The second most asked question after “how much does it cost to build an app” is “how long does it take to make an app?”

Time is money and with so many businesses looking to invest in mobile app development, this is a question that has been asked a lot.

Now, considering the fact that finding answers to queries like this on Google can be a bit difficult, there are a lot of business owners and investors who just can’t find out how much time their potential project may take.

If you are one of these, this blog is for you.

Here we shall be discussing all you need to know about the stages of app development and the time involved with them. As such, we shall be breaking down the app development timeline.

So, by the end of this blog, you can calculate how long it will take for you to make an app. Therefore, with this being said, let’s get right into it:

App development timeline

 

App development time is the most inquired topic following –of course- the app development cost.Well, much like the cost to build an app, the time to make an app can also be varying.

On average, the time taken to make an app ranges from 2 Months to 9 Months.

But why, why can’t you figure out the exact app development time? Well, there are various factors that affect total time.

This includes everything from the app’s platform to its complexity tends to affect the time to build an app.

For Instance,

ComplexityApp Development Time
Simple App Development2-4 months
Average App Development4-6 months
Complex App Development9+ months

To learn about the time to develop an app, we shall be breaking the app development timeline but before that let’s look at time based on different types of apps.

App Development Timeline For Different Types

Mobile app development can branch off into many different niches and types. And based on the type of app you are making the total timeline can differ highly.

So, let’s see what’s the app development time to make an app based on their type. These are, as mentioned below:

eWallet App Development Time

eWallet App Development Time

Do you want to develop an eWallet app? You aren’t the only one.

The demand for eWallet apps like PayPal, Chimo, Cash App, Apple Pay, etc is growing day by day. And not to mention the fact that the fintech industry as a whole is generating billions of dollars.

On average, the time to make an app like this will be anywhere around 5 to 8 months. The reason is that there are a lot of technologies that go behind making eWallet apps.

In any case, here are features that you can expect within this timeline:

  • Security Measures
  • User-Friendly Interface
  • Multiple Payment Options
  • Instant Notifications
  • Integration with Other Apps
  • Customer Support

Food Delivery App Development Time

Food Delivery App Development Time

So, everyone knows about what food delivery applications are. And it’s safe to say that these on-demand applications are growing super popular among users.

There are a lot of businesses that want to build an app like DoorDash, a popular food delivery service in the US.

So, how much time will this take? On average, the food delivery app development timeline ranges from 4 to 6 months.

From such a solution you can expect the following features:

  • User-Friendly Interface
  • Seamless Ordering Process
  • Multiple Payment Options
  • Real-Time Tracking
  • Discounts and Offers
  • Customer Support

Fitness App Development Time

 Make an app for fitness

Another popular solution these days is the fitness app. Ever since the coronavirus-related pandemic, fitness mobile apps are trending.

And with this, there are many businesses that want to invest in fitness app development.

So, how long does it take to make a fitness app? On average, the fitness app development timeline can be anywhere between 3 to 6 months.

Here are a few basic features you can expect from these solutions.

  • Tracking of daily exercises and activities
  • Recording of the user’s diet and nutritional intake
  • Setting and tracking fitness goals
  • Integration with wearable fitness devices
  • Personalized workout plans
  • Recommendations based on fitness level and goals
  • Community features
  • Progress tracking and data analysis

So, these are the time taken to make an app based on their type. Though these are some of the basic Industries there are many others. Therefore, it’s recommended that for more details on the same, you consult a mobile app development company.

Moving on, we shall be discussing the various factors that may affect the app development timeline in the section below.

Factors That Affect App Development Time

Factors That Affect make an app Time

Much like app development cost, there are various factors that can affect the time to make an app.

To better understand how much time your app is going to take, it’s important to understand these factors.

Therefore, let’s discuss the very same thing below.

  • Complexity of Idea

What’s THE MOST IMPORTANT thing when it comes to mobile app development?

It’s the Idea.

Now, you can have an idea to build a taxi app like LYFT or a unique idea for an eCommerce app.

Based on this idea, app development can be very complex or less complex. For instance, while making an app like uber requires somewhere 1100 hours, meditation apps like calm are much simpler at a development time of just 880 hours.

So, the complexity of your idea affects product development time. This is just one of the factors yet a major one. Let’s look at the other ones.

  • App Development Platform

When it comes to creating an app, you can either develop an android app or you can create an iOS application. Or, if you are into hybrid app development, there’s that option too.

Coming to the time it takes to create these apps, again brings us to complexity. You see, android apps are much more complex than iOS apps.

The keyword here is “fragmentation” in the android platform. In any case, the main takeaway from the platform is, Android apps take much longer. And hybrid apps take even longer.

  • Third Party-Integration

It goes without saying that when you are creating a mobile application there are a lot of APIs that you will be using.

Hate to break it down to you but, depending on the API the time taken to integrate them can be a lot. For instance, payment gateway integration in taxi apps is something very notorious for taking upto weeks.

Therefore, thesearebig factors that highly affect app development time.

  • App Developer’s Experience & Expertise

So, if you want to create an app, the first thing you do is hire app developers. And there are 100 ways to do it.

But how do they affect development time? Well, the expertise and experience in mobile apps certainly do. Developers who are expertsin their field, reduce the app development timeline by a big difference without affecting quality.

Therefore, if you want to create a fintech app without waiting for years, we recommended that you hire one of the best fintech app development companies, expert on-demand app developers for food delivery apps, and so on.

These are the factors that affect the time to make an app. And with this out of the way, let’s look at the different stages of app development and the time involved with them.

Stage of App Development & Time

Stage of make an App & Time

Mobile app development is a multi-staged process. Each stage of app development has its own time consumption.

In this section of the blog, we shall be discussing the different stages to build an app. These are, as mentioned below:

1. Research

Mobile app research is the first thing that you need to do.

Being the first step of the app development process, it takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks

2. Idea Validation

Once you are done with the research, it’s time to validate the idea.

This phase typically takes 1-2 weeks to research the viability of the app idea and determine if it has market potential.

3. Planning

Once the idea is validated, you have to sit down with the development team and create a product development plan.

As such, when it comes to app development time, it can take 1-2 weeks depending on the complexity of the app.

During this phase, the app’s features, functionality, and technical requirements are determined.

4. Create an MVP

Developing a Minim um Viable Product (MVP) can take 2-6 weeks in the app development timeline, depending on the complexity of the app.

For those who aren’t familiar with the concept, An MVP is a basic version of the app with core features that can be tested by users.

5. Validate MVP

Following the MVP development and gathering the user feedback, we validate the MVP.

Just like how you build a product prototype and then verify it, this phase too can take up to 1-2 weeks.

6. UI/UX Designing

Designing is one of the most important parts of the entire app development process. That’s why you can expect, this phase can take 2-4 weeks.

It highly depends on the complexity of the design too as well as the expertise and experience of the developer.

7. App Development

This is the part where a team of developers writes the source code of the application. Being by far the most complex development time-consuming process, it takes quite a lot of time.

Developing the app can take 6-20 weeks.

8. Final Testing

Once the developer makes an app’s final version it’s time to test it before deployment.

This part of the product development takes 1-2 weeks for testing the app’s final version for bugs, errors, and performance issues.

9. Deployment

The final phase involves deploying the app to the app store, which can take 1-2 weeks for approval and release. And that’s how much app development time takes.

Now, let’s see how you can calculate the total development time for your project.

How To Calculate the Time Required To Make An App?

You must be wondering, “there must be a way to calculate the total time taken to make an app, right?”. Well, there’s actually a way to do so.

How do you calculate app development time to create your own solution?

Well, here’s the process you can use.

  1. Define the scope of the project
  2. Break down the project into smaller tasks
  3. Estimate the time required for each task
  4. Consider the level of customization required
  5. Consider the platform
  6. Account for testing and debugging
  7. Add buffer time

While this process is quite successful, it’s always highly recommended that you consult a mobile app development company that will be able to provide you with deeper insight into the same.

Conclusion

This is how long it takes to make an app. Now, if you are someone who wants to create your own app and want a quote for that, we discussed how to calculate it. But in any case, you can expect the time to be between 2-3 for simple apps and max out at 9 months.

FAQ

The time required to make an app varies depending on the complexity of the app. Simple apps can take around 2-3 months, while complex apps can take over 9 months to develop.

The cost of developing an app depends on various factors, such as the app’s complexity, functionality, design, and platform. On average, a simple app can cost around $25,000, while a complex app can cost over $100,000.

The You can create your own app by:

  • Research
  • Idea Validation
  • Planning
  • Create an MVP
  • Validate MVP
  • UX/UI Designing
  • App Development
  • Final Testing
  • Deployment

The app development difficulty totally depends on the type of app you are developing. For instance, simple apps like business card apps are much easier. While on the other hand, taxi booking apps can be super difficult.

The stages of app development that usually take the most amount of time are:

  • Designing and prototyping
  • Developing and coding
  • App store approval and launch
  • App store approval and launch