March 27, 2017 When you’re about to create an app for a low cost, your app developer will ask about the first platform you want your app to be built in. Should it be on Android or iOS? Should it be on both platforms instead? If you think whatever you choose first will lead to the same results since they’re almost similar in all aspects, you need to stop and rethink about your chosen platform. Choosing the best platform for your app takes time as you’ll need to study how compatible each is to your app’s market, the budget you have, the way you want to monetize, and so on. Read on to know more about the differences between Android and iOS. Demographics Knowing where your target market is will make it easier for you to effectively deliver your app in a way that would suit your ideal users may it be through advertisements or pricing. Android beats iOS when it comes to the title of being the largest global platform. This may be caused by its availability in various devices in different models and price ranges. But what makes it different from iOS is its market coming mostly from developing countries and lower income areas. The market for iOS seems high-value as most of its users are younger; have a high level of education; have greater app engagement; and can easily afford to pay for apps and in-app purchases. Revenue models How would you like to make money through your mobile application? Android works better for ad-supported apps while iOS goes for users who are willing to purchase apps. Development time The time it will take for your project to be finished shouldn’t be overlooked as your app’s development cost will depend on this. When it comes to speed, Android is 2-3 times slower than iOS because of a few reasons such as the number of codes needed for Java (more than Objective-C) and the testing times it will take for different Android devices. Add here the slower processing of the Android emulator and compiler, complex codes needed to make layouts and animations, Android fragmentation, and so on. Creating an iOS app does take time too depending on how skilled your app developer is. What makes it different from Android is its approval process, which takes around 7 days. Android apps don’t go through reviews anymore so they are easier to publish. Release cycles Since your app will be dealing with different devices in Android, it may be difficult for it to adopt the latest OS updates. It is locked down on carriers and Own Equipment Manufacturers and this puts it behind iOS when it comes to high adoption rates. Development costs Costs will depend on the time of development. Android’s longer development time makes it more expensive than iOS. Users Your app won’t lack users whether it works on either of the two platforms. Android beats iOS when it comes to the total number of users. However, the latter has more engaged users. Development language Android uses Java which could be the easier language to use for developers. Using this also enables developers to branch out into PC software development. The iOS platform uses Objective-C, which is thought to be a cleaner but time-consuming coding language. The platform also uses the new programming language called Swift, which was introduced in 2014. Integrated Development Environment (IDE) IDEs are applications that facilitate mobile app development and each platform has their own. Android before used the Eclipse IDE and later on shifted to their very own Android Studio. Apple has the Xcode IDE used to develop software for their products including iOS. Testing Testing on Android seems to be harder because of its qualities as an embedded system. This limits the developer to try its features during development, but only when it’s deployed to a device or an emulator. Another reason is Android’s numerous external dependencies such as hardware, databases, and network connections that will be different from one device to another. This is not the case in iOS wherein its coding platform and affiliated tools enable the developer to test the apps easily while in the process. Requirements Building an app requires the proper tools for developers. An Android app can be created through a Windows PC, Mac PC, and Linux. However, an iOS app can only be made with a Mac. Standard Design Each platform has a certain set of guidelines the designer needs to follow. Android has Google’s Material Design defined with a bright color pallet, shadows on elements for “height”, and square shapes over rounded corners. Apple has a standard flat design which doesn’t have an official name but commonly known as iOS 9 Design. It is defined by its muted color pallet, translucence for depth, and an all-over minimalist design. Submission fee Before you can release your app in the market, you need to pay the submission fee. Android has a $25 one-time fee and iOS requires you to pay for $99 every year. Typography It’s obvious that both platforms use different default fonts. Android has Roboto as its default typeface and Noto for languages unrecognized by Roboto. Then, iOS uses San Francisco. Navigation One easy thing to notice about the two platforms is the way you can navigate around the apps. Android has a visible set of Back, Home, and Overview buttons while iOS doesn’t display this and instead, uses the tab bar for main navigation. Creating an app isn’t going to be always about which is the better platform between the two. In the end, it’s always going to be about your target users who’ll help you determine if your app is a success. The differences mentioned are guidelines to know where your app should be launched first especially if your budget is limited. To help you decide better, you can contact MillionaireApps.com to know which is the best platform recommended for your app and know how you can create one for an affordable price. Millionaire is a company based in Austin, Texas reaching other cities in the state such as Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston. But, it doesn’t only stop in Texas. They also serve markets in Chicago, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and San Jose. You can surely ask for an estimate right away if you’re around these areas.