How Long Does It Take to Build an App? Realistic Timelines

"How long will it take to build my app?" is one of the first questions we hear from clients. The honest answer is: it depends on many factors. This guide will help you understand realistic timelines and what affects them.

Quick Answer: App Development Timelines

| App Type | Typical Timeline | Example |

|----------|-----------------|---------|

| Simple MVP | 2-3 months | Basic booking app, simple directory |

| Standard App | 4-6 months | E-commerce app, customer portal |

| Complex App | 6-12 months | Multi-platform app with integrations |

| Enterprise App | 12-24+ months | Large-scale system with many features |

These are estimates for a competent development team working full-time on your project.

What Affects Development Time?

1. Scope and Features

The more features, the longer the timeline. Common features and their approximate impact:

| Feature | Time Impact |

|---------|-------------|

| User authentication | 1-2 weeks |

| User profiles | 1-2 weeks |

| Search functionality | 1-3 weeks |

| Payment processing | 2-4 weeks |

| Real-time chat | 3-6 weeks |

| Maps and location | 2-4 weeks |

| Push notifications | 1-2 weeks |

| Social media integration | 1-3 weeks |

| Admin dashboard | 3-6 weeks |

| Reporting and analytics | 2-6 weeks |

| AI/ML features | 4-12 weeks |

| Third-party integrations | 1-4 weeks each |

2. Platform Choice

Where will your app run?

• Web app only: Fastest to develop
• iOS only: Add 20-30% time vs web
• Android only: Add 20-30% time vs web
• iOS + Android native: Nearly double the work
• Cross-platform (React Native/Flutter): 30-40% more than single platform

3. Design Requirements

How polished does the user interface need to be?

• Basic/template design: Minimal impact
• Custom design: Add 4-8 weeks for UX/UI design
• Premium/branded design: Add 8-12 weeks
• Animations and micro-interactions: Add 2-4 weeks

4. Backend Complexity

What happens behind the scenes?

• Simple database operations: Included in base estimate
• Complex business logic: Add 20-50% time
• Real-time functionality: Add 30-50% time
• Heavy integrations: Add 2-4 weeks per integration
• Legacy system connections: Highly variable

5. Quality and Testing Requirements

How thoroughly must the app be tested?

• Basic testing: Included in estimates
• Comprehensive testing: Add 15-25% time
• Regulated industries: Add 25-50% for compliance testing
• Accessibility compliance: Add 10-20% time

Development Phases and Timelines

Phase 1: Discovery and Planning (2-4 weeks)

What happens:

• Requirements gathering
• User story mapping
• Technical architecture
• Project planning
• Initial estimates

Why it matters: Skipping this phase leads to rework later. Investing in planning can save 30-50% of total project time.

Phase 2: Design (3-8 weeks)

What happens:

• User research
• Wireframing
• Visual design
• Prototyping
• Design review and approval

Why it matters: Changes during design cost 10x less than changes during development.

Phase 3: Development (6-20+ weeks)

What happens:

• Backend development
• Frontend/app development
• API development
• Database setup
• Feature implementation
• Code review

This is the longest phase and scales with complexity.

Phase 4: Testing (2-6 weeks)

What happens:

• Unit testing (ongoing during development)
• Integration testing
• User acceptance testing
• Performance testing
• Security testing
• Bug fixing

Why it matters: Rushing testing leads to production issues that cost more to fix.

Phase 5: Deployment (1-2 weeks)

What happens:

• Production environment setup
• App store submissions (if applicable)
• Final data migration
• Launch preparation
• Go-live support

Phase 6: Post-Launch (Ongoing)

What happens:

• Bug fixes and patches
• Performance monitoring
• User feedback collection
• Feature enhancements
• Maintenance and updates

Real-World Timeline Examples

Example 1: Simple Booking App MVP

Scope: Web app for a local service business to accept bookings online.

Features: User registration, service selection, calendar booking, email confirmations, admin dashboard.

Timeline: 10-12 weeks

• Planning: 2 weeks
• Design: 2 weeks
• Development: 5-6 weeks
• Testing: 1-2 weeks

Example 2: Customer Portal

Scope: Mobile-responsive web app for customers to manage their account, view orders, and contact support.

Features: Authentication, account management, order history, document uploads, support tickets, notifications.

Timeline: 16-20 weeks

• Planning: 2 weeks
• Design: 4 weeks
• Development: 8-10 weeks
• Testing: 2-4 weeks

Example 3: E-commerce Mobile App

Scope: Native iOS and Android apps for an existing e-commerce business.

Features: Product browsing, search, cart, checkout, payment, order tracking, push notifications, reviews, wishlists.

Timeline: 24-32 weeks

• Planning: 3 weeks
• Design: 6 weeks
• Development: 12-18 weeks
• Testing: 3-5 weeks

Example 4: Enterprise Operations System

Scope: Comprehensive system for managing business operations with multiple user roles and integrations.

Features: Complex workflows, reporting, multiple integrations (ERP, CRM, accounting), mobile access, real-time updates, audit trails.

Timeline: 40-60+ weeks

• Planning: 4-6 weeks
• Design: 8-10 weeks
• Development: 24-36 weeks
• Testing: 4-8 weeks

How to Speed Up Development

1. Start with an MVP

Launch with core features only, then iterate based on real user feedback. You can often get to market in half the time.

2. Make Decisions Quickly

Every delayed decision adds to the timeline. Empower your team to make choices and avoid design-by-committee.

3. Use Proven Technologies

Cutting-edge tech has fewer resources and more unknowns. Mature technologies have solved problems you'll encounter.

4. Reduce Custom Design

Use design systems and component libraries. Custom design is expensive in both time and money.

5. Prioritise Ruthlessly

Not every feature needs to be in version 1. Focus on what delivers the most value to users.

6. Keep Scope Fixed

Scope creep is the biggest timeline killer. Lock requirements before development begins.

How to Get Accurate Estimates

Provide Clear Requirements

The more detail you provide, the more accurate the estimate:

• User stories or use cases
• Wireframes or mockups
• List of integrations needed
• Non-functional requirements (performance, security)
• Compliance requirements

Ask the Right Questions

When evaluating estimates:

• What's included and excluded?
• What assumptions are being made?
• What could cause the timeline to slip?
• How are changes handled?
• What's the testing approach?

Build in Buffer

Add 20-30% to any estimate for:

• Unexpected complexity
• Requirement changes
• Integration issues
• Testing and bug fixing
• Stakeholder review cycles

Our Approach to Project Timelines

At LKM Software Ltd, we provide realistic timelines based on experience delivering similar projects. We:

1. Invest in discovery: Proper planning prevents problems
2. Break work into sprints: Deliver value incrementally
3. Communicate proactively: No surprises on timeline
4. Manage scope carefully: Control changes to protect the timeline
5. Test throughout: Find issues early when they're cheap to fix

Ready to Discuss Your Project?

Contact us for a free consultation. We'll discuss your requirements and provide a realistic timeline estimate for your specific project.