Custom Mobile App Development

The cost to develop a mobile app is tailored to your unique project, influenced by factors such as:

• App Complexity: The number and intricacy of features.
• Platform(s): Whether you need iOS, Android, or a cross-platform solution.
• Design Requirements: The level of custom UI/UX design.
• Backend Integrations: Connections to databases, APIs, or other systems.

While a simpler app might start from around £12,000, feature-rich and highly customized solutions will naturally require a higher investment.

We believe in complete transparency and clarity. That’s why we prefer to charge per project, providing you with the full, upfront cost before development even begins. We work closely with you to craft a detailed development plan that aligns perfectly with both your budget and your business goals, ensuring no hidden surprises.

Yes, we absolutely can give you an initial estimate! We’re experienced at providing a realistic ballpark figure to help you quickly understand the potential investment.

However, much like you wouldn’t build a house without proper architectural drawings, we strongly recommend a discovery phase for mobile app development. This crucial step results in a detailed feasibility proposal that outlines the project scope, technical roadmap, and a precise cost.

There’s a small charge for this in-depth discovery, but should you decide to proceed with the development, this cost will be fully credited towards your final project invoice. It’s an investment that ensures clarity, prevents surprises, and sets your app up for guaranteed success.

The timeline for mobile app development is truly bespoke, depending entirely on your app’s complexity, features, and overall scope.

Typically:

• A basic Minimum Viable Product (MVP), designed to launch quickly and test your core concept, usually takes 6-12 weeks.
• A fully-featured, custom mobile application with advanced functionalities, integrations, and sophisticated UI/UX will naturally require a longer period, often ranging from several months or more to ensure quality and comprehensive delivery.

We understand that business needs evolve. That’s why we often recommend a phased approach, allowing us to continuously develop and iterate on your app. This ensures you’re always in charge of future updates and enhancements, keeping your app relevant and competitive.

To manage these timelines effectively and ensure flexibility, we exclusively use Agile methodologies. This means we deliver iterative updates in consistent cycles, ensuring timely progress, complete transparency, and the ability to adapt to changes as your vision takes shape. We’ll work closely with you at every stage to define a realistic timeline that aligns with your market goals.

Choosing the right development approach is critical for your app’s success. We’ll help you navigate the options of Native, Cross-Platform, and Hybrid apps, considering your budget, timeline, desired performance, and specific feature needs.

     1. Native Apps

• What they are: Built specifically for a single operating system using its dedicated programming languages (e.g., Swift for iOS, Kotlin/Java for Android) and development tools.
• Pros:
  • Unmatched Performance: Deliver the fastest, most fluid user experience.
  • Full Device Integration: Seamless access to all device features (camera, GPS, sensors, push notifications, etc.) and the latest OS functionalities as soon as they’re released.
  • Optimal User Experience (UX): Adhere perfectly to platform-specific design guidelines, providing a familiar and intuitive feel for users.
  • Highest Security: Leverage built-in platform security features.
• Cons:
  • Higher Development Cost & Time: Requires separate development teams and codebases for iOS and Android, increasing both expenses and time to market.
  • More Complex Maintenance: Updates and bug fixes need to be applied to each platform’s codebase individually.
• Best for: Apps requiring intensive graphics, complex animations, high performance (e.g., gaming, advanced mapping), deep hardware integration, or a truly bespoke user experience on each platform.

2. Cross-Platform Apps

• What they are: Developed using frameworks (like React Native, Flutter) that allow a single codebase to be used to build apps for both iOS and Android. These frameworks compile to native code or use high-performance rendering engines.
• Pros:
  • Faster Development & Time-to-Market: “Write once, run anywhere” philosophy significantly reduces development time and resources.
  • Cost-Effective: A single codebase means lower development and maintenance costs compared to native.
  • Native-Like Experience: Modern frameworks offer excellent performance and can often deliver a UI/UX that is nearly indistinguishable from native apps.
  • Broader Audience Reach: Launch on both major platforms simultaneously.

• Cons:
  • Potential Performance Trade-offs: While excellent, they might not always match the absolute peak performance of highly optimized native apps, especially for very resource-intensive tasks.
  • Limited Access to Latest Features: Access to brand new OS features or obscure hardware capabilities might be delayed until the framework updates its support.
  • Framework Dependency: Reliance on the chosen framework’s ecosystem and updates.
• Best for: Most business applications, e-commerce, social media, content-heavy apps, or MVPs where speed to market and cost efficiency are key, without sacrificing significant performance or native feel.

3. Hybrid Apps

• What they are: Essentially web applications (built with HTML, CSS, JavaScript) encased in a thin native “shell” or “wrapper.” They run inside a WebView component within the native app.
• Pros:
  • Rapid Development & Lowest Cost: Leverage existing web development skills and a single codebase for extremely fast deployment.
  • Broad Reach: Can run on any platform with a web browser.
  • Simple Updates: Often, changes to the web code can be pushed without requiring an app store update.
• Cons:
  • Performance Limitations: Can be noticeably slower and less responsive than native or even cross-platform apps, especially with complex interactions or animations, as they rely on a browser engine.
  • Non-Native Feel: The UI/UX might not perfectly match native guidelines, potentially leading to a less intuitive or consistent user experience.
  • Limited Device Access: Access to hardware features often relies on plugins, which might not cover all functionalities or be updated as quickly.
  • Debugging Challenges: Can be more complex to debug issues that arise from the interaction between the web content and the native wrapper.
• Best for: Simple content-driven apps, internal business tools, or apps where an existing web presence can be easily wrapped, and performance/native feel is less critical than speed and budget.

Our Recommendation:

While we are experts in all three approaches and are always open to discussing your specific needs, we often lean towards Cross-Platform frameworks like React Native for most projects. This allows us to provide a fantastic native-like user experience with the efficiency of a single codebase, delivering exceptional value and faster time-to-market. We’ll work closely with you to determine the optimal strategy that best aligns with your vision, budget, and long-term goals.

Ensuring your app delivers tangible business value is at the core of our approach. We don’t just build apps; we craft strategic solutions designed to meet and exceed your objectives. Here’s how we guarantee alignment:

1. • Your Target Audience: Who are your users, what are their needs, and how will the app solve their problems?
   • Your Core Business Objectives: What specific outcomes are you aiming for? (e.g., increased sales, improved efficiency, enhanced customer loyalty, new revenue streams).
   • Key Features & Functionalities: What features are essential to achieve those objectives and provide real user value?
   • Market Landscape & Competitors: How will your app stand out and capture market share?
2. Clear & Consistent Communication: We maintain an open channel throughout the entire project. Regular calls and meetings ensure all stakeholders are always informed, aligned with the evolving business goals, and fully engaged in the process.
3. Collaborative Feedback Loops: Your insights are invaluable. We actively involve you in continuous feedback loops at every critical stage. This ensures your vision remains central and allows for agile adjustments based on real-time input.
4. Milestone Test Releases: We implement a structured approach to testing. Through platforms like TestFlight (for iOS) and Google Play’s internal testing tracks (for Android), we provide you with access to early, functional versions of your app at key milestones. This allows you to experience the app firsthand, provide practical feedback, and ensure features are developing exactly as intended, long before final launch.
5. User-Centric Design & Experience (UI/UX) Focus: Our design philosophy always revolves around the end-user. By prioritizing intuitive user interfaces and seamless user experiences, we ensure the app is not just functional, but also delightful to use, thereby maximizing adoption and engagement.
6. Strategic Post-Launch Support & Iteration (Optional): Our commitment doesn’t necessarily end at launch. For ongoing success, we can work with you on a phased approach, continuously monitoring performance, gathering user feedback, and planning future updates to ensure the app evolves with your business and market demands.

By integrating these steps, we ensure the final product isn’t just a well-built app, but a powerful tool that directly drives real, measurable value for your business.