6 Tips That We Recommend for Cutting App Development Cost

Developing an app can be a costly process but we want you to know that it’s possible to really cut down on these costs. With app development, if expenses are not carefully managed from the beginning to the end of the launch process, they can quickly accumulate. The good news is that there are practical approaches to lowering these costs without compromising on quality.

This article explores 6 essential tips for cutting app development costs. By the end of this article, you will have walked away with ideas and solutions to help you cut costs during your next development project.

6 Tips That We Recommend for Cutting App Development Cost

01.

Define Your App's Core Features

One of the best strategies to reduce app development costs is to concentrate on the app's essential functions. This means reducing your application to its MVP which stands for Minimum Viable Product. These are the fundamental features that serve your app's primary function.

While adding new features may appear like a good idea, they can drastically raise expenses and development time. As with anything else, more is not always better. You should prioritize the most important features for your target users while leaving room for future updates.

Trying to build too many features leads to what we call feature creep, which not only increases development expenses but also has the potential to overwhelm users. There’s often a focus on creating more but it’s so important to remember that this can also lead to lower usage adoption since your users feel overwhelmed with how much there is to learn about the product.

Developing an app while using the MVP framework will allow you to test your app with users, get feedback, and adjust without wasting resources on features that aren't really needed. This is a more lean approach that not only saves money but also accelerates your app's time-to-market.

For example, many successful apps, such as Instagram, began with a simple MVP as an app to share photos with family and friends and expanded over time. Similar to web development, the Minimum Viable Product framework ensures success, provides a good user experience, and is the necessary interface for a well-functioning product.

Ensure that your development team and stakeholders begin discussions early to define must-have features to avoid coming across situations where some may want additional features that add no real value for your users.

02.

Choose the Right Development Team

Choosing the right development team is very important to ensure you can effectively manage cost, and have two-way communication that's right for your needs.

With an in-house team, you have more control over the development process and better control over intellectual property and data security. Initial talent acquisition may be more expensive, and building an in-house team takes time, which might delay your project's start if you don't already have your in-house talent. For brands that already have an in-house team, this option is a no-brainer.

Collaborating with experienced software development companies and outsourcing to them is a cost-effective alternative. Outsourcing allows you to have access to more talent, often at a fraction of the cost of hiring locally. Not only that, but you also get to work with a team that has likely already developed a product similar to yours.

If you choose a hybrid approach that combines your in-house talent and an outsourced team, you can get the best of both worlds. For example, you may keep project management in-house while outsourcing development duties to save expenses. This is ideal for companies that wish to maintain some level of management while saving money through outsourcing.

This is also a good strategy for businesses that have in-house expertise but lack enough team members to complete the project. If you only have one developer on your team that’s already busy with other projects, a hybrid approach is a great idea. When you outsource, look for a provider or team with a lot of good feedback. You can do this by looking at reviews, and looking at their case studies, to ensure credibility and experience.

03.

Use Cross-Platform Development Tools

Using cross-platform development tools like Flutter, or React Native may be a good solution for your needs. Those are tools that allow developers to write a single codebase that effectively works on multiple platforms, like iOS and Android.

Some advantages of cross-platform development tools is that it significantly reduces development time and cost vs creating separate native apps for each platform. For example, React Native allows you to reuse most of the codebase across platforms, saving both time and money. Product development is a lot faster because only one codebase is required to handle iOS and Android, and everything is in one location.

Even if cross-platform tools are cost-effective, they may not offer the same level of performance as native apps. You will need to evaluate whether this model is acceptable for your app's requirements. Choosing the right tech stack is always important. Some developers may find that cross-development tools may lack custom modules.

You may also run into some scalability issues. For example, for some apps that require intensive graphical performance, like gaming apps, maybe native development might be a better choice so they avoid these performance issues.

Choose the framework that best aligns with your app's needs. Flutter, for example, is ideal for creating visually appealing apps, while React Native excels at delivering high performance.

It's always best to get feedback directly from your development team to decide which cross-platform development tool is best for your needs.

04.

Prioritize Efficient Project Management

Project management that isn’t streamlined can lead to confusion, delays, and a lot of expenses that could be avoided. Controlling and reducing costs requires streamlined and efficient project management techniques.

Using agile methods ensures regular check-ins, ongoing delivery, and the agility to pivot when needed. Agile project management increases team collaboration, allowing them to respond to issues in real-time.

Tools like Jira, Trello, Basecamp and Asana can really help with work allocation, progress tracking, and team collaboration. They are great for assigning project deadlines and tracking budget and expenses, allowing you to identify bottlenecks early.

Making sure you have open lines of communication prevents misunderstandings and keeps everyone on track. Regular team meetings, thorough documentation, and shared progress updates will help you avoid costly rework.

To make sure that the project remains within scope, ensure everyone is on the same page about how you plan on using any project management tools. It’s also important to understand that everyone works differently so again, gather feedback from your development team on a regular basis about the tools you use.

05.

Leverage Pre-Built Solutions

Instead of developing your own, use APIs from payment gateways such as Stripe or PayPal.

Examples:

• APIs can be used to provide geolocation, analytics, and push notifications features.

• SDKs can be used to implement third-party authentication systems such as Firebase for user logins. This saves time while making sure you have strong security safeguards.

• Using pre-made UI templates to save money. Many systems include templates that are easy to configure, this reduces the need for major design effort.

• Reduce development time by using AI tools to automate and for functionalities like chatbots and data analysis. For example, using AI-powered customer support solutions can help you improve user experience and gather feedback without requiring custom development.

Always look at third-party solutions to ensure they fulfill your security, compliance, and performance needs. This will help you avoid potential problems down the road.

06.

Plan for Scalability from the Start

If you don't account for scalability, your team may find themselves doing costly rewrite as your app gets bigger. These expenses can be avoided by planning for scalability upfront.

Create an application that can manage higher user counts and data volumes without requiring major adjustments. Selecting the appropriate database, cloud services, and modular design techniques are all part of this. For instance, scalable infrastructure that adjusts to the requirements of your app is provided by cloud platforms such as AWS and Google Cloud.

You can add or change features using a modular approach without affecting the program as a whole. Test your app's load throughout development to find any possible bottlenecks and make sure it can withstand high usage.

Work together with your development team to review any growth and scaling obstacles and create appropriate plans of action from the start, during the preliminary planning stage.

Final Thoughts

Anyone looking to cut costs on app development should really understand that doing this does not mean you will have to compromise on the quality of your app.

You can reduce costs a lot while delivering a high-quality product by defining your app's core features, selecting the right development team, utilizing cross-platform tools, prioritizing efficient project management, leveraging pre-built solutions, automating, and planning for scalability.

Modernizing your application to provide a good user experience with better operational efficiency, and significant cost savings over time are all also important. Visit our post on the best application modernization trends to learn more.

Whether you're a startup on a limited budget or a more established brand that wants to maximize its resources, these tips can help you reach your objectives more efficiently. If you are considering outsourcing your app development needs, fill out our contact form, and we will get in touch.