Android vs iOS: Which Platform is Best for App Development?

There is no doubt about the requirement of mobile apps for today’s businesses that’s why the businesses all over the world are now fast going for mobile app development to stay relevant and competitive in the market. There is no other choice now. But for this they have to first take an important decision of choosing the right mobile app development platform i.e. Either Android and iOS as these two platforms for mobile app development collectively hold more than 96 % of mobile market as of 2017. If you want to launch your app on both of these platforms by going for Android Development or iOS app Development then you have to understand that it is risky and expensive too to build an app for both platforms at the same time. Generally, most of the developers choose to build an app for one platform to start with and then launch the app on the other platform later - once the first version of the app is launched and becomes successful. Deciding whether to build a business app for Android or iOS mainly depends on 4 factors namely, ● Your Target Audiencern● A Project Timelinern● Monetization of the Apprn● Your choice based on several factors In this article, we will discuss about all of these factors to help you choose between Android or iOS. Let’s start. ● Target Audience If you want to go for Android app development or iOS Development then you should understand that there are some differences in the users of Android and iOS smartphones. Android devices have the largest market share but Apple dominates the App Store for customer spending. Hence you should consider your target audience’s geographic and demographic characteristics when deciding for which platform to develop the app first. ● If your target audience is global then Android is the best choice. If your audience is in Europe and North America then Apple is the better choice. ● Android has much larger market share in developing countries in Asia and rest of the world. Also Android users mostly work in technical jobs. While iOS is best choice if your target audience is Affluent and young people mainly from Europe, North America and Australia. ● Women are more likely to use iPhones than Android. ● Apple users generally have higher educational degrees and are more likely to be in professional and managerial jobs. iOS offers better security therefore it is more prevalent in the enterprise market. ● Apple users spend more on the app purchases and are more likely to shop and make purchases using their mobile devices. ● Developing an App for iOS is Faster and Less Expensive Generally it is much faster, easier and cheaper to develop an app for iOS. Android development takes about 30-40% more time than iOS development. Android is an open source platform hence there is a lack of standardization and there are more devices, and software fragmentation in it while Apple has a closed ecosystem therefore it requires you to develop only for a few standardized devices and operations systems. But Apple has longer app review process as Apple Store has stricter rules. So although the iOS app can be developed faster but it may take longer for the app to be approved and even your app can be rejected if it is not upto Apple’s quality standards. ● Monetizing Your App is Easier in iOS than on Android When we talk about Monetization then the difference is that the Android users are less willing to pay for apps than iOS users hence Android has more free apps with ads. Therefore Apple App store generates more revenue than Google Play despite having less number of downloads. Also Apple users are more likely to make in-app purchases. Hence if you want to monetize your app through subscriptions or in app purchases then Apple is your best option. Revenue from Android apps is also growing and it is a major player when we talk about monetizing using ads. ● Choosing one either Android or Apple Platform to Develop the App First Where your target audience is from, what features they want in the app and your development timeline and budget determine for which platform you should build your mobile app first i.e either Android or iOS. If you want to build as minimum app quickly and cost effectively then iOS is the best choice. if you want to generate money with your app then also you should go for iOS app. But if your target audience is from developing and emerging markets especially in Asia then go for Android app first. Conclusion As we have just discussed there is no one line answer to whether you should go for Android or iOS app. You should think about all aspects and factors before making the final decision. We hope that this article will help you in your decision making process to select the first platform to develop your mobile app. Whichever platform you select, once you built a user base on your initial platform and you find that users on other platform are also looking for a version of your app then this is the best time to build another version of your app for the other platform as in this case it will be a hit instantly.