Do you know mobile apps are going to generate around 935 billion in revenue in 2023 alone? Well, this is huge. From social networking to e-commerce, productivity tools to entertainment platforms, apps have become an integral part of our daily lives.
However, the journey from conceptualizing an app idea to its full-fledged execution is a multifaceted process that demands careful planning, design, development, and testing. One crucial aspect during this process is the question: How long does it take to create an app?
Generally, the time to build an app varies based on complexity and features. Simple apps may take anywhere around 2 to 4 months, while complex ones can take over 9 months.
In this article, we will delve into how long does it take to create an app, the procedure, and some factors influencing the timeline of app development. So, let’s dive in!
How Long Does It Take to Create an App?
The timeline for building an app hinges on its intricacy and functionalities. A straightforward app with basic features might take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to develop. To be on the safe side, we can say it takes around 2 to 4 months to develop a simple app with less than 5 screens.
In contrast, a more intricate application boasting advanced attributes may extend the development period to 9 months, possibly up to a year. It’s because the process of app development encompasses various stages.
These vary from conceptualization and design to coding, testing, and deployment. Therefore, it’s imperative to gauge the project’s complexity to arrive at a more precise estimate of the time required for successful app creation.
Steps Involved in Building an App
To get an accurate idea of how long does it take to create an app, you must consider the various stages an app development process goes through. Here, we are going to discuss the multiple steps involved in app development and the time each step takes:
1. Step Research
Imagine embarking on a journey to create an app that people genuinely love and find useful. The first step in how long does it take to make an app is like setting up your compass – research.
You’re like a detective, delving into the world of your potential users. Who are they? What are their needs, desires, and pain points? It’s like getting to know your audience as friends and understanding what makes them tick.
Generally, market research takes one to two weeks and helps you gain insights into user preferences and trends. There’s a lot of competition when it comes to app development, and it’s also crucial to analyze existing apps in the same niche to determine what works well and what you can improve compared to the competitors. According to Statista, during the third quarter of 2022, over 3.55 million mobile apps were available on the Google Play Store.
This increases by 1.3 percent compared to the previous quarter, clearly showing the high competition. Hence, proper research before finalizing an app idea, app language, and more minimizes the risk of creating an app that doesn’t resonate with users.
Additionally, you should focus on understanding platform-specific guidelines (iOS and Android) in the research phase. This ensures your app’s compatibility and adherence to industry standards.
2. Idea Validation
Once an app idea is conceived, it’s essential to validate its viability before investing significant time and resources. Think of this step as your heart-to-heart conversation with a close friend about your amazing app idea. You’re excited, nervous, and genuinely eager to know what they think.
The whole idea validation procedure involves seeking feedback from potential users, peers, or industry experts. Overall, your app should address their concerns, or it’ll fail for not being able to resonate with the user’s interests.
According to recent statistics, around 42% of startups fail due to a lack of market need. Validating the app idea before full-scale development significantly reduces the risk of building a product that doesn’t find an audience.
This step takes around one week and helps you get some constructive criticism that refines the app concept and identifies potential shortcomings early on.
The best thing you can do at this stage is build a prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP). This is immensely helpful in showcasing the core features and functionalities to potential users for validation.
3. Prototyping the App
Prototyping your app is like creating a preliminary sketch of a masterpiece before you dive into the final stage. It’s that exciting moment when your idea starts taking shape and becoming tangible.
Picture it as crafting a mock-up of your app, complete with the basic functionalities and layout. This mock-up allows you to visualize how users will interact with your creation. Prototyping helps you identify any hiccups or rough edges early on, much like spotting imperfections in a sculpture before you unveil it to the world.
It’s an essential bridge between your imagination and the real thing, providing valuable insights to fine-tune your app and make it truly remarkable. As the prototype is built for only one to two user tests, it can be built in one week.
4. Design and Development
Here comes another crucial step that determines how long does it take to create an app – design and development of the app.
Design is the architect’s blueprint that shapes its aesthetic and functional aspects. It’s not just about colors and icons; it’s about creating an environment where users feel comfortable and can easily navigate. The user interface (UI) design ensures that every button, icon, and layout element is placed intuitively, making it feel like familiar surroundings.
On the other hand, user experience (UX) design is like arranging spaces to evoke emotions – ensuring that users feel delighted, empowered, or engaged while using your app. Development is the construction phase that brings it all to life.
Developers write the code that makes your app tick, ensuring that buttons respond when pressed and screens transition smoothly. This process is the heart of your app, where lines of code come together to create a dynamic, interactive experience for users.
Overall, combined design and development can take anywhere between 2 to 6 months. But this time may increase depending upon the type of app. It’s said:
“The time spent coding the app mostly depends on the app you want to build, not the number of people who code it.”
5. Launching Your App
Now comes the final step that contributes a lot to the overall procedure of how long does it take to create an app – launching the app. Launching your app is like releasing a prized bird into the sky, letting it spread its wings and interact with the world. It’s the culmination of hard work, creativity, and countless hours of dedication. The launch is when you introduce your app to users, making it available for download and use.
However, before the grand unveiling, there are crucial stages like alpha and beta releases that play a significant role in ensuring a smooth and successful launch.
Alpha Release
Think of the alpha release as a behind-the-scenes preview for a select group. It’s like inviting a close circle of friends to your art studio to get their honest feedback before showcasing your masterpiece to the world. During this phase, the app is tested internally by a limited number of developers and quality assurance testers. Bugs and issues are identified and addressed, ensuring the app’s core functionality is solid.
Beta Release
The beta release takes it a step further, inviting a slightly larger audience to the pre-launch party. This phase is like inviting a group of end users who share their opinions and experiences. Beta testers help identify user experience concerns, ensuring that real-world usage scenarios are considered.
Final Launch
The time it takes to launch your app can vary depending on the complexity of your project, the number of features, and the quality assurance process. From the initiation of development to the final launch, it can be expected to go from one week to around one to two months. The alpha and beta release phases themselves can take several weeks to a couple of months, depending on the extent of testing and the adjustments needed.
Conclusion
The answer to how long does it take to create an app varies depending upon the type of app and other factors. The journey from research and idea validation to design, development, and a successful launch is exciting and challenging. If you aspire to build the best app that captures hearts and achieves your goals, consider reaching out to us.
Our team of exceptional web developers is poised to accelerate the app development process, ensuring your vision becomes reality faster than the average app development time. With expertise, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, we’re here to guide you on the path to creating an app that not only meets expectations but exceeds them. So, get in touch and enjoy a quick yet efficient app development process!
