Mobile application development has been the talk of the town for many years now. And there’s no sign of slowing down in forthcoming years.
But the question here is, indeed, the important one – what keeps mobile application development in everyone’s mind?
Well, mobile application development trends are certainly a non-negligible and top influencing factor; But that’s not the most significant factor that makes mobile application development the “Hot Topic”.
According to a study, a business can be improved by 3X when they develop a mobile application.
This significant reason created a boom in the mobile application development market and motivated more businesses to embrace the mobile application.
In short, businesses can generate more profit when they develop a mobile app.
What is Mobile Application Development?
In simple words, Mobile application development is a process of building software that can be used on mobile devices.
Mobile application development is a broad term that includes multiple phases and stages including planning, design, coding, testing, and deployment.
When all these processes are carried out perfectly a well-performing and successful mobile app is built.
But, here you might be dealing with a question.
Why mobile apps were built in the first place?
The main reason why the mobile app was built was to get the most mileage out of the unique features of a specific device.
Smartphones were rolling out with new and modern features every day.
That motivated mobile app developers to make software that runs solely on mobile devices and make full use of the device features.
Read Our Comprehensive blog: What Is Meant By Mobile App Development?
Mobile Application Development History
- The “snake game” was considered the first official mobile app.
- Small arcade games, ringtone editors, calculators, and calendars are some kinds of mobile apps.
- Before the launch of different app stores, apps were built-in mobile apps.
- Apple app store was launched on July 10, 2008, and the Google play store was officially inaugurated on March 6th, 2012.
- Steve job is the first person who visualizes the concept of app stores. The idea was that the user can comfortably download the app from a platform.
- The first app store was launched with 500 different apps, meaning there is no “true” or “first” app.
7 Examples of Mobile Application Development
Mobile apps have become an important part of our lives and we can’t surely live without them.
Yes, that’s a big statement!
Mobile users are now spending 4-5 hours per day using apps. That’s almost 20%-25% of the total day.
With ever-increasing demand, mobile apps are not divided into different categories.
Currently, there are 32 app categories in the Google Play Store and 24 in the Apple App Store.
That means whenever you develop a mobile that will fit into a certain app category.
Below we’ve mentioned 7 top app categories that are more popular than others.
Social Media Apps
- Tiktok
- Snapchat
Gaming Apps
- Candy crush
- Subway surfer
- Roblox
- Angry Birds
- Ludo King
Healthcare Mobile Apps
- HealthTap
- Generis
- WebMD
- PatientKeeper
- MDacne
Enterprise Mobile Apps
- Slack
- Trello
- Asana
- ClickMeeting
- BambooHR
Food Delivery Apps
- Zomato
- Uber Eats
- Doordash
- GrubHub
- Postmates
Utility Mobile Apps
- Google maps
- Smart Tools
- Google Lens
- Key Ring
- App Lock
News/Information Outlets Mobile Apps
- BBC News
- Google News
- CNN News
- Reuters
Challenges of Mobile Application Development?
It doesn’t really matter how professional or skillful a mobile app developer you hire, professional mobile app development can never be done without complications.
Challenges and issues are an inescapable part of mobile application development – they will occur how hard you try to avoid them.
But the good thing is they can be solved through the expertise and experience of the mobile application development company.
Below you can go through 4 challenges of mobile application development that are most common in 2025.
Stand Out in Different App Stores
There are 1.96 million apps available for download in the Apple App Store and 2.7 million in the Google Play Store. The biggest problem for app developers is to get more downloads which can only be possible when they outperform their competitors in ranking.
That being the case, developers do not just have to concentrate on making the app engaging but also focus on creating rock-solid marketing and advertising strategies to get considerable downloads.
Full Proof and Reliable Security
With ever-increasing cyber attacks and hacks, it has become the biggest challenge for mobile app developers to develop counter strategies.
Implementing modern-day tools and technologies is one of the best ways to ensure foolproof and impregnable security.
Work Done Under an Allocated Budget
Mobile app development isn’t a free practice. But it doesn’t mean that you can invest as much money as you want.
A client has a budget and it’s the responsibility of an app developer to perform the task under the budget,
If the app developer thinks that the budget is short and the task can’t be done under the allocated budget. Then tell the client to increase the funding.
Customer Reviews & Experience
Whether you’re making a mobile app for your customer or an enterprise app for your employees to boost up daily operations.
It’s indispensable that you include them during the development stage so they can provide you with feedback and reviews that can assist you to make an app that is user-oriented.
Mobile Application Development Trends
With each passing year, we see tons of new trends and technologies being rolled out. And with that, lots of technologies and trends wind up.
There might be a trend that app developers used to follow, but, now it’s considered outdated.
Below you can check out mobile application development trends for 2025; some might be here for a long time.
1). Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality
The cutting-edge technology of augmented reality & virtual reality isn’t new. But the ever-increasing demand from the customer side has pushed mobile developers to integrate this technology more often.
2). IoT and Cloud
Regardless of the industry type mobile app has become an indispensable and must-have part to leverage and enhance the service.
3). AI and Machine Learning
As the world of mobile app development continues to thrive and prosper, customers are hoping for a more personalized experience. With the assistance of machine learning, app developers can use real-time data and analytics effectively and offer a personalized experience to the user
4). Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology will undoubtedly be the most sought-after mobile app development trend in 2025. This cutting-edge innovation technology will be used for several purposes including enhanced security, data privacy, and improved user experience.
5). 5G Technology
The modified and upgraded version of 4G will ensure a faster, better, and more reliable experience.
Mobile Application Development Ideas
99.9% of the successful mobile apps didn’t come out of anywhere. There were years of proper planning and team meetings that help them to come up with powerful app ideas.
Although, millions of apps are available to download. But, the apps that grab attention and receive customer appreciation somehow solve their problems.
Are you facing issues in coming up with a powerful app idea that can be successful in the future?
Below you can undergo 15 sensational app ideas that can be completely new to you and have the potential to thrive in the future.
- Interior Design App
- Parking App
- Travel Planner App
- Phone Silencer App
- Finance And Bill Management App
- food planner app
- Language learning app
- Voice translation app
- Virtual Personal Assistant App
- Criminal Alert App
- Religious App
- Virtual Party Planning App
- Ride Sharing App
- DIY Encouragement App
- Supermarket Checkout App
What is a Mobile Application Development Platform?
Generally, there are two mobile application development platforms.
- Native mobile app development tools
- Cross-platform mobile app development tools
Native Mobile App Development Tools
As the name suggests, native mobile app development tools help developers who are developing mobile apps for a specific platform like Android or iOS.
These tools assist developers to make apps that are not just platform-oriented but also take full benefit of the platform features.
The two most prevalent native mobile app development platforms are Android and iOS.
Native Mobile Application Development Languages, Tools, and Technologies
When building native mobile apps, there are commonly two operating systems that 99% of mobile app developers target: iOS and Android.
Below, we’ve listed the mobile application programming languages, tools, and technologies needed for mobile app development on Android and iOS.
Mobile App Development Tools For Android
Android Studio (Tool)
The widely used and most popular tool among Android app developers is Android Studio. There would barely be any Android developer who hasn’t used this tool.
Android Studio is built and supported by Google which is also the official owner of the Android operating system.
Features of Android Studio
- Code and iterate faster than ever
- Visual Layout Editor
- Help to Build Up an App for All Devices
- Fast Emulator
Java and Kotlin (Language)
Android app development uses Java and Kotlin as the programming language.
5 Tools You Need to Build an Android Mobile App
- Android Debug Bridge (ADB)
- AIDE
- Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager
- Genymotion
- Visual Studio with Xamarin
Mobile App Development Tools For iOS
Xcode
The first and most important tool you need to build a native iOS app is Xcode. It’s the official and Apple-backed Integrated Development Environment. This tool has everything you need to build an iOS mobile app.
Features of Xcode
- Code Editor
- visual layout editor
- XCTest Framework
- Continuous Integration
- OpenGL Frame Capture
Swift and Objective-C (Programming language)
If you want to build an iOS mobile app The programming language you need to learn are Swift and Objective-C. Swift is a better programming language than Objective-C as it’s a modern-day language and equipped with better options.
5 Tools You Need to Build an iOS Mobile App
- AppCode
- CodeRunner
- Fabric
- Raygun
- CocoaPods
Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
A native mobile app is without a doubt a leading mobile application development platform if your primary objective is to offer a top-notch experience to your customer.
But with all the good points it has one downside which is the extravagant cost.
If you have decided to make native apps for both iOS and Android, the developer has to code both operating system separately which will double the effort and time.
Ultimately developer will charge you more.
To save cost and time you can make mobile apps for multiple platforms like Android and ios through a single code base.
Simply put, a developer will write the code one time only and deploy it on multiple mobile operating systems, rather than having to create separate codebases for each platform.
Cross-platform mobile app development can lower the mobile application development cost by 30%.
Read More: Benefits of Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
5 Cross-platform Mobile Application Development Platform
Flutter
If you want to build native-like apps for both iOS and Android by using a single code base you can do it with Flutter.
Flutter is a Google-supported open-source framework that increases its credibility and makes it way more popular than any other option on the list.
Some of the noteworthy features of the flutter are:
- Frequent mobile app development
- Strong widget support
- Allows you to develop an app that looks like a native app
- testing and integrating APIs
- Rich motion APIs
React Native
Another cross-platform mobile app framework that is supported by one of the big names in the tech industry, is Facebook.
This alone reason was enough to motivate app developers to use it for cross-platform mobile app development.
Some of the well-known and popular brands have used react native to build apps like Tesla, Airbnb, Skype, and Amazon Prime.
Some of the prominent features of React Native are.
- Low code app development framework
- Build apps for multiple platforms by using a single code base
- Supported by Facebook
- Compatible third-party plugins
- Reusable elements
Ionic
The third cross-platform framework to build cross-platform apps is Ionic. This framework not just helps to build native-like apps but also hybrid and progressive web apps.
Moreover, Ionic is built with Apache Cordova (PhoneGap) and Angular, enabling developers to build apps like never before.
Some of the fascinating features of Ionic are.
- Helps to build not just cross-platform apps but also progressive and hybrid apps
- Rapid development
- Large developer community
- Simple UI components
Xamarin
It’s the third cross-platform mobile app development on the list which is supported by any tech giants.
Xamarin is developed and backed by Microsoft. You can easily build mobile apps with low coding lines because it employs c# programming language.
The framework allows businesses to offer native performance and unique user experiences to end-users.
Some of the amazing features of Xamarin are.
- Helps to build native-like apps
- Support a large base of the developer community
- The versatile and flexible backend infrastructure
- Diagnostic tools
- Application loader
What Are The 5 Stages in the Mobile Application Development Life Cycle?
Similarly, if you’re wondering how to develop a mobile application, it’s important to understand that the process goes through different stages or phases to complete its development cycle.
Planning, Ideation, and Brainstorming (Discovery Stage)
Every software development starts with the discovery phase. And when you’re on a journey to develop mobile apps comprehensive and in-depth planning becomes even more important.
During the discovery phase, both the client (app owner) and the app developer sit together and spend hours discussing things related to the mobile app.
Simply put, the client communicates everything to the developer and the developer consumes information and tries to correct things where the client is wrong.
The few most important things that are discussed in the discovery stage are mentioned below.
- The target audience
- What features should be integrated into the app
- Competitor Analysis
- Trends and technologies
- Technical requirements specification
Wireframe Design (Design Stage)
Once the discovery phase is completed wonderfully, it’s time for UI/UX designer to show their expertise.
The design stage can also be called the first where you must include people with technical understanding.
To conduct the design stage in the safest manner, usually, this stage is subdivided into three stages.
Sketch: You can put every idea you’ve in your mind into a piece of paper.
Wireframe: Once the initial sketch is ready you can make a white and black
Prototype: It’s the last step in the design stage where the prototype of the app is made. A prototype is just like the first clickable model of an app that looks just like the real app.
Coding (Development Stage)
Once the design of the app is ready and gets approval from the client. The next step is to code the app.
It’s the first time a programmer gets directly involved in the game and takes charge of the different things.
To perform the development in the perfect manner, programmers use programming languages and software development kits (SDKs) specific to the platform.
Removing Errors, and Bugs (Testing Stage)
Once all the codes are written you might be thinking of getting it released.
But are you sure your app is free of all kinds of errors and bugs?
Well, that might not be possible until you test the app.
Testing is the fourth stage in the mobile application development lifecycle in which the app undergoes rigorous testing practices that eliminate bugs and errors that makes the app perfect before the release.
Launch To The App Store (Deployment Stage)
The app will be ready to launch once it completes the testing phase.
To launch the app and make it accessible to the user you need to submit it to the respective app store like the Apple app store or Android Play store.
However, the app submission process isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your app might be rejected if it’s not abiding by the terms and conditions.
To submit the app so that it doesn’t get rejected or canceled read here: How Much Does It Cost To Put An App On The App Store
Faqs
Mobile Application Development For Beginners?
As a beginner, if you want to learn mobile application development, first you’ve to learn basic programming skills and development platforms. If you want to become an Android app developer you must learn programming languages like Java and Kotlin. To become an iOS app developer you must master programming languages like Swift and Objective-C.
Why is Mobile App Development a Good Career?
Mobile application development is a wonderful and lucrative career. And getting into mobile app development is even easier. One good thing about application development that makes it better than any other career path is the potential for future opportunities.
Is Mobile App Development Easy to Learn?
For a beginner learning mobile application development is very easy only if he is good in programming skills. But, if he’s totally new to the coding and programming world, it will take some time and effort to learn mobile application development. In short, programming skill is a must if you want to learn mobile application development in a quick time.
What is a Mobile Application Developer’s Salary?
Mobile application development is a lucrative and remunerative field. In the US, mobile app developer makes between $74k–130k annually. The mobile app developer’s salary highly depends on multiple factors like experience and skill set.
Why Mobile App Development is Expensive?
Mobile app development is expensive and in some cases, it can be extravagant. But when you compare it to the benefits it reaps against the investment, it doesn’t feel very expensive. Also, some factors including cutting-edge features, app complexity, and multiple platforms increase the mobile application development cost.
What are the 7 steps to creating an app?
Creating a mobile app involves seven key steps. First, connect with a development team to share your vision. Then, research and plan the app’s features. Next, design an intuitive UI/UX before moving into development, where coding and functionality are implemented. Afterward, thorough testing ensures a smooth experience. Once ready, deploy the app on platforms like the App Store and Google Play. Finally, ongoing maintenance keeps the app updated and optimized for users.
