How to determine the cost of developing a Flutter application in 2022?

Prior to 2017, the ability to “develop apps for various platforms using a single code” was a fuzzy dream for app developers everywhere. With the launch of Flutter in 2017, this dream came true and caused a sudden revolution in the mobile app development industry. Developers could now develop cross-platform apps with this fantastic tool with just one code. And, thanks to this feature, “Flutter” has become the preferred framework for app developers in no time!

“Fast forward to 2021; According to Statista, Flutter is now the most widely used framework by developers for developing cross-platform apps.

Due to its vast popularity, we are sure you must have come across this term somewhere, especially if you plan to develop an app soon. Flutter 2.2 has brought revolutionary changes in the mobile app development industry.

“In this article, we’ll see what ‘Flutter app development’ really means and how much it costs to develop a Flutter app.”

We have covered the following topics in this article:

1. Introduction to flutter
2. Why choose Flutter?
3. Factors Affecting Flutter App Development Cost
   1. Application complexity
   2. Developer skills
   3. Site
   4. Hiring model
4. Conclusion

Introduction to Flutter – What is it?

Created by Google, Flutter is a comprehensive software development framework used to develop cross-platform applications with a single code.

Its versatile features allow developers to create apps for six different systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Google Fuchsia, which is precisely what makes it so popular with developers around the world.

Until five years ago, developers were more inclined to use native apps because of their superior performance. But recently, there has been a massive increase in the demand for hybrid app development frameworks caused by the rise in the overall demand for cross-platform apps.

Flutter offers incredible time and cost efficiency because developers don’t have to generate new code for various systems.

Customizable widgets and a great user experience are other features that explain Flutter’s success.

Why should you use Flutter for your app development project?

Faster design and development

The success of a particular application is highly dependent on its market reach. Therefore, it is imperative to launch the application at the right time.

Flutter’s features allow developers to perform their work faster and more efficiently, enabling rapid application launches.

After launch, early consumer feedback can help you better understand their app experience and expectations. This information will help you understand consumer dynamics and design an app that best suits their preferences.

Free & Open Source

Flutter is a free and easily accessible platform that makes it easy to view and publish documentation. It also gives developers access to several third-party packages for ads, videos, and databases. And that’s not all; Flutter offers a plethora of open-source packages specially designed for your mobile app development needs.

These features improve developer efficiency and productivity, dramatically reducing development time and cost.

Better use and management of resources

When you hire Flutter app developers with the right experience, a single developer can build iOS and Android apps. It takes the hassle of hiring a large development team and makes it easier for project managers to manage and utilize resources.

Establishing consistency between the design and development processes is imperative for optimal application development results. Flutter facilitates better coordination between developers and designers, and they can work simultaneously or together to build an app without separate design and development tools.

Reduced maintenance complexity

Another benefit of Flutter’s coding is that it makes it easier to “find bugs” and fix them. Whenever an issue is detected, the QA team will determine its source in no time and resolve it immediately using Flutter’s hot reload features.

The problem will be resolved quickly without interrupting the application’s functionality, allowing users to operate seamlessly even in a crisis.

Moreover, the maintenance of the Flutter app is also economical compared to its alternatives.

Simple quality checks

With Flutter, testing for results from a single platform is enough to determine how well an app will perform on other platforms. It eliminates the need for specialized testing and QA for separate platforms.

With this feature, the time required for QA can be reduced, which is a boon for QA and development teams.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Flutter App Development

The complexity of the application and its functionalities

Features are the most vital elements of any application. By combining all the necessary features, you will be able to see the complexity of your application. This level of complexity plays a critical role in determining the overall development time and cost of your app-building project.

Some standard complexity levels and their timings are as follows.

Application Types:

• Developing simple apps with essential features and functionality can take up to 300 hours.
• Apps with a few complex features take 400-600 hours to build.
• Applications with many screens require 600 to 900 hours of development.
• While building more complex apps can take up to 900 hours.

Developer experience

Depending on the complexity of your application, your project may require developers with different levels of experience.

Most often, you will find three “levels of expertise” of application developers, i.e., junior developers (0-1 year of experience) or senior developers (2-5+ years of experience). Experience).

However, with Flutter, you’re more likely to find mid-level developers because the tool has been around for quite a long time.

However, the final skills and experience you will need will depend on the unique needs of your project.

Developer location

It’s no secret that the cost of living differs significantly from country to country, which largely explains the fluctuation in development costs.

When you hire Flutter developers from regions with a lower cost of living like India, Pakistan, Ukraine, etc., you might be able to enjoy high-quality app development at lower prices.

Site Hourly rate ($)

North America        $150 to $200

Latin America         $50

Western Europe      $50 to $100

Eastern Europe       $25 to $50

Ukraine                   $25 to  $50

India                        $20 to $40

Australia                 $100 to $150

Africa                      $40

Hiring model

There are several models for hiring developers, and each model comes with different price ranges. Among the engagement models, three are widely known, including:

• Part-time – Freelance
• Hourly hiring – Outsourcing
• Dedicated Developers/Team Augmentation

Hire freelancers

If your application is low complexity and can be built with minimal skills, “freelance” would be the best option.

Various platforms like Upwork, freelancer, Fiverr, etc., allow you to get in touch with reliable app developers with affordable services. Depending on the developer, these rates range from $35/hour to $30/hour.

With the freelancing model, you also get specialization by hiring freelancers with different skill sets. If the project requires 300 hours of programming, 400 hours of design, etc., hiring multiple freelancers will allow you to complete the project in minimal time.

Subcontracting

As mentioned above, the geographic location of developers plays a vital role in determining Flutter app development costs.

For this reason, many companies and organizations around the world are opting to outsource their application development projects to countries where the cost of living is lower.

This engagement model involves hiring an entire team of developers from a particular country located offshore or nearshore.

The team will typically consist of a project manager, Flutter developers, designs, QA experts, and other resources if your project needs them. The most important benefit of outsourcing is that you have an army of skilled professionals working on your project without hiring full-time employees.

Internal team

If you have multiple application development requirements, need full-time support, or your project requires expertise and more developers, the ideal option for you would be to hire a team of independent development for your business.

Alternatively, you can follow a hybrid model where some employees are hired on-site, and the rest are outsourced to an offshore team. Outsourcing agencies would bring you the necessary information and innovation, while in-house employees would ensure consistent quality and smooth coordination.

Last words

Flutter app development is a convenient and exceptionally cost-effective development model. We’ve covered everything you need to know before hiring Flutter app developers in the article above.

We hope you find it helpful, and if you have any questions about it, our experts are here to help. Do not hesitate to contact us in the comments section below!