iOS Vs Android: Which Is Best For Startups in 2024?

iOS Vs Android, which will be the best for small businesses? This is one of the most commonly asked questions by startups. 

If you’re thinking about developing your own mobile app to help your business, you’re not alone. According to the survey report, more than 90% of today’s businesses are either currently developing apps or planning to do so in the near future. 

But what does this mean for startups? Are iOS apps more beneficial for startups than Android apps? Should you develop one app across all major platforms?

With the extensive usage of smartphones, the mobile app development industry has taken a steep shift in the industry and is expected to make more than $6 billion in revenue in 2025. So whether it be an entrepreneur or a tech startup, everyone needs to be a part of this thriving industry. 

Image Source: statista.com

iOS Vs Android App Development: Which is Easier to Develop?

Developing iOS Vs Android apps-  each comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. It’s difficult to make a definitive statement about which platform is easier to develop for, as it depends on various factors.

However, there are a few aspects that can be considered when comparing the two.

One advantage of iOS app development is the relatively consistent hardware and software ecosystem. Apple has a limited number of devices running iOS, which makes it easier to optimize and test apps for specific devices. Additionally, Apple provides comprehensive development tools, documentation, and guidelines, making it easier for developers to get started and maintain a consistent user experience.

On the other hand, Android app development offers a wider user base and greater device diversity. Android runs on a multitude of devices from various manufacturers, each with different screen sizes, resolutions, and performance capabilities. This diversity can pose challenges in terms of fragmentation and compatibility issues, requiring additional effort to ensure the app works well across a range of devices.

Ultimately, to create an iOS app, you need to hire iOS app developers in India, that has an understanding of Swift/Objective-c. On the hand, Android app developers use Kotlin/Java for app development. And each programming language has its own learning curve. 

Read more: Top Mobile App Ideas in 2024

Whether you’re developing an iOS app or an Android app, keeping up with the latest technology can be very important in creating the best mobile app experience possible for your customers and clients. 

That’s where the question arises iOS App Vs Android App- which is the best for your business?

At this point in the article, I’ll help you get the answer to a question that is on the minds of all entrepreneurs who are just beginning in the app world. The question is which app platform to develop on iOS Vs Android?

When we talk about the best apps, it ultimately means that the app that help businesses make more profit?

App Development Android Vs iOS: Which App Helps You Make More Money?

When it comes to app development, the potential for making money can vary between Android and iOS platforms. Both platforms have their own advantages and considerations.

iOS apps generally tend to generate higher revenue due to Apple’s affluent user base and their willingness to spend on premium apps and in-app purchases. 

Moreover, iOS users have a higher app retention rate, meaning they are more likely to continue using and paying for apps over time. 

On the other hand, Android has a larger market share globally, which can translate to a larger user base and more potential downloads. By hiring a full-stack developer in India, you can create Android apps that often generate revenue through advertisements since Android users are generally more tolerant of ads. 

Additionally, Android offers more flexibility for monetization options, such as alternative app stores and direct downloads. Ultimately, the revenue potential depends on factors like the app’s niche, target audience, monetization strategy, and marketing efforts.

All in all, it’s crucial to assess these factors and consider the specific goals and characteristics of your app before deciding which platform might be more lucrative for your app’s monetization.

What is the Main Difference Between iOS vs Android?

To have a clear picture of app development iOS Vs Android apps, let’s analyze the major difference between iOS and Android to make a final decision.

• Programming Languages: iOS uses Swift, while Android uses Java or Kotlin.
• Screen Sizes: iOS devices have standardized screen sizes for iPhones and iPads, whereas Android devices have a wide variety of screen sizes, requiring more interface design and case-by-case programming for compatibility.
• Device Fragmentation: Android has device fragmentation, with different devices running different versions of the operating system, making app development and maintenance more challenging compared to iOS.
• User Demographics: iOS and Android have different user demographics, with Apple users generally being younger and more affluent than Android users.
• Development Time and Maintenance: Considering these differences, developers need to analyze their target audience and decide whether to minimize development time and maintenance efforts.

Market Comparison Between iOS and Android

The iOS App and Android App markets have tremendously outgrown in recent years. However, the Android App market is still much larger than the iOS App Market. But that’s not enough to make a decision.

So before hiring a software developer in India, it is important for startups to keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to develop an iOS or Android app. In addition, to understand iOS vs Android: Which is Best for Your Business, let’s evaluate the market statistics about Android Vs iOS. 

1.1.  iOS Vs Android: Global Market Share

According to Statista, the number of smartphone users has surpassed 6 billion and is forecasted to further grow by a hundred million in the next few years. And iOS and Android are the two major app stores capturing 90% of this industry. 

So, when choosing between iPhone and Android, the market share factor is based on the total number of users on each platform. Despite the obvious – Android development has a greater market share than iOS development – let’s shed some more light on it. 

The number of Android devices is 10X greater than the number of Apple flagship devices, so users are by default inclined to develop apps for Android instead of iOS. You don’t have to trust our words. Here are the statistics representing the truth of the app market. 

As a result of this difference in market share, Android is a better choice for Startups that are concerned with visibility above all else.

1.2. Android Vs iOS: App Revenue

When it comes to iOS Vs Android for startups, revenue is one of the biggest deciding factors. For a startup looking to enter the mobile domain for the first time, deciding on a platform on the basis of revenue potential is almost mandatory.

According to the Statista Report, consumer spending on in-app purchases, monthly/yearly subscriptions, and premium apps makes the gross app revenue in the Google Play store amount approx $10.4 billion whereas the Apple app store generated $21.2 billion in 2022. 

Image Source: 9to5mac.com

Despite having over time positioned itself as the platform that businesses rely on to generate revenue, the Google Play stores catching up with their monetized apps. When hiring Indian Android App developers to kickstart your project, make sure that they develop an app with both free-to-use and premium features. Android apps may be used by the larger user segments but only a partial ratio of users will be using the premium app version. 

On the other hand, Apple users are more willing to pay for apps, therefore despite having a lower market share, the Apple App store generates more revenue.

1.3. iOS Vs Android: User Retention

The success of the app is majorly dependent on the fact that how users are taking your app. Are they happy with the installation and use it regularly or uninstalling the app?

A good user retention number is very important for startups that are deciding between Android Vs iOS.

So, in order to assess whether your app is performing well and is liked by users worldwide, you need to look at how it is performing. By hiring app developers in India, you can design an app with excellent UI/UX design that ultimately minimizes the ratio of uninstallation. 

However, the reason for the high uninstall rate of mobile apps varies depending on the kind of experience you are able to provide.

Despite different causes for the app uninstall rate, when we compare iOS to Android, it turn s out Android users are more loyal and less forgiving. So when startups think of a successful design and development of their mobile app, they need to think carefully about these problems.

In a nutshell: Following a brief comparison of the market scenarios for both platforms, let’s turn our attention to the question that every startup seeking to create a mobile presence is asking – Android vs Apple development. To gain more confidence in the context of making the right decision, let’s pour into the technical comparison of iOS Vs Android.

Technical Comparison Between iOS App and Android App – Which Platform Should Startups Go With As Their First Choice?

The two most popular smartphone OSs in the world are Android and iOS. Android is the dominant player in terms of market share, while iOS is more popular amongst users in North America. Other than this difference, there are many technical points that need to be discussed. It helps startups or small businesses to understand whether they should go for iOS or Android app development.

Let’s get started!

2.1. iOS Vs Android: Programming Language

Some of the most important differences between the two relate to technology. Starting with the programming language, you can hire an iOS app developer in India who typically uses Swift/Objective-C, while Android developers more frequently use Java or Kotlin.

Both have their advantages. Objective-C is generally easier to learn because it’s more similar to other programming languages (e.g., C, C++). However, it lacks the ability to create dynamically linked libraries (DLLs), which Java can do. For this reason, many developers prefer Java for new apps. The downside is that it takes longer to learn how to use Java because of its complexity compared with Objective-C.

2.2. iOS Vs Android: Complexity of Development Process

The complexity of the development process for iOS and Android apps varies greatly. Android apps tend to be more complicated because they need to be built in Java, while iOS apps can be built in Objective-C or Swift. 

There’s also a lot more fragmentation on the Android platform, with many different device manufacturers, models and screen sizes. That means that developers have to build their apps so they work across as many different devices as possible. If they don’t do this then the user experience will suffer.

 On Apple’s iOS platform you only need to build your app once, which is much easier and less complex than having to build it for every different model and size of the device on Android’s platform.

A potential downside is that Apple has less market share than Android.

2.3. iOS Vs Android: Flexibility With Features

With the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets, it’s important for startups to think about which system will work best for them. And today, apps are all about features and functionalities. A user always strives to install an app integrated with much more advanced features which translates into a seamless user experience.

Since Android is an open-source platform, it offers access to a variety of features. So when you hire mobile app developers in India for Android app development, you will have a better opportunity to create a feature-rich application. This means that developers can customize the interface to suit their needs, as well as take advantage of many different functions that Android has to offer.

On the other hand, there is not much flexibility when it comes to features in iOS. While it may not have as many features as Android does, Apple’s closed platform offers more flexibility with how things can be set up in order to provide an optimal experience.

2.4. iOS Vs Android: Development Cost

Whether you are a startup or an entrepreneur, the app development cost is always a pressing concern for businesses.

So another major difference between iOS and Android is the development cost!

While there is no standard cost of app development as different businesses have different requirements and app development company has different price models.

Still, if it comes to comparing the average cost of iOS app development, it ranges from $15,000 to $20,000. On the other hand, the average Android app development cost is about $10,000+. This is because the demand for Android App Developers outstrips that of iOS developers.

Image Source: bizbrolly.com

Rest the app development cost can be greatly fluctuated depending upon your specific requirements. Also, it depends on the decision of hiring dedicated developers in India with specific skills and knowledge. The more complex an application is and the more customization you need, the more experienced developer you will be required and the higher the price will be.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages and it can be difficult to determine which one will work best for your business needs at this time.

2.5. iOS Vs Android: App Security

In contrast to the App Store, posting an app to Google Play is less secure. A malware-ridden app is more likely to be downloaded from Google Play. App Store moderation ensures the safety and security of your app.

Considering Android is open-source, there are many devices, components, and software fragments to consider because of the lack of standardization.

You are limited to a few standardized devices and operating systems when developing for Apple’s closed ecosystem.

Apple App Store has stricter rules, quality expectations, and a longer review process, so apps may take longer to be approved. Your app may even be rejected if it doesn’t meet Apple’s standards.

A Google approval can take as little as a day, but an Apple approval can take as long as several days. Both platforms have their own quirks and standards, so you need some time to learn how to comply with them.

As a whole, Apple sets a higher standard for safety than Android. In terms of approval time, Google is more efficient than Apple.

2.6. iOS Vs Android: Maintenance and Updates

Developing an Android app may require you to invest more time into making sure your app is compatible with the platform, as well as reducing the risk of bugs and crashes for users running an older operating system.

According to one study, 50% of Android phone users are running an OS that is 2 years old or older.

Compared to Android users, Apple users are more likely to update their OS.

In a nutshell, with this technical comparison, now you what is the difference between iOS and android. But when it comes to iOS vs Android: Which is Best for Your Business? Which platform you should choose first to launch your business app?

Android Vs iOS: Which Platform Startups Should Choose First?

Well, the choice of platform to release your first app is depending upon your specific requirements. So to make it clear here is a quick infographic comparison between iOS vs Android app development.

Image Source: static.guides.co

In addition, here are the quick points that you need to evaluate while deciding whether to choose Android or iOS at first.

• Where the audience resides, their lifestyles, the features they are interested in, and how much time you want to dedicate to building an app will determine whether it is best to build an Android app or an iOS app first. The iOS platform may be the best option if you need to build a minimum viable product quickly and cheaply.
• If you want to build an e-commerce app or make money from your app, look at iOS.
• It’s best to choose Android if you’re targeting global or emerging markets, especially in Asia and Latin America, or if your app has features that Apple doesn’t support.

These are the major things that you need to know about iOS and Android app development. Since developing an app involves a huge budget and effort, it is worth hiring mobile app developers in India who better understand your needs. They can guide you through which technologies and operating platforms best fit your needs.

Conclusion: iOS Vs Android: Who Is The Winner?

This is an age-old question with no definitive answer. There are many factors to consider when choosing which operating system to develop. You can easily choose the one by hiring mobile app developers in India and building an app keeping in mind who your target audience is, what your budget is, and how much time you want or need to invest in development. 

The iPhone has a larger market share than Android devices, so it might be better to go that route if you know your target audience has iPhones. If not, then maybe Android would be more appropriate for you.

If you are still confused about where to go and how to get started with an app, then AppsDevPro can be your trusted app development partner. Our app developers with the industry’s best experience and skills can help you create a business-centric app. For more details, you can drop a query here!

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