An app can solve both internal and external problems. Before you decide whether an app is necessary for you or your company, you need an overview of the costs, functions and requirements.

When is an app profitable?

Having your own app can make your company superior to competitors, for example in the areas of customer service or support services. Of course, you can also use an app in a variety of ways for internal purposes.

To get an idea of whether an app might be worthwhile for you, you should conduct a competitive analysis to identify both internal and external problem areas. With the resulting insights, you will have a better overview of how profitable an app could be for you and how you might use it.

What are the costs for app design and app development?

The cost of an app depends on various factors. The more complex your project requirements are, the more time must be invested in planning, design, and programming.

The costs for a simple app design start at around 1000 euros. Here we are only talking about the design of the individual pages of the app without functionality. This means that we are not yet talking about a dynamic app in which users can carry out certain interactions.

The technical implementation or programming is then charged separately. Depending on the requirements, the price for app development can start at around 2,000 euros and rise to 30,000 euros or more.

On which operating systems should your app be available?

Another cost factor is the operating systems on which the app is to run. The two largest mobile operating systems for apps are iOS from Apple and Android from Google. If you want to make your app available on both systems, the app must be adapted and developed separately for iOS and Android. This increases the price for app design and app development even further.

There is also the option to have an app developed platform-independently. These new technologies are called React Native and Flutter. Here, you have the opportunity to save time and money since there is only one version of the app that runs on both platforms.

How long does it take to create an app?

Depending on the programming effort, it can take up to 12 months to create and develop a complex app. Additionally, the timeframe in which the app is to be developed and the desired release date are decisive. You should definitely consider this in your project planning to avoid time pressure and inadvertently increasing the cost.

What care and maintenance costs does an app entail?

Depending on the programming effort, it can take up to 12 months to create and develop a complex app. Additionally, the timeframe in which the app is to be developed and the desired release date are decisive. You should definitely consider this in your project planning to avoid time pressure and inadvertently increasing the cost.

Maintenance and ongoing costs are generally predictable. These mainly include software updates, security improvements, bug fixes, and minor changes to the appearance of the app. At this point, the established hourly rate (€80–200/hour) applies for the work, while a new offer is created for extended app versions.

Maintenance and support of an app are not part of the programming itself but can be crucial for the user-friendliness of your project. For example, if there is a new software update or bugs that need to be fixed, it is advisable to adjust these to ensure long-term customer satisfaction.