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How Much Does It Cost To Develop Software in 2023 | GoodCore

“The costs of poor quality are tangible; they will cost you customers and money, and ultimately affect the success of your business.”

Subir Chowdhury

Many entrepreneurs and startuppers face a major challenge when it comes to financial number-crunching. It can be quite difficult to find the right balance between cost and quality, both of which are intricately linked. Often, the reason behind a failed project is not a bad software development team but inaccuracies and overexpectations in the software project budget estimation process.

Costing - A Critical Part of Project Planning
Costing – A Critical Part of Project Planning (Source: TeamStage.io)

How much does it cost to develop custom software and how can you avoid mistakes with cost estimation?

It’s a question that we are asked quite frequently. And it’s a tough one, even for someone who has been developing software for over 16 years. Well, here’s our three-word answer: “It really depends!”

The cost of developing software depends on the requirements and various other software cost factors, and no two software projects are the same. In fact, ‘software’ is itself such a broad term that we cannot know the development cost for sure until we know what your exact software requirements are.

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes, but no plans.”

Peter F. Drucker, Austrian-American management consultant

We wish that it was simpler to give an instant cost estimate and a time frame. Without understanding the requirements and factors that determine software development pricing, it is almost impossible to say.

Let’s proceed with our discussion and find out what this really means for you. Read on to find out more about:

  • Software development cost breakdown
  • How average costs are estimated
  • What factors determine the final cost of software development.

What Kind of Software Do You Want to Develop?

In today’s tech-savvy world, the term ‘software’ can mean anything, from the weather application on your phone to a comprehensive enterprise software used by millions of clients. 

Even ‘enterprise software’ is not specific enough. Businesses use a plethora of different software that enables them to operate efficiently, allowing them to perform and manage specific functions. Think about software for every single process, from vendor management, production, inventory, clients, and projects, to managing employees. All kinds of business software, from project management tools to ERP systems, are examples of the integration of business processes and software.

Business owners who want to equip their business with cutting-edge custom software, or entrepreneurs that want to launch software that will be “the next big thing” in the market, often reach out to us with their ideas. But giving precise cost estimates based on vague ideas is virtually impossible. Here’s an analogy that explains it better.

example cost of building a house
Example: Cost of Building a House

An app idea is like saying ‘I want to build a house; how much does it cost?’ A reasonable response to this would be, ‘It solely depends on the type of house you want.’ Needless to say, the actual cost will be dependent on various factors like the square footage, the number of rooms and bathrooms, the number of floors, the fixtures and fittings that your house requires, and so on. The cost would also be impacted by other features of your house, such as a swimming pool, a rooftop garden, a 4-car garage space, and a temperature-controlled wine cellar. Considering this, the cost of building a house can be anywhere between £20,000 and £50 million.

The same goes for software development too. An accurate quote can not be provided until the concrete requirements of your software project are known.

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Whether you are a startup founder with an innovative app idea, a business owner seeking custom software development services, or just someone curious about software development rates, the next section will help you understand more about how much does it cost to develop software. 


Average Cost of Software Development and How It Is Estimated

As discussed before, there is no fixed answer to the “How much does it cost to develop custom software?” question. A software project can cost anywhere between £10,000 and £1,000,000, sometimes even more, and it all depends on the requirements of the project.

If you have a project in mind and you want to find out the average cost of software development for it, you need to get in touch with a software development company – an experienced software team that can provide realistic estimates for your project. These estimations of software development costs are always expressed in terms of cost, time, and effort:

  1. Cost (measured in £)
  2. Duration (measured in calendar time)
  3. Efforts and Experience (measured in person-months)

Time and efforts are closely related to the overall cost of the software project, just like the duration and the number of required construction workers and professionals required to build your house would determine the total construction cost.

Some software development companies estimate the cost in terms of the duration of the software project. An example of software development cost estimation is projects that are spread over an extended development period. While calculating software development costs for such projects, some companies phase out the development process by splitting it into smaller parts and charging a fixed cost for every phase.

example time based estimates
Example: Time-based Estimates

Other software development firms estimate the cost based on the number of persons required. This way, they estimate the price of the software project by multiplying the average cost per person for a set period of time (e.g. a month) by the number of persons required.

example effort based estimates
Example: Effort-based Estimates

Software Development Cost Breakdown: Factors That Determine the Cost of Software Development

Now that you understand the basics of software costing, let’s explore the factors that actually determine why the cost of development of one software differs from another.

Software Size and User Base 

The cost of development can vary depending upon the size of the software and its user base. The size of the software refers to its magnitude, based on the number of modules/screens/pages it has. The more screens/modules there are, the more work it requires and the longer it takes to develop.

software size number of screens
Software Size – Number of Screens

The size of the software user base refers to the number of end-users for that particular software. The sizes of the software and its user base are important components of the development cost because software with a large user base and more modules will need to be optimised and tested more extensively. That will make the development and testing process expensive, thus increasing the overall cost. Therefore, software size and user base are important factors to estimate how much software development costs for a particular project.  

Complexity

The complexity of a software product can play a significant role in determining the software development cost of the project. In simple terms, it refers to how complicated the logic behind the software product is. If it has a complicated logic, it means that it is more challenging to develop, test, and deploy.

There are three things that can complicate the logic behind a software product: 

  • The complexity of the software features
  • Technological complexity
  • The complexity of design (this, we have discussed ahead in a separate section on UI/UX design)

Feature set complexity is when the software product requires a set of complex features or needs to be conditioned according to complicated business rules. Technological complexity refers to when a software product becomes technologically complex and can not be implemented through traditional technologies. For instance, developing software with real-time push notifications is technologically more complex than an application without real-time functionalities.

example calculator app vs stocking trading app
Example: Calculator App vs. Stocking Trading App

Take the example of a basic calculator app, the logic behind which is based on straightforward arithmetic principles. This makes it a much easier application to develop than a stock trading application, for instance. The latter performs complicated functions like number analysis and requires complex real-time functionalities, and, therefore, would be more time-consuming and costly to develop.

The development team determines the complexity level of the project after discussing the requirements with the clients. Usually, the complexity level is categorised into three categories: basic software, medium complexity software, and highly complex software. Although there are no set criteria for each category, it is commonly evaluated in terms of the number of hours it takes to develop the software. Therefore, complexity is another important 

Deployment Platform

Software development prices vary according to the deployment platform of software because each platform has its own specifications. If it is an application for mobile devices, then it depends upon the operating system. Is it an application for iOS only? Or Android? Or Blackberry? All of these are important considerations to know how much it costs to develop the software. Since each deployment platform has a different number of devices that the application will be deployed for, the software development cost for each deployment platform will differ as well.

Android has a significantly higher number of devices than iOS and Blackberry, which is why developing an Android application is always going to be more expensive than others. 

Similarly, if your aim is to come up with an app that can compete with popular apps like Uber, you will have to develop it for all the major deployment platforms, like Android, iOS, Windows, and Blackberry. This means you will require a much higher software development budget

Integration with Existing or External Systems

The cost of software engineering also depends upon any specific integration and data migration requirements.  Most applications nowadays require some form of integration with external, third-party systems, such as a payment gateway, maps, ERP, and/or CRM. Some of these integrations are straightforward but others can get complex and time-consuming, e.g. integration of a third-party reporting system and source databases into the software. Integration requirements like these can significantly drive up software development rates.

Similarly, some software development projects require the migration of existing data. Migration can be an equally taxing job if a large volume of data is required to fit into your new system or if it requires major adjustments.  

Complexity of Design

Designing is an important component of the software development cycle. Depending on the complexity of the design and the required customisation, the cost of designing can constitute a major part of the total cost of software development.

Certain design elements like custom illustrations or micro-animations make your application interface aesthetically pleasing, but they come with a heavier price tag because they add more design time and effort to your project. Let’s understand this in a little bit more detail.

When it comes to software design, the devil is always in the detail. Take the example of a ‘pull down to refresh’ feature. Many mobile and web apps make use of this feature. When a user pulls down the screen to refresh, an animation pops up, indicating that the refresh request is being performed. A standard design of this feature is a spinning wheel icon, also known as a Throbber. But some applications have interesting custom animations for the refresh feature. Take a look at Yelp’s design:

cost of software development

An animation like this elevates the appearance of your application, but even something this small requires a lot of custom designing effort, which eventually adds up to the cost of software development. So when we estimate how much does it cost to develop software, we take into account small details like these. 

UX – Interaction between the design and the end-users

A major aspect of software development service is to keep in view how users interact with the software. It is important to design knowing the number of people (users) who will interact with the software and the way in which they will interact with it. 

This interaction between the design and the end-users is also one of the essential software cost factors that help determine how much software development costs for a specific project. For instance, if the software is intended to be used by a limited number of people, then the UX design process tends to be relatively easier, as you can rely on user training.

On the other hand, if you want to develop a B2C software that is intended for use by a large number of people, then a lot more thought and time will have to go into designing the software such that it is easy to understand and use, with no areas of confusion.

Another aspect of the design is how end users are going to interact with the software. For some software, there is a set and specific way in which user interaction takes place, like  for ATM machine software. In such a case, the user interaction design is easier to develop than for a software that has a distinctive and unconventional user interaction which allows the users more flexibility and freedom in the way they interact with the software.


Software Development Cost Estimation Template

Through our decade long software development experience, we have learned that these are the aforementioned six factors that impact the cost of software development. If you still find yourself lost, here’s a simple software development cost estimation template for you!

software development cost breakdown
Software Development Cost Breakdown

Keeping the specifics of every software cost factor aside, there are four major cost components of any software development project, and each one of them carries a different weight in the total costs. Each one is a critical item and important for a successful product development effort. Based on our experience, this is a rough cost distribution for these major factors.

63% (Development) + 15% (Project Management) + 15% (Quality Assurance) + 7% (UI/UX Design)

= Total Cost of Software Development

Now, remember that these are mere estimates that are not always accurate for every project. The actual cost of software development can be far from this cost division based on the nature of each project and its requirements.  


How Much Does It Cost to Develop Custom Software – GoodCore’s Approach to Software Costs and Pricing

Now that you know the important factors that determine the cost of software development, let’s talk about how we approach software costs and pricing at GoodCore. We are asked this question multiple times a day and here is how we do things.

At GoodCore, we work with clients from the initial stage of software requirements gathering and offer them an upfront discovery phase. We conduct a 2-day in-person discovery workshop where we understand their vision for the software product, visualise their product ideas, and conduct a technical evaluation. This exercise helps us understand and analyse our client’s requirements and allows us to come up with reasonable cost estimates. 

Designing to budget

Our software development approach is always in line with the requirements and budgets of our clients. We have extensive experience in designing custom software to fit a certain budget. By taking your ideas through a rigorous discovery process, we advise you on what requirements are essential to the initial design, what is needed to successfully develop a minimum viable product (MVP), and what features can be added later.

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Keeping in view the varying types of client requirements, GoodCore offers multiple engagement models that clients can choose from. These include a Fixed Price Model, Time-and-Materials Model, Dedicated Team Model, and Hybrid Model.

Fixed Cost Model

Our fixed cost model guarantees the delivery of the defined set of functionality in a specific time frame and cost. It is suited for projects with well-defined software requirements that are unlikely to change or evolve over the course of the development process. With this engagement model, you know exactly how much software development costs before starting the project. 

Time-and-Materials Model

This model is suitable for smaller projects that do not have a well-defined vision. It splits the development process into smaller fixed-cost/fixed-time phases (e.g. one month long). It allows you to review the deliverables of each phase before deciding on the budget for the following phase.

Dedicated Team Model

This one is a cost-effective option for projects that foresee ongoing product development phased over a number of years. With this engagement model, you can work with a dedicated team of GoodCore developers for your project, and make the best use of your team’s time and skill-set. 

Hybrid Model

With a hybrid model, you can choose more than one engagement method for an ongoing project if a spike of work is expected. For instance, you can have a dedicated team working on the development and maintenance of your ongoing project, and engage additional staff based on Fixed-Price or T&M engagement to manage the demand spikes.

Why GoodCore?

Since 2005, GoodCore has delivered 110+ successful projects ranging from £10,000 to £75,000 and above.
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Conclusion: A Quick Checklist for Software Development Cost Estimation

If you want to get custom software developed, here’s a quick checklist for you that sums up everything we have discussed so far about software cost and pricing.

If you are wondering how much it costs to develop software, then know that there is no set answer to this question. But here are a few things you need to consider beforehand. The cost of software development varies, and seemingly similar projects can exhibit significant differences when it comes to determining their cost. When deciding upon your software development budget, you need to keep in mind factors such as the kind of software development you require, complexity level, location, and different hiring options.

  1. Type of software project: The cost of software development majorly depends on the type of software project. Different types of software development, such as web, mobile, or cross-platform applications, all incur varying costs. Therefore, to get an idea about the cost, it is essential that you know the type of software development you are looking for.
  2. Complexity level: This is one of the major factors affecting pricing. If it is a highly sophisticated software project, then it is highly likely that it will cost you more than that with a simpler logic.
  3. Your location: Software development rates differ in different parts of the world, so where you are located will also have an impact on the average cost of software development. For example, if you are located in London and choose an on-shore software developer from the UK, then it will be more expensive than choosing developers from other countries. Your choice of location will determine the price you pay for software development. 
  4. Different hiring options: The most popular hiring options for businesses are: an in-house team of software developers, hiring freelance developers, or outsourcing the software project to a development firm. 

These factors comprise a checklist of things you need to consider closely before you choose a software development vendor. Only a vendor can provide you with accurate cost estimates after they have all the necessary information about your software project. Therefore, having clarity about the type of software development, requirements, complexity level, and timeline will help you estimate the custom software development costs better. 

Before we sign off, here’s a list of questions that we thought might offer you some quick insights. These are questions we are frequently asked regarding the cost of software development.


Custom Software Development: FAQs

Q: How much does custom software development cost?

A: As discussed, it all depends. The costs of software development can vary from project to project based on various factors, such as the scope, requirements, and technical complexity.

At GoodCore, we determine the cost of your project after a thorough discussion with you to understand your requirements and assess the scope of your project. For more details, go through our various pricing models.


Q: How is the software development cost paid for?

A: When it comes to payments, every software development company has different payment terms. Our payments are based on certain milestones. There is generally an upfront payment that is required to initiate the project, followed by further payments at different stages of the product development cycle. You can expect a total of 4-5 payment milestones for an average-sized software development project.


Q: How is software development cost calculated?

A: There is no pre-set formula to calculate the cost of software development but, generally, these costs are calculated based on four major cost components: Development, Project Management, Quality Assurance, and UI/UX Design.


Q: How much does it cost to develop ERP software?

A: The cost to develop an ERP software can be anywhere between £10,000 to £70,000 depending on the requirements. If you have an ERP software project to discuss, reach out to us for free cost estimation.

Have other questions for us? Drop us a message and we will be happy to help!

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Yasin Altaf

The author Yasin Altaf

Yasin Altaf is the Executive Director at GoodCore Software & Forbes Technology Council Member. Yasin’s experience in recruiting top technical talent and delivering technology solutions and B2B services spans over 20+ years. Throughout his career, he has helped businesses across industries overcome complex challenges through custom-built solutions, and enabled entrepreneurs and nascent startups to launch market-leading software products.

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