iOS vs Android Development
iOS is the operating system available exclusively on Apple’s mobile devices (iPhones and iPads). Android is Google’s operating system found on various devices, including phones, Smart TVs and tablets sold by different manufacturers. Android can be found on mobile devices developed by Samsung, Sony, Huawei etc.
With larger budgets in place, an organisation may not have to choose only one operating system to develop their app for, meaning they can develop for both iOS and Android. However, for organisations with smaller budgets it’s important to know the pros and cons of each.
While both platforms have become easily accessible to all users over recent years, choosing the “right” decision will ultimately depend on your business needs.
Discussed below are some of the factors you need to consider prior to choosing whether you want an app developed on either iOS or Android.
App Stores
Considering distribution of your application, iOS apps must be released through Apple’s App Store. Android applications can be distributed through various app stores or third-party sources, although the Google Play Store tends to be the main one.
Publishing your app on the Google Play Store, Android’s biggest app store, is relatively fast and straightforward. In contrast, the app release process is more difficult on iOS. It can take a while for an app and its updates to be approved, and it can be also rejected if it’s deemed irrelevant or impractical.
Design
Both iOS and Android have their own design guidelines which need to be considered prior to development.
Design elements that need to be considered when designing both iOS and Android apps include, menus, typography, resolutions and notifications.
It may be easier to optimise your app on an Apple device due to the similar hardware and screen size on most of their devices. Designing an app for Android will potentially bring challenges to overcome, especially regarding screen sizes and camera cut-outs across the thousands of different manufacturer designs.
Target Audience
The Irish smartphone market share is almost evenly split between Android (51%) and iOS (48%) in 2023.
Throughout the rest of the world however, iOS dominates in North America and Western Europe, whereas Android is far more popular in Asia, Africa and Australia. Overall, Android has a larger global market share.
If you wish to reach the largest number of potential end-users possible, then you may be better off developing an Android solution and monetising through and in-app advertising.
Broadly speaking, Apple users tend to be female, aged 35+ years old who work in media/marketing/business industry. Android users on the other hand tend to be male, 18-34 years old and work in IT/Utilities.
iOS users are far more likely to pay up front for an app, unlike Android users partly due to income levels among world demographics.
Cost
App development isn’t an easy thing to calculate cost-wise, as there are far too many variables to say which operating system app development is the less expensive option. The difference between the cost of development between both platforms is almost negligible at this point, although there are still some things to consider.
While it’s more expensive to upload your app to the Apple App Store, both Apple and Google offer free extensive app developing tools and documentation to developers.
Majority of costs calculated will come from hourly rates, time spent and adaptation. You should always analyse your project needs and choose your preferred platform according to the final goal.
Is your organisation considering mobile software development in 2023? If so, contact us today on +353 1 8041298, or click on the link below to be brought to our contact form.
