From Idea to Launch: How Long Does It Take to Build a Mobile App?

The mobile app market is growing at a breakneck pace. The global mobile application market size was valued at USD 252.89 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% from 2024 to 2030. Businesses across the globe are investing in building customized mobile app solutions to stand out in the market.

Building a mobile app is an exciting journey, but one filled with many moving parts. From the first spark of an idea to when your app hits the app stores, each stage of development has its unique challenges, and timelines. One of the most common questions people ask when starting this journey is: How long does it take to build a mobile app?

The answer is not as simple as several days or months. Mobile Application development is a dynamic process that involves factors such as complexity, design, functionality, and market readiness. In this blog, we will discuss the time required for building various types of mobile apps and the factors influencing the app development timeline.

How Long Does Mobile App Development Take at Each Stage?

Developing a mobile app is a complex journey that involves many tasks, each with its own schedule. Knowing the length of each phase will help you set realistic expectations and plan accordingly for project milestones. Here is a breakdown of the time required for each stage of mobile app development:

Ideation And Planning

The ideation and planning stage is essential for setting up the appâ€™s foundation. During this time, stakeholders and development teams work together to define the appâ€™s goals and objectives. This phase usually takes between 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how complex the app is and how clear the initial ideas are. You must search for a unique mobile app idea that could help your business generate a good amount of revenue. You can read our other blog about Biggest Money Making App Ideas to get a fantastic app idea.

Design and Prototyping

Design and prototyping focus on visualizing the appâ€™s appearance and user experience. Wireframes map out the appâ€™s structure, while UI/UX design involves crafting detailed elements and ensuring usability. During prototyping, stakeholders can interact with a basic version of the app before development starts. This stage typically takes 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the designâ€™s complexity.

App Development

The development phase is the most time-intensive, usually taking 3 to 6 months. The duration varies based on the appâ€™s complexity, feature set, and whether it’s being built for iOS, Android, or both. This stage covers coding, service integration, and crafting the app’s core functionalities. This phase usually takes 1-2 months to complete. Have a look at our blog on Top 10 Mobile App Development Frameworks in 2024 and make your app development a great success.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing is essential for making sure the app is reliable, performs well, and offers a great user experience. This phase includes several rounds of testing to spot and fix bugs. It generally takes 4 to 6 weeks, but the timeline can vary depending on the app’s complexity and the number of issues found.

Launch and Deployment

The launch and deployment stage is about getting the app ready for release, which includes submitting it to app stores and ensuring it meets their guidelines. This phase typically takes 1 to 2 weeks, depending on app store review times and the availability of marketing materials.

Factors Influencing App Development Timeline

Are you thinking about launching a mobile app for your business but unsure how long the development process will take? The timeline for mobile app development depends on several key factors. Here are some of the most important ones to consider:

Complexity of the app

Program complexity is one of the main factors that determine development time. Applications can range from simple single-purpose applications to very complex platforms with multiple inputs and capabilities.

Basic App

Simple applications, such as to-do lists, calculators, or basic information platforms, are created quickly. They include key features, a simple user interface, and back-end integration. In most cases, these projects can be developed in 3-4 months.

Mid Level Apps

Apps with moderate complexity, such as e-commerce platforms, social networking apps, or apps that require user authentication, payment gateways, or third-party API integration, take longer to develop. Development timelines for such apps usually range between 6-9 months.

Complex Apps

The most complex applications, such as on-demand services (Uber, DoorDash), enterprise-level solutions, or applications that require advanced functions such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time data processing or it may take a long time. Depending on the level of customization and complexity, complex applications can take 9-12 months or more to develop.

Platform Choice: iOS vs. Android vs. Cross-Platform

Whether you develop for iOS, Android, or both affects the schedule. Applications for iOS and Android are developed using various programming languages â€‹â€‹and development frameworks. If you focus on two platforms, you may want to create two separate apps (native development) or opt for cross-platform development using frameworks like React Native or Flutter.

Native iOS or Android Development

Creating separate apps for iOS and Android takes more time because each platform has different development and testing processes. It has its period, which varies from 2 to 6 months depending on the difficulty.

Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform tools allow developers to write and deploy the same code to both platforms. Although this can save time, adjusting the functions according to the original application conditions will take longer. You can make use of Flutter for Cross-platform App Development in order to get the best results.

Design and User Experience (UX)

User interface (UI) design and user experience (UX) are critical to the success of any mobile app. A well-designed app not only looks good but also provides a good user experience, which increases the chances of success in the market. However, creating a user interface and UX can be time-consuming.

Custom Designs

If you choose a highly customized design with animations, complex user flows, or detailed interactions, the design phase will take more time. Each screen, interaction, and transition must be carefully planned, designed, and tested, adding weeks or months to the schedule.

Template-Based Designs

On the other hand, using pre-made models or standard design models can reduce the design part. These models are faster to implement, but may not offer the same level of customization.

Third-Party Integrations

Many apps rely on third-party services for important functions, such as payment gateways, social media sharing, push notifications, geolocation services, or analytics tools. Integrating these services can add time to the development process, especially when the APIs are complex and require little documentation.

Simple Integrations

Some third-party integrations are easy to set up and have well-documented APIs that allow developers to quickly integrate into the app.

Complex Integrations

Some apps may require tuning or debugging, especially if they need to be adapted to specific application needs. Joining older or less documented services can add weeks to the list.

Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)

The testing phase is essential to ensure that the app works as intended and provides a flawless experience to the users. Testing involves checking the app on different devices, operating systems, and features to identify and fix any issues.

Automated testing

Developers can use automated testing tools to quickly run multiple tests in an application. While testing may speed up the process, it may not fix all bugs or performance issues.

Manual Testing

Hands-on testing, where testers have the opportunity to physically use the app on different devices and scenarios, takes longer but also captures issues. automatic devices may be lost. Depending on the complexity of the application, the test can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Effective Strategies to speed up your mobile app development process

Mobile app development can be time-consuming, but there are ways to speed up the process without sacrificing quality. Strategies like using cross-platform tools, starting with a minimum viable product (MVP), leveraging pre-built templates, and maintaining clear communication with your team can streamline development. Prioritizing essential features and testing early can also help launch your app faster in the competitive market.

Start with an MVP ( Minimum Viable Product)

To speed up mobile app development, focus on creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with only the essential features. This allows you to launch quickly, test the app in real-time, and gather user feedback for improvementsâ€”saving time on unnecessary extras while still delivering value.

Maintain Clear Communication and Collaboration

Efficient communication between developers, designers, and stakeholders is key to avoiding delays. Regular check-ins, clear documentation, and tools like Jira or Trello keep everyone aligned. Open, ongoing communication helps prevent reworks and last-minute changes, ensuring smoother, faster progress.

Automate Testing and Continuous Integration

Automated testing and continuous integration (CI) tools, like Jenkins or Travis CI, speed up development by catching bugs early. They automatically test new code, reducing manual testing and ensuring issues are fixed faster, keeping the process smooth and efficient.

Utilize Cross-Platform Development Frameworks

Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin let developers code once and deploy on both iOS and Android, slashing development time. While they might not match native app performance, theyâ€™re great for speeding up the process while still delivering a solid user experience.

Opt For Shorter Release Cycles

To speed up app development, we use shorter release cycles, delivering new features for feedback as soon as theyâ€™re ready. This approach lets us quickly adapt to market changes and customer needs, accelerating deployment and keeping the project on track.

Summing Up

Building a mobile app can take months, depending on its complexity. Speed up development by creating an MVP, using cross-platform tools, and automating testing. Clear communication and partnering with a trusted company like Sumfactor can ensure a faster, smoother launch.

Ready to turn your app idea into reality? Let our expert team build a high-performance app that stands out and drives success. Start building the future with us today!