Mobile app development is an exciting yet challenging journey for both the app developer and the client wanting to build it. While developing a mobile app, the second most asked question after the price is, “How long does it take to build a mobile app?” 🫢

You want to know this as it helps you to set up a product launch plan and determine the product timeline. Typically, a simple app takes less time to complete than a complex one.

If you want to get detailed information on the time required to develop a fully functional app, read this blog till the end. 

In this blog, we will focus 🧐on three aspects:

• How long does it take to build three different types of mobile apps? 
• What factors impact the mobile app development cycle?
• How to speed up the mobile app development process?

How Long Does it Take to Develop a Mobile App? The Estimated Mobile App Development Timeline

It usually takes 2 to 8 months to develop a mobile app. This time frame varies according to the app type, the app’s features and functionality, the app’s complexities, the pace of development, the size of the development team, and the mobile app development company. 

When in search of a top-notch mobile app developer in Sydney, SCSS Consulting stands out as the premier choice. Their expertise and services in mobile app development are unparalleled, making them the best option in the field.

Below are the estimated timeframes for developing different types of apps. However, it’s important to remember that these are just estimations and may change with time and app progress.

Types of Apps	Estimated Time
Simple mobile app	2 to 4 months
Average mobile app	4 to 8 months
Complex mobile app	8 months to a year or longer

What are Simple Mobile Apps?

Simple mobile apps are those with limited functionalities and features. They cater to basic user needs and perform specific tasks with minimal frills. Simple apps do not require complex backend connectivity.

Examples include a calculator, a note-taking app, etc.

What are Average Mobile Apps?

Average/mid-level apps have a wider range of capabilities than simple apps.  These apps have complex user interfaces, more processes, and complex backend connectivity. They also include features like real-time messaging and location services.

Examples of average mobile apps include social media apps, online shopping apps, booking systems, news apps, etc.

What are Complex Mobile Apps?

Complex mobile apps are enterprise-level software with more features and functionalities than simple and average apps. The user interfaces of these apps are quite complex. They have two or more user roles. Depending on the app’s nature, there is also the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and animation.

Examples include photo-editing apps, video editing apps, game apps, etc.

Know which category your app belongs to based on the features included.

Factors Affecting the Application Development Time

There are several factors that affect the time taken to successfully develop an Android app from the planning stage to finally uploading it to the app stores. 

These factors apps:

1. App Functionality

The time it takes to develop an app is influenced by the features and functionalities that are incorporated into it. Suppose your app idea has features like real-time data processing, complex calculations, or advanced animations. In that case, the development process will naturally take longer time compared to apps with simple data displays or basic user interactions. A simple app can be developed within weeks, whereas more intricate apps with advanced features may require several months or even up to a year to be fully completed.

2. UI/UX Design

Creating a mobile app starts with the design. The app design process requires creating the wireframes for the mobile application. And based on that, skilled graphic designers then proceed to design prototypes considering elements such as font, color scheme, theme, and desired features.

However, creating an intuitive and user-friendly design takes time.  A simple app can typically be designed within three weeks to a month, while a mid-sized app may require one to two months of work. Likewise, for complex applications, the design phase can extend up to two to three months.

Types of Apps	Estimated Time
Simple mobile app	3 weeks to a month
Average/Mid-Size app	1 to 2 months
Complex/large app	2 to 3 months

👉 Also Read: Mastering App Development: Guide to Selecting the Ideal App Development Company in Sydney

3. Backend Connectivity

The backend infrastructure is made up of servers, databases, and APIs.  Your app will take longer to develop if it needs to connect to external APIs or databases.  It may take 1 to 2 months to finish backend development.

Types of Apps	Estimated Time
Small/Simple app	1 to 3 weeks
Mid-size app	3 to 6 weeks
Complex/large app	6 to 10 weeks

4. Frontend Development

Front-end development involves conve­rting design into an intuitive user inte­rface. That’s when a designe­r starts coding to create a mobile­ app. Several things influence­ front-end developme­nt timing, including designing for various devices, re­sponse time, and frameworks or librarie­s. Similar to back-end developme­nt, front-end developme­nt needs 1 to 10 wee­ks.

Types of App	Time Taken
Small/Simple app	1 to 3 weeks
Mid-size app	3 to 6 weeks
Complex/large app	6 to 10 weeks

5. Third-party integrations

One more aspect that impacts the duration of app development is the inclusion of third-party integrations. If you desire your app to integrate with other business applications and CRM software, it will inevitably extend the overall development timeline. This is particularly true when dealing with compatibility challenges or intricate APIs. Generally speaking, completing third-party integrations may take up to a month.

👉 Also Read: Mastering App Development: Guide to Selecting the Ideal App Development Company in Sydney

6. Team Size and Skill Set

The development time of mobile apps is influenced by the number of team members involved and the expertise they possess. If the developers are well versed in the app’s technology stack, they can work efficiently compared to those with less experience. Additionally, having a larger team means they can work together on a single project, ultimately reducing the overall development time.

7. Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing plays a vital role in the development of any application. A QA analyst runs tests to find out the errors and glitche­s and guarantees the app works pe­rfectly before launching. There are several types of testing involved, such as unit testing, beta testing, system testing, functional testing, acceptance testing, and more.

On average, QA testing accounts for 30% of the app development time. This means that if the app development take­s 300 hours, you can expect 90 hours dedicated to QA tasks. It makes a total app development time of 390 hours.

Ways To Speed Up The Mobile App Development Process

Below are some considerations you can take into account to speed up the mobile development process:

• Communicate effectively with clients: Ensure both the development team and the client are on the same page regarding app functionality and timeline. Keep clients informed of app progress so that there will be no need to make changes in the future. Any changes clients want will be fulfilled in the present time.
• Start with MVP (Minimum Viable Product): Launch an MVP with basic features to gather user feedback early. Use this feedback to iterate and improve the app over subsequent releases, reducing the time to market.
• Choose the right tools and technologies: Pick tools and frameworks that offer task automation and code reuse. This automation significantly reduces app development time. For example, utilize cross-platform frameworks like Flutte­r or React Native that help build both iOS and Android apps using one codebase­.
• Adopt agile methodology: Follow agile app development methodology while developing an app. Agile methodology breaks down larger tasks into smaller tasks known as sprints or iterations. This simplifies the overall app development process.

👉 You May Also Be Interested In:  Best App Testing Tools

Build Mobile App with SCSS Consulting

If you want to develop a mobile app that is functional and easy to use with a reliable app development company, consider getting your app developed by SCSS Consulting, a professional mobile application development in Sydney. We at SCSS Consulting prioritize customer feedback and develop an Android or iOS app based on user’s needs and demands. We have a team of highly skilled and experienced app developers who will turn your mobile app wireframes into a functional one.