How long does it take to build a mobile app? The real timeline

“How long does it take to build an app?” The answer ranges from one day to more than six months. It all depends on how you build it and where you want to publish it. Here is the real timeline, without embellishment.

The short answer

• With an agency or a developer, for a custom-built app: often several months, between the brief, the mock-ups, development and testing.
• With a no-code tool: the web app can be online the same day. For the App Store and Google Play, add a few days to a few weeks, depending on the state of your developer accounts.

With a no-code tool, building is almost never what takes longest. It’s your content, and the paperwork with Apple and Google.

The timeline, step by step

Day 1: structure and style

You pick a template suited to your business, your colours, your icon, and the sections of your menu: news, shop, bookings, calendar, contact. At Maymoune, this part takes about half an hour. Every setting shows up immediately in the phone preview.

Days 2 to 7: content

This is the step that takes the most time, and the one that matters most. Introduction texts, photos, products, opening hours, first articles. An app that opens on empty pages disappoints from day one. Two tips to save time:

• If you already have a WordPress site, a YouTube channel or an Instagram account, the app can fill itself: nothing to retype.
• The editor’s AI assistant writes, sums up and translates your texts in seconds.

The day you’re ready: the web app

You click Publish, and the web app is online. Your customers install it from a link or a QR code, without waiting for any review.

In parallel: the Apple and Google accounts

This is the step to start on day one, because it doesn’t depend on you. The Google account needs an identity check that takes a few days. A company’s Apple account needs a D-U-N-S number, which can take up to two weeks if you have to create one. With a recent personal Google account, add a 14-day closed test.

Then: store review

Once the app is submitted, allow a few days of review at Apple and Google. Every step is detailed in our guide to publishing on the App Store and Google Play.

A realistic example

A florist decides on a Monday to launch her app. She picks her template and colours on Monday evening, photographs her bouquets and fills her shop during the week, and publishes the web app on Saturday. She puts a QR code on her counter. In parallel, she opened her Apple and Google accounts on Monday: the app reaches the stores three weeks later. Her regular customers have already been using it for a fortnight.

What makes it take longer

• Waiting for everything to be perfect. Publish a first version, then improve. The app grows live, without going back through the stores.
• Forgetting the developer accounts until the last minute.
• Wanting a feature that exists nowhere. Custom development is counted in weeks or months. More than 190 extensions already cover most needs.
• Launching without a content plan. Plan at least a month of posts before announcing the app.

For the full method, read build a mobile app in 7 steps and the 10 launch mistakes to avoid.

What it costs

At Maymoune, every feature is included in all three plans, detailed on the pricing page:

• Starter, €19 a month: your web app, installed from a link or a QR code.
• Ultra, €59 a month: the same, plus the iPhone, iPad and Android app on the stores.
• Ultra Lifetime, €2,999: one single payment, with publication on the App Store and Google Play included.

To see what a finished app looks like, open the examples on your phone. Other questions are answered in the FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build an app without coding?

The web app can be online the same day. The real time depends mostly on your content: allow a few days for a well-filled app.

How long to get on the App Store and Google Play?

A few days to a few weeks, depending on how long your developer accounts take to open and on Apple’s and Google’s review.

How long with an agency?

For a custom-built app, often several months between the brief, development and testing.

Can I change the app after publishing?

Yes, at any time. Your content changes live, without going back through the stores.

How much does an app cost at Maymoune?

€19 a month for the web app, €59 a month with iPhone and Android, or €2,999 once and for all. Details are on the pricing page.