The process of estimating Flutter app development cost takes entrepreneurs through multiple factors and stages. Let us dig into them.
It took Flutter 2 years to come into the limelight. But Google I/O – 2018 mention brought the framework into the wishlist of new age developers and startup founders.
Before the announcement, at the time when Flutter did not even exist, React Native was the ruler of the cross-platform domain. However, it took the industry one look into the Flutter offerings and the dependency on React Native platform was forgotten.
The entrepreneurs now not just sang the tunes of the new feature-rich native-like framework but also started enquiring the cost of Flutter app development.
It has been one year and the questions have not stopped.
Let us get you the answer today. Just like we got you the answer to Cost of React Native app development.
But prior to getting the estimate of Flutter app development cost, it is first important to know what is the role of Flutter for cross-platform mobile development. Something which can only be understood with the understanding of what is Flutter.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source mobile SDK which is used to develop native-looking iOS and Android apps from a single codebase.
The framework has been operative in the industry since 2015 when it was first introduced by Google but it popularized much later. Even though the time that the framework has spent in market in a mainstream mode is only a year old, it has established itself as a modern reactive framework.
The popularity level that Flutter has formed for itself is so much so that the answer to what is Flutter often draws parallels between the framework and React Native.
The apps made in Flutter are developed using Dart – an object-oriented programming language.
The ruling idea behind Flutter is that it revolves around widgets. The complete Flutter UI is developed by mixing multiple widgets, with each defining structural elements like menu or button, a style element, like colour or font, or an aspect layout such as padding, etc.
Flutter does not make use of the OEM widgets, it works around its own factory made widgets that seamlessly fit into both Android and iOS applications.
Flutter Timeline
The frequent update story that Flutter shares is the doing of growing demand of entrepreneurs who have based their trust on the cross-platform framework.
There are a number of benefits that Flutter offers to the entrepreneurs to make them choose the framework over any other cross-platform app development approach.
Benefits of Flutter app development
Open-Source
Both Dart and Flutter are entirely open-source, meaning it is very easy for Flutter app developers to view the documentation and post their issues in the open developer forum. This, in return, lowers the learnability curve.
Compatible
Since the Flutter widget are part of the application and not the platform, there is a very small chance that you would face any compatibility issues between Android and iOS. This translates into low testing time. One that gives a lot of weightage in Flutter’s favor when the parallels are drawn between Flutter vs React Native.
Expedited Development
Expedited development is the answer to why use Flutter for entrepreneurs. It is also one of the most talked about benefits that heavies the weight towards pros in the pros & cons of Flutter discussion is the expedited development time. There are a number of ways through which Flutter makes it possible:
- Hot reload functionality
- Detailed documentation
- Platform specific widgets
High Performance
It is very easy to compile Dart into native code. And there is a lack of need to access the OEM widgets because Flutter has its own. Both these factors together translates into low mediated communication between the platform and app.
Amazing Editor Integration
It is very easy for Flutter app developers to add and subtract edits when creating applications. Both Visual Studio and Android Studio makes up for smart completions on the basis of function definitions, imported modules, and variable types. In addition to this, you are enabled with the facility to push and pull any SCM service.
Single Codebase
Another factor that emerges as a prominent answer to why use Flutter as the ideal cross-platform app development approach is the usage of a single-codebase.
When creating Flutter app, designers and developers only have to focus on the creation of a single codebase – one version of the application that would run on both Android and iOS platforms.
Google’s Back
Flutter is backed by Google. So naturally, the documentation is top of class and so is the extent and stability of update versions. Plus, the semi-definite surety that it will not be killed mid-way.
While the advantages that we saw above: expedited development time, high performance, and single-codebase are usually deemed more startup centric, they are a huge attraction point for many established businesses as well.
It is not just the benefits of the framework that unites the startups and established enterprises, but also the quest for finding an answer to what is the cost of Flutter app development.
Let us get you the answer.
What is the Cost of Developing Flutter App?
When we talk about the elements that decides the overall mobile app development costs, there are quite a few factors that are common between the Native and Flutter app development process. Meaning, they don’t play any standalone part in the estimation cost of Flutter app development. Those stages are:
- App Discovery Cost
- App Deployment Cost
Now let us look at the ones which are in fact play a specific role in the Flutter app development cost.
A. App Complexity
Every application can be divided into three sub-categories: Low, Medium, and High Complexity Applications.
This demarcation is done on the basis of five factors:
- Deployment Architecture Model
- Admin Panel Development
- Third Party Integration
- Use of Device’s In-Built Features
- Integration with the Enterprise/Legacy System
B. App Category
It is common to find a number of feature shift as you move from one application to another. While some might have x functionalities some would have y, while some apps would multi-factor authentication, others might not even ask you to login, and so on and so forth.
Changing with these features set are the estimates of Flutter app development cost. For example, a currency converter app will cost a lot less than an IoT or ride booking app.
C. Focus on Hardware
More the hardware you try to connect with your application, the more would be the answer to how much does it cost to build Flutter app. This is why it is a more expensive deal to develop and integrate an app with a legacy system or connect it with wearables.
D. App Design
An intricate design is one of the most necessary parts of an application. The more intuitive and free-flowing the design is, the more users would connect with the app at a personal level. Achieving this connection is something that does not come free or at low cost.
But what comes as a relief for the money-bound app entrepreneurs is the low designing cost that they pay when they invest in Flutter-based app.
E. App Maintenance
The prominence of the price of Flutter app maintenance is undeniable. No matter how new or old your application gets, you will have to keep updating it to meet your users’ changing demands.
This necessity is what makes it an important element of the Flutter app development services.
There are mainly three things that we talk about when discussing Flutter app maintenance:
- App updates
- Design changes
- App bug fixes
F. Location of the Agency
Location is a very important criteria when it comes to determining the Flutter mobile app development cost. The difference in cost that an agency in the USA would charge when you hire them for their Flutter app development services will be stark higher than the cost estimate that an Eastern nation agency would ask for. This is one of the reasons why app entrepreneurs choose the outsourcing approach for their app project.
Here’s a map showcasing geography wise per hour development cost –
All these factors come together to answer the cost of Flutter app development that you would have to incur for your app project. Now, giving a numeric answer will only be possible once you share with us your project requirement. So, don’t wait. Fill up the form below and share your ideas with our Flutter app experts.
FAQs About Flutter and its Development Cost
Q1. How Flutter Reduces the Cost of Application Development?
Flutter app development comes with a number of cost-saving factors like low developmental effort, single codebase, low maintenance timeline, etc. All these come together to get its cost range down to a huge extent.
Q2. How is Flutter mobile app development cost estimated?
The Flutter app development cost is dependent on these set of factors:
- App Complexity
- App Category
- App Design
- App Maintenance efforts
- Location of the agency.
Q3. Why choose Flutter platform over others?
There are a number of reasons, but if we as Flutter app developers had to pin-point some of them, the two prominent reasons would be – A. Google’s Backing and B. The widgets that make your application Native-like.
Q4. Is Flutter a good idea for every app?
You can make any app of your wish with Flutter. It depends entirely on your development team’s efforts how successfully they will be able to complete the project. But, between us, what we suggest is that you should opt for low to medium complexity apps when choosing Flutter. This way, the developmental efforts would be less and the time to market would be high.
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