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Feb 13, 2014
If you value your business as being important enough to invest in it's success, a much better question is.... who will create what is best for my business needs at the best value? Price only comes into play at the absence of value. If cheap were always the deciding factor, we would all be driving around in Yugo's!
The first things to consider are, what your business is, who your target market is and what do they need from you on their mobile devices. Then you can see if a mobile website will handle your needs or if you need both a mobile website and an app. If a mobile website will do what you need, as is the case with most businesses, then you have taken care of your needs for much less... VALUE. If you have more extensive needs then a mobile website can handle, then look for an app that that can handle those needs. BUT... you still need a mobile website to be mobile friendly and not having one in addition to an app is just ignoring your full potential. If your app and mobile website are doing their jobs and bringing in the mobile business you want and making you profit... VALUE. The price will not matter if you are getting the end result you want!
Feb 13, 2014
Have you checked out mosaicHUB's expert search yet? We have a lot of great service providers who will be able to give you what you're looking for!
I recommend searching "mobile app development" in our Expert search and seeing who comes up. From there, you can evaluate their profiles and reach out to those who seem promising!
Here is a link to the expert search: http://www.mosaichub.com/service_provider/search
Feb 12, 2014
This company (BizApps - http://www.biznessapps.com/) provides a platform with a lot of features that are a simple past and play kind of product, and then they host your account for around $40 monthly. Something like that.
AppMobi (http://appmobi.com/) provides a platform that is usefule if you want to do a DIY project and you know HTML.
And then there are apps like Brightcove, which I think provides one of the best platforms for high-quality (e-commerce, High-Def, etc) websites for businesses, and you can find an app builder through their site (http://www.brightcove.com/en/).
Feb 12, 2014
As an app developer myself I would advise you to look at what is "cheap" on the long term not the short term. I could just refer myself but I rather let you make up your own mind.
As mentioned by Mr Mendez mentioned, there are multiple platforms where you pay on a monthly basis but the catch there is that they are customizable to a certain point. If you would like something specifically for your business, such a solution might not be for you. Such platforms provide general features which can be easily implemented but the features are not designed to be very specific plus you're stuck to a monthly subscription as long as the apps are in the app stores. This could ultimately result in you spending more on the long run than when simply choosing a developer.
If you choose a developer you will also have a couple of options (two options basically). Apps can be developed "Native" or "Cross platform". Out of these two it is cheaper to develop an app through a cross platform solution. With this having been said, the cross platform solution provides the ability to develop apps for the top platforms (iOS, Android, Windows) with just one project of coding. When an app is developed native, it requires the app to be developed separately for all platforms. You would pay per platform separately.
This raises the question: Then why even consider going native? Most companies go native because they can afford it and because a natively developed app is specifically developed for that one platform, making it run without any glitches on a different device on the same platform. When going cross platform, the app might work better on one device than the other. Its kind of like buying a "one-size fits all" shirt, it fits all but it looks better on some. The biggest reason companies go for native is also due to the fact that they trust it more. Banks and other organizations with sensitive data always go for native, just because its air tight.
I do have to say that cross platform solutions have come a long way but that you still need to be careful what fits best for you. If you like, my guys can analyze the requirements for the app you would like, for FREE, and you can make your decision what you choose.
Feb 12, 2014
Hello Mr.Douglas,
Hope time is treating you in a wonderful way. Let me Introduce my self as a coexist in this world. There are many guys who can do it for you in a better way. Identifying right fisher man to get you the best fish is not big difficult. Take out a few minutes from your business professional life , make sure on the features what you are expecting to have in your app and award it to creative and innovative guy who can do it in a cost effective method. Then you will get the cheap app interns of price. Find the developers who are near to thoughts.
All the best for your app.
Feb 13, 2014
If you want a cheap and quick solution, and you don't have any specific requirements try http://mobile.conduit.com/ (by the way, I have no affiliation with them, I was just impressed by their offering). You will be blown away in the first 5 minutes and you can get an app that looks much like your website and facebook page, but nothing more.
On the other hand, if you have a business model which requires reaching your users while mobile and on their cell phones, you should rephrase your question to "Who will bring me most reliably the best value in the shortest amount of time?" and "Who will work with me to get me what I need?". This is what Dynamic Leap - my company - does for its customers.
Feb 12, 2014
Hi Doug, The most important thing is to find a great app developer that will make suggestions that are within your budget. You could probably find one on the Elance website but you should get references before you engage a developer so you can assess their work and feel confident they suit your requirements. You could also try innohub.ca. They have worked with major corporations and universities. Good luck in your quest.
Feb 13, 2014
I would strongly warn you against the idea that cheap is your main priority. There are LOTS of options out there that will make you a cheap app for your business. The problem is, you get what you pay for - and your customers (or employees, if this is an internal app) will know it. Do you really want to send the message that your business is cheap?
I work for an app development company, and we've had countless prospective clients come to us, decide we're too expensive, try a cheap alternative, and then a couple of months later they come back and say that they are unhappy with the results they got. At that point, they've wasted most of their budget, they hate their app, and it's really too late for us to help them unless they can come up with funding to start all over again.
So my recommendation is that if you're only willing to invest in a mobile app if it's cheap, don't bother doing it at all. You'll almost certainly regret the time and money wasted... and your customers will regret wasting their time, too.
Feb 13, 2014
I don't know about cheap, but I know he is not the high priced spread either. I just know he'll deliver what he says he will and make your company look great. Raj Doraisamy at DrappleApps - 800-941-4872.
Feb 14, 2014
It is very short question and there isn't any one answer to it. Here are 3 simple steps you can take to move forward:
1. Which domain you want your app for? Customer Acquisition, Customer Services or your Back Office operations - or all three.
2. Is app for public use or for your limited use? Like many free apps! Or is it just another IT app that you want to make it available for people
3. Is your business already performing services through traditional channels and you would like to start a new channel (mobile)?
Each one of the scenario will have different approach and you will be able to decide if you really need an app. Please feel free to write me
Feb 20, 2014
Ask yourself first if you really need an app. Consider this points:
- App use is up over 115% year over year, and the top 20 apps account for 85% of usage.
- There are over 2 million apps between Apple’s, Google’s and Amazon’s app stores.
- A loyal app user is anyone who uses the app more than three times.
- These users represent less than 10% of app downloaders.
- The marketing cost to acquire users is quickly approaching $2 per install.
- Gartner estimates that 91% of all apps downloaded in 2014 will be free.
- And Forrester recently claimed that over 90% of apps will be financial failures.
Now ask yourself, do you really need an app--regardless of price?
Mar 14, 2014
A great App might cost a bit more but a bad App can cost you even more. Because its for your business which is actually a source of revenue and it ideally needs serious positioning and great quality.
So I would rather focus on affordable ways to start rather than simply aiming for finding a cheap solution. You got to weigh it against value it's delivering.
There are various ways to go for it -
1. If your app is not too complex, you can utilize html5 technologies using platform like Phonegap, Xamarin. And there are plenty of experts available.
2. Outsource it Asian country. There you find plenty of technology talent at affordable rates. Mind you, best quality over there also cost you almost same like local service. So you got to find a right provider who can bring benefits of both world for you. Average costing ranges in between $18 - $22/hr. Please dont go below $15 because you may end up getting a real CHEAP product which may not work in current app market.
3. Simply get the POC done and find a right financer to help you building a world class app.
If you need further help, please feel free.
Good luck !!!
Mar 23, 2014
Hi Douglas,
We have a DIY app creation solution that you can create online. It's super powerful and we power some pretty big name brands off it including Wendy's NZ and a few others. It has a full mobile ordering system built in that support Paypal as well among many other features.
Check it out at http://www.applacarte.com.
Mar 23, 2014
I am a mobile App Developer for Black Berry, Apple and Android. Let me provide detail. I will direct you the right.
Apr 9, 2014
The better question is do you need an app or do you need a mobile website. 2 different things and price is different as well. if you want contact me and we can discuss what your business is and what you see your app or mobile website to do. Advice is free design work starts at 500
May 10, 2014
If I wanted to develop an mobile device app for my business, I would first look at existing apps in the Android, Apple, Windows, and Blackberry stores that either meet general needs or were developed for specific businesses.
Then I would approach those developers and see if the code for those apps could be used for yours which could save you some time and money..
What exactly do you want this app to do?
Feb 28, 2014
Hi Douglas,
If you are in a stage which you are unable bet on complete mobile solution it's best to go with something like Page2App (https://www.facebook.com/Page2App). Going for a cheap and low quality product might not good for your long working business since customers are always looking for quality products. Your interface between customers are your web, mobile and shop(if there is a physical space).
Disclaimer - I'm the founder of Cinnamon IT which is the owner of Page2App
May 5, 2014
The best way to get app built in minimum budget is to hire offshore developers. Offshore developers are working with the best of team of developers and know how to successfully conclude a project. Unlike freelance developers who often work individually on a project, and cannot provide desires skills to you project, offshore developers have expertise of all tastes. They can customize an app for your business at lowest possible budget...
i don't send any business over seas. I do my best to buy local and USA products only. Its hard sometimes.