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Cross-platform mobile frameworks are used to develop flexible apps that are accessible through a large number of various end devices. With cross-platform mobile app development, businesses enhance their possibility for maximum exposure to the target audience.
For the three consecutive years, Flutter has been the most popular cross-platform mobile framework trusted by over 45% of the global development community, as per a Statista report. Flutter is an open-source mobile SDK, used to develop native-looking iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. As one of the most ideal platforms for cross platform app development, Flutter offers a plethora of benefits to businesses. Therefore, if you are looking to invest in flutter mobile app development, you are making the right choice.
But before you begin, you might want to explore the answer to “how much does flutter app development cost?” This article covers various aspects of the cost of flutter app development, factors associated with the cost, and how you can manage your app development budget with Flutter.
[Before we begin, you may also want to read: Guide for developing a startup mobile app with Flutter]
So, shall we begin?
How Much Does Flutter App Development Cost?
Factors such as app complexity, level of features involved, hardware structure, design and development etc, decide the overall mobile app development cost of your Flutter app. Flutter for app development might cost you anything from $25,000 to $200,000 and above based on the above mentioned parameters and your project requirements.
However, keep in mind that this is only a rough estimate driven by the average development standards. For an exact estimate, you might have to get in touch with a reliable Flutter app development company that can conduct market research and propose a relevant cost.
Now, let us look at the factors that directly contribute to the flutter pricing.
Factors that Impact the Flutter App Development Cost
To begin with, the mobile app features are the primary factors influencing the cost of your Flutter app development. In addition, other significant factors like the design approach, the development model, size and location of your outsourced development team etc, also play an essential role in constituting your overall budget.
1. Flutter app complexity
Every application can be divided into three sub-categories based on the app complexity level: low, medium complex and highly complex, where we take note of the features, functionalities and integrations.
This demarcation of app complexity level is done on the basis of several criteria like deployment architecture model, admin panel development, third party integrations, built-in features, hardware device integration, addition of technologies like AR, AI, Blockchain, IoT, etc.
- Based on the described app complexity level, If you are developing a simple app with basic features, for instance, a fitness app with meal and workout suggestions, the app can cost approximately from $25,000 to $40,000.
- If you are looking to develop a middle complex app, for instance, a messenger app with audio and video calling feature ,then the cost to develop a flutter app may differ from $40,000 to $60,000.
- The development cost of a complex app for enterprise development starts typically from $60,000 and may cost as much as the features and functionalities of the app.
You may also want to consider making an MVP, before establishing the full fledged product. Check how Flutter is ideal for the MVP app development process to get insights.
For a better understanding, here is a time and cost estimate of Flutter cost based on the app complexity level.
| App Complexity | Level of Complexity | Average Timeline | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple app |
|
2-3 months | $25,000-$40,000 |
| Medium Complex app |
|
3-6 months | $40,000-$60,000 |
| Highly complex app |
|
6-14 months | $60,000-$200,000+ |
2. Flutter app category
There are various categories we can divide Flutter applications in and they all come with their own functionalities, demographics, security criteria, and more.
It is common to find a number of feature shifts as you move from one application category to another. While some apps would ask users for multi-factor authentication, others might not even require login.
For example, a currency converter app will cost a lot less than an IoT or ride-booking app due to limited features.
3. Flutter app design
An intricate design is one of the most necessary elements required for the success of any application. Make sure you outsource a reliable team of Flutter app developers to craft intuitive and free-flowing design based apps. An appealing and minimal app design helps users connect with the app at a personal level.
While you can choose the design approach for your app, various designs and animations can help enhance and at the same time increase your flutter app development
Based on the design process of flutter mobile app development, here is an average cost and time breakdown estimate:
| App Process | Design Tasks | Average Development Time | Average Development Cost (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App design research |
|
Based on niche and available resource | $500-$700 |
| UX design |
|
|
$200-$1000 |
| UI design (visuals) |
|
|
$5,000-$10,000+ |
| Branding | Logos, icons and social media | $5,000-$10,000+ | |
| Animations and illustrations |
|
Based on level of animations | $1000-$10,000 |
[You might also want to explore: How much does it cost to design a mobile app]
4. Tools and licensing
Flutter is entirely free even for commercial use, however, if you are willing to extend the functionalities and enhance the development process, you might have to pay for several integrations and tools.
You would need third party API integrations such as application programming interfaces that can enable two different programs to communicate using protocols. Moreover, you would also require advanced APIs for higher usage.
Flutter app builder development tools, also known as IDEs (Integrated Development Environment) are special software integrations for building modern cross platform flutter apps. You can choose from popular integrations like Android Studio, Visual Studio, Eclipse, PyCharm etc.
5. Server space
If your app calls for processing and storing user-generated data, you will have to take care of the server concerns. Weak servers can lead to a low-performing application and greater response time on the users’ end.
Additionally, unreliable servers having a vulnerable protection system can also lead to personal data leaks of your users. Generally a 24 hour working server with an 8-core CPU and higher RAM space costs around $1500/ year, however, the customized server may cost more depending on your project requirement.
6. Size and location of your flutter app development team
An experienced flutter app development company can work wonders for your business app when it comes to crafting high-end applications with top notch features and functionalities.
Here is a rough estimate of what your flutter app development cost should range to with an outsourced app development team:
| Cost Factors and Requirements | Simple App | Medium App | Complex App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development time | 2-3 months | 3-6 months | 6+ months |
| Developers | $10-20,000 | $20-40,000 | $50,000+ |
| UI/UX Designer | $4-5,000 | $5-7,000 | $10-15,000 |
| Project Manager | $5-7,000 | $10-15,000 | $10,000+ |
| QA Specialist | $8000 | $10,000 | $10,000+ |
| Business Analyst | $2-3,000 | $5-8,000 | $8-10,000 |
| DevOps | $2-4,000 | $5-7,000 | $10,000+ |
You might also want to discover the flutter cost based on regional geography :
7. App release in stores
Once the Flutter app is developed, the next logical step is to publish it in the stores. As of now the Play Store and App Store are the two most preferred deployment platforms across the globe. These platforms, however, charge reasonable fees to launch apps.
- Google Play – $25 one time fee
- App Store – $99 annually
In addition to this, both the stores take 30% of the share for every in-app purchase your application makes.
8. App Maintenance
The prominence of Flutter app maintenance cost in the price list is undeniable. No matter how new or old your flutter application gets, you will have to keep updating it to meet your users’ changing demands.
This necessity of adding in users’ feedback and improvement demand in the application is what makes it an important element of the Flutter app development services.
There are mainly three criteria that sum up the cost of flutter app development:
- App updates
- Design changes
- App bug fixes
You can also check how to lower your mobile app frontend maintenance cost to remain strictly within your expected budget. As a general principle, companies tend to add 15-20% as the cost of Flutter app maintenance in their pricing list.
In addition to these factors, your app discovery process might also play a small role in predicting the cost of your Flutter application development.
[Explore how the app discovery phase can help your mobile app survive]
An incorrectly held product discovery phase, consisting of – initial contact, planning, drawing specifications, creating wireframes, and detailed estimates, can lead to the decline of a project even before it hits the stores.
Therefore, it is very important for the project manager and flutter app development team to come together and chart the plan of action for app development and identify prospective loopholes that the app might face during the development process.
[For detailed insights into the development process, you must also check out: A detailed guide to flutter app development]
All these factors come together to answer “how much does it cost to create a flutter app.”
Now that we are familiar with all aspects of Flutter cost, shall we also discuss a few ways to optimize your flutter app development budget?
How to Reduce and Optimize Your Flutter App Development Budget?
The cost of app development can add up quickly and outrun your budget, if not optimized timely. How do you make sure to get a quality flutter app without breaking the cost barrier? For starters, you can follow these tips:
1. Outsource your requirements
One of the best patterns to keep the cost and time factor within the line is outsourcing your flutter app requirements. It is easier to partner with ready-to-go flutter app builders from a trusted app development company than hassle through with different developers.
An experienced flutter app partner may also help you with app marketing and support and maintenance in the long run, saving your future costs.
2. Minimize your app functionalities
Keeping the cost low is important; however, cost is not the only reason to keep your flutter app simple. Make sure you only include features that are necessary to deliver the best possible app experience. Keeping your flutter app minimal with necessary functionalities will translate into higher customer satisfaction.
[Discover how to successfully develop a flutter web app to gain insights on required features.]
3. Follow an agile driven development strategy
It is crucial to plan your development workflow as per iterations and CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous development) model. An agile development strategy helps you fix errors and similar issues within the coding stage which is less expensive than fixing bugs at your “ready-to-launch” phase.
How Can Appinventiv Help You with Flutter App Development?
Appinventiv specializes in building robust and natively compiled experiences for web, mobile and desktop applications. We can help you create independent digital presence through our varied range of Flutter app development services starting from Flutter app ideation and consulting to app migration and deployment.
So, don’t wait. Connect with us to leverage top notch features that will help you validate and convert your app idea into an efficient product.
FAQs About Flutter and its Development Cost
Q. How much does Flutter app development cost?
A. Flutter for app development might cost you anything from $25,000 to $200,000 and above based on various parameters such as complexity level, design features and functionalities, hardware cost, tools and licensing, size and location of your flutter app development team etc. It is best to consult a trusted flutter app development company to get a precise cost breakdown of your app development.
Q. How Flutter reduces the cost of application development?
A. Flutter app development comes with a number of cost-saving factors like low developmental effort, single codebase, low maintenance timeline, location etc. All these come together to get its cost range down to a huge extent.
You can also check out : why should businesses choose Flutter app development to understand the benefits in detail.
Q. How is Flutter mobile app development cost estimated?
A. The cost to develop a Flutter app is dependent on these set of factors:
- App Complexity
- App Category
- Tools and licensing
- App Design
- App Maintenance efforts
- Size and location of the flutter development company
On the basis of above mentioned factors, you can estimate the overall flutter app development cost.
Q. Why choose the Flutter platform over others?
A. There are a number of reasons, but if we as Flutter app developers have to pin-point some of them, the two prominent reasons for choosing Flutter development services would be – A. Google’s backing and B. The widgets that make your application native-like.
Q. Is Flutter a good idea for every app?
A. Flutter can create any kind of application. It depends entirely on your development team’s efforts on how successfully they will be able to complete the project. But, between us, what we suggest is that you should opt for low to medium complexity apps when choosing Flutter. This way, the developmental efforts would be less and the time to market would be high.
THE AUTHOR
Dileep Gupta
DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
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