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.
