Mobile apps play a significant role in making our life more accessible and convenient. You are just a click away from everything you need, from ordering food to purchasing clothes, booking a cab, or finding a perfect life partner. Mobile apps do everything for your comfort, and as a result, they have fueled your life’s pace.
Android and iOS are the two leading mobile platforms deployed in the market. However, this confuses mobile app developers in choosing the right platform. And this is where the most popular Flutter app development came into play. If time and cost efficiency are at the top of your priority list, cross-platform technology is the best solution for getting your dream mobile app.
Cross-platform mobile app development is progressively taking over native app development since it is much more time-efficient and economical. Lately, the main benefit of native apps has been their performance. But it’s no longer their substantial part as new cross-platform frameworks bring more strength to mobile app developers.
Over the top, if you want a promising mobile app for your company, then Flutter app development is the best cross-platform technology. And because of its increasing popularity over the past few years, people generally seek to answer the question- How much does it cost to create a Flutter app? But before estimating Flutter app development cost in 2022, it is essential to know what Flutter is.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source mobile SDK used to build native-looking iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. The flutter app development framework has been operational in the industry since 2015, when Google first introduced it, but it was popularized much later. Applications created in Flutter are designed using Dart, an object-oriented programming language.
The idea behind the features of Flutter application development is that it revolves around widgets. Therefore, the whole Flutter UI is built by integrating multiple widgets. Each describes structural components like a menu or button, a style element, like color or font, or an aspect layout such as padding. Flutter app development does not use the OEM widgets; it works around widgets effortlessly incorporated into Android and iOS applications.
Keep Reading: Flutter App Development Guide
11 Factors Affecting Flutter App Development Cost In 2022
The answer to the question “how much does Flutter app development cost?” depends on several factors and varies from one sector to sector. While the mobile app development process and principles are the same in all frameworks, some coding differences make Flutter development costs separate from the rest.
Generally, the cost to develop a flutter app can be calculated as-
The total number of hours required for each SDLC process or the flutter developer per hour rate.
The SDLC (System Development Life Cycle) procedures involve platform-based application development, UI/UX designing quality assurances and production, and frontend and backend development.
Besides these SDLC processes, the Flutter app development cost depends on app complexity, UI requirements, mobile-specific features, user-generated content management, API integration, etc. Additionally, the number of hours to complete each process also plays a significant role in determining the cost to create a flutter app.
The more time it takes to complete the project more resources will be employed. But, talking about Flutter development, it takes less time than other cross-platform technologies since it contains all the essential features and comes in a convenient UI tool kit, which helps deliver extraordinary native apps in less time.
Let’s discuss some factors that affect Flutter app development costs.
Features
Features are the critical element of any application. You can integrate the different features according to the look and feel you want in your application. However, features drive the Flutter app development cost to a greater extent. With the add-on of each feature, the cost to develop a flutter app varies, as some features take only little effort while others need hours of mobile app development efforts.
For example, uploading a photo takes around a few minutes, while applying the filter to the images will take many hours of the Flutter developer’s time. Some of the vital features which are recommended to include in your applications are:
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- User-Friendly Responsive Interface
- A Search Option
- Location Maps
- Chat Support/Call Back Function
- Data Caching
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Payment Gateways Integration
- Multi-Device Synchronization
A short development cycle and lots of free features reduce the development costs of your Flutter application. However, if you are wondering, “how much does it cost to create a Flutter app on a per hour basis?” So, various mobile app development companies offer you an approximate Flutter App Development Cost based on the coding and experience of the development team.
Complexity Of The Applications
Most of the Flutter app development cost depends on its complexity. The more complex an application is, the more will be the cost to develop a flutter app. Low complexity applications are easier to build, medium ones are comparatively tough, while higher complexity applications take time and resources to develop; hence they are expensive.
For example, the cost of developing the ecommerce application is higher. It is required to integrate more third-party plugins, use more in-built device features, and need a more extensive architecture model.
The following factors determine the complexity of a Flutter app:
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- Third-party Integration tools
- The deployment architecture model
- The ability of a Flutter application to use the built-in capabilities of a device.
- Development of Admin panel
- Addition of technologies like- Blockchain, AI, AR, IoT, etc.
- Integration with legacy systems and other hardware peripherals.
Layout of Applications
A layout is an arrangement that supports the visual representation of the User Interface (UI). Great layout design translates into great user experiences. A suitable layout makes it easier for the users to understand what they seek. So more attention should be paid to the app’s layout while creating a flutter app.
The Flutter app development cost will vary depending upon the layout you want to produce for your users. However, the price features mainly include:
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- Animation material
- The layout complexity (number of elements you wish to add)
- Graphical content
- Interaction between Flutter developer and user
Server Space Rent
If your app needs processing and storing user-generated data, you must consider including server space rent in your cost estimation for mobile app development. A weak server can lead to longer user response times and poorly functioning applications. In addition, unreliable servers will result in loss of user data.
Development Complexity
The Flutter App Development process is started with a discovery phase. In the discovery phase, enter your application idea on the document. Then, design the mobile application with your business goals, user expectations, and app look and feel in mind. Finally, an approximate estimate is constructed based on this project, and the time needed to complete the application is extracted.
It is recommended to review the project before estimating the budget. A poorly managed product discovery phase can lead to the project’s failure even before it arrives in store. Another crucial point to consider is that the longer the app development time, the higher the cost of developing the flutter application. Therefore, to keep the price within your budget, choose rapid development approaches and a web development team to deliver the application faster.
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App Category
The type of app you want to build for your company is crucial in estimating Flutter app development cost. Different apps have different functionality; some require multi-factor authentication, while others may not even ask you to sign in. So, depending on the features added, the cost will also increase. There are mainly three types of applications in the market.
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- Dynamic Applications – Dynamic applications rely on real-time access and server-side execution for a superior user experience. Social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, etc., are some examples of dynamic applications.
- List View Applications – Users can view and interact with different data objects using multiple or a single selection in these applications.
- Gaming Applications – The gaming application involves complex features like AI-enabled features, 3d graphics, high-resolution animation, etc.
Designing
The first thing that appeals to the public is the design of an application. The more free-flowing and spontaneous the app design is, the more users are interested in connecting. Some of the basic designing features that add up to the Flutter app development cost are as follows:
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- Design complexity
- Color, image, and animation
- Number of displays
- Dynamic representation
Backend Development
The back end supports user activities while only interacting with the front end. Therefore, backend development is crucial; it is called the backbone of applications. Besides, it supports many features like a real-time chatbot, app data, mobile app security, and data backup. So while determining how much it costs to create a Flutter app, it also involves backend development costs.
We can achieve the following functionalities in mobile applications with backend development.
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- The database stores user data and delivers a tailored experience with backend support.
- The different demands of customers and other operations are manageable effortlessly.
- It supports data encryption and adequately manages all the security codes in your applications.
- It helps the data back up.
Integration
The amount of hardware you want to integrate into your applications affects the Flutter app development cost. The features and functionality you can integrate with your Flutter app are:
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- AR/VR based applications
- SMS gateway integration
- Push messages
- 3D modeling
- Body sensor for Health care apps
- Social Channel Integration
- Payment gateway integration
- Geo-positioning or AR navigations
App Release Price
After development of the Flutter app, the next essential step is to launch the app to the Play Store. Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store are the key players among the app distribution channels. If you publish an app for internal use within your business, the App store charges $299 per year. Additionally, both stores charge 30% of each purchase’s share in your app. Therefore, include the cost of app release in your Flutter app development budget.
Maintenance & Support
The job is not yet complete after your application is successfully published. Constant support & maintenance, regular news updates are essential to retain existing customers or attract new ones. Once the application is launched in the market, you will have a clear idea of the maintenance and support costs. However, mobile app maintenance and support costs increase over time. The user is the only one who decides your app’s success and failure after the app is released.
Regular updates based on user feedback help remove basic bugs and errors overlooked during the app development process. Plus, a standard app with advanced features and functionality will keep customers engaged. Typically, the organization’s budget for app maintenance and support services is 15-20% of the overall cost of developing the Flutter app.
Conclusion
To know “How much does it cost to create a Flutter app?” it is required to do thorough research on your business and app’s needs. So, depending on the complexity of the features you want to add to your app, the cost will vary.
Additionally, a mobile app needs to be updated regularly to serve the customers efficiently even after the development phase is over. For developing a well-equipped featured application at a relatively lower cost, a Flutter mobile app has been an excellent preference for entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide. Therefore, by hiring a flutter app development company, you can fulfill your dream of building a high-quality flutter app and stay ahead of the competition.
