Should I Build an iOS or Android App?

As app development experts, we get asked this question everyday. Everyday, we say the same answer:

”It depends.”

In previous posts, we discussed the importance of building a mobile app and the exponential gains which come from it. But when it comes to mobile platforms, you may be wondering whether you should invest in building an iOS or Android mobile app. Ideally, having your app be accessible on the two largest app platforms would be the best scenario, however that isn’t always feasible. As of Q3 2018, there are 2,100,000 Android apps and 2,000,000 iOS apps. While both platforms have many similarities, the striking differences can affect your business’s growth. In this blog post we will be giving you all the information you will need to help you make that decision.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Before picking a platform, it is crucial that you understand your demographic and the consumers you are targeting. The median age of your consumers, locations, salary earnings, and areas of interest are all things which need to be considered. In Q2 2018,  88% of all smartphones sold to end users were phones which used operated on an Android system. However, majority of Android users come from the international audience (which includes South America, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe), as iOS users primarily reside in North America and Western Europe. While Apple sold 215.8 million iPhones in 2017, there was an estimated 1.244 billion Android smartphones shipped during the same year.

STRATEGY: AUDIENCE VS MONETIZATION

The contrasting difference in the amount of users on both platforms may have already got you thinking you want to invest in building an Android App. However, there are many factors to consider. If your application’s strategy is to acquire the most amount of users, Android maybe your best fit. As of 2012, Android a large market share of 53% in comparison to iPhone, who hold 36 percent of the market share. However, if your app strategy involves monetization, you may be surprised to know that the App store generates about 80% more revenue than the Google Play Store.

Consumers for both platforms have shown very different spending patterns. On average, iPhone users will spend three times more of what Android users spend. Not to mention, that while there are more Android users, iOS users have higher incomes and spend a much longer time (4 times more) in-app compared to Android users. While Android users will not spend as much on paid apps or in-app purchases, it does have a much larger volume of advertising-based apps. Revenue can be increased through advertising-based apps, as it normally attracts more consumers.

Seeing that there are two very evident answers in the situation, and it boils down whether or not you’re looking to gain more exposure and reach a larger audience or if you are looking gain more of a profit or increase in revenue.

WEB FRIENDLY VS MOBILE APP

Having a website which is mobile friendly is always a much more cost efficient alternative. However, native apps provide a much more interactive and stimulating experience for your users. There are several features which are available only with native apps. Native apps also provide you with the opportunity to increase revenue.  It is estimated that by 2020, the mobile app industry will have brought in a gross income revenue of $189 billion.

The interface of both a native app and a website, can also affect your consumers’ decisions. A native app can be personalized to fit your company’s brand and utilize features available on your consumers’ phones, such as their camera, device notifications, instant updates, etc.

Mobile apps can also retain information on your consumers’ phone without the need of internet connection which would be needed for a mobile website. Meaning, you can still interact with your consumers without them being connected virtually to you.

With desktop usage significantly decreasing as mobile usage continues to soar, creating an app solely designed to cater to the needs of your consumers on their mobile devices would be ideal.

GOOGLE PLAY VS APP STORE BY THE NUMBERS

• For every 10 apps that are built, roughly 7 are for iOS (Flurry Analytics, 2012)

When apps are built for an iPhone, they run on iPad as well (which dominate the market  for tablets). iOS promotes a “build one, run on all” platforms approach. This creates less of a hassle for those who look to build an app which works cohesively with different forms of technology.

• 80 percent of iPhone owners have previously owned an iPhone (Comscore, 2013)

iPhone users have shown to be loyal consumers to the Apple brand. If you’re looking for consumers who will be committed to using your app then iOS would be more of a fitting platform.

Apple iOS and Google Android Loyalty Rates - CIRP

• 41% of iOS users have an annual household income share of $100k+ versus Android users, which only has 24% in the same category

Apps which have more opportunities for revenue (eg. in-app purchases) would be more effective if built for iOS, as a large amount of iOS users have a high household annual income.

• 23% of iOS users will make purchases on their phone, versus 17% of Android users which will

Android apps will reach quite a large audience and more accessible to those internationally, however you’re more likely to receive more in-app purchases through iOS.

WHICH PLATFORM IS FITTING FOR YOUR COMPANY?

Your company’s niche can determine which platform will give you the most ideal outcome. iOS users will spend more money and download business, education and lifestyle apps. However, it is crucial to understand which devices will be used by the demographic which you are targeting. For example, if your app requires a camera and will involve some sort of photography, it would be wise to consider which devices are the leading smartphone camera. As per Digital Camera World, the top 3 smartphones operate on an Android operating system (Google Pixel 3, Huawei P20 Pro, Huawei Mate 20 Pro). If you are expecting your consumers to be using an app, which they would like to be accessible on all of their electronic devices, then iOS would be the more fitting platform. Through iCloud and iTunes, all connected Apple devices can access the same documents, photos, videos, and apps. Apps such as Netflix, can be accessed on an Apple user’s iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc.

Through understanding your demographic, figuring out what exactly your intentions and goals are with your app, and what the ideal outcome looks like, you can find which platform is more fitting for you and/or your company. Android will give you access/exposure to a much broader audience and will be available on several different types of phones. However, iOS users are willing to spend more money and will spend a much longer time on your app.