Mobile apps for businesses – cost and technologies

Are you dreaming of having your own mobile app for your business, but aren’t quite sure what options are available or whether developing a mobile app makes sense? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post, we’ll answer questions such as: what is a mobile app, how much does a mobile app cost, when should a business develop a genuine native mobile app, and when other options might be more cost-effective for your needs.

The hourly rate for mobile app development varies between €70 and €135 per hour plus VAT, depending on the software company. Companies that outsource development abroad, small businesses and freelance developers with low overheads can also offer app development at rates below this range. The price of a mobile app generally starts at around €10,000–35,000.

Nowadays, however, the use of artificial intelligence at various stages of mobile app development also brings cost-effectiveness and may also affect the price.

What is a mobile app?

Let’s first look at what a mobile app is. As the name suggests, mobile apps are applications developed specifically to run as standalone applications on mobile devices, such as phones, tablets or smartwatches. Generally speaking, the term ‘mobile app’ refers specifically to applications that are installed on a mobile device, as opposed to web applications, which are accessed via a browser.

Admittedly, modern responsive web applications adapt so well to different devices that, in many situations, the user may not notice much difference between whether it is a so-called ‘native app’ downloaded from an app store onto a mobile device or a web application optimized for mobile devices. Mobile applications can therefore be considered to fall into several different categories, depending on how they are implemented.

Originally, native mobile apps often performed tasks that boosted productivity, such as those carried out by calendar or email apps. Nowadays, there are countless mobile apps available to download from app stores for a wide variety of purposes, and in most cases, an internet connection is required to use them. Who among us doesn’t have apps on their smartphone for social media or other service providers, which add value to the smartphone experience?

The added value provided by a mobile app may, for example, relate to the use of the phone’s features, such as GPS, enabling the app to recommend the nearest service point. Alternatively, the app could utilize a payment function, for example, which streamlines the process of carrying out transactions at a physical service point.

Mobile applications and mobile development technologies

Traditionally, mobile apps have had to be developed and implemented separately for different operating systems. The dominant platforms today are iOS and Android.

A platform-specific mobile app, i.e. a native app

A platform-specific mobile app is an app developed using platform-specific development tools and programming languages (Java for Android and Objective-C or Swift for iOS). If you want a native app developed in this way to be available on the app stores of both dominant mobile operating systems (Google Play and the Apple Store), the app must be coded twice, in two different languages.

Native applications developed using the mobile operating systems’ own programming languages have their place, for example, the app is required to deliver particularly high performance and utilizes a number of the phone’s technical features, sensors and the data collected by them.

Nowadays, there are also several other options for developing mobile applications besides creating a native app. These include, for example, hybrid apps, cross-platform apps and web apps.

Which of these is the best option for developing the app depends, among other things, on the intended use of the mobile app, the requirements set for it, the nature of the business, and the budget available for development.

Hybrid applications

Hybrid applications are a combination of applications built using common web technologies and native languages. Often, the user interface of such applications, or parts of it, is written using common web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS, and is integrated into a native application. A user downloading a mobile app from an app store may not necessarily notice the difference between whether it is implemented as a pure native app or a hybrid app.

Cross-platform applications

Cross-platform applications, on the other hand, are implemented using a cross-platform framework (e.g. React Native or Flutter), which enables the development of mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms from a single source code. Thanks to cross-platform technology, the same application no longer needs to be written twice. This genuinely reduces the time spent on development and the overall costs of projects, particularly when compared to native app development.

Web applications

Web applications are written using standard web technologies and typically run in a platform-independent manner via mobile device browsers. Web application options for mobile devices include mobile-optimized HTML5-based web applications and so-called PWAs (Progressive Web Apps). A PWA is a web application designed to feel as much like a native mobile app as possible.

One advantage in terms of app distribution is that it can be published on the Google Play Store for users to download. However, the app is still browser-based and does not take up storage space in the same way as apps that are actually installed on a phone.

AR and other XR applications

At Hurja, we also develop AR applications for both mobile devices and AR glasses. For example, the Dynamics 365 Guides app is the perfect solution if you want to combine the real and virtual worlds in a way that enables real-time interaction between objects in both worlds – in what is known as ‘mixed reality’.

An AR mobile app, on the other hand, is ideal for projects aimed at providing augmented reality experiences through triggers and using a smartphone. Inspiring AR content can also be created using Web AR technology.

Read how we developed a Web AR application for Metsähallitus to support seal conservation for the Our Saimaa Seal LIFE project.

Explore our work: A mobile app to support a first-class taxi experience

What sort of mobile app is it possible to develop?

One of the questions we’re most frequently asked is whether it’s possible to develop a particular type of mobile app. The general answer to this is that if you’ve seen such an app in action somewhere, or seen its features, then it’s possible to develop it too. A better question, however, is whether it makes sense and is worthwhile to develop that particular app?

Does a proprietary mobile app provide enough added value to also meet business objectives and pay for itself? Or would a web app, for example, serve the purpose just as well? It is also worth considering whether it is essential to develop the mobile app for both platforms (Android and iOS) and publish it in the app stores. Is the app intended for a wide audience, or would a lighter mobile app – one that only works on one platform, for example – actually suffice for the intended purpose?

Read more: Prototyping and AI – from idea to interactive prototype in an instant

How long does it take to develop a mobile app?

Developing a mobile app is a long-term process, and the duration depends entirely on the scope of the app and the development approach. If the aim is to create a native mobile app for both Android and iOS, and to publish it on the app stores (Google Play and the App Store), it is advisable to set aside several months’ working time for the project.

With this option, it is important to bear in mind that, in addition to mobile app development, the process of publishing the app to app stores also takes time. Furthermore, the requirements for apps to be published – such as device access permissions and other security measures – can change quite rapidly from time to time, so these factors may also affect the time taken to develop the app.

The price of a mobile app

The cost of a mobile app depends, among other things, on the scope of the solution to be implemented and the methods used. A well-designed mobile app is not a one-off flash in the pan, but one that adapts seamlessly to future needs!

The hourly rate for mobile app development varies between €70 and €135 per hour plus VAT, depending on the software company. Companies that outsource development abroad, small businesses and freelance developers with low overheads can also offer app development at rates below this range. The price of a mobile app generally starts at around €10,000–35,000.

Our standard hourly rate for mobile app development is €95/h + VAT. However, we always provide our clients with a custom quote, taking into account factors such as the size of the project, the schedule, the duration, the requirements set for the team and the appropriate project methodology (e.g. agile development). The hourly billing model is not the only option we offer.

If you’d like to estimate the costs of developing a mobile app, try our app development cost calculator or get in touch with us. We can help you define the project requirements and provide a quote that meets your company’s needs.

Read more: How much does software development cost?

We’ll help you choose the best option

There are therefore several options available to your company when it comes to developing a mobile app, and we’re here to help you choose the best one. If you’re looking for a mobile app designed to meet your objectives, please get in touch. You can also find out more about our work here.