You’ve conceptualized, wireframed, and designed your new app—now it’s time to develop it for launch. Which means it’s time to choose: Android or iOS?
Launching a native app on Android and iOS platforms simultaneously can be cost-prohibitive and risky, especially since you don’t yet know how users will respond to your app. Because of the uncertainties, most businesses choose to start with one or the other.
Compare the Android and iOS platforms
There’s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing between Android development and iOS development to launch your app. There are six major differences between iOS and Android app development, which can be drilled down to four key considerations. You can use these factors to help determine which platform to target mobile app to develop first—and who to partner with to develop it.
1. Audience
The iOS user is often from North America or Europe, and trends show they tend to spend more on in-app purchases. In fact, while Android users download more apps total, iOS still leads in revenue figures.
On the other hand, Android users in Asia, Africa, and South America outnumber iOS users in those regions by 32 percent.
2. Complexity
Developing Android apps is more complex than iOS: There are more than seven versions of the Android operating system in use, and several more recent versions are still supported. There are also a wide array of Android devices, each with their own specs.
In contrast, iOS runs on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad—and iOS users are more apt to keep their software up-to-date: Almost 80 percent of iOS users are on the same version while there isn’t a single version of Android that hosts more than 50 percent of users.
3. Timeline
Your timeline considerations are twofold: Development and review.
Because Android’s users are so fragmented across different versions, the timeline for Android app development is almost always longer than an iOS app—there are some estimates that it can take anywhere from 30 to 40 percent longer.
With that said, the Apple App Store requires a longer and more rigorous review process. It can take more than 10 days with no guarantee it’ll pass—and if it doesn’t, you’ll have to fix your app and resubmit it for review.
The Google Play Store, however, has a beta store for all test releases, which typically go live within a few hours of submission.
4. Budget
Speaking of Google Play, the platform requires a simple $25 one-off fee for every app you upload; an iOS app comes with a $100 annual fee.
Otherwise, Android apps typically incur the biggest overall expenses, since you’re developing for numerous versions. However, for testing keep in mind that you should have a variety of devices on hand—and Apple’s hardware comes at a premium.
How to find great app developers
Once you’ve decided between Android and iOS, start considering the skills you need to build the app. While most developers can work within both frameworks, many specialize in one platform or the other.
Designing, developing, and launching an app is a complex, multi-step process, so you may work with more than one developer. Here’s a look at the skills you may want in an iOS developer and an Android developer.
Top skills to look for in an iOS app developer:
- Server-side and client-side coding
- Responsive design
- Design patterns
- APIs and MPIs
- Xcode
- Cocoa Touch
- Objective-C or Swift
- JavaScript
- CSS
- Mobile APIs
- Server-side scripting
- Database administration and integration
- Server administration
Top skills to look for in an Android app developer:
- Server-side and client-side coding
- Responsive design
- Android’s software development kit (SDK), Android Studio
- Java or Kotlin programming languages
- Gradle build system
- Server-side scripting
- Database administration and integration,
- Server administration
Four important phases of mobile app development
When you create a mobile app, there are a number of standard phases you’ll likely go through—and you may need different skills to navigate each one. Here are four important phases when it will be helpful to have a developer on hand.
- Wireframing: Wireframes act as a user experience roadmap. Essentially, a wireframe shows what a user’s options will be within the app. You’ll want to engage a designer to thoughtfully consider each aspect of the design.
- Software architecture planning: Scalability is crucial for your app, since you won’t want to rewrite it once it takes off. A developer can help you plan an app that can grow naturally.
- Coding and integration: As front- and back-end code is developed, expect a constant feedback loop between your designer and developer. You’ll need a developer fluent in your platform’s coding languages and frameworks. This is where the app comes to life!
- Testing: Before you submit your app to the store, you’ll need to go through your app frame by frame to look for bugs. You may also need a developer for any fixes or resubmissions the app store may want.
Whichever platform you choose, consider partnering with an experienced developer who is well-versed in the specificities of each platform. Freelance developers can work with you to build an app that’s user-friendly, scalable, and well tested. To learn more, check out the articles about mobile apps on the Hiring Headquarters.
Ready to get started? Create an awesome job post that attracts the freelancers and skills you need.
The post iOS vs Android Mobile App Development: Which to Launch First and Who to Hire appeared first on Upwork Blog.
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