Mobile app development isn’t a black box. You’ll know what’s happening, when it’s happening, and why decisions are being made. We work collaboratively through a structured process that keeps you involved without overwhelming you.
Here’s what to expect from start to finish.
Mobile app development moves through distinct phases. Each builds on the previous one.
Duration: 1-3 weeks depending on complexity
Before writing any code, we need to understand what we’re building and why. Discovery isn’t optional overhead. It’s insurance against building the wrong thing.
Why it matters: Projects that skip discovery have higher failure rates. The investment in understanding upfront prevents expensive changes later.
Duration: 2-6 weeks depending on complexity
Design happens before development. You’ll see exactly what you’re getting before we build it.
Most clients do design and development together for faster iteration. We can adjust the approach based on your preferences.
Duration: 1-12 months depending on complexity
This is where the app gets built. Development follows a structured approach with regular milestones.
We use a combination of sprints and milestones. Short sprints (typically 2 weeks) keep work focused and manageable. Milestones mark significant functionality completions.
You won’t test every small change. Instead, you’ll receive milestone releases. These are meaningful versions with completed functionality. You test real features, not half-built pieces.
Duration: 2-4 weeks (overlaps with late development)
Testing happens throughout development, but the final phase is dedicated quality assurance.
Milestone releases throughout development mean you’ve been testing along the way. Final testing is confirmation, not discovery.
Duration: 1-4 weeks (review times vary)
Getting into the app stores requires preparation and patience.
We handle the entire process. You don’t need to navigate app store requirements yourself.
Duration: Ongoing
Launch isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of your app’s life.
Development is collaborative. Here’s what to expect from the working relationship.
We make decisions together. You’re not signing off on a finished product. You’re involved throughout.
We respect your time while keeping you appropriately involved.
| Phase | Your involvement |
|---|---|
| Discovery | High - interviews, reviews, approvals |
| Design | Medium-High - review sessions, feedback |
| Development | Medium - weekly meetings, milestone testing |
| Testing | Medium - user acceptance testing |
| Launch | Medium - coordination, approval |
Expect 2-4 hours per week during active development, more during discovery and design.
You won’t wait until the end to see your app. Milestone releases let you test real progress.
A milestone is a version of your app with completed functionality. Not half-built features. Not placeholder screens. Real, working features you can actually use.
This approach means no surprises at the end. Issues are caught and fixed along the way.
How long does mobile app development take? It depends on complexity.
Examples: Information apps, simple utilities, basic tools
Examples: Business tools, content apps, booking systems
Examples: E-commerce, marketplaces, streaming platforms
When development is complete, you receive everything you need.
You own what we build. The code, the design assets, the documentation. Everything.
Expect 2-4 hours per week during active development. More during discovery and design phases. Less is possible but slows down decisions and extends timeline.
Changes happen. Small adjustments are normal. Significant scope changes affect timeline and budget. We’ll discuss impact before proceeding so there are no surprises.
Weekly meetings include progress updates and sometimes quick demos. But we focus your testing on milestone releases where features are complete rather than partial previews.
We’ll explain our reasoning and listen to yours. Technical decisions have tradeoffs we can discuss. Ultimately, it’s your product. We advise, you decide.
Yes. We can collaborate with your designers, developers, or other vendors. We’ll establish clear responsibilities and communication channels.
We’re based in Europe (CET). We accommodate different timezones for meetings and maintain async communication regardless of location.
Have questions about the process? Schedule a call to discuss your specific situation.