How Much Does It Cost To Develop an iOS App
Wondering how much it costs to develop an iOS app in 2025? Get expert cost breakdowns, formulas, and tips from India’s trusted iOS app developers at Groot Softwares.
So, you’ve made the smart move of taking your business mobile—and chosen iOS as your ideal platform to connect with potential customers. Now comes the important part: understanding the iOS app development cost so you can plan your budget wisely. If you're wondering how much does it cost to develop an app for iOS, you're in the right place.
At Groot Softwares, a leading iOS app development company in India, we help businesses of all sizes understand the full picture of custom iOS app development—from cost estimates to choosing the right tech approach. In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything—from how to create an app for iPhone, to the factors that influence the cost, and even a quick comparison between iOS and Android development costs.
To give you a quick idea, if you're planning to build an iOS application through outsourcing in the U.S., the cost can range between $15,000 to $450,000. However, outsourcing the same iOS app to an expert Indian team like Groot Softwares can bring the cost down to $10,000–$200,000, without compromising on quality.
Experts often recommend outsourcing to a professional iPhone app development agency because it helps businesses achieve premium performance at a lower cost. But the final price also depends on several hidden factors that many businesses overlook. So, let’s break it down using industry-standard calculations to estimate the true cost of developing an iPhone app.
iOS App Development Cost Estimation Formula
When it comes to iOS app development cost, whether for iOS or Android, the most common way to estimate it is by calculating the total hours needed to develop the app and then multiplying that by the hourly rates of the resources involved.
At Groot Softwares, a trusted iOS app development agency, we follow this industry-standard formula to help you understand how to make an iPhone app within your budget.
The basic formula for calculating the cost to build an iOS application looks like this:
App development cost = Total development hours × Hourly rate of iOS app developers
But that’s not all — when you break down the entire project, you’ll realize many factors influence the final price. These include the tech stack required, the location of your hire iOS developer team, the UI/UX design quality, the complexity of the app, the app category, and more.
Let’s dive deeper into each of these important factors that shape the cost of creating an iOS app.
Factors that Determine Cost of iPhone App Development
The features and functionalities you choose play a crucial role in shaping the iOS app development cost. To make sure your app fulfills both your business goals and your users’ expectations, it’s important to include the right business-driven features such as smooth navigation, secure payment gateways, and more.
At Groot Softwares, a leading iOS app development company, we emphasize building apps with these essential features that add real value to your users while fitting your budget.
These business-focused features are just one part of what influences your iPhone app development services cost. Along with them, several other important factors come into play when estimating your overall app development budget.
iOS App Development Cost Based on Size
The size of your iOS app directly impacts the iOS app development cost. As the app grows with more screens and features, the development time and budget also increase. At Groot Softwares, we guide you through the process of validating your app idea and choosing the right features before starting the actual iOS app development services. This careful planning helps avoid unnecessary costs later.
Thorough market research is another important step. This includes analyzing your competitors, understanding which devices your target users prefer, identifying the features they love, and spotting anything that might reduce user satisfaction. Studying similar apps in your niche gives valuable insights to build a better custom iOS app.
Here’s a simple checklist showing the average time and cost involved in developing iOS apps based on their size:
If you’re wondering how to create an iOS app efficiently within your budget, Groot Softwares can help you build scalable and feature-rich apps that suit your business needs.
Complexity of iOS App
An efficient iOS app is one that includes a variety of features tailored to user needs and business goals. At Groot Softwares, a trusted custom app development company, we categorize these features into five key areas that significantly impact the overall iOS app development cost.
Deployment Model of Architecture – There are two main backend development types: Custom backend and Backend as a Service (BaaS). Custom backend is built from scratch, offering full control but requiring more development time and cost. BaaS provides ready-made backend architecture, which can reduce costs and speed up iOS app building.
Development of Admin Panel – The admin panel is the app’s control center. It allows you to monitor app activity, track statistics, and update content in real time, which adds to the development scope and cost
Third-Party App Integration – Integrating your app with popular third-party services like Facebook or Google for sign-up, or payment gateways for transactions, is common and adds to the complexity and cost of your iPhone app development services.
Addition of In-App Purchases – To monetize your app, many businesses opt for in-app purchases. Adding this feature requires extra development effort and impacts the budget.
Use of Device Functions – Features like GPS, Bluetooth, camera access, and others often need to be integrated for a rich user experience, influencing the overall cost.
Here’s a quick breakdown of iOS app development cost based on the app’s complexity:
If you want to hire iOS app developers who can build apps matching your complexity and budget, Groot Softwares is here to help.
iOS App Category and Cost Breakdown
There are countless types of iOS apps, and the development cost varies greatly depending on the app category. Each category comes with unique features, target audiences, security needs, and complexity that influence the iOS app development cost.
At Groot Softwares, a reliable iOS app development company, we understand how important it is to align your app’s category with your budget and business goals.
Here’s an overview of popular iPhone app categories in 2024 and their typical development timelines and costs:
If you’re wondering how to build an app for iPhone in any of these categories, Groot Softwares’ expert iPhone app developers can help create custom solutions tailored to your needs and budget.
iOS App Design and Its Impact on Development Cost
When asking how much does it cost to develop an app, design and animation play a major role in the overall budget. At Groot Softwares, our iOS app development services include expert UI/UX design that not only looks great but also boosts user engagement and conversion rates.
A well-designed iOS app can make a huge difference in user experience. For example, similar to how GrootNet Softwares helped KFC increase its conversion rate by 28% with an intuitive design, we focus on creating iPhone app development solutions that captivate and retain users.
Here are the top three important steps in the iOS app design process that we follow:
Wireframing: This is the blueprint of your app’s user experience and features. Tools like Photoshop, Balsamiq, and MARVEL help create wireframes to map out your app’s flow clearly.
UI Design: iOS apps use flat design to bring clarity and depth, while Android prefers material design. Groot Softwares specializes in how to create an iOS app with beautiful and functional UI tailored for Apple devices.
Animation: For apps like social media, gaming, or restaurants, animations add life and interactivity, enhancing the overall experience.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of design-related development time and cost you can expect:
If you want to hire iOS app developers who understand the importance of engaging design and know how to build an app on iPhone that stands out, Groot Softwares is your go-to iOS app development company.
iOS App Development Team Size and Its Impact on Cost
The iOS app development cost greatly depends on the team you choose to build your app—whether it’s a freelance iPhone app developer or a skilled, full-stack iOS app development company like Groot Softwares.
Here’s a quick overview of average global hourly rates based on different development roles:
As you can see, hiring individual professionals separately can become expensive and harder to manage. That’s why many businesses prefer to hire iOS app developers through a reliable iOS app development agency like Groot Softwares, where a full team collaborates efficiently to deliver high-quality apps at a more cost-effective price.
Development Team Location and Its Impact on iOS App Development Cost
The location of your iOS app development team is a major factor affecting the iPhone app development cost. For example, the cost of developing an iPhone app with a team in India differs significantly from that of an iPhone app development company in the United States.
Quality and pricing of iOS app development services vary greatly across regions, with noticeable differences between eastern and western countries.
Here’s a regional cost breakdown to help you understand the variations:
While these factors give a good estimate of your iOS app development cost, remember that post-development processes like app launch and ongoing maintenance also add to your total budget.
If you want to hire iOS developers who deliver quality apps at competitive rates, Groot Softwares, a trusted iOS app development agency, is your best partner.
iOS App Launch: What It Takes to Get Featured on the App Store
Launching your app on the App Store is one of the most critical steps in the iOS app development process—and it’s not as simple as uploading the app. Apple has strict quality and security guidelines, and only apps that fully comply with these standards are approved for release.
This is why the iOS app launch phase is often considered one of the most challenging parts of the journey. From code integrity to UI/UX compliance and performance optimization, everything must meet Apple’s benchmarks to ensure a successful launch.
At Groot Softwares, we ensure your app passes Apple’s review process seamlessly by following best practices and adhering to every App Store guideline—right from development to deployment.
iOS App Maintenance: A Long-Term Investment
Getting your app live on the App Store is just the beginning. To ensure a seamless user experience and stay competitive, iOS app maintenance becomes an essential part of the development lifecycle. It’s also one of the factors that contribute to the overall iOS app development cost.
Here are the key components of iOS app maintenance:
Regular Updates
Apple frequently rolls out OS updates, and your app must remain compatible to avoid performance issues. We help you stay ahead with proactive updates that ensure your app runs smoothly on the latest iOS versions.Bug Fixes and Issue Resolution
Even after launch, unexpected bugs can surface. Whether it’s minor glitches or performance issues, our QA team ensures fast resolution to maintain a seamless experience.UI/UX Enhancements
Design trends evolve—and so should your app. We offer regular design improvements to keep your app modern, intuitive, and user-friendly. This includes visual updates, performance enhancements, and usability tweaks.
At Groot Softwares, our custom iOS app development solutions include post-launch support, ensuring your app stays optimized, secure, and competitive.
Hidden iOS App Development Costs You Should Know
When planning your iOS app development, most budget estimations focus on visible components like design, development, and testing. However, there are several hidden costs that often go unnoticed—but can impact your total investment in the long run.
Here’s a quick look at the commonly overlooked iPhone app development cost factors:
These additional expenses are essential for app performance, scalability, and security. At Groot Softwares, we help you plan ahead by providing transparent estimates and ensuring your app remains optimized through all stages—from launch to growth.
Before finalizing your mobile app strategy, it’s also wise to consider the differences between iOS vs Android app development—both in cost and approach.
iOS vs Android App Development Cost: A Comparative Analysis
Before investing in mobile app development, it’s important to compare the cost of iOS app development with Android app development. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you make an informed decision:
1. Design
Design time for both iOS and Android apps is usually similar. However, due to Apple’s strict UI/UX guidelines, iOS apps often end up with more polished and consistent designs. These high standards directly impact how users perceive quality—giving iOS a slight edge in the design department.
2. Development Time
Several factors influence the app development timeline, such as the programming language used. Android apps are typically built using Java or Kotlin, which are verbose and require more lines of code. In contrast, iOS development using Swift is faster due to its cleaner syntax.
Another major factor is device fragmentation. Android apps must work across hundreds of devices with varying screen sizes and OS versions. Apple, however, supports fewer than 30 devices—making the development process for iPhone apps faster and more predictable, which also helps reduce costs.
3. Testing Duration
With Android’s wide range of devices, testing becomes a longer and more complex process. Every variation in screen size, resolution, and OS requires detailed attention. In contrast, iOS app testing is more efficient thanks to its controlled ecosystem—saving both time and money during the QA phase.
4. Developer Hourly Rates
The cost of hiring developers depends on their expertise and the language they use. iOS developers skilled in Swift or Objective-C usually charge 10–15% more than Android developers working with Java or Kotlin. This can influence your budget, especially for long-term or feature-rich projects.
5. App Launch Cost
Getting listed on the App Store comes with stricter rules and a recurring fee of $99 per year. Android’s Play Store, on the other hand, charges just a one-time fee of $25 and has fewer restrictions. So, iOS app launch costs can be higher, both in terms of approval time and budget.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, both iOS and Android app development come with unique challenges and costs. However, the iPhone app development cost often pays off through a faster development cycle, smoother performance, and a premium user base.
To ensure smooth execution and avoid costly delays, it’s best to work with an experienced iOS app development company like Groot Softwares. We bring you practical, scalable, and cost-effective solutions to make your app launch a success.
Comparative Analysis: iOS vs Android App Development Cost
Let’s break down the cost differences between Android and iOS so you can better assess your investment:
1. Design
Both platforms require attention to UI/UX, but iOS apps are considered more polished due to Apple’s tight design guidelines.
2. Development Time
iOS: Uses Swift or Objective-C (fewer lines of code, faster development)
Android: Uses Java or Kotlin (more code, more time)
Fragmentation in Android (tons of devices and OS versions) slows things down. iOS has only ~20 device models, reducing testing time and dev hours.
3. Testing Time
iOS: Simplified due to fewer devices
Android: Extensive testing required for device compatibility
4. Developer Hourly Rates
iOS Developers (Swift/Objective-C): 10–15% more expensive
Android Developers (Java/Kotlin): Slightly more cost-effective
5. App Launch & Submission
iOS App Store: $99/year, strict guidelines
Google Play Store: $25 one-time fee, easier approval
How Can GrootNet Softwares Help You with iOS App Development?
GrootNet Softwares is a trusted iPhone app development company that specializes in building secure, scalable, and high-performing iOS digital solutions. Our experienced iOS developers are committed to delivering innovative applications tailored to modern business needs.
As a full-stack iOS app development partner, we’ve successfully delivered 100+ native iOS apps for global brands such as Pizza Hut, JobGet, and Asian Bank—each achieving remarkable success and ranking among top App Store listings.
Our expertise spans a wide range of use cases, including:
Real-time analytics
Route matching
Geo-tagging
Video streaming
E-commerce integration
Healthcare solutions
Fintech applications
No matter your industry or app vision, our team is equipped to build intuitive, feature-rich, and future-ready iOS apps that help you lead in the digital space.
Let’s bring your idea to life.
Talk to our experts today and take the first step toward building a successful iOS application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What affects iOS mobile application costs?
A. Several factors contribute to the overall iOS app development cost. These include:
Type of app (e.g., social media, enterprise, utility, etc.)
App complexity (simple, mid-level, or complex)
Design requirements
Features and functionalities
Location of the development team
Size and expertise of the team
App maintenance and support
Deployment and post-launch updates
All these elements combined define the final development hours and cost.
Q2. How to estimate iPhone app development cost?
A. There’s no fixed answer to “How much does an iPhone app cost?”, but it can be estimated using this formula:
Total Development Time (in hours) × Hourly Rate of Developers
This means that the more features and customizations you require, the more time it will take—ultimately impacting the cost.
Q3. How much does it cost to make an iOS app?
A. On average, iOS app development costs range from $30,000 to $300,000 or more, based on:
Project scope
Feature set
Complexity
Team location and rates
For an accurate estimate tailored to your idea, it’s best to consult with a professional iOS app development company.
Q4. Is there any price difference in developing apps for iOS and Android?
A. Yes, there is a cost difference. Android app development is often more expensive due to:
Device and OS fragmentation
Extensive testing required for various screen sizes and hardware
In contrast, iOS offers a more uniform ecosystem, which can make development and testing faster and more cost-effective.
Q5. Why choose iPhone apps for business?
A. Developing iOS apps offers multiple benefits for businesses:
Access to a premium global user base
Real-time customer engagement
Higher revenue potential through in-app purchases
Faster development and deployment cycles
Top-notch data security and privacy
High-quality user experience with Apple’s design and performance standards
These advantages make iOS a preferred choice for businesses aiming for brand reputation and profitability.