How Long Does It Take to Build an iOS or Android Mobile App?

This is the second most common question our clients ask. The price is the first detailed answer to this question can be found here. Today, I'll tell you everything you need to know about mobile app development time.

It may seem paradoxical, but it is difficult to determine the best timeframe for Android app development. PerfectionGeeks Technologies has been my employer for three years. I have done a tonne of time estimates for established and early-stage companies. It is important to deliver mobile app development services on time to meet investor deadlines and satisfy investor needs.

Let's get into it.

How long does it take to research the app idea?

The average time taken to conduct research is around 1-2 weeks. Telling the research story.

Founders and product managers often overlook this. This is why we would like to emphasize that research helps to establish your idea, determine if it's feasible in the market, and assess if your idea is needed. It helps us identify needs and define feature sets. This will help us achieve our business goals.

Only two situations allow us to skip the research. If you are an industry expert and have previously conducted research, this is your first case.

How long does it take to validate an idea?

The validation phase comes after the research. Validating your app idea fully can take up to one week. What happens during validation?

We polish the research results. We conduct interviews with potential customers and test their hypotheses. Again, this makes the idea more solid and less fluid.

Validation can be optional, as can research. After speaking with potential customers and testing hypotheses, you don't need to spend much time validating your idea.

How long does it take to create a product strategy?

Product strategy is more than just a product development plan. It sets your business goals and explains how the product will help you reach them.

Product strategy is my favourite thing about it. It provides clarity for all involved in the product's app development agency. There is less room for miscommunications and delays when the whole team is on the same page.

How long does it take to prototype the app?

There is a lot of work involved. The process began with research, followed by validation to make it more solid, before moving on to creating a product strategy. Finally, we are ready to create a prototype product with all this information.

A small reminder: the entire app development process is not linear. Moving from the validation part to the research part doesn't mean we stop researching.

Let's move on to prototyping. The prototype is usually designed for one or two user roles and aims to demonstrate key functions and features. Don't expect too much from the prototype, and don't emphasise that it's being perfected.

A clickable prototype can be built in approximately one week.

How long does it take to validate the app prototype?

Validate your prototype with at least three users. Get feedback and gain insights like:

• How much do users value the features?
• How users interact with the product.
• If your product is not easy to use
• If navigation is easy.

One cycle of feedback is what you call it, and it takes approximately one week to complete. The final time could vary depending on how many feedback cycles were completed

How long does it take to design an app?

App design can either be done in tandem with app development or be completed ahead of schedule in just 2–3 sprints. App design and development are often the most unpredictable aspects of the product creation process.

This is due to two factors: rapidly changing requirements and the rapid development of new technologies. Therefore, you need to ask, "How hard is it to create an app?" but rather, "How can I make the design process more predictable and consistent?" Lean UX design is one solution.

The design stage typically takes between 2 and 3 months.

How long does it take to code the app?

App development is the most difficult part of app development. It can take anywhere from 4 to 6 months. The question "How long does it take for an app to be coded?" is unimportant. It'll be more beneficial to you to know the factors that influence the final timeframe. Many stakeholders ask, "How long will it take to build an app if I hire more people?" It's a fascinating fact that the size of the development team doesn't impact speed. You should know that every member of the development team can extend development. How is that possible?

Imagine that you have two developers working on your project. Their work efficiency isn't equal to 2. Because of communication and knowledge-sharing issues, it's often at the level of 1,7. Adding two more mobile app developers will, logically, not make the overall process twice as fast, but will lengthen it.

How long does it take to prepare your app for launch?

The preparations for launch are usually split into two parts: a beta release and an alpha release. The alpha release, an early version of the app that's not yet released to the public, is usually done by testers within the company.

End-users do beta testing, and their number is higher than that of alpha testers. For testing, we use Testflight iOS apps and Google Play Console Android apps.

The cycle of reviews and submissions is a major part of the pre-launch process. The prelaunch stage can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month. The App Store and Google Play Store use different review processes.

Apple, for example, has a more thorough review process. Android uses an algorithm to pre-analyze apps, whereas Apple has a team reviewing each one individually. As a result, the submission period may be longer, depending on the issue.

To summarise

When you call an outsourcing company to assist you with app development, ask them, "How long does it take?" You now know what you can expect. It takes approximately 7 to 12 months to develop an app through the discovery, design, development, and pre-launch stages.

We discovered the stages involved in developing an app. A smaller team doesn't always mean a faster development time. There are always ways to speed up the process. If you have done enough research and are familiar with the market, we can skip research and validation. Design and development are crucial parts. The best time-saving techniques are linked to better communication.

Clear requirements, prompt responses, and shared responsibility are the keys to app development success. So drop us a note to receive a detailed estimate for your project. We are happy to assist you; it might be the start of a long-lasting relationship.