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Do you have questions about “how to create an app?” There’s no doubt that having your own app can be a smart and profitable move. But the big question is: where do you start? A lot of people assume you need a huge budget to even begin, and while that can be true in some cases, it’s definitely not the only path. Building an app is more doable than you might think.
Did you know that people glance at their phones around 58 times daily, and Americans have made a record of an average of 144 times a day? According to Statista (2024), the mobile app market generates over $935 billion in revenue annually.
With over 6.8 billion smartphone users worldwide, the app market is booming, and there’s never been a better time to go for trusted mobile app development services.
The process of creating your own app can sound tiring, but don’t worry, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. If you’re a beginner or someone with basic knowledge, we’ve got you!
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Smartphones have nearly become a saturated product, with 91% of adults now owning smartphones, according to the PEW Research. This has led businesses to introduce apps to build their online presence.
Based on the current market landscape, most people focus on developing mobile apps for Android and iOS. They together account for 99.24% of the global mobile operating system market. In the USA, iOS holds a dominant position in the mobile operating system market. iOS accounts for approximately 59.97%, and Android holds 39.67%.
We know you’re struggling with how to create an app. But don’t worry. We’ve broken down the steps to help guide you through every phase:
The most important part of the app development process begins with a conversation. This is where you need to understand your vision. Behind every popular app is a great idea that sparked it all. Uber didn’t start as a billion-dollar brand. It started with a basic need: better, more personalized transport. You can do the same. Begin with your initial concept and improve it as you go forward. If you got an app idea, ask yourself these questions:
According to Harvard Business Review, many startups fail because they rush past the ideation phase. It is essential to understand customer needs and ensure that the solution addresses a genuine problem.
Once you have a clear idea, you need to decide on the functionalities that are missing. You can develop key features that other competitors are neglecting. This gives your app a competitive edge in the market.
Start your plan with the major ones and avoid unnecessary functionalities. Here are some essential ones to consider in building an app:
Are you confused between iOS and Android? Choosing the right platform is a big decision that impacts your budget, timeline, and reach. You need to first understand your target audience. Are they iPhone users who value sleek design and exclusivity? Or are they Android users who appreciate flexibility and variety? For example, iOS dominates in North America, and Android leads in Asia and Africa.
You can check out the quick comparison if you’re thinking about how to make a mobile app:
iOS has a faster development process due to standardized devices and OS versions. It has higher security and a more controlled ecosystem. Additionally, users tend to have a higher spending power, making it a good option for paid apps.
However, the app store approval process is quite strict, which may delay the launch.
Android has the largest market share, with up to 71% of mobile users globally. The platform is open-source, allowing for more customization and flexibility. Not to mention, the app submission process is much easier compared to iOS.
However, the development process of creating apps is more time-consuming due to device fragmentation (various screen sizes and OS versions).
Navigating through how to build an app? If you want to target both iOS and Android users, cross-platform work best. It includes frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin. These allow you to build an app once and deploy it on multiple platforms, saving time and cost.
However, cross-platform apps may face some performance limitations compared to native apps. Also, if you’re planning to create a web app, it is best to go for trustworthy web application development services.
Regardless of the chosen platform, ensuring your app’s seamless operation for a global audience hinges on reliable internet access. Just as developers and app users need consistent connectivity worldwide, perhaps even when exploring the diverse landscapes of New Zealand, having options like an eSIM for New Zealand underscores the importance of pervasive and efficient digital access for truly global reach.
Think of wireframing as drawing a blueprint for your app. It helps you visualize the layout and flow of screens before you start coding. You can use tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch.
Also, don’t worry about the design elements in a wireframe. These design tools aren’t meant to give you the final look of an app. You need to focus on structure and flow. Looking for app design cost? Check out our recent blog to get detailed insights into the design process.
If you’re looking for tips on how to design an app, keep the user experience (UX) simple. According to the Nielsen Norman Group, users prefer apps that are easy to navigate and clearly guide them through tasks. Map out the user journey and show what happens if they click a particular button. Specify what happens when a user clicks Option A rather than Option B.
A tech stack is the combination of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools used to build your app. Choosing the right tech stack early helps avoid costly rebuilds later. If you’re unsure which combination suits your project, it’s worth consulting with a professional development team.
According to Statista, JavaScript, Python, and Java remain the most used languages worldwide in 2025. Here’s a basic breakdown to make an app:
Also Read: How to Make a Social Media App
Development is where your idea turns into an app. This step combines frontend development (what users interact with), backend development (how everything works behind the scenes), and API integrations to add extra power and functionality.
Frontend development is the process of building the visual and interactive parts of your app. This includes the layout, typography, buttons, icons, transitions, and responsiveness across different screen sizes.
If you’re steering through how to make your own app, understanding tools is very important. To give users a smooth experience, the frontend must be:
The quality of the frontend impacts the entire user engagement, retention, and app rating. Make sure you’re fully investing in this area for your long-term success.
Backend development is responsible for everything that happens behind the scenes of your app. It manages business logic, database interactions, user authentication, server requests, file storage, push notifications, and more.
A better backend should offer:
Additionally, a Gartner study indicates that 70% of new apps will use cloud-native backend services. This will make cloud integration a key part of modern app architecture. If you’re struggling with how to develop an app in multiple frameworks, it’s best to partner with an iOS app development company or an Android app development company.
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) use external services to enhance your app’s functionality. You don’t need to build everything from scratch. It is easy to use APIs to enter powerful platforms.
According to Postman’s 2024 State of the API Report, 74% of organizations have adopted an API-first approach. The study highlights that between 26 and 50 APIs power the average application, which shows the importance of API integration. Furthermore, these organizations have experienced faster production, with 63% of developers able to produce an API within a week and make rapid failure recovery within an hour.
Before releasing your app online, detailed testing is important to ensure a smooth user experience. A buggy or slow app can lead to poor reviews, uninstalls, and lower credibility. Testing helps identify and fix potential issues when you’re taking your app to live.
App testing should be done at every phase of the application creation cycle to catch and resolve problems early. Below are the major types of testing to consider before launch:
Unit testing focuses on the smallest parts of the application. Developers test every function, UI element, or code separately to ensure they perform well. They write scripts to test individual code units in isolation, validating the logic and behavior of each piece.
In a food delivery app, unit testing might verify if the “Add to Cart” button accurately updates the order summary before checkout. If this core function fails, it could harm the entire purchasing process.
Curious about how to make a food delivery app? Read our latest blog for in-depth insights.
User testing puts your app into the hands of real users. The goal is to observe how people interact with your app and identify pain points, confusing navigation, and unexpected bugs that have been overlooked.
This way, you can avoid costly fixes that arise after launch and build trust among early users.
Performance testing ensures your app can function properly on various devices, operating systems, and network conditions. It focuses on:
If you’re exploring how to create a dating app, check out our latest blog for tech and features insights.
Once your app has successfully passed all quality testing phases, the next step is to publish it on the relevant store. You need to comply with platform-specific policies, prepare detailed metadata, and complete a formal review process.
For submission, you must create a developer account on Google Play Console or the Apple Developer Program.
These accounts grant you access to app publishing tools, performance analytics, update management, crash reports, and monetization features.
Apple is known for its strict and manual review process, which takes 24 to 72 hours. Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines focus on:
According to Apple, 40% of app rejections in 2023 were due to guideline violations, including inaccurate metadata and broken functionality.
Google’s review process is faster and more automated. It usually takes a few hours to a few days. However, it uses machine learning to detect policy issues. Key areas are as follows:
If you want to publish your app successfully, you must upload the following assets:
The competition is very intense in the industry, and simply publishing your app isn’t enough. You need to work on app promotions to make your app stand out and grow your user base strategically. If you’re targeting 10,000 downloads or 1 million, here are the best practices you shouldn’t miss out:
Eighty-eight percent of users believe they will abandon the app if it constantly faces glitches or technical bugs. The key to long-term success is how well you adapt and evolve based on user experiences. Gathering user feedback helps you identify pain points, uncover performance bottlenecks, and improve functionality. You can encourage users to share their experiences through in-app surveys, app store reviews, customer support, and social media.
Apart from qualitative feedback, use tools such as Google Analytics, Firebase, or Apple Store Connect to measure quantitative data. Keep an eye on metrics like session duration, retention rates, screen flow, and drop-off points to get a clearer picture of user behavior.
When searching online for the mobile app development cost, it is vital to know the factors that change the price of a project. Talking about the average, the cost of developing an app ranges from $5,000 to $150,000, which is influenced by the app size, features, and tech stack.
| App Type | Cost |
| Basic Apps | $10,000 – $50,000 |
| Moderate Apps | $50,000 – $100,000 |
| Complex Apps | $100,000 – $150,000+ |
If you’re thinking about the development timeframe, our recent blog covers how long does it take to develop an app.
Data privacy is a major concern for users. Around 60% of Americans have deleted an app due to fears about data breaches and theft. Moreover, research studies indicate that many app developers overlook essential practices for obtaining verifiable parental consent, with a concerning number of them being unaware of key legal requirements, such as GDPR and CCPA.
You must adopt the right compliance frameworks and enforce strict internal guidelines for collecting, storing, and processing user data. Doing so will not only lower the risk of data leaks but also build long-term trust with your users.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the European Union’s comprehensive privacy regulation that handles personal data for EU businesses. It applies to any app that collects, processes, or stores data from users in the European Union.
Here are the following key requirements:
Users must provide explicit and informed consent before their data is collected. This includes agreeing to the use of cookies, data tracking, or marketing purposes.
Your app users have the right to access or export their data, request corrections, delete their data (“right to be forgotten”), and restrict to processing.
Apps must implement encryption, access controls, and secure storage. Breaches must be reported to authorities within 72 hours.
If your app uses third-party services (e.g., analytics, ad networks), you are responsible for ensuring that those vendors are also GDPR-compliant.
The CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) is a U.S. law specific to California residents. It applies if your app serves users in California and meets any of the following:
Here are the following key responsibilities the policy entails:
You need to inform users at or before data collection about the types of data collected, the purpose of the collection, and categories of third parties with access.
You must allow users to opt out of the sale of their data via a clearly visible link or app setting.
Users can request that their data be deleted, and you must honor this request unless retention is legally required.
You cannot deny services, increase prices, or reduce functionality if a user opts out of data collection or sale.
For unintentional violations, businesses may face fines of up to $2,500 per violation, and intentional violations can cause penalties as high as $7,500 per violation.
Intellectual property laws protect the originality and ownership of your app’s assets, including branding, source code, and features. This ensures others can’t copy, steal, or profit from your work without permission.
Below, we’ve covered the areas you need to protect:
Bonus Read: How to Create a Fitness App
The app industry is evolving rapidly, with billions of apps downloaded every year. As the platform continues to innovate, developers need to adopt a strategic approach to stand out and succeed.
We know you’re still skeptical about starting your project, but don’t worry. Our well-thought-out list of best practices will help you answer your concerns:
Starting app development research without a clear strategy can cause you unnecessary headaches. To really create something that resonates with users, you need to take the time to understand who your target audience is, what your competitors are offering, and what’s trending in the industry.
First, look into the present apps in your niche and find out what problems they’re solving, what features they have, and where they might be falling short. This helps you figure out how your app can do better. Then, take a closer look at your competition. Notably, 93% of consumers decide to go for a brand based on ratings and reviews. Download and use their apps, read user feedback, and see what people like and what they don’t. It will reveal opportunities for improvement, which you can use as your USP.
You can also keep up with the latest trends using tools like Google Trends, Statista, and industry-specific news to see what users are looking at and help you spot emerging opportunities.
To gain deeper insights into competitor teams, company culture, and employee feedback, a Glassdoor scraper can help you collect and analyze reviews efficiently, informing your app strategy from an insider perspective.
Without clear objectives, your app could end up cluttered, unfocused, or difficult to market. A focused app starts with understanding the “why”. You have to figure out why you’re building the app and what issues it can resolve.
Once the “why” is established, you need to break down the development journey into realistic timelines and milestones.
According to Atlassian, projects that use milestone-based planning are likely to meet deadlines and budget expectations. You can create a structured roadmap to improve team collaboration and use tools like Trello, Jira, and Asana to manage the goals efficiently.
We know it can be highly confusing to decide between Android and iOS. Each platform has its benefits and covers different user behaviors. iOS users spend more on apps, while Android has a huge global reach. In case you’re interested in how to make an iOS app, we’ve got you covered. You can check out our blog to get a detailed step-by-step guide.
If budget and resources are limited, it is best to choose a cross-platform that creates an app in a single code. This approach speeds up the development process and ensures consistent functionalities across devices. However, there are certain pitfalls in cross-platform app development. They can sometimes result in slightly reduced performance compared to native apps. Moreover, you may have limited access to certain features or APIs that are unique to iOS or Android.
Here are the following comparisons to help you make the right decision:
| Factors | Android | iOS |
| Number of Users/Devices | There are over 3 billion active Android devices. | There are over 1 billion active iPhones. |
| Consumer Spending | App spending amounts to $51 billion on Google Play. | Consumer spending on the Apple Store reached $124 billion. |
| Average Spending Per App | Android users spend an average of $6.19 per app. | iPhone users spend an average of $12.77 per app. |
| Availability of Apps | Google Play has over 2 million apps. | The App Store has over 1.9 million apps. |
| Retention Rates | Android has an 89-91% customer retention rate. | The iPhone has an 85-88% retention rate. |
A complicated app with confusing navigation can quickly frustrate users and lead to them abandoning your app altogether. To avoid this, keep your interface simple and intuitive, ensuring users can complete tasks with less effort. In fact, a report by Forrester Research found that every $1 invested in UX design can generate up to $100 in return.
Fast loading times are equally important for retaining users. Google reports that 53% of users will abandon a mobile site if it takes longer than three seconds to load. You can improve that by optimizing images. Streamlining your code and minimizing any useless background processes.
Ultimately, the goal is to make every interaction within the app feel effortless so that users keep returning. If you’re interested in exploring more advanced features, you can read our blog that covers how to make an Augmented Reality app.
Mobile platforms are constantly changing with OS updates, new devices, and security protocols. Performance issues can ruin even the most well-designed apps. Slow loading speeds, crashes, and bugs lead to poor reviews and high uninstall rates. Regular testing throughout the development process helps catch issues early. A recent report reveals that apps that are updated frequently have 3x higher retention rates compared to those that aren’t.
You can improve your app’s speed by reducing unnecessary code, compressing images, and using efficient databases. Make performance tuning and compatibility checks a routine part of your update cycle to avoid issues over time.
Data breaches are becoming quite common, and security should never be an afterthought. The failure to protect user information can lead to reputational damage, financial penalties, and even legal action. You need to build user trust and meet compliance standards, such as GDPR and CCPA. Implement secure login systems using OAuth, biometric authentication, or two-factor authentication (2FA) to prevent unauthorized access.
Moreover, keep your codebase clean and update regularly to minimize issues. You can consider penetration testing before going live. It helps you see your app from a hacker’s perspective and find weak points.
Instead of launching a fully-prepared app online, you can create an MVP to test your concept with little investment. An MVP has only the essential features that solve your users’ core problem. This way, you can gather feedback from early adopters. You can understand user needs, identify usability issues, and focus on the features that matter most.
You can start with a closed beta launch or a soft release to a limited audience. A closed beta launch finds technical bugs and performance glitches in a controlled environment. Similarly, a soft release is done in a specific geographical region to test marketing strategies, app store listings, and scalability under real conditions.
Scalability is the most important factor if you want your app to succeed long-term. As your user base grows, your app should be able to handle more traffic without slowing down or crashing. That’s why it’s essential to think about scalability from the get-go. Cloud platforms like AWS and Firebase are perfect as they let your app scale up smoothly with a large user base.
To manage growing databases efficiently, understanding RDS pricing helps you plan costs while ensuring your app can scale seamlessly as traffic increases.
Another thing to keep in mind is writing clean, modular code. This makes it easier to add new features or update the app without hurting other technical areas. According to McKinsey report, apps with well-organized, scalable code have a 30-40% lower maintenance cost over time.
Also, using a microservices architecture can really help. It allows different parts of your app to scale independently, so you can efficiently apply resources based on specific demands.
App maintenance is a must-have to save yourself from becoming obsolete and incompatible. In fact, PwC survey reports that over 32% of users uninstall apps after experiencing even minor technical issues (bug fixes and new features are important aspects here). If you don’t keep up with these expectations, you can risk losing user engagement.
Beyond bug fixations, app analytics are a savior for improving your app’s performance. You can track user behavior, app performance, and feature engagement to make sound decisions.
For example, if analytics show that certain features are underused or not well-received, you can either refine or remove them. This will maintain your app’s user-friendliness and keep it relevant in the market.
The app launch process is half the battle. The real challenge is getting users to download, engage, and stick with your app. App Store Optimization (ASO) is an important step in marketing your app. Just as SEO helps websites get discovered, ASO increases your app’s visibility. You must create a compelling app title and description that clearly conveys its value and unique features.
Also, choose relevant keywords that users are likely to search for and include high-quality screenshots and an engaging video preview. These elements are key to attracting users browsing the app store. It is best to update your app store listing regularly to reflect new features, improvements, or seasonal campaigns.
Mobile app development may seem like a massive challenge, but breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps makes it easier. Every stage of development is important, and staying in touch with continuous maintenance is no exception. If you’re thinking about creating a basic app or looking for the next big thing, patience and persistence will take you a long way.
Looking for mobile app development experts? Trango Tech is here to help you out. We’re an award-winning agency that caters to all kinds of mobile apps. Partner with us now!
The timeline of creating an app depends on what type of app you’re creating. A simple app with basic features might take three to six months, and a complex app could take six months to even a year. The factors that influence development time are design revisions, testing cycles, and feedback iterations.
If you’re building an MVP, you can get a basic version out faster and improve it over time based on feedback. The key is to stay flexible and focus on the approach that works for you.
The mobile app development may cost between $10,000 and $200,000. If we break down the types, a simple development costs you between $10,000 and $50,000, and a more advanced app can cost you $150,000 and more.
Don’t forget about ongoing costs, such as updates, security, and third-party services. They all add up, as well. Want a better idea of the app-making cost? Try our app development cost calculator and get a quick estimate.
Yes, you can create an app for free, but it comes with limitations. There are free app creation platforms that allow you to design simple apps without prior coding experience. However, if you want advanced features, custom designs, or to publish your app on the App Store, you need to pay for development tools, hosting, and subscription plans.
Complete custom apps usually require professional development, which covers costs. So, while it’s possible to create an app for free, it often requires some investment.
App owners make money through various monetization strategies, focusing on the app type and target audience. Common methods include in-app advertising, where ads are displayed to users in exchange for revenue, and in-app purchases, which enable users to purchase digital goods and features.
If you’re navigating through how to make application, many apps use the freemium model and offer basic features for free while charging for advanced functionalities. Subscription-based models, like those used in streaming and fitness apps, generate recurring revenue. You can also earn money through affiliate marketing, sponsorships, or the sale of user data (ethically and with consent).
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Rida Shahzad is a business graduate and seasoned content writer at WareGo, where she transforms complex concepts into clear, actionable content. With a strong background in creating how-to guides, conversion-focused content, and technical documentation, Rida excels at bridging the gap between advanced technology and real-world business needs. Off the page, she’s a curious mind with a love for ancient history, tech trends, and creative sketching.
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