In today’s world of digitalization, mobile apps play an integral role – streamlining business operations, garnering maximum customer engagement, and increasing revenues. For businesses seeking options to leverage IOS apps, a crucial question arises – should they choose an off-the-shelf iOS solution or go for custom ios app development?
While off-the-shelf solutions are cost-effect and quicker options, partnering with an iOS app development company to build an app that aligns with your business needs and long-term scalability seems a better one. If you’re confused between the two, this article offers you a fair exploration of market trends, cost considerations, feature comparisons and related factors so that you can take an effective yet informed decision.
Let’s dive in to see where it sets!
Market Size and Trends
The global mobile app industry has grown majorly with businesses from varying industries adapting apps for their core strategies. The global market for mobile apps is projected to reach an enormous $613 billion by the end of 2025 – driven by the rapid increase in the use of smartphones and mobile-first marketing strategies. Moreover, IOS is dominating around 55% of the overall US mobile operating system market – making it the top preference for businesses aiming to target premium, high-value customers.
With the rising demand from customers, businesses are heavily investing into mobile app development so as to enhance brand loyalty and get their operations streamlined. IOS mobile apps are gaining increased traction – offering seamless integration and personalized experiences with existing business ecosystems. Contrarily, off-the-shelf ios solutions are serving the needs of small and medium-scale businesses within minimal costs and faster deployments.
Features: Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Apps
Let’s take a look at the thorough comparison between the features of a custom ios app and an off-the-shelf solution.
Personalized Functionality –
Custom iOS apps are built with the core objective of serving your unique business needs. Whether you need to integrate advanced analytics, workflow automation or AI-drive recommendations – hiring expert mobile app developers in Houston who can deliver custom solutions gives you a total control of the features.
Custom apps are a preference for an estimated 85% of businesses operating across the globe as they claim to have enhanced customer retention by offering personalized digital experiences. For example, Starbucks’ mobile app features a highly customized loyalty program, seamless payment integrations, and AI-driven recommendations, increasing customer retention.
On the contrary, off-the-shelf apps have predefined features that can only cater to a wider audience. Despite the fact they can offer valuable tools and functionalities, businesses often find them limited in terms of serving their specific needs – leading towards workarounds and inefficiencies.
Scalability –
Business scale over time and so, it is an integral factor when it comes to evaluating the choices. Custom apps are built with the very intention of growth – scalable enough to let you integrate new features, enhance user experiences and optimize performance over time. This helps ensure businesses never outgrow their software.
Off-the-shelf solutions, however, might come with limited scalability. While some solutions do offer modular updates, most businesses report they have to transition to an entirely new system each time they scale. This transition not only costs heavy recurring amounts but also impacts the workflows and operational efficiency of a business.
Security –
Security has become a growing concern in recent times. With an estimated 43% cyberattacks attacking small-scale businesses, companies are looking for iOS app solutions that are secure more than anything else. Custom ios development allows you to integrate as many advanced security protocols as you desire. From biometric authentication and end-to-end encryption to custom data protection mechanisms – you can get whatever you desire inculcated into your custom ios apps to ensure maximum security.
On the other hand, off-the-shelf apps are highly vulnerable to security threats because of their large-scale usage. Given that these solutions offer services to a very large audience, they are usually the prime targets for cybercriminals. In addition to that, these off-the-shelf solutions allow businesses to have a very limited control over security updates and compliance.
IOS App Development Cost Comparison
The cost of app development is often a crucial concern for businesses. Here’s a precise comparison between how much does the custom ios development and off-the-shelf solutions cost:
- Custom Apps – though they require a heavy initial investment because of the in-depth coding, design, and testing required, they offer businesses a personalized solution with long-term benefits. The cost usually ranges from $50,000 to $500,000.
- Off-the-Shelf Apps – they usually have a lower upfront costs, ranging from $10 to $500 per month subscription basis. However, businesses might have to pay hefty hidden charges in the name of additional features, licensing, and integrations – accumulating into an even higher figure than the cost of custom app development.
The decision, however, depends on your exact needs and financial standings as a business. It is important to set long-term objectives and conduct a thorough financial analysis to come to a final decision.
Types of IOS Apps – Precise Offerings
Custom IOS Apps –
Custom ios apps are built from scratch – catering to the very specific and unique business needs. Their precise offerings include –
- Total flexibility in the user-experience and functionality you want to incorporate.
- Seamless integration with existing systems such as, CRM, ERP, and payment gateways.
- You do not have to pay the long-term, recurring fees and save a lot of money.
- You can offer a unique engagement experience to your customers, earning an edge over competitors.
Off-the-Shelf Apps –
These are pre-built solutions, ready for instant usage and are often sold on subscription basis. Their precise offerings include –
- They require minimal setup and can be deployed quickly.
- Require very low initial costs and so are highly accessible for small businesses and startups.
- They come along with standard updates and support so a lot of your maintenance time is saved.
Choosing the Right Solution: Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf IOS Apps
Now that you’ve been through the thorough comparison between custom and off-the-shelf ios apps, have you yet come to a conclusion? Can you choose between the two or there still seems to be some confusion. There won’t be anymore because we’ve put together the list of factors you must consider when choosing between the two in order to make a well-informed yet effective decision.
Business Goals – know why you need an ios application for your business. If your business objectives revolve around customer personalization, brand differentiation, and seamless integration – investing into a custom solution would be ideal for you. However, if you require quick deployment with basic functionalities, looking for off-the-shelf solutions that cater to your needs can be the go-to move.
Budget – though custom apps offer long-term value, they require a hefty investment upfront. Therefore, you can opt for one only if your business has a flexible development budget and your vision is long-term. In case you’re tight on budget, off-the-shelf solutions that offer your desired features and functionality could be an effective alternative.
Timeline – time is an important factor in your decision. If your business requires quick assistance of an ios app, off-the-shelf solutions can be the best choice – offering instant access with limited configuration required. However, if you’ve time, custom ios app development with complex, advanced features takes around 3-12 months on an average.
Scalability – businesses with the vision to scale must consider custom app development for it allows scaling as much as you want with seamless feature integrations and the flexibility to enhance and optimize user experiences. Contrarily, off-the-shelf solutions offer limited scalability with very few modular updates and that too at hefty recurring costs.
Why Custom Mobile App Development is a Better Investment
While off-the-shelf ios solutions appear as a tempting option given their cost-effectiveness and convenience, investing in custom ios app development can bring you some long-term value and benefits.
- Competitive Differentiation – offers tailored features in alignment with your specific business needs.
- Enhanced Security – custom protocols for security to ensure minimal vulnerability.
- Seamless Integration – seamless connectivity with third-party platforms and internal systems.
- Scalability – built to scale as the business grows, eliminating any hassles related to migration.
Conclusion
Choosing between a custom ios app and off-the-shelf solutions is undoubtedly challenging. It depends on multiple factors including, scalability, budget, business goals, and security requirements, etc. While off-the-shelf solutions offer quick deployment and affordability, custom ios applications can provide businesses with unmatched security, flexibility, and value.
If you’re also aiming to build a custom app solution that can help your business navigate the complexities and inefficiencies, it’s high time to invest with the right service providers and build a cutting-edge application hassle-free.
