{"id":8192,"date":"2024-01-12T09:26:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T09:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swisstomato.ch\/?p=8192"},"modified":"2025-01-03T08:53:14","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T08:53:14","slug":"app-development-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swisstomato.ch\/en\/2024\/01\/12\/app-development-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"App development cost"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is to reveal the app development cost in Switzerland, Western Europe or in the world \u2013 a question we get all the time. It is a bit like asking \u201dHow much does a movie cost?\u201d. If a university student shoots it with a hand-held camera it is $200, if it is a Hollywood movie, then $200 million. It is just as hard to compare the cost of work to develop an app.<\/p>\n\n\r\n

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How much does an app development cost?<\/h2>\n

Short answer it is 300-1\u2019000 hours of work to develop an app<\/strong> and you have to multiply by the app developers hourly fee.
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Number and Type of Platforms for the App Development Cost estimate
<\/strong>iOS or Android \u2013 smartphone or tablets?<\/strong> <\/span>These are all very different things, an iPhone and an Android development have very little in common. Which practically easily doubles the so-called front-end costs (=non-online element). If you need to optimize it for tablets, it adds extra hours on user interface & design.<\/p>\n

Does your app have online functionality?
<\/strong>App developments consist of two main elements: front-end<\/strong><\/span> and back-end<\/strong><\/span>. The front-end is the \u201cvisible\u201d part, it is the app\u2019s user interface, the different screens that are displayed. If your app needs an online function. Like refreshing data from a web site, users logging in, users providing data that are stored centrally etc.. Then you also need a back-end, a server solution to develop an app. Most meaningful apps need a back-end. Therefore it adds significant development hours to your budget, so to the app development cost globally. In this case, also an API (application programming interface) is needed which makes the communication between the app and the back-end possible.<\/p>\n

Hourly rates depending on who will develop your app
<\/strong>Freelancer, off-shore app agency or a European or Swiss agency.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Freelancers<\/h5>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
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They are the cheapest, they can be 50% of the regular agency hourly rate in Europe<\/strong>. But have you thought about who will coordinate their work? Without a professional project manager, you will need to synchronise the work of the designers, developers, as well as testers. There is a huge risk, people may disappear, many do it after their full-time jobs. If they can\u2019t all meet the deadlines or provide the needed quality, the whole process can be stuck and it\u2019s all wasted money. This can never happen with a coordinated team of professionals with proven quality solutions.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Indian off-shore agencies<\/h5>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
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You can choose a development team located outside of Europe, there are a lot of app developers in India. They work approximately 60-70% cheaper than the regular European, Swiss agency hourly rates<\/strong>. Challenges will be no face-to-face interactions, slow and difficult communication, time difference and little oversight on progress and quality. A lot of Clients approach us with a problem that the app doesn\u2019t work and it turns out that it has to be re-developed from scratch.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Digital agencies based in Switzerland \/ Europe<\/h5>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
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There is a good selection of quality agencies to develop an app. Please note that a lot of full-service or web agencies claim they develop apps, in reality, they subcontract it to specialists. App developer agencies have a team of iOS, Android front-end developers, back-end developers, designers, as well as, project managers and account managers to ensure high quality and timely app deliveries. Western European agencies might work for 80-90% of Swiss rates.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\r\n

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How long does it take to develop an app?<\/h2>\n

A good app takes a long time to develop, as it involves phases of concept development, wireframe \/ user interface, design, coding, testing & uploading to Apple Store and Google Play.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n

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Low complexity app<\/header>\r\n If it is one platform only (say iOS) and with low complexity, you can count 300-350 hours and 3 months to develop an app. <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Medium complexity app<\/header>\r\n If you count with an iPhone & Android phone app with medium complexity, you can count with 150-200 hours for iOS, 150-200 hours for Android. And 150-200 hours for back-end development. Which gives you a total of 450-600 hours of development and roughly 4 months development time. <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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High complexity app<\/header>\r\n If your app has many special features, like in-app payment, user management, complex content management module, integration of 3rd party systems and a complex back-end, then the app development might be 750-1\u2019000 hours as well. <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n
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Process and timing:<\/h2>\n

Creating a new application takes around 3-6 months, this depends on the complexity of the app. Our developer agency uses agile development (2-week sprints with defined development tasks) or the waterfall development method, which consists of 5 key steps:<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n

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\r\n 1. <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Specification <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 2-4 weeks <\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n Specifying the functions needed together with our customer <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n 2. <\/div>\r\n
\r\n App design & Wireframe <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 2-4 weeks <\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n Developing design and wireframe proposals <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n 3. <\/div>\r\n
\r\n App development, coding <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 6-12 weeks <\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n Developing the app after the approved design and wireframe <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n 4. <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Testing and bug fixing <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 2 weeks <\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n No stones unturned <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n 5. <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Publishing the app in the App store & Google play <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 1 week <\/div>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n Mobile App Development References <\/h2>\r\n \r\n
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\r\n \"Reference\"\/\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \"Watches \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n Watches & Wonders<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n A complex event app for the biggest B2B watch exhibition<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n App <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n SMB <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
\r\n \r\n \"\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \"Groupe \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n Groupe Mutuel<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n App for one of the biggest health insurance company<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n App <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n Big brand <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
\r\n \r\n \"\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \"Mazda\" \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n Mazda<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n Discover Mazda CX-30 with an AR\/VR app<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n AR\/VR <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n Big brand <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
\r\n \r\n \"\"\r\n \r\n \"\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \"Beexfit\" \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n Beexfit<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n Fitness, nutrition & lifestyle<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n App <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n Start-up <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \"ETH\r\n<\/picture> \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n ETH Z\u00fcrich<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n The student app for the prestigious university<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n App <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n Non-profit <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \"DCAF\"\r\n<\/picture> \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n DCAF<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n An extensive online library for security sector governance<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n App <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n Non-profit <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \"Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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\r\n Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique Constant<\/span>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\r\n A luxury watch on your wrist with an AR app<\/span>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n AR\/VR <\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n SMB <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/i>\r\n Check out the references <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\n\n\r\n
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Swiss Tomato Digital Agency for your app development project<\/h2>\n

We have a lot of experience in web and app development. We have worked with NGO and non-profit sector clients, luxury brands, pharma industry, local SMBs or startups among others. Also very proud to be among the Top3 several times at awards like Best of Swiss Apps, Best of Swiss Web from 2015. We are very proud that we have won \u201cBest Mobile App\u201d in 2019 in Switzerland at the Meilleur du Web 2019 Award.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n

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Awards<\/h2>\r\n \r\n

Proudly recognised as an award-winning mobile app development agency in Switzerland since 2015.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n \r\n \r\n \"Award\r\n<\/picture>\r\n
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