Android vs iOS Development: Which is More Profitable for My Business?

There is so much to consider, research, and understand. We are covering every angle of developing mobile apps on these two popular platforms to make things easy for you. 

Know the Market Share Before Choosing Android or iOS Development

For decades, the mobile app market has seen tough competition between Android and iOS. Both were launched in the same year, 2007 and since then they have been competing against each other. However, the graph of their dominance increased with the sales of smartphones. 

According to Statista’s quarterly report of OS market share, Android is leading the race for popular operating systems. It shares more than 70% whereas iOS captures less than 30% of the total market. 

But things are different in the U.S. market where Apple is holding the title of “favorite OS.” It shares more than 60% of the U.S. mobile market. 

So, if you are targeting the U.S. audience, iOS app development is a profitable choice. And if you are targeting a global audience, go with Android app development. 

Android vs iOS App Development: Revenue Generation 

Despite Android having the highest number of users, iOS won the race for revenue generation. According to Business of Apps, Apple earned 76% of the total profits generated from app subscriptions in 2023.  This is because iPhone users spend more than Android users on such applications. 

If you are developing a mobile app that works on a subscription model, iOS app development is highly profitable. However, app subscription is not the only monetization strategy. There are other options as well to earn money from mobile apps:

• In-app purchases
• Ad revenue
• Paid apps

Which is Faster to Develop: Android or iOS?

Although that depends on the expertise of your development team, iOS mobile apps have fast time-to-market in general. Here's why:

Differences in Programming Languages

Swift, the primary language for iOS development, is concise and requires fewer lines of code. Its simplicity makes it an easy-to-learn language. So, even if your development team is new to Swift, they can quickly grasp the basics and develop an iOS app. Objective-C is another popular language, but it is complex. 

On the other hand, Android developers work on multiple programming languages. Java and Kotlin are the two most popular among the community. But they have complex syntax and thus android app development takes time. 

Device Standardization 

Another reason why iOS app development is faster than Android is the difference in the development environment. iPhones come in standard sizes, screens, hardware, and software functionalities. 

This standardization makes things easier for developers as they don’t have to struggle while developing for different devices. Whereas Android suffers from device fragmentation. Meaning there are many different devices with varying screen sizes, operating system versions, and hardware specifications. This makes development complex, stretching the time of development. 

Android and iOS Development and Publishing Cost

Don’t just focus on ROI, that’s a later thing. The initial cost of developing a mobile app will set how much you can expect the return. As said, both apps are built differently, the cost of development varies too.

However, there is no fixed cost and the type of functionalities, features, app’s complexity, and number of resources will decide the budget. 

Besides this, there is an additional cost of app store subscription and maintenance. Apple charges $99 annually for an individual account. The enterprise version is $299. Google is less expensive and charges only $25 which is a one-time payment. 

Also Read: Full Guide on Android App Development Cost: From Key Factors to Money-Saving Tips

Android vs iOS Development: Pros and Cons

While evaluating whether to invest in Android or go with iOS, weigh the pros and cons of each. 

Pros and Cons of iOS App Development

Pros and Cons of Android App Development

The Verdict: It Depends

If you're aiming for a global audience and want to earn through ads, Android's large user base could be more profitable. On the other hand, if your app targets a specific group that tends to spend more on in-app purchases and subscriptions, iOS development might be the way to go.

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