How Long Does It Take to Create an App: How Not to Waste Months

If you are thinking about launching your new app, one of the questions you’ve surely asked yourself is: how long does it take to see my product on the stores?

It’s natural to be eager to see your idea take shape, but—as the saying goes—Rome wasn’t built in a day.

The truth is that there is no certain answer, nor a “right” time: it all depends on your goals and on how you and your team (or the external team you hire to develop your app) organize the work to be done.

How long does it take to create an app: but what kind of app?

First of all, the first question to ask in order to have a reference timeline is: what do we mean by “developing an app”? What is the end point, what is technically called the Definition of Done (DoD)?

Clearly, the answer to this question cannot be unique: it depends on each person’s expectations. Usually, the fastest way to get a product that meets your needs is to first develop an MVP, that is the minimum viable product, which, as the name suggests, includes only the core features of the final product.

MVP development timeline for an app: what are we talking about?

Even when limiting the scope to the MVP, it is not possible to determine with certainty how long it will take to create your application. Why? Does it depend on the team’s skill? Partly, but mainly it depends on the product’s characteristics!

At Mabiloft, we have sometimes managed to develop an MVP in just one month, but things don’t always go that way: it also depends on the complexity you intend to introduce in the first version of the product.

In most cases, developing an MVP takes about 3–4 months if you want to do it thoroughly. Of course, it also depends on the starting point: if you enter the development phase with unclear ideas and there is still work to be done in that regard, the timeline will inevitably extend.

The same applies if, on the contrary, you expect to have a complete app with all features from the start, going against the MVP principle, whose main purpose is to have a minimal version for product validation.

For this reason, priority should be given to planning the phases that precede the release, including their duration and clear expectations of what you want to achieve phase by phase.

How long does it take to develop a full-fledged app

To develop a complete app in all aspects, you need to account for all the steps necessary to reach the finished product: you need to think about UX, the associated business strategy, and probably additional steps after market testing.

Another factor affecting the final timeline is the product’s complexity and the devices you want to optimize the application for.

In general, if we want to give a timeline, we can say that it will take 2–4 months for planning and another 4–8 months for development and testing. The best approach is to have development and testing go hand in hand, gradually releasing new features to users who can try them and provide feedback, guiding the subsequent phases.

Since this, as we have seen, is a rather long process, it is always advisable to start actual app development only after validating your idea.

How not to waste time (and money) in app development

We have seen that it takes at least several months to fully develop an app. Moreover, app development comes with significant costs, which we discussed in detail in another article.

For this reason, it is crucial to minimize wasted time and, consequently, money.

There are two common mistakes that lead to wasting valuable resources when developing an app. Discover what they are to avoid making them.

Underestimating the importance of validation can be costly

A common mistake, especially among first-time entrepreneurs, is underestimating the validation phase. What may seem like a brilliant and appealing idea can prove less effective when compared to real users, perhaps because few people experience the problem the app aims to solve, or because there are already efficient solutions, or even because the app itself cannot effectively address the problem.

To avoid wasting time developing an app that users won’t appreciate, it is wise to ensure beforehand that your product is truly valued before investing too much time and resources.

Also, even after developing an MVP, the optimal solution is to keep testing as development progresses: after the first version, you will validate released features while simultaneously developing new ones.

Compromise yes, but not on quality

To reach the release as quickly as possible, it is necessary to accept giving up something compared to the final app. But what should you compromise on? It can be non-core features for the app’s functioning, especially if they are complex.

What is less convenient to cut back on, as becomes evident in the long run, is the quality of the existing features, both in terms of code and user experience.

A hastily written app risks being difficult to maintain in the long term and hard to modify, with the risk that it may need to be rebuilt from scratch when you decide to expand it.

If, instead, you choose to skimp on UX (i.e., designing and implementing how the user will interact with the app), you risk driving away potential users because, even if they appreciate the underlying concept and functions of the app, they cannot use it smoothly.

Avoid beginner mistakes, turn to experienced professionals

Ultimately, the message we want to convey is that it is more important to do things correctly than quickly.

If you are unsure of the right approach, the best thing for your product is to turn to someone experienced and ask for guidance on what to develop and when.

As a software house, at Mabiloft we always strive to find the best way to launch our clients’ products quickly but sensibly: we work alongside you to help you reach the market as soon as possible, but with the right preparation to give your product a chance to succeed.

Mabiloft has also recently launched a new program for entrepreneurs who need mentorship, the Sprint Check. It is a completely free service aimed at helping founders in all stages of the process, with a personalized, straight-to-the-point approach.

All you need to do is fill out a questionnaire, and you will be contacted for a call where you can discuss your product, expectations, and doubts. We can help you understand how long your product’s development will take depending on its specific characteristics, providing you with a clear and detailed roadmap of the steps to reach launch.