This is one of the most asked questions in mobile app development. Clients need to know the timeframe of a specific project so that they can prepare their team for the launch. There’s no point in talking about an app launch before the product is ready.

So how long does it take to develop an app? It can take between 3 to 6 months. That’s the common timeline for most apps in the market. However, mobile app development can also take more than 12 months. It depends on the scope and features of the application.

How Long it Takes to Develop a Great App

If you want your app to be built within a month because it’s urgent, you’ll risk its quality. There are plenty of amateur developers that can code an app within that time frame, but the end product is not that impressive. Your users will experience bugs that interfere with the app’s functioning. As a result, it may damage your brand’s reputation and achieve the opposite of what it was supposed to do.

A great app needs hours of input from the developer and his team. The process is step-by-step and includes the following phases:

Plan

Here, the client comes up with the app development strategy. If you’re the client, you have to define the problem that the app is going to solve. You should also make sure that the app’s purpose and your organization’s mission and vision are similar. You should also have a good idea of your target market. Understanding the target market will help you customize the app for better user experience. The planning phase should take at least a month.

Sketch

After creating the development plan, you need to come up with a sketch of how you want the app to look like. It can take you a day to draw the sketch on a piece of paper.

Wireframe

Next, you take the sketch to the developer, and they create a wireframe that helps in designing the prototype. It may take two to three days to create a wireframe.

Prototype

A prototype is a working version of the app. It highlights the main features and functions. Depending on the complexity of the work, your developer will take anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks to create the prototype. They will then present it to you for confirmation. If you’re pleased with it. The coding begins.

App Development

Now, the coding begins. This process can take another two to three months before you receive the final product.

Your budget can also determine how long your application takes before it’s launched. Professional app development companies will charge you anywhere between $10,000 and $100,000. The reason why it’s costly is because of the time and labor that goes into coding. There is a team of individuals working around the clock to deliver a quality app on time. Their services are not cheap. If you can’t pay the full amount, your app will be delayed.

In summary, make sure that you have the proper budget before approaching a mobile app development company. Also, do your research so that you create a product that people want. Finally, learn to be patient because a great app takes time to build.