Having an App Developed: From Concept to Finished App
Get app developed by professionals
Save money, time and resources - start outsourcing your app development and let an experienced team including a project manager program your app.
You have an app idea and want to have it professionally developed—without having to do the coding yourself. That’s exactly what having an app developed is all about: An experienced team handles the concept, design, development, testing, and launch, while you focus on your product and your users. In this guide, you’ll learn about the different types of apps, how much development costs, how long it takes, and what to look for when choosing a partner.
Even if the tools for the App development are accessible to everyone, developing a mobile application that will be used on smartphones or tablets can be quite challenging. For this reason, most reputable app companies have a good CTO, to make sure they can offer the latest app technology. They have a good App idea and are thinking about building or having a mobile app developed, e.g. a web app / progressive web app (PWA), a native app on iOS or Android, or a Hybrid app? Do you need help before or during the app development process? In the following sections, we will address basic questions that should be asked when it comes to developing a mobile app or having it developed. There are even rare scenarios where free app development is offered by providing user testing for free.
Which kind of mobile application to develop?
A App development certainly requires a good understanding of the various app technologies that are out there. In addition, it can be difficult to find, understand, and manipulate appropriate tools to App development in a DIY way, and certainly API development can be tricky. That's not to say that DIY app development is impossible. You have to be willing to show perseverance - learning app programming is often a story of trial and error, especially when more challenging tasks like API development are at hand. The app development journey for beginners is not a ride with a smoothly turning engine, unless you are a genius developer.
There are freelance app development or App development agencieswhich self-made aka self-taught app developers can count on in the worst case scenario. However, you won't find any app development agency that develops apps for free. Free app development is only available in self-made, not at the Outsourcing. So, knowing that mobile app development is a simpler but paid solution, we wonder what are the different types of mobile apps that can be developed DIY or by a dedicated team. Here comes a brief list of the different types of apps:
Native Apps
Native apps are developed specifically for the operating systems iOS and Android: developed. Which languages should be used for native mobile app development? Swift or Objective-C for iOS, Java or Kotlin for Android. Xcode is to Apple what Android Studio is to Android. Both Xcode and Android Studio function as iOS-specific integrated development environments.
Native applications are usually very reliable, have an extensive range of functions, and tend to offer the best user experience (UX) and the highest security standards.
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps run directly in the browser and can be used without downloading anything from the app store. They are developed using modern web technologies—JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS—usually based on frameworks such as React, Angular, Vue, or Svelte, in combination with service workers for offline functionality and push notifications. PWAs are generally less expensive and faster to develop than native apps and can be accessed via a URL on all platforms.
Some App developers see the biggest advantage of PWAs in the fact that they run on all operating systems and thus only one app version needs to be created for all platforms and devices. The app is rendered via URL directly in the mobile browser. No app store downloads are required. The cross-platform and cross-device functionality is a big plus when deciding what type of app to develop or have developed.
Hybrid Apps
A hybrid application at zero cost is an unfulfilled dream of many app teams looking for suitable developers. The development of a hybrid app is based on React Native, the most popular mobile app framework from appleute, and Ionic or Cordova. The hybrid app development is done using React Native, Ionic or Cordova. These frameworks work across operating systems / platforms: iOS, Android, mobile, web. A single programming language is used and device compatibility is ensured. The hybrid app can be added to the homescreen, clickable by an icon. The hybrid app development is faster than native app development, but the feature set is more limited.
More than 90 % of the apps can be downloaded from either Google Play or the App Store. Most of the apps offered are still native, as they are superior to other app types in terms of key performance indicators. Native Apps are not referenced by search engines like Google in their SERPs. This prevents customer acquisition at the browser level. In contrast, PWAs are referenced by search engines and can be easily installed on any mobile device. In summary, the best of both the native app and PWA worlds: performance, functionality, security, reliability, Google referencing, browser compatibility, cross-device usability.
Who can take over app development?
A App development is not something you just pull out of your sleeve. To whom do you entrust your app project? Either yourself (assuming you have the time, motivation and skills) or a specialized App development agencyeither a native app development or a PWA Development Agency, which handles technical app engineering at a high level.
Having an app developed by a specialized app agency means being able to draw on years of experience and knowledge. Of course the app development costs money. Unfortunately you can App development costs not standardize. It starts with several thousands of euros for a simple app and can quickly reach a mid or high five-figure range, or even a seven-figure range. App development at zero cost remains, i.e. having an app developed at zero cost remains a dream. However, there are alternative solutions for financing an app development team, e.g. Tech for Equity. Development costs and maintenance costs should be included in any budget calculation when developing an app. Once funding is clarified, anyone planning to develop an App idea has, make sure that the app development service provider is a good fit. They may offer free testing as part of their offering for the App development on, which is not a bad thing at all, as user experience (UX) is key to your mobile app. Mobile and automated testing should be done to check performance across platforms and devices.
What does it cost to have an app developed?
The costs for app development can vary greatly. They depend largely on the complexity, range of functions, design and choice of platform. As a rough guide:
App type | Price range |
Simple app (MVP) | 15.000 € - 40.000 € |
Medium complexity | 40.000 € - 80.000 € |
Complex company app | 80.000 € - 200.000+ € |
These prices include conception, design, development, testing and go-live. Ongoing maintenance, updates and hosting are usually charged separately.
What factors influence development costs?
- Platform: Native development for iOS and Android often doubles the effort. Cross-platform approaches with Flutter or React Native save up to 40 % of the costs.
- Functionality: Features such as login, chat, map functions, API integration, databases or AI increase the development effort.
- Design complexity: Customized, animated interfaces are more complex than simple UI templates.
- Backend & Hosting: A secure, scalable infrastructure incurs additional costs.
- Interfaces (APIs): Integration of external systems (e.g. CRM, payment) requires more coordination and testing.
- Data protection & security: GDPR-compliant storage and security measures (encryption, authentication) increase the requirements.
Maintenance & updates: After the launch, regular costs are incurred for maintenance and further development.
How long does it take to have an app developed?
The duration of app development depends heavily on the scope of the project. Average time periods:
Project scope | Time frame |
MVP / Prototype | 8 - 12 weeks |
Medium complexity | 3 - 5 months |
Complex systems | 6 - 12 months |
The project period is divided into the following phases:
- Discovery & Concept: 1 - 3 weeks
- Design (UI/UX): 2 - 4 weeks
- Development (frontend + backend): 2 - 4 months
- Testing & Launch: 2 - 4 weeks
Delays are often caused by a lack of decisions, unclear requirements or late feedback. An experienced partner helps to minimize such risks.
Having an app developed, created, or programmed—what's the difference?
In everyday language, the terms “have an app developed,” “have an app created,” and “have an app programmed” all mean the same thing: you’re entrusting the technical implementation of your idea to a team. There’s a subtle difference: “development” encompasses the entire process from concept through design to operation, while “programming” refers more narrowly to the coding itself. You can find an overview of our full range of services under App Development Services.
Why appleute: German project management + an experienced team
appleute combines German project management with a well-coordinated, experienced development team for companies seeking reliable implementation rather than low-cost outsourcing:
- German Contact: A German-speaking project manager in your time zone who thinks proactively.
- Quality & Security: GDPR compliance, documentation, testing, and code reviews in accordance with German standards.
- Predictability: clear milestones, transparent budgets, designated points of contact.
- Legal Certainty: Contracts, Data Protection, and Billing Through Our German GmbH.
Why hybrid agencies like Appleute offer clear advantages
As a hybrid agency, Appleute combines German project management with a Indian development team. This combination offers enormous advantages:
✅ German contact persons
You communicate with a German-speaking project manager who understands your requirements, thinks proactively and works in your time zone.
✅ Cost efficiency
Thanks to our permanent development team in India, you benefit from significantly lower development costs - without compromising on quality or reliability.
✅ Quality standard made in Germany
Despite offshore development, we ensure the highest German quality and security standards - including GDPR compliance, documentation, testing and code reviews.
✅ Speed through time zones
While it's closing time in Germany, our team in India continues to work - ideal for rapid project progress.
✅ Legal certainty
Contracts, data protection and invoicing are handled by our German GmbH - maximum transparency and clarity for your company.
Our app development process at Appleute
Our app projects follow a proven, clearly structured process - flexibly adaptable to your requirements:
1. initial meeting & requirements analysis
We discuss your goals, target groups, competitive environment and specific app idea. From this, we derive initial technical recommendations and a rough concept.
Result: Rough estimate of expenditure (cost framework, time frame) and assessment of feasibility.
2. concept & UX/UI design
Based on the requirements, we develop wireframes, user journeys and visual designs. You receive clickable prototypes for approval.
Result: A complete design concept including user guidance and visual brand identity.
3. offer & milestone plan
You receive a detailed offer with a clear budget breakdown and schedule. Modular and MVP-oriented on request - so you remain flexible.
4. agile development in sprints
Development takes place iteratively in sprints. We deliver testable versions every 2-3 weeks. Regular demos and feedback rounds guarantee full transparency.
Technologies: React Native, Flutter, Node.js, Firebase, AWS, PostgreSQL and much more.
5. testing & quality assurance
We test internally (QA), with selected users (beta) and automatically. We pay attention to performance, security and usability.
6. launch & app store submission
We take care of the submission to Google Play & Apple App Store incl. screenshots, texts and configuration. Also marketing materials on request.
7. maintenance & further development
After the go-live, we offer support, monitoring, updates and feature enhancements. Your app lives - and we continue to develop it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Having an App Developed
Simple apps start at around €15,000–40,000; medium-sized projects range from €40,000 to €80,000; and complex enterprise apps start at €80,000 and up. Calculate your budget using our Go through the app cost calculator.
An MVP typically takes 8–12 weeks to develop, medium-sized projects take 3–5 months, and complex systems take 6–12 months.
Yes. Many clients start with an idea and a rough concept; we take over from the very first meeting.
That depends on your target audience. Often, a cross-platform approach using React Native or Flutter makes sense so you can serve both platforms from a single codebase.
Doing it yourself is possible, but it’s time-consuming and prone to errors. An agency brings experience, established processes, and reliability, and ultimately usually saves you time and money.
German project management, transparent budgets, and an experienced team with GDPR-compliant quality standards.
Want to get your App developed?
Get in touch - the appleute-Team is looking forward to hearing from you!
EN 
DE 
FR 
ES