How Much Does It Cost to Build an App in the UK?

By 

IIH Global

app development cost in uk

The client often asks us how much does it cost to build a mobile app? The answer is it varies, but usually, Mobile app development costs is depending on your requirement, category, and other features. In the United Kingdom (UK) the surmised expense of building a basic application can cost from £2000 to £10,000.

The cost of developing a music streaming mobile app like Spotify depends on various reasons like the functionalities, features involved in the mobile app, technologies used, the platform the app is developed on, etc. At IIH Global, we specialize in developing mobile apps on both iOS and Android platforms, for your app development cost. In the following details, estimates are approximate but should give you a rough idea of what it will take to build your mobile app.

Image source: Alla Kupriianova

The following article is for users who want to develop an app in the UK and need to know what it will cost. Our team took a look at how much it costs to develop an app in the (UK) United Kingdom.

But before we dive in please keep in mind the kind of revenues mobile apps generate.

In July of last year, Statista published a report on the Worldwide Mobile App Revenue Forecast. In 2021, In global mobile app revenues amounted to 693 billion U.S. dollars. Also, In 2023, mobile apps are projected to generate more than 935 billion U.S. dollars in revenues via paid downloads and in-app advertisements, etc.

statista 2022

Which factors affect the cost of an app?

There are many factors that affect the development cost of an app, but the most important are the following:

  • Platforms: Android (Google Play) vs iOS (App Store) and Hybrid vs Native
  • Ongoing support, maintenance & continuous optimization
  • Functionality, Features, and complexity
  • Team size and experience of your development company

How can I get a more accurate cost for my mobile app?

The project requirements briefly detail the features and specifications for your app and allow the app developer to provide quotes for your app.

Now don’t worry, most app development companies will provide a simple means to create your requirement as per specifications. It might be a simple form, a phone call, or a document template to get you started.

At this stage, your app project might be too complicated for you to scope out on your own. It’s common for mobile app developers to provide proof of concept where they can help you document your app in requirement.

There are so many paid sessions, but at the end of the workshop, you’ll have the details in brief. With this, so you can approach agencies for a quote. It can often reduce the cost of the project because your app is documented in detail.

Functionalities and size of your app

If you’re a startup with an app idea or an agency planning to build an enterprise app, here are a few critical reasons that can influence the cost of your app development.

App platform and devices

If you want to go with a Native app or an Android, iOS, Hybrid, or Windows. These are questions that need to be answered to arrive at an estimated time.

Third-party integrations

Enterprise integration of your app with third-party APIs or any other integration tools can cost you, based on the tool used.

App security

Enterprise integration of your app with third-party APIs or any other integration tools can cost you, based on the tool used.

Location

This is a very important factor. Finally, the country where you get the app developed can significantly influence the app development cost. Here, it’s a no cherry pie that outsourcing your development to countries like the UK can be the most cost-effective.

Aside from the above, there are a few factors that influence app development costs. These include:

  • Certified developers
  • Cost of Buying External APIs
  • Hosting Charges
  • Data Security Charges
  • App Maintenance and Marketing Costs

Comparing App Development Costs: DIY vs. Freelancers Vs. Agencies

Freelancers Vs. Agencies

Freelancers Vs. Agencies

No-Code App Development Platforms

There are a number of no-code platforms that allow you to build very basic or specific apps using drag-and-drop tools. Like WordPress or Webflow, but for mobile apps.

The great thing about these platforms is that they are accessible to non-developers and they typically provide templates that can help you get started. IIH Global often recommends that early-stage start-ups build an extremely basic outline of their idea using no-code platforms in order to validate initial ideas and conduct basic user research.

If you’re considering going down the no-code route, there are a few things to consider.

No-code platforms are great for building simple ideas, but they are typically not well-suited to building complex functionalities or integrating with third parties. There may also be limits on how much control you have over the UI and branding elements of your app, alongside limits on staging environments and the ability to thoroughly test features before they launch.

The pricing model for these platforms is typically subscription-based, with costs ranging from £30 to £1000 per month, depending on the platform you select.

Mobile App Development Freelancers

If you go with a freelancer there might be cheaper than using an agency, but there are drawbacks that should be taken into consideration.

Freelancers suffer from a lack of scalability, which affects their ability to guide businesses through the thorough Discovery, QA, and Implementation processes necessary for implementation.

In most cases they are capable of delivering a functioning product, these other processes are crucial to ensuring that the application they produce solves a real problem, has a measurable user appetite, is fit for purpose, and is implemented following best practices.

In large-scale agencies, these stages involve considerable time and effort, with entire teams often dedicated to a single part of the process. Whilst these steps are often overlooked by freelancers, they should be considered crucial to building a product that is poised for success.

In this capacity to carefully plan, test, and implement mobile applications, freelancers often create products that function perfectly well but struggle to build a consistent user base or achieve overall success.

Established App Development Agencies

An established app development agency is one of the most versatile and trustworthy ways of creating mobile app development.

In this growing market of different specialisms and team sizes, agencies provide a scalable, reliable, competitive, and flexible solution to the requirements of your enterprise. Their team structures and product offering are often less rigid than the alternatives, allowing for a true agency partnership, and most have bespoke teams of experts, allowing you to generalize the most value possible from your choice of agencies.

A most important benefit of working with an agency is that depending on their skills they are likely to have either already gained relevant experience in your industry or create products for businesses of a similar shape, idea, and size.

There are alternatives for mobile app development that are limited to a specific business demographic by imagining their own capacity, agencies vary massively in their capabilities, with some able to expand limitlessly to provide bespoke solutions for even enterprise clients.

5 famous app costs with features

Uber App

You need to design an app for drivers, an app for clients, user management, and a backend. The full process of designing and implementing an app like Uber will cost you Approximately £100000 — £300000 (for iOS and Android) and take 6 to 8 months for an MVP version which offers an awesome platform for mobile app development.

Tik Tok App

According to studies, the cost of developing an application is estimated to be between £80K and £100K. Obtaining a music license, on the other hand, would be an extra expense.

TikTok is one of the media and entertainment mobile apps that might generate between £130000 and £250000 in development costs due to its integration of numerous sets of features and services.

Instagram App

The key aspect of creating an app is its distinctive concept, as it attracts many individuals. If you want to be an entrepreneur, you must first analyze your audience’s needs and then develop a vision to meet those needs. To begin, an application like Instagram might cost up to £50,0000. The fee structure shown above may vary depending on your selection for hiring a developer.

In the UK, the minimum fee for a developer is between £25 and £50 per hour, both economical and quality-focused.

Tinder App

The Tinder app’s features suggest that it would cost between £20,000 and £50,000 to design an app of the same caliber. It’s also worth noting that this is only an estimate. The cost of developing a mobile app may be affected by various factors.

Just Eat

Just Eat is Europe’s leading online takeout ordering business, with over 500,000 daily requests. The approximate cost for each stage is between £3000 and £10000, depending on the application’s features and multifaceted quality.

App maintenance costs

You should set aside further funds for maintaining your mobile app. Part of this maintenance cost is technical and the other part is to look after the people who have downloaded your app.

You should expect to budget up to 20% of your app build costs per annum for maintenance including continuing smooth integration with any third-party services you use, new feature development and deployment, optimization of code to support newer versions of mobile platforms, bug fixing, and few improvements in performance, reliability, and stability.

Users who use your platform will also expect you to support them when they’re having difficulties. Don’t forget though that your users will be your greatest source of inspiration for future versions of your mobile app.

We have already calculated the app development cost for popular categories and apps available in the market.

How Much Does It Cost To Money Transfer Apps Like Venmo in the United Kingdom?

A financial project like Venmo is a peer-to-peer app. It necessitates a high level of expertise as well as extensive knowledge. The cost to make an app like Venmo will be approx £30,000 or £50,000. You must need a minimum team of 8–10 people.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like Uber?

The cost to build an app like Uber is between £20,000 and £40,000 for one or two user apps (for iOS and Android), respectively.

What is the Cost to Make a Forex Trading App Like Robinhood and Webull in the UK?

The estimated cost of the forex trading app and software could be between £30,000 to £100,000.

How Much Does it Cost to Make an App Like Instagram?

The estimated cost of developing a social app such as Instagram would range from £20,000 to $40,000.

How Much Does it Cost To Make An App Like Lyft?

The cost of developing a Lyft-like app will be determined by so many factors. Approx You’ll need a fund somewhere between £20,000 or £40,000.

How Much Does it Cost to Develop An App Like Tiktok?

The cost of developing a TikTok-like app ranges from £30,000 to £50,000, depending on the custom features.

How To Make A Delivery App Like DoorDash in 2022?

The cost to develop a mobile app like Doordash is varying from £15,000 to £25,000.

How we can help

We’re the top leading mobile app development company focusing on Native iOS and Android applications. If you’d like any help to examine your project, developing your mobile apps, or require some advice, get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help you.

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