When it comes to app development, startups have two main choices for native app development: Android’s Google Play Store and the iOS’ Apple App Store.
Knowing which one of these markets your startup is aiming to cater to is one of the first decisions to make while developing a new app for your business. However, making a decision blindly isn’t the way to go. Rather, it’s important to know which development choice has the strengths that will cater to what your startup needs and weaknesses that won’t cause as many problems or serve as severe limitations.
When it comes to startups, iOS apps have a leg up on Android apps due to several reasons. All of the comparison points listed below explain why your startup would benefit from considering the iOS platform over an Android platform for your app.
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Benefits of Choosing iOS Instead of Android for Startups
iOS Apps are Easier to Monetize
The markets that iOS and Android devices offer for apps vary widely in how they operate. Android uses an open platform that anyone can join. As such, free or “freemium” apps are more popular giving paid apps plenty of competition. Instead, when a startup works with a free app, they have to depend on the revenue they earn from displaying ads within the app.
An iOS development agency has the benefit of being a closed platform. This means that apps pend approval before they’re released on the required app store. As such, it offers more support for paid apps that bring in higher revenue rates. In other words, apps that cost money or have features that require in-app purchases are more likely to succeed in the Apple App Store.
Other than that, the revenue that the Apple App Store reaps is more impressive compared to what apps on Google Play typically return. Once again, thanks to the business model of the App Store. Since the model depends on paid apps in purchases as users operate the app, they offer more return than competitive free apps on Google Play that rely on high volumes of consumer use and ad revenue to make a return rather than direct payments.
The revenue also comes from the demographics that the iOS platform boasts about. However, there are more Android users than iOS users, iOS and Apple products are often considered luxury items by comparison to their Android device counterparts.
As such, these consumers don’t necessarily need to have as many numbers to provide a reliable and profitable base for the companies and apps they’re supporting. Instead, they’re willing to pay more for apps and their features which Android users may not. This is because this demographic generally tends to have a higher rate of disposable income available.
The App Store Features Less Bloat Ware
Google Play suffers from more apps that are often nicknamed “bloatware” than the Apple App Store. These are third-party apps tend to struggle in the form of frequent crashes and slow loading.
Unfortunately for app developers, the more bloated an app marketplace is, the harder it is for new apps to stand out from the crowd. Since the App Store has such high levels of quality control, it helps new apps and startup companies to gain leverage if they can pass the App Store requirements and competes on a market that isn’t competitive compared to Android platform.
iOS Apps Tend to Run a Lower Cost Than Android
Android is a large platform. This opens the door for a lot of opportunities for app developers and the companies. However, this wide range of opportunities also means that there’s a lot more to do to develop an Android app from specialization to testing.
When companies decide to rely on iOS app development, there are fewer variables throughout the process to drive costs up. This means that it calls for fewer resources and, in turn, a lower budget to develop and release an iOS app compared with an Android app. This can be a great benefit to startups since they typically have a lower overall budget compared to larger and more established companies.
iOS Apps Have a Higher Security Level
Because of the nature of the App Store, it is considered to be a highly secure marketplace. If an app doesn’t meet certain regulations, rules, and quality guidelines that create a stable and structured development environment for startups, it won’t gain permission on the App Store. Such a detailed guideline can help startups which is especially useful in the company is new to app development, which most startups are.
The security level within an app is also a part of the guidelines that Apple requires for the App Store. Since apps handle sensitive information, cybersecurity is an essential factor that consumers pay attention to. When an app is on the App Store, consumers know that they can trust them. So, they purchase and download apps with less concern as to which ones are malicious and threatening to their digital security.
iOS Platforms Have Higher Consumer Loyalty
Android has a high consumer loyalty but it falls short compared to the brand loyalty associated with Apple and iOS. Even though Android is a larger development platform, iOS users still stand out; thanks to their dedication to the platform they prefer. It helps that iOS is a platform dedicated to a singular brand of products – Apple products like iPhones and iPads – whereas the Android app market covers a wider range of products.
This also means that iOS apps are more compatible across devices as well. Developers don’t have to worry as much about compatibility across the devices that an app market caters to. Since Apple controls iOS apps, it also means that all iOS apps benefit from overall updates such as increase in processor speed, better storage space, or additional functionalities added to the hardware of Apple devices.
iOS Apps are Easier to Design and Maintain
The difference in iOS products and Android products also makes it easier to specialize in an app on the iOS market. For example, if a company were to create an app for the iOS App Store, they only have to worry about a vast number of gadgets that the app might see use. In general, iOS refers to a narrow range of products – namely iPads and iPhones.
By comparison, Android doesn’t limit its product list by nearly as much. In fact, according to Android Police, there are more than 2.5 billion Android devices active today. This means that the capabilities and limitations of each device vary and there’s a large number of different options that developers have to consider when they’re nailing down what an app for these devices will and won’t have the capability to perform.
By cutting down the number of devices that have access to a certain app market, it makes it easier for developers to specialize in their apps to iOS users. With fewer variables, it’s simpler for companies to tailor their apps to potential users and make educated predictions as to how the app will run on different devices and how iOS users will interact with it.
This also makes an essential task in app development much easier and quicker: app testing. No app should hit its respective marketplace without going through meticulous testing. This ensures that users are less likely to run into issues such as glitches, bugs, and errors. However, testing an app is specific to a device. Once again, this means that with fewer variables, a startup’s job is easier and they don’t have to worry about testing across a massive number of devices.
Forced iOS Updates Help Developers Maintain a Steady User Base
When it comes to Android devices, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that not only are there plenty of different devices out there, but also loads of different operating systems to depend upon.
Alternatively, Apple forces users to update their systems regularly to stay up to date on what the App Store is compatible with. This means that developers don’t have to worry about setting up a contingency plan for consumers and users who aren’t up-to-date on the latest version that the app marketplace supports.
Conclusion
When it comes to startups and app development, the choice of platform is an important part of ensuring that the app your startup is developing is both profitable and effective outreach to customers. From the cost of development for iOS apps to the simplicity in testing apps and even the ability to specialize and depend on consumer loyalty to the iOS brand, there are few reasons to leave iOS behind in favor of Android apps. With all said and done, the iOS marketplace is the best choice for startups looking to add an app to their repertoire.
