Interested in other digital agencies in Chicago? Check out our top list of firms in the following industries:
Consultancy Firms Healthcare Consultancy FirmsCreative Agencies
Managed IT Services Firms
Marketing Agencies
Mobile app development companies help re-design or build your mobile application from the ground up. Creating an app that delivers tangible and measurable results requires a specific skill set, a deep understanding of the target users, and expertise on the side of the developer.
The mobile app market is growing at an unprecedented pace. And the demand for apps is soaring at an equally rapid rate:
Clearly, creating a mobile app is a necessary part of any business digital ecosystem. But how do you know which mobile app development firm is right for you? Should you outsource the mobile app development in the first place?
With thousands upon thousands of options, it can be tricky to pick a good agency to build your app. But don’t worry – that’s why we’ve curated this list of the best mobile app development companies in Chicago. Our picks are based on a meticulous rating system based on numerous key factors.
What is Mobile App Development?
Mobile app development is exactly what it sounds like – the process of designing, creating and deploying software applications designed to run on mobile devices like smartphones, wearables, and tablets. These applications are optimized to make the most use of mobile devices’ small screens, as well as their functionality, hardware, and features.
Mobile app development companies in Chicago can build many different types of apps, including progressive web apps (also known as HTML5 apps), hybrid apps, and native apps.
The mobile app development process starts with the strategic planning phase. In this crucial step, you determine and define your target audience, precise business goals, and development objects. Your agency partner may also help map out each detail of the app development process, from design and prototyping to development and launch, making sure they align with your strategy.
Right from the beginning, your app should be created with the target users in mind. Developers often use prototypes to generate real-world user data analytics and validate their core design features. In this way, they can help avoid costly omissions and mistakes.
Most mobile app development is broken down into various manageable steps that often include:
Due to skyrocketing popularity and demand for mobile devices, mobile app development has become an increasingly popular medium of software application development. In fact, mobile apps are now an integral element of any modern business.
In fact, mobile app market revenues are expected to reach more than $800 billion by 2022. This rapidly growing digital segment has attracted players from all industries. This is partly because consumers are looking to divorce their long-time electronic of choice —desktop computers —and all types of businesses are taking notice.
How Do I Find the Right Chicago Mobile App Development Company?
To guarantee success for your business, you want to ensure you’ve got the right team working on your app that people will love to download, share, and come back to. You must ensure that the mobile app development company is a good fit in terms of expertise and experience. Don’t forget that you will be in touch with the team regularly, so you want to team up with an agency that can communicate and get along well with you, too.
Here are top tips bound to help you land the best mobile app development company in Chicago:
– Make sure to check the company’s reviews
It’s imperative to investigate what a mobile app development firm has done in the past. Look at what past clients have to say about their experience with the company. As it’s a reasonably expensive service, most clients are willing to shout at mountain tops when wronged or misled.
You can check out review websites, such as Facebook, Yelp, Google, and portfolios of digital agency sites like UpCity, Clutch, and more. Your aim is to find as many raw details and reviews as possible on the Chicago mobile app dev companies you are considering. You may even end up finding another good candidate.
– Technology stack and skillset
What programming language skills, app development tools, and platforms are they experienced with? Ideally, you should opt for a versatile agency that can handle any app development job regardless of the platform, language, or feature set.
– Ask for fresh references
Mobile app development teams sometimes change, as some members leave and new ones enter. Ask for contacts of the most recent clients. Their results and experience with the agency are the closest you’ll get to a snapshot of how a team or agency addresses client needs.
– Dive into cases studies and portfolio
When looking to hire a mobile app development company, consider the specifics of what they’ve recently done for other clients. Perusing their case studies and portfolio will give you a general sense of quality, style, and the kind of results their customers get.
– Ask about their contracts and fees
Now it’s time to get down to brass tacks. What are their fees? Are other services like mobile app design, automation, testing, and maintenance included in the cost package?
Is It Expensive to Develop A Mobile App?
No matter the type of mobile app you want to bring to life, the cost will vary from one mobile app development company to the next. The good news is that the mobile app development market is flooded with agencies, so it’s possible to get your app built cost-effectively.
When it comes to the development costs, apps can be placed into three loosely defined categories: simple, moderate-complexity, and complex app. The fundamental criterion for determining complexity is the number and intricacy of features incorporated into the app.
A simple app has basic functionality and features. These may include search function, admin dashboard, data analytics panel, profile filing/editing feature, user login/sign-up feature, and basic customer support function (often a simple chat feature). It usually takes two to three months to build one.
From our experience, a simple, non-complex mobile app for a single platform will set you back roughly between $20,000 and $50,000.
A complex app infuses an array of advanced features and functionalities into the design, driving up the cost of the product. These features include offline mode, live chatting, 3rd-party integrations (such as pay with Venmo), user experience personalization, payment gateway, video/audio streaming, ad integration, geo-location feature, push notification, and advanced analytics.
In general, a complex mobile app can be pricey, costing well over $100,000. The quality, features, and use match the hefty price tag, and it may take up to eight months to create one.
Moderate-complexity apps sit somewhere in between the two in terms of both feature list and price tag. You can expect to pay between $40,000 and $80,000 for a medium-complexity app that offers features that includes third-party integrations, in-app purchases, push notifications, and so on.
Other factors that may influence the eventual cost of mobile app development include:
What Programming Language Do Companies Use for Mobile App Development?
Chicago mobile app development companies use various programming languages depending on the platform that’s being targeted, client specifications, and team proficiency. Android app development agencies usually have the most eclectic language set.
The type of mobile app you’re gunning for will also influence the choice of programming language. That’s to say some programming languages are specific to native apps, hybrid apps, and web apps.
– Programming Languages for Android App Development
As an open-source software development platform, Android provides developers with an array of programming language options. However, the most common languages are Kotlin and JAVA.
– Programming Languages for iOS App Development
Apple has a tight grip on what tools you can use to make apps for its App Store. Most commonly developers use Swift and, to some extent, Object-C. Swift is actually an open-source programming language that was first supported by Apple in 2014. It’s a fun and expressive language.
– Programming Languages for Hybrid App Development
Hybrid apps are designed to work across platforms, so they must be programmed in cross-platform languages. Think JavaScript, PHP, Python, C++, C, Xamarin and C#, and many others. Some programming languages like MBaas are often used to write the backend of the app.
What Skills Are Needed To Develop Mobile Apps?
Mobile app development teams design, create, test, and deploy software applications for smartphones, tablets, and wearables. However, behind the scenes, you’ll find project managers, account managers, product testers, and other vital team members.
When searching for the best mobile app development agency in Chicago, be sure to look out for the following essential skills:
Other important skills to consider include cloud expertise, user experience, problem-solving, information security, and content creation skills.
How Long Will It Take to Create A Mobile App?
Successfully taking an app from design to ready for launch typically takes three to four months. This timeline, however, doesn’t account for several key mobile app development phases like ideation, product definition, or even design.
Nonetheless, as with the cost, how long it takes to build a mobile app depends on many factors. These include the size of the active development team, the method used to develop the app, the size/complexity of the feature set, the number of platforms, and more.
Often, mobile developers build out both the front end (what the user sees) and the back end (what’s invisible to the consumer) concurrently. However, the back-end development team usually gets a head start so they can tie up core ends like user account management, server-side logic, data storage infrastructure, push notifications, and versioning.
Once the APIs and endpoints have been firmed up, the front-end crew can get cracking. With iterative mobile app development, a good Chicago mobile app development team can pull it off in three to four months. A complex mobile application for multiple platforms, however, may take longer than that, usually up to eight months.
What Is Included in Mobile App Development Services?
The best Chicago mobile app development firms cover all the phases of taking an app idea and building it into a beautiful product. They are offered as either full-service, part of the full-cycle development, or standalone services. The common services included are:
Digital Authority partners puts the client first, always. DAP specializes in creating transformative digital experiences for the client's users, empowering them to compete and grow in a digital-first world. Their data-driven approach encompasses a cutting-edge understanding of e-commerce, marketing analytics, and brand voice. The DAP team has decades of experience bringing success to Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, as well as startups. The company’s main industries are healthcare, financial technologies, and government.
The Punchkick Interactive team works with companies of all sizes to help them connect with their audience in the most authentic manner possible. They blend cutting-edge technology with creative design thinking to consistently wow their customers.
Table XI is known in the mobile app industry for its collaborative way of working. Viewing your business' success as their own, they will strive to blow their competition out of the water. Not only that, but Table XI will teach your employees how to troubleshoot minor issues themselves.
Dom & Tom was originally created to develop apps for the then up-and-coming iPhone in 2009. A twin run business, the company has seen significant growth in the past few years.
Simpalm was founded in Washington DC in 2009, by a group of young business and technology professionals. Since then, the company has grown into a reliable provider of mobile and responsive web solutions. They work with enterprises, non-profits, and startups alike.
Eight Bit Studios is "on a quest to to help apps reach new levels". Their purpose is to spread empathy to shape a better world, doing so through the development of mobile apps and websites. Their values include operating inclusively, working honorably, playing seriously, and leading humanly.
Magora's team comprises of 150 members spread across three worldwide offices. There's a distinct advantage to working with a large company -- depending on your app's needs, Magora can divert one of their many experts to your cause. The company works with both B2B and B2C apps.
A projekt202 company, ORA is centered around emerging technology and innovation. The company boasts full-service capabilities, ranging from experience strategy and design to engineering and brand building.
Codal has worked with some of the largest brands around, but gives the same care and attention to their smaller clients as well. The Codal team works round the clock to make sure you're heavily involved in the ideation, design, and development process.
What makes Ethervision unique is that you'll always deal with the same people when you work with them. This means that nothing is lost in translation, and the company knows the fabric of your organization. Talk about personalization!
Hashrocket focuses on Ruby on Rails, Elixir, React, and React Native development. The team, more technical than the average agency's, is close-knit, and have significant experience collaborating to build large scale apps for top-tier clients.
TangoCode is a women-founded company, formed in 2015. From their inception, they've grown into a company of software engineers, QAs, and solution owners who specialize in leveraging cutting-edge technology to build solutions.
Proof Works, previously SnapMobile, are obsessed with getting results. They claim that most businesses excel in building "wrong thing really well". In contrast, Proof Works leverages a data-driven approach to constantly validate your idea, and uses experiments to ensure your product is the best it can be.
Since KitelyTech's inception in 2009, it has grown to be an industry leader in web design, web development, branding, mobile application development, custom software, and SEO services. The company is founded on principles of transparency, customer service, efficient execution, and organization.
Another highly technical team, Devvela's staff consist of primarily business analysts, developers, and product owners. They specialize at creating products people will love, and that are a pleasure to interact with.
Rightpoint is one of the larger companies on this list, with over 450 employees across 9 offices. They recognize that providing a top-noth user experience is now becoming a top priority for a number of C-suite executives, and specialize in creating positive human interactions that drive meaningful business outcomes.
Vault Innovation believes that a good team is greater than the sum of its parts. Their team of founders, operators, and visionaries has been methodically built up over the years to provide capabilities that exceed expectations.
NEXT/NOW has a new-age unique selling point: their team specializes in 3D animation, virtual and augmented reality, and face recognition. Their team can bring your app to life in ways that not nearly all agencies can!
The employees of Tandem pride themselves on being people driven. They believe that given a common goal, a diverse team can create truly special experiences. Tandem focuses on bringing human-centered design that will engage your customers.
If you're looking for experience, look no further than Alligatortek. Founded in 1993, the company combines old-school know-how with a modern understanding of technology. They are a fantastic choice if you know you need an app, but not much more.
2Base Technologies has offices in Chicago and in Cochin, India. The company is a good pick if you're prioritizing working on something more technical -- they have experience working with the Internet of Things as well as several technology stacks.
LaunchPad Lab's specialty used to lie in web development, but they've now branched into mobile as well. They take a creative and agile approach to building client applications, and engineer them so it is easy to scale up.
Born Techies Solutions specialize in eCommerce and everything that comes with it. With eight years of experience in the field, this team knows how to optimize your conversion funnel, create visually appealing apps, and give you a great shot of making your sales targets.
Run out of startup incubator 1871, Lakeview Labs' small team of 5 has had a remarkable amount of success. The team has partnered with several high-profile clients over the last seven years. Read their 14,000 word app development manifesto to further understand what you're getting when you hire this team!
Doejo is an innovation studio passionate about building brands, platforms, products, and experiences people love. Not only does Doejo boast an impressive portfolio in website development, but the company also handles UX strategy, photography, video, and branding collateral.
Bright Bright Great consider themselves designers first. Their strategies begin from the belief that good design can take a brand to the next level. BBG is a good choice if you're looking to maximize customer engagement. This team understands that designs should be as beautiful as they are functional.
Intersog are particularly good at a couple of things: making sure your mobile app outlasts that of the competition, and making sure that you use the most up-to-date technologies. With twelve years of experience in the industry, the company is adept at maximizing clients' rate of return.
Vokal has experience bringing digital newbies into the loop. If this sounds like your company, look no further for a mobile app development company. Even if you're not technologically minded, Vokal can help you build your back-of-the-napkin idea into a full stack solution.
Cultivate works exclusively with business-to-business companies. Developing a B2B mobile application is a completely different ball game than a B2C app, and Cultivate knows exactly how to optimize an application based on your needs.
We’re a Chicago lifestyle magazine made by Chicagoans. Our mission is to bring engaging and entertaining news to you that focus on everything good our city has to offer. We have made a decision early on to only focus on the positives – there’s plenty of Chicago news out there to scare and terrify you. So smile, read, be happy and enjoy what our amazing city has to offer!
One email. Once a week. Cool Things to Do. Events You Don’t Want to Miss. Fun Stuff in Chicago.
CoolThingsChicago is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For more information, visit our Privacy Policy page as well.
Make sure you don’t miss out on anything cool (free events, local news, local discounts).
Sign up for our newsletter!