How Long Does It Really Take to Launch a Mobile App?
Launching a mobile app is an exciting journey filled with anticipation. However, business owners must start with realistic expectations regarding the timeline of an app launch.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll investigate the various stages of app development, factors affecting the timeline, and how you can expedite the process with the help of App Heroes.
The Preliminary Stage: Discovery and Planning
Laying the Groundwork
The app development timeline starts with establishing clear and achievable aspirations. Pinpoint exactly what you aim to accomplish, be it in terms of the app's functionality, its standing in the market, or any other vital areas.
Next up, you'll want to lay out the entire workload. This means listing all the jobs to be done and what needs to be delivered. Mark down significant milestones along the way. Having a solid timeline and sticking to it is key. This helps keep everything running smoothly and ensures your project wraps up right on schedule.
Remember to zero in on creating a fantastic user experience. Define how you want your app to feel when in use, making sure it's user-friendly and ticks all the right boxes from your audience's perspective.
And lastly, map out a detailed plan for bringing your app to life. This should cover every step of the journey, from initial ideation right through to launch, highlighting the resources you'll need and the strategies you'll employ.
Research and User Understanding
Digging Deeper
Once the discovery stage is complete, it's time to dive into user research. Understanding the 'who,' 'what,' and 'why' of your app is crucial.
• Who will benefit from your app?
• What problem does it solve?
• Why does it need to exist?
Answering these questions requires thorough user research, which involves interviewing potential users, analysing existing data, and conducting market research.
This stage is crucial for aligning stakeholders, guiding user experience design, and informing the development process.
Design and Development
Bringing Your Vision to Life
The next step in the app launch timeline is the design and development phase. Here, your app really starts to show its true colours. The duration of this phase? The answer depends. It could be just a few weeks, or it could stretch out for several months, all depending on how intricate your app is going to be.
During this period, you'll spend a significant amount of your time on UX/UI design. This is where you get to play around with how the app looks and feels, making sure it's not just pretty but also intuitive and user-friendly. And then, there's the development part. This is where the coding team do their thing, transforming all those design ideas into an actual working app.
The Final Stretch: Testing and Launch
Ready, Set, Go!
This phase is all about smoothing out any rough edges and confirming that you're all set to delight your audience and make a name for your app.
Your development team will now start acceptance testing, opening up the floor for feedback from both the internal squad and some external folks.
At this point, you can almost taste the victory, but it's no time to rush. A successful launch is all in the details, so quality comes first. Make sure there are no bugs, and ensure that you've hit the nail on the head when it comes to what your target audience is looking for.
So, How Long Does It Really Take?
On average, launching a mobile app takes anywhere from 4-8 months, depending on the complexity and scope of the project.
How long does it take to make an app by yourself? On the longer end of our estimate. How long does it take to make an app with a skilled development team? Here's a general breakdown:
Simple App Development (2-4 months)
Example: A local café's app, providing basic information such as the menu, opening hours, and a contact form. It's straightforward, without a ton of extra features, and its main purpose is to serve as a digital business card to make life a bit easier for café-goers.
Average App Development (4-6 months)
Example: A fitness tracker app that goes a step beyond the basics. It allows users to log workouts, track progress over time, and even connect with friends for that extra bit of motivation. There are more screens, more user interactions, and integrations with device hardware (like a pedometer).
Complex App Development (9-plus months)
Example: A comprehensive project management tool designed for large teams. This app has it all—real-time collaboration, document sharing, progress tracking, and even integrated chat. It needs to work flawlessly across devices and requires a robust backend to support all its features, making it a complex, time-intensive project.
Expedite Your App Launch
Here at App Heroes, we use FlutterFlow's app builder to help startups and businesses launch their app fast. Our ability to develop apps 5x quicker than conventional developers empowers you to validate your MVP, attract investors, and understand your ROI sooner.
Get in touch today, and let's get the ball rolling.