Introduction
Today’s web applications are in high demand. You can find web apps for nearly any service on the internet, including social media management, customer relations development, sales and online workplaces, text optimization, grammar checking, entertainment, and many others.
Examples of popular web applications include Semrush, HubSpot, and Salesforce CRM. The notion, Grammarly and Netflix.
You can also use this opportunity to build a web app for your business idea. There are many options for developing a web app, each with its own cost.
This guide will explain the factors influencing a web application development cost and show you the different paths you must take. I will also give you an estimate of each charge. This guide will help you make the right decision and create a high-quality, cost-effective web application. Let’s first discuss why you should create a web app.
Why should you develop a web app?
This is why web apps are becoming more popular. You only need to create one web app, and you can then sell subscriptions to as many people as you wish. You are responsible for all updates, maintenance, and the costs of maintaining your app once it is developed.
This is a lot cheaper than developing a product from scratch. You have to pay per piece and keep them in inventory.
A web application can also help you develop customer relationships and sell products. This makes customers more likely to be loyal to your web app for a long-term partnership.
Many web applications, for example, offer a basic version free of charge that their customers can later upgrade to if they have more needs. There are also web applications that provide access to the premium version of their application for a short time, such as 7 or 30 days. This is a great way to attract new customers, as it eliminates all barriers.
What’s the difference between web applications and websites?
It is easy to get confused between web applications and websites. They serve different purposes and are, therefore, other. Here’s how they differ:
Web app
- It was designed to serve a potential client directly.
- Example: These web apps were developed by Reallect to help build and expand a real estate website. Aprive is another free real estate CRM.
- You must log in and verify your authentication to use the web app.
- Any web application changes will require the entire project to be rebuilt and deployed again.
- It is more difficult to create than a website.
- A web app is an extension of a website.
Website
- Websites provide information about the company and the products/services it offers. Indirectly, this information may lead to a sale later.
- Example: – Take a look at Acquaint Softtech website. This site is designed to promote our services and spread knowledge so that we can connect with potential clients.
- You don’t need to log in or authenticate to access a website. You may be asked to log in for premium data.
- You don’t have to make any changes that affect the project.
- It is much easier to create than a web application.
- A website can contain a web application.
What types of web apps are based on their functions, and what do they look like?
There are many types of web apps. There are five types of web apps that serve different purposes. Let’s take a look at each one.
Static Web AppsThis type of web app, as the name implies, is fixed and, therefore, easier to create than other types. For a small subscription fee, static web apps only have limited content. These web apps can easily be built using HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. A blog offering premium and free content is an example.
Dynamic Web Apps
The dynamic web app stores or retrieves the required data in real time, according to the user’s request. It is more difficult to create than static web apps. You can use Node.js and jQuery to build dynamic web applications. Facebook is the most popular example of an active website app.
Single-page apps
Single-page apps are web applications in which one page is the most important. A small amount of information can be updated over time. Gmail, PayPal, as well as Airbnb are examples of single-page applications. Meteor and VueJS can be used to create a single-page app.
Multi-page apps
Multiple-page apps have information scattered across multiple pages. Data must be pulled from the database every time a page is clicked. Amazon is the most popular example of a multi-page app. It contains data for many products, which can be fetched when a particular product is selected.
Progressive web applications
Progressive web apps are similar to mobile apps and can also be used on smartphones. This means that you can access all information from your mobile browser. You can access these progressive web apps through Uber, Spotify, YouTube, and many other services.
Factors affecting web app development cost
Scope for your project
Your project’s scope is the extent to which you want to reach your target audience. Because there is limited growth potential, some web applications are easy to create and maintain. A school management system is one example. A school can only accommodate a certain number of teachers and students. It will take years for them to increase this capacity.
Therefore, a school management system is easier to construct and maintain than a larger project.
Amazon Prime is a high-scope project that falls at the opposite end of the spectrum. This subscription-based service allows you to view TV shows and movies. It offers other benefits, such as purchasing Amazon products. In the US, there were 153 million subscribers in 2021. Worldwide, the number will exceed that.
This shows the project’s scope and ability to reach a wide audience. The subscribers also grow faster than the previous school management system example. This means that a task of this scope is more difficult to manage and will cost you more.
How will the scope of your project impact your web app development costs?
The larger the project’s scope, the more difficult it will be to build and maintain. The more complex your project is, the more expensive it will be.
But don’t panic! But don’t despair if you have a limited budget and are trying to build a large-scale project. You can create an MVP of your web app to reduce risk and cost. You can also grow your web application as necessary. Many successful entrepreneurs prefer to start with an MVP. Start small and aim to succeed.
Country in which your developer lives
In the past, companies and startups hired employees from their local communities. With the advancement of technology, it is possible to take advantage of the skills of people from all over the globe while still saving money. This can be done by hiring remote developers or freelancers. Both of these options will be discussed in detail later in this article.
For now, however, it is important to understand that different countries have economies and, therefore, pay scales. It is common in the USA to pay $50k per year for a developer. It is still much more than the salaries of Indian developers. Take a look at how different regions charge for offshore development.
You can save big on hiring developers in-house by using remote developers or freelancers instead. This will allow you to maintain the highest quality of your project.
How does your country of origin affect the cost of web app development?
Due to differences in currency values, different countries have different pay rates. You can hire multiple Indian developers with similar experience to one American developer. This brings us to…
The developer you choose to hire.
The more experience a developer has, the higher he will charge. This is obvious. You can still expect them to be more skilled and have faster development. This can partially negate the differences in pay due to experience.
Hiring an experienced developer will help you save time and launch your web app sooner. You will save more money if you reduce the development time.
Let me show you an example: Suppose a junior developer charges $50 per hour but completes your project within 100 hours. Your web app development costs will be $5000, excluding any redevelopments.
You can also hire a senior developer for $75 who completes your project within 75 hours. The project cost will be $5625. Are you convinced that paying $625 more to have your project completed 25 hours earlier is worth the cost? You can also expect fewer bugs and higher quality from senior developers.
How will the experience of your developers impact the cost of web app development?
You will pay more for the expertise and speed of development if you hire a more experienced developer.
Choose the tech stack that suits you best.
There are many technologies that you can use to build your website application. They all come at different prices. You will pay more for languages that are less popular or in high demand.
A Java developer will cost more than a PHP developer, as Java is more widely used for backend development than PHP. Take a look at these charts for a better understanding.
Programming Languages
| Skill | Low Hourly Rate | High Hourly Rate | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | $15 | $120 | $59.73 |
| C# | $12 | $120 | $63.13 |
| C++ | $25 | $150 | $63.18 |
| Java | $20 | $100 | $53.17 |
| JavaScript | $20 | $225 | $48.98 |
| Kotlin | $15 | $60 | $36.58 |
| PHP | $15 | $90 | $54.02 |
| Python | $25 | $150 | $52.88 |
| R Language | $35 | $100 | $51.33 |
Frontend Frameworks
| Skill | Low Hourly Rate | High Hourly Rate | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angular.js | $22 | $160 | $59.96 |
| Backbone.js | $33 | $100 | $57.64 |
| D3.js | $30 | $120 | $55.29 |
| Ember.js | $15 | $150 | $54.22 |
| Foundation | $10 | $90 | $49.38 |
| jQuery | $15 | $120 | $58.58 |
| React.js | $35 | $200 | $59.29 |
| Semantic UI | $9 | $80 | $37.85 |
Backend Frameworks
| Skill | Low Hourly Rate | High Hourly Rate | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET | $35 | $130 | $60.67 |
| CakePHP | $8 | $85 | $46.92 |
| Django | $20 | $100 | $50.78 |
| Express | $32 | $140 | $52.42 |
| Flask | $20 | $250 | $58.07 |
| Laravel | $30 | $100 | $50.20 |
| Ruby on Rails | $30 | $100 | $50.20 |
| Spring Boot | $32 | $210 | $60.59 |
Content Management Systems
| Skill | Low Hourly Rate | High Hourly Rate | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drupal | $8 | $200 | $63.35 |
| Joomla | $34 | $85 | $50.73 |
| WordPress | $12 | $110 | $44.13 |
Ecommerce
| Skill | Low Hourly Rate | High Hourly Rate | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | $20 | $125 | $59.00 |
| Shopify | $5 | $120 | $59.11 |
| Magento | $20 | $80 | $47.96 |
Miscellaneous
| Skill | Low Hourly Rate | High Hourly Rate | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android | $20 | $160 | $55.48 |
| iOS | $30 | $100 | $53.04 |
| Salesforce | $35 | $130 | $72.42 |
| Unity | $35 | $125 | $54.77 |
Miscellaneous
But, even though they may be more expensive than others, I still recommend you choose reliable technology. Why?
How does your tech stack affect your web app development cost?
Different technologies come at different prices. Choosing your tech stack carefully is important as it can be costly to replace later. Sometimes, your web app may only work on some mobile and desktop computers. You will need to be able to use more technologies, so you need to hire more developers. This will raise the cost of project development.
The complexity and UI/UX design for your web app
Complex stuff takes longer to make and is more difficult to build. It is also obvious that the more complicated it is, the higher it will cost. The good news is you don’t have to be a master of UI/UX design to achieve great results.
You should avoid this mistake, as complicated UI/UX designs can feel overwhelming and uninviting. You must ensure that your design represents your brand and conveys the feelings you want your customers to have.
Other than those, a key aspect of designing is navigation. Is it easy for visitors to get to the page and complete your desired actions? Is it easy for visitors to navigate from one page to the next?
These things will give you a higher return than investing in a complicated UI/UX design.
How does the complexity of UI/UX design impact your web app development costs?
Complex UI/UX designs have more elements than simple one. It takes more time to create. It will take longer to develop if not optimized with the utmost care. It isn’t worth the effort to create a complicated design. It will work for you if it takes care of the basics I mentioned earlier.
Maintenance and updates
Once you have launched your web app, maintenance and upgrades will inevitably cost. However, only successful and growing companies have the right to pay for maintenance and updates.
This includes fixing bugs, optimizing the code, updating plugins, tightening security, scaling up capacity, and other tasks. This is essential to ensure your web application meets the ever-changing demands.
You may wonder how much it will cost. As your web application grows in popularity, so does the cost of maintenance and upgrades. It will initially be lower, but it may rise over time.
How do maintenance and upgrade affect the cost of web app development?
After you launch the first version of your web app, maintenance and upgrades are required. It is challenging to estimate this cost since it is an ongoing affair.
Other costs
Hidden and other costs will always occur when you get involved in such a large project. You should have an emergency fund in place to handle these situations. These are just a few of the services and events you will need to pay for:
Cyberattack
Every business owner wants his project to be safe. Cyber attacks are quite common nowadays, and no one is immune. While you can give yourself the best chance of surviving against it, your project may still be hacked on bad days.
If you follow the correct steps, your web app can be revived. This will require expertise and money.
Miscellaneous
Other recurring costs are what you will most likely face. It will be plugins, hosting, domain and additional regular expenses that you are most likely to encounter.
What does this mean for your web app development costs?
It could be the cost of hosting, domains, or plugins. You may be the victim of a cyberattack. In such cases, it is important to seek professional assistance.
Which route should you take to find the right team member?
Although there are many options for building your web application, the most popular are three. Each path offers a unique journey experience. Let me show you one of these:
Team in-house
This is the most traditional way to build anything. If you hire the right team, you can give them office space, pay their salary and bonuses, and keep them happy. You can complete your project in a short time.
This approach has been proven to work with ups and downs. This approach is expensive for startups and small businesses.
This is how you should think about it – not only do you have to pay for the work you receive, but also for any maintenance costs. As long as the company has resources and revenues, well-established businesses may be able to handle it. If you’re starting out, it may be a huge financial risk.
Consider your financial requirements before you embark on this journey.
Pros
- You can collaborate with your team while you are watching.
- Most of the time, you get results
- Clear communication
Cons
- Too expensive
- This is not the best place for startups or small businesses
- Geographic limitations limit the ability to access talent
- It isn’t easy to find the right team
Freelance developers
Companies and individuals who wish to become self-employed have found great relief in freelancing. Companies and individuals can get the work done for a small fee. There are no overhead costs such as office space or bonuses.
If you are looking to build a web app, this is not something you can do in one person. Multiple developers are required to work together in your team. You will need various developers to help you build your web application.
Can you see the problem? There are many freelance developers you can hire. It takes work to bring them together for your project.
Freelancer platforms can be unreliable because they must take responsibility for completing your project on time.
Pros
- Affordable
- There is no upfront cost
- Talent can be found anywhere in the world.
Cons
- Finding a team who can work together on the project takes time and effort.
- It is not possible to complete your project on schedule.
Team for Outsourcing
This path is a combination of the in-house team with freelancer developers. It combines the best of both.
You can discuss your requirements with a trusted web development agency. You will be able to hire developers right away and start your project.
It is crucial to interview developers and choose the best team. After completing your project, your parts will be broken down into milestones and given a deadline. Once the first milestone has been achieved, the team will contact you to obtain your approval.
Outsourcing a team has the advantage that you can supervise your developers while still having the freedom of freelance platforms.
Pros
- Saves you development cost
- It takes no time to get started on your project
- Finding good developers takes little time or money.
- An NDA helps you to keep your project confidential.
Cons
- Trustworthiness is not always a guarantee with some agencies. You should choose your partner carefully.
- Communication problems may exist.
How do you choose the right tech stack for your web application?
The tech stack is very important when it comes to determining the quality and cost of your project. Choose a tech stack that will allow you to create a web application with all the features you want. You also need to ensure that the cost of your tech stack is manageable. These are some tips to help you choose the best tech stack.
- Learn what you really need in your web app – performance requirements, features, UI/UX, etc.
- You can filter out different technologies based on your needs.
- Because it contains a large amount of pre-written code, I recommend Laravel development PHP Framework for building your web app.
- JavaScript frameworks such as AngularJS or ReactJS can be used for the front end.
Conclusion
I hope you now know the cost of building your web application. As I mentioned, outsourcing can help reduce the cost of developing your web application. If you are considering outsourcing, there are some things to remember to ensure you choose the right company.
- Experience of at least 5 years
- Portfolio of clients
- Clear communication
- Test task completed successfully
- NDA Agreement
To help you save time when searching for the right partner, we are an agency that has all these checks. To better understand us, don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your project and test them. We look forward to seeing you on the other side.
