You have a great business idea. You want to test it by developing an app. Unfortunately, you are bog down by the cost of app development in iOS and Android. Which mobile operating system would you choose to develop and deploy your application first? This can be a tough decision to make when it comes to mobile app development. It is expensive to develop and maintain both the reiteration of your applications in both operating systems. Most companies choose to instead focus on one and launch the other version of their mobile app when it’s proven to be successful.
We’ve compiled the following factors to consider when choosing in which environment to develop your first mobile app:
Listen to Your Customers
The greatest asset one company has is its customers. You should start by researching more about your customers and understand more about them. For example, if most of your customers reside in developed nations, you should consider iOS development as iOS adoption is relatively high in these countries. On the other hand, if you’re targeting a mass market, Android could be a better choice. According to statistics, 75% of the world’s operating system is powered by the Android operating system.
If this the case, then why bother developing for iOS? Well, according to studies, iOS users are highly educated and are more willing to buy an app or purchase a subscription from the App Store. Businesses also tend to favor iOS devices more due to the foundation of a better security system.
Cost
Ever since the introduction of the Swift programming language by Apple, it has lead to a tremendous reduction in app development time. Some estimate iOS app development takes up to 35% less time to develop in comparison to their Android counterparts. As a result of this, developers take less time to code, saving businesses money in terms of labor hours and wages. Mobile app development in Singapore usually charges less for iOS compared to Android app development.
There are a few reasons that can explain why developing an app in iOS take less time. One of the core reasons is the standardization of Apple devices. There only a number of iPhones circulating, leading to fewer variables in the coding environment. Lack of standardization in Android devices means there are more devices to accommodate. More devices mean more variables.
Operating System Updates
Aside from mobile app development cost, there is also the cost of maintenance associated with the app. iOS users are more likely to update their operating system to the latest version compared to Android, with the average user running an operating system that is more than 2 years old. When users update their operating system, there are fewer compatibility issues to address to ensure the mobile app remains compatible while avoiding crashes caused by running an older version of the operating system.
Conclusion
Choosing a development environment for your first mobile application can be stressful. It ultimately depends on your intended objective and where your audience is. If you plan to sell your app services and monetization is your focus, then iOS is a better choice for you. It also cost less and is prone to fewer issues. However, 75% of the Android market share is hard to ignore if you’re into exposure. Hence if exposure to your brand is more important than other factors, then Android is a better choice. If you’re not sure, you can bring this topic up when choosing a vendor for your mobile app development and understand their justifications of each choice.
