How Long Does It Take to Develop an App? Complete Timeline (2025-26)

Have you been asking yourself how long it takes to create an app? This question is asked by many entrepreneurs and business owners. Yes, there are thousands who are thinking of developing a mobile application to fulfill their needs.

App development time is not a fixed timeline because there are several factors that would affect the duration of development. If your app is simple, it can be completed in a few weeks or months. If complicated, then in numerous months or a year.

In this article, we will break down the app development process in detail to help you estimate the time that it will take your project to finish.

Statistics of App Development Market

• The mobile app industry worldwide shows a predicted revenue growth to $430.9 billion in 2025 while demonstrating an annual expansion rate of 9.27%.
• The adoption rate of low-code or no-code technologies for new business applications will reach 70% by 2025 which will help small businesses create applications at lower costs and with better efficiency.
• The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into mobile applications will drive better user experiences and operational efficiency, thus becoming a major trend for businesses in 2025.

End-to-End App Development Process

Therefore, to understand app development you need to know the stages of app development. This process can be described as follows:

1. Planning and Research
2. Design
3. Development
4. Testing
5. Launch
6. Maintenance

The overall development timeline depends on the complexity of your app, and each phase takes a different amount of time.

#1. Planning and Research Phase: 2 to 4 Weeks

Planning is the first and the most important step in the app development. In order for you to create such an app, you have to outline what the app’s about and who the target audience is, and what the problem is that the app is going to solve. However, many people disregard this stage, and it is important to properly plan it so you are not wasting time and throw your money into a big hole.

During this stage, you will:

• Clearly Define Your App Idea
• Research Your Target Audience
• Analyze Competitor Apps
• List Essential Features
• Select A Business Model

How long does it take to build an app that succeeds? There is actually no solution without a well-thought-out plan. You must stay up 2–4 weeks on this step and by doing so, save months of rework later.

#2. Design Phase: 2 to 6 Weeks

Once the planning is done, the next step is designing the app’s layout and functionality. This phase involves:

• Creating Wireframes (Basic Screen Outlines)
• Designing The User Interface (UI)
• Structuring The User Experience (UX)
• Building A Working Prototype

A simple app with a few screens can be designed in 2 to 3 weeks. Apps with more screens and larger user interaction typically take 4 to 6 weeks or more.

A common bad habit is to rush the design phase, which leads to bad UX causing expensive redesigns later.

#3. Development Phase: 4 to 12 Weeks

The development phase takes the longest. So, how long does it take to code an app?

• A basic app with minimal features takes about 4 to 6 weeks to develop.
• A medium-complexity app may take 6 to 10 weeks.
• A complex app with many features, custom elements, and backend requirements can take 3 to 6 months or longer.

Several factors impact development time:

✓ Type of App

• Native apps (built separately for iOS or Android) take longer but provide better performance.
• Cross-platform apps (built for both platforms at once) save time but may have limitations.

✓ App Complexity

• Basic Apps (1-2 months) – Few screens, simple functions
• Medium Apps (2-4 months) – More features, user authentication
• Complex Apps (4+ months) – Advanced functions, custom backend

✓ Development Team

Larger teams can work faster, but coordination challenges can slow things down.

✓ Backend Requirements

Apps that need data storage and processing take longer than standalone applications.

#4. Testing Phase: 2 to 4 Weeks

This ensures that your app is working correctly before it gets out to users. How much time do we need to make sure that the app runs well? At least 2 – 4 weeks testing required.

Types of testing include:

• Functionality Testing – Ensures features work properly
• Performance Testing – Checks speed and responsiveness
• User Testing – Evaluates user experience
• Security Testing – Protects against data breaches
• Device Compatibility Testing – Ensures the app works on different devices

Skipping or rushing testing can lead to major problems. Users will uninstall apps that don’t work correctly.

#5. Launch Phase: 1 to 2 Weeks

Submitting an app to the app store also takes time. This step involves:

• Preparing store listings with descriptions, images, and promotional materials
• Submitting the app for review
• Waiting for approval (which can take days to weeks)
• Fixing any issues if the app gets rejected

Because Apple’s App Store review process is stricter than Google Play, iOS apps may take longer to get approved.

#6. Post-Launch and Maintenance: Ongoing

After launch, development doesn’t stop. You will need to:

• Monitor App Performance
• Fix Bugs
• Release Updates With New Features
• Adapt To Operating System Updates

Plan to spend at least 15-20% of your original development time each year on maintenance.

Factors That Influence App Development Time

#1. App Complexity

The biggest factor in how long it takes to develop an app is its complexity.

• Simple Apps (1-3 months) – Few features, no backend
• Medium Apps (3-6 months) – More features, user accounts, simple backend
• Complex Apps (6+ months) – Advanced features, third-party integrations

#2. Platform Choice

• Single Platform (iOS or Android only) – Shorter timeline
• Both Platforms (Native Development) – Adds 60-80% more time
• Cross-Platform Development – Adds 30-40% more time

#3. Development Approach

• Freelancers – Affordable but slower
• Small Agencies – Balanced cost and speed
• Large Agencies – Faster but expensive
• In-House Team – More control, but hiring takes time

Real-World Examples of App Development Time

#1. Simple To-Do List App (Low Complexity)

• Planning: 2 weeks
• Design: 2 weeks
• Development: 4 weeks
• Testing: 2 weeks
• Launch: 1 week
• Total: 11 weeks (2.5-3 months)

#2. Food Delivery App (Medium Complexity)

• Planning: 3 weeks
• Design: 4 weeks
• Development: 8 weeks
• Testing: 3 weeks
• Launch: 1 week
• Total: 19 weeks (4.5-5 months)

#3. Banking App (High Complexity)

• Planning: 4 weeks
• Design: 6 weeks
• Development: 16 weeks
• Testing: 4 weeks
• Launch: 2 weeks
• Total: 32 weeks (7-8 months)

Tips to Reduce App Development Time

App development should be fastened without a poise of quality. Here are some key strategies:

#1. Start with an MVP

Rather than developing a fully featured app from the initial phase, build an MVP with only the core features. It enables fast launch and improvement based on user feedback.

#2. Use Pre-Built Components

You do not always have to code the app functions from scratch. Using UI templates, libraries, and integrations with third-party services can make development quicker and of the same quality.

#3. Choose the Right Development Approach

Cross-platform frameworks (React Native or Flutter) help us to cut down the development time for the apps targeting both iOS and Android as compared to native apps.

#4. Communicate Clearly

Misunderstandings lead to delays. Ensuring our developers are able to stay on track comes from us in the form of detailed requirements, wireframes, and regular feedback.

#5. Consider No-Code or Low-Code Platforms

For simple apps, there’s no-code or low code platforms like Bubble or Adalo, which are easier to develop since you will not have to do deep coding.

#6. Work with an Experienced Team

Such skills can easily troubleshoot issues as well as optimize workflow to lower unnecessary delays. Applying these strategies will enable you to bring your app to market sooner while still maintaining quality.

Conclusion

With that being said, how long does it take to develop an app? The time varies based on the complexity and the approach.

Expert App Devs offers experienced app developers for Hire who will deliver the job as quickly as possible but not by taking time off from quality. You don’t have to wait a whole year for your app idea to come to life—our team will turn your idea into your app in just months.

We have experts in our team who can develop high-quality apps irrespective of the industry you are in. Let us know today if you need the best developers for your business to scale with a powerful mobile app.

READ MORE: How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App? It's More Affordable Than You Think

Jignen Pandya

CEO of Expert App Devs

A purpose-driven CEO, Jignen Pandya blends visionary leadership with humility and hands-on execution. Known for his ability to inspire teams, build trust, and drive business growth, he leads with a customer-first mindset while empowering people to achieve collective success. His leadership philosophy is built on empathy, collaboration, and turning challenges into opportunities — creating a culture where growth follows value creation.