Over the last few years, we have witnessed the rise of the app culture, driven by the proliferation of smartphones and global events. The COVID-19 lockdowns, rising mobile competition, and overall demand for accessibility among customers have contributed to the mobile economy’s upturn.
The growing consumer spending underscores this upward trajectory. At the beginning of 2024, global consumer spend across iOS and Google Play surpassed $35 billion, an increase of 9.5% year-over-year. No wonder companies have an interest in joining this lucrative mobile market.
Once a startup decides they want to move forward with an app, the main question arises: “Should I go for Android or iOS development first?” Let's find out.
Option #1: Android app development
To choose between iOS and Android apps, you need to have a closer look at each of the two, starting with the Android platform.
Billions of mobile devices have the Android operating system as their core. With around 3.9 billion Android phone users, Android is considered to be the leading mobile operating system worldwide, with a vast ecosystem of Android-based devices. Google Play, the official Android app marketplace, lists over 2.6 million apps.
The benefits of developing for Android
The sheer number of Android applications is not the only advantage of this platform. Below, you can find the main differentiators of Android apps.
Flexibility
Typically, Android phones offer more flexibility to their users in terms of app customization compared to iOS’s rigid environment. This freedom of creativity stems from the platform’s open-source nature, which allows no single industry player to restrict or control innovations. It also accounts for Android’s cross-compatibility potential.
Global, diverse audience
With over 3 billion Android devices in the wild, this operating system caters to users across various geographies and age groups. Therefore, if you’re aiming for a general target audience in multiple locations, Android is the safe choice.
Rich design
Although this advantage may create roadblocks for inexperienced app developers, the good old Material Design standards provide layered, dynamic designs with custom animations. Moreover, Google's Android Studio offers a vast collection of layouts and templates to help Android developers craft simple and complex designs.
Mature ecosystem
Developing Android apps means tapping into the diverse ecosystem of Android-powered devices. You can boost user engagement by writing your apps for the Wear OS experience, Android TV, and Chrome OS devices. Although each integration requires additional effort, a multifaceted user experience justifies the required effort.
Faster release
Google tends to have a less stringent approach to the submission and approval procedures. During the pandemic, however, the Google Play store has adjusted its reviewing times, and it now takes longer than usual to get feedback on your release. Still, if your application doesn’t violate the store’s guidelines, it generally takes editors two to three days to review your submission.
The drawbacks of Android development
Despite the many benefits, creating mobile apps for Android may entail some pitfalls. Below, you’ll find the drawbacks of developing Android apps, which will help you choose between Android and iOS app development.
Screen size fragmentation
A rich ecosystem of devices is a double-edged sword. While it may help extend your reach, a wide device range also requires you to adjust your application to different screen sizes, resolutions, and aspect ratios.
Quality assurance and maintenance
As multiple companies manufacture Android OS devices, Android app maintenance takes significant dedication and effort. Some devices also have off-center system integrations or rare bugs, which, unless taken into account, may lead to device-specific issues. Moreover, some devices have cheaper components, which can slow down apps.
Cost of development
Although this criterion varies by the project, Android app development and testing can be quite costly due to the wide range of devices. However, the total development cost depends on the overall app complexity and the number of features.
Option #2: iOS app development
Apple devices are not as numerous as Android ones. The number of active iPhones has surpassed over 2.2 billion active devices in 2023. But despite a lower number of users, this operating system has some aces up its sleeve.
The benefits of iOS app development
Below, you’ll find the main benefits of using Apple as your target platform.
Revenue
Apple users spend nearly 2.2 times more than Android users, while Android users tend to be more frugal regarding in-app purchases. Therefore, Apple customer spending behavior might also be a deal breaker for you. With Apple users, you can benefit from this tendency by using the freemium app monetization model instead of cluttering your application with ads.
The number of devices
Less is more, especially when it comes to the number of devices you have to optimize your app for. As iOS only powers Apple products, your application only needs to be adjusted for a limited and definite number of screens and devices.
Consistent user experience
Both iOS and Android can offer outstanding user experience. However, if you're aiming for uniform, consistent design, iOS will keep your UI/UX team within the bounds of conciseness.
Apple design guidelines take their origin in the flat design that makes iOS look and feel stand out among the rest. Therefore, Apple's designs revolve around clarity, simplicity, and minimalism, supported by consistent experiences across all iOS devices. Also, total cohesion between software and hardware means a better user experience since your design will hold up across all devices.
Closed-source ecosystem
The iOS platform is classified as a closed ecosystem, as Apple has complete control over both the software and the hardware. While it can have its drawbacks, proprietary software code has a lower chance of being compromised, and this sets higher standards compared to the open-source ecosystem.
The drawbacks of iOS development
Despite its benefits, Apple devices can set some limits on your project. Below, you’ll find the main drawbacks.
Limited customization
Sleek, flawless, and uniform designs are the hallmark of iOS apps. However, the uniformity of designs comes from the restricted ability to customize iOS app interfaces. Moreover, it can be difficult to add third-party integrations when needed.
App release
The Apple App Store notoriously has high publishing standards for iOS apps. But these can get back at you as the marketplace can reject your app due to inappropriate content, private APIs, or any other guideline violations. Besides, the App Store reviews all app updates, app bundles, in-app purchases, and in-app events as a part of its meticulous review process.
iOS vs. Android app development comparison: Who wins the battle?
Android has the edge over iOS by the number of users. As of 2024, the Android operating system holds 70.7% of the market share, while iOS accounts for around 28.5% of the mobile market.
However, market dominance isn't the only factor that enters the equation when choosing between iOS vs. Android app development. Next, we'll review the main differentiating factors for iOS and Android app development.
Future prospects
On a high level, global spending on mobile apps is poised for gradual growth. According to Sensor Tower, mobile users are projected to spend $288 billion in 2030 alone on in-app purchases, compared with $171 billion in 2023.
The App Store is expected to rake in more revenue with a projected $147 billion at an annual growth rate of 7.3%. Google Play will account for less profit of $141 billion with 7.2% annual growth by 2030.
When it comes to downloads, the distribution is different. Google Play will contribute 297.4 billion downloads, while the App Store will reach 49.2 billion downloads by 2030.
Therefore, you can gain from any platform, provided that your business model can help you tap into the advantages of a specific platform.
Revenue
The app monetization potential also differs in iOS vs. Android development. While Android has a larger market share, iOS users tend to bring in more considerable revenue. The iOS platform is responsible for the lion’s share of app subscription revenue, generating $34.7 billion in 2023. Android users spent $10.9 billion on app subscriptions in 2023.
Therefore, if your main revenue stream is based on a free download with in-app purchases, iOS will give you more opportunities to make a profit. But remember that both Google and Apple charge a 30% fee for in-app purchases.
Related: How much money can you earn with an app?
Target audience
Mobile solutions should be built with the end users in mind. Therefore, the demographics and geography of your target audience are the fundamental criteria when choosing your platform. Research your existing and potential customers, find out who uses your competitors' apps, and draw up a preliminary target user profile to develop a thorough understanding of your end user.
If you're looking to reach a global audience, Android is probably your best bet, as most countries favor Android over iOS. In addition, up-and-coming regions like Asia prefer Android over iOS, as well.
At the same time, North America, Australia, and northern Europe prefer Apple devices over Android. In the US, the iPhone user base overtakes Android, claiming more than half of the market in 2024. Therefore, if you're targeting the American market, iOS is your best bet.
Budget and time for development
The development timeline can also be a deal breaker when developing for either iOS or Android. However, in our experience, the development speed is roughly the same in both cases.
However, the timeline can vary based on your application's complexity, compatibility goals, and feature set. For instance, an Android project may take longer due to the operating system release cycles, Android fragmentation, and device-specific issues.
Specifically, resource-intensive Android development can also be more expensive compared with iOS, provided you’re developing for a wide range of devices. But it helps to keep in mind that costs and time depend on your unique project needs.
Related: How much does it cost to develop an app?
Post-launch maintenance
After the release, your application will need a regular maintenance regimen to keep up its performance. Based on our experience, the Android platform is more likely to cause maintenance challenges due to the variety of manufacturers.
The iOS ecosystem is more consistent as it has the same hardware and operating system manufacturer. This, in turn, leads to balanced quality results, as the manufacturer has complete control over all parts of the iOS platform.
Desired features
The set of core features, design flexibility, and overall freedom for creativity are also among the main criteria when developing for Android vs. iOS. As Android is open-source, it allows for granular customization capabilities, while on iOS, it’s far more time-intensive to go beyond uniform design elements.
Besides a swath of hardware and manufacturers, Android ushers in a larger variety of features compared to Apple. For example, your Android app can include multiple payment methods, while iOS payment gateways are limited to Apple Pay.
While the iOS operating system is under the complete dominion of the Apple ecosystem, Android allows you to go Google-free. Thus, you can replace default firmware with a custom ROM to create your version of Android and add unique features that are off-limits in stock Android.
Publishing on the app store
Although Google Play has high demands for freshly-baked applications, app publishers have higher odds of getting their applications approved. The App Store tends to reject more applications straight out the gate for the sake of higher privacy and app quality. In 2023, the App Store rejected over 248,000 app submissions for failing to meet the App Store’s stringent standards for privacy, security, and content.
In response to the growing frustration, Apple has made its submission process faster and more straightforward. According to Apple, 73% of prospective apps submitted by developers to the platform are now reviewed within 24 hours. Also, iOS developers now have direct access to Apple experts via Ask Apple.
To enter either app store, you need to purchase a developer license. While the Play Store’s license is a one-time $25, Apple’s Developer Program annual fee is $99 and is charged annually.
Related: Why Google and Apple May Remove Your App and How to Deal With That? [+Free Pre-Publish Checklist]
User engagement
As for user engagement with in-app content, the average time spent on mobile has broken through the five-hour-a-day barrier in both markets. Therefore, both platforms suggest an equal potential for meaningful user interaction.
So, which to choose first: iOS or Android apps?
The Android vs. iOS app development dilemma boils down to a well-defined understanding of your project. Your app’s target audience, budget, monetization potential, and desired customization level contribute to your platform decision.
Here, Android application development is the ideal choice when:
- You want to reach a wider audience;
- You need a high level of design customization and unique features;
- You want to speed up the app’s rollout.
You should consider iOS mobile app development when:
- The majority of your target users are located in wealthier regions, like Northern Europe, North America, or Australia;
- You have chosen a premium monetization model and/or intend to include in-app purchases;
- You prefer a sleek yet predictable design.
In any case, we recommend making this important choice based on your unique project needs. Also, you can always start small by building an app for just one platform to test the waters and collect actionable feedback to further iterate on your application.
If you’re looking for a trusted app development partner, Orangesoft is ready to solve your project’s challenges. Reach out to us, and we can help you enter the right market with the right solution.
