How Long Does It Take to Build an Android and iOS App in 2025? A Complete Timeline Breakdown

Introduction:

Building an app is an exciting journey of every business, but how long does it take to make an app ? This is the first question most clients ask during the first call or meeting.  As the competition grows among mobile app development companies, everyone wants to launch their app and make it available to users.

Mobile apps are today an undeniable part of life. Whether you want to order food, shop for something, make a payment, or book anything. Today's generation depends on mobile apps for the majority of routine tasks. The latest survey says that Android covers over 71.42% of the global market share, while iOS has a 27.93% market share.  According to Statista, consumers across the world spend over 36.2 billion US dollars.

If we look at the recent data of March 2025, the App Store currently has 1.9 million apps, and the Google Play Store contains 2 million apps. And the numbers are constantly increasing with the rise of mobile app development in various industries.

In this blog, you will get a quick answer about how long does it take to develop an app and learn about factors affecting the Mobile app development timeline, and useful tips to speed up your app development.

How Long Does an App Take to Make Based on Complexity?

It usually takes 3 to 9 months to develop a mobile app. The App Development Timeline can vary according to the complexity of the app. Below is the app development timeline based on its complexity.

1. Simple App Development

The apps with basic functionality, like a calculator, a simple chat app, notes, or with basic operations, can be developed within 2 to 4 months. Because this type of app doesn't need complex designs, back-end logic, and advanced features.

2. Average App Development

 This type of app has moderate functionalities form filling, validation, authentication, payment gateway, etc. It usually takes 4 to 6 months to develop.

For example, an e-commerce app, HRMS, salon and spa booking,  or any type of booking app can be considered a medium complexity app.

3. Complex App Development

Enterprise-level apps, games, or marketplace development come under complex app development. It usually takes over 6 months, minimum to 12 months, or even more. It includes advanced functionalities like AI, AR/VR, ML, IoT, and complex integrations as well as back-end logics and codes.

The examples are industry-specific apps like a healthcare app, a fintech app, a trading app, and many more.

How Long Does an App Take Based on Types?

The majority of clarity about the app development timeline can be calculated from the complexity of the app and the app type.  The table below will give you a detailed idea about the types of apps and their development timeline, with examples and features.

App Development Timeline According To Various Stages Process 

• Forming a Clear Business Idea

• Research (1-2 weeks)

• Idea validation (business idea and analysis)(1 week)

• Product strategy (1 week)

• Prototyping - design sprints (2-3 weeks)

• Prototype validation (1 week)

• Designing (1- 2 months)

• Development  

• Testing

• Deploying to the app store 

• Maintenance and Support

How Long Does It Take to Conduct Market Research for the App?

Before developing the mobile app, market research is the first and important step of the app development lifecycle. It includes understanding the core needs of the users to make sure your app serves its purposes by targeting the right audience. Every business has a unique market research strategy according to its competitors and the type of industry it belongs to.

The table below shows the estimated timeline and phases of market research.

How Long Does It Take to Prototype the App?

Making prototypes takes a few weeks to months, according to features and complexity.  After finalizing the app strategy and the core requirements, the BA team will start making wireframes to understand the app’s flow and functionality. This gives an overall idea of user experience, like how the app features will be used by users, and find the pain points during the prototype test.

How Long Does It Take to Design the App?

Though the timeline of the design phase can sometimes be impossible to guess because of its iterations. But it usually takes over 1 or 2 months and may extend depending on the nature of the app and the client's requirements. At this phase, designers create UI/UX screens of the app, choose suitable colors, fonts, and other design factors suitable for the brand.  Designers might need to go back and forth and adapt the app according to the latest design practices.

How Long Does It Take to Code the App?

You must accept that coding is the most time-consuming step among all because it includes developing front-end, back-end logics, integrations, and many more things. Once designs are finalized and prototypes are tested, mobile developers will start building the app as per the requirements mentioned.

 Below is the table to give you more ideas.

How Long Does It Take to Test the App?

Once the app is built by developers, it's the responsibility of QA and testers to test each module, feature, and functionality of the app. At this phase, experts analyze the code and check the app's usability, functionality, security, responsiveness, and many factors.

How Long Does It Take to Launch an App on the Play Store and App Store?

The app can't be released directly on the App Store or Google Play Store. The app is initially launched as an alpha and beta version, where alpha is the version to test with users, and beta is the final version, or you can say the improved version after alpha.

Here is how app launching works:

• Once you submit your app to review at Google Play Store or app store, they will follow the compliance policy, whether your app meets the standard app guidelines. Apple’s store policy is more strict than Google Play Store because it checks for design, performance, privacy, and many other factors.
• Especially if your app is new to the App Store or Google Play Store, it can take more time because this involves many checks and developer verification too. While existing developers who have previously published an app might take less time.
• In case your app is rejected by the app store or Google Play Store, you might need to fix the changes according to the reason. Hence, this also adds extra days in the timeline.

Which Factors Affect the App Development Timeline?

Again, things don't end here for question: How long does it take to create an app. Apart from the development stages, there are a lot of factors that impact the app development timeline. Let's see all the factors one by one below.

1. The Complexity of the App

The complexity of the app refers to how advanced, lengthy, or technical your app is. The logic is very simple. The simple apps are less complex and they have basic features that experienced developers can easily complete within a few weeks or months. While the app that needs custom coding, integrations, API, and advance-level features might take time developing and testing.

2. Design and UX

UI/UX and app design are related to user experience and overall performance, and the same applies to this factor also. Simple designs like a calculator or single-page application can be built in a less time frame, while an app with high-quality visuals, animations, and layout takes longer.

3. Platform Selection

Also, the app timeline gets impacted whether you are making an individual app for iOS or Android. Creating a separate app is time-consuming as it requires writing separate code and logic. Cross-platform app development is the best choice if it fits your business requirements and meets all the requirements.

4. Development Team 

If your team is less experienced and has not handled a certain kind of project, the timeline can extend. The one who is experienced with a similar kind of app development project can handle the work more speedily and fasten the overall development cycle.

Other than this, the location of developers, expertise with certain technologies and tools also matter.

1. Features and Functionality

If your app has a long list of features, it can take more time. Simple features like page navigation, user registration, etc, can be done in a few weeks, while integrating complex features and building complex functionality will add more time.

2. Testing and QA

Testing is the phase where you find lots of bugs. Depending upon the testing method and environment, there is a possibility of different bugs arising.

3.Third-party Integrations

If the app is industry-specific or needs any external integrations, such as payment gateways, maps, or CRM. It takes time because you need to make sure of security and performance, both.

4. Client Feedback and Revision Cycles

Even after the app is developed, there are still chances of revisions to come from the client’s side. For the safe side, you must also consider some time for revision and refinement.

5. Compliance and Security Features

Apps like fintech, finance, stock, crypto, trading, etc, need high-level security, secure payment gateway integration, and encryption. This can add extra time in implementing data protection, testing, and other stuff.

What Factors Can Slow Down Your Mobile App Development Flow?

It's also important to consider factors that can slow down your workflow. This helps to give an accurate timeline to the client without disappointment.

1. Mid-project Changes

The app development is a constant process and updates are likely to come with the passing time or evolving trends. If your client finds a new trend related to their industry and asks you to make an instant change in the app, it can mess up the timeline you expected. 

2. Assigning to Inexperienced Developers

If the app development is handed over to inexperienced developers, it can lead to inconsistency or other bugs. It's important to assign the project to a developer who is skilled and experienced in similar kinds of projects and well proficient with advanced tools and tech.

3. Using Complex Technologies

Most of the challenges in the app development are technical. Hence, avoid using complex technologies if they're not required for that app development. High-performing apps can also be developed with easy and flexible technologies. 

4. Industry Difference

Industry difference also impacts the app development timeline. The Mobile app development company that has been developing apps for the e-commerce and retail sector is more likely to have more grip and expertise in building that type of app.

Same way, the company that has the majority of clients for healthcare app development will create the best app related to healthcare.

6 Tips to Speed Up The Time of Application Development?

Apart from all these factors, you can still speed up your app development time and easily achieve the deadline. Here is how.

1.  MVPs and Prototyping

Instead of spending time and effort on building a whole app, first develop a working MVP with only the important features of the app to get approval and useful feedback from the client. This will also prevent you from spending on unnecessary modules and get clarity of the features that are important in the app.

2.  Go for Cross-Platform

If you have no specific platform needs, then choose cross-platform app development so you don't need to code separately for iOS and Android.

3.  Hire a Professional Developer

Mobile app development is a long and ongoing process that will always need to be updated or modify the features/functionality after some time, hence always hire a professional developer for the same app development project who can handle the code and make modifications easily in the future when needed.

4.  Agile development

Use agile techniques to carry out the project in an organized way. The app development will get executed in a better way when it's broken down into small sections.

5.  White Label Solution of Clone App

You can also use the on-demand or clone app option if the client's requirement is similar to e-commerce apps, Flipkart, or a cab booking app- Uber, food delivery app - Swiggy, etc.

Conclusion: How long does it take to build an app?

So, by reading this blog, you might have got answers to your question: how long does it take to create an app? Today, there are millions of users, and the number will continue to grow in the upcoming years due to digital transformation.  Every app development project has a different time duration according to the needs. At Manektech, we have consistently delivered high-quality mobile app development projects to thousands of clients worldwide.

If you have amazing mobile app ideas in mind, we can help you create a roadmap with strategies to achieve your business goals.  Reach us today to learn more about the mobile app development cost.

FAQs:

1. How many mobile app developers are needed to make an app?

Usually, a team of 4 to 10 mobile app developers is a good choice to divide the task efficiently and build a successful app. Plus a project manager is must to ensure the right execution of the app development and manage everything on track.

2. How much time does it take to get your app approved on the Apple App Store?

An iOS app may take 1-3 days to get approved in the initial days and 24 hours to become available in the App Store.  If there is any issue, it might take more time to review. They sent email notifications once the approval is accepted.