Mobile App Development Timeline: A Complete Guide

The mobile app development timeline entails details on different stages of app development while also analyzing the amount of time invested in the process.

Updated 19 October 2023

Ajay Kumar
Ajay Kumar

CEO at Appventurez

The mobile app development timeline entails details on different stages of app development while also analyzing the amount of time invested in the process.

Mobile apps are an indispensable part of everyone’s lives as it is like a complete package that offers everything within a few taps. There is an app for literally everything, and surprisingly people are seen using mobile apps for availing all kinds of services. 

According to a study, more than 350 billion mobile apps are downloaded across the globe. After witnessing the increasing growth of mobile apps, business owners from different industries have started to invest in mobile app development. 

Now, when it comes to the role of entrepreneurs, they should be well aware of the development process along with the required time. 

The timeline for mobile app development varies depending on the type of app that is being developed. For instance, a mobile game app might need to go through extensive client testing and mobile application store approval.

Notably, the time variation of mobile app development depends on multiple factors including the app’s features, complexity, and regulatory compliance, among others.

The blog further explores the different timeline for app development stages while also highlighting its affecting factors.

app design and development

Stages of Mobile App Development Timeline

Understanding the process of mobile app development helps in getting an average app development timeline. It elaborately covers the tightly-connected stages that every application goes through. 

In the points below, different stages of the mobile app development timeline are explained in detail along with the estimated time. 

Planning Stage (2-3 Weeks)

Planning requires special attention from both the customers and the development team. This stage is key to the overall success of the project as it helps in establishing realistic expectations of the budget and the development roadmap. The planning stage usually includes the sprints and the descriptions of the deliverables that should be produced during those development sprints.

Business Analysis (2-3 Weeks)

At this stage, the app development team defines the requirements which help in strategizing the mobile app development process. The business analysis of the app facilitates differentiating the must-have features, providing consultation, and documenting everything about the future app. All of this is done to make sure that the final result will correspond to the business goals.

Design and Pre-Development Stage (5-7 Weeks)

Design is one of the significant stages of developing an app. However, the stages are carried out differently as the UI design can only be developed after the UX design. Therefore knowing how long it will take to design an app will depend on the following stages:

UX Design (2-3 Weeks)

Creating UX design is based on dealing with fields, screens, and button positions, among others. Under UX design, the designer plans the screen overview and where the particular buttons will be located. Besides that, the UX designers are also responsible for the simple and intuitive navigation that the users look for.

UI Design (3-4 Weeks)

Under this, the designers develop attractive designs such as overall visual stylistics, the color schema of the app, transitions, effects, and animations where efficiency is the priority. UI designers also look for structural and consistent functionality across different OS using the advantages of both platforms.

Development Stage (8-10 Weeks)

The time frame of the app development phase is dependent on the complexity of the app and how much work will go into the app development. Mobile app development is a long process and it usually takes around 8-10 weeks to complete.

The app development plan includes the following actions:

Back-end development (6-8 Weeks)

Back-end development can be completed in 6-8 weeks as it requires working with an app server and the database. For such service applications, all the data is stored in the back-end server.

The back-end developers are responsible for building the back-end architecture, such as the app server and its database. Every dynamic app requires data synchronization, the ability to keep up with various HTTP methods, and storage capability, among others. 

Front-end development (6-8 Weeks)

Once the server is developed and the structure of the database is ready, the team can start the work on the front-end part of the product. It will render and organize the data from the back-end server. The front-end developers commonly manage the tasks that enable the functionality for 6 to 8 weeks.

Testing (2 Weeks)

Answering the most asked question- how long does it take to launch an app? Well, it is required to go through a series of tests. It includes manual and automated Quality Assurance checks and gathering user feedback. Testing of the app before launch provides important details that might not have been into consideration previously.

Finalization and Launch (2 Weeks)

Final preparation of the app is a significant step in the app development timeline. It is important to finalize the details, fix the last-minute bugs and publish the apps on App Store and Play Store. During the finalization phase, the app is examined carefully and polished to ensure that it satisfies all the criteria.

This stage also includes preparing the app for distribution and setting up the required field and app store configurations. The app is ready to launch once it is approved by the app store. 

Maintenance Post-Launch (2 Weeks)

Post-launch support and maintenance include support and careful app observation by the team to manage all unexpected behavior. It cannot be skipped as long as the company is interested in an excellent user experience and in establishing a long-lasting relationship with them.

app development stages

How Long Does it Take to Develop a Mobile App?

As every app is unique in itself, it is difficult to predict a fixed range to estimate the app development timeline. The estimation of software development timeline depends on app complexity, UX/UI design, features, and the usage of third-party services. 

However, other factors such as what kind of development methodology will be used for different apps also impact the time duration of app development. 

For instance, the development of complex apps will take more than 9 months, whereas, simple apps will take a short time. 

Let’s understand in detail the time duration that will go into app development while also understanding the different features that will be integrated into them.

app development phases

Simple App Development

In most cases, simple applications have more than five screens. The simple apps are developed in around 16 weeks (4 months) or slightly more.

Simple apps, like Time Buddy or reminder applications don’t exchange data with other systems’ databases. Moreover, it does not collect analytics of the user’s actions and stories, and register users by email. 

Average App Development

Average apps can have multiple processes and their development can take around 4 to 7 months. Average apps have around ten screens- a personal account, integration through a server or a website, authorization through social networks, and payment systems.

Examples of average apps are e-commerce shops with advanced features like the 3D view of the products. Some of the other examples are booking systems or applications that are based on an application builder. 

Complex App Development

Complex apps need around 40+ weeks for development, depending on the scale of the project. Such apps usually have a couple of advanced features such as AR, Artificial Intelligence, unique interface, and machine learning, among others.

Complex apps also support real-time synchronization, integration with any databases, animation, and much more. Some examples of complex apps are Google Drive, Uber, and Telegram. 

Factors Affecting the App Development Timeline

With evolving mobile app development technologies, figuring out the time for building the app has become more tricky. 

The factors impacting the timeline for app development includes the size of the development team, app complexity, and the kinds of features that will be part of the app. 

Even if the team has an estimate, knowing what other factors are at play and how they might impact average app development time is a significant part of the process. 

App Complexity

App complexity has a significant impact on the app development plan. More complex apps that require integrations, customizations, and advanced features will naturally take longer to develop.

An example can be an e-commerce app that will integrate features such as a shopping cart, payment gateway integration, order tracking, and user profiles, among others. 

Team Size and Expertise

A larger team with specialized skills can assist in the completion of the mobile app design process and development much more efficiently. Notably, the experience and skill level of the team members can also impact the app development timeline.

Testing and Quality Assurance

This is a crucial process that could also impact the mobile app development timeline. Comprehensive testing and quality assurance help in assuring the app functions as intended and is free of bugs and errors.

Automated testing tools can help in speeding up the process, however, they require an initial investment of time and process. 

Platforms and Devices

Developing an app for different operating systems, screen sizes, and devices can also significantly impact the app development roadmap. The development process for Android, iOS, or hybrid apps can differ significantly.

However, each platform has its unique design and development guidelines. Building apps for devices such as tablets, smartphones, or smartwatches can also increase the timeline of mobile app development. 

Changes and Revisions

The changes in the app’s designs and functionalities can also impact the stages of developing an app. Frequent changes and revisions can cause delays and can also increase overall mobile app maintenance costs.

To manage it, it is important to have a detailed project plan outlining the scope of work to minimize the changes and to ensure that the project stays on track. 

mobile app development process

Few Tips to Shorten the App Development Timeline

The companies involved in the app development timeline process look for ways to decrease the app development timeline. Developers implement mobile app development strategies to make the app more efficient. 

However, some of the strategies such as the MVP approach, and outsourcing services can also help in reducing the time spent on creating an app. 

Let’s understand how the app development process can be optimized while also saving the company’s resources. 

Utilizing Automated Testing for App Security

Automated testing adds several benefits to the mobile app development cycle by aiding in creating an error-free mobile app. Automated testing means that a machine is used for app testing and for minimizing errors. It will further provide some extra time to focus on things that will require more attention in the app development.

Opting for Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform solutions allow mobile app developers to use a single codebase and develop apps that are compatible with both iOS and Android. In comparison to building  native apps for individual platforms, utilizing cross-platform mobile app development is more time-saving and cost-effective.

Project Size

The size of the project is directly proportional to the time it will take to develop. The more complex the app’s design and functionality, the longer it will take for the team to develop it. Instead of making an app more complex, it is better to add only the necessary elements.

Trying the MVP Approach

MVPs are a great way to save time. Minimum Viable Product is a basic version of the software that is presented to the users to gather feedback. Applying this strategy can shorten the app development timeline by 30%. Apart from saving time, with MVP, the company also learns to withstand market demands and competition.

Outsourcing Services

Having an outsourcing app development company at the time of the app development is more efficient than building an in-house team of developers. The option is even better if the company is planning to include add-ons to the products or needs to launch a different version of the app for the other platform.

How Appventurez Can Help With Mobile App Development?

Mobile app development is integral for taking businesses to the next level. Investing in a mobile app is also the most effective way to match your business model to your key consumer’s behavior. 

However, the success of the mobile app initiative depends on how effectively the mobile app development process has been executed. Appventurez, as an Android app development company, specializes in providing mobile app development services. 

Our team of experts can position your app for success, right from the initial idea to the post-launch app maintenance. The team guides through the entire app development timeline while also providing market-researched data that will further help in enhancing the app’s user engagement.

timeline for app development

FAQs

Q. How long does it take to make an app?

The average time to develop an app is around 7 to 12 months. However, the estimation for the mobile app development timeline depends on app complexity, UX/UI design, features, and the usage of third-party services.

Q. What are the steps to develop a mobile app?

The steps in the app development process include business analysis, back-end development, front-end development, UX/UI design, testing and launching, and post-launch support and maintenance.

Q. How to shorten the mobile app development timeline?

To shorten the app development timeline, reasonable development, and marketing strategies must be applied. MVP development, cross-platform app solutions, and staff augmentations are just a few of the examples to decrease the app development timeline.

Q. What is the meaning of mobile app development?

It is evident that each mobile app is different and delivers distinctive functionality. However, all of the apps are made with a similar development process that covers design, development, planning, and post-launch maintenance.

Ajay Kumar
Ajay Kumar

CEO at Appventurez

Ajay Kumar has 15+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, project management, and team handling. He has technical expertise in software development and database management. He currently directs the company’s day-to-day functioning and administration.


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