App Design Cost in 2023: How much does it cost to design an app?

App Design Cost is an essential part of the mobile app development process that you must plan before the process begins. The cost to design a mobile application can be anywhere between $2,000 to $58,000 & more depending on the type of app you want to build.

What is Mobile App Design?

Mobile App Design is the task of designing mobile applications. However, mobile apps have different types of uses, accessibility, engagement & overall user experience. In short, addressing all the above concerns. 

The UI and UX of an app can capture user interest and increase user retention. According to a survey by AWS, companies that spend more money on UX design witness a 75% increase in sales compared to companies spending less that only see a 60% increase in their sales.

Design is more than the visual side of a business. Today we will explore this topic & find out the factors that impact the cost of a mobile app design.

Importance of Mobile App Design

Mobile App Design plays a vital role in determining the success of any application. A well-designed app not only attracts users but also keeps them engaged & satisfied. 

1. User Experience (UX)

UX is a fundamental part of app design, focusing on how users interact with the application. A good UX design confirms that the app is easy to navigate, meets user expectations & provides a seamless experience. To create a successful app, developers should work with a mobile app UI UX design agency or in-house design team to understand user’s needs & preferences accordingly.

2. User Interface (UI)

The UI design accompanies UX by focusing on the visual elements of the app, like colors, typography & layout. An attractive & intuitive UI design can make the app more appealing to the users. A well-designed UI should be visually appealing & responsive to user input.

3. Accessibility

Make sure that your app is accessible to a diverse audience including those with disabilities. You can create an inclusive app that caters to a wide range of users by incorporating accessibility features such as screen readers, alternative text for images & adjustable font sizes.

4. Branding & Consistency

A strong & consistent brand identity can help your app stand out in the competitive market. Consistency across various platforms, devices user interactions contributes to a more polished & professional app experience. 

In simple words, the importance of app design in application development lies in its ability to create a user-centric, visually appealing, accessible & consistent experience.

How much does it cost to design a mobile app?

The average cost to design an app ranges from $3000 to $30,000. Depending on the factors like the complexity of an app idea, the type of team & the team location.

Let’s take a look at the app design price breakdown based on these factors.

1. Cost depending on the Complexity

The app’s complexity is essentially equal to the complexity of the product idea – the number of roles, the number of unique features, usability & visual design.

In simple words, the simpler the business model & the challenges you will solve, the cheaper the app design will be. Apparently, the simpler the design, the cheaper the mobile app development.

2. Cost Depending on the Type of Team

Other than the complexity of the product concept, the development team is the second crucial factor, that defines the required budget for the design phase & software development.

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3. Cost based on the Location of Team

Lastly, the cost of designing an application also depends upon the location of the team. You can refer to the table mentioned below to know the average cost of designing an app as per the location.

What Factors Impact the Cost of a Mobile App Design?

Now, we will discuss in detail the technical aspects of design that predict the price & duration of an app design & app development.

Let’s get started with the pointers.

• The type of Design

There are two types of app designs that you can create & the mobile app design price for both will be different.

1. Custom Design – 

It means you need to create a User Experience and User Interface from scratch instead of using the built center. Perhaps, the cost to design an app will be higher than the native design, and more effective & at the same time, it is also risky. A customized design will bring innovative results if you do everything right & learn to understand the customer’s perspective & engagement levels.

2. Native Design – 

Nativity to a mobile app design means adopting the platform-specific design guidelines & element placements. Following the native guidelines, you will collect application design costs related to the custom design.

• The Complexity of the App

In terms of design, the complexity of the app depends on the following factors –

1. Number of Roles – 

You must define the number of team roles for your design project. For an average complexity project, you will require a project manager who will be responsible for the following roles –

• Creating a user persona
• Outlining app wireframes.
• Working on app prototypes.
• Developing an intuitive app interface.
• Making required changes after testing & gathering feedback.

2. Number of Screens – 

There are various types of screens & several platforms that your application needs. You can implement the following screens –

• Welcome screens.
• Onboarding screens.
• Login screens.
• Screens to show the next step.
• Screens containing buttons & icons.
• Menu screens.
• Other screens & pages like Error.

• The type of Team

Are you hiring a local agency, a group of freelancers, an in-house team, or outsourcing?

1. In-house Team – 

Those people who work in the company’s staff. Hiring in-house teams can be cost-resource-consuming as it requires a lot of additional work.

2. Local Agency –

 It means hiring a team within your local access. In the USA, hiring a local design agency can cost you $150 per hour.

3. Freelancers – 

Hiring a freelancer means you can choose specialists on your own. The average pricing for freelancers ranges between $15 to $25 per hour.

4. Outsourcing Agency – 

It means hiring an agency located in another country like India, UK, the USA, etc. It can get you lower rates & perfect quality. The cost of hiring an outsourced agency in India can cost from $15 per hour or more. Outsourcing your project to Ailoitte Technologies

*If you want to know how much does it cost to develop an App, click here

How to Manage App Design Costs? 

1. Planning & Designing

Determining your needs upfront is essential for managing app design costs. This includes creating a complete list of the features you want your app to have. This will assist the designer in developing designs aligned with your requirements.

• Use Wireframes – 

Wireframes are an amazing tool for managing app design costs. They are simply sketches of your app’s layout & functionality 7 deliver a visual representation of what your app will look like. You can quickly identify design flaws & make changes before the app enters the development phases. This can save money & time in the long run.

• Mockups – 

Once you are done with your wireframes, the next step is to create mockups. A mockup is a high-fidelity model of your app’s design. Mockups are crucial for managing app design costs because they allow you to identify design problems before the development phase starts.

• Cost of Design Elements – 

Another factor that influences app design costs is the cost of design elements. It includes icons, images & other visual elements in your app’s design. To manage these costs, consider using free or low-cost design elements that are available online.

• Arrange Design Requirements – 

This means focusing on the features required for your app’s functionality & user experience. It will assist you in staying within budget & assuring your app is developed within the duration.

2. Development

When we talk about app development, there are different stages like frontend development, backend development & server cost. Below are some pointers on controlling app design costs during the development phase.

• Go for the Right Technology –

Choosing the right technology can mainly affect app design costs. Before moving with the development process, research the available technology options & select the most suitable & cost-effective one that meets your app’s needs.

• Choose Hybrid Development – 

It is an option that combines native & web app development. It can be cost-effective as it stops the need to develop different apps for various platforms.

• Hire an Experienced Developer – 

It may seem costly, but hiring a professional developer can keep your money in the long term. They have the knowledge & skills to develop an app more efficiently, reducing development time & costs.

• Testing – 

By testing your app at the beginning of the development process, you can identify design flaws &make changes before launching the app.

Mobile App Design Cost Breakdown – Location, Complexity, etc.

The App Design Pricing majorly depends on the following factors – 

1. App Complexity – Simple Apps, Average Complexity Apps & High Complexity Apps.

2. Platforms – iOS & Android.

3. Team Location – US, Australia, Europe, UK, India, etc.

4. Team type – In-house, Outsourced & Freelancers.

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Other factors determining the App Design Cost are the Visual Designs, Illustrations, Animations, and functionality.

Mobile App Design vs. App Re-design Cost 

Wrapping up

App Design Cost is detected by many factors like the complexity & features of the app as well as the time required to develop the app. The prices of app design vary in the market, & you’re independent to opt for the one that suits you best & remember, there’s always an option to reduce the budget.

If you need help with designing the app, you can get in touch with our experts. We’ll be happy to discuss the details!

Frequently Asked Questions

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Ailoitte is one of the industry-leading mobile app development companies with more than 6+ years of experience.