Creating an app can be overwhelming, especially with the complexities involved at every stage. Each phase comes with its own challenges, from understanding the market to perfecting the user interface — details that can make or break your app’s success.
With the help of our experts, we'll guide you through an 11-step process for developing an app. We'll also look at the top app development companies and the differences between iOS and Android app development.
Table of Contents
How To Make an App in 11 Steps
If you’re wondering how to make an app that’s functional, stable, and content-rich, follow our step-by-step roadmap:
- Create an app concept
- Determine the monetization model
- Decide on the features
- Use AI to speed up development
- Create user journeys & wireframes
- Design the user interface (UI)
- Create the app in a test environment
- Conduct quality assurance (QA)
- Upload the app to app stores
- Market to a specific audience
- Listen to feedback
1. Create an App Concept
The first thing in app development is defining your app’s overall concept. Ask yourself what objectives you want to achieve and how the mobile app will help you meet them. This will provide a vision for the project, guiding the functionalities and design approach needed to reach your business goals.
Your app concept should align with the needs and expectations of your target audience, so make sure you know your buyer persona inside and out. You should also analyze the market and study apps developed by your competitors. Highlight what they did well and where they fell short. Such research might provide insights into what your target audience expects and what you should improve on.
For example, if you want to know how to create an app in the fitness industry, you could research fitness or healthy cooking apps. On that note, fitness apps also present opportunities to integrate IoT devices. Depending on your idea and concept, you may also opt for app development tools that will streamline the process.
In short, focus on creating an app that solves a real market problem. If you’re building an app for your organization, consider how it will support your company’s goals. Reflecting on these aspects will make it easier to create a roadmap for your development process.
2. Determine the Monetization Model
Although it may seem like a later step, you should already consider how your app will generate revenue early on, as this will influence the UI design. The most common ways to monetize an app include:
- In-app purchases and upgrades: Users can buy digital content or features directly within the app using a custom payment platform. They can purchase virtual goods, extra levels or features in a game, premium content, or access to exclusive features.
- Pay-to-download: These are usually premium apps that require users to pay upfront before downloading. Once purchased, they have full access to its content or features without additional charges.
- In-app advertisements from third parties: In-app advertisements are displayed within the app's interface, often from third-party advertisers. These ads come in various forms, like banners, interstitials, or videos, and developers earn revenue based on metrics like impressions or clicks.
- Subscriptions: These require users to pay regularly for premium content or features within the app. Developers offer tiered pricing plans, and revenue comes from recurring fees, fostering long-term relationships and providing predictable income.
3. Decide on the Features
Many businesses make the mistake of trying to cram too many features into their mobile app, especially in the first version. A smarter approach would be to categorize features into “necessary” and “desired.” Only include the necessary features in the first version of your app. Additionally, it’s a good idea to gather user feedback early on, as subjects during the initial testing will let you know what they truly want to see.
That said, it’s advisable to keep a list of prospective features that will make your app stand out. Some essential functionality aspects include a simple UI, quick loading, and high-quality media resolution. You should also consider cross-platform compatibility, which means optimizing for both Android and iOS. If relevant to your audience, you could also optimize it for Windows.
Lastly, including a search feature is another great way to engage users, especially in eCommerce and social media apps. While not as useful for game-based apps, a search option can help users navigate your app effectively.
4. Use AI To Speed Up Development
AI is changing how apps are built by making development faster and smarter. With the right AI tools, you can generate design ideas, predict user needs, and even automate parts of coding. If you’re wondering how to develop an app more efficiently, AI can help streamline the process and reduce manual effort.
Here’s how AI can help in the development process:
- Faster wireframing and UI design: AI tools like Uizard and Figma suggest layouts, colors, and components based on best design practices.
- Smart coding assistants: Platforms like GitHub Copilot and Tabnine help write and debug code, reducing errors and saving time.
- Better user insights: AI-powered analytics predict user behavior, which can help you personalize features and improve engagement.
Using AI in app development makes the process more efficient and helps you build an app that feels intuitive to users. It cuts down on manual work while improving design, functionality, and overall performance. By integrating AI early on, you’ll create an app that’s not only smarter but also more competitive.
5. Create User Journeys & Wireframes
Once you’ve defined your app’s goal and key features, a user experience (UX) designer — along with other experts, like a digital strategist or an information architect — will create a wireframe to map out the user journey customers will take to complete the desired action.
A mockup serves as a detailed blueprint of the app's design and how its features and functionalities come into the picture. It typically includes colors, fonts, photos, the basic layout, and other visual elements. When done effectively, a mockup gives the mobile app development team a clear idea of how the app should look and function.
Creating a wireframe or mockup helps you:
- Decide on the app’s appearance
- Make changes more easily down the road
- Present the app to stakeholders before the development team begins coding
- Set clear expectations for the development team
Our industry analysts have determined the best mockup tools that designers use to turn their concepts into reality:
- Mediamodifier is an easy, drag-and-drop design tool with highly customizable templates, mockup scenes, and graphics specifically created for app design. Mediamodifier can be especially helpful if you’re looking to create something quickly.
- Placeit is another intuitive mockup design tool that's perfect for those without prior design experience. It allows app development agencies to involve their clients even more in the design process.
- Custom Scene offers design capabilities that are similar to the previous two platforms. However, it also provides an extensive inspirational library, which is great for brainstorming ideas for various design projects.
6. Design the User Interface (UI)
Once the app wireframe and customer journey are approved, a designer will develop the interface by adding graphics, colors, hierarchy, functionality architecture, and more to create a compelling and well-branded experience.
The UI is much more than aesthetics and branding — it's all about the end-user and their behavior when using the app. The UI must be designed with the consumer’s in-app habits and needs in mind.
A successful app UI is:
- Intuitive: Users should be able to navigate the app without confusion, leading to higher user satisfaction and retention.
- Fast loading: Quick loading times improve user experience by reducing frustration and increasing engagement, as users are less likely to abandon slow-loading apps.
- Easy-to-understand: Clear presentation of information and functionalities reduces user errors and supports requests, enhancing overall usability and efficiency.
- Simple: Simplifying design and interactions reduces users’ mental efforts during usage, making the app more accessible and user-friendly for a wider audience.
- Accessible: Your app should be usable by individuals with disabilities to ensure inclusivity and compliance with accessibility standards, improving overall user satisfaction.
7. Create the App in a Test Environment
Once the design phase is complete, the heavy lifting begins as developers start coding the app. They should work in a test environment to ensure the app is tested throughout the development process.
A test environment is a setup consisting of several simulators, devices, testing tools, and emulators that assess the usability, compatibility, functionality, and overall performance of your mobile app. These testing environments usually line up a variety of mobile devices from different brands and models, different operating systems, and device-replicating simulators and emulators.
Using a test environment is important because it allows developers to evaluate and validate the app’s functionality, performance, and compatibility in controlled settings before deployment. This helps reduce errors and ensures a seamless user experience.
App security is also a critical factor to consider. Protect it by securing the source code, conducting penetration tests, and validating user inputs. Additionally, use a password management tool to safeguard working files, creating a safer working environment while allowing collaborators remote access when needed.
8. Conduct Quality Assurance
As mentioned, every mobile app should be tested dozens — if not hundreds — of times throughout development. In fact, a dedicated QA expert should conduct thorough test to ensure every single feature works the way it is supposed to.
If they catch a bug within the test environment, developers can fix it before the app is launched, ensuring users are none the wiser.
Other key aspects of an app to rigorously test include:
- Front-end and back-end functionality: The front-end handles UI/UX, while the back-end manages server-side operations. Rigorous testing ensures both areas work smoothly together.
- Multi-platform compatibility: Test the app’s functionality across various devices and operating systems to identify and address platform-specific issues, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
- App integration with other tools: Verify that the app integrates well with external tools and services like social media platforms or payment gateways. Testing involves verifying effective communication, secure authentication, and uninterrupted functionality.
- Installation: Ensure the app can be downloaded, installed, and launched successfully on users' devices without errors or complications, setting a positive tone for their overall experience.
To guide you in this stage of the development process, we’ve highlighted some of the top app testing tools that developers use to ensure product quality:
- Lambda Test is a cloud-based testing platform that allows cross-browser testing of web applications. It supports both automated and manual tests across a wide range of browsers and operating systems. This helps ensure that their web applications are compatible and functional across different settings.
- Testigma is a powerful cloud-based test automation platform that lets you automate various tests for mobile apps, desktop apps, web, and APIs.
9. Upload the App to App Stores
Once Version 1 of your app is completed, the app development agency will launch it on applicable app stores, so users can begin downloading and using the app. The most popular app stores are the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Each app store comes with different regulations; it’s important for both you and the app development agency to be aware of these requirements. Reviewing the guidelines before submitting the app to the store is crucial to avoid rejections.
10. Market to a Specific Audience
App stores let companies showcase photos, videos, and other content to attract the right audience. For example, take Asphalt 9: Legends, an arcade racing game that became massively popular among mobile and desktop gamers. The game still fosters quite a large audience through an appealing app store presence.
To better promote your app, optimize your app store listing page with:
- A detailed yet direct and compelling description of your app’s functionalities
- Unique value propositions and differentiators pointed out clearly for users to see
- In-app photos, videos, and screenshots depicting the app’s most attractive features (along with some benefits-oriented text)
You may also want to create a landing page or website for your app, featuring all relevant information and links to app stores where users can download it.
For a comprehensive marketing strategy, you might want to reach out to the top mobile app marketing agencies.
11. Listen to Feedback
An important rule of thumb is that app development is an ongoing process. Users will provide feedback, customers will leave reviews, bugs will occur, and organizations may want to add new features. This means you’ll need to develop and release new app versions — whether it’s a small fix or a major update — for both existing users and app stores.
Simply put, listen to your audience and their feedback — monitor the comments section in the app store, the forums your users frequent, social media mentions, and other review platforms.
Lastly, for effective online reputation management, you should respond to negative feedback promptly and professionally. Assure users that their complaints will be addressed in future updates.
How Long Does It Take To Make an App?
Typical app development projects take around three to nine months to complete. Businesses investing in developing a mobile app should plan for a similar timeframe. However, there is a budget-friendly and time-saving method: using an Admin Panel template, which reduces the hours spent creating your own design from scratch.
Estimated Timeline
Here’s an estimated timeline to guide you:
| Steps | Estimated Duration |
| Defining your app concept & target audience | 1-2 weeks |
| Determining the monetization model | 1 week |
| Deciding on the features | 2-3 weeks |
| Creating user journeys & wireframes | 1-2 weeks |
| Designing the user interface | 2-4 weeks |
| Creating the app in a test environment | 4-6 weeks |
| Conducting quality assurance | 2-3 weeks |
| Uploading it to the app store | 1-2 days |
| Marketing it to a specific audience | Ongoing |
| Gathering and monitoring feedback | Ongoing |
Factors That May Affect App Development Time
Several factors can affect the time it takes to create an app. Consider the following:
- Various app versions and features: Most mobile apps go through several versions over their lifecycle. If a business opts to include fewer features in the first version and simply add more in later updates, it could speed up the app development process.
- Budget size: Brands with a bigger budget to spend can afford more designers, developers, and hours dedicated to the project, leading to a faster timeline. Consequently, projects with smaller budgets may take longer due to limited resources.
- Design requirements: If the same agency is responsible for both the design and development of the app, the timeline may be extended. This includes the time needed to conceptualize, wireframe, and design the app before it is coded.
5 Best App Development Companies
Collaborating with a professional app development company provides access to specialized expertise and can significantly reduce costs. Notably, 64% of IT leaders globally outsource their software development, which highlights the industry’s reliance on external partners to enhance efficiency and streamline business functions.
Ivan Đikić, VP of Engineering at Infinum, emphasizes the importance of partnering with professionals to ensure a successful launch: " In today’s super-saturated market, customers have very high expectations, and if your app is not up to par, they won’t wait long before turning to the competition. That’s why we’d always recommend partnering up with experts you trust."
With that said, here are the five best app development companies to consider:
1. Naked Development
- Expertise: App Development, UI/UX Design, Digital Marketing, Branding, Product Design...
- Hourly rate: Inquire
Naked Development is an app development agency that will first listen and break down the clients' ideas to align with their core business objectives. The agency’s US-based development team then works with the creative team to design a strategy that best supports the users' total experience end-to-end, allowing for precise coding.
2. Suffescom Solutions Inc.
- Expertise: App Development, Blockchain, Web Development, Product Design...
- Hourly rate: Inquire
Suffescom is a leading DeFi and mobile app development company whose approach combines the clients' vision with technical expertise to drive future business growth. The agency is renowned for its successful partnerships with industry leaders and global recognition.
Their tailored mobile app development services cater to diverse industries such as banking, healthcare, supply chain, insurance, e-commerce, gaming, logistics, government, education, and IT.
3. CXR
- Expertise: App Development, Web Design, Graphic Design, Blockchain, Branding...
- Hourly rate: $100
CXR delivers innovative digital solutions by blending cutting-edge technology with strategic design. Specializing in web, mobile, XR, AI, and blockchain, the agency crafts seamless user experiences that drive business growth. With a strong branding and intuitive design focus, CXR creates dynamic platforms that elevate brands and engage users across digital landscapes.
4. Apptension
- Expertise: App Development, Web Design, Graphic Design, Blockchain, Branding...
- Hourly rate: $58
Apptension is a product development company with over 10 years of experience, hundreds of completed projects and products sent to market, and almost 100 specialists on board. The agency handles its partners’ needs in the most comprehensive way possible — from a simple MVP and pitch deck to maintaining a multifaceted product after its completion.
5. Net-Craft.com
- Expertise: App Development, Web Development, eCommerce Development, PPC, Digital Marketing...
- Hourly rate: $45
Net-Craft believes in excellent customer service that includes consistent and timely communication. The agency understands that trust is vital in a business relationship, ensuring it meets deadlines, promptly answers emails and calls, and regularly updates clients on the project status.
Net-Craft offers a full scope of app development services including app branding and design, front-end coding, and comprehensive system testing.
For more options when choosing among potential agency partners, check out our entire list of top app development companies.
iOS App Development vs. Android App Development: What’s the Difference?
Although many mobile app development companies are well-versed in creating apps for both iOS and Android, the development processes for these platforms do differ. Understanding these differences is crucial so you can select the right development partner, ensuring the successful release of your app to the public.
iOS app developers use Objective-C or Swift, two programming languages exclusively used by Apple. While these languages are scalable within the Apple ecosystem — which is why Apple products have such strong inter-device cohesion — they don’t operate well outside of it.
Key qualities of iOS apps include:
- Sharper animations
- A faster testing/QA process, which leads to a quicker market release
- A more secure operating system
- Flexible and scalable, allowing designers to create a consistent brand identity on various platforms.
On the other hand, Android developers primarily use the Java programming language to build their apps. Java is a flexible and scalable language that supports consistent brand experience across various platforms.
Android mobile applications excel in many areas, including:
- Strong user experience
- Lower development cost than iOS
- Lower Google Play Store fees
If you want to save on cost and develop an app yourself, check out these robust platforms for building cross-platform applications:
How To Develop an App Takeaways
Developing an app in 2025 requires a structured approach, from conceptualization to deployment. With evolving technologies and user expectations, your business must ensure its app is not only functional but also engaging, secure, and scalable. A well-planned development process leads to a product that meets market demands while delivering a seamless user experience.
Whether you’re refining an existing app or planning to develop a new one, partnering with experienced developers can make a significant difference. Contact an expert app development team today to bring your vision to life!
App Development FAQs
1. How much does it cost to create an app?
Organizations pay about $200,000 to $350,000 for a mobile app with several features. The pricing is greatly affected by the timeline of the deliverables, how many features and functionalities you need, what actions users will be allowed to take within the mobile app, and the long-term support you require from an app development company.
2. How do app developers charge for their services?
Businesses can expect to pay hourly for services rendered by mobile app developers. This is because app development requires a lot of timely, active tasks that are best tracked and billed by the hour.
Mobile app developers in the United States tend to cost somewhere between $100 and $175 per person per hour, though rates can vary depending on their expertise, location, and reputation. On the other hand, outsourcing software development companies generally charge between $55 and $75 per hour.
How DesignRush’s Marketplace Can Help You Create an App
DesignRush Marketplace connects businesses with top agencies that can complete a project or provide a certain service that a company needs. If your company is looking to develop and market a mobile app, we can find the right agency for the job!
Tell us about your project and we will curate a list of up to 5 most qualified agencies out of 15,000+ in our directory that can create an app to your requirements and for any platform. Best of all — it's free!
