Question 1

What is a mobile app development company?

Accepted Answer

A mobile app development company is a company that designs, creates, and maintains applications for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. These companies work with clients to transform ideas into functional, user-friendly apps tailored to specific platforms such as iOS or Android. They handle everything from planning and coding to testing and launching, ensuring the app meets business goals and provides a great user experience. Many also offer ongoing support, updates, and optimization to keep the app current and effective in a fast-changing digital landscape.

Mobile apps are essential today because they:

Offer quick access to information, services, and tools anytime, anywhere
Are optimized for mobile use, providing a smoother, faster, and more personalized experience
Are used for customer engagement, loyalty programs, and direct sales, making them a key driver of revenue
Keep people connected through social media, messaging, and real-time communication
Help users stay organized and efficient
Allow users to access features even without an internet connection, unlike browser-based platforms
Enable businesses to reach users instantly with updates, promotions, and reminders, improving customer retention

According to Statista, the global mobile app market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.48%, reaching a market value of $781.7 billion by 2029. However, in 2023, global app downloads stagnated at 257 billion, experiencing only a one percent year-over-year increase. Despite this temporary slowdown, the market’s long-term trajectory remains strong, highlighting the continued demand for high-quality mobile applications across industries.

Question 2

What does an app development company do?

Accepted Answer

An app development company creates, tests, and refines applications on platforms (iOS and Android) for mobile devices using its coding and programming expertise.

App development companies are responsible for a range of tasks and activities throughout the app development lifecycle, such as:

Idea generation and conceptualization
Determining users’ problems the application addresses and the specific audience it serves. Performing market research on the competitive landscape and user preferences to establish a solid groundwork for the development phase.
Design
Creating an appealing user interface (UI) and an engaging user experience (UX). This stage covers wireframing, prototyping, creating style guides, choosing color schemes, fonts, flexible layouts, and screen elements.
Development
Writing the code for the app’s front and back end based on the design and specifications previously outlined. This involves managing data and creating the server-side logic, databases, and application programming interface (API).
Quality assurance and testing
Conducting unit testing, integration testing, and system testing to identify and fix issues in the code.
Optimization
Finetuning the code and the app’s overall performance to ensure it runs efficiently and meets performance standards.
Security implementation
Incorporating cybersecurity measures to protect the app and user data from potential threats.
Deployment
Launching servers and making the application accessible to users via the app stores.
Ongoing technical support and maintenance
Releasing updates and patches to fix bugs and performance issues.
Documentation
Creating a comprehensive guide for the codebase, APIs, and other relevant aspects to assist future expansion, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Question 3

How much does it cost to build an app for a business?

Accepted Answer

Building an app for a business can cost between $80,000 and $250,000+. The price will depend on the app’s complexity, set of features and functionalities, and location of the development company.

Provided below are the average app development costs based on complexity:

App complexity	Average project cost
Simple	Up to $80,000
High/complex	$150,000-$250,000

Here are the development costs based on platform:

Platform	Average project cost
iOS	$75,000-$500,000
Android	$50,000-$500,000
Hybrid	$90,000-$700,000

Meanwhile, as a general guideline, yearly app maintenance can cost 15% to 20% of the initial development fee. This includes continuous bug fixes, stability and performance improvement, code optimization, additional support for new operating system (OS) versions, new feature development, and more.

The top 50 mobile app developers on DesignRush charge an average of $65 per hour. 9.5% of these companies accept projects with a budget of under $1,000, making the service accessible for startups and small businesses. On the other hand, 6.1% require a minimum project budget of $50,000, offering advanced technological solutions and development frameworks for exceptional performance and user experiences.

Question 4

How long does it take to develop an app?

Accepted Answer

Developing an app typically takes one to over nine months, depending on the size and complexity of the project:

Project type	Estimated timeframe
Basic small apps with straightforward features	2-4 months
Mid-size apps with above-average features	4-6 months
Intricate apps with advanced features	9+ months

Question 5

Why should I hire an app development company?

Accepted Answer

You should hire a dedicated app development company because of its ability to develop a highly functional mobile app and provide long-term post-launch support.

Hire seasoned app developers to:

Gain access to their technical expertise
Access their resources, premium tools, and licenses
Stay on top of app development trends
Leverage technical SEO for your app to generate quality leads
Reach a global market
Receive post-release support

Success Story

In the following case study, we’ll look into how specialized app development company Unico Connect expanded the Deep Meditate wellness app’s user base:

Challenge: Deep Meditate set an ambitious three-month timeline for app development at a reasonable cost. The media-heavy app required custom features, including personalized daily plans, offline functionality, and an enhanced audio player, to improve user experience and reach a wider audience base.
Solution: Adopting an agile development approach, Unico Connect began its "Discover & Frame" workshop to define project requirements, features, design, and the ideal tech stack. Despite the app's extensive video and audio database, the team implemented an advanced architecture to ensure smooth performance. The developers also integrated offline support, in-app purchases, audio downloads, and custom plans for improved functionality and user appeal.
Results: Shortly after release, Deep Meditate attracted over 100,000 new users. It now has more than one million downloads on Android, a 4.4-star average rating, and an adoption rate of 3x more than its competitors on iOS.

Question 6

How do I choose the best app development firm?

Accepted Answer

Follow these steps to choose the best app development firm:

Set definitive goals and requirements
Outline essential aspects such as functionalities, features, and target market. Determine whether you are building a native or hybrid application.
Research companies and their location
Evaluate their team size, global delivery capabilities, language support, and ability to comply with regulatory and data safety requirements.
Understand their client and niche focus
Make sure they have extensive experience with app development for your business vertical. Read verified reviews and testimonials from previous and existing clients.
Learn about their available tech stack
See if they use the latest tools and software for front-end and back-end development, migration, scalability, UI/UX design, databases, content management, risk management, and cybersecurity. This should include programming languages (Swift, Objective-C, Java, Kotlin) and frameworks (React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, Angular, Vue.js, Node.js, Django, Ruby on Rails).
Shortlist and send RFP
Narrow your choices to five agency partners based on portfolio, case studies, and domain expertise. Submit a mobile app development request for proposal (RFP).
Evaluate personalized proposals
Assess the proposal details and structure. Are your business demands addressed? Are they able to provide several options to deliver your app idea? What’s their approach to design, execution, testing, and deployment? Is the post-launch support and maintenance process clear? Do they propose future development and expansion?
Arrange interviews
Ask about the specialists, project manager, and point of contact who will work on your project. Check the transparency of the pricing structure and observe their communication skills.
Evaluate and arrive at a decision
Compare the companies and select the specialized app developer that fits your project requirements, budget, expectations, and company values.

If you need further assistance finding the right mobile app development company, check out our Marketplace, where you can share your project details with us. We’ll connect you with companies most aligned with your requirements — for free.

Question 7

How do I find the best mobile app development company on DesignRush that fits my budget?

Accepted Answer

Find the best mobile app development company on DesignRush that fits your budget through our customizable search tools. Adjust filters to set your budget range, whether $1,000 or beyond $50,000, or refine your search by hourly rate.

Low Budget: 1k above	INOVA Lab Xenyo Limited Agency Jet
Mid Budget: 10k above	Codilar Technologies Kmotion Design Burrotech
High Budget: 50k above	InoXoft Cheesecake Labs BairesDev

With comprehensive agency profiles, you can easily assess service providers based on location, expertise, client feedback, and team size, giving you the insights needed to make a confident and informed decision.

Question 8

What red flags to watch for when hiring mobile app development companies?

Accepted Answer

The red flags to watch out for when hiring mobile app development companies include:

Vague and unrealistic project timelines
Take it as a warning when a company promises the delivery of a complex app in an impossibly short period.
Lack of platform-specific expertise
Avoid companies that claim expertise in all platforms while being unable to provide a portfolio of projects tailored specifically to iOS, Android, and cross-platform.
No emphasis on app performance optimization
Veer from developers who focus solely on design without considering performance metrics like load time, battery consumption, or data usage.
Misaligned processes
Look out for agencies without a defined communication protocol, project management, and reporting plans.
Cookie-cutter proposals
Watch out for generic proposals that don’t address your app’s unique requirements, target audience, or monetization strategies.
Inadequate focus on security
Steer clear of teams that seem lenient toward data security and regulatory compliance.
Disregard for user-centric design
Do not partner with an agency that fails to consider UI/UX and usability while only concentrating on backend functionality.

Question 9

What should I ask an app development agency before hiring one?

Accepted Answer

Here are some questions you may ask an app development company before deciding to hire it:

Its Relevant Background

What’s your experience working on a similar project?
What are your specializations?
How many apps have you developed?
What tools and technologies do you typically use for mobile app development?
How extensive is your experience in developing cross-platform apps?
Did your company receive any awards or recognitions for mobile app development?
What’s your team’s development capacity?

Its Services and Processes

How do you approach UX and UI design in your app development process?
What app development methodology do you use (e.g., Agile, Waterfall)?
Which programming languages and frameworks do you specialize in?
How do you conduct testing throughout the development process?
What is your approach to app maintenance and updates post-launch?
How do you manage changes in project scope or unexpected challenges during development?
How do you handle potential app store rejections and ensure compliance with their guidelines?
How do you ensure the security of the apps you develop?
How do you maintain streamlined communication? Which channels do you use for client updates?
What does the contract cover?

Related to Your Project

Which platforms do you propose we use based on your idea?
Who will work on our project?
What will be the project timeframe based on the deliverables?
Do you need the involvement of our in-house teams in the project?
How will you ensure the accessibility of our app?
What are your suggested monetization strategies based on our target audience?
How will you ensure that the app you develop remains compatible and optimized for the latest operating systems?
Who will own the code after launch?

Question 10

What are the best app development agencies in the US?

Accepted Answer

The best app development agencies in the US are:

Goji Labs
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (10 reviews)
- 4.9 stars on Google (48 reviews)
- Top clients: World Wildlife Fund, WHO, City of Los Angeles, American Kennel Club
Suffescom Solutions Inc
- 5.0 stars on DesignRush (38 reviews)
- 4.6 stars on Google (95 reviews)
- Top clients: Uber, CashApp, Modani Furniture, King Cubs
Zazz
- 5.0 stars on DesignRush (92 reviews)
- Top clients: McDonald's, Honda, NBA, Citibank
Naked Development
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (11 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (6 reviews)
- Top clients: Car Blip, Vigor Fitness, Snap MD, Basebalism
Trango Tech
- 4.7 stars on DesignRush (7 reviews)
- Top clients: KIA, Helpp, Matchbox, Click N Kollect

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