Android App Development: What to Know Before You Build
Android reaches the most people worldwide — but across thousands of devices. Here is what that reach costs you in testing, and what building for Android involves.
Android runs on the majority of the world's phones, which makes it the reach platform — especially outside the most premium Western markets. That reach comes with a catch: thousands of device models and screen sizes to work across.
Here is what building for Android actually involves, and how it differs from iOS.
Why build for Android?
- Reach — the largest global user base, and dominant in many regions and price points.
- Easier publishing — the Play Store review is faster and more permissive than Apple's.
- More flexibility — fewer restrictions on what apps can do and how they monetise.
- Broad audience — if your users are mainstream or global, Android reaches them.
Native (Kotlin) or cross-platform?
Native (Kotlin) gives the deepest Android integration and best performance for demanding apps. Cross-platform (Flutter/React Native) builds Android and iOS together for meaningfully less and handles most business apps well. If you want both platforms, cross-platform is usually the efficient path — see our native vs cross-platform guide.
Cost and publishing
Android app costs follow the general mobile tiers — roughly €8,000–20,000 simple to €60,000+ complex — plus a one-time €25 Google Play registration (versus Apple's yearly fee). Publishing is quicker than iOS. For the full picture, see what a mobile app costs.
Key takeaways
- Android is the reach platform — the largest global base, dominant in many regions.
- Device fragmentation is the real cost; budget for testing across many devices.
- The Play Store is faster and more permissive to publish on than Apple's.
- Costs match the mobile-app tiers, plus a one-time €25 Play registration.
Frequently asked questions
Is Android cheaper to build than iOS?
Not inherently — the build cost is similar. Android can need more testing effort because of device fragmentation, while iOS demands more polish. Cross-platform development neutralises most of the difference by covering both at once.
Why is the Play Store easier than the App Store?
Google's review is faster and more permissive than Apple's, with fewer restrictions on functionality and monetisation. That is a genuine advantage for getting live quickly — though you should still follow the policies to avoid removal.
Do I need to support every Android device?
No — you target the device and OS versions your actual users have, not all of them. A good team picks a sensible support range based on your audience, balancing reach against testing cost.
Planning an Android app?
Tell us who your users are and what the app should do, and we will recommend the right approach, a sensible device-support range, and a realistic budget. Direct lines below.
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