Today, companies are increasingly investing in mobile app development to stay competitive in today’s digital environment.
The global mobile app market remains to grow, and France has significantly contributed to this growth. By 2023, 87% of French people will own a smartphone, and 36% will support 5G. The demand for mobile apps has bigger dramatically due to the widespread approval of smartphones; in 2022, French users spent an average of 3.9 hours per day using mobile apps, up from 2.7 hours in 2019.
In 2023, the mobile app market in France generated revenues of $2.48 billion (€2.3 billion), an increase of $340 million (€310 million) from the previous year. Forecasts display that the market will continue to grow, with revenues expected to reach $9.2 billion by 2029.
Given these trends, investing in mobile app development in France is a lucrative opportunity.
In this article, we will look at the cost of mobile app development in France and the steps to take before, during, and after development. We will also analyse what teams can be hired to achieve this most cost-effectively.
Let’s start by understanding:
The Costs of Creating a Mobile App in France
The cost of developing a mobile app in France typically ranges from €10,000 to €300,000. However, the final price is influenced by several key factors, including the app’s complexity, the choice of platform, design requirements, and development time.
Key Cost Factors
1. App Complexity
The complexity of your app has a important impact on the development cost:
Low complexity (€9,000–€16,500)
Examples: to-do list apps, flashlights, notes, countdown timers, simple fitness trackers, and QR code scanners.
Medium complexity (€16,000–€22,000)
For example, e-commerce apps, basic social media, on-demand booking, language learning, event management, fitness tracking, expense tracking, and basic ridesharing services.
High complexity (€30,000+)
Examples: video streaming apps, stock trading/investment apps, augmented and virtual reality apps, AI-powered virtual assistants, and complex healthcare apps.
2. Platform Choice
Developing an app for one podium (iOS or Android) is often more cost-effective than developing for both simultaneously. Cross-platform development can increase the overall cost by €23,000 or more.
3. Design & User Interface
Investing in better and more user-friendly design improves the user experience and increases development costs. The French app market is trending towards more creative and visually appealing design, making this aspect one of the most important.
4. Development Time
Low to medium-complexity apps typically take three to nine months to develop.
High complexity apps: This process can take a year or more, depending on the features and technical specifications.
By considering these factors, companies can more accurately forecast costs and plan for efficient mobile app development in France.
The Costs for Maintaining Your Mobile App
Completing the development of a mobile app is just the beginning: ongoing conservation is essential to ensure smooth operation, security and user satisfaction. In the French market, app maintenance costs typically range since 15% to 20% of the initial annual development budget.
To calculate maintenance costs, consider the following key factors:
(1) App Hosting Costs
- Simple/low complexity applications: from 20 to 100 euros per month
- Medium complexity applications: from 100 to 500 euros per month
- High complexity/high load applications: from 500 to over 5000 euros per month
(2) Bug Fixes & Updates
- Minor bug fixes: €500 to €2,000 per update.
- Feature updates: €2,000 to over €10,000 per update.
(3) Security & Compliance
- Basic security: from 50 to 500 euros per year
- Extended security: from 5,000 to 20,000 euros per year
(4) Third-Party API Fees
(If your app integrates payment gateways, maps, or analytics, you should consider additional fees.)
- Google Maps API: €5 to €20 per 1,000 requests.
- Payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal): 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction.
- Authentication and security: Auth0: Free for up to 7,000 active users, then €18 per month for every 1,000 users after that.
(5) Customer Support & Moderation
- Basic support: €500 to €2,000 per month
- Live chat/phone support: €3,000 to €10,000 per month
(6) App Store Fees
- Apple App Store: 99 EUR per year
- Google Play Store: 25 EUR (one-time payment)
(7) Marketing
- Basic advertising: from 500 to 2000 euros per month
- Advanced advertising: from 5000 to 50,000 euros per month
Total Estimated Maintenance Costs (Per Year)
Low-complexity app: €3,000 to €10,000
Medium-complexity app: €10,000 to €50,000
High-complexity app: €50,000 to €500,000
Define your app idea: conduct market research to validate your concept.
Choose the right development partner: a French mobile app development company guarantees flawless execution.
Design and Prototyping: Creating wireframes and UI/UX design.
Development and Coding: Developers bring your mobile app to life in France.
Testing and Deployment: Quality control ensures there are no bugs.
Maintenance and Updates: Regular updates keep your app competitive.
Steps to Build a Mobile App in France
The cost doesn’t matter if you don’t first understand the steps involved in fashioning an app and how long each one takes. Mobile app development in France takes time and teamwork. Don’t rush, or you’ll end up with something mediocre and not worth the effort.
Here are the steps in order:
Planning and Research (1-4 weeks)
Idea: Define the purpose of your app and the audience you want to reach.
Market Research: Analyse the competition and trends in the sector.
Feature List: List the main features and those you want to include.
Monetisation Strategy: Decide whether your app will be free or paid (both options are possible). Free first, then paid.
Tech Stack: What technologies will you use to build your app?
Design & Prototyping (3-6 Weeks)
Wireframing: The process of creating your website’s overall layout/basis. You can do this yourself or hire a designer.
User Interface (UI) Design: Creating visually appealing interfaces for your app.
User Experience (UX) Design: This stage focuses on usability, site navigation, and interactions between designs.
Prototyping: Developing a mockup to test the designs’ usability in the UI and UX stages.
Development (8-24 weeks)
Frontend (Client-Side)
- Mobile frameworks: a foundation, namely a platform for creating software with integrated tools, compilers, debugging tools, and programming interfaces.
- UI implementation: the process of translating the interface design into code.
- State management: managing the data and current state of the application.
Backend (Server-Side)
- Database: Where user data is stored.
- API: Develop an API for interaction between the frontend and the backend.
- Authentication: Implement login/registration via email, phone number, or third-party services (Google, Apple, Facebook).
- Cloud Services: Decide on where your information is hosted and stored.
- Push Notifications
Testing (3-6 weeks)
Unit testing: testing individual mechanisms to ensure they work separately.
Integration testing: testing individual components together to ensure they work together.
Real user feedback: collecting feedback from real users.
Performance testing: testing the speed, responsiveness, and scalability of your application.
Security testing: testing and identifying vulnerabilities in your code.
Device and operating system compatibility: testing on different devices, screen sizes, and operating system versions. Don’t limit yourself to testing the latest versions; test more vulnerable systems.
Deployment (1-2 weeks)
App Store Submission: Publish your app to the Apple App Store (requires the Apple Developer Program) and Google Play Store (requires the Google Play Developer Console). You can do this independently, depending on whether you’re building a cross-platform app; you’ve already decided on that step.
App Store Optimisation (ASO): Optimise keywords, descriptions, and visuals for better search visibility and marketing.
Beta Testing: Use TestFlight (iOS) or beta testing on Google Play before publishing your app.
Post-Launch Maintenance (Ongoing)
Bug Fixing and Updates: Fix bugs and improve features regularly.
User Feedback and Support: Take user comments and complaints into account. Ignoring or not considering these comments can cause your user base to shrink.
Analytics and Performance Tracking: Track user habits, new user acquisition, and churn.
Marketing: Promote your app across multiple channels to ensure it reaches a broad target audience.
Scaling: Add new features, optimise the backend, and manage growing user demand. Apps that are slow to update and scale lag behind their user base.
Hiring the Right Team for Mobile App Development in France
The choice between a freelance developer, an in-house team or a mobile app development company in France depends on the scale and budget of your project.
While freelancers are cost-effective, they may lack the resources to manage large projects. In contrast, an experienced mobile app development company in France offers comprehensive services, guaranteeing a high-quality product.
Let’s analyse the options to understand them better:
(1) In-House Team
This is best for long-term Term Projects and ongoing company-focused work.
The team consists of:
- Project Manager
- UI/UX Designer
- Mobile Application Developer (iOS, Android or Multiplatform)
- Backend Developer
- Quality Tester
Deadline: months
Pros:
- Full control over development
- Faster and better team collaboration
- Easier maintenance and scaling
Cons:
- High initial and ongoing equipment costs.
- Long hiring process.
(2) Outsourcing Company
This option is ideal for companies that need a simple experience.
The team consists of:
- The agency provided a whole team (project manager, several developers, designers and testers).
Delivery time: immediately (pre-formed and experienced team).
Pros:
- Experienced team with established communication channels.
- Higher speed and a more predictable delivery schedule.
- Management outsourcing is when someone else oversees the team’s work for you.
- Typically, it is more cost-effective than an in-house team.
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than hiring individual freelancers.
- Less direct control over development.
- (Some) time zone issues.
(3) Freelancers
This option is ideal for small teams with a limited budget.
Team composition:
- People who probably don’t communicate regularly and are scattered around the world.
Meeting duration: A few days or weeks
Pros:
- Lower costs compared to a whole in-house team
- Access to specialist experts
- Flexibility
Cons:
- Communication and time differences issues
- Less accountability compared to an in-house team
- Managing multiple freelancers can be challenging
(4) Hybrid Team
This option is ideal for companies that need flexibility or additional support in the short term.
The team consists of:
- In-house team + freelancers or agency specialists.
Setup time: varies. You may already have half the team, and the agency can be connected immediately; freelancers require more time.
Pros:
- Easily adaptable to project needs (outsourcing can offer more or less, depending on the needs of each project. Freelancers can be hired and fired without problems.
- More cost-effective than using only one of them.
Cons:
- This requires careful monitoring and strong leadership.
- Freelancers may have the same problems as those mentioned above.
- Outsourcing may have the same problems as those mentioned above.
(5) No-Code/Low-Code Platforms
This option is ideal for creating a prototype of your product.
Team composition:
- One person. Most likely, this will be you.
Development period: from several days to several weeks.
Pros:
- Programming included.
- Cheaper and faster than other options. You only pay for the software.
Cons:
- Minimal customisation options and almost no scalability.
- Not intended for complex applications.
Looking for a reliable mobile app development company in France?
At PSSPL, we offer comprehensive mobile app development solutions tailored to your business needs. Whether you are a startup or a large company, our experienced designers will ensure that your mobile app in France meets industry standards.
Ready to develop a mobile app? Contact PSSPL today for a free consultation!
Conclusion
Mobile app development in France is a significant investment, with costs varying wildly depending on complexity. A simple app can cost as slight as €10,000, while a complex app with more advanced features can cost over €300,000.
Unfortunately, the costs don’t end once the development process is complete. Maintenance and ensuring regular, high-quality updates are critical but expensive.
But given the continued growth of the French mobile app market, now is the time to get involved. You can create a cost-effective and successful mobile app by following the steps outlined above, finding the right team, and working within a limited budget.
Working with an experienced French mobile app development company like PSSPL ensures a smooth and cost-effective development process.
Take the first stage towards a successful mobile app in France: contact PSSPL.