Google Play and App Store host well over 2 million apps – each. The competition for user attention is intense. So, to win your market, you need an app development company that can deliver the best quality within your budget.
We have screened thousands of top app development companies worldwide to find the most reliable and cost-effective ones for your business. Here are the top three:
Experts in end-to-end app and custom software development. Supporting Fortune 500 to startups with SaaS, mobile, and custom application solutions in healthcare, education, marketing, and financial industries.
Featured clients: Epion Health, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Verizon Media
itCraft delivers high-end mobile app and software development services to clients in various industries, from healthcare to logistics and fintech. Their teams are specialized in Android, iOS and full-stack web development.
Featured Clients: Deloitte Digital, Sodexo, DHL, Rossmann
Top-notch digital agency, founded in 2007. Their main areas of expertise include mobile applications, web design and development, eCommerce, and digital marketing. Helps business of all types to decrease costs and increase sales.
Featured Clients: McDonald’s, ShopWorn, ReaShape, Kotore
Here is the full list of carefully screened local and foreign top app development companies that have a proven track record of developing high quality, well designed and cost-effective mobile applications:
5 Reason Why You Should Build An App For Your Business
Here are the top five reasons why your business needs an app:
1. Increase Accessibility
People spend 90% of their mobile time on apps. (eMarketer)
They use their smartphones to perform different tasks including shopping.
And the quickest way for your target market to access your products or services is via their mobile phones.
This is why investing in a mobile application is more important than ever.
Having an app allows your audience to make purchases from anywhere at any time with just a few clicks on their smartphones.
This 24/7 accessibility boosts customer satisfaction and contributes to brand loyalty.
2. Enhance Customer Experience
To access a website from their mobile phones, users need to open their browsers, type the desired address and wait for it to load.
On the other hand, they can access apps with a single click, which makes them a much faster alternative than websites since they load within seconds.
Moreover, unlike websites that require internet connection, some apps are accessible offline.
3. Build Brand Recognition
A compelling and eye-catching app design will not only help you stand out from the crowd but will also build brand recognition.
Regularly exposing your audience and clients to your app will result in higher engagement and more purchases since frequently reminding them of your existence will increase their brand recall.
4. Create Your Own Marketing Channel
One of the biggest advantages of having an app for your business is that you can use it to provide different types of information for your clients.
This may include general company info, cost of services, product description and more.
However, what’s great about apps is also the fact that they can serve as a marketing channel for product or service promotion.
They allow sending special sales, discounts and other push notifications that allow direct interaction with the users.
This is why apps are a smart investment.
5. Boost Sales
Consumer app spending is expected to hit $156.5 billion by 2022. (App Annie)
Apps are a great way to generate additional sales.
Unlike websites, they offer unique features that businesses can take advantage of.
On the one hand, users can easily save their favorite products into their wish lists. This affects them emotionally and encourages them to make a purchase.
On the other hand, businesses can send push notifications while reminding users to revisit their stores and engage with the brand.
These little factors contribute to customer retention which is one of the biggest marketing goals for every seller.
What Are The Most Popular Mobile Apps?
Users have shown a preference for specific types of apps. According to Statista, the most popular app categories in 2019 were:
Games: 24.63%
Business: 9.76%
Education: 8.52%
Lifestyle: 8.33%
Entertainment: 5.99%
Utilities: 5.18%
Travel: 3.89%
Health & Fitness: 3.04%
Productivity: 2.99%
Book: 2.49%
Finance: 2.42%
Music: 2.35%
Social Networking: 2.24%
Deciding whether to invest in mobile application development should be based on extensive research and in-depth business analysis and planning.
It is a hefty investment – one that, with careful preparation, execution and the right app development company, can yield a great return.
How Long Does It Take To Develop A Mobile App?
App development project duration depends on two factors:
The app development company, particularly their expertise and the effectiveness of your collaboration.
The scope and complexity of your app.
Assuming that you have screened multiple app developers, found your perfect partner, established a great working relationship and communicated your requirements effectively, your mobile application development should take:
3-4 months for the simplest apps with very few wireframes, no backend or integrations and a simple UI, provided that you have all the information and content prepared beforehand.
4-6 months for moderately complex apps with more sophisticated wireframes and UI, simple backend and a few integrations.
6-12 months for high-end apps.
But, keep in mind that mobile application development work never truly ends.
Apps should evolve as user feedback comes in and the OS requirements change, as well as scale with the growing user base.
Therefore, our advice would be to look for a app development company you can establish a long-term relationship with.
We’ve ranked the top iOS/iPhone app development companies.Find them here!
Top Reasons Why You Should Hire A Mobile App Development Company
Here are the top five reasons why you should consider investing in professional app developers:
Leverage Their Technical Expertise
62% of users would uninstall an app due to technical issues such as:
Poor loading time
Bugs
Errors
Crashes
Freezes
Poorly planned and developed apps will cost you customers.
Working with a professional app development company will help you avoid such issues since they not only possess the required technical expertise and skills but they also provide you with after-launch support.
So, they will be there to assist you whenever any issues arise and fix them in a timely manner.
Stay On Top Of The Latest Trends
Though the mobile market is booming, users are uninstalling a lot of apps on their mobile devices. Some of the primary reasons for this are the poor user experience and poor engagement.
And too little communication makes consumers forget about your app and bad experience turns them to your competitors.
According to AppsFlyer, in 2019, the average app approximately lost $33,000/month.
To maintain the attention and the interest of users, mobile app development companies are bound to be on top of the latest trends and constantly keep their clients’ app up-to-date.
This not only helps you turn into a trustworthy brand but also retain your clients and increase the number of returning customers.
Get Technical App SEO To Generate Quality Leads
In 2019, there were more than 2.7 billion smartphone users worldwide which means the number of people who access apps is enormous.
However, not all of these users are your target market.
App developers not only understand the environment you operate in well, but they also have the necessary tools to discover important aspects including their:
Pain points
Demographics
Desires
Age
And more
All these factors will help your partner develop an app with SEO in mind that will be able to reach the right audience, attract quality leads and increase your sales.
How Much Does It Cost To Develop An App?
Mobile application development cost depends on the above-mentioned factors. Here are the typical ranges based on app complexity:
$1,500 – $5,000 for the simplest apps: you can keep the cost down by handling UX and UI designs in-house.
$10,000 – $50,000 for moderately complex apps: this is the usual range and the final price typically depends on the outsourcing location.
$50,000 – $250,000+ for high-end apps: mainly games and other apps with highly sophisticated backend systems and designs.
These rates do not include content, marketing or post-launch maintenance.
How To Hire A App Development Company?
With the ever-expanding mobile market, for most businesses, having an app is no longer optional.
It is essential if they want to stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
Therefore, hiring a app development company is a must.
Here are some of the things to consider before choosing between app developers:
Decide Between On Or Offshore Mobile Application Development
Are you looking to collaborate with a local (onshore) or foreign (offshore) app development company?
US-based top app development companies are renowned for the quality of their work, both in terms of design and development. They are going to be able to visit you on-site if and when necessary, and working with them will keep you within your own cultural, legal and business environment.
Foreign app developers offer different benefits depending on their region.
Eastern European top app development companies are respected for their design and development skills, but command somewhat higher rates than other popular outsourcing hubs. Nevertheless, partnering with Eastern European app developers will still give you a significant cost advantage in comparison to the home-based ones.
South and East Asia-based app developers have immense and greatly varied talent pools which allow them to quickly find the skill sets you need. These regions are also known for their cost efficiency as they are one of the most competitive markets in that respect.
South America is quickly catching up to the other popular outsourcing hubs. South American top app development companies will also offer competitive rates with the added convenience of overlapping time zones.
Looking for high-end app development services?Find them here!
Research Before You Hire An App Developer
When researching app developers in your target regions, take note of:
Their origins story: Of course, every app development company has to start someday and somewhere, but even the mobile app developers should have a story that testifies to their potential. Who is their founder and what is her or his track record? What can you learn about their team? Have they received any awards or other accolades? Look for signs of collective character and credibility.
Their presentation: The biggest issue with most IT organizations is that they lack interest and understanding of the business side of the products they make. This is one of the most important aspects of your future app, i.e. the value it will provide to your users and to your business. So it is advisable that you carefully examine the app development companies’ websites and other content to gauge how invested they would be in understanding your target market and your business needs.
Their reviews: Try to find any third-party reviews of the app development companies’ services. We advise you not to make this the decisive factor, rather a point of conversation if the company piques your interest enough to schedule an interview.
Their rates: Some companies will display their rates on their website or on third-party platforms. Be sure to check if your budget would fit these, but keep in mind that the rates you see online may not be definitive.
10 Questions To Ask When Interviewing Top App Development Companies
When you narrow your search down to the best app development companies, you’ll be ready to start the interview process.
While interviewing the candidates, make sure to address the following:
1. Have You Ever Created Apps For Clients In The Same Or Similar Industry?
Although not necessary, it is advisable to hire an app development company that has previous exposure to your industry and experience in building apps similar to the one you need.
This is important because hiring a partner who understands your market well can better meet your expectations and accelerate project delivery.
2. What Are Your Core Areas Of Expertise?
It is important to hire a partner that has the required expertise and has the specific skills to work on your project.
Every company has its own strengths and areas they focus on. And, finding the right match will ensure your project’s success since the experts who are qualified in the particular field you need services in are able to meet your expectations the best.
Find out what technical skills the potential candidates on our list possess. The best app developers should have high-level programming and related technical skills to be able to deliver a fully functional product.
3. What Is Your Preferred Development Method?
While Agile is the gold standard of software development in general, some companies have their own take on it, or they will prefer other methodologies like Rapid App Development (RAD) or Waterfall.
Whatever their answer is, try to gauge how carefully they’ve thought their methods through as these will define the way your app development process flows and the way you and your partner will collaborate.
4. What Is Your Developer Retention Rate?
Ask these companies what their employee retention rate is to understand whether they are able to keep their developers or not.
This is important to know because you want your app development team to be stable so that you don’t lose time or focus while your development partner is training newcomers.
5. Do You Offer Post-development/Maintenance Services?
Apps not only need to be constantly updated and maintained but as your business grows they will also need to evolve and change.
Thus, you may want to discuss the possibility of a long-term collaboration with your prospective app development partner.
6. Can you explain the app development process?
Asking an app development company about the steps they take when they create their apps will give you an insight into their technical skills and expertise.
However, it will also help you understand whether they create documentation, test their apps before launching them and even if they are optimizing them for search engines. All these little factors can contribute to your project’s success.
7. Who Of Your Developers Will Work On My Project And How Experienced They Are?
To get a cutting-edge app that is fully functional and compelling at the same time make sure you hire developers who have the required technical skills.
Thus, find out who will build your app and ask where you can see their personal portfolios. This will give you an insight into their level of experience and relevant skillset.
Also, you might want to check the companies reviews and ratings since they can tell you a lot about these agencies and developers’ qualifications.
8. How Do You Approach Ux?
With over 2 million apps in Google Play store alone, users have become highly selective in their digital consumption which means that great in-app experience is a must.
This is why you need a product that is both fully functional but also compelling since it is not only important what clients think about your app but also how they feel about it.
Thereby, make sure you hire an agency that creates its apps with user experience in mind.
9. Will I Be Involved In The Process And To What Extent?
Another factor that can contribute to your project’s success is the collaboration between your company and your app developer.
A professional agency understands that your involvement is of great importance. So, they will put together a plan and provide you with different tasks that will accelerate the decision-making process and project delivery.
10. Will I Own The Code Once The Project Ends?
Normally, the person who creates the code is the one who owns it. However, your contract with the developer will, i.e. should, name you the owner of your app as your intellectual property.
Besides protecting your IP, claiming ownership of your app will save you from headaches; For instance, the code is constantly changing and developers can make you very dependent on their technologies.
What’s more, if you decide to change your app development company, you should also have all the necessary files and documentation that will allow your new partner to take care of your product.
Last Tips On Hiring App Development Companies
Make sure to familiarize yourself with some technical aspects of mobile app development.
The process of researching and choosing the perfect app development company can be overwhelming, so it helps to know exactly what you are looking for.
Selecting a business model for your app is also important. Do you want a full-service package or custom-picked app development services?
These are the final aspect to keep in mind before making a decision.
Sign The Contract And NDA Agreement With Your App Development Company
You’ve selected your mobile app development partner.
Now all that remains to make your partnership official is to sign the contract.
Your development partner is likely to have a contract template on file.
At this point, you will want your legal representative involved to edit and expand the contract according to your organization’s requirements.
It is not unusual to go back and forth with this a few times until both parties are satisfied.
Besides the contract, discuss the NDA agreement with your legal team to ensure your app and intellectual property (IP) are protected.
Make sure you sign and seal the agreement before you share any sensitive data with your app development partner
We’ve ranked the top U.S. app development companies.Find them here!
Start Mobile Application Development!
Your project is now ready to take off. Your mobile app development partner and your in-house team will work closely to create the product roadmap that will guide the creation of your app.
This way, you will be able to follow the evolution of your app from start to finish.
And once it is done, you will have a tailor-made product on your hands.
All thanks to choosing the right app development company for your business.
Our Analysts Have Reviewed Thousands Of App Development Companies
so you don’t have to.
Top App Developers is your go-to source for reliable, cost effective, local and global app development companies.
Browse our directory by the companies’ expertise, OS specialization, industry focus or location to find the perfect app development partner for your business.
Each company is screened rigorously and continuously based on:
Portfolio & Case Studies
Beyond a smooth performance and UX, apps require a deep understanding of business value and user behavior to be successful.
Clients & Reviews
We engage with the companies’ clients to learn more about their work quality and ethic.
Leadership & Team Expertise
More than technical expertise, we look for effective management, as well as agile and meticulous development teams.
Industry Recognition
Great app development companies earn accolades for their work; We consider, and award them too.
How We Make Sure You Get The Most Reliable App Development Company Rankings Possible
We internalize two facts: That your business needs are unique. And that the industry is ever changing.
Company Rankings
Find the right partner for your business; We’ve categorized and subcategorized app development companies to facilitate your search.
Updated Information
The industry is changing rapidly, and so are the app development companies. Our experts are keeping up with both to ensure you get the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Nothing escapes our experts. They assess, categorize and rank each app development company carefully, so you don't have to.
Need Help Finding The Right App Development Partner?
Our experts are here for you. GET IN TOUCH if you need help narrowing down your search, screening the prospective development partners, or if you need general advice on app development partner research.