With Android and iOS dominating the mobile market, it can be difficult to decide which platform you should build your app for first. We'll help you make that decision!
SummaryMajor consideration to help you decide which to build first between iOS and AndroidComplexity of the marketCost and speed of developmentApp featuresAmount of money you want to earnOngoing maintenanceFuture prospectsWrap it upFew dilemmas surpass the perennial iOS vs Android when it comes to app development. App owners — businesses, developers, and marketers — have long debated the merits of each platform.
In this blog post, we will discuss some things to consider when choosing between these two platforms. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will be able to better decide which platform is suitable for your application.
By market, we mean your audience.
These are the people who will ultimately use your app. And as with any product, it's important to know who you're building your app for.
Here are some key stats to consider:
As of July 2021 according to Stats Counter.
This means that the majority of people are using Android in the world.
If you are targeting the global market, this can be a good indicator that Android is the way to go.
However, if your app is targeting a more affluent market segment, such as people in North America or Europe, you might want to consider iOS as your first platform.
A note of warning:
When discussing costs, be aware that a quality application would require a significant investment of time and money, regardless of the platform you are developing for.
If your budget is a concern in terms of development costs on its own, then iOS may be the way to go. It is also easier and cheaper to create an app for iOS compared to Android.
There are 2 main reasons for this.
First of all, Android is an open source platform. Developers should consider a wide variety of devices, third-party tools, devices, and software fragmentation, unlike iOS. Additional testing is often required to ensure the app works properly on all devices.
Second, the programming language for iOS – Swift is a simpler and more straightforward language. Android app developers often have to use Java, which can be time-consuming.
Overall, iOS may be a better starting point for app developers if affordability is a concern. The iOS development process has far less room to experiment with technology, and what developers can do is relatively limited. This may sound negative, but it actually makes app development easier, which means developers can launch their app faster.
When building your app, it's worth thinking about what features you want to include and how they will affect usability for your target audience.
Android relies heavily on features as a selling point. Android being an open source platform translates to a lot of choices for developers.
In other words:Android apps are more customizable so you can easily adapt to your target audience. Unfortunately, this "open" nature of the Android platform also means that it's more susceptible to malware and other security vulnerabilities.
iOS, on the other hand, is more restrictive in terms of what developers can and can't do with the technology – but that's by design. This helps ensure apps are reliable, stable (less likely to crash), and more secure.
The downside is that there are fewer third-party apps available on iOS, and it's harder for developers to create a unique experience.
Android has a larger market share, which translates into more potential revenue.
iOS is the most lucrative platform for developers, but it's also the hardest to use. This is because iOS requires being accepted by Apple, which can be a long and arduous process, so it's best to be prepared.
Then there is the habit of spending users on each platform.
Historical data shows that Apple users are more likely to spend almost twice as much money on in-app purchases than Android users.
So if you're looking to monetize your app, it's more likely to succeed with iOS.
An app's launch doesn't end with release on Android or iOS – it continues on both, where a developer must maintain and update the app as new features become available, bugs arise and that users demand more.
Generally, as long as users update their operating system when a new version is released, the less maintenance an app will need. Android users are guilty of updating their OS; However, this is not the case for iOS users.
In this Business Insider article, it was revealed that "more than half of all Android devices, or one billion, have been out of date for more than two years." Do you know what that means? That means it's more likely to encounter more bugs and crashes, even if your app is otherwise flawless. This is the main reason why Android apps are more expensive to maintain.
The world is now more mobile than ever and the demand for apps has never been higher and the outlook for both platforms is very good.
It's hard to say which one will be more dominant in the future. Android has a larger market share than iOS, which means it is currently the most popular operating system. However, iOS apps are more lucrative than Android apps, cheaper to develop, and would therefore continue to grow in popularity.
So which platform should you build your mobile app for first between Android and iOS?
If you're looking to make as much money as possible in the shortest amount of time, iOS is the way to go.
If you are targeting emerging markets and looking for more freedom in your app design, Android would be a better choice as it has a bigger market share and is more open than iOS.
Ultimately, there really isn't a "right" answer – it all depends on your target demographic and what you're looking to accomplish.
However, one thing you should never compromise on is the quality of your product. And that's where Top Developers come in – they'll have experience with both platforms and know how to build an app that will work most effectively for your target audience.
