How Long Does It Take to Build an App? (Honest Answer)

"How long will it take?" is the first question most clients ask. And most developers give vague answers. Here is an honest breakdown.

The Phases of App Development

Phase 1: Discovery and Planning (1-2 weeks)

This is where we figure out exactly what we are building. User flows, screen layouts, database structure, third-party integrations. Skipping this phase is the number one cause of projects going over time and budget.

Phase 2: Design (1-3 weeks)

UI/UX design — what the app looks like and how users move through it. At Rooted Tech, we often design and build in parallel for speed.

Phase 3: Development (4-12 weeks)

The actual building. Simple app (5-8 screens, no complex backend): 4-6 weeks. Medium app (10-20 screens, Firebase backend): 6-10 weeks. Complex app (real-time features, payments, maps): 10-16 weeks.

Phase 4: Testing (1-2 weeks)

Testing on real devices, fixing bugs, checking edge cases. This always takes longer than expected.

Phase 5: App Store Submission (1-3 weeks)

Google Play approval usually takes 1-3 days. Apple App Store review takes 1-7 days — but can take longer if they request changes.

Realistic Total Timelines

How to Speed Things Up

Come prepared with clear requirements, make decisions fast, start with one platform, and build building an MVP first.

At Rooted Tech, we pad our timelines by 20% to account for real-world surprises. We would rather deliver early than promise fast and deliver late.

Have a project in mind? Get in touch at rootedtech.in/contact and we will give you a realistic timeline for your specific app.