IOS VS ANDROID APP DEVELOPMENT

The APP Solutions
Nov 5 · 6 min read

Currently, there are about five billion mobile users around the globe. Because of this, you cannot ignore the mobile market. If your business does not have a mobile app, it may be high time you developed one. Yet right from the start, you will face the “Android vs iOS app development” dilemma. So, which platform should you focus on for your project?

Below, we have gathered the pros and cons of Android and iOS development. You will also find a platform comparison to help you make the right decision.

Let’s begin.

Android vs iOS app development: pros and cons

Developing Android apps

To create Android apps, developers use Java, C++, and Kotlin programming languages. Furthermore, Android developers use the following advanced Google development tools:

  • Android Jetpack, a set of pre-build Android components
  • Firebase is known as a comprehensive mobile app development platform
  • Android SDK development kit, connected with Android Studio, an integrated development environment

Now, let’s compare Android app advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of developing Android apps

  • Open system. Android developers receive access to more features, restricted in iOS apps.
  • Design. Developers use extensive Google design guidelines for developing an intuitive user interface.
  • Fragmentation. On the one hand, we may consider fragmentation as a disadvantage, but you can develop apps for a broader range of devices, including wearables, TVs, in-car systems, and more.
  • Release. In comparison to iOS, Android apps are easier to publish to Google Play. The whole process may take just a few hours.

Disadvantages of Android app development

  • Fragmentation. As we said, fragmentation may also be an Android drawback. Nowadays, Android devices come in different screen sizes, resolutions, etc. The development team might need more time to adjust the app’s features for particular devices.
  • Testing. Android versions and devices might vary. Thus, it might take more time for QA specialists to test your app.
  • Costly. The more time the development and testing stage takes, the higher will be the Android app price. Still, it depends on the app’s features and complexity.

Developing iOS apps

While Android has an open-source code, iOS has closed source code. This means that iOS works on Apple devices only. The development team might use Swift or Objective-C. Also, iOS developing tools include:

  • iOS SDK, or Software Development Kit, is integrated with the Cocoa Touch UI framework. The framework provides graphical elements, user interface controls, and others.
  • XCode is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for iOS app development.
  • Swift Playgrounds is a development environment for Swift.
  • TestFlight is an online service for over-the-air installation and testing. This online service allows to test your apps and collect valuable feedback before the app release.

Advantages of iOS mobile app development

  • Revenue. As you may already know, Apple users spend more money on app purchases compared to Android users.
  • The number of devices. As we said, iOS powers Apple devices only. Because of this, your app should fit the limited number of screens and devices.
  • UI design. Apple provides developers with a detailed style guide for the app UI. The team needs less time, making it more affordable in the app design stage.

Disadvantages of iOS mobile app development

  • App release. Keep in mind that the App Store has quite strict review guidelines. This means that the App Store may reject your app due to security issues, a lack of valuable content, or poor performance. Besides, the developer should submit your app for real-life testing, which usually takes a few days.
  • Flexibility. iOS apps are usually hard to customize because the platform has many restrictions.

Now, it’s time to compare both platforms.

iOS vs. Android Development Comparison

To answer the question of “which platform will suit your business idea the best?”, check the Android vs iOS app development comparison below.

Demographics

Demographics tell us a lot about Android and iOS users. Android currently holds the most significant global platform share. This market share comes from developing countries and lower-income areas.

[Image source: Digitaltrends]

So, iOS users are younger, with a higher level of education, greater engagement, and earn more money, so they spend more per app.

Thus, one of the first questions you should ask (in case you haven’t done it yet) is what is your target audience you’d like to reach? Knowing your audience will help you focus on your development requirements and possibly save some money in the meantime as well.

Development cost

When choosing between iOS vs Android development, consider that the estimated app prices might be higher for Android development. As previously mentioned, Android OS powers many devices with different screen sizes. This fact increases the development time, as well as the costs. On the other hand, iOS has a limited amount of devices, which also speeds up the development process. Still, iOS vs Android development costs depend on the number of features and app complexity.

On the basis of our app estimation:

  • Basic Android or iOS app with basic features will cost from $15k and take two or three months to develop
  • Some medium complexity apps with third-party integrations, like payment gateways, might cost from $30K and take three months to develop.
  • Complex applications, like social networks or taxi-hailing apps, with database and API integrations, will cost from $50K and take from five months.

When checking Android vs iOS development differences, consider that both Google Play Store and App Store have their own fees for publishing apps. In the case of Android apps, you will need to pay a one-time registration fee of $25. To publish your app at App Store, you need to pay $99 annually.

Testing

Both iOS and Android OS have their own simulators for app testing. Still, there are some differences between them. TestFlight, the iOS testing environment, is faster than the Android emulator. At the same time, the Android emulator virtual machine is more effective and has a more realistic representation.

App Updates

Both iOS and Android release new updates at least once a year. Thus, consider that updating the iOS apps for the new OS release may take up to two weeks and impact your product roadmap and business strategy. As for Android, it will take several hours to publish the new app release.

Engagement

When choosing between iOS vs Android app development, consider that it is more important to have higher amounts of users or fewer users that engage more frequently. This choice will depend hugely on how you’ll decide to monetize an app. Android has a broader audience in general, whereas iOS has more engaged users.

You might also like: HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR APP COMPATIBILITY WITH IOS 13

So, which is better to develop: iOS or Android?

It is easier to start developing apps for iOS because they earn more, and the cost of mobile app development is lower. If your company is a start-up and your capital is limited, then iOS is the best place to begin. Not only is it cheaper, but also iOS brings influencers and PR with it. You’ll get more clicks for your app built on iOS. This is why iOS development is better than Android.

If your audience is from emerging markets, then it makes sense to start with Android since they tend to visit app stores more often.

When is the time to move onto another platform? Growth is the primary reason for moving to a new segment of the audience. Once you have exhausted or hit critical mass on one platform, then you can start targeting the region of the second platform. This will most likely increase your total number of users.

Wrapping up

When considering Android vs iOS development, take into account the advantages and disadvantages of both platforms. Still, you should base your choice on your budget, business idea, time to market, and other factors we have discussed in this article.

You need to choose iOS app development in the following cases:

  • You want to generate higher revenue per user
  • For a less complicated development process
  • Your priorities are user data security and privacy.

At the same time, Android would be the best choice:

  • If you want to reach a wider audience
  • Less waiting time to get the app to the Store
  • You want to customize the app

The last thing remaining is to hire an app development company.


Originally published at theappsolutions.com

    The APP Solutions

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    The APP Solutions is full-cycle web and mobile development company based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Get your estimation in 3 minutes https://appcost.theappsolutions.com

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