Do you really need to own your own code? The answer may surprise you.

Here’s the short version—if you’ve got a multi-million dollar budget and you’re trying to build the next Uber or Facebook, then yes, you should own your own code. But for everyone else, save yourself the time and money and just use an app development platform. 

Read on for a more in-depth comparison between these two development options. We’ll cover the pros and cons of each, as well as specific scenarios for when it makes sense to take these very different paths. 

By the end of this guide, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to make the right decision for your app. 

Coding From Scratch vs. Platform Development: Comparing Your Choices

When it comes to modern mobile app development, businesses essentially have two main options to choose from—building everything from scratch or using an app development platform. Each approach has its own advantages and drawbacks, catering to different business needs, resources, and goals.

The first option requires you to code everything from the ground up using your own in-house development team or hiring external developers. You’re starting with a completely blank slate, and every line of code can be customized to meet your specific needs. This approach is often favored by larger companies with unique requirements or entrepreneurs who are trying to create a groundbreaking unicorn (Facebook, Uber, Tinder, etc.). 

Alternatively, you can take the path of least resistance and use a mobile app development platform. These platforms provide a foundation of pre-built features, functions, and infrastructure that you can leverage. Instead of writing everything from scratch, you’re just customizing and configuring existing components to match your unique requirements. 

An app development platform can significantly reduce your development time and technical complexity, making it an attractive choice for businesses with limited technical resources or tighter budget constraints. 

But here’s the catch. If you want to own your own code, you’ll need to build everything from scratch. This isn’t feasible for most businesses, but fortunately, it’s not necessary either. 

Owning Your Own Code: Pros and Cons

When you build an app from scratch, you have full ownership of the code. This approach offers unparalleled control and flexibility, but it also comes with significant responsibilities and challenges. If you’re thinking of taking this path, make sure you have deep pockets and a budget that can sustain you beyond development and through post-launch maintenance. 

Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of owning your code.

Pros

• Complete Control: You have total freedom to customize every aspect of your app.
• Unique Features: You can develop highly specialized features that may not be available in existing platforms.
• Intellectual Property: The code becomes an asset that your business owns. 
• No Platform Dependency: You’re not reliant on a third-party platform to succeed. 

Cons

• High Development Costs: Building from scratch requires a significant investment, often hundreds of thousands of dollars—if not millions. 
• Technical Expertise Required: You need a full team of developers, designers, project managers, quality assurance agents, and more.
• Time-Consuming: Coding from scratch often takes 4-5x longer than using a platform. Expect to spend anywhere from 6-18 months writing the code prior to launch.
• Ongoing Maintenance: You’re responsible for all updates, bug fixes, and security patches for the lifetime of your app.  
• Scalability and Infrastructure: As your user base grows, you’ll need to continue investing in your backend infrastructure to handle the increased loads. 
• Cross-Platform Complexity: If you want your app to be available on multiple platforms (like iOS and Android), it requires additional time, money, and resources. 

While owning your own code provides maximum control, it’s important to consider whether you actually need this. For most businesses, especially those without in-house development teams or substantial budgets, the cons outweigh the pros. 

Using a Platform For App Development: Pros and Cons

App development platforms are the preferred choice for budget-conscious businesses that want to get to market quickly and benefit from a high ROI. Leveraging pre-built components and infrastructure helps you save time and eliminates the need for you to manage in-house development resources. 

While there are a few drawbacks to consider, most businesses can look past them when they understand the benefits. 

Pros

• Cost Effective: Significantly lower upfront fees and ongoing costs compared to custom development. 
• Faster Launch Times: Get your app to market in weeks, not months, by using pre-built components. 
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: You can launch your app on both iOS and Android from a single build without having to create and maintain two separate versions for each platform.
• Hands-Off Maintenance: Platform providers handle all ongoing maintenance, app store updates, and security on your behalf. 
• Technical Infrastructure: You can tap into all of the existing servers and infrastructure that’s required to power your app. From databases to authentication servers, push notification servers, and more, you won’t have to worry about any of this. 
• Proven Technology: You benefit from battle-tested features and infrastructure that’s been used on thousands of apps—eliminating trial and error. 
• Affordable Scalability: Leveraging built-in infrastructure means you can handle growing user bases with minimal ongoing investments. 

Cons

• Platform Dependency: Your app’s future is tied to the platform powering it, which is why it’s critical to use a platform with a proven track record and years of experience. 
• Some App Type Limitations: Platforms aren’t great for building certain types of apps, such as high-fidelity games.
• Lack of Code Ownership: You don’t own the underlying code that powers the app. 
• Shared Infrastructure: Your app may be running on shared servers with other apps, which could potentially impact performance.

While you won’t own your own code if you take this path, the tradeoff is often well worth it. Most businesses quickly realize that owning their own code isn’t really meaningful. There’s no reason or circumstance that would arise where owning the code would factor into the app’s success or business goal. It’s really a moot point. 

When it Makes Sense to Own Your Code

If you’re still on the fence about whether you need to own your code, see if any of the following scenarios resonate with you and your business model:

• You have a substantial budget (typically millions) dedicated to app development and maintenance.
• Your app’s core value proposition relies on cutting-edge technology that doesn’t yet exist.
• Your company has an experienced in-house development team that’s capable of building an app and maintaining it on a daily basis.
• Your team has the bandwidth to manage all oversight, technical infrastructure, and patches post-launch.
• You want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg and build the next unicorn app.
• Your business model relies heavily on algorithms and procedures that can’t be shared with anyone else.
• You can afford the indirect costs of employing an in-house app development team, like training, benefits, sick leave, etc.
• You’re building a high-fidelity gaming app with advanced graphics and sophisticated gameplay. 

When it Makes Sense to Use a Platform Like BuildFire

If you nod your head while reading the bullets below, then you’re a good candidate for using a platform for app development. 

• You need to launch your app quickly to capitalize on a market opportunity.
• You’re working with a limited budget but still need a professional-grade app.
• You lack an in-house development team or technical expertise.
• Your app has lots of standard features and components that can be found on other apps.
• You’re creating an app for internal use for a small or mid-sized business.
• You need a scalable solution that can grow with your business (without breaking the bank).
• You want to build versions for iOS and Android without doubling your development efforts.
• You’d rather focus on marketing your app and onboarding users, instead of worrying about technical implementation. 
• You want to iterate quickly based on user feedback without extensive coding.
• You prefer predictable cost management using a subscription-based billing model. 

The BuildFire Advantage

Leveraging a platform like BuildFire is a game-changer in the app development space. While you won’t own the code, you do own all of your user data. You can choose to do whatever you want with your data, and it’s yours to take with you if you ever decide to leave the platform. 

With BuildFire, 80% of the development work has already been done. There are over 180+ pre-built features that you can customize, plus all of the servers, app store publishing, and backend infrastructure are handled for you. So you can focus more on what makes the app unique to your users rather than having to build redundant features that are common to every app. 

One unique standout of BuildFire compared to other SaaS platforms in the app development space is we’re more than just a platform—we’re also an app development service. From ideation to launch and post-launch maintenance, our team will work with you to create an app that aligns with your business goals. 

Best of all, our app development service starts at just $5,000. You won’t find a better combination of value of quality anywhere else on the market. 

Unlike other platforms, BuildFire also offers some of the same perks that you’d get by coding your app from scratch.

For one, BuildFire is developer-friendly. So if you do want to create a totally custom feature that’s been written by an in-house or freelance developer, you can hook in your own custom code using the BuildFire SDK. 

BuildFire also has a white-label reseller platform. This means you can clone your app, re-brand it, and sell it to other businesses. So the profit margins are limitless if you’re interested in selling apps for a profit—and you don’t need to own your code to accomplish this. 

Making the Right Choice

Choosing between owning your code and using a platform is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your app’s success and your business’s bottom line. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, and what works for one company may not be the best solution for another.

To help you navigate this decision, we’ve compiled a list of key factors to consider. Evaluate each of these in the context of your business goals, resources, and long-term vision for your app:

• Available budget for development and maintenance
• Timeline for app launch
• In-house technical expertise
• Desired level of customization
• Long-term scalability needs
• Ongoing maintenance requirements
• Target platforms (iOS, Android, or both)

By carefully considering these factors, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision that aligns with your business objectives. Remember, the right choice is the one that best serves your unique needs and sets you up for long-term success in the mobile app market.

Final Thoughts

When building a mobile app, most businesses don’t need to own their own code. While it sounds appealing, owning your own code requires you to build everything from scratch and could cost you millions of dollars. 

Leveraging a platform like BuildFire is far more appealing for most brands. You can launch your app faster and for a fraction of the cost—translating to a higher ROI without having to worry about any of the technical implementation. 

By choosing a reliable platform like BuildFire, you’re not just saving time and money, you’re also gaining access to proven technology, ongoing support, and total flexibility. You can focus on running your business and let us handle the technical stuff. 

The post Owning Your Code vs. Using a Platform For Mobile App Development appeared first on Buildfire.

Years ago, if you wanted to build a website or mobile app, you’d need to hire a developer. But today, no-code tools make it possible for anyone to build these without writing code.

The same concept can be applied to no-code AI—only the AI technology is far more advanced and capable of doing things we never thought possible. 

If you’re interested in integrating AI into your business, then no-code AI is the easiest and most cost-effective way to do it. You can use this guide to find the right AI tools for your specific needs, and learn how they can take your business to the next level. 

What is No-Code AI?

No-code AI is a term to describe the creation and deployment of AI applications without coding, programming skills, or technical knowledge. No-code AI tools typically operate in one of two ways—either a drag-and-drop interface where the user moves elements through a visual builder or through a wizard where users answer questions and the AI builds the application based on the responses. 

No-code platforms make artificial intelligence and machine learning models available to the masses, which historically was only something that was only available to those with technical skills and specialized training. 

Reasons to Use No-Code AI Platforms

There are dozens of reasons and potential use cases for using a no-code AI tool. But at the highest level, all three of these boil down to three main benefits:

• Accessibility
• Speed
• Cost

These three benefits hold true regardless of your specific use case of an AI model. It gives businesses access to the latest cutting-edge technology, which can enable users to produce more results than ever before. 

Anyone can use a no-code AI tool without prior training or technical experience. This will allow them to perform tasks that would normally take weeks, months, or years in a matter of seconds or minutes. All of this can be accomplished using free or affordable tools. 

You won’t need to hire data scientists or spend years studying natural language processing. With a no-code AI tool, you can get started immediately with virtually no barrier to entry. 

Furthermore, people with a technical background or data science expertise can produce even more by using AI-powered workflows. So regardless of your skill level, you can benefit from using a no-code AI solution. 

17 No-Code AI Tools For Every Essential Business Use Case

The use cases of no-code AI are virtually limitless. To showcase the versatility of this technology, I’ve highlighted the best no-code AI tools on the market—each of which solves a unique problem and has a specific use case in the business world. 

From data analysis to image recognition and automated machine learning, business leaders can use this technology to train AI models, create AI applications, create accurate predictive models,  and so much more.

1. BuildFire AI — No-Code AI Mobile App Development

BuildFire AI is the fastest and easiest way for anyone to create a mobile app. By leveraging AI development, the platform lets you build an app in a fraction of the time compared to other no-code tools on the market. 

Just answer some simple questions about your business, and BuildFire AI will automatically generate content, suggest features, and start creating your app based on what you want to accomplish. It even pulls logos and color schemes from your website so the app matches your company branding. 

The secret behind this technology is that the AI functionality is built on top of BuildFire’s industry-leading app development software. BuildFire has already been used to create more than 10,000+ apps for iOS and Android. The AI app builder just takes technology that’s already powerful and supercharges it.

If you’re crunched for time or on a tight budget, BuildFire AI gets you to market quickly for a fraction of the cost. 

Plus, all of the design elements are handled for you—in seconds. This is something that would normally take weeks for traditional app development. 

Don’t love the first design you see? No problem. With a single click, BuildFire AI will generate a new one for you. It’s that easy. 

2. Akkio — Custom AI Chat Box For Clients

Akkio is one of the most unique AI solutions on this list. It’s a generative AI tool that’s built for agencies. 

By leveraging AI analytics and predictive modeling, it enables agencies to put the power of AI in the hands of their customers.  

The coolest feature is the ability to “chat” with data using AI. You can create custom chatbots for your clients that allow them to gain valuable business insights and create charts without writing code. For example, you could simply enter “create a chart on monthly sales.” Akkio will look at your historical data, and the tool will provide the visual. 

This tool can basically be used by any company with data (which is basically everyone). But the ability to repurpose it for client use is what makes Akkio unique—earning it a top spot on my list. 

3. DataRobot — Predictive AI For Technical Business Users

DataRobot uses generative AI and predictive workflows to improve business outcomes. 

It’s built on an open AI ecosystem, which gives businesses the flexibility to adapt and innovate without restrictions. 

The platform has been used across a wide range of industries—including banking, fintech, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and aviation. 

For example, hospitals and health practices can use it to predict which patients are more likely to be admitted. So doctors can proactively take steps to improve their health. An insurance company can use it to predict which products are most likely to succeed when cross-selling to specific clients. Warehouses can predict traffic to optimize resource planning. 

You get the idea.

While DataRobot has plenty of no-code features, it’s definitely built with technical audiences in mind. 

4. Obviously AI — No-Code AI For Churn Prediction

When I first discovered Obviously AI, I was blown away by the demo. I saw them take structured data and use it to create a predictive model in less than five minutes.

It turned a dataset with thousands of rows into something practical, and the user just needed to answer some basic questions about what they wanted to build. 

It’s just a matter of selecting your data source, making a few clicks, and boom—done.

The demo I watched used customer data to create a predictive model on whether or not a customer would churn. This is just one potential use case, but it was my favorite because it’s something that all businesses worry about. Since the vast majority of businesses keep customer data, this is a practical use case that anyone can benefit from. 

5. Google Teachable Machine — Create Machine Learning Models Based on Images, Sounds, and Poses

It should come as no surprise to see a solution from Google on this list—as they’ve been pioneering technology for decades.

Google Teachable Machine does exactly what it sounds like. The platform lets you use machine learning models to teach or train a website or app to recognize certain elements. 

Using computer vision, the software can be taught to recognize images, sounds, and poses. Just segment different examples of what you want the model to train and then test whether it classifies them correctly. 

For example, this would work really well if you wanted to create a mobile app that identifies birds. You’d simply gather as much information about each bird and then teach the model to recognize them based on looks or even sounds. 

6. Lobe AI — Free Machine Learning Model Using Image Classification

Created by Microsoft, Lobe AI is actually pretty similar to Google Teachable Machine. The biggest difference is that you can export your model in more ways. 

Currently, it only works by using image classification—meaning you label images based on what it is to train the model. But object detection and data classification models are coming soon. 

Lobe AI also has project templates that automatically selects the best machine-learning architecture for your project.

Let’s say you wanted to use no-code/low-code to build an app that recognizes plants. You’d first need to train the software to recognize what a specific type of plant looks like. Then when an app user points their camera at a tree or bush, the app would tell them what type of plant it is. 

7. Amazon SageMaker — Use Tools Like Notebooks, Debuggers, Profilers, Pipelines, and MLOps in a Fully Managed ML Service

Amazon SageMaker offers the best of both worlds for enterprise organizations. 

Business analysts can benefit from no-code interfaces while still leveraging the power of machine learning. But data scientists with technical expertise can use it to become more innovative with ML through their preferred choice of IDEs.

This makes it an appealing option for businesses that have both technical and non-technical users on their teams. 

8. Nanonets — AI-Powered Document Processing

Nanonets is a no-code AI platform that’s built for extracting the most information out of your documents. 

And the term “documents” is used loosely here. It can pull insights from emails, support tickets, databases—basically any unstructured data across multiple sources. 

For example, you could use it to collect invoices from emails and then automate accounts payable tasks. Or you could use historical data from old purchase orders to optimize your supply chain. 

You can try it for free and let Nanonets analyze 500 pages for your starter models. 

9. Levity AI — AI Automation For Repetitive Tasks

Levity AI is a no-code workflow automation builder. 

Business users can simply build an AI-powered model to complete common tasks based on certain triggers. It can be used for sales quote automation, direct order entry, customer tracking, and so much more. 

Just connect it with the tools you’re already using, like CRM databases, email providers, and management systems—then define your workflow by building AI blocks. 

10. Causaly AI — Human-Centric AI For Research and Development

Causaly AI is designed for biomedical scientific research and development. It’s built to eliminate human bias while conducting research and uncovering hidden knowledge in studies. 

As someone conducting this type of deep scientific research, you can benefit from asking Causaly questions. The AI answers these questions based on what it found in reading every biomedical literature that’s ever been published. 

It could otherwise take weeks or even months for researchers to find these answers. But Causaly finds them in seconds. 

The use cases of Causaly AI are pretty astonishing. It can help identify biomarkers in drug development programs, which ultimately streamlines success rates. It can also validate and qualify biomarkers in these studies. Scientists are even using it to further understand the biology behind diseases. 

11. PredictNow.ai — AI For Hedge Fund Investments

PredictNow.ai is another ultra niche-specific no-code tool. It’s built specifically for hedge funds, asset managers, and financial institutions. 

It’s designed to help these organizations forecast the probability of profitable trades and investment decisions. 

While this type of technology isn’t necessarily new, PredictNow.ai has some tools that you won’t see from other tools on the market. 

The platform is built on a concept that they call “Corrective AI.” Rather than completely relying on the AI models, the platform is designed to combine big data with human insight. So the decisions are still in your hands, but now you have more information at your disposal.

12. Invideo — AI Powered Video Generation

As the name implies, Invideo is a no-code AI tool for creating videos. 

Some of you may have experience with AI image generation. But Invideo blows that technology out of the water by creating more engaging video content. 

You can instantly turn text commands into videos, which is fun for anyone to do but also has tons of practical use cases for businesses. Rather than having to spend days or even weeks creating marketing and promotional content, you can use Invideo to create them in minutes. 

It’s also really easy to tweak and edit the videos with just a few clicks. You can even add human-sounding voice overs to your videos. 

13. AI Squared — Machine Learning For Business Web Applications

AI Squared uses both predictive and generative AI models to support web-based applications. 

It’s all about leveraging your company’s data to gain a competitive advantage. 

The platform can fill the gaps between data science and general business teams. These models can be implemented into web apps that businesses are already using, which can ultimately unlock hidden insights that were previously unavailable or too time-consuming to uncover. 

14. E42 — AI “Co-Workers” For Enterprise Functions

E42 is a no-code technology that’s powered by artificial intelligence and NLP designed to create “cognitive process automation” for enterprise organizations.

In simple terms, the platform lets companies and business users build AI co-workers to help boost productivity and complete tasks. 

The idea behind E42 isn’t to replace humans with AI—it’s to let AI supercharge human capabilities. 

One cool use case of E42 that I found interesting was the creation of an AI assistant named Neil. Neil is an accounts payable “executive” who handles 90% of accounts payable tasks. 

There are dozens of use cases like this on the E42 website. So you can check it out for yourself to see if any apply to your business. 

15. Flagright — AI-Powered FML Compliance For Fintechs and Banks

Flagright is a niche-specific AI platform that’s designed specifically for banks and financial technology companies. It helps these organizations deal with AML compliance—helping to detect money laundering, criminal financing, and securities fraud. 

While this may sound complex, it’s completely no-code. 

Compliance and fraud teams can use it on a practical basis to make fast and reliable decisions if suspicious behavior is detected. You can use it for rules-based monitoring, risk scoring, and even sanctions screenings. 

You can even use it to build custom scenarios and anonymously collaborate with other financial organizations across the globe. 

According to the Flagright website, this AI-powered risk detection tool saves the average analyst 20 hours per week, and it cuts false positive alerts by over 50%. 

16. CallFluent AI – Create AI-Powered Voice Call Agents In 60 Seconds

CallFluent is a simple, AI-driven platform that helps businesses create voice call agents in just 60 seconds. These agents can manage tasks like answering customer questions or setting up appointments, making communication smoother and more efficient. 

The platform is designed to be flexible, allowing businesses to customize the agents to match their specific needs. By automating these everyday tasks, CallFluent helps companies save time and cut costs while still delivering a personalized touch to their customers.

17. Revoicer – Emotion Based Ai Voice Generator

Revoicer is an advanced AI text-to-speech tool that enables users to create realistic, emotion-driven voiceovers for various projects. It offers a wide range of voices and customization options, allowing users to tailor the tone, pitch, and speed of the speech to fit their specific needs. 

Ideal for content creators, marketers, and businesses, Revoicer is designed to enhance engagement and accessibility across different media platforms by providing natural-sounding voiceovers that can convey a range of emotions, making the content more relatable and impactful

Final Thoughts Using AI and No-Code Tools

Saying that no-code AI tools are powerful would be a drastic understatement. As you can see from the tools in this guide, this technology can be used for seemingly anything.

We’ve shown how no-code AI can be used to build mobile apps, create videos, reduce risks for hedge fund managers, and even fight financial crime. 

The key to success with no-code AI is finding the right tools that can help your business. Hopefully the options in this guide gave you a good starting point on what you can accomplish, along with some quality recommendations for tools that meet your desired use case. 

The post Top No-Code AI Tools of 2025: In-Depth Guide appeared first on Buildfire.

Unlike native mobile apps, a web app does not require any installation to use. 

While this is the most obvious distinction between the two, there are plenty of other key differences and similarities between web apps and mobile apps—all which will be covered in this in-depth guide. 

I’ll break down everything you need to know about web apps and mobile apps, including the situations when it makes more sense to build a mobile app and scenarios where a web app works better. 

Understanding Web Apps

A web app is an application program that’s stored on remote servers and delivered through web browser interfaces over the internet. 

Common examples of web apps include Google Docs, Netflix, and even Facebook. You don’t need to install any software on your devices to use these tools—as all three of these can be directly accessed from any web browser. 

While using these types of apps through a web browser doesn’t necessarily deliver the optimal user experience compared to a native app (which we’ll cover later), they still work and function as intended through browsers. 

For web apps, progressive web apps, and hybrid apps to work, they simply need a web server, database, and application server powering it on the backend. 

Web apps and websites are not the same thing, even though web apps are accessed through websites, and the average user may not necessarily notice the difference. But websites are static, and web apps are dynamic—meaning web apps are more interactive and allow the user to perform more tasks. 

Web apps typically require some type of user authentication. This is not the case for websites, as anyone can visit them by just navigating to the URL. 

Understanding Mobile Apps

As the name implies, mobile apps are designed specifically for mobile devices—like smartphones and tablets. To access the app, users must first install it on their device. 

Mobile apps leverage the native features of a device, like a smartphone’s camera, Bluetooth, or GPS. This drastically improves the features, performance, and usability compared to its web app counterparts. 

Within this category, there are also native mobile apps and hybrid mobile apps. 

A native mobile app is built for a specific type of operating system, like iOS or Android. Hybrid mobile apps can run on multiple operating systems. 

Have you ever accessed Facebook or Instagram through your smartphone’s web browser? It’s possible and gives you all of the same information. But the experience is undoubtedly better when you’re accessing these platforms directly from the mobile app installed on a particular device. 

A mobile app still uses servers and databases to power it on the backend. But mobile apps can be both static and dynamic at the same time. 

A static application doesn’t need an internet connection, online server, or database to operate. They’re downloaded and can function offline, with periodic updates. Dynamic apps are in some way reliant on a server or database to operate. 

Let’s consider the mobile app version of the three examples mentioned in the previous section—Google Docs, Netflix, and Facebook. You can use each of these while offline as a static app, but the information won’t refresh or update until you’re connected to the servers. So you can access old documents and download movies or browse old photos on your timeline. But you won’t be able to see edits to new documents, stream new movies, or see an updated post until you’ve established a connection. 

Mobile App Versus Web App: Key Differences

In comparing a mobile app vs. web app, you’ll quickly notice some significant differences. Depending on your goals, these differences could definitely sway you in one direction over the other. 

Development Environment and Tools

Mobile app development requires platform-specific development environments and tools. For example, Apple has its own IDE (integrated development environment) for iOS apps. It includes an iOS SDK, development tools, and other compilers that app developers can use to write code and debug apps specifically for iOS apps. Android also has its own development software, Android Studio. 

Unlike mobile apps, web app development environments aren’t quite as strict. Web developers have a wider range of tools to choose from depending on the programming languages they’re planning to use for the build. 

Programming Languages and Frameworks

With mobile applications, the programming language depends on the type of app and platform you’re building. Swift and Objective-C are the primary programming languages for iOS apps. Android apps commonly use Java and Kotlin. Hybrid apps can be built with C#, Xamarin, React Native, Appcelerator, and Cordova/PhoneGap. 

Web apps are typically built using JavaScript, PHP, Python, and Ruby. Generally speaking, developers have more options to choose from and tend to find web apps easier to build because they can use languages and frameworks that they’re already familiar with. If you have basic coding knowledge, you’ll likely find it easier to build a web app. 

Performance and Speed

Performance varies drastically between web apps and mobile apps—and mobile apps have the edge. First, mobile devices don’t need an internet connection for apps to work. Mobile apps are more responsive, load faster, and handle common gestures natively built into mobile devices.

Conversely, web app speed and performance are almost always tied to the strength of an internet connection. Without that connection, the app won’t work. Poor connection negatively impacts the app’s loading speed and usability. Web apps also have inconsistent performance because they’re also reliant on web browsers. 

User Experience and Engagement

Better performance and speed lead to an enhanced user experience on mobile apps. Actions performed in an app are almost instantaneous through a mobile device. There’s rarely lag or interference getting to the next stage, which can’t be said for web apps.

The app publisher also has more ways to engage with its users compared to web app developers. For example, publishers can send push notifications directly to a mobile device—prompting users to open the app or take an action. This isn’t something you can do from a web app. 

Cost and Development Timeline

Building web apps is typically cheaper and faster than building mobile apps. Mobile apps take longer because they’re more complex to build, and sometimes, two versions of the app need to be built so the app can run on multiple platforms.

However, it’s worth noting that in recent years, the cost to create a mobile app has significantly dropped. With no-code app builders, you can build a mobile app without having to write a single line of code—and you can launch on iOS and Android from a single build. This dramatically shortens the time to launch and reduces the costs associated with development.

Market Reach and Monetization Methods

Technically, web apps have a wider market research because they can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection—regardless of the device. Mobile apps are distributed via app stores, and there need to be multiple versions of the app on each store so it complies with the specific requirements of each operating system (although all popular mobile apps are available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store). 

It’s generally easier to monetize mobile apps because of the native components. While both types of apps can leverage multiple monetization strategies, web apps have more friction in the checkout process. It’s also easier for mobile apps to set recurring billing and take advantage of saved mobile wallets on the device. 

Similarities Between Web Apps and Mobile Apps

While different in many ways, mobile apps and web apps do share some similarities, including:

Accessibility and Compatibility

Both mobile and web apps are accessible to the masses and compatible across multiple platforms. 

If someone has a smartphone or tablet, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to access the application, whether it’s a native mobile app or web app. 

Security

Mobile and web apps both face security vulnerabilities. As a developer and app publisher, it’s your responsibility to prioritize data protection and user privacy. 

The exact types of threats may differ between the two, but inherently, this is still something they share. 

User-Centric Design

UX design is critical for web and mobile apps alike. In fact, 90% of people say they’d stop using an app because of poor performance. The vast majority of performance issues are design-related. 

Beyond speed, design is the most important thing to an app user because it affects so much of how they experience the app. Design choices impact how attractive the app is, how well it fits the screen, and how easy it is for users to find what they’re looking for. 

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Mobile apps and web apps both require updates and ongoing maintenance. Whether it’s bug fixes, new feature releases, or security patches, you’ll need to continue updating your app regardless of how it’s being distributed. 

It’s worth mentioning that there’s a difference in the way updates are deployed. For web apps, they can simply be deployed on the server without any user intervention. But for mobile apps, the user must install the latest update to access the new version. 

Integration with Emerging Technologies

Thanks to APIs (application programming interfaces), it’s fairly common for multiple apps to integrate and play nice with each other. This holds true for both native and web apps. 

For example, you might integrate Slack (either the web app, desktop app, or mobile app) with your website to automatically get notified when someone subscribes to your newsletter. Or maybe you’re integrating your app with Facebook or Google to authenticate users with SSO. 

How to Choose What’s Right For You: Web App or Mobile App?

Now that you understand the key differences and similarities between web and mobile apps, it’s time to determine what’s right for you. Here’s a quick resource that you can use to find the answer.

When to Go With a Mobile App

• Use native apps if your target audience predominantly uses smartphones.
• Build a mobile app if you want to take advantage of device-specific features, like a smartphone’s camera, mic, GPS, accelerometer, etc.
• Mobile apps are better if you want users to have offline access.
• Mobile apps are better for driving user engagement.
• If you want to monetize your app through subscriptions and in-app purchases, go with a mobile version. 
• For improved brand loyalty and focusing on building long-term customer relationships, mobile apps have the edge. 

When to Go With a Web App

• Web apps tend to have a wider reach than mobile apps, which is important if you don’t want owning a smartphone to be contingent on someone using your app.
• Web apps are often more cost-effective to build and maintain.
• It’s easier to deploy updates to web apps directly on the server without the user having to install an update. 
• Web apps can be found in search engines—meaning they’re more SEO-friendly and help enhance a brand’s overall online presence. 

Final Thoughts

In today’s day and age, the vast majority of businesses are building for mobile. Web apps are still popular in certain use cases, and they’re often used in conjunction with a mobile app. 

But the experience of using a mobile app can’t really be replicated using a web app.

In terms of performance, speed, and reliability, mobile apps are superior. 

Historically, a business might have been swayed to build a web app compared to a mobile app because of budget constraints. But that’s really no longer a factor today.

Are web apps cheaper to build? Usually. But mobile apps aren’t as expensive as they once were—and they no longer require low-level coding from scratch.

You can build a mobile app today by signing up for a no-code app builder. This would cost you anywhere from $100 to $500 per month, which is affordable for any budget. 

With BuildFire, you get the best of both worlds. You can build an app for iOS, Android, and a progressive web app (PWA), all in a single build. The app can even be built for iPads and Android tablets. 

Sign up today to get started, and try BuildFire free for 14 days—no credit card required. 

The post What’s the Difference Between Web App & Mobile App? appeared first on Buildfire.

With that said, many businesses still prefer to outsource mobile app development—and it’s often the best path for mid-market organizations.

If you need an app for business but don’t know where to start, this guide has you covered. I’ll explain everything you need to know about outsourcing app development, including the benefits, costs, and finding the right partner. 

What is App Development Outsourcing?

Mobile app development outsourcing means working with a third-party service provider to build an app on behalf of your business. It’s a type of software development outsourcing that specifically refers to mobile apps built by an app development company or developers who aren’t part of your in-house team. 

The company seeking app development services still owns the app. They just get someone else to build it for them. 

App development outsourcing can be used for any type of mobile app—including internal apps for HR and employee communications or customer-facing apps for your core business model. 

9 Reasons to Outsource Mobile App Development

There are dozens of benefits to app development outsourcing. But these are the top nine reasons why businesses choose to outsource app development.

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Developing an app in-house can be expensive. Most companies don’t have the personnel on staff to handle app development, which forces them to hire new employees. 

US software developers make between $96,760 and $161,40, with the median sitting at $127,260. That’s just for one developer in a single year—not to mention the costs associated with benefits, payroll taxes, training, and other costs for onboarding a new employee. 

Rather than spending $300,000 on labor alone, you could outsource development for around $30,000. 

2. Faster Development Timeline

Launching your app quickly is crucial for getting a faster return on your investment. That’s why long development timelines can hurt you in multiple ways—they’re expensive, and you’re not getting anything in return during the app development process.

This holds true whether the app is customer-facing or solving internal inefficiencies. 

But app development companies already have dedicated teams and processes in place. They have the tools, skills, and knowledge to build apps quickly and more efficiently than an in-house team during this for the first time. It could take your IT team 9-12 months to create an app, whereas an app development agency can knock it out in 3-6 months. 

3. Ability to Focus on Core Business Operations

Mobile apps are supposed to improve businesses, not hinder them. 

If you’re investing 60-80+ hours per week managing this type of project on your own, then who’s going to handle your day-to-day responsibilities?

Lots of businesses don’t think they need to consider mobile application development outsourcing because they have skilled developers in-house. But what are those developers currently working on? Who is going to handle those duties if you allocate those resources to a different project?

Outsourcing app development means you can keep the wheels in motion and without compromising your core business objectives. 

4. App Developer Expertise

Developing an app is a considerable investment for any business. With the stakes high, you want to make sure that you have the best mobile app developers working on your project.

Sure, you might have one or two people on your staff who have built an app in the past. But wouldn’t you rather work with mobile app development agencies that have built thousands of apps?

It’s like anything else. The more experience you have, the better the final product will be. It’s rare for an agency to come across something they’ve never seen before. But if you’re using in-house talent, this could be a weekly or even daily occurrence. 

5. Access to the Latest Mobile App Technologies

App development is more than just writing code. The best apps leverage cutting-edge technology to ensure the app performs well and delivers the optimal user experience post-launch. 

But the latest and greatest technology comes at a cost. 

Look beyond the app itself. You have authentication servers, databases, push notification servers, integrations, and more—there’s an entire mobile app infrastructure that’s happening behind the scenes. It’s tough to replicate this on your own, and it often doesn’t make sense from a cost perspective. It’s easier and more cost-effective to get this technology included with mobile development outsourcing. 

6. Scalability and Flexibility

When you outsource mobile application development, it’s much easier to grow and scale compared to handling this on your own. 

Let’s say your app grows from 10,000 to 100,000 users. Mobile app development services can easily help accommodate this kind of growth without any downtime or user experience issues. 

Or maybe you want to add a new custom feature three months after the initial launch. It’s not as easy to do this on your own. 

7. Cost Predictability

The cost of outsourcing mobile application development is much more predictable than doing it in-house. More often than not, you’ll have a final quote from the development agency—and you know that the project won’t go over that number. 

But going over budget is practically guaranteed if you’re building an app in-house. Why? Things happen.

People get sick. Equipment goes down. Some sprints take longer than initially anticipated. 

An app agency will never come back to you and say, “Hey, one of our developers quit, so we had to hire a new one. So we’re going to add an additional $10,000 to your invoice to account for the training costs needed to onboard our new hire.” 

If something like this happens internally within your organization, the cost will come out of your pocket. And there’s really nothing you can do about it. You’ll have to pay whatever it costs because you need the app, and you’re not going to invest thousands of dollars and months of time to settle for an incomplete project. 

Pro Tip: Use our App Development Calculator to estimate how much it will take to build an app for your business. 

8. Reduced Legal and HR Burdens

As previously discussed, building a dedicated team to build your app is expensive. But beyond labor costs, your in-house team can lead to significant legal and HR burdens. 

You don’t have to worry about workers’ compensation claims or dealing with paid parental leave if you’re working with an agency. 

In some cases, in-house app developers could even try to claim ownership of the source code of your app. No business wants to deal with these types of headaches. 

9. Continuous Maintenance and Support

Building and launching a mobile app is really just the beginning of app development. Your app still needs lots of attention and care for it to continue working and be successful for the long haul.

What happens when a new iOS version comes out? Apple just changed its App Store requirements—not what? How will you address bugs, glitches, or new security threats?

If you built the app in-house, you need to allocate development resources to deal with this stuff on a regular basis. It’s not like you can just hire a team for one year and then fire them once the app goes live. That $300,000+ in annual labor sticks with you for the lifetime of your app if you’re building it in-house. 

But when you outsource mobile app development, you’ll get ongoing maintenance and support for a low monthly fee. You won’t have to worry about maintaining your app at all if you have the right partner. 

How to Evaluate the Costs of Outsourcing Mobile App Development

How much does it cost to build an app in-house compared to outsourcing app development? I’ll break that down below. 

Factors That Influence App Cost

When it comes to outsourcing app development, these are the most common factors that influence the total cost:

• App Complexity — Advanced features that require custom code will be more expensive than basic apps that can be developed with simple, pre-built functions. 
• Location of development team — Offshore mobile app development teams are typically cheaper than US-based app developers.
• Supported platforms — Do you need an iOS app, Android app, or both? 
• Backend technology — This refers to the software and servers required to power and maintain your app during development and after it goes live.
• Development timeline — Typically, the longer it takes to build your app, the more expensive it will cost. 

This is the starting point for most people. We also have an in-depth guide that breaks down the cost of app development in granular detail, comparing costs related to app category, design costs, and even infrastructure services. 

Cost Comparison: In-House vs. Outsourced App Development

Let’s say you want to build an average app for your business. It’s nothing too fancy, but it handles all of the basics—like allowing users to create a profile and sign in, it connects to the internet, has a database on the back end, and you want it to integrate with calendars and social media. Plus, you want to build it for both iOS and Android devices. 

If you build an in-house team, you’ll likely need at least two app developers for this type of project. We’ll estimate on the low end and say their salary is $80,000 per year, each. That’s $160,000 in labor (assuming you find quality developers willing to work for that rate). 

$160,000 before a single line of code even gets written. Servers will cost another $10,000 to $12,000 per year, plus another $10,000 to account for things like APIs, push notifications, and integrations. We’re nearing $200,000 and the app is just getting started, and we haven’t even touched upon project management or quality assurance costs. 

On the flip side, you could outsource this same exact mobile app to a third-party development team for $25,000 to $40,000. That’s your out-the-door cost to launch before updates and ongoing maintenance. 

Maintenance from an app development agency will likely cost around $5,000 to $10,000 annually. This would cost at least $40,000 in-house, even if you’re using just one developer for this and allocating their resources to other projects. 

In this example, building, launching, and maintaining your app in-house would cost about $360,000 (on the low end) over five years. Outsourcing the same app would cost $65,000 to $80,000 over five years. 

While this is just one example, it highlights what you’ll see across the board—outsourcing app development is roughly 20% of the cost compared to building in-house. 

Understanding Pricing Models in Outsourcing App Development

All app development companies each have their own unique way of pricing mobile app projects. With that said, you’ll likely find one of the following three models:

• Fixed Rate — This is the most straightforward. The company tells you the total app cost, and you pay that number. It’s the easiest way to estimate and stay within your budget, but your developer could cut corners if unexpected issues arise (although you won’t have to worry about this from a reputable development company).
• Hourly Rate — Hourly billing is more common from freelance app developers compared to agencies. Rates can vary significantly, with rates starting around $30 per hour for developers in India, $50 per hour in Eastern Europe, and upwards of $80 per hour in the US. Some developers can give you an estimate of how many hours the project will take. But if it ends up taking longer, you could go over budget. 
• Subscription Rate — With the subscription model, you pay a fixed monthly, quarterly, or annual fee to use app development software. This can range from $100 to $500 per month, depending on the tools and features you need. 

The subscription model is often the best route, assuming you have the right app development partner. It’s less of a financial burden than paying $20,000 or $50,000 upfront. That’s the obvious reason. 

But if you outsource your app project to a company like BuildFire, you’ll also have the option to leverage our in-house development team if you need something unique or custom. For basic app features, 80% or even 90% can be handled with our app builder. Then we can bridge the gap with that remaining 10-20% to help you save money while still getting exactly what you need.

The annual subscription could cost you $6,000, and a custom function (if you need it) might cost an additional $6,000. 

Hidden Costs and How to Avoid Them

The cost of building a mobile app goes beyond the development process and the app itself. You also need to account for:

• Maintaining your staff
• Project management
• Quality assurance
• Hosting
• Refactoring
• CDNs
• Training
• UX Design
• UI Design
• Security
• Administrative Services

The easiest way to avoid these hidden fees is by outsourcing. When you outsource app development, cost is essentially set in stone. You pretty much know exactly what you’re going to pay, and you don’t have to worry about any surprises popping up along the way.

How to Choose the Right Mobile App Development Outsourcing Partner

There are thousands of agencies out there that offer software development services. So how can you narrow down your search and find an app development company that meets your needs?

Keep the following considerations in mind as you’re comparing different options:

• Look for an outsourcing company that offers strategic consulting for your app idea.
• The best app development companies handle all aspects of project management for you.
• They should also deal with quality assurance and testing. 
• Pricing should be clear. If you’re not given an exact quote, you should at least be given a range with expectations.
• Determine whether you want to work with a US-based development company or if you don’t mind sacrificing quality to save money. Language barriers should also be taken into consideration.
• When you outsource mobile app development, make sure your partner gives you a timeline of when you can expect the app to be completed. 
• Make sure the outsourcing company offers post-launch maintenance and support.
• Ideally, the development agency you’re considering should have experience building apps in your industry. 

For more information, review our guide on what to look for in a mobile app developer. We also have a detailed resource on how to choose the best mobile app development company for your business. 

Managing the App Development Outsource Relationship

Once you’ve settled on an outsourcing company and started to work with their app development team, there are certain things you need to keep in mind to maintain a quality relationship with them.

First, make sure you have enough meetings before development actually starts. This ensures that everyone is on the same page so they know exactly what you’re looking for. Getting some wireframes, mockups, or even app prototypes can really help during the pre-development and design phases. 

During development, you can set some milestones and ask for updates on a regular cadence. But again, it’s best to establish this ahead of time. If you’re just going to email the outsourcing company once a week asking, “I’d like to see what my app looks like so far,” then you’re not giving them an opportunity to really work on it. 

The purpose of outsourcing is to remain hands-off. While you should still be part of the process, you don’t want to micro-manage the team. They aren’t your employees and you shouldn’t treat them as such. 

That’s why it’s so important to find the right partner from the beginning. It makes it much easier to manage the ongoing relationship when everyone is working toward the same common goal. 

Final Thoughts: What to Expect When You Outsource Mobile App Development

In short, you can expect it to be much more cost-effective and easier to outsource mobile app development compared to building an app in-house. 

Maintaining an internal development team really only makes sense if you’re planning to build multiple apps on a regular basis and use them for a variety of core business functions. But even in this scenario, outsourcing should still be taken into consideration. 

One unique aspect of using BuildFire for app development is that you have access to our pre-existing app development infrastructure. This drastically reduces the time and costs associated with traditional development—plus, you can launch an app for iOS and Android with a single build. 

You can also leverage our app development platform and app development services under one roof. Whether you’re looking for assisted setup and design services and then want to manage the app on your own, you want to build it on your own and leverage our team for something specific, or you want us to do all the heavy lifting for you, there are plenty of different options to choose from. 

Schedule a consultation today to see how BuildFire can bring your app to life. 

The post How to Outsource App Development (Benefits + Cost) appeared first on Buildfire.

From online business ideas to unique service offerings, this guide presents low-cost and easy business ideas that not only make money but also have the potential to grow and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. 

You can use this resource as inspiration to start your own business without having to borrow money, raise funds from investors, or pour your life savings into it. Most of these business ideas can be started for less than $500 and follow business models that turn a profit almost instantly. 

1. Online Tutoring and Teaching

Online tutoring has recently emerged as one of the most lucrative business ideas in the digital age—mostly due to its low operational costs and expensive market research.

Unlike traditional tutoring, which involves renting a physical space or traveling to the student’s home, online tutoring services eliminate these logistical expenses and transcend geographical limitations. 

The initial startup cost is minimal, and most of you already have what you need to get started. You just need a dependable internet connection and a decent computer, along with a quality webcam and microphone. 

One of the best parts about becoming an online tutor is that it can apply to nearly any skill or knowledge base. Think beyond the traditional student and teacher arrangement here. You could teach new mothers how to care for their babies or teach people how to build a home garden in urban environments. The possibilities are truly endless. 

Furthermore, you can automate your online tutoring by moving away from one-on-one sessions and creating online courses. This approach offers limitless scalability where people can go through your course at their own pace from their computers or smartphones using your dedicated online learning app. Whether you charge a monthly subscription fee to access all of your content or charge a fixed fee per course, there are tons of ways to earn high profits with this business idea. 

2. Dropshipping Business

If you want to sell products online but don’t want to deal with the hassle of managing inventory or fulfilling orders, then dropshipping is perfect for you. 

With this online business model, all you need to do is manage your website and marketing materials. When customers purchase something through your ecommerce site or mobile commerce app, the items get shipped directly from the manufacturer to the consumers—so you never actually touch the products.

You don’t have to pay for inventory upfront either. Your supplier charges you the wholesale rate of an item once it’s been sold to the customer and you earn profits based on the markup of the sales price. 

It takes a bit of research to find the right products to sell. You’ll also need to find the right suppliers. But if you’re using a platform like Shopify to power your online store, then you can get started for just $30 or $40 per month. Shopify integrates with all of the best dropshipping companies and supplier software, and then you can easily turn your Shopify store into a mobile app to further expand your reach and make things more convenient for your customers. 

3. Mental Health and Wellness Coaching

People have really started to acknowledge the importance of good mental health, and they’re more open to taking steps to improve it. But many don’t know where to start, which is where the coaching aspect comes into play. 

This business idea offers a unique blend of personal fulfillment and financial opportunity. So if you’re passionate about helping others but still want to turn a profit, this can work well for your goals. 

The startup investment is pretty low—often just a certification in coaching or a relevant field can help enhance your credibility. But it’s not technically a requirement. The key investment here isn’t monetary at all. It’s the ability to develop a deep understanding of mental health practices and effective communication skills. 

You can structure your coaching around individual sessions, group workshops, or even online courses. Just make sure they cater to a broad audience seeking guidance and support through their wellness journeys. 

Promoting your business shouldn’t be too expensive either. You can start by growing an organic social media following before experimenting with some low-cost ads driving people to your website or mobile app.

With such a high demand for these services on the rise, there’s plenty of room to make money in this niche without having to spend a fortune. 

4. Podcasting

Following the trends is always a good business idea, and podcasting has been skyrocketing in popularity in recent years. According to Demand Sage, there will be roughly 505 million podcast listeners globally by the end of 2024—that’s up roughly 20% from just two years ago and up nearly 85% over five years.

What’s even more astonishing is that we’re just barely scratching the surface in terms of potential. Even with this high growth rate, less than 10% of internet users worldwide listen to podcasts—meaning there’s still a massive opportunity to claim your share of this growing market.

You can start a podcast from home with a minimal upfront investment. You just need a high-quality microphone, audio editing software, and some basic soundproofing. The ongoing costs are relatively low, with the biggest expenses being the hosting fees. 

Podcasts commonly earn revenue through sponsorships, ads, and affiliate programs. You can also charge your listeners for premium content that’s locked behind a paywall for members only. 

In addition to broadcasting your podcast through popular directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, you can always distribute your content through your own podcast app as a way to enhance the listener experience and take more control over your revenue streams. 

5. Virtual Cooking Classes

If you love cooking or have some type of formal culinary training, this is one of the most profitable small business ideas because the costs are so low. You can literally teach people to cook different meals online without having to do anything different than you’re already doing. 

For example, if you already cook dinner for your family five nights per week—all you need to do is set up a camera or two and coach people through the process. Your grocery bill won’t change, and you likely have all of the pots, pans, and cooking materials in your kitchen. 

The profitability of virtual cooking classes comes from the ability to reach a wide audience without geographic limitations. 

You may decide to offer some free videos to promote yourself, but turn a profit by selling cooking courses, virtual cookbooks, and premium recipes. Alternatively, you can offer all of your classes for free and earn money through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate programs in this category.

6. Virtual Home Staging For Real Estate Sales

Virtual home staging in the real estate sector stands out as a lucrative business idea due to its low overhead costs and the booming real estate market. This service involves creating digital interior designs for properties that are unfurnished—helping potential buyers visualize the space. 

It’s one of the more profitable small business ideas if you can develop relationships with real estate agents and agencies. Here’s why.

According to Realtor.com, it can cost about $2,000 to $2,400 per month to stage a 2,000-square-foot home. Most staging companies require a three-month minimum contract. So even if a house sells instantly, realtors are paying upwards of $6,000 to $7,000+ at a minimum for staging. 

But if you set up your business structure to partner with real estate agencies, you can offer virtual staging for a fraction of the price—helping them save money while improving profits for the sellers. It’s a win-win-win for all parties involved. 

7. Freelance Graphic Design

Freelance graphic design stands as a sought-after business idea due to the increasing demand for digital content and branding. The primary investment involves software tools like Adobe Creative Suite and a powerful computer setup. 

The low-cost nature stems from the ability for graphic designers to work remotely and manage multiple clients simultaneously.

Profitability in freelance graphic design is driven by the ability to specialize in niches like logo design, web design, or social media content—allowing for higher rates. Building a strong portfolio and leveraging social media for marketing can attract a diverse range of clients. Networking and maintaining good client relationships are key to consistent work and referrals. As brands increasingly seek unique visual identities, the demand for skilled graphic designers is likely to remain high.

8. Digital Marketing Agency

Starting a digital marketing agency involves understanding the nuances of social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and online advertising. The initial costs are relatively low, primarily revolving around establishing a strong online presence and perhaps some initial spending on online ads to gain visibility.

The profitability of a digital marketing agency lies in its ability to adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape and deliver results for clients. Services can range from managing social media accounts to developing full-fledged digital marketing strategies. The potential for scalability is significant, as businesses of all sizes are constantly looking for effective ways to increase their online presence. Establishing a reputation for delivering measurable results will be crucial in attracting and retaining clients.

If you’re starting from scratch, consider picking a niche-specific role—like becoming an outsourced social media manager for small businesses in a particular industry. Get really good at one thing, and then scale from there with additional services. 

But beyond a computer, stable internet connection, and maybe some SEO software, the costs of starting a digital marketing company are next to nothing. 

9. White Label App Development Services

White labeling mobile apps is one of the most profitable business ideas of this year and the foreseeable future. There are so many different ways to approach this, and all of them follow the same format—low upfront costs and limitless revenue potential.

First, the demand for app development is still at an all-time high. But the barrier to entry isn’t as difficult as it was in years past. This means that smaller businesses that previously couldn’t afford an app now have the budget for it. 

As a white labeler, you can white label an existing app builder and resell it as your own or use white label app builders to create mobile apps for your clients. You can also use a combination of these models. 

Due to the structure of white label software, you can break even after selling just one or two apps—and everything on top of that is pure profit. 

One of the best ways to make money in this space is cornering a niche. For example, let’s say you build an app for a law firm or dentist. Beyond some business-specific information like locations, logos, and contact phone numbers, the vast majority of the app features for every other lawyer or dentist will be the same. 

So if you secure more of these types of clients, you can simply duplicate the apps you’ve already built and just make small changes. 90% of the work is already done for you. 

If you’re interested in this business idea, then book a demo to learn more about BuildFire’s white label reseller program. 

10. Career Coaching and Resume Writing

With such a high demand for professional guidance in an increasingly competitive job market, many job seekers are willing to pay big bucks for expert advice.

Embarking on a journey as a career coach and resume writer can be a highly rewarding and profitable business idea for those with a knack for helping others achieve their professional goals. This business idea requires a minimal financial investment but demands a strong understanding of various industries, resume writing expertise, and coaching skills to guide clients in their career paths.

You can offer services like one-on-one coaching sessions, group workshops, or online webinars. Additionally, creating downloadable resume templates or guides can provide passive income streams.

Building a robust online presence is key to success in this field. Start with a professional website showcasing testimonials and successful case studies. Stay active on platforms like LinkedIn to engage with potential prospects. 

As you establish your reputation, referrals and repeat clients can significantly contribute to your business’s growth.

11. Online Dating Consultant

Starting an online dating consultancy is a unique and modern online business idea that taps into the ever-growing world of digital dating. It’s perfect for those who have an in-depth understanding of relationships and can offer advice on creating compelling dating profiles, communication strategies, and dating etiquette.

Like with any consulting business, the initial investment is pretty low. It’s just about establishing a digital footprint for your online business and maybe spending some targeted advertising dollars to attract clients. 

You could offer personalized consultations, dating profile makeover services, or even group coaching sessions. 

12. Car Detailing Business

Car detailing stands out as one of the best small business ideas for those willing to put in some hard work in the early stages. While the monetary investment is low, you must be willing and able to clean cars when you’re first starting out—at least until you’re ready to hire some employees.

This is one of the few ideas on this list that require your physical presence to get paid. So you’ll need to be located in an area where car detailing is in demand. For example, a small rural farm community in Iowa probably won’t have the same demand for car detailing as Beverly Hills. 

But for the most part, you can purchase all of the equipment you need to detail cars for less than $200. And you’ll likely make that back after just one detail.

13. Print on Demand Services

Print on demand services represent a lucrative business model in the e-commerce world. This business idea involves partnering with a supplier to custom-print designs on various products like t-shirts, books, or mugs, only when an order is placed, eliminating the need for inventory.

The low-cost nature of this business comes from its on-demand model, which significantly reduces the risks associated with unsold stock. The initial investment is minimal, often just needing a website and designs to get started.

Additionally, this business model allows for significant scalability without a corresponding increase in costs. As your brand grows, you can expand your product range and explore new markets, all while maintaining low overhead costs.

14. Event Planning Business

Launching an event planning business is a dynamic and rewarding venture, especially for those with a flair for organization, creativity, and people skills. Event planning encompasses a wide range of categories, from corporate events to conferences and weddings—offering diversity in clientele and projects.

This business idea requires a modest upfront investment, mainly in marketing and building a network of reliable vendors and suppliers. Success as an event planner hinges on attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure, and exceptional organizational skills.

Profits in this model typically come from the markup on services provided and the ability to handle multiple clients and events. Building a strong portfolio and client testimonials can significantly help in attracting new business. Networking with other industry professionals is also key to finding new opportunities and partnerships.

Event planning also offers the flexibility to start small, perhaps focusing on smaller local events and gradually expanding your services as you build your brand. With creativity and a robust network, an event planning business can thrive and grow into a highly profitable venture.

For larger events and corporate, you can even create dedicated event apps to help you manage everything. Best of all, your clients will end up footing the bill—and you can earn a markup on this as well. 

This is another great value-added service that can help differentiate your event planning business from other event planners on the market. 

15. Dog Walking Business

The best business ideas fill a specific need—which is exactly what this does. Pet owners have business schedules and aren’t able to provide their dogs with the necessary exercise. 

Plus, they don’t want their dogs to feel lonely and left at home all day. These dogs might even go 8-10+ hours without going to the bathroom unless someone lets them outside. 

If you’re an animal lover who’s looking for a flexible and enjoyable way to earn some extra cash, this might be for you. 

Your potential clients are right in your neighborhood, making this a community-based business idea. To attract clients, consider creating eye-catching flyers, setting up a simple website, or leveraging social media platforms to showcase your services.

Networking with local pet stores, veterinary clinics, and pet groomers can also help in getting referrals. Offering additional services like pet sitting can increase your earning potential. As your client base grows, consider expanding your business by hiring additional walkers.

16. Virtual Assistant Services

Virtual assistant services are increasingly sought after by most business owners who need help managing their day-to-day tasks. This business idea requires virtually no upfront investment other than a computer and a stable internet connection. The services offered can range from email management and scheduling to social media management and data entry.

The demand for virtual assistants (VAs) has risen as businesses look to outsource administrative tasks to focus on core operations.

Offering specialized services, such as graphic design or content writing, can further enhance your attractiveness to potential clients.

17. Photography Business

Launching a photography business today goes beyond just having a good camera–-it’s about offering your photography services online to reach a wider audience. This business idea requires investment in quality photography equipment and a professional website to showcase your portfolio.

• Weddings
• Corporate events
• Stock photography
• Real estate photography
• Food photography for restaurants
• Product photography for ecommerce stores

The list of opportunities here is seemingly never-ending. 

Try to specialize in a particular style or niche to set yourself apart in a competitive market.

18. Upcycling and Furniture Restoration

Upcycling and furniture restoration represent a creative and eco-friendly small business idea. It involves refurbishing old or discarded furniture into appealing and functional pieces. The startup costs can be minimal, especially if you start with smaller projects and use upcycled materials.

It’s one of the better small business ideas for creative individuals who have the means or skills to work with their hands. If you can turn someone’s trash into someone else’s treasure, there’s plenty of money to be made in this space. 

19. Personal Training Business

The personal training business has evolved beyond the traditional gym setting, especially through technology advancements. 

Starting a virtual personal training business using a mobile app can significantly broaden your client base beyond your local area. This business idea eliminates the need for a physical space, reducing overhead costs.

Through a mobile app, you can offer personalized workout plans, live training sessions, and fitness challenges to clients worldwide. The app can also track progress, provide nutritional guidance, and facilitate direct communication with clients.

Offering a mix of subscription-based models, one-off sessions, or package deals can cater to varying client preferences and increase revenue potential.

20. Mobile Public Notary Service

You can become a public notary for as little as $20. The application process and exact fees vary by state, but it’s one of the cheapest ways to start a small business.

As a notary, you simply authenticate the signing of important legal documents. You’re an impartial witness to the parties who sign, and you verify the identities of the signers. 

It’s worth noting that some states have a cap on how much you can charge for these services. For example, in California, there’s a maximum $15 fee per signature. 

But there are so many opportunities and scenarios which require documents to be notarized. You can stand out from the crowd by offering your services on the go and adding a travel fee to your bill. 

21. Blogging

Blogging has transcended being a hobby. It’s now a viable pathway to establishing a successful business. 

The beauty of blogging lies in its versatility and potential for monetization. You can start with a specific niche, offering insights, reviews, tutorials, or personal experiences. The initial costs are limited to website hosting and design.

There are plenty of ways to make money from blogging. From affiliate marketing and sponsored content to selling digital products and services, you can experiment with different monetization methods until you find what works for you. 

The key to making money in blogging is to create compelling, valuable content that attracts a loyal readership. Growing a profitable blog requires patience and consistency. SEO strategies, guest posting on other blogs, and collaborating with influencers in your niche can increase your visibility. As your blog grows, you could explore additional revenue streams like offering courses, webinars, or consulting services in your area of expertise.

22. Mobile Hairdresser or Barber

The appeal of a mobile hairdresser or barber lies in the convenience you offer clients–-the luxury of a professional haircut in the comfort of their own home. This service is especially attractive to busy professionals, elderly clients, or those with mobility issues.

This small business venture eliminates the need for a physical salon, reducing overhead costs significantly. The only investment will be in quality hairstyling tools and a reliable vehicle.

To diversify your revenue, consider offering additional services such as hair treatments, styling for special events, or even group sessions for families. Building a strong client base through word-of-mouth, local advertising, and a solid online presence can help your business thrive. Personalizing your service, being punctual, and maintaining high hygiene standards can lead to repeat customers and referrals.

23. Professional Voice-Over Services

The demand for professional voice-over services makes it a great business idea for those with a good voice and articulation skills. This field involves lending your voice for commercials, audiobooks, video games, and other multimedia. 

You’ll need to get some quality recording equipment and soundproof a space in your home. But it’s a great business idea if you want to work from home and take control over your own schedule. 

Expanding your reach can involve offering your services on freelance platforms and creating a professional website with your portfolio. Continuously honing your skills and adapting to different voice-over styles and requirements can open doors to more lucrative and diverse projects.

24. Local Travel Guide

For those with extensive knowledge of their locality, becoming a local travel guide can be a rewarding small business idea. You can organize and lead tours, while sharing insights about local history, culture, and attractions. 

Depending on your location, you may need to obtain a specific type of tourism license for this small business idea. 

But this is a great opportunity for people who enjoy interacting with others and want to have some fun while making money. Focus on the uniqueness of your tours, your storytelling ability, and the experiences you offer, which can set your service apart. 

Customizing tours for different interests–-culinary, historical, architectural-–can cater to a diverse clientele. Collaborating with local businesses for mutual promotion can also enhance your offerings.

25. Affiliate Marketing Business

Affiliate marketing is a good business idea for those looking to earn by promoting products or services online. The concept involves earning a commission for marketing another company’s products through your website, blog, or social media channels. The initial investment is primarily in setting up a digital platform and possibly in some online advertising to drive traffic.

The key to success in affiliate marketing is to choose products that align with your audience’s interests and to create engaging content that drives sales. Transparency with your audience about your affiliate relationships is crucial for trust.

Strategies for growing an affiliate marketing business include SEO optimization, email marketing campaigns, and collaborating with influencers in your niche. Continuously analyzing your performance and adjusting your strategies can optimize your earnings.

26. Landscaping Business

Starting a landscaping business can be a rewarding endeavor for those with a green thumb and a passion for outdoor aesthetics. Successful small business owners in this space typically spend an initial investment on landscaping equipment, such as lawnmowers, trimmers, and perhaps a vehicle for transporting tools. However, the costs can be scaled depending on the services offered and the size of the projects undertaken.

Landscaping services have a steady demand among both residential and commercial property owners. From routine lawn maintenance to elaborate garden design and installation, the scope of services can be diverse. The key to profitability lies in delivering high-quality work, building a reputation for reliability, and being able to work efficiently to manage multiple projects.

27. Online Music Lessons

The rise of digital platforms has revolutionized the way music is taught, making online music lessons a viable and successful small business idea. 

Online music lessons eliminate geographical barriers, allowing you to teach students from anywhere in the world. This business can be lucrative, especially if you have expertise in a popular instrument or genre. You can structure your lessons as one-on-one sessions, group classes, or even create pre-recorded lessons for students to access at their convenience through your website or mobile app. 

Offering a range of lesson packages, from beginner to advanced levels, can cater to a broad spectrum of learners.

Final Thoughts

Successful small business ideas don’t always require a ton of capital. As demonstrated through these 27 business ideas, many opportunities exist to start a profitable business with minimal upfront costs. 

The majority of these ideas capitalize on digital platforms, reflecting how the business landscape has evolved in the internet age. Whether it’s offering services online, like tutoring or personal training, or selling products through a dropshipping model, the digital world opens up a realm of possibilities. Furthermore, the integration of a mobile app can significantly enhance these business ideas, offering convenience, broader reach, and innovative ways to interact with customers.

With creativity, dedication, and a strategic approach, it’s possible to launch a successful business without a substantial initial investment. 

These ideas not only provide avenues for financial gain but also offer the flexibility and satisfaction of being your own boss. As the digital world continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality.

The post 27 Low Cost and Easy Business Ideas That Make Money appeared first on Buildfire.

While simulators are great, some features don’t quite work the same unless you’re using an iPhone.

For example, maybe you want to send an SMS message from your iOS application. Or maybe you want to test the app’s compatibility with an iPhone camera. You can’t do this from your Mac.

In addition to testing for functionality, running your app on an iPhone for the first time can also help with debugging. Xcode even has a built-in debugger tool that helps you identify bugs and problems directly within the source editor. 

Ready to start testing your iOS apps? This guide will show you how.

What is Xcode?

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re new to development and haven’t started building anything yet, you might have some questions about Xcode and how it works. 

We have an in-depth tutorial on how to code Xcode that’s written for complete beginners. I strongly suggest giving it a read for a full explanation of how Xcode works. But I’ll quickly summarize the key highlights below before we continue with the testing instructions.

Xcode is an integrated development environment, better known as an IDE. It’s the official IDE for Apple that’s used to create, test, and debug apps for iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV.

Xcode is also great for team collaboration. So your entire development team can work together on the app and ensure it’s ready for testers before deployment. It’s much easier to use Xcode for testing and debugging apps before they’re added to the app store.

Testing on a Simulator vs. Real Device

App development isn’t complete until the application has been fully tested. There are several different ways to test mobile apps, but these options can generally be segmented into two categories—simulators and real devices.

Simulators let you run applications that weren’t intended for your computer’s operating system. Developers can use iOS simulators to test their code on an iPhone or iPad without actually running the app on one of those devices. 

Some simulators double as emulators, which mimic the capabilities of real devices beyond a simulation. You can even find simulators that support both iOS and Android for testing multiple versions of your app.
Xcode has a built-in simulator that’s great for testing during the early stages of development. This allows you to run a simulation without having to lay out the user interface.

You just need to configure your settings and click the run button on your toolbar. 

Then select what type of device you want to simulate your app on. This can be selected from the run destination menu of the toolbar.

If you want to test the app using an older iOS version, you can click “Add Additional Simulators” at the bottom of this pop up menu.

Again, simulators are fine for certain aspects of testing—especially in the early stages. But they can’t really show you the user interface and how your app flows when it’s really being used on a device. That’s why you’re better off testing on an iPhone in the later stages of development before the app gets pushed to the App Store. 

Simply put, simulators aren’t ideal if you need to run a UI test. But they’re fine for running unit tests, which verifies that the code written will work as it’s expected to.

Setting Up to Run Xcode On a Real Device

Before you test your mobile app on an actual iOS device, you need to make sure that everything in your Xcode project is configured properly. Then you’ll be able to run the app on an iPhone without having to write any extra code.

Grab your device, and connect it to your Mac.

If you’re testing a macOS version for an iPad application, then you’ll also need to choose a scheme. Xcode app schemes are essentially settings that clarify the build configurations, targets, and executable environment. 

To choose a real device for testing, you’re going to follow the same steps you took earlier for selecting an iOS simulator. Only this time, you’re going to choose the connected iPhone from the run destination menu for device management in Xcode.

Similar to what we described earlier, you’ll just click the run button to proceed after you’ve selected the connected iPhone.

With the device connected, Xcode will automate the process, install the app, and attach the debugger. Once this happens, the app should appear on your phone. From here, you can navigate to the debug area of Xcode to test your app. This is an opportunity for you to examine variables and debug any errors.

If your build is unsuccessful, you can view any error messages or warnings in the Issue Navigator. You can do this by selecting “Navigators” from the “View” menu and choosing “Show Issue Navigator.” Any messages will appear here. 

How Do I Test My App on My iPhone?

Here’s a quick summary of the requirements for testing apps on iPhone using Xcode:

• You need to plug the iPhone into the Mac that’s running Xcode.
• Then you must download the app to your Mac.
• When you select a real device in Xcode for testing, you need to add your Apple ID in the Accounts preferences of your project editor.
• If you’re part of the Apple Developer Program, you must register the device before running the app. 
• You can also pair Xcode with iOS and tvOS apps if that device is on the same network as Xcode. When you open Xcode, any paired devices should appear on the toolbar.

Final Thoughts on Using an Xcode Test App on iPhone

I hope you found this tutorial on testing your Xcode app on iPhone helpful. 

To bypass these steps and avoid unnecessary headaches, you can use BuildFire as an alternative solution. The BuildFire SDK is developer-friendly—allowing you to create new app features using Javascript, HTML, and CSS using your preferred framework. 

BuildFire gives developers the ability to build on top of our existing infrastructure, which saves a ton of time and money during the Apple development process. 

If you’re a complete beginner who doesn’t have any coding experience, there’s really no reason to learn Xcode and test your apps on your own. Unless you want to become an iOS developer, it’s much easier to let BuildFire create an app for you. Check out our full-service app development solution, BuildFire Plus, for more information. 

For those of you who are still early on in the development process, read our step-by-step guide on How to Make an App to learn more.

The post How to Test Your App on an iPhone Using Xcode appeared first on Buildfire.

The App Store is definitely the best option for mass distribution. But if you’re creating an internal mobile app for your business or custom apps for B2B purposes, you may want to keep the app private and only available for certain users.

Think about it—you wouldn’t want a random person to access an app built for your employees, right? In this scenario, you need more control over each mobile device that the app gets installed on. The public App Store isn’t an option.

This simple guide will show you exactly how to distribute your iOS app without using the Apple App Store. Let’s dive in.

Distribute iOS App Without App Store

Most iOS apps are made for the Apple App Store. But the App Store is public and gives anyone with an iOS device the opportunity to download. 

According to Statista, more than 43 billion apps will be downloaded from the App Store in 2025.

As you can see from the graph, the Google Play Store is projected to have more than four times the number of app downloads that same year. This is largely due to Android dominating the global market share. 

But it’s also worth noting that Apple has a much stricter approval process for developers that want to publish an app to the App Store.

This same concept holds true for private app distribution. Compared to Android, distributing apps outside of the App Store is much more complicated for iOS apps. Apple does offer a few options for specific use cases. But the direct download and installation of any iOS binary files is strictly prohibited by Apple. 

Apple’s Solutions for Alternative App Distribution

There are three ways to distribute an iOS app without the App Store:

• Apple Developer Program — The Apple Developer program makes it possible to distribute apps for testing purposes only.
• Apple Developer Enterprise Program — The Apple Enterprise Program is intended for organizations that want to distribute apps internally and privately to employees.
• Volume Purchase Program for Enterprises — The VPP app deployment method allows organizations to create a private app store to manage apps in bulk, typically used for custom B2B apps and MDM (mobile device management).

We’ll discuss each of these distribution methods in greater detail below, so you can find the best alternative to Apple App Store distribution.

Beta App Distribution Using the Apple Apple Developer Program

This iOS app distribution method is designed specifically for testing. Developers can distribute a prerelease version of an app to a specific group of people for beta testing purposes. 

You must have an Apple Developer Program account to do this. The Apple Developer Program membership costs $99 per year. Nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions might be eligible for a fee waiver.

This is the only scenario where an app intended for a mass audience can be distributed privately. But the distribution is only allowed during the testing stage and limited to a certain number of devices. Beta distributions are limited to 100 iPhones, 100 iPads, and 100 iPod touch installations. 

Releasing your app to beta testers won’t be the same as distributing a fully complete, fully functioning, ready-for-release app. 

It’s important to know that your app is protected from being copied or redistributed during the beta testing distribution. 

Ad-Hoc Deployment Using the Apple Developer Program

For private beta testing or temporary distribution, Apple allows developers to use the Ad-hoc app deployment method. In this scenario, the developer will deliver the app binary to each unique user via a download URL or email. 

To ensure the app binary works on the intended device, developers are required to register each device to the Apple Member Center and include the UDID for the device. App binaries will not run on an iOS device until the registration has been completed. This process protects your app from being duplicated or redistributed without your approval. 

You’ll see this option in Xcode when generating the IPA, open the Organizer, and navigate to Archives.

Pros of Ad-Hoc Deployment

• No need for iOS approval process
• App is private and cannot be installed by the public
• Apple Developer Account profile is valid for one year

Cons of Ad-Hoc Deployment

• Limited to 100 devices
• Manually UDID registration is required for each device with a provisioning profile

Upgrading to the Apple Developer Enterprise Program

The Apple Developer Enterprise Program is designed for large organizations that want to distribute internal apps to employees. The Enterprise Program allows for internal distribution through secured internal systems or through MDM (mobile device management) solutions.

Unlike a regular App Store Connect account, not everyone is eligible for an enterprise account. It’s only for internal use of proprietary apps in scenarios that can’t be addressed through the public Apple App Store, Apple Business Manager, beta testing, or Ad Hoc distribution. The app must be developed by the organization and specifically for use on Apple platforms.

Other eligibility requirements include:

• Minimum of 100+ employees.
• Must be a legal entity (no DBAs, trade names, fictitious names, etc.)
• Program must be used for internal in-house apps for employees.
• Must have measures to ensure the app is only available for employees and all membership credentials are protected.
• Must pass Apple’s verification process and continuous evaluations. 

Pricing for a Developer Enterprise Program account costs $299 per year for a distribution certificate. If you’re already enrolled in the Apple Developer Program for distributing apps through the public Apple App Store, you’ll need a separate Apple ID for the Enterprise Program.

In-House Deployment With the Apple Developer Enterprise Program

The in-house deployment option is great for larger organizations that want to distribute custom internal apps for employees. This can be a useful initiative for your citizen developer program. It also helps corporations get more control over app security and device security through MDM—mobile device management. 

Pros

• No App Store approval process
• You have full control over who can access and use the app
• Ideal for internal distribution to employees

Cons

• Only for larger businesses
• Strict eligibility requirements

Apple’s Volume Purchase Program (VPP) for B2B App Distribution

The Volume Purchase Program, VPP, makes it possible for organizations and educational institutions to buy corporate apps in bulk and deploy them to iPhones, iPads, and Macs within the organization. 

For example, a school that provides students with Macbooks can use the VPP to pre-install different applications on those devices prior to distribution. 

The Volume Purchase Program also supports custom B2B apps that can be distributed through a private app store instead of the public Mac App Store.

Larger organizations could use this program to share apps with other businesses, vendors, and partners that work closely with the company. 

This is another scenario where you can create custom apps and distribute them privately without going through the App Store. Let’s say you create a custom business workflow app that involves vendors working with your company. You could grant them access to the app through a private app store using the VPP. It’s also common for organizations to use this distribution method for MDM. 

Note: The Volume Purchase Program is no longer available as of January 14, 2021

You can upgrade to Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager to access similar benefits offered through the VPP. See more information from Apple here.

Android App Distribution Without Google Play

While we’re on the subject of distributing apps without app stores, I wanted to quickly touch base on how the Android app development and Google Play process is different from alternative distribution methods. 

As previously mentioned, the iOS process is a bit difficult. It’s much more straightforward to distribute Android apps without going through the Google Play Store. 

You can do this through a direct webpage link or direct email for download. Android apps are also easier to distribute through a third-party app marketplace. 

Refer to this Android developers resource on alternative distribution options for more information. 

iOS App Distribution Methods in Summary

Most developers will want to use the Apple App Store for iOS app distribution. This is the best way to get your app in the hands of the widest possible audience.

But there are some scenarios that require an app to be kept private. Distributing internal employee apps or private business apps is the most common reason to avoid the App Store. 

Some apps just aren’t made for public use. If you fall into this category, you can use the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program as a solution. The former is best for beta testing, and the latter is intended for the internal distribution of an enterprise app.

Interested in creating an internal workforce app for your business?

We can help. BuildFire’s custom app development solutions are perfect for larger organizations and enterprises. We’ve built workforce apps for compliance, employee communication, business workflows, field sales, field service workers, employee safety, HR, employee onboarding, scheduling, and more. Reach out for a free consultation and book a strategy session to learn more.

The post How to Distribute an iOS App Without Using App Stores appeared first on Buildfire.

First, you need to publish your app to the App Store so it’s available for download.

The two major app stores are the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store—one for iOS and one for Android. But each platform has its own unique guidelines, rules, and submission requirements. 

This guide is going to focus specifically on publishing an iOS app to the Apple App Store. Once the app is published here, it can be downloaded on an iPhone or iPad.

It’s worth noting that Apple is very particular with its submission guidelines. You’ll need an Apple Developer account, and the App Store listing must match the app’s functionality. There are lots of other small details that Apple takes into consideration before they’ll approve apps.

That’s because Apple wants to protect its users. Apple wants its user base to feel comfortable knowing that any app downloaded from the Apple App Store is safe and won’t break their devices.

Read on to learn how to publish an app on the App Store with ease.

Where to Start: Submitting an iOS App to the App Store

Submitting your iOS app to the App Store is the final stage of development. By now, the app should already be built, tested thoroughly, and you should have an app name that you’re confident in using. 

If your app is still in development, there’s nothing wrong with looking ahead toward the App Store submission. Just know that it’s too early to take any of these steps. Apple won’t approve any unfinished apps to the store, even if you have all of the other app information required for the listing. 

You should also consider the legal prerequisites of launching a mobile app. For example, if you’re launching an app in EU markets, the app must comply with GDPR guidelines. If you’re going to offer app purchases and collect payments through the app, you’ll need to think about things like PCI compliance as well. 

How you’re collecting, handling, and sharing user data is really important here. You should refer to the official Agreements and Guidelines for Apple Developers to ensure you’re following all of the appropriate requirements regarding user data. 

App submissions must only have content that was either created by you or that you have the proper authority to use. If you’re using content from another source without the proper legal licenses or permissions, it can be grounds for either rejecting your app from the App Store or getting it removed from the App Store.

You’ll need to have an Apple Developer account and Apple ID as well. Submitting your app from a computer running on macOS is not a requirement, but it’s definitely common considering the software and tools you’ll be using.

For example, if you’re using Xcode to create iOS apps for iPhone and iPad, you can take steps to prepare your app for publishing directly in the IDE.

App Store Submission Requirements

Before we get into the steps required for publishing, you need to understand the App Store guidelines for app submission.

You can review all of the App Store review guidelines here. These are some important points to keep in mind:

• Developers are responsible for making sure everything in the app complies with Apple’s guidelines, including analytics services, third-party SDKs, ad networks, and more.
• Attempting to cheat the review system or manipulate ratings is grounds to remove your app and kick you out of the developer program.
• You must comply with Apple’s guidelines regarding apps for kids.
• Apps may not include objectionable content (discrimination, explicit materials, etc.).
• The app’s privacy policy must comply with all Apple guidelines. 
• Apps must be complete and fully functional before you submit them for review.
• Apple has certain technical requirements and software standards that must be followed.
• You may not just copy another app and make subtle changes to pass it off as your own.
• Apps must have minimum functionality that goes beyond a mobile website.

In total, the App Store Review Guidelines are quite lengthy. There are five major categories—safety, performance, business, design, and legal. Each section is broken down into different subsections, like this:

So give yourself ample time to review this document in detail before you go through the steps for submission.

6 Steps to Submit and Publish an iOS App

The App Store publishing process can be summarized in just six steps. 

1. Sign up for the Apple developer program
2. Prepare the app for submission
3. Create a listing via App Store Connect
4. Capture App Store screenshots
5. Upload the app using Xcode
6. Submit the app to be reviewed by Apple

We’ll cover each step in greater detail below:

Step 1 — Join the Apple Developer Program

You must be a member of the Apple Developer Program to submit an app to the App Store. So if you haven’t done so already, sign up for an Apple developer account. 

If you’re enrolling as an individual or sole proprietor, you can sign in using your Apple ID and enable two-factor authentication. Apple will ask you for some personal information, like your legal name and address.

To enroll in the developer program as an organization, you’ll also need an Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled. In addition to the Apple ID, enrollment requires:

• D-U-N-S Number
• Legal Entity Status
• Legal Binding Authority
• Website

Just click “Start Your Enrollment” on this page to get started.

The membership pricing starts at $99 per year, and it gives you access to other exclusive Apple developer tools and services. 

You can use the account to manage your apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The membership also comes with beta software, app analytics, testing tools, and everything you need to manage your App Store listing. 

Apple developers also have access to TestFlight—a way to collect feedback from up to 10,000+ testers before submitting the app to the App Store. You can invite them with an email address or public link.

Step 2 — Prepare the App for Submission

Identifying bugs and problems with your app before submitting it to the app store is just one aspect of app development. There are other things you must do to get it ready for review.

First, you need to set the bundle ID in Xcode. This is used to uniquely identify your app in the system. Xcode will give you a default identifier when you create a project from a template, but it’s important to create one that’s unique. Just be aware that you cannot change the bundle ID after it’s been uploaded to App Store Connect. 

You can adjust these settings in the “General” menu of your project editor in Xcode.

Next, you need to configure your app version number and build string. The version number will appear in the App Store, and it’s expected to be in a format of [Major].[Minor].[Patch], such as 9.12.1.

Apple requires you to set an app category with your submission. This is designed to help users discover your app in the App Store. Options include:

• Books
• Business
• Developer Tools
• Music
• Medical
• Navigation
• Education
• News
• Finance
• Photo & Video
• Productivity
• Food & Drink
• Reference
• Games
• Graphics & Design
• Shopping
• Social Networking
• Lifestyle
• Sports
• Kids
• Travel
• Magazines & Newspapers
• Utilities
• Weather

Primary categories must match the primary purpose and function of your app. Choosing a category that doesn’t fit your app’s functionality is against Apple’s guidelines and grounds for removal. 

You need to prepare an app icon and provide a launch screen as well. The launch screen is the UI that appears when your app launches and quickly disappears when the first screen loads. The purpose of a launch screen is to enhance the UX by offering some visuals while the app is loading. 

Review all of Apple’s official guidelines to prepare your app for distribution. 

Step 3 — Create a Listing via App Store Connect

The App Store Connect is where members of the Apple Developer Program can upload apps, submit apps, and manage apps post-launch. It comes with everything from sales reports to analytics, test resources, and more. 

Here’s a quick overview of how to create a listing for App Store Connect:

• Log into your account
• Select the “+” button from the “My Apps” menu
• Add the platform (iOS), primary language, bundle ID, and SKU
• Add the app name and category
• Provide a URL to your app’s privacy policy
• Choose your app’s pricing

You’ll also have the option to decide how your app is released after the review information is approved. 

You can manually sign back into App Store Connect and release it when you’re ready, or set it to be published on a certain date (assuming it passes certification). Apple gives you the option to select the app to be released immediately following its approval as well. 

Note: These same steps work whether you have an App Store Connect Organization account or Individual account.

Step 4 — Capture App Store Screenshots

Now it’s time to prepare your screenshots for the App Store. There are two basic approaches here that you can follow. You can either use raw screenshots from your app or use a mockup template to showcase your app.

These screenshots are the perfect way to help showcase to the world what your app does and how it works when they find you in the App Store. 

Here’s an example of how Delta Airlines uses app screenshots to showcase its top features:

Apple does have a lot of different screenshot specifications for app previews that you must take into consideration. That’s because they have so many different devices on the market.

iPhones range from 4.7-inch screens to 6.5 inches. iPads range all the way up to 12.9 inches.

You can view all of Apple’s screenshot specifications here. I also recommend reviewing this API collection resource for app screenshots for more technical requirements.

Step 5 — Upload the App Using Xcode

Now it’s time to actually upload your app from Xcode. Do not proceed with this step until you’re confident that the app is free of bugs and it runs as intended. If the app doesn’t function, it won’t get approved for the App Store. 

For new apps, the version should be set to 1.0.0. 

Xcode 11 makes the publishing process really easy. In the past, lots of extra steps were required. But not most of the work now gets handled in a couple of clicks. 

Start by creating a full app archive. Go to your list of simulators in Xcode and select “Generic iOS Device” from the menu. 

Then select “Product” and “Archive.” This will prompt Xcode to bundle your app. Depending on the size, this could take quite a bit of time. 

Once this process is complete, just go to the “Archives” tab, and click “Distribute App” on the right side of your screen. Then select “iOS App Store” when it asks for your method of distribution.

Xcode will go through a few steps to ensure you’re not trying to upload a broken app. If something is missing or there’s a problem, Xcode will likely stop the upload and ask you to add missing assets. 

You should see some type of confirmation on the screen when the upload is successful. 

Step 6 — Submit the App for Review

By now, the archive from Xcode has been sent to App Store Connect. But you still might have to wait until App Store Connect actually processes the upload. So don’t freak out if it’s not showing up in your account right away. 

You should get an email when the archive is officially processed and ready for you. This can save you some time so you don’t have to keep manually checking.

Once it’s available, just select the archive and click the “Submit for Review” button at the top right of the page.

According to Apple, 50% of mobile apps get reviewed within 24 hours and 90% are reviewed in 48 hours. So assuming your submission is complete, there’s a good chance you’ll have an answer within two days.

The app’s status will get updated upon review, and you’ll receive a notification with the status change. 

Conclusion

Publishing an iOS app and going through the Apple review process might seem a bit intimidating, especially if you’ve never done this before. But if you create an app with BuildFire, we’ll handle the publishing process on your behalf.  This is the easiest way to publish apps.

You’ll still need to create your own Google and Apple Developer accounts, but our team will handle the majority of the heavy lifting. So you won’t have to worry about most of the steps in this guide.

If you’re still in the planning stages of your app project, request a consultation to see if BuildFire is the right partner to achieve your goals. 

The post How to Publish an App to the App Store appeared first on Buildfire.

As app development experts, we recognize the significance of beta testing in delivering top-notch mobile apps—which is why we’ve created this comprehensive guide. In this post, we’ll explore the concept of beta testing, its importance in mobile app development, and best practices to help you get the most out of your beta testing process.

What is Beta Testing?

Beta testing is the second phase of software testing, following alpha testing, in which a limited group of end-users tests a nearly-complete version of the software or mobile app. 

The primary goal of beta testing is to identify any remaining bugs, usability issues, or other problems that the development team may have missed during internal testing. By collecting feedback from real users, developers can gain valuable insights into how their product performs in a real-world environment and make any necessary improvements before the final release.

Alpha Testing vs. Beta Testing

Alpha testing is the first phase of software testing—conducted internally by the development team and a select group of employees within the organization. This testing phase aims to identify and fix any critical bugs or issues before the software reaches the beta testing stage. 

While alpha testing focuses on functionality and stability, beta testing emphasizes usability, compatibility, and overall user experience.

Here’s a more in-depth comparison of alpha testing vs. beta testing.

Importance of Beta Testing for Mobile App Development

Beta testing is particularly vital in mobile app development for several reasons:

• User Experience: Mobile apps need to be intuitive, responsive, and easy to use. Beta testing allows developers to collect feedback from actual users and make adjustments to ensure the app delivers an excellent user experience.

• Device Compatibility: With the plethora of devices, screen sizes, and operating systems, ensuring compatibility across all platforms is crucial. Beta testing helps developers identify and resolve any compatibility issues that may arise on different devices.

• App Store Rankings: Positive user reviews and high ratings are essential for a successful app launch, as they significantly impact app store rankings. By addressing any issues during beta testing, developers can increase the likelihood of receiving favorable reviews upon release.

The Beta Testing Process

The entire beta testing process can be broken down into six simple steps:

1. Planning and Preparation
2. Recruitment and Selection of Beta Testers
3. Conducting the Beta Test
4. Collecting and Analyzing Feedback
5. Iterating and Refining the Product
6. Preparing for Release

We’ll cover each of these in greater detail below. 

Step 1 – Planning and Preparation

Before initiating the beta testing process, it’s essential to define clear objectives for your tests. These objectives may include identifying bugs, validating features, and assessing overall user satisfaction. Having well-defined goals will help guide the testing process and ensure that the final product meets your desired standards.

You also need to identify the target audience of your app or software. That’s because your beta testers should represent this target audience—as they’ll provide the most relevant feedback during your tests. Consider factors like demographics, technical expertise, and device usage when selecting your testers.

Make sure to provide your testers with all of the necessary resources, including the test build, user manuals, and any supporting documentation. Ensure that your materials are clear and concise to enable testers to use the app effectively.

Step 2 – Recruitment and Selection of Beta Testers

When choosing beta testers, consider their technical expertise, familiarity with similar apps, and availability. It’s essential to have a diverse group of testers, as this will help identify a wide range of issues and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the app’s performance.

To recruit a diverse group of testers, you can reach out to your existing user base, use social media platforms, or collaborate with online testing communities. Be sure to clearly communicate your testing objectives and expectations to potential testers, as this will help you attract individuals who are genuinely interested in providing valuable feedback.

Step 3 – Conducting the Beta Test

Share the beta version of your app and any necessary supporting materials with your selected testers. Depending on the platform and the type of beta test (closed or open), you may need to use specific distribution methods—such as app store beta testing programs or third-party distribution tools.

Clearly communicate the testing process, objectives, and expectations to your testers. Provide them with step-by-step instructions for installing the app, reporting issues, and submitting feedback. This will ensure that testers can effectively participate in the testing process and contribute valuable insights.

You should also set up a dedicated channel for testers to submit feedback and communicate with your team. This could be an online forum, a bug-tracking system, or an email address. Ensure that your team members are available to respond to testers’ questions and concerns in a timely manner.

Step 4 – Collecting and Analyzing Feedback

As feedback comes in, organize and categorize it based on factors such as severity, frequency, and impact on the user experience. This will help you prioritize which issues to address first and allocate resources effectively.

Then you can analyze the collected feedback to identify any patterns or trends. 

For example, if multiple testers report similar issues or suggestions, these may indicate areas where the app needs improvement. By recognizing these patterns, you can make more informed decisions about which changes to implement.

The initial feedback collected in your beta tests will help set up your feedback loop for iterations and future testing.

Step 5 – Iterating and Refining the Product

Based on the feedback analysis, make the necessary changes to your app. This may involve fixing bugs, enhancing features, or making adjustments to the user interface. Ensure that your team is aligned on the changes and that they are implemented effectively.

Once changes have been made, conduct further testing to validate that the issues have been resolved and that the app’s performance has improved. Depending on the scope of the changes, you may choose to involve the same group of testers or recruit a new group for a fresh perspective.

Step 6 – Preparing for Release

Now you can finalize your documentation and other software resources. 

Update your user manuals, help guides, and other documents to reflect any changes made during the beta testing process. This helps ensure that users have access to accurate information upon the app’s release.

It’s also in your best interest to keep all stakeholders, including your team members, testers, and investors, informed about the app’s progress and the planned release date. This will help maintain engagement and support throughout the development process.

Types of Beta Testing

Generally speaking, there are two main types of beta testing—closed and open. 

To determine which type of beta testing is best suited for your mobile app, consider factors like your testing objectives, target audience, available resources, and desired level of control over the testing process. 

Some developers opt for a hybrid approach, starting with a closed beta test and then transitioning to an open beta test to capitalize on the benefits of both methods.

Closed Beta Testing

Closed beta testing is a private testing phase where a select group of users is invited to test the app. Access to the app is restricted, and testers may be required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to maintain confidentiality.

This method allows for more controlled testing conditions—enabling developers to receive targeted feedback from a specific group of users. Closed beta testing can lead to a more focused and efficient testing process. However, the limited number of testers can result in less diverse feedback and may not uncover all potential issues.

Open Beta Testing

Open beta testing, also known as public beta testing, involves opening the app to a larger audience—often without any restrictions or invitations. 

Users can voluntarily participate in testing, providing a wider range of feedback and helping to identify issues that might have been missed during closed beta testing.

Here’s an example of an open beta test from Google:

Open beta testing provides a larger pool of testers, increasing the likelihood of identifying a wide range of issues and gathering diverse feedback. This type of testing can also generate buzz and create a sense of community around the app before its official release. However, managing the feedback from a large number of testers can be challenging, and there is a risk of receiving low-quality or irrelevant feedback.

Beta Testing Challenges and Solutions

To ensure your tests run smoothly, it’s important to understand some common roadblocks and hurdles that often result in inaccurate or ineffective tests. First, we’ll identify those challenges and then give you some key tips for preventing and overcoming them. 

Common Challenges Faced During Beta Testing

These are the three areas where software teams tend to struggle the most when they’re running beta tests:

• Time Constraints: Limited time for testing can lead to rushed processes and insufficient feedback. Balancing the need for thorough testing with the desire to release the app quickly can be challenging.

• Limited Resources: With finite resources, developers must prioritize which issues to address and which features to test more extensively. This can lead to difficult decision-making and potential trade-offs.

• Managing Tester Expectations: Testers may have different levels of experience and expectations, making it challenging to ensure a consistent and productive testing process.

Solutions to Overcome Challenges

These simple yet highly effective solutions will make it easier for you to run successful beta tests:

• Efficient Test Management: Establish clear objectives, expectations, and guidelines to streamline the testing process. Utilize tools and strategies to prioritize issues and allocate resources effectively.

• Leveraging Tools and Automation: Use testing tools and automation to increase efficiency and minimize manual tasks, freeing up time and resources for other critical aspects of the development process.

• Establishing Clear Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with your testers to address any questions or concerns, and provide regular updates on the app’s progress. This will help manage expectations and ensure a smoother testing process.

How to Measure the Success of Beta Testing

Running the test is just one aspect of beta testing. You also need to understand what you should be looking for in the tests to see if things were done properly or if you need to go through another round of testing. 

The following KPIs are a good indication of whether or not your test was successful:

• Bug Discovery Rate: Track the number and severity of bugs identified during testing. A lower bug discovery rate may indicate a more stable and well-developed app.

• User Engagement: Monitor user engagement metrics such as session length, frequency of use, and feature adoption. High engagement levels can signify a positive user experience.

• Feedback Quality and Quantity: Assess the quality and quantity of feedback received from testers. Valuable and actionable feedback can help drive meaningful improvements to your app.

Then you can analyze the collected KPIs and other data points to make informed decisions about the app’s readiness for release and any necessary adjustments. 

Be prepared to iterate on your product based on the insights gained during the beta testing process. Keep in mind that achieving success in beta testing is not about attaining perfection but rather about identifying and addressing the most critical issues and improving the overall user experience.

Leveraging Beta Testing Feedback for Future Development

Software testing is an ongoing process. So rather than looking at each test in isolation, you should also take steps to improve your testing and development process as a whole. 

Learn from Feedback

Take the time to thoroughly review and understand the feedback received from your testers. This feedback can provide valuable insights into potential improvements, feature requests, and areas of user dissatisfaction. Use this information to prioritize future development efforts and create a roadmap for ongoing enhancements.

Maintain Relationships with Testers

Your beta testers can be a valuable resource even after the testing phase has concluded. Keep the lines of communication open and maintain relationships with your most engaged and helpful testers. They can provide ongoing feedback, help generate buzz for your app, and even become early adopters or advocates for your product.

Continue to Improve and Iterate

Remember that the development process doesn’t end with the release of your app. Continually refine and iterate on your product based on user feedback, analytics, and market trends. This will help you stay competitive and ensure that your app remains relevant and appealing to users.

Final Thoughts

Beta testing is a critical component of the mobile app development process, providing valuable insights into your app’s performance and user experience. By carefully planning and executing the beta testing process, you can identify and address potential issues, validate features, and ultimately deliver a high-quality app that meets the needs of your target audience.

We hope this ultimate guide to beta testing has provided you with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively implement beta testing in your development process. 

The post What is Beta Testing? (Ultimate Guide) appeared first on Buildfire.

As users increasingly turn to mobile apps for everything from banking to socializing, the need for thorough testing is more important than ever before. 

This in-depth guide will cover the key considerations, tips, and best practices for successful mobile app testing to help you deliver an app that meets the needs and expectations of your users. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, this post will provide valuable insights to help you achieve success in testing mobile apps.

Mobile App Testing: Key Considerations

When it comes to testing mobile apps, there are a number of key considerations that developers and testers need to keep in mind. From understanding the importance of mobile app testing to choosing the right testing tools and frameworks, it’s essential to take a comprehensive approach to mobile app testing.

Understanding the Importance of Testing Mobile Apps

Mobile app testing is critical for ensuring that your app functions as intended on a range of devices and operating systems. Testing can help to identify bugs, performance issues, and other potential problems before they impact the app’s usability.

In addition to ensuring that your app is free from bugs and glitches, testing can also help to improve the overall user experience. By conducting usability testing and gathering feedback from real users, you can identify areas for improvement and make changes to your app accordingly.

The Role of Mobile Testing Tools and Frameworks

There are a number of mobile testing tools and frameworks available that can help to streamline the testing process and ensure that your app functions correctly across a range of devices and operating systems. Some popular mobile testing tools include Testflight, Appium, Selenium, and TestComplete.

Mobile testing frameworks, such as the XCTest framework for iOS app testing and the Espresso framework for Android, can also be helpful in automating the testing process and identifying issues more quickly. However, it’s important to choose the right tools and frameworks for your specific needs, as not all tools are created equal.

For example, let’s say you specifically want to run beta testing for your iOS app. In this scenario, testing your app with Testflight would be a good option to consider. 

However, if you wanted to run regression testing or check for bugs on an Android app, you’d need to use a completely different tool. 

Common Challenges Associated with Testing Mobile Apps

Testing mobile apps can be challenging—particularly given the wide range of devices and platforms that apps need to be compatible with. Some of the most common challenges associated with mobile app testing include:

• Device Fragmentation: With so many different devices and operating systems on the market, it can be difficult to ensure that your app functions correctly on all of them.
• Testing Environment setup: Setting up a testing environment that accurately reflects real-world usage scenarios can be challenging.
• Network Conditions: Mobile apps need to be able to function well even in areas with poor network connectivity, which can be difficult to test for.

Recognizing these challenges helps developers understand that even a passing test doesn’t always mean that the app is perfect. There will always be some gaps in the testing process that need to be accounted for.

Types of App Testing: Manual vs. Automated Testing

There are two main types of mobile app testing—manual and automated testing. 

Manual testing involves testing the app manually, typically using a physical device or emulator, to identify bugs and other issues. Conversely, automated testing for mobile apps uses software and tools to run tests and identify issues automatically.

Both manual and automated testing have benefits and drawbacks. Manual testing can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it allows testers to identify issues that may be difficult to catch with automated testing. While automated testing can be faster and more efficient, it may not catch every issue.

Tips for Effective Mobile App Testing

Effective mobile app testing requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the various factors that can impact the user experience. In this section, we’ll discuss some tips for testing your mobile app to ensure that it functions correctly and meets the needs of your users.

Test Your App on Real Devices

One of the most important tips for effective mobile app testing is to test your app on real devices. While emulators and simulators can be useful tools, they don’t always accurately reflect real-world usage scenarios. By testing your app on a range of real devices, you can identify issues that may not be apparent when testing on emulators or simulators.

Here’s a good comparison that highlights the differences between testing on a real device compared to virtual devices.

When you’re going through this process, it’s important to account for factors like screen size, network connectivity, and operating system version. For example, if your app is designed for both iOS and Android, you’ll need to test it on both types of devices to ensure that it functions correctly on both platforms.

Ensure Your App is Compatible with Multiple Operating Systems and Devices

Ensuring that your app is compatible with multiple operating systems and devices is crucial for reaching the widest possible audience. However, this can be a challenging task when you consider the wide range of devices and operating systems on the market.

To ensure compatibility, it’s important to conduct thorough testing across a range of devices and operating systems. This can help to identify issues and ensure that your app functions correctly on all technology that could be in the hands of your end-users.

Conduct Usability Testing

Usability testing helps gather feedback from real users to identify areas for improvement in your app’s user interface and user experience.

Usability testing can come in many forms—from in-person testing with real users to remote testing with online tools. It’s important to conduct usability testing throughout the development process to ensure that your app meets the needs and expectations of your users.

Some tips for conducting effective usability testing include:

• Choose a diverse group of test participants that accurately reflects your target audience
• Provide clear instructions and tasks for test participants to complete
• Observe test participants closely to identify areas of confusion or frustration

These tips help ensure you get actionable data from your tests, instead of information that you don’t know what to do with. 

Prioritize Security Tests

With the increasing prevalence of cyber attacks and data breaches, security testing is more important than ever before. Prioritizing security testing can help to identify vulnerabilities in your app and ensure that sensitive user data is protected.

Penetration testing is one of the best ways to identify potential vulnerabilities in your app.

You should also take steps in your testing process to ensure your app is compliant with all relevant data privacy regulations. This is really important if your app is available in multiple countries and regions where data privacy laws vary. 

Someone on your team should also stay up-to-date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. Your app might pass security tests today, but if a new form of malicious software is released in a few months, you may need to continue hardening the app to prevent all new threats. 

Conduct Regression Testing

Regression testing involves testing your app after making changes or updates to ensure that existing functionality has not been affected. This can be particularly important when making changes to critical functionality, such as payment processing or user authentication.

Beyond these steps, it’s also helpful to:

• Create comprehensive test cases that cover all critical functionality
• Automate regression testing where possible to save time and improve accuracy
• Conduct regression testing regularly to ensure that new changes have not introduced unexpected issues

When it comes to regression tests, these tips can help you succeed.

Measure Performance and Stability

Measuring the performance and stability of your app is critical for ensuring that it functions correctly and meets the needs of your users. By monitoring key metrics such as load times and crash rates, you can identify performance issues and make improvements to your app accordingly.

Start by setting clear performance benchmarks and goals for your app. From there, you can use analytics tools to monitor KPIs and identify performance issues against your benchmarks.You should also conduct load testing to determine how your app performs under heavy usage. 

We have a complete guide on mobile app KPIs and metrics that you can use as a reference to help with your tests. 

Best Practices for Successful Mobile App Testing

Mobile app testing requires a strategic approach and a range of tools and techniques. Follow the best practices below to ensure your mobile app tests achieve your goals and deliver a high-quality app to your users.

Collaboration between Developers and Testers

Collaboration between developers and testers is crucial for successful mobile app testing. By working together closely, developers and testers can ensure that the app functions correctly and meets the needs of the end user.

One effective approach is to involve testers early in the development process. This can help to identify potential issues before they become more difficult and costly to fix. It’s also important to establish clear communication channels between developers and testers to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Early Testing in the Development Cycle

Piggybacking off the last point, testing early and often helps eliminate issues before they biome a bigger problem. The longer you wait, the more difficult and costly it becomes to solve problems.  

For example, if you wait to test your app a week before it launches, only to discover problems that will take a month to fix, you’re now forced to push back your launch date. But if you begin running regular tests on a bi-weekly or monthly basis, most bugs can be fixed within a day or two.

Test-Driven Development

Test-driven development (TDD) is an approach to software development that involves writing tests for each piece of functionality before writing the code. This approach can help to ensure that the code is fully tested and that any issues are caught early in the development process.

TDD can be particularly effective for mobile app testing, as it helps to ensure that each piece of functionality is fully tested before it is integrated into the app. This can help to reduce the risk of issues and ensure that the app functions correctly across a range of devices and platforms.

Continuous Integration and Delivery

Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) in software development automates the testing and deployment process. This can help to ensure that changes are tested thoroughly and delivered to users quickly and efficiently.

CI/CD works really well for testing mobile apps—as it allows for continuous testing and integration throughout the development process. Not only does it find problems early, but it helps get your app in the hands of users as quickly as possible. 

Building an Effective Mobile App Testing Team

It’s important to assemble a team of testers who possess the right skills and experience to ensure that your app functions correctly and meets the needs of your users.

To do this correctly, the first thing you need to do is identify the specific skills and experience that users need for your app. For example, let’s say you’re creating a project management app. You’d want your testers to be familiar with project management concepts and, ideally, have some experience as a project manager. 

Once you’ve identified the skills required, it’s time to recruit testers who have that experience. You can also provide ongoing training and support to your testers so they’re always up to date with the latest tools and techniques related to your app’s goal and primary purpose. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid During Mobile Testing

While effective mobile app testing is essential for success, there are a number of common pitfalls that developers and testers need to avoid. From neglecting usability and accessibility testing to relying too much on automated testing, these pitfalls can impact the user experience and lead to issues down the line.

• Ignoring Testing Altogether — Some developers may believe that their app is functioning correctly without testing, but this approach can lead to serious issues down the line. Without proper testing, it’s difficult to identify bugs, performance issues, and other potential problems that can impact the user experience.

• Relying Too Much on Automated Testing — While automated testing can be a powerful tool for mobile app testing, it’s important to balance it with manual testing. Relying too much on automated testing can lead to missed issues and potential problems, particularly in areas such as usability and accessibility testing.

• Failing to Test on a Range of Devices and Platforms — With so many different devices and operating systems on the market, it’s essential to test your app on a range of devices to ensure that it functions correctly across all of them.

• Neglecting Usability and Accessibility Testing — Usability and accessibility testing are critical components of effective mobile app testing. Neglecting these areas can lead to issues with user satisfaction and even legal problems. It’s important to ensure that your app is usable and accessible for all users, regardless of their abilities.

For example, consider the case of an ecommerce app that neglects usability testing. If the app is difficult to use or navigate, users may become frustrated and switch to a competitor’s app instead. 

Ultimately, the key to avoiding these common pitfalls is to take a comprehensive approach to mobile app testing. By balancing manual and automated testing, testing on a range of devices and platforms, and prioritizing usability and accessibility testing, you can ensure that your app functions correctly and meets the needs of your users.

Final Thoughts on Testing Mobile Apps

At the end of the day, mobile app testing is an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and effort. By staying up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques, prioritizing user feedback and testing, and working collaboratively with your team, you can deliver a mobile app that provides a great user experience and delivers real value to your users.

Take a comprehensive approach that includes manual and automated testing. Always test your app on a range of devices and platforms. Prioritize usability and accessibility testing as well, and you can increase your chances of delivering a high-quality app that stands out from the competition.

The post Testing Mobile Apps – Pro Tips & Best Practices For Success (2025) appeared first on Buildfire.