Having a mobile app is quite common now, but having a successful or popular application is rare. Though it might seem hard to build one, in reality, it is not that much tough. There are thousands of apps in every app category, so the challenge is to sustain the competition. This post includes why choosing the right app category is a game-changer for a successful mobile application.
Without planning and an alluring design, app development is like adding bugs in a blank file. It is never a great idea if it is not executed well. So the success of any app relies on how good your brainstorming was. Being a leading mobile application development company, we are well acquainted with a robust app development process. At Acquaint Softtech, our dedicated developers have bags of tricks to develop a successful application.
In this post, we will discuss types of mobile apps, secret features of successful mobile applications, and also the most popular app category. Most of the time, app developers either work on the dream idea or craft their business app. App category is always a secondary thought for many of us.
Native
Hybrid
Web Apps
Cross-Platform Technology
The native app simply indicates the pure form of application development. It can also be narrated as a mobile application developed for a single platform such as iOS or Android. It can optimize performance and leverage the latest technology. A native app can be compatible with the in-built smartphone features like a camera, GPS, calendar, contacts, push notifications, microphone, and contacts. Hybrid apps & Web apps do not support all functions.
The main advantage of Native apps is their performance. Native applications are solely designed for a particular platform, so the performance is better compared to others. Targeting a single platform also helps to design an alluring UI/UX app design. Security is also a plus. Native apps follow app store guidelines. Therefore, app data and security should be concerned seriously.
There are three primary platforms for Native app development that are widely used - iOS on Objective-C or Swift, Android on Java, and Windows Phone on the Net. Android is the most popular mobile operating system having approx. 70% of total smartphone users. iOS is the second most popular mobile operating system. Thus, native app development is the most popular kind of mobile app development.
Hybrid apps completely differ from Native apps because of their development process. While a native app is designed for a single platform, a hybrid app is developed using multi-platform web technologies. Actually, hybrid apps are like web applications wrapped in a native wrapper. That simply means hybrid apps work as a web app but look like native ones.
As the name suggests, “Hybrid” means a resultant product from two or more different technologies. So hybrid app includes merit and demerit of both native & web applications. They are easy to develop, better in response, have faster load time, and have smooth UI/UX. They are compatible with low-cost development and also can reduce the development time.
However, hybrid apps lack overall performance, optimization and fail to offer a fully native user experience. The design is also a demerit for hybrid apps. It is tough to design the same UI/UX for several platforms. Native apps are compatible with mobile device built-in features, but hybrid apps are not.
As we all know, most businesses have their own websites. A web application is the best option for those who want to give a feel of a native app without actually developing it. Progressive web apps (PWA) are the best way to do this type of task. PWA allows the user to access the app even in offline mode. It helps in reducing the development cost and time too.
Also Read: How To Reduce Your Dream Mobile App Development Cost — Important Tips
It is not a type of mobile app, but it is a type of app development process. Cross-platform is a process that allows developers to reuse the code for different platforms. Actually, cross-platform is a kind of technology for mobile app development. It relies on a simple principle - code once, and use it anywhere. It simply means developers can reuse the existing code for developing an application for another platform.
If an app owner wants to create the same application for iOS and Android, then cross-platform is the best choice. A developer can first develop an application on Android and reuse the code for iOS. It cuts the overall development cost and reduces the development time. Because of these benefits, the cross-platform is the first choice for app developers.
There are three main frameworks of cross-platform - Flutter, React Native and Xamarin. The code reusability is higher for Xamarin (above 90%). It is a paid tool but does not have any customer support. Flutter and React Native allow developers to reuse code up to 90%. Both are open-source tools and have dedicated support.
Also Read: 10 Must-Follow Steps of Mobile App Development Process
To develop a successful mobile application, many ingredients need to be added in the proper amount. An elegant mobile app UI design, winsome features, and app promotion are the roots of every popular app. But is it sufficient to meet the relevant audience? There is also selecting an app category that decides the future of any application. Most of the app owners forget to research the app category, and this creates the actual difference.
According to a recent survey, most apps build on a fresh idea or for a business purpose. There is a lack of research while talking about the App Store and app category. App owners generally are unaware of the app category that will give them the best ROI. While talking about the app category, it also includes ideation before the app development. In most cases, choosing the right app category is the game-changer for a successful application.
According to Statista, “Gaming apps are the most popular apps based on availability, as about 25 percent of all apps available fit in this category. Gaming is also an app category with a high mobile user engagement. In June 2016, 88 percent of digital gaming time was spent via mobile apps. As of May 2019, Clash of Clans was the top-grossing gaming app, generating more than 1.54 million U.S. dollars in revenue per day.”
The above statics for app categories recites the story of the Apple App Store. But, Google Play also has similar statistics. Gaming-based apps are most popular on both the App Store and Play Store. There are 33 categories of apps in Google Play and 24 categories in the Apple App Store. But only several app categories are useful for users. Also, gaming apps can monetize the revenue by in-app items purchase.
Apart from the Game app category, there are several more which rule the app store. Other most popular app categories are business, lifestyle, education, and entertainment. Business apps are the second most popular app category. It simply emphasizes the importance of a business app.
On the other side, Google Play Store also has the same story. The statistics show the leading Android apps in the Google Play Store in the U.S. in June 2019 (by revenue in millions). In the top ten most popular apps on Google Play Store, 7 out of 10 apps belonged to the gaming industry.
Gaming apps are ruling the app store (iOS, Android). Therefore, gaming should be the best category to target. Usually, smartphone users love to play games on mobile devices due to their portability and easy access. The second most popular app category is the business app, which indicates the importance of an application for business usability. A business with an application can quickly gain the trust of its audience.
According to the total apps, the Gaming app category covers 24.43%. The business app holds the second rank with 10.03%. Education, lifestyle, and education are listed next to them. If your app is in the top 4 app categories, the chances for your app to become a hit are higher.
Developing a successful app is not rocket science, but it seems like a mystery. Being a leading mobile application development company, our team has developed many popular apps. That’s why we are acquainted with the winsome tactics that can elevate the popularity of any app.
The first and foremost thing is ideation. If your application belongs to the problem-solving idea, then it should be lovable by a relevant audience. So take time and research about what are the issues that your target audience is facing. Try to convince the audience that your app is the only way to resolve that issues.
You should identify your target audience first. While figuring out your audience, find out its location, interests, gender, age, education. In short, you should find out everything so you can add features according to your audience. There are many helpful tools to do that, including Google Analytics, Business Website data, and many more.
The second most important thing is to promote your application. You have to fix your budget for the app promotion - app store optimization, Social Media Marketing, and Google Ads. The best platform to promote your app is social media because it is affordable and appealing to users.
Also Read: App Store Optimization: Secrets of Popular Apps and Keywords
Also, never take too long to build your application. Many times app developers want to develop the perfect app. Therefore, they keep adding dozens of features. Having an alluring design is a must, but taking too much time on the idea can make your idea outdated. The best practice is to launch the app with the fundamental (necessary) features only and introduce the rest in future updates. It will reduce the overall development time and cut the app size also.
While we are wrapping this article, one thing is clear that choosing the right app category is a deciding factor in app development. Choosing the right category for your app can transform the output. QA testing is also an important step in mobile app development. Otherwise, all the marketing tactics are just a waste of effort. If your app development partner is not meet the expectation, then the output can hurt you.
Also Read: Awesome! Mobile App Prototyping Tools For Better UX Design
If you are looking to craft a dream application that will be rewarding and profitable, then we are the best choice. Acquaint Softtech is a renowned mobile application development company with having vast experience in creating winner applications. Our dedicated developers are working against the clock to create something beyond expectation. Feel free to share your dream idea with our experts. Drop your inquiry at info@acquaintsoft.com or call us at +1 773 377 6499. And, keep SHARING this piece of content with your bestie.
I love to make a difference. Thus, I started Acquaint Softtech with the vision of making developers easily accessible and affordable to all. Me and my beloved team have been fulfilling this vision for over 15 years now and will continue to get even bigger and better.
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