What is the iOS app development cost? It is the first question that arises when you decide iOS platform to launch your app. This question plays a big role since it directly affects your budget and app success. Especially for startups and business founders, estimating the cost of iOS app development is crucial because it allows them to properly utilize their resources.
If you are also interested in knowing how much does it cost to build an iOS app in 2024, then here in this blog we will tell you the cost and explain how you can estimate the accurate cost of your iOS app project.
So why wait then? Let’s get started
Table of Contents
Why it is Important to Estimate iOS App Development Cost?
Estimating the cost of your iOS app development is like creating a roadmap for your project. It helps you navigate the development process with financial clarity, make informed decisions, and ultimately increase your chances of success.
Here are the main reasons why it is important to estimate the cost of your iOS app development project.
Making Informed Decision: Knowing the ballpark figure allows you to assess if the project aligns with your budget. Without an estimate, you might work on a project that financially strains your resources.
Resource Allocation: An accurate estimate helps you allocate resources effectively. You can plan for development costs, marketing expenses, and ongoing maintenance.
Project Planning & Risk Management: A cost estimate forms the basis for project timelines and milestones. It helps identify potential cost risks and allows you to develop mitigation strategies.
Building Investor Confidence: If you’re seeking investment, a well-defined cost estimate demonstrates your preparedness and seriousness about the project. It showcases your understanding of the development process and potential expenses.
Setting Realistic Expectations: Having a cost estimate helps manage expectations for yourself and stakeholders. It prevents disappointment or surprises later in the development process.
Comparing Development Options: An estimate allows you to compare costs of different development approaches, like in-house development, outsourcing to a freelancer, or hiring a development agency.
Factors that Affect the Cost of iOS App Development
Developing an iOS app can be an exciting venture, but it’s important to understand the costs involved before diving in. There are several factors that can significantly impact the overall price. Here are the keywords that you should consider while analyzing iOS app development cost for your project.
App Complexity
App complexity is the single biggest influencer of mobile app development cost. Simple apps, like basic to-do lists or note-taking apps, require less development time and resources. This translates to a lower overall cost.
On the other hand, complex apps with a plethora of features like real-time data processing, or integration with Augmented Reality (AR) require significant expertise and development effort.
Therefore, you should pay attention to the complexity level of your iOS app. Is it small, medium, or advanced-scale? The more complex your iOS app is the more development resources will it take. Consequently, the cost will increase also.
Number of Features
The number of features directly correlates to app complexity. Each feature adds another layer of development work. Basic features like user login and data storage are relatively inexpensive. However, features like in-app purchases, social media integration, push notifications, or complex animations significantly increase development time and cost.
For iOS apps, every feature requires a dedicated approach to coding, testing, and integration. As a result, it impacts the overall development timeline and budget.
Read More: Factors that Will Determine Mobile App Development Cost in 2024
Developer Rate
It is one of the most influential factors in iOS app development cost. When you hire iOS app developers or outsource your project to an iOS app development agency they charge you a certain rate. This developer rate varies greatly depending on geographic location. Generally, rates are higher in countries like the US and Western Europe compared to Asia or Eastern Europe.
So, when you are to work with an iOS app development company or look for iOS app developer for hire, consider the location of the developer. For example, an iOS app development company in USA may charge between $120-$250. Whereas, in India, the same project can be outsourced at the per hour rate of $50 to $100.
Here is the below table:
Cost of iOS App Development: Location-wise
| Region | Cost (Per Hour Development Rate) |
| India | $25-$90 |
| North America | $120-$200 |
| Latin America | $25-$100 |
| Australia | $80-$200 |
| Western Europe | $100-$180 |
| Eastern Europe | $50-$200 |
Experience of iOS App Developer
A developer’s experience with iOS app development also affects the overall cost. Experienced developers can navigate the intricacies of the iOS platform, write cleaner code, and identify potential problems faster. Consequently, it helps reduce development time and the need for rework, ultimately saving iOS or iPhone app development costs.
Less experienced developers might take longer to code features, debug issues, and navigate the iOS development environment. Thus, it might lead to an increase the project delivery and ultimately overall cost.
Native vs. Cross-Platform
When it comes to building an iOS app, there are two approaches-native and cross-platform. And the choice between native and cross-platform substantially affects the overall iOS app development cost. Native app development is more expensive upfront due to platform-specific coding. However, native apps offer superior performance, user experience, and access to all the functionalities of the iOS device.
On the other hand, cross-platform development can be cheaper initially. However, it might have limitations in performance, user experience, and access to some native device features. Hence, you should decide between native and cross-platform as per your budget and business goals.
Integration of Third-Party Services
Integrating third-party services like social media logins, payment gateways, or analytics tools can increase your iOS app development cost. Some services might have free tiers with limited features, while others might require monthly subscriptions or per-transaction fees. Especially when your iOS or iPhone app is to offer premium services then it may add more value to the overall cost.
Use of Innovative Technologies
If your iOS app needs the use of innovative technologies like AI, ML, IoT, AR/VR, etc., then it will increase the final cost. Your development team will have to use dedicated iOS SDKs and premium tools to build innovative features. For iPhone apps, using these innovative features requires specialized developers and potentially new development tools. Thus, it may impact the overall iOS app development cost.
Read More: The Most Effective Method To Choose The Best Technology Stack For Mobile App
iOS App Development Cost Calculator
Estimating the cost of iOS app development is not a complex task. There is a certain formula or calculating method by which you can determine the exact value. For this, you need to have a detailed project scope that defines quantitatively how many development hours your entire project will take. Then using the below formula of the iOS app development cost calculator, you can get the final price figure of your iOS app.
Cost of developing an iOS app = Total number of development hours * per hour developer rate
So, for example, let us say your project requires a total of 850 development hours. And your iOS app development agency charges you a $30 per hour rate. Then, the cost of your iOS app development project would be
850x$30 = $25,500
Breakdown of iOS App Development Cost
Now, we understand the formula for estimating iOS app development cost. But the main question remains still unanswered, how much does it cost to develop an iOS app?
On average, the cost to build an iOS app can go between $10,000-$40,000 for your business. However, as we discussed previously, the final value depends on various associated factors. You have to take multiple things into consideration while calculating the cost of iOS app development.
Since we are among the best iOS app development company we know what challenges startups and business people face while building and analyzing cost of iOS app project. Therefore, to make it easier, here we have shown a detailed breakdown of iOS app development cost. It will give a clear idea as well as an overview of the cost for different scenarios.
iOS App Development Cost: Based on App Size & Complexity
| App Size |
Features & Functionalities |
Cost |
| Small |
User registration |
$10,000-$20,000 |
|
Push notifications |
||
|
Basic UI/UX Design |
||
| Medium |
Third-party integrations |
$25,000-$50,000 |
|
In-app purchases |
||
|
Payment gateways |
||
|
Customized UI/UX Design |
||
|
High-end backend |
||
| Complex |
Biometric login |
$50,000-$150,000 |
| AI & ML algorithms | ||
| Custom animation | ||
| Real-time data analytics | ||
| Robust backend |
iOS App Development Cost: Based on Development Approach
| Development Approach | Cost |
| Native | $25,000- $50,000 |
| Cross-Platform | $10,000-$30,000 |
| PWA | $10,000-$90,000 |
iOS App Development Approach: Based on iOS Device Type
| iOS Device Type | Cost |
| iPhone App Development | $20,000-$150,000 |
| iPad App Development | $30,000-$70,000 |
| Apple WatchOS App Development | $5000-$30,000 |
| Apple Vision Pro App Development | $10,000-$50,000 |
iOS App Development Cost: Based on Development Stages
| Development Stages | Cost |
| Research | $100-$500 |
| Wireframing & Prototyping | $1,000-$2,000 |
| UI/UX Design | $3,000-$6,000 |
| Front end development | $5,000-$10,000 |
| Backend development | $3,000-$6,000 |
| API Integration | $1,000-$3,000 |
| QA & testing | $1,000-$2,000 |
| App Store Submission | $100-$200 |
iOS App Development Cost: Based on Hiring Models
| Hiring Models | Expertise | Cost |
| Hire Freelancers | Vary | $50-$150 |
| Outsource iOS App Development Agency | High | $25-$150 |
| In-House Team | High | $100,000/annum |
| App Category | Cost |
| Gaming app development | $30,000-$200,000 |
| Social Media app development | $20,000-$80,000 |
| eLearning app development | $15,000-$60,000 |
| Food Delivery app development | $25,000-$50,000 |
| Restaurant App development | $10,000-$40,000 |
| eCommerce app development | $15,000-$70,000 |
| Marketplace app development | $30,000-$80,000 |
| Fitness Tracking App development | $20,000-$60,000 |
| Telemedicine App development | $25,000-$50,000 |
| Fantasy Sports App development | $20,000-$70,000 |
| Fintech App development | $15,000-$40,000 |
Hidden Costs in iOS App Development
Beyond the core development costs, there are hidden expenses that can creep into your iOS app development project. By being aware of these hidden costs upfront, you can factor them into your overall budget and avoid financial surprises down the road.
App Store Fees
Publishing your app on the Apple App Store isn’t free. There’s an annual Apple Developer Program membership fee of $99. In addition to this, if your app offers in-app purchases or subscriptions, Apple takes a commission (usually 15%) on each transaction.
App Maintenance and Updates
The development journey doesn’t end with the launch. Bug fixes, security patches, compatibility updates with new iOS versions, and updating new features require ongoing maintenance. Therefore, you have to allocate a separate budget for ongoing app maintenance and updates to keep your app running smoothly and securely.
Third-Party SDKs and APIs
Many apps rely on third-party SDKs and APIs to provide advanced functionalities like social media logins, analytics, or payment processing. While some have free tiers, many require monthly subscriptions or per-transaction fees. Therefore, you will need to carefully evaluate the pricing structure of any third-party integrations to avoid cost surprises.
Design Iteration Costs
Even the most detailed project plans might require adjustments during the design phase. Additional design iterations to refine the user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) can add unseen costs. You have to clearly define design expectations upfront with your iOS app development partner. And establish a pre-defined process for managing design changes to minimize these hidden iOS app development cost.
Localization and Internationalization
If the iOS app targets a global audience, your iOS app will need localization and internationalization functionalities to adapt the app to different languages, cultures, and regions. Consequently, it may incur additional costs for translation services, cultural adaptation, and compliance with local regulations.
Legal and Compliance Costs
There are some crucial legal and data regulation laws for mobile apps when it is iOS or Android. Your app must be compliant with legal and regulatory requirements, such as privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), copyright, intellectual property rights, and app store guidelines and to make your iOS app compliant with these regulations may involve legal consultations, documentation, and compliance audits. So, it may add extra value to the overall development costs.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to estimating the cost of developing an iOS or iPhone app, you have to consider various factors. Whether it is iOS or Android, both mobile platforms have great market demand and user acquisition. However, for iOS, things become more specific as Apple has a set of its own defined guidelines and a vast ecosystem of mobile devices.
Therefore, you should have a detailed project scope in hand and based on this should allocate your budget and resources to build your app within your defined price range.
However, since mobile app development is a complex and long-term process, it is advisable to consult a leading company that specializes in iOS app development services. They will give a pricing quotation based on your specific project requirements.
SHARE
WRITTEN BY
Prankur Haldiya
Chief Technical OfficerPrankur Haldiya, Chief Technical officer at RipenApps is connoisseur who has worked with manifold clients & has given his past 6+ years in making chartbuster apps for App Store/ PlayStore. He has worked on products for the iOS/Android platform of various domains such as Social Networking, E-Commerce, Point of Sale, Business, and Entertainment and considerably more.
View All Articles
India
USA
Australia
Canada
UK
UAE
