Having a mobile app is crucial for all startups and SMEs. It helps to make a market presence, beat the competition, reach a vast audience, foster communication, and drive higher sales. It provides all the opportunities and facilities that make a startup establish itself in the market.
Despite these valuable factors, many startups deter investing in mobile application development. And the prime reason behind is the confusion of which mobile platform is right for their app needs – Android or iOS.
Considering the impact this confusion leaves on the startups’ future, here we’ll look into different factors that will make the choice easier for you.
So, here we begin.
- Target Audience
The answer to where your target audience lives, what age group they fall in, what occupation they have, and what they expect brings a major impact on the app platform you choose. It may be an android app or an IOS app, let your audience decide it.
For instance, Android is the right application development platform to work with, if your audience:-
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- Belongs to both developed and developing nations.
- Are from all age groups.
- Usually, have lower economic status.
- Expect more free services.
Whereas, investing in iOS application development is a profitable decision when your target user base:-
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- Belongs majorly to developed nations.
- Are millennials or between the age of 25 to 40.
- Usually, are business persons or those with high economic status.
- Have a lower interest in free services.
- Platform Fragmentation
Android platform is highly fragmented. It runs on a myriad of devices and in different Android versions, implying designing an application for all would be a tough task. This is because you will have to keep the device specifications and features of a wider group into consideration. But, this is not so in the case of iOS. Powered by Apple, the iOS platform runs on a specific number of devices having almost the same device specifications and features, and in limited iOS versions. This makes it easier to pick the device and platform versions for which you want your app to be ready for.
- User Experience
While both Android and iOS give an unbeatable user experience, both have their own definition of user experience. Android focuses on introducing customizable options and make customers wow with new opportunities, iOS goes with a sophisticated and simple look and high-end technology options.
So, considering what type of user experience you want to deliver is also helpful in finding the right match.
- App Revenue Model
Another factor that influences your answer to what app development platform is apt for your startup needs is app revenue model. While Android entice with an opportunity to introduce ads into your application module and get profits with each click, iOS serves with better in-app revenue model facilities.
- Market Reach Timeline
The time by which you want to enter the market also reflects an impression on your app platform choice. On one side, Android development is time-consuming due to platform fragmentation but facilitate faster app launch process, iOS development is time-saving but the app submission process is lengthy. So, discussing with a mobile expert is profitable to figure out the right platform.
- App Quality
When it comes to app quality, iPhone wins over Android. An iPhone app is designed considering Apple’s fixed app development and submission guidelines, which ensures higher quality standards. Whereas, Google’s Android offers the opportunity to customize the application in multiple ways – the freedom that comes with somewhat compromise on the quality factor.
Besides, the quality assurance process in both the platforms differ based upon the tools and standards involved.
- Security
The extent of security you wish to introduce in your startup application also influence the decision. If you consider Android, the security will be slightly lower – considering the growing data breach cases in Play Store. Whereas, iOS will provide you with better security measures but on a higher investment in terms of cost, time and efforts. So, think upon both the options.
- Release Cycle
Last but not least, your approach to app maintenance and update also brings an impact on the decision of selecting the best platform for your app. If you are developing an iOS mobile app, rolling out an app update will be easier with Apple controlling the devices on which iOS runs. Whereas, launching an app update will be a tedious task in the case of Android app development – with different companies managing the devices on which Android runs.
When talking about choosing the right operating system for your startup, the aforementioned factors will help you in getting an insight. But, these factors will just give you a hint of what’s right for your business. There are a lot more things you need to consider while designing a mobile application, for which discussing your business app needs with a reputed mobile application development company is a must.
So, look forward to hiring a trusted app partner and creating an application that helps to fulfil the short-term and long-term goal of your startup.
