December 29, 2020Well, it seems to be quite a valid question when businesses’ creating an online offshoot of their venture has become a trend. The ways people shop and search for information have seen a significant disruption with the emergence of websites and apps. In 2023, the dependence on web apps will likely skew to the higher side. Apps are likely to be seen as more dependable touchpoints due to changes in customer preferences. Keeping up with the competition requires businesses to change their ways of reaching customers. Web applications are the most talked-about way to expand the reach of any business.
Here we are providing you all the requisite information about the types of web apps, factors that influence the web app development cost, and some ways to cut the cost to develop the app in 2023.
Let’s start with the types of Web Applications.
The web applications world is quite accommodating because it provides the best-suited solutions for all types of businesses. Listed here are the types of web apps and their related development costs.
- Static Web Application
- Web portal
- Dynamic web application
- CMS web application
- E-commerce web application
- Enterprise-grade web application
Static Web Application:
The cost of developing a static web application ranges between $500 and $10,000. This vast difference in cost is owing to the complexity level of the app. The larger the project, the bigger the resource and expertise requirement is. Accordingly, the cost increases. However, these apps are straightforward to develop and utilize popular languages like HTML and CSS. The leading utility of these web applications lies in providing an online brochure to consumers or displaying a portfolio.
In 2021, when the world is busy mainly resuming everyday life, the static web application will be the primary reference point to understand any business’s offerings. Thus, resources and maintenance will be the two factors contributing significantly to the overall app development cost.
Web Portal:
The overall web portal development time is 3 to 4 weeks. Portals are mostly designed using pre-defined templates; thus, these are a bit quicker to develop. These may include widgets, additional pages, media, and other elements. Some interactive elements that help keep customers engaged are also required. You can expect the cost to develop web portals to be somewhere between $5000 to $17000.
Dynamic Web Application:
Dynamic web applications can be a bit complex to build. These are designed to serve the content according to the user preferences and may change the skin based on the user’s location. Both coding and HTML expertise is required to build this kind of application. Depending upon all factors like time, resources, people, and maintenance needs, the dynamic web application development cost can be $2500-$5000.
CMS Web Application:
Those website owners who want better control over their content resort to CMS web and mobile app development support. The owners can edit, remove, or add content without requiring any technical expertise. This web application’s cost depends entirely on the CMS software the owner intends to employ. Top CMS solutions available are:
Drupal: It helps develop strategically designed web applications. The application stands out in responsiveness, appeal, functionalities, and scalability. A typical Drupal web app development costs around $30000-$40000.
Magento: Magento is an open-source tool that helps develop search-engine-optimized apps with essential features like payment integration, catalog management, etc. Those who want to reach shopping enthusiasts find a good option in Magento. They can expect to spend about $20,000-$40,000 on the magento web development expense.
Kentico is a licensed CMS software designed to provide a single-stop solution to the end-users. The features-enriched app is enterprise-grade in its capacity. The average Kentico cost development cost is $50000.
WordPress: WordPress supports the development of intuitive web apps that are further enriched using lots of plug-ins. The ease of customization, themes, etc., make WordPress web app development the first choice for business beginners. They may get this app for $3000 approx.
E-commerce web application:
An E-commerce web application costs between $10,000-$50,000, depending upon the complexity, functionalities, scale, etc. Features of e-commerce web application development include CMS, push notifications, email integration, payment gateways, etc. The shoppers located anywhere in the world are easy to serve with e-commerce web applications.
Related Blog: How to Make Similar App Like Amazon eCommerce Marketplace with Impeccable Features
Enterprise-grade web application:
Web app of enterprise-grade is huge as well as complex. The requirements can be innovative too. So, the companies offering web and mobile app development in 2021 may charge about $2,50,000 which covers research and development, technology knowledge acquisition and implementation and testing costs, etc.
Essential factors that determine the app development cost break-up
The section above outlines the cost to develop the apps according to their type. We can see a significant difference in the cost according to the type of web application. A few factors determine app development cost difference. These factors are explained here.
Project complexity:
Understandably, the web app development cost increases with an increase in apps’ complexity. As the app development work is paid hourly basis, the time required plays an essential role in cost determination. Since complex applications take more time than simpler ones, the latter cost less too.
A simple formula to determine cost is:
(app feature (s) *no of hours required) * per hour rate
So, the overall cost depends on the number of features and hours required to develop that feature. One interesting factor in this formula is per hour rate. The next point shows how it governs the web and mobile app development cost.
Location of developers:
The US, Europe, and India are the main global web application development hubs. The developers in these countries work at different rates:
- US developer’s app development rate: $100-150 per hour
- Europe developer’s app development rate: $55 to $65 per hour
- India developer’s app development rate: $20-$60 per hour
That is why some US companies prefer to opt for offshore development where they communicate with the developer sitting in India over email, Skype, etc., and get the job done at a low cost.
Functionalities:
Complex applications mean apps enriched with functionalities. The formula for app development cost suggests that the more functionalities (or features), the higher the cost will be. Sometimes, the time taken in developing the functionality may matter too. Though fewer features, the app may cost almost the same or higher as features-rich if those are complex or require more time.
Custom-designed elements:
Many pre-built templates have a development cost of their own. So, the applications that employ more such custom-designed templates attract higher development costs than standard ones.
Post-development support and maintenance:
Developers take the best care and practices to bring web apps into their final form. Still, the possibility of post-development fixes cannot be ruled out. The bugs can appear at any time during the implementation and deployment. Also, the need to keep the app upgraded and secured requires the developer’s help. So, these components are also added to the application development cost.
Ways to control the web app development cost
There are certain decisions to be taken while going for app development. One such decision revolves around putting up the type of team for the purpose. A common point of discussion is whether to go for an in-house or an outsourced team.
Pros of having an in-house team
Having an in-house team proves beneficial when your business is entirely app-based. Since the issues may arise anytime, and some new things are coming more often, having a team within reach can help extend a better customer experience. As a better customer experience means more revenues, the profits comfortably cover the costs of having an in-house team.
Cons of having an in-house team
The team may be forced to sit idle when all things are going smoothly or no project to develop.
Pros of outsourcing the app development
If the app is just an offshoot of the business, it reduces the people’s expenses considerably when you outsource it to professionals. Companies may find it challenging to pick the right people due to a limited understanding of the technologies. Since experienced professionals have better exposure and experience and can easily understand the apps’ functionalities’ requirements, they can deliver better output to their clients.
Also, Read: Successfully Outsource the Development of your Applications in 7 Steps
Cons of outsourcing the app development
The contract defines the relationship. The outsourced app development company may charge extra for additional favors asked. The availability of professionals may also be a concerning matter, which can lag the project idea.
To sum up
It is a tricky decision to make web and mobile apps in 2023, and the necessary one too! Mobile and web apps users drive companies to go for these solutions. Since apps will likely be the preferred mode of accessing services in 2023, businesses need to gear up for the changing consumer expectations. The best decision will be to go for an affordable web app development expert, keep the cost low, and then upscale the efforts based on the response received.
