How Long Does It Take To Build an App

Key Stages of the App Development Process

The app development process typically involves several key stages, each with its specific tasks and deliverables. Here’s a breakdown of the general stages:

Idea Generation and Planning:

Brainstorming: This involves developing app ideas, considering the target audience, and identifying potential problems the app can solve.
Market Research: Analyze the competition, identify trends, and assess market demand for your app.
Feasibility: Evaluate the technical, financial, and resource feasibility of the project.
Define Requirements: Clearly outline the app’s features, functionalities, and user experience goals.

Design:

User Interface (UI) Design: Create visually appealing and intuitive interfaces that align with the app’s purpose and target audience.
User Experience (UX) Design: Focus on creating a seamless and enjoyable user experience, considering factors like usability, accessibility, and navigation.
Wireframing: Develop low-fidelity representations of the app’s layout and structure to visualize the flow and interactions.
Prototyping: Create interactive mockups to test the app’s functionality and gather feedback from users.

Development:

Coding: Write the actual code using programming languages like Swift, Kotlin, Java, or JavaScript, depending on the platform (iOS, Android, or web).
Backend Development: If applicable, build the server-side infrastructure to handle data storage, retrieval, and processing.
API Integration: Connect the app to external services or APIs if necessary.
Testing: Conduct thorough testing to identify and fix bugs, ensuring the app functions as intended.

Testing and Quality Assurance:

Unit Testing: Test individual components of the app to verify their correctness.
Integration Testing: Test how different parts of the app interact with each other.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Have potential users test the app to gather feedback and ensure it meets their needs.
Beta Testing: Conducted by end-users to ensure the app functions correctly and is free of bugs before the final launch. This stage is essential for gathering user feedback and making necessary adjustments prior to the app's official release.
Bug Fixing: Address any issues identified during testing.

Deployment and Launch:

App Store Submission: Prepare the app for submission to the relevant app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play Store).
Launch: Once approved, the app is made available for download by users.

Maintenance and Updates:

Monitoring: Track app usage, performance, and user feedback.
Updates: Release updates to add new features, improve performance, fix bugs, and address user requests.
Support: Provide customer support to address user inquiries and issues.

What Slows Down the App Development Process?

Several factors can slow down the app development process, leading to delays and inefficiencies. Here are some of the common reasons:

#1 Unclear or Changing Requirements

Scope Creep: Constantly evolving features or functionalities requested after the project has started can throw off timelines.
Unclear Objectives: When the initial project requirements aren't clearly defined, developers may end up building features that don’t align with the client’s expectations, requiring rework.

#2 Lack of Communication

Poor Coordination: Miscommunication between developers, designers, and stakeholders can lead to misunderstandings about what needs to be built, which can result in mistakes that require significant time to fix.
Delayed Feedback: Slow feedback cycles from clients or stakeholders can stall progress, as the development team may need clarifications or approvals before moving forward.

#3 Poor Planning and Estimation

Unrealistic Timelines: Overoptimistic time estimates that don’t account for potential roadblocks can lead to missed deadlines and rushed work.
Lack of a Clear Roadmap: Without a proper project plan, developers may end up spending more time figuring out what to do next rather than making actual progress.

#4 Complex or Custom Requirements

Integration Challenges: Complex integrations with third-party services or APIs that are not well-documented can introduce bugs and increase development time.
Highly Custom Features: Building custom features from scratch instead of using available libraries or frameworks often requires more time and testing.

#5 Testing and Bug Fixes

Inadequate Testing: If testing is rushed or insufficient, bugs will surface later in the development cycle or post-launch, requiring further time to diagnose and fix.
Bug Backlogs: Critical issues that arise during development can disrupt timelines, as bugs need to be addressed before further progress is made.

#6 Frequent Design Changes

Redesign Requests: If the design team frequently changes the UI/UX or if stakeholders request significant design overhauls, the development team must adjust their code accordingly, leading to delays.
Inconsistent Design Approval: Waiting for design approvals or dealing with discrepancies between what was designed and what’s feasible can hold up progress.

#7 Overcomplex Project Structure

Overengineering: Overengineering solutions, making them more complex than necessary, can slow down the development process and introduce difficulties in maintenance.
Micromanagement: When development teams are constantly interrupted by excessive oversight or requests for updates, it can limit focus and hinder progress.

#8 Lack of Proper Project Management Tools

No Task Tracking: Without proper project management and task tracking tools (like Jira, Trello, or Asana), it’s hard to track progress, manage sprints, and ensure that development is on schedule.

#9 Lack of Proper Documentation

No Clear Documentation: Poor or absent documentation can make it harder for developers to understand the codebase, especially when new members join the project or when handoffs occur.

How long does it usually take to develop an app?

The time it takes to make an app varies depending on several factors such as complexity, features, platform (iOS, Android, or both), and team size. The development timeline for an iOS app, for instance, can vary significantly based on the app's complexity and features. However, according to Yaroslav Titenok:

Simple apps with minimal functionality can be developed within 10 weeks.
More complex enterprise apps can take up to 36 weeks.
The overall app development process, including all stages, usually takes between 6 to 9 months on average.

This timeframe includes essential stages like the discovery phase, design, development, testing, and maintenance. Cross-platform apps, which cover both iOS and Android, can be built faster, saving both time and cost.

Better way to know how long it takes to build an app

Normally, if you want to know how long it'll take to build an app, you'd have to go through all the development stages and get in touch with a bunch of companies that offer development services. They'd give you some app development timelines.

There's a better way to know how long it'll take to develop an app. Just have an idea and answer seven questions.

AI software cost and plan estimator

A better way to know how long it takes to build an app would be by using our AI Software Cost AI Estimator. This tool provides a detailed and accurate project plan, cost, and timeline estimate based on the specifics of your app in just 3 minutes.

Here’s how it works:

Enter Project Details: Answer 7 simple questions about your project.
AI Analysis: The AI algorithm analyzes your data, comparing it to over 100 similar projects completed by Idea Link.
Receive a Brief Report: Get a summary outlining the key features, user roles, and more.
Full Report Access: If satisfied, provide your email to receive a comprehensive project plan with a detailed breakdown of costs, timelines, hidden complexities, and tech stack recommendations.

Unlike traditional methods that require back-and-forth meetings, this tool gives you a 90% accurate estimate in minutes, making it much faster and more reliable for determining how long it takes to build your app.

You can get a rough idea of how long a project will take by looking at an example estimate.

You can also try out the tool for free here.

How much does it cost to build an app?

The cost to build an app can vary widely depending on its complexity and the development approach. Here are the general cost estimates based on app complexity:

Simple app: $5,000 to $50,000
Medium complexity app: $50,000 to $120,000
Complex app: $120,000 to $300,000

Additionally, the annual salary for hiring a US app developer typically ranges from $100,000 to $133,000.

How hard is it to make your own app?

The difficulty of making your own app depends on a few factors:

Complexity of the app: A simple app with basic features will be less challenging than a complex app with advanced functionalities.
Your programming experience: If you have no programming experience, it will likely be more difficult. However, there are resources and tools available to help beginners.
Scope of the project: The more features and functionalities you want to include, the more time and effort it will require.

Do app developers make a lot of money?

The money you can make as an app developer depends on your experience, where you live, and what tools you know. Some developers make a lot of money with a viral mobile app, but many others have a harder time making a profit.

Can I learn to build my app?

Absolutely. There are so many tutorials and online resources these days that it's easier than ever to make your app. Whether you want to create an Android app or make complex apps with traditional development or low-code/no-code tools, it's totally possible.

Final thoughts

The time it takes to build an app depends on several factors. Simple apps with basic functionality may take around 10 weeks, while complex apps could take up to 36 weeks. The development process typically includes stages like idea generation, design, development, testing, and launch. By understanding these stages, you can estimate more accurately how long your app project might take.

Several factors can delay app development, such as unclear requirements or changing objectives. Communication issues between teams, unrealistic timelines, and complex integrations can also slow down progress. Testing and bug fixing often take more time than expected, especially if not planned well. Careful project management and clear documentation can help avoid delays.

A faster way to estimate app development time is to use tools like a cost and plan estimator. This tool asks a few questions and gives you a detailed project timeline within minutes. It can provide a 90% accurate estimate, which helps you avoid the back-and-forth of traditional planning methods. You can try out such tools to get a better understanding of the timeline for your app project.