You get what you pay for” is a famous proverb that often rings true, especially when hiring a web app development team. But how much should you actually budget when embarking on building a new web application? The costs can vary wildly based on the app’s complexity, features, timeline and the team’s experience. Understanding the key factors that drive development costs is crucial for creating a realistic budget and setting clear expectations.
In this article, we’ll break down the typical costs associated with hiring web app developers by examining key influencing factors. You’ll learn average hourly rates in different regions, total estimated hours for projects of varying scopes, and insider tips for budgeting your web app build intelligently right from the start. Let’s dive in!
What Impacts the Cost of Your Web App Project?
Several elements contribute to the overall time and budget required to take a web app from idea to launched product. The major factors are:
Complexity – Is this a simple CRM system or an AI-powered smart assistant? The more complex features and functionality are needed, the more development hours are required
Location – Average developer hourly rates range wildly across countries and regions. Hiring a team in Eastern Europe costs significantly less than one in North America.
Developer Experience – Senior developers with 10+ years of experience command higher hourly rates than entry-level coders. Their expertise speeds up the process.
Design – Simple black-and-white UI is faster to build than a slick, interactive UX with animations. Design is a major line item
Testing – Rigorous testing across devices takes time but is vital for quality. Automated testing helps but isn’t foolproof.
Integrations – Connecting to payment systems, databases etc. adds development and QA time. The more third-party integrations, the higher the costs.
Platform – Mobile apps require specialized skills and extra effort to publish on App Store and Google Play. They often cost more than web apps.
Maintenance – After launch, ongoing support and enhancements require dedicated resources. Plan for sustaining costs
What Does the Average Web App Project Cost?
Now that we know the key variables impacting costs, what does the price tag look like? Let’s dig into the specific activities required to build a web app and the associated costs for each. Based on average hourly developer rates across Eastern Europe ($25-$35/hour), North America ($50-$150/hour) and India ($15-$25/hour), we can estimate total budget numbers for apps of varying complexity.
Planning and scoping ($7,000-$15,000)
This critical upfront phase involves detailed requirements gathering, creating user journeys, mapping integrations, evaluating technology choices and more. With an experienced project manager driving the process, expect 70-200 hours for proper planning.
UX/UI design ($10,000-$25,000)
Crafting an intuitive, attractive UI/UX requires an iterative process of wireframing, prototyping, user testing and refinement. With a skilled designer, plan on 200-500 hours for design.
Frontend development ($25,000-$75,000)
For the client-facing front, developers will build out responsive site architecture in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, and integrate APIs, frameworks, & libraries like React or Angular. 500-1500 hours is typical.
Backend development ($20,000-$65,000)
The behind-the-scenes server-side work involves building APIs, databases, admin interfaces, integrations and complex logic. Approximately 400-1300 hours.
Testing ($10,000-$30,000)
Rigorous testing across browsers, devices and user flows is crucial for identifying bugs and ensuring quality. Automated and manual testing will require 200-600 hours.
Deployment ($2,000-$5,000)
Deploying on servers or cloud infrastructure, configuring domains, SSL, caching and performance optimization takes around 40-100 hours.
Maintenance ($3,000+/mo)
Once live, apps require ongoing maintenance, monitoring, bug fixes and feature enhancements involving at least 1 dedicated resource.These ballpark ranges account for mid-level developer hourly rates in Eastern Europe. As you can see, the costs scale up rapidly with greater complexity, more advanced features, and the need for more development rigour.
Tips for Creating a Realistic Web App Budget
Now that you know the major variables that influence the cost and typical price ranges, here are some tips for creating a smart budget:
Prioritize ruthlessly – Rank features by value to users and start with the 10-20% that delivers 80% of the value. Leave extras as phase 2.
Hire strategically – Research locations with skilled talent like Eastern Europe, Latin America or India to find developers with quality skills at lower hourly rates.
Start with an MVP – Launch with just 20% of features to establish product-market fit faster, then expand based on user feedback.
Get multiple quotes – Talk to at least 3 firms so you can compare rates accurately for the same scope and team composition.
Discuss discounts – Offering additional modules or phases down the road provides opportunities to negotiate overall lower rates.
Consider cost-saving options – Leverage open-source libraries for things like authentication and payments to avoid reinventing the wheel
Phase development – Break work into 2-3 month phases so you get an operational product live sooner without paying for everything upfront.
Include sustaining costs – Plan 15-20% of initial dev costs annually for ongoing maintenance, bug fixes and small enhancements.
Don’t cut corners on testing – Allocate time and budget specifically for rigorous cross-device testing, load testing, and user acceptance testing.
Creating an Accurate Budget Sets the Tone
Determining a realistic web app development budget right at the planning stages sets the entire project up for success. Being clear about true must-have features, hiring strategically but avoiding the cheapest teams, and phasing development intelligently prevent unwanted surprises down the road that throw timelines and budgets off track.
While costs vary based on project complexity and team experience, hiring web development company can help you get an idea of getting realistic budget numbers to plan for. And tips like prioritizing ruthlessly, starting with an MVP product and not cutting corners on testing help craft a budget that matches the scope of your vision.
The bottom line?
Do your homework early so you can set accurate expectations, hire dedicated web developers (should be the right team) and get your web app to market cost-effectively. A well-planned budget demonstrates professionalism, prevents unwelcome surprises and instils confidence in your development partner. If you’re ready to start planning your web app project the right way, get in touch! We’d be happy to provide a customized estimate and roadmap specifically for your app’s needs.
