Since everyone starts using smartphones for their daily needs, for eg: shopping, appointments, banking etc, many corporates and business owners starts developing their own mobile apps for making users stick to them. It is quite easy for users to use a mobile app instead of browsing through a website. Comparing the leading mobile OS, Android is the most popular one with the highest number of users and hence most people give priority to developing an Android app instead of an iOS one.
Developing a mobile app is not that much easy as developing a website. There are hundreds of drag-and-drop web development platforms out there so that anyone with basic IT skills can get their own website. This kind of development process doesn’t work for mobile apps. Each and every page & corresponding function of a mobile app should be written in a relevant programming language to make the app work properly. This means only skilled programmers can create a mobile app by considering all modern design and security criteria.
Factors that affect the cost of Android app development in New Zealand
You will get different quotes for the same mobile app specifications from different businesses and individuals. Even though the cost of developing an app is a crucial factor to consider, check the following reasons that affect the app development cost in New Zealand.
#1:- App Development Company vs. Freelance Developer: One of the first decisions you need to make is whether to contact a nearby app development company or work with a freelancer. Both options have their pros and cons, including cost variation. Hiring a freelancer may be more cost-effective, but it can come with certain risks, such as reliability expertise and future support. On the other hand, established mobile app development companies offer reliable services and future development support.
#2:- Complexity and Features: The complexity and features of your Android app play a significant role in determining the total cost. Simple apps with basic features and no backend coding tend to be less expensive to develop, while complex apps that require advanced features, integrations, and databases will be more expensive. It is important to have a clear understanding of the features you want to include before you discuss them with a professional as breaking the project during the development stage will incur more development costs.
#3:- Backend Development and APIs: Many mobile apps require custom backend development and integration with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to provide features such as user authentication, data storage, and real-time updates. For eg: if you want a shopping app, it needs a database to store details such as items, customers, orders, and payments and needs an API to establish a connection with the backend and mobile app. This is more complex than a simple calculator app and need require more development cost.
#4:- Maintainance and Updates: App development is an ongoing process, and regular maintenance and updates are necessary to keep up with the latest OS versions. Allocating a budget for maintenance and updates is crucial for the long-term success of your app. Consider factors such as bug fixes, feature enhancements, platform updates, and user feedback when budgeting for maintenance. To make it more understandable when Google releases a new Android version, some of your existing codes should be upgraded which definitely requires additional development effort and cost you some extra bucks.
#5:- Monthly Server and API Cost: Depending on your app feature, you might have to pay additional server and API costs to successfully run your app. So when your developer writes down the app feature, they probably tell you the monthly running cost that is required. For example, if you want to send push notifications and SMS services to your app users, that must be paid to a third-party service which is billed either monthly or annually and thus leads to a monthly service fee.
Development Cost of an Android App in New Zealand with Live example
To make it easier to understand, we are providing you a live example of a mobile app that we have developed under our brand and the cost if it is developed for a customer.
PAYE Calculator is a calculator tool made for Kiwis for calculating their salary by deducting all expenses such as KiwiSaver, IRD, Students loan, ACC, etc. This is a very basic Android app that doesn’t involve any databases or servers. This makes the development cost much cheaper than our other developed apps.
Even though it was a simple app, it required a lot of understanding and study about the tax systems in New Zealand. We can proudly say we developed this app and released it on both the Android and iOS stores in under 20 calendar days.
Development hours for this app were around 75 hours. The development cost will be around NZ$5000 if it is developed for a customer.
Conclusion
Developing an Android app in New Zealand involves various cost factors, including the choice between an app development company and a freelancer, the complexity of the app, API integration, maintenance, and included paid API’s. It is very important to consider all these basic factors when considering a budget for a mobile app.
