Cost of developing a web app – In the simplest of terms, web apps are applications that can only be accessed with an internet-enabled device. Unlike our desktop applications that can be accessed offline, you need an internet connection to create, modify and save data on these apps. This article will attempt to estimate the cost of developing a web app in Nigeria.
Considering the varying level of complexity of web apps, putting a fixed price on them is almost not feasible. While a particular web app might allow users to perform two to three tasks, other web apps are built for more functionalities. As you will come to realize in subsequent paragraphs, the cost of developing a web app depends greatly on a couple of variables and it also varies by location. More importantly, no developer or development agency will fix a price before studying your needs and analysing the complexities required to make your app market-ready.
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DOMAIN NAME:
Web apps are accessed from a web browser. Hence, you will need a domain name for your web app. The cost of purchasing a domain name depends on the type of extension you want. A “.ng” extension is the most expensive at ₦12,000 – ₦15,000 per annum. Other extensions like “.com, .com.ng, .org.ng” range from ₦7,000 downwards as annual fee. Please note that you can only purchase available names.
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HOSTING FEE
Hosting plans are chosen based on traffic projections and bandwidth allocation. More bandwidth means you will pay more. Below are the hosting options available:
- Shared Hosting:
Shared hosting is the cheapest and most popular hosting plan. For business owners without a projection for significant traffic surge, this plan might be all you need to host your web app. As the name suggests, you are sharing a server with multiple users. Heavy web traffic on any of your co-users’ website will definitely affect your website speed. Depending on your specification and the hosting firm, the projected annual fee should be from $60 – $170.
- VPS Hosting:
Small to medium business owners aiming to deliver services over the internet owners are better off with a VPS hosting plan. It offers a higher bandwidth and it’s also more reliable than a shared hosting plan. Depending on your specification, the cost of VPS hosting ranges from $240 – $1000 annually.
- Dedicating Hosting:
This plan is more suitable for corporate businesses with heavy web traffic. As the name implies, you are paying for your servers. The annual cost ranges from $1000 – $10,000.
- Cloud Hosting:
This is one of the hosting services with the lowest downtime. Regardless of your traffic projection, there is a cloud hosting plan for you. The annual price range is from $60 – $3000.
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The Developer’s Fee:
The developers’ fee is influenced by two major factors:
- The Functions and Features of the App:
The scope of your web app plays a major role in determining its complexity. A standalone webpage or one with single/ multiple integrated third-party software, landing page or an e-commerce store all require different levels of complexity to execute.
- The User Interface:
The User interface goes a long way in determining the success of a web app. It must be flexible, intuitive and appealing to the user. To minimize cost, you can opt for any of the free UI design templates on the internet. There are pretty good ones out there. For a personalized design (which is often better), you will have to hire a UI designer. A good UI design for web apps cost a minimum of ₦20,000.00.
From design to implementation, building a web app requires different professionals. There are UI designers (they make sure that your web app appeals to users), frontend developers (they handle the client-side of the app), back-end developers (they ensure that the apps connect to the server and interact seamlessly with the database) and project managers who ensure that all the parties involved working together to develop the app you need. The cost of hiring each of these professionals depends on their experience and credibility.
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Recurrent Cost:
Web app expenditures are not one-off. Domain fees and hosting fees are renewed annually. To prevent your web app from falling out of rank, you need to continually maintain it. The codebase must be maintained and reviewed periodically for improved performance. The web app must also undergo regular optimization for improved visibility of SERP.
From the above, it is clear that the cost of building a web app can’t be pegged at a particular rate. Your needs must be properly ascertained before a rough estimate can be given. For a free estimate of the total cost required to develop a personalized web app that will boost your business, contact us at Lead Web Praxis Media Limited.