Mobile apps play an important role in daily life in today’s digital age. In this post, we will discuss the difference between iOS and Android development based on their market values, budgets, and other considerations to help you choose the best platform for your business.

What is iPhone App Development?

iPhone app development is the process of making mobile applications for Apple’s iOS operating system, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The software is written in the Swift programming language or Objective-C and then deployed to the App Store for users to download. iPhone apps are known for their user interfaces and seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem.

What is Android App Development?

Android app development is considered a process of applications for devices running on Google’s operating system. Android app development processes rely on Java and Kotlin programming languages and these apps build on Android Studio tools. The Android platform is known for its flexibility and customization, catering to a wide range of devices.

Read More: How Much Does it Cost to Develop an Android App?

Major Differences Between iOS and Android App Development

Choosing between iOS or Android depends on the target market/ audience, budget, and features. If targeting premium users or markets like the U.S. and Canada, iOS may be preferable. Likewise, if aiming for a global audience with diverse device options, Android is the way to go.

Global Market Share of iPhone vs. Android Users

According to a report, Android leads in the global market share with 70% of the market share whereas iPhone holds around 30% of the global market share.
Many startups launch first on iPhone rather than on Android in the USA. In 2024 (as of September), the iPhone is leading the mobile market in the US with a market share of 57.05% vs. 42.62% for Android phones. Here’s the latest data on mobile iOS vs. Android market share in the USA:

Year  iOS Android
2017 53.89% 45.23%
2018 54.82% 44.73%
2019 55.23% 44.51%
2020 59.54% 40.27%
2021 58.58% 41.11%
2022 56.74% 42.94%
2023 58.10% 41.46%
2024 57.05% 42.62%

Source: StatCounter

Development Cost Comparison

When comparing the cost of iOS vs. Android app development, the cost of building an iOS Native App is very similar to the cost of building an Android Native App. However, Android has many different devices and sizes, which adds to the complexity and testing requirements for Android apps compared to iOS Apps. It is because of the testing time, that Android app development costs can be a little higher than iOS App development.

On the other hand, iOS has a limited number of devices, which are generally more cost-effective with fewer devices to consider. However, iOS vs. Android development costs depend on the number of features and app complexity.

Read More: How Much Does it Cost to Make an iPhone App

Programming Languages and Tools

The iPhone development has the Swift proprietary language designed for app development while the Android relies on Java or Kotlin. Android developers use Android Studio, a proprietary tool introduced by Google. This integrated development environment has cross-platform support, high readability, and a wide range of development and debugging features.

iOS developers rely on the proprietary XCode tool. The Apple-backed solution provides a variety of bug-fixing tools, supports the entire range of iOS devices, and is easy to get around.

Design Guidelines

Android follows Material Design, a comprehensive guide for visual, motion, and interaction design across platforms and devices. It emphasizes bold colors, grid-based layouts, and responsive animations. The smallest clickable area for Android is 48px.
iOS adheres to Human Interface Guidelines (HIG), which prioritize clarity, deference, and depth. iOS design focuses on simplicity, with extensive use of white space, intuitive navigation, and 44px smallest clickable size.

Pros and Cons of Android vs. iOS Development

When choosing between these two platforms, it is important to understand why it is good for development and what may cause some problems. This knowledge will help you understand how to avoid risks, reduce costs, and create an application with the best experience.

With the differences out of the way, let’s explore the pros and cons of Android and iOS development.

Pros Cons
iOS 
  • High user engagement and spending.
  • A controlled ecosystem leads to easier maintenance.
  • Strong security features.
  • Higher initial development costs.
  • Limited device compatibility.
Android 
  • Broader market reach and device variety.
  • Lower development costs for some applications.
  • Fragmentation can complicate development.
  • Generally lower monetization rates compared to iOS.

Wrapping Up

The Choice between iPhone and Android development depends on the target audience, budget, and business goals. If anyone aims for a broader audience and higher market penetration, Android might be the way to go. For higher revenue per user and a premium user experience, iOS is a better option. Each platform has strengths and weaknesses that will help developers make informed decisions and create successful applications. Whether you choose Android or iOS development, our expert team at Simpalm can help you throughout the development process and will provide the best iOS app development services.

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    Ankit Panwar

    Ankit Panwar is an iPhone app developer at Simpalm. He has 8+ years of experience in iOS mobile application development. In his career, he has worked on different mobile applications related to domains like healthcare, social media, food, Entertainment, Utilities, fintech, Government etc. He has very good technical knowledge of iOS programming in Swift and Objective C with XCode IDE.