The first set of questions that cross the mind of every aspiring entrepreneur planning to develop a mobile app are:
Which app development framework is profitable and most
widely adopted?
What are the factors that influence the development cost?
What is the approximate cost during various stages of the
project?
Well, React Native framework is one of the most viable options for developing applications. Its unique capabilities in comparison to the Native development options are:
- Code-sharing ability across multiple platforms
- Ability to craft responsive and fast-loading apps
- Availability of pre-built and reusable components
- Faster time-to-market
- Involves lesser resources and smaller teams
As
per a developer survey conducted by Statista in 2020, “React Native is the
most popular cross-platform framework used by 42% of the software developers
around the globe.”
Now,
you must be curious to know about all aspects concerning the development cost
in React Native projects! Read along to gather insights on the factors
affecting the React Native app development cost and also get a rough estimate
of the expenses incurred during each stage of the project.
Factors affecting React Native Application Development
Cost
The Design of the App
A
well-devised app design is necessary to stay competitive. Devising a
well-articulated user flow, well-timed animation, and smooth transitions for
navigating between screens, enhances user engagement; but turns out to be
super-expensive. Nonetheless, React Native App design costs lesser than that of
Native apps; as only one app with cross-platform compatibility needs to be
designed.
App Categories
The
business requirement for each kind of application vary and so the elements like
feature set, the number of real-time users, security considerations, etc. are
different for each category of apps. Naturally, the development cost differs as
per the number and type of intricacies employed. For instance, simple apps like
calendars, calculators, etc. will involve lesser developmental costs as
compared to complex, feature-rich apps like mCommerce or customized apps. The
reason is integrating more features takes much longer than usual.
App Complexity
The
entire mobile app development process
usually takes about one week to six months to get completed. The
time-to-market, as well as the developmental cost, is directly proportional to
the level of complexity, number of functionalities, and the ingenuity of the
features. For instance, a project involving the development of a simple app or
MVP costs less and is much quicker to execute. Contrarily, a complex
application possessing new-fangled features takes longer to develop and incurs
more expenses.
All
apps are categorized into three levels: High complexity, Medium complexity, and
Low Complexity. The factors that determine the level of complexity are as
follows:
The Architecture of Deployment Model: For backend
development, you can either opt for the Custom approach or BaaS. The custom
approach allows the React Native development companies to get the desired
mobile architecture tailored to their specific needs; whereas those employing
BaaS, have to function using a ready-made backend architecture.
Developing the Admin Panel: Admin panel
enables app owners to efficiently manage the React Native app: keeping track of
the app’s activity, viewing statistics, and updating the content without
developer intervention. The more features you integrate into the Admin Panel,
the higher the app ranks in the complexity chart.
Integrating third-party plugins: Integrating
third-party plugins is necessary to make an app more user-friendly. These
plugins allow the app to interact with other app’s functionality for
simplifying processes such as login and payment. However, such integrations are
more complicated to implement using React Native app development as compared to
Native development.
Utilizing the Device’s built-in features: The new-age
tablets and smartphones are decked up with advanced features like GPS,
Bluetooth, Barometers, Nearby, etc. which can be linked to an app for enhanced
performance, thereby increasing the app’s complexity.
Adding in-app purchase: Most of the
popular applications these days possess the ‘in-app purchase’ feature for
accelerating ROI. So, app creators are tempted to include this feature, making
the app more complex.
Integrating the app with Enterprise or Legacy System: A React
Native app can either be a standalone or an integrated one. A standalone app
functions independently without being integrated into your system and so is a
budget-friendly option. But, the apps that are integrated within any of your
enterprise/legacy systems; involve a series of complexities like third-party
APIs, extensions, host system modifications in the app, etc. resulting in a
more expensive development process.
User Login/Authorization
Crafting
applications that do not need any type of user login/authorization and user
authentication, involve lesser costs. Contrarily, an app providing these
functions incurs more costs as it needs to undergo the process of role-based
checks, set by developers. Moreover, the app’s complexity increases, as both
the system development team and the app development team of the enterprise need
to invest efforts for flawless development and deployment of the application.
Add-ons
to the App
The
React Native framework enables the creation of captivating apps. But, if one
intends to develop a customer-centric app, that app has to be integrated with
Social media channels or provided with other custom add-ons. These additional
elements push up the expenses. Nevertheless, the need for add-ons depends on
the preferences and requirements of clients.
Hardware Dependency
Certain
applications like the IoT-powered ones need to be connected with different
kinds of hardware. The more the hardware dependency of an application, the greater
is the cost of development. Furthermore, utilizing React Native to create an
app with hardware connections is more complicated as compared to the Native
approach.
App Distribution Expenses
An
app is usually deployed via distribution channels and each channel possesses a
different pricing policy. The developer license cost charged by stores like the
App Store or Google Play is somewhere around $100. Additionally, some apps
require permissions from the host, concerning aspects like adherence to
security policies, compliance of standards, etc.
Expertise, Size, and Location of the Development Team
The
expertise of React Native app developers and the size
and location of the development team define the project cost to a considerable
extent. Take a look!
The
hourly rate of experienced and skilled developers or a huge development team
will be much higher, but they are capable of handling complex projects. Hiring
freelancers, on the other hand, is a highly affordable option, but the work
quality is often compromised. Therefore, opt for freelancers if your project is
a simple one, with a flexible completion deadline and you have budget
constraints. But, in the case of a complex project with a specified timeline,
it is advisable to partner with a React Native App Development Company. Again,
high-cap development firms will charge more as they have set high standards in
the market. However, a mid-cap app development firm will be a good option to go
for; as their hourly rate is comparatively lesser – 41 USD (approximately); and
they are more open to executing innovative app ideas.
Besides,
the rates vary as per the geographical location of the React Native app
Development services you have hired for project execution. The hourly rates are
higher in places like Australia, Europe, and North America and comparatively
lower in places like Latin America, India, and other Asian countries.
React Native App Cost estimate
Here’s a rough estimate of the app development expenses through various stages.
- The discovery stage – validating app idea, competitive analysis, deciding the target audience, creating the roadmap – generally costs less than $ 5,000.
- Wireframing and prototyping including the creation of visual presentations and lo-fi sketches consume 40 – 50 hours approximately.
- The design and development stage comprises major functions like UI creation and implementation, front-end, and back-end development, testing, etc. As such this stage involves 50% to 70% of the overall developmental expenses.
- Maintenance and support post-launch – bug fixes, updates like revamping the design to keep up with changing trends, adding new features, etc. – are essential for user engagement and retention. This stage accounts for about 20-25% of the total development cost.
Key Takeaway:
The
aforesaid insights on the advantages of React Native app development, the cost
estimate, and the factors affecting the project cost will help you to choose
the right option as per your specific requirements.
To know more about
our other core technologies, refer to links below:
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