How to Create a Mobile App in 2026
- February 9, 2026
- App , Development
Table of Contents
Developing a mobile app isn’t just about programming. It’s a complex process that begins with an idea and continues even after the app’s release in stores. Below, we’ll look at the key stages and important decisions the client faces.
Stages of Mobile App Development
- Understanding the idea. Pre-Project Stage
- Planning. Documentation
- UI/UX Design
- Development
- Review and Testing
- Deployment
- Support and Maintenance
1. Understanding the Idea. Pre-Project Stage
At this stage, the why and for whom** the app is being created are defined. The goals, target audience, key features, and problems the app must solve are determined. Market and competitor analysis are often included. The result of this stage is a clear understanding of the task and requirements. Without these, further development will be chaotic, and both the client and the developer will be unhappy with this outcome.
2. Understanding. Documentation
The idea is translated into a structure. The application’s logic, user scenarios, architecture, and technical constraints are developed. Documentation is created: terms of reference (TOR), a description of functionality. This reduces risks, saves time, and facilitates communication between all project participants.
3. UI/UX Design
UX (User Experience) is responsible for ease of use and usability, while UI (User Interface) is responsible for the appearance. At this stage, prototypes and screen mockups are created. Good design makes an application understandable, user-friendly, and reduces the entry barrier for users. However, it also requires considerable effort and time from all project participants.
4. Development
Developers (programmers) implement the application’s functionality: frontend (client side), backend (server, database), and integration with third-party services. Development can be done natively (iOS/Android) or using cross-platform solutions, such as Flutter. This stage is often divided into individual tasks with gradual addition of functionality.
5. Verification and Testing
The app is checked for errors, stability, performance, and compliance. Testing helps identify errors before users encounter them and significantly improves the quality of the product.
6. Deployment
The finished app is published in the App Store and Google Play. This stage includes preparing builds, descriptions, screenshots, passing moderation, and setting up analytics.
7. Support and Maintenance
The work doesn’t end after the release. Updates, bug fixes, adaptation to new OS versions and devices, and the addition of new features based on user feedback are required. Plus, new versions of Android and iOS are released with each code update, and store policies also change.
What is an MVP
To reduce risks and test an idea in reality (i.e., release it to users, i.e., to stores), it’s not necessary to spend years developing extensive functionality. It’s enough to identify the functionality that is considered the most important (basic) and develop it first. This saves resources and makes development less risky. This version is called an MVP. MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a minimally viable version of an application with basic functionality. Its goal is to quickly enter the market, test the hypothesis, get real feedback, and avoid wasting budget on unnecessary features. An MVP often becomes the starting point for scaling a product.
AI Development
AI development is the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in an application. Examples: chatbots, recommendations, image analysis, content personalization, voice assistants. AI can be both a key product feature and an auxiliary tool for improving the user experience.
AI can also be used both during development itself and at the initial stages, helping to flesh out ideas, show examples, draft technical documentation, and assist with design. However, it’s just a tool, and it requires skill to use. If a designer or developer lacks experience in their field, the result will be low-quality at best. However, if they are professionals, AI will speed up design and development, thereby saving the client resources.
How to develop: options and comparison
The steps are clear, so how do you do it all now?
Do it yourself
Suitable if you have the technical skills and time. Pros: Minimal costs, full control Cons: Long process, difficult to cover all areas (design, server side, testing)
Hire one specialist/freelancer (cheaper)
Often this is a generalist freelancer. Pros: Lower cost, faster than doing it yourself. Cons: Risks related to deadlines and quality, dependence on one person. Also, a freelancer may “disappear” at the most crucial moment.
Hire a company
A team of designers, developers, and testers. Pros: A systematic approach, reliability, quality, support, speed Cons: Higher cost
Cost
The issue of money worries all clients. It’s difficult to discuss cost when you don’t know anything about the idea, or when there’s no description of what needs to be developed. Therefore, it’s a clear step for both the client and the contractor to complete stages 1 and 2 together. Otherwise, no matter what anyone says, the price will simply be a guess.
While the first two stages can be more or less estimated, subsequent stages need to be estimated later. Below is a rough breakdown of the stages of cross-platform development (Android + iOS).
Cost by stage:
Pre-project stage $500 - $1,000 Discussion of ideas, requirements, basic specifications
Design and documentation $1,000 - $4,000 Architecture, logic description, technical solutions.
UI/UX design $1,000 - $5,000 Prototype + screen design
Development Mobile component (cross-platform) $2,500 - $100,000
Testing $0 - $2,000 Manual + basic automation.
Deployment $0 - $1,000 Publishing to the App Store and Google Play, builds, configurations.
Support (per month) $200 - $1,500 Bug fixes, updates, minor improvements
Summary
Thus, development costs start at $5,000 (for a simple app) and go up in price, depending on the complexity, timeframe, and client requirements. For example, take any popular messenger app: an MVP starts at $10,000 - $20,000, then features are added over the years. The choice of approach depends on the budget, timeframe, and project goals. An MVP is often sufficient for the start, and once the idea is validated, it makes sense to invest in scaling the app.