Things That Factor Into Software Development Pricing

The types of things that factor into pricing software applications. All of these will have an effect on the cost of custom software development rates. Things like platform, project size, UI/UX design will have a big impact on the end result. If your project will be small to medium-size, your software development budget should be able to accommodate projects in that price range.

Platform

Chances are, your target audiences are on different platforms, and that means building a different version of the app for web, Android, and iOS. Developing an app for multiple platforms means forking out more for the development fee. You’ll need to hire different teams of developers to work on the different versions of the app.

When developing software applications, you generally need to build versions for web, Android, and iOS because your target market will often be using different platforms. It will cost more to do this, and you may need to hire multiple people to do it. Another less expensive option would be to build it with the capability of being cross platform. A cross-platform app is deployable on both iOS and Android with the same code base. It saves time and works well on simple tasks. A third option would be to build on only one platform and add more versions later as the budget allows.

Type of Software Project

Pricing will be affected by the type of project being created such as a new software application, an upgrade to an existing application, integration of a software application into a management system, or web applications designed for a larger audience.

Project Size

Another factor that can affect software development costs is the size of the project to be created. The larger the project, the more time it will take to complete it, which means a higher cost if you’re being billed per-hour charges. There are typically 4 types of projects or levels. These are:

• Small projects
• Medium-sized projects
• Large projects
• Custom projects

Small projects. A small project is one with few features and limited uses. It may consist of a few settings and a good UI.

Medium-sized. Medium applications are a bit larger and require a little more work. They may be stand-alone apps or integrated solutions for an existing program. They may be simply classified as mobile applications or web interfaces.

Large applications. As the name suggests, large applications are more complex and may require integration into existing systems. They may also require additional security and other features for advanced functionality.

Custom or Enterprise solutions. This is the highest project level requiring advanced security measures, third-party integration, cross-platform accessibility, and stricter logging credentials. It may be designed with custom features and work seamlessly with other programs.

Development Factors

Web Development (Back-end, Front-end)

Software development is a complex issue. There are two types of web development, namely front-end and back-end. Front-end development is on the client-side and focuses on everything that users can see and engage with. Back-end refers to things on the server-side of things. When a user on the client’s website clicks a button, the app connects to the server and checks for relevant data. Then it returns the expected results back to the user. They both work together for different purposes.

Types of Software Development

• Frontend Development. Frontend developers work on the part of the product with which the user interacts.
• Backend Development.
• Full-Stack Development.
• Desktop Development.
• Web Development.
• Database Development.
• Mobile Development.
• Cloud Computing.

Full-stack

A full-stack developer is one who works on the front end (the interface) and back end (the inner workings) of a website or web application. Full-stack developers possess a comprehensive understanding of the technologies that comprise a web-based system. They can help effectively plan, execute, and troubleshoot web-based projects with their extensive knowledge.

Full Stack Web Application Development is not just focused on one area of expertise but it includes developers that are proficient with a variety of languages and can develop the front-end as well as the back-end of the product with perfection.

MEAN-stack

MEAN is a full stack software bundle. It is a collection of various technologies for developing a dynamic website and web application. 

The cost of hiring a MEAN stack developer or a whole team may range from $15 to $18 per hour, depending on your needs and the experience of the developer you wish to rent out.

UI/UX Design

How valuable is the user interface or user experience? Very important if you expect to attract customers to your business. It is necessary to attract and engage customers while they are on your website or using your app. This means using graphic elements like buttons, fonts, icons, and colors to create an eye-catching design.

Having visually stimulating designs and an easy to navigate menu is a valuable component in web design and software development. It may take a bit longer to come up with a design and functions that work best. It takes a lot more effort to ensure that the app is visually pleasing and results in a satisfactory user experience.

Testing

Another factor is quality assurance. This is extremely important for software development. Every component must be thoroughly tested to ensure that it does what is expected. This prevents possible problems later that require bug fixes. Testing adds another layer of credibility to a company’s product.

Location

Location makes a big difference in cost as well. Hiring software developers can be expensive, particularly if you’re based in the US or Western Europe, where the average hourly fee is around $100 per hour. The expensive hourly-rate means your software cost will be higher as well. However, if you were to contact someone in Asia (Philippines, Vietnam etc), you could get an affordable rate of $20 per hour without sacrificing quality. China and India also have software developers who are knowledgeable but time differences and language barriers may make it difficult to work with them. If you don’t speak the language or their English isn’t particularly fluent, it may be hard to communicate effectively. This should also be a consideration when estimating cost.