How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App in the UK in 2022?: A Guide

These days, mobile apps are much more popular and convenient than their desktop counterparts. In fact, 85% of app users prefer using a mobile app to a website. It's sad to think about how different our lives would be if we didn't have smartphones, but it's true. To get the service you need, all it takes is a few mouse clicks, what could be more convenient?

The United Kingdom (UK) is always a topic of discussion when mobile app development is being discussed. Statista claims that the UK is Europe's most lucrative market for mobile apps. Furthermore, the UK app industry is projected to earn over £31 billion by 2025, and the economy is projected to earn over £30 billion by 2030!

Enough with the pretty math, please! In the UK, how much would you estimate the cost of making an app? Okay, that's a tricky question, but let's figure something out, shall we?

What Factors Influence the cost of Making an App?

Estimating the full price of making an app is, as we might have guessed, no simple task. It all depends on the app's intended use and how long it takes to code. There are numerous aspects that affect the total development budget. To name a few:

Complexity:

The development cost will increase proportionally with the complexity of the app you wish to create. If you want your product to stand out from the crowd, you need to make sure that all of the interactive multimedia and high-tech features are implemented correctly. As a first step, consider whether or not an API is required for integration with external services, and whether or not a CMS is necessary for establishing internal order.

Platforms:

The total development price is also determined by how many different platforms you make the app available on. For instance, it is more cost-effective to build a native app for a single OS than to consider building it for multiple OSes. Still, it won't be worthwhile. Users with iOS devices will be lost if you opt for Android app development. You decide to try your hand at iOS app development, and you end up exactly where you started. What's the verdict, then? Flutter or React Native?

Team:

Indeed, the more the merrier! Plus, the more expensive they are. Competencies and years in the industry are the primary determinants of compensation. There will be a large gap between what a junior developer asks for and what a senior developer asks for. Remember that the quality of the final product and the timing of its release are both affected by the number of people involved in the development of the application and their experience.

Maintenance:

Development after a product has launched is just as important as development before it does. This procedure needs to guarantee that the app continues to function correctly after its initial releases. Furthermore, who can guarantee there won't be any bugs, crashes, or other problems? The cost of mobile app maintenance is included in the overall cost of developing an app everywhere, including the United Kingdom. After release, assistance is provided for a set period of time, usually around six months.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Developing an App?

Of course, making an app isn't easy. It takes a considerable amount of time, time which you simply cannot waste. The question of "how much does it cost to make an app in the UK?" is getting closer to being resolved. The following are essential features for a simple application:

Admin Panel

The single most crucial component of any and all software. The admin panel provides a central location where an authorised user can manage site users, content, and data. Its total development cost could range between £2,000 and £3,000.

Register/Log in

All that is needed is a quick registration. Give people the option to sign up using their existing social media profiles, and you'll have their undivided attention. Don't force people to connect their accounts, though; some people just won't do it. Having app developers in the UK add the registration feature can cost anywhere from £700 to £1,400.

Advanced Search

In mobile apps, having a well-designed in-app search is more important than having content that is always relevant, useful, and interesting. Having a user-friendly interface is crucial to building a popular app. If users have a hard time navigating the app, they won't bother downloading the app in the first place, regardless of how compelling the exclusive content may be. However, more time and resources are required to implement those features. Search engine development costs are estimated to range from £17,000 to $24,000.

Profile Management

It's crucial to have a user's own profile with some basic information saved. Users can use it to keep track of information, complete tasks, monitor their progress, share files, and connect with others. With this level of personalization, each user will have a better time while utilising the software. Depending on the specifics of the project, developing this feature in the United Kingdom will run you between £600 and £1200.

Push Notifications

Communicating with users via messages is the most effective strategy for doing so. This could be information about upcoming events, updates to existing features, or prompts to perform certain tasks. Yet, it is essential to know when to stop. The last thing you want is for users to stop using your app because of constant, intrusive notifications. So, work towards product goals and provide app value to users with helpful push notifications. In addition, you won't have to spend more than £1,000 to have this added.

Cost of App Developers in the UK

Lastly, the article's most compelling question: "How much to create an app in the UK?" In this light, the development team appears to be a critical factor in the overall cost of the project. Time, money, and people are the three most important factors to consider. The question is, how much does it set you back in the UK to create an app?

Junior Developers

Junior developers (also known as recent college grads) have no more than a year of experience and should be considered among the first candidates. Javascript and other frameworks such as React, Vue, Angular, and Svelte are familiar territory for them. Juniors can do back-end development in Java, TypeScript, or C# and may even be familiar with Agile practises. In the United Kingdom, hiring junior developers to create an app can cost up to £35,000 annually.

Mid-Level Developers

As we progress to more senior developers, we find a greater breadth of expertise. They are accustomed to creating software for multiple platforms and using cross-platform tools. Developers at the mid-level can do everything from coding and testing to releasing and deploying apps to customers. Cloud-native app development is their forte, and they have experience with a wide range of databases (MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) thanks to their 3+ years of experience. For £50,000 per year, a team of mid-level developers will help you map out the development process.

Senior Developers

Senior developers have years of experience and a wealth of knowledge. The decision to go with them represents a deliberate strategy for the development process. They offer not only superior problem-solving abilities, but also custom-made app architecture and a codebase. Senior developers who are adept at app development can use any number of cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. They're able to steer the entire development crew toward a superior end result. A team of senior developers can help you plan the entire development process for a yearly fee of £200,000 or more.