Mobile App Development in Seattle: Key Cost & Timeline Insights

Businesses today survive online and that's where all the action happens. Irrespective of the size of your brand, having a mobile app of your own can put you way ahead of your competitors. However, this is, of course, easier said than done. If you don't approach the process with a proper plan, you might be stunned with the cost and the expected timeline. 

If you're based in Seattle, you have a golden opportunity to finally start your mobile app and enter the digital market. The tech scene is truly booming here, with a deep bench of Seattle mobile app developers and innovation hubs. There's a high concentration of mobile app developers in this area. For Seattle-based companies, this opens up the avenue to hire the brightest talents to build their apps. However, as far as the expenses are concerned, the cost of mobile app development services in Seattle can often go quite high. According to a report from CBRE, Seattle is the second-most expensive tech market in the US, as far as wages are concerned. So, this makes the situation a little tricky. While it's possible for businesses to hire the best talents, they might also have to break their budgets for that if they're not careful. What, then, can be done?

Before we begin, it's important to address that working with mobile app developers in Seattle has a number of advantages and it goes beyond access to a huge pool of talent. For example, even if you’re based away from Seattle, the developer teams here often sync time zones with your business. This means that you get real-time communication and can quickly connect with the developers to share your feedback. Better cooperation and better processes – it’s all possible here.

With that much said and done, let’s now take a look at the cost of developing mobile apps in Seattle and how long it might take.

What Determines the Cost of Mobile App Development in Seattle

Building your own mobile app can often get expensive. So, let's take a look at the major factors that drive the final cost of the project.

Developer Experience & Team Composition

For any project, who builds your app becomes the most fundamental factor. Of course, junior developers work for much lower rates than experienced ones. For example, around the USA, junior developers charge something around $50-$80 per hour. However, senior developers can charge anywhere between $120-$200 per hour or even higher. In Seattle, these numbers skew even higher. Plus, if you add more members in the team (designers, QA specialists, project managers), the cost increases even further. 

If you want to save some money, one option is to hire freelancers. However, they're only fit for small-scale projects. You have to plan accordingly if your app includes complex features. 

App Complexity & Features

Speaking of complex features, it's another factor that determines the final cost of the project. Naturally, simple apps cost a lot less compared to advanced ones. Especially if you want to include AI-driven features, the cost might skyrocket. If you hire mobile app developers in Seattle for basic apps (simple UI and fewer screens), you might have to pay somewhere around $10,000-$30,000. For advanced apps, this can rise up to $150,000 and higher. The more features you add, the longer it'll take to develop the app. It'll also take more testing and integration work. So, the cost rises proportionally.

Platform & Tech Stack

Mobile app development services in Seattle cover both iOS and Android apps. You can also build cross-platforms apps if you don't want to limit yourself to one particular platform. Now, for native apps, you'd require separate codebases. If you choose to build two separate native apps, you'd probably need two separate teams working on the project. If not, it'll significantly increase the developers’ work. Either way, the costs will add up. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter let you share code between iOS and Android. This reduces the initial workload. In fact, it can reduce the cost of the project by at least 30-40% if you can plan it right. However, cross-platform apps can sometimes require specific workarounds for platform-specific features. In that case, the cost again rises.

Project Timeline & Urgency

The mobile app development market also functions based on the common principle of demand and supply. Naturally, if you need the app to go live as quickly as possible, you're going to have to pay more for that. If you rush a project, you'd need a bigger team. If not, the developers will need to work overtime. Estimates suggest that expedited timelines can add roughly 25-40% to normal project costs. You have to be realistic about your project. The more you push it, the more money you're going to have to spend.

Ultimately, mobile app development costs in Seattle can be influenced by a number of factors. But it's not completely beyond your control. If you plan right, you can still save a lot of money. But before that, let's take a look at the average project costs in Seattle.

Average Mobile App Development Costs in Seattle

Development Rates Based on Developer Experience

Seattle often leads the table as far as mobile app development is concerned. But it can be useful if you compare the cost with other states. In technology hubs like Austin, typical developer rates are notably lower compared to Seattle. For instance, Sigmasolve’s regional rates list shows Austin rates around $60–80/hr for junior developers, $80–120/hr for mid-level developers, and $120–180/hr for senior developers. The rates in Seattle are significantly higher than this. 

• Junior developers charge $75-$95 per hour in Seattle;
• Mid-level developers charge $95-$140 per hour;
• Experienced senior developers can charge as high as $140-$225 per hour in Seattle.

However, considering the talent pool that Seattle offers, spending a little more here still makes sense. If you’re working out of Seattle, outsourcing developers from other regions can also add up to the cost. So, all you have to do is find the best team that charges the lowest. 

If saving money is your only concern, you might end up sacrificing the quality of the project. The best way to go about it is to negotiate well and to have a clear vision of what you’re looking for. For startups, you can do perfectly well if you hire mid-level developers. Enterprise-grade apps would, of course, require more expertise. Thus, larger corporations can opt for senior developers if they so choose.

Rates Based on Engagement Type

In practice, freelance mobile app developers in the US charge in the $50-$150 per hour range. An Arc.dev report states that most USA-based freelancers fall in the $60-$100 per hour bracket. Agencies of course bill significantly higher than this. As a rule of thumb:

• Freelancers in Seattle charge between $50-$150 per hour. The base cost is lower if you hire them. However, they require more supervision and they may not be able to work on complex projects alone.

• If you hire In-house developers, you'd probably need to pay around $85k-$150k per year in salaries per developer. It equates to roughly $45-$75 per hour, plus you'd have to pay around 25% in overhead costs. Of course, if your project is an ongoing one, this is something that you can always explore.

• The best option for large enterprises is to hire mobile app development agencies in Seattle. These agencies charge $100-$250 per hour for their services. However, the projects are taken care of well. They bring a full team of developers, UI/UX designers, QA testers, and project managers. You get a stable team and the work runs smoothly.

Development Rates Based on Separate Projects

Of course, not all projects come with the same price tag. The more complex an app is, the higher it’s going to cost. We can break the projects into separate tiers:

Hidden Costs You Should Be Aware Of

So far, we've discussed the clear upfront costs that you have to bear for the project. But a successful app launch can incur additional expenses. The tricky part is that these expenses often remain overlooked in the quotes. But you still have to pay for these. So, you should be aware of certain extra costs that might be part of your mobile app development in Seattle:

Infrastructure & Hosting

Every app, if it's a little complex, requires a backend and a database. Running a backend and a database, however, has an ongoing cost. So, you might need to pay around $70-$320 per month for a basic server or cloud instance. Mobile app developers in Seattle usually prefer Amazon AWS or Azure for this. These suites come with their own rates. Check that beforehand so that you're not surprised with the additional cost. 

App Store & Licensing Fees

Getting your app live has a separate cost, in case you didn't already know this. You have to pay the developer program fees on the specific app stores. Apple charges $99 per year, Google Play Store charges $25 one-time. On top of this, these stores also take up to 30% of any in-app purchase or subscription revenue.

If you want to use paid developer tools or APIs, they also have their separate licensing fees. A premium mapping service, for example, will come with a significant cost. Account for these expenses from day one.

Maintenance & Updates

You've developed your app and you've launched it successfully. But the project doesn't stop there. You'd still have to maintain the app, fix any bugs or errors, roll necessary updates, new device support, and even feature additions. You might need to pay 15-25% of the initial cost per year on this. This is a significant expense that you have to note down. 

Security, Compliance, & Legal Fees

If you're operating in a regulated industry, you have to think over privacy policies and legal reviews. Your app might also need to be subjected to security audits. You might need to pay $5,000-$25,000 for comprehensive audits. Legal consultation fees can also quickly add a few thousands to the cost. 

Timeline of Mobile App Development in Seattle

Developing an app in Seattle can take up to 20-40 weeks for the entire process. Here's how every stage of the project goes:

Project complexity also dictates timeline:

Conclusion

If you're planning on hire mobile app developers in Seattle, the cost and timeline will depend on how well you can plan the project. You can always rely on the app development market here for building high-quality apps. But it won't come for cheap. 

Working with PTI WebTech  is a great way to start your project. Amidst the large pool of mobile app development companies in Seattle, we offer one of the most competitive rates. With our help, you can build your dream app as quickly as possible and it'll be worth your money! If you have a vision, we're here to help you realize it!