In 2022, if
anyone reconsiders having mobile app development for their business, they will fall behind against their competitors.
Creating a digital presence has become imperative for every business, and
personalising an app that represents your brand is crucial.
Once you
realise the importance of app development, you might have doubts regarding
which operating system to choose. The right mobile app development company will be your best
advisor and provide you with the direction you need to choose between Android vs iOS.
However, as an entrepreneur, you need to have the logical reasoning to back
your decision on the same.
Android or iOS App Development
When
considering either iOS app development or Android app development, there are
some common differentiations to consider. These include the number of
downloads, user retention, targeted market, revenue, and more. Let us look at
such aspects in detail to help you determine which option to choose.
1. Market Share
When considering the market share division of Android and iOS app
development, one must consider the number of users in each platform.
Android is a much more widely used operating system because it is
available across different brands and devices. iOS is only limited to Apple
users, making it have a comparatively smaller number of users.
It is easy to state that if a user wants to target a wider audience, they
will choose Android. It has ten times more chances of scalability compared to
iOS.
Verdict
Since most start-ups choose visibility initially, it is wiser to choose Android app development. One
can always incorporate iOS later and make the app services available for Apple
users as well.
2.
App revenue
How much revenue can you generate from an app will determine how you
choose to develop. When a start-up tries to utilise the benefits of smartphone
facilities, they have to calculate the potential revenue they expect and can
practically generate.
iOS has positioned itself over time to prove that it is a platform that
can generate high revenue for businesses. Most iOS apps have paid features
requiring users to make in-app purchases to utilise the functions fully.
Android is gradually catching up in terms of app monetisation. However,
there is still a long way to go when it comes to Play Store becoming
comparatively more monetised than App Store.
Verdict
If your start-up is looking to expect in-app purchases as a significant
form of revenue. You might consider iOS app development and vice versa.
3.
User retention
It is crucial to analyse the potential user retention of an app in a platform to judge if it will perform well or not. As an entrepreneur, it will be difficult for you to understand this concept. Thus, the mobile app development company you partner with will help you create the analysis.
They will consider several factors that contribute towards app
uninstallation and uninstallation rate. One of the primary reasons to determine
this is the experience you can deliver through the app.
Many times, users using different operating systems have varied reasons
to uninstall an app. When comparing Android vs iOS apps, it is seen that
Android users are usually more loyal and adjust to mediocre app experiences.
However, Apple users significantly shift if they do not have a good experience
with an app.
Verdict
You primarily need to collaborate with the best mobile app development company to enhance user
retention. Their expertise will help you design a credible app that is widely
accepted irrespective of the app format you choose.
Which App Platform is Suitable for Start-ups?
One needs to consider multiple factors when they need mobile app development for their start-up. Since start-ups generally have limited capital, not taking the right decision can result in severe consequences. Thus, considerations to determine choosing between either app platform would include:
1. Understanding Your Audience
Do you know
that the US and Australia is majorly dominated by Apple users? Do you also know
that 80% of the world population uses Android devices?
Since you
need to cater to a specific audience, you must consider your expected reach.
For example, if you build an app for western countries, you have to choose iOS
app development. However, if you consider the entire world as your target
audience, you would select Android.
2. Knowing Your User
There are
quite a few traits that separate iOS users from Android users. Thus,
understanding the type of user you wish to cater to is essential.
iOS users
tend to have higher income and education levels. The most straightforward
reason is Apple’s pricing against Android’s availability for the masses. Apple
users tend to be more engaged with apps they install and are likely to make
in-app purchases as per their interest.
Most
independent Android users are between the age of 25 to 45. They spend
consciously and are often late to adopt technology.
3. Setting in-app Purchases
If your app
requires users to make an in-app purchase to access most of it, you should
consider iOS app development. The average in-app cost of an iOS app is $10.8,
while for Android, it is $0.43 for the same.
The
geographical difference between iOS and Android users is a significant factor
that impacts people’s purchase behaviour. For example, globally, a user spends
around $0.50 for an in-app purchase. For Asia, the cost paid is around $0.70,
while for Europe, North and Latin America, it is $0.26, $0.61 and $0.16
respectively.
4. Considering Fragmentation
One aspect
where Apple can never surpass Android is fragmentation. Apple is an exclusive
brand selling a specific range of smart devices. Whereas Android is
incorporated and sold through a variety of brands. Moreover, since Google
partnered with Android and produced thousands of devices, the market has only
been increasing.
If the
primary motive of your start-up is to become a household name, you should
choose Android app development. However, if you only wish to focus on the elite
group of limited users, you must select iOS.
5. Considering Release cycles
While
fragmentation is an upside for your Android inclination, you must also consider
the downside of release cycles. Android app upgrades are usually restricted as they
are partnered with OEM devices. Since Apple has a limited number of iPads and
iPhones, it is way more flexible to support new operating systems.
Fragmentation in Android makes it tough to make it adaptable to new versions.
6. Designing Expectations
What your
app wishes to cater to will determine how a mobile app development company
would design it. Your start-up could require a particular type of app platform
depending on your target audience, but your design pattern might not be easy
for the same.
Google
Material Design has a significant impact on the user experience. However, most
app developers feel Swift is a better model than Java for start-ups.
It is
essential to consider that designing depends more on the skill than the
platform you choose. It is best to associate with a brand that offers both
forms of mobile app development and can assist you in choosing between the two.
How are Android and iOS Apps Developed?
When you
speak to an app development company, you might find them give you different
reasons that make app development distinctive for both platforms. Most
importantly, you might think about why the cost of development differs from one
another.
Some
reasons make app development distinctive from Android to iOS. Here are some aspects
to consider:
1. Programming Language
Different
programming languages help build apps in Android and iOS devices depending on
their operating systems. The most significant distinction is that iOS apps run
on Objective-C/Swift, and Android runs on
Java or Kotlin.
Since Swift
coding requires less time than Java, stacking is easier to dominate when
developing iOS apps. Android app developers are slowly migrating to Kotlin from
Java as it is easier to manoeuvre.
2. Testing
Every
developing app goes through several testing phases, irrespective of the
software type. Simulators for iOS and emulators for Android are examples of
testing options for the two. One common difference is that simulators are
faster than emulators. However, emulators are comparatively more effective as
it is equivalent to a virtual machine with a CPU. Simulators are often
inaccurate and unrealistic. Thus, testing is often time-consuming and
repetitive for iOS app development, depending on the number of bugs and
interactive flow.
3. Interface
An app
interface determines the visual contrasts accessible to the smartphone user.
Mobile app developers assemble XML documents for Android and XIB for iOS. From
a technical point of view, iOS animation is superior to Android.
The
Google-Android collaboration has improved interface significantly with Android L and design pattern, Material
Design. However, Apple has always been intricate with its interface and
provided optimum user experience through quality animation. Google prioritises
hardware, unlike interface intricacies.
Choosing between Android and iOS app Development
Now that you have gone through the significant differences
and determining factors, it is time to consider which app platform suits your
start-up. Let us consider why start-ups choose iOS vs Android apps and then
decide whether or not you have the same reasons to do so.
When does a Start-up Invest in iOS App Development?
If a start-up wants to provide services to the elite and concentrated group based in western countries primarily, they might choose iOS app development. Many start-ups choose iOS if they are not convinced that their app will be moved to the home screen due to lower acceptability. Since iOS is less fragmented, it is usually preferred for initial trials. Concentrating primarily on a smaller audience can generate revenue if the app receives acceptability.
When does a Start-up invest in Android app development?
If a start-up wishes to cater to the global market or
specifically a market that predominantly uses Android, they will consider it
over iOS. If the app requires several customisations, there will also be an
inclination towards Android.
Which App Platform Should You Choose?
By now, you might have guessed that we would recommend you
to choose developing apps on both platforms. While the debate between choosing
Android and iOS app development is unending, together, they will give you a
power-packed solution to cater to your target audience.
Of course, you might choose one over the other depending on
the determining factors stated above. Moreover, monetary aspects, time
constraints, accessibility, demographics are all concerns that you will
consider when choosing one over the other.
We recommend you primarily choose a credible app development
company to clear your doubts and give you robust solutions. They will be your
best guide to confirm which app platform you should select first. You can
always incorporate both when you have the time, money, resources, and chances
of scalability.
When Should You Extend App Accessibility?
If you want to build one app on either platform now and
expand to both later, you can consider the activity based on a few aspects.
Primarily, you will want to extract every advantage from the current platform. For
example, if your app generates significant revenue from the App Store, you will
know when to introduce it to the Play Store. In contrast, if your app gains
significant followers on Play Store, you can increase monetisation chances by
introducing it to the App Store.
Final thoughts
Before choosing one app platform over the other, you need to rely on a reputed mobile app development company. BluWebMedia is eager to be your trusted partner to create quality mobile apps for either or both platforms. Our efficient app developers will go through a thorough brainstorming session to help you determine which platform suits your company. While we recommend you incorporate both, you can always start with one and expand later.