How long does it take to make a mobile app?

Building a mobile app is a complex process that requires careful planning, precise execution, and constant refinement. That’s why one of the most common questions businesses ask before starting development is: How long does it take to make an app? The answer isn’t straightforward or accurate, but we’ll try to answer it based on industry benchmarks.

First, timelines vary greatly based on complexity, platform choice, and your development team's expertise. Understanding these variables can help you set realistic expectations and plan your app launch effectively. Regarding the monetary part, the median cost for mobile app development (in North America) is roughly $95 per hour, which shows that building a quality app sure isn’t free.

While every app development process is unique, specific benchmarks help provide some realistic expectations. Development time varies considerably based on complexity, feature set, and required integrations. 

A small MVP (Minimum Viable Product) with basic functionality differs significantly from a highly complex app with custom features, security requirements, and third-party services.

The most extended projects often involve ongoing development cycles even after the initial release. Businesses that rely on frequent updates, new features, and scalability improvements should account for an extended development timeline beyond the first version of their app.

App development timelines can range from a few weeks to over a year. Technical, organizational, and business-related factors influence the process itself. A simple app with minimal features can be developed quickly, while a feature-rich, cross-platform solution with complex integrations will take much longer. The availability of your developers, the efficiency of the design process, and the clarity of the app idea also play a massive role in determining how long an app takes to build.

Beyond these main elements, the development team’s experience and workload distribution will significantly affect the timeline. A well-structured team with knowledgeable developers, designers, and testers can work in parallel, speeding up the process. However, if a small squad lacks expertise in certain areas, progress may slow down due to learning curves or unexpected challenges. The design stage can also speed up (or delay) development, depending on how efficiently prototypes and UI elements are finalized before coding begins.

People also forget that the actual app idea influences speed more than expected. If an app’s concept is vague or changes daily, the development timeline can be stretched as features are added, removed, or adjusted mid-process. As businesses fail to define their objectives clearly, they often need revisions, increasing time and costs.

So what’s the secret? A properly planned app development process prevents most of these costly delays. Companies that skip a thorough discovery phase often face technical roadblocks or business misalignments later in the process, requiring time-consuming fixes. Good planning helps ensure a structured workflow, reducing setbacks and allowing for a smoother development phase.

While it’s tempting to rush straight into coding (we know), thoughtful preparation prevents significant issues later. Taking the time to map out technical requirements, finalize the design process, and define a precise roadmap results in a more efficient workflow. This structured approach helps keep projects on schedule and maintain a high-quality standard.

Each stage of app development plays a key role in shaping the overall timeline. A structured and methodical approach helps avoid delays, optimizes resource allocation, and ensures a high-quality end product. If you’re not prioritizing correctly or sticking to best practices, you risk seeing many inefficiencies, miscommunications, and technical bottlenecks that can disrupt the development cycle.

Phase 1: Discovery and planning

The foundation of app development lies in the discovery phase. This first stage sets the groundwork for your entire project. You’re focusing on market validation, defining key objectives, and establishing feasibility. A well-researched app idea minimizes potential roadblocks later in development, preventing unnecessary changes that lead to costly delays. On average, this phase lasts 1 to 4 weeks, but unclear project goals, extensive research requirements, or changing business priorities can extend the development timeline.

Remember that skipping (or rushing) the discovery phase often leads to scope creep, unforeseen technical difficulties, and much higher post-launch maintenance costs. Effective planning is vital at this stage to avoid these types of pitfalls. Ensuring comprehensive UX/UI planning early reduces redesign efforts and speeds up development. In the end, well-structured planning doesn’t just streamline the development process — it also improves the final product’s quality and market readiness.

Phase 2: UI/UX design

A smooth user interface (UI) and an intuitive user experience (UX) can make or break your app’s success. This stage shapes how users interact with the app, influencing its retention rates, usability, and overall user satisfaction. A well-designed interface has thought through things like accessibility, efficiency, and ease of use. On the other side of the spectrum, a half-baked one can drive users away, no matter how powerful the underlying technology is.

This phase includes several iterative steps: wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. The design stage can take 2 to 6 weeks, but more complex interfaces with extensive user flows and animations might extend this timeframe. Clear communication between designers, developers, and stakeholders is crucial in preventing misalignments that could lead to delays.

An efficient design process doesn’t just make development smoother—it improves the app’s marketability. A well-researched UI/UX approach removes frustration, fosters engagement, and ultimately contributes to business success.

Phase 3: Development and coding

If you’re not a coder, we’ll excuse you for not knowing this, but this is the most time-intensive stage of the process, as developers do their best to translate designs into fully functional apps. The choice between building a native app (iOS App or Android App) or a cross-platform solution using frameworks like React Native significantly affects development time and complexity.

Native development often offers better performance and deeper integration with system features but requires separate codebases for different platforms. Cross-platform development speeds up deployment but may introduce additional optimization challenges.

Depending on the app's complexity, this phase can take anywhere from 2-3 months for a simple app — to 6-12 months for complex apps with multiple integrations, high-security requirements, or AI-driven features.

A well-structured development process ensures that both front-end and back-end components work seamlessly. Collaboration between developers, designers, and testers is crucial to avoid bottlenecks and last-minute fixes that could delay the project. Regular code reviews, automated testing, and precise documentation help maintain quality and keep development on schedule.

Phase 4: Testing and quality assurance

Sorry to say, but no app is launch-ready without rigorous testing. The testing phase identifies and resolves bugs, performance, and usability concerns before the app reaches users.

This stage typically lasts around 2-6 weeks, though more significant projects with extensive features may require longer cycles. Delays often arise when critical bugs or unexpected performance issues require additional debugging.

A robust testing strategy minimizes post-launch issues, reducing the risk of negative user experiences, app crashes, or security breaches that could damage your brand’s reputation.

Phase 5: Deployment and launch

Submitting an app to the iOS App Store or Google Play Store is a cause for celebration. Still, it also requires careful planning, as approval processes can take a few days to several weeks. App stores have strict submission guidelines, and failing to meet them can result in rejections, adding unexpected delays. Pre-launch testing, compliance checks, and final optimizations ensure a smoother approval process.

Phase 6: post launch maintenance

Your app development doesn’t stop at launch—it’s an ongoing process. Continuous maintenance will ensure the app remains stable, secure, and relevant. Regular updates are necessary to fix bugs, introduce new features, and adapt to evolving operating system requirements.

A dedicated development team is essential for adding ongoing improvements, as post-launch support often requires as much effort as initial development. Long-term success depends on tracking user feedback, monitoring app performance, and implementing enhancements to improve user retention and engagement.

Many internal and external factors contribute to developing an app's time. While some variables are within your business’ control (like the budget and team size), others, like technical complexity or platform requirements, can extend the development timeline beyond your first estimates.

Team size and expertise

A larger development team with specialized roles can complete projects much faster since different aspects of the app can be built simultaneously. Managing a big team requires strong coordination, and costs also naturally increase as more professionals are involved.

On the other hand, smaller teams may take longer to complete development but offer more nimble and focused collaboration. Some businesses use a lean team to reduce expenses, knowing this may extend the project timeline. However, in addition to size, developer expertise is also significant: More experienced developers work faster and can solve complex challenges more efficiently. In contrast, junior developers may need more time to debug and optimize the code.

App’s complexity and features

A simple app with limited functionality—such as a to-do list or calculator—takes much less time to build than a complex app with features including payment processing, real-time data synchronization, or AI-powered recommendations. The more advanced the app’s functionality, the more time your developers need to build, test, and refine the system.

Additional elements like geolocation tracking, social media integrations, or user-generated content features also extend development timelines. Every feature you add requires coding, testing, and optimization, increasing the overall workload.

Choice of platform: iOS vs. Android vs. cross-platform

Developing for a single platform (iOS or Android App) is typically faster than building for both simultaneously. That said, businesses often want apps available on both platforms, which adds some complexity and requires additional coding and testing.

Cross-platform frameworks like React Native can reduce development time by helping developers write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms. Optimizing for both iOS and Android within a single framework, however, can add some more technical challenges that require added testing and debugging.

Third-party integrations

Many modern apps rely on third-party services like payment gateways, analytics tools, and social logins. While these integrations often provide essential functionality, they add layers of complexity. Each external service has to be configured, tested, and maintained, and compatibility issues may arise if updates occur on the provider’s side.

Either plan extra time for these integrations or work directly with a supplier who handles them. Whatever your app needs—chatbots, cloud storage, merchant of records, or SSO—make sure you’ve got a solution in mind from the get-go to avoid unnecessary surprises and save time.

While every business wants its app developed quickly, rushing the process tends to result in bugs, poor performance, or usability issues. So, instead of cutting corners, you can implement strategic measures that help optimize development time without jeopardizing quality.

While speed is essential, maintaining a balance between efficiency and quality will ensure that your app is delivered quickly and meets user expectations.

There’s no formula for determining the time to develop an app. The timeline depends on many factors, including project complexity, required features, and platform selection. But we know that businesses that invest in strategic planning, precise technical specifications, and efficient project management can significantly improve their app’s time to market.

A structured app development process doesn’t just speed up delivery — it also helps you build a high-quality, scalable product that meets your long-term business goals. As you’re starting, you might be looking for some expert guidance. Partnering with a mobile app design agency to streamline your product development journey is always a good idea in ensuring efficiency and quality from concept to launch.