough to add a fresh touch to your app design.

In some case, the app needs a complete redesign, meaning new visuals, aim, branding and even number of screens. In this case, you may have to invest more because now the person who is redesigning it for you has to do the research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing all over again.

Study How Costly a Redesign Could Be

If you want to add additional changes, it may cost you 10,000$ but for a complete redesign, you must have a budget of 150,000$. Now, there are other things that also define redesign cost, for example, how simple or complex the redesign is going to be. Either way, you have to plan and set the clear objectives so you won’t have to go bankrupt. It is very much possible to hire an affordable app design agency like Webnhubs, that provide you with premium results and suitable timeframe.

The ROI of a Smart Redesign

With clear redesign objectives, it is possible to have an app that increases engagement and decreases bounce rates. Initially, you will find it very costly but when you see the long term results, it will all be worth it.

Investing on Apps Friendly vs Mobile Friendly Websites: Which is Better?

This is a very common debate because hundreds of brains and thousands of ideas. But you don’t have to get yourself engaged into opinions. Always look for facts and authentic data to decide which one you want to invest in. They both have benefits, but vary in terms of cost of design, involvement, and long-term value.

Launch Costs and Speed

Mobile friendly website designs are less expensive and quicker to start. It works on one codebase which favors content-based businesses. However, apps are expensive to design, develop and maintain.

Interaction and User Interface

Although websites are accessible and reachable, apps are even more engaging and personalized. Brands whose success depends on repeat users or loyalty programs can benefit from apps because they offer great retention and lifetime user value.

Choosing the Right Option

If depends on your business model, its objectives and target audience. When the goal is to get loyal customers and frequent contact, you can invest more on an app design. If the goal is to educate and convey messages, invest on websites as they are also affordable.

Assess Your App Design Budget, No Guess Work

You can cut the app design cost with proper planning. For example, do define your product scope, and set clear objective before hiring. It is wise to make smart choices and save yourself from spending loads for no reason.

Define Your Project Scope

Answer the following questions before contacting app design companies: How many screens will your app have? On what platforms will you agree? To what extent can it be personalized according to your brand? When your focus is on future updates and scalability, it is easy for you to make the right investment.

Methods of Managing App Design Costs

Start writing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in order to concentrate on the basic features. There should be no unnecessary extras, reuse of design parts and scalability should be planned early. These plans save money to create an app and maintain quality and usability.

Advantages of Reflective Budgeting

Proper cost estimation of your app design can help make better decisions regarding platform selection, feature decisions, and how complex your design is. It also makes the most out of your budget and you can enjoy quality in design without any financial shocks.

Conclusion

The app design cost is a matter of strategy, quality and future growth. Each app is different, in terms of number of screens, customization, interaction and functionality. Although DIY platforms sound and look attractive because they are affordable but they are not really flexible.

The advice is to go for professional app design services because this way you can get both beautiful and functional apps. They help your business expand and save you from a future redesign expense.

It is up to you to decide between freelancers and agencies depending on your budget, time, and goals. But do remember that quality app design always pays off. You get both better engagement and retention.

Before digging in to how much do apps cost, study for what it takes to make an effective app. Plan, look for the features you want and lock your budget to make a smart choice.

Plan your app design budget

Contact Webnhubs for a transparent and realistic app design cost, tailored to your idea, schedule and growth strategies.