Do you have an idea and want to turn it into reality? At first, it is likely a price tag that a brand and developers need to know.
You understand that navigating the mobile app development cost in London can be a tricky part for both those who have just entered the marketplace and those who already have a market presence.
Have you ever heard the phrase “There’s an app for everything?” This statement has become a drift now as app development trends are emerging.
London has been a hub for a community of app developers, designers, and entrepreneurs. With the growing tech ecosystem, businesses are increasingly relying on mobile apps to drive growth. As a result, finding a reliable mobile app development company in London is crucial for turning ideas into reality.
Now the mobile app development cost in London can vary based on several factors. What are those? Go through this guide to find them all.
Factors Affecting the Mobile App Development Cost in London
Did you know by 2025 the global spending on mobile apps will be $270 billion? Anyway, there are a few factors that can significantly influence the cost of mobile app development in the UK.
Familiarize yourself with these elements to make a better budget and plan for your app development project. For your reference, we have mentioned them below:
- App Platform (iOS vs Android Landscape): App platform or operating system refers to the platform the app is built for. For example, iOS for Apple devices or Android for Google-based devices.
So, the cost for Android app development will differ from that for iOS app development. In addition, if you want to build an app compatible with both devices then you may find the cost expensive.
- Design Requirements: Do you want to build an exceptional app with advanced animations and designs? If so, then prepare yourself to pay more than usual.
This is because custom graphics, advanced animations, and unique design requirements increase development time and costs.
- Complexity and Features: The next factor that can add up to the overall cost would be complexity and features. It is quite obvious that complex features often require time and specialized skills.
For that matter, the more complex the app, the higher the cost will be. In the table below, find the estimated cost for Android, iOS, and cross-platform apps on the basis of complexity:
| Complexity Level | iOS | Android | Cross-Platform |
| Simple | £8000 – £12,000 | £8000 – £12,000 | £15,000 – £20,000 |
| Medium | £15,000 – £30,000 | £15,000 – £30,000 | £20,000 – £50,000 |
| Complex | £35,000 – £80,000 | £35,000 – £80,000 | £100,000 – £150,000 |
- Development Team Size and Expertise: Next comes the development team size and expertise. As you suggest, the number of developers involved in a project and their skill levels can impact the development cost and speed obviously.
For instance, veteran developers with years of experience will charge a higher hourly rate than budding developers.
On average, team mobile app development cost in London ranges between £50 to £150 per hour.
Third-Party Integrations and APIs: Third party integrations and APIs is all about connecting other services to the mobile app. Thus, if you intend on adding third parties or APIs, which of course is almost inevitable at this point in application development, then you have to consider yourself lucky that your final monetary bill did not skyrocket to cover their integration.
However, what services does this apply to? It may include varied payment gateways, Google map display, API chat system, authentication integration, and login to the social account details.
App Development Company: Another reason that influences the charge of mobile app development in solicitor offices in London is the company you are hiring.
Most firms work within the context of hourly rates, fixed priced project, and retainer model. Thus, the first rule of selecting an excellent grinder is to look for one that is produced by the best manufacturer in town. A quick tip: Decide on two or three, or maybe five if you are really excited about the subject, businesses that you will be researching.
Next, you have to compare various companies’ quotes and choose an option that best fits your pocket.
Maintenance and Updates: In the best case scenario where you manage a successful launch of your app, most of the time you may find that you require technical support at some point later. But is it necessary? Yes this is mandatory in order to keep the app updated and running smooth as expected.
Still, there is always the cost of maintenance and upgradation which when added to the cost of mobile application development in London. It is because your app will have a new version that has just been released.
Region: The last and the most essential to our consideration is the region. For instance, developers from North America and Europe will cost higher than the developers from Asia and South America will cost.
For this reason, mobile app development prices in London vary from different UK cities like:
| City | Average Cost of App Development |
| Birmingham | £35,000 – £100,000 |
| London | £50,000 – £150,000 |
| Edinburgh | £40,000 – £110,000 |
| Bristol | £35,000 – £90,000 |
| Manchester | £40,000 – £120,000 |
London Mobile App Development Costs, Average According to the Type of Application
Here’s an approximate breakdown for mobile app development price in London based on various app types:
| App Type | Estimated Cost Range | Development Time |
| E-commerce & Marketplace App | £15,000 – £60,000 | 4–12 months |
| Real Estate App | £20,000 – £70,000 | 4–10 months |
| Healthcare & Fitness Apps | £25,000 – £80,000 | 6–16 months |
| Social Media App | £50,000 – £120,000+ | 6–14 months |
| On-demand Service App | £50,000 – £120,000+ | 6–12 months |
| FinTech App | £60,000 – £200,000+ | 8–16 months |
| Logistics & Transportation Apps | £25,000 – £80,000 | 6–12 months |
| Travel and Tourism Apps | £20,000 – £70,000 | 6–12 months |
| Educational Apps | £15,000 – £50,000 | 4–10 months |
| Food and Beverage Apps | £15,000 – £60,000 | 4–12 months |
| Event Management Apps | £20,000 – £70,000 | 4–8 months |
| Gaming App | £30,000 – £250,000+ | 6–24 months |
| Augmented Reality App | £70,000 – £200,000+ | 8–18 months |
| Marijuana App | £11,000 – £160,000+ | 2–4 months |
| Video Streaming App | £32,000 – £160,000+ | 3–6 months |
Take note: These costs are not the real costs but rather an estimate of the price that the patient has to pay. But its actual price depends on the features, its complexity, the number of team members, location, and everything.
How can one select a company for mobile application development with an affordable cost in the London region?
It is worth mentioning that there are many mobile application development companies in London/UK today. But where does one look to identify a company that can deliver acceptable mobile application development cost in London?
For that matter, here are the following preparations before handing over your project to the company:
The first step is to draw up a requirement’s list and even in this area, you should mention the main goal of the app, the features, the budget, the time frame and the platform. At this point, you can also map a plan and define goals to monitor the progress toward growth.
After that, sit in front of your computer and search for firms with established histories of completed milestones. To make the evaluation easier, you can monitor their portfolio and experience easily.
After this, it is advisable to proceed through the pricing model is advisable. Concerning UK pricing, the mobile app development charges in London might be based on:
Fixed Price: Select this if your project is to have well articulated objectives so that a specific type of result is expected. The usual charges that clients independently spend for this campaign vary between £20000 and £80000.
Hourly Rate Model: This model is particularly applicable to adaptive methods for use when the requirements are likely change over the life cycle of the project. The average amount charged hourly in London range from £35 to £150 per hour.
Time & Material Pricing: In regard to some of the issues such as the time and material pricing model, the projects are charged according to the time spent as well as the materials utilized.
The plus point is it tends to afford the freedom needed by projects with shifting requirements The cost in the main ranges from £30000 to £100000.
Finally, embrace this point and compare the reviews or request the customer’s reference. On your hand, you can easily engage some of them and ask them about their previous experience with these companies. If you hear positives then know the company is a green flag.
Conclusion
So, it is quite evident that having a mobile app for your business in London means making a sound investment. At the moment, such investment or cost of developing a mobile application in London can be a little complicated due to factors such as complexity, the platform being chosen, the choice between iOS, Android, or both, the user interface and experience design or UI/UX design, experience level, number of developers and designers, and many others.
Therefore, being a tech city, London will provide business people with hundreds of choices regardless of the size of the business they are running. And, learning about its cost structure or additionally, the cost of developing an app in London as let us say an essential starting point towards enhancing efficiency could go a long way in ensuring one gets the most out of an investment made.
