One of the first questions budding app entrepreneurs ask is how much it costs to build an app. Another is how long it will take to do so. Why? Because building an app involves much more than a financial investment. It also requires an investment of time – and lots of it.

Like money, the time to build an app really depends on your particular app and the team building it. However, that answer isn’t a lot of fun. So to give you an idea of how long it takes to build an app, we’ve come up with some rough estimates in this infographic below.

General Timeline for How Long It Takes to Make an App

The process of creating a basic app usually takes approximately two to three months. Two weeks are typically dedicated to the initial design and mockup phase. The actual development phase usually lasts around five weeks; this stage also includes testing. After the app has been developed, it takes one to two weeks to prep the app and submit it to the relevant app marketplace.

Keep in mind, this last stage rarely represents the true end to the process of how long it takes to build a strong app. It’s very common for new iterations of apps to be released after their creators can gather user feedback and monitor their app’s performance.

How App Types Affect the Timeline

Again, the timeline outlined above is merely a general breakdown of the app development process. How long it takes to build your app depends on what type of app you’re planning.

An app that is graphics-intensive (such as a game) may take six to 12 months to complete. If an app requires a server backend (such as Bahndr or Mime-Me), development may last three to four months. A basic standalone app that does not require Internet support will often only take two to three months to create.

Major Points to Consider

Certain other factors will naturally influence how long it takes to make an app. For instance, adding social media integration and login/sharing capabilities requires an extra one to two weeks.

The design process is also important to keep in mind. Developing an app with a custom feel will obviously take longer than developing one with a more basic UI. That said, by partnering with developers who embrace a design sprint approach, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to plan the initial design.

The platform you choose for your app also plays a role in the length of the development process. For instance, developing an app for Android typically takes longer than developing an app for iOS or Windows.

Work With Experienced App Builders for Quicker Development That Never Sacrifices Quality

As you can tell, how long it takes to develop apps varies greatly depending on the project and type of app. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but, hopefully, the information above will help to give you an idea of what to expect. Additionally, keep in mind that the amount of time it takes to build apps can depend greatly on the team you work with. Experienced app developers have a better grasp of the best techniques and processes to speed up development without sacrificing quality.

Want to work with top mobile developers that can turn your idea into a successful app? Reach out to our team to discuss your project.