The development of a mobile app doesn’t stop with its launch; in reality, it’s only the beginning. Even the best-designed apps will inevitably encounter glitches and bugs after launch.

If left unresolved, these issues could negatively impact the user experience, lead to poor reviews, and result in a decline in user engagement. This is where regular maintenance for apps is essential. It’s not just an important job, but also a vital requirement.

However, the most important question to consider is what is the android app maintenance cost, and the factors to consider for android app maintenance cost 2025?

Explore this comprehensive guide to learn about the importance, android app maintenance cost and factors affecting the cost of the maintenance. Let’s make sure your app’s shine continues to shine in the ever-changing mobile app world.

What is Android App Maintenance?

Android App Maintenance is the ongoing process of improving, upgrading, and maintaining the app following its launch. This includes fixing bugs, implementing speed enhancements, ensuring compatibility with the latest platforms and operating systems, and implementing security upgrades and improvements to existing features. Regular maintenance ensures that the application remains functional, safe, user-friendly, and secure, while also adapting to the changing requirements of users and technological advancements.

Types Of Android App Maintenance

Android app maintenance can be addressed in various ways. It’s generally divided into four primary categories.

Corrective Maintenance

Corrective Maintenance refers to fixing any errors or bugs that affect the way an app operates. These can be minor, such as a button that is not aligned, or more serious, such as crashes in apps. For instance, a glitch could cause a drop in an online store’s revenue. For example, a major glitch in a shopping application could result in lost sales. Proper maintenance addresses problems as they occur and typically accounts for 20% to 30% of the maintenance cost, as issues require prompt attention.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance is designed to prevent the possibility of future issues. It can involve refactoring code, applying security patches, and preparing documentation. A database query optimization might be an example. If the indicators of possible problems are discovered and addressed in advance, it can save unexpected costs and emergencies.

Perfective Maintenance

The addition of new functions, the updating of UI/UX, or enhancements to performance are all essential to maintaining your business perfectly. One example is an enhancement to chatbots or a more refined payment method that increases engagement. Perfective maintenance typically accounts for 30% to 40% of the cost, as it is necessary to address new user demands, resulting in innovations and improvements, to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.

Adaptive Maintenance

Adaptive Maintenance helps ensure that apps remain in sync with the latest technologies, such as OS upgrades (e.g., iOS 19, Android 16 in 2025) and APIs, as well as technological advancements. In other words, changing an app to accommodate folding devices or new API protocols can prevent the app from becoming obsolete. This segment, which accounts for 20-30% of the cost, is crucial for complying with store policies and for maintaining functionality across various ecosystems.

Why Is Android App Maintenance so Important?

If maintenance services for different applications didn’t benefit their owners, then these services would not be available. However, this isn’t our situation, and we’ve gathered the most fundamental aspects of why maintenance costs for Android apps generally pay off.

Reducing the Number of Uninstalls

An essential measure for apps that have been removed is something all owners of digital business applications are fighting. This isn’t surprising because if an app isn’t relevant or doesn’t meet the user’s requirements, then there’s no reason to store it on a personal device.

An app with a few imperfections or bugs, or just plain issues, prompts users to hit”Delete” or click the “Delete” button. Additionally, if the application no longer provides helpful features to users, it can increase the likelihood of losing customers.

App maintenance can help you keep your app in good condition by addressing new problems or fixing bugs, as well as introducing new functionality to meet user requirements. This means that you don’t just pause the application, but also decrease the number of users who leave the app.

Offer Customers a Better Experience

The primary task for any business owner is to develop an application that can inspire awe in its users. You must continually evaluate the performance of your digital product and monitor your clients’ feedback to ensure optimal results. A successful app offers users a unique experience. By combining reviews and the latest fashion trends, you can develop new features that will enhance the lives of your users.

This is the principal element that determines the price of app maintenance, as it’s an ongoing procedure that’s conducted in tandem with analysis. It also allows you to incorporate new ideas throughout the app’s lifespan.

Hold Competitive Edge

The mobile app market is as intense as any other, with more than 4 million mobile apps competing for attention. The lack of support for a long time is what your competition is waiting for, and they’ll profit from it.

The regular updates, along with the introduction of new features, help you stay ahead in a continuous competitive environment. This can only be achieved through the maintenance of apps. These services will enable your app to impress its users consistently and not fall behind rivals in the race for attention.

Keep a Positive Brand Image

Nothing is more damaging to a company’s brand and image than an unmaintained mobile application. Refraining from the burden of the android app maintenance cost could result in a wave of resentment, as customers will perceive in this choice an indifference to their experience. This could result in lower scores and negative reviews about your app, as well as significant user attrition. This isn’t a requirement by any business owner, but long-term support for your application is the only method to ensure that your reputation is perfect.

Steps Included in Android App Maintenance

Maintenance for mobile apps involves many steps. We’ve covered the complete maintenance process for android apps in just five steps.

Audit and Monitor App Performance

Analyzing and monitoring the performance of mobile applications is the initial step. The analysis must be comprehensive and founded on

  • User Satisfaction and Feedback
  • Loading Time
  • Reported Problems
  • Error Rates
  • NPS (Net Promoter Score)

All of the above can be utilized to gather valuable insights and make data-driven choices that improve the app’s performance and user experience.

Fixing Bugs, Errors, and Glitches

Identifying and resolving issues is among the most crucial steps in maintaining mobile apps. Failing to address glitches and bugs can irritate your customers to the point that they will switch to your competitors. Therefore, you must address any glitches or bugs reported by your customers.

Keep up-to-date with the Latest Market Trends.

Being aware of the latest market developments is equally crucial. Companies must provide their customers with a “wow” moment on the first encounter. The market trend is constantly evolving, and businesses must remain aware of these changes to stay competitive by delivering on customer expectations.

Add Essential Features

Companies are constantly evolving and expanding by introducing new features to their online products. Incorporating new features into your app is considered a best practice in mobile application maintenance. Specific methods can be followed to create a list of the features you need to include.

  • Read user reviews, ratings, and feedback
  • Market Research
  • A/B Testing
  • Analyze and study the competitors
  • MVP Approach
  • User Testing
  • Conduct Surveys

Quality Analysis and Testing

Then, but not least, the staff, comprising QA and testers, was in action. After you’ve made all the required changes to your mobile app, it’s time to test the app and ensure it meets high-quality standards.

How Much Does Android App Maintenance Cost?

Android app maintenance cost is around 20.7% of your initial development costs. To keep your app running efficiently and ensure it remains appealing, consider monitoring monthly and daily active users.

It will provide understanding of the uninstalls, the issues users are experiencing, and other engagement with the app. You may have launched an app successfully if uninstalls aren’t too high, and DAU and MAU are at a high level. The app’s maintenance is all you have to complete in your maintenance process. If these numbers do not match the required numbers, you may need to reconsider your maintenance strategy.

Android App Maintenance Cost Based on Different Factors

There are many different aspects of android app maintenance where you must invest your cash. In this section, we will examine the monthly and annual maintenance costs for apps, depending on various variables.

This will enable you to calculate the cost depending on the maintenance tasks. We will review the costs associated with maintaining Android apps in detail, so you are aware of the time and why it’s essential to invest in Android maintenance services for your app.

Hosting Charges to Deploy Your App

You’ve learned the steps needed to build an app, but you’ll need to know about the hosting expenses to put it on a server. When calculating maintenance costs, this is among the major expense heads that must be considered. You can also determine the resources required by your server based on the application’s usage data, such as handling audio, video, or text.

If you plan to expand the capacity of your server, you will incur additional costs. In short, the annual maintenance cost may range from AED 70 to AED 320 for hosting servers.

There are numerous cloud-based hosting services available to help reduce the costs associated with server hosting. For instance, you can discover Amazon Web Services (AWS), which typically has lower costs than other servers since you only pay for the services you utilize.

Bug Fixing and Updates to Implement Benchmarks

Fixing bugs is also an aspect of the mobile app development process. However, updating your app regularly will improve the efficiency of your app and improve the user experience. There isn’t a cost-free solution to fix issues or update your application. It’s contingent on the level of complexity of the app as well as what the app needs to do with the updates.

For instance, if it’s a basic bug fix, you’ll pay approximately AED 50. However, when it’s a critical feature that you need to update, it will cost you between AED  1,000 and AED 2,000, since developers can take between two and three weeks to fix the problems.

Functional Services to Provide a Better User Experience

These services encompass actions you can take to interact with users of your app, such as sending push notifications, emails, SMS messages, and in-app chats. To do this, you require third-party integration and must subscribe every month.

If you’re using functional services for your application, you can invest approximately AED 4,000 annually to ensure that you provide the highest quality user experience.

API Integration to Ensure Seamless Functioning

Like functional services, it is essential to maintain the integration services from third parties or APIs you’ve utilized within your application. For instance, you could have used Facebook integration to facilitate easy login via social media, and Google Maps integration for real-time localization services.

If there is a change or update to the API, you will also have to modify your application to reflect the change. Therefore, maintaining your API will cost approximately AED 5,000 per year.

IT Support to Reduce Downtimes

You may be aware that iOS or Android platforms update their software frequently. Therefore, when you launch your application using these systems, you must be aware that you’ll need to keep your app updated to ensure it remains compatible with the latest software updates.

To implement these changes to the operating systems and make the app more compatible, you’ll need approximately AED 10,000 per year. This includes maintenance expenses.

Business Analytics to Monitor App Performance

After you’ve launched your app, you’ll continuously monitor its performance to identify which features are most loved or most used by your app’s users, and which features are being overlooked. To ensure the popularity of your app, you’ll need to track the rates of engagement, conversion, retention, and churn.

Additionally, it is also possible to monitor glitches, crashes, and other problems through analytics tools like Google Analytics. It is available in two plans: one is entirely free, and the second plan, Google Analytics Premium, provides crucial insights; it costs AED 150,000 annually.

Payment Gateways for Hassle-free Payments

If you’ve created an eCommerce application, an on-demand delivery application, or an application that requires integration with a payment gateway for online payments, you’ll also need a monthly subscription fee. It could be as high as AED 149 a month. Additionally, you will be required to pay a specific fee for every transaction made using your application.

Technical Intervention Cost

Most app owners steer clear of including this expense in their app’s maintenance costs calculation. Monitoring and operating IT-specific actions are an integral part of the app’s maintenance cycle.

If you are a part of an in-house mobile application development group, you don’t have to pay for any additional app maintenance costs. If you choose to outsource your maintenance, consider the cost of technical intervention, which typically ranges from AED 35 to AED 50 per hour.

Be aware that the technical intervention cost can depend on the location of the mobile application developer. This is something we’ll discuss in the next part, and we’ll be able to inform you of the amount you need to pay the developers based on their geographical location.

Tips on How to Lower Android App Maintenance Cost?

Many factors impact the android app maintenance cost. There are a few strategies that app developers can utilize to reduce the costs of supporting mobile apps:

Invest in a Cross-Platform App

When it comes to choosing a platform for app development, there are two primary options: native and cross-platform. Native apps are specific to a particular platform and require native apps that run on different operating systems, such as Android, iOS, or Windows. However, cross-platform apps can operate on various operating systems, thereby saving time and money on maintaining multiple applications.

Focus on Building an MVP First

Minimum viable products (MVPs) offer the smallest solution to the problem you are trying to solve and come with basic functions. It enables you to understand the needs of your customers, gather their feedback, and adjust the final version to meet their needs. You can also examine your competition or trends and then update your app accordingly. To keep the cost of app development and maintenance lower, it is worthwhile to create an MVP first.

Implement Agile Development Methodology

Agile development methods deliver products within short time frames (sprints), which help gather feedback from users frequently and early, thereby reducing the need for large-scale updates. Additionally, agile development requires less documentation compared to traditional development methods, resulting in lower costs.

Talk About Strategy with App Development Partner

A reputable mobile app development firm can provide high-quality maintenance for your app at any time. It is possible to discuss all costs related to the maintenance of your app with the company providing the service, and they can help you understand all the hidden costs, organize your spending budget, and make informed choices.

Hidden Android App Maintenance Cost

The hidden android app maintenance cost include storage costs for data and support for devices that are not supported by the current device, as well as updates to third-party libraries in compliance with ever-changing regulations, and customer service systems. These frequently overlooked costs can have a significant impact on your budget over the long term and your overall maintenance strategy.

Data Storage and Bandwidth Fees

Although hosting costs are usually estimated, many people are unaware of the costs associated with managing user data and distributing media content. Applications that upload images, videos, files, or live updates can incur significant bandwidth and storage costs, particularly as the number of users increases.

Legacy Device Support

Being able to work with the older Android platforms and versions of operating systems prolongs testing times and speeds up solving efforts. Device fragmentation is a unique Android issue that incurs costs for QA that are not disclosed, necessitates UI modifications, and requires specific code to ensure compatibility with various devices.

Dependency and Library Updates

Apps often rely on third-party libraries and SDKs to perform analytics, payments, social logins, and more. Based on the Native Mobile App Development firm in the UAE, these libraries are frequently updated, deprecated, modified, or removed. It is essential to stay up to date with these updates, as even the most critical features of your software remain unchanged.

Compliance and Legal Changes

Privacy regulations, such as GDPR and the CCPA, or evolving Google Play standards, may require unanticipated changes to the way your app handles information, as well as permissions or consent. These changes often need legal advice, technological updates, and recertifications. This can result in unexpected costs.

Customer Support Tools and Teams

Maintaining a website requires handling user feedback as well as bug reports and complaints. Making investments in support tools (e.g., Zendesk, Intercom) and ensuring an active team are crucial, but often not considered. Lack of support can decrease user retention; however, solid support is a constant cost that is not visible to the user.

Why do Android Apps Require Ongoing Maintenance, OS Updates, and Compatibility?

Maintaining an Android app is crucial for ensuring it runs securely, safely, and efficiently. The reason for ongoing maintenance is vital, and to address the issues you have identified:

OS Updates and Compatibility

Android is an open-source operating system that receives regular updates, and Google regularly launches new releases of Android (for instance, Android 12, 13, and so on). These updates can include new features, security enhancements, and new APIs. Your software needs to be updated to be compatible with the latest OS versions.

Device Fragmentation

Android is compatible with a broad variety of devices. Each sports an individual screen size and hardware capabilities, as well as specifications. The fragmentation of the device can cause issues with the app’s performance or design across different devices. For instance, an app could run smoothly on a top-end device, but malfunction or crash on older or less expensive devices.

Users’ Expectations and Feature Updates

User expectations shift, and they are demanding new features, improvements, and more user-friendly experiences. To remain relevant, as the number of users on your app grows, you need to stay current on the latest trends, user feedback, and the latest innovations in the industry. Engaging dedicated developers to develop new features, upgrade existing ones, or redesign certain areas of the application can affect the app’s usability and popularity.

Security Patches and Bug Fixes

As security vulnerabilities are increasingly discovered, it’s crucial to address your application’s security issues promptly to prevent attacks. Hackers could target apps with old or unpatched security vulnerabilities, which could compromise users’ private information or create other issues. Fixing bugs is another essential aspect of maintenance.

Performance Optimization

The app’s performance may decline over time due to various issues, including excessive resource usage, database inefficiencies, and inefficient coding. Engage mobile app developers to perform regular performance tuning to ensure the app runs smoothly, loads quickly, and offers a pleasant user experience.

Why is EmizenTech a Cost-effective Company to Choose for Maintaining Your App?

Are you aware that without regular updates, most apps have lost their market status? It’s real. Therefore, to make your app more successful on the market, you need to upgrade it. Are you considering a service that will help you maintain your application? We are here to assist you.

EmizenTech is among the top providers of android app development services. With a team of experienced developers, we offer efficient maintenance of mobile apps. Why are we the most effective? We invite you to read our reviews and contact our team, who can guide you through the latest information and updates.

Conclusion

With the market for apps expected to reach AED 613 billion in 2016, we must not overlook the risks associated with maintenance, including user churn, security breaches, and the potential for delisting apps from the market. Understanding the causes of these costs and their impact enables businesses to allocate their resources more efficiently.

 

Maintaining mobile apps proactively can significantly reduce expenses. Utilize automation features whenever feasible, and outsource strategically. Furthermore, modular design is excellent. Review the maintenance of your app after launch, as well as your app’s maintenance budget, and consult with experts who can help you find ways to minimize expenses. Do not let poor maintenance derail the chances of your app’s success.

FAQs

How does Android app maintenance cost?

The Android app maintenance cost ranges from AED 1,000 to more than AED 3,000 per month, based on the complexity of the app upgrades, the infrastructure backend, and support for the device.

What are some key factors that impact the Android app maintenance cost?

A few of the elements that influence the Android app maintenance cost include: the app’s specifications, the business model, the UI/UX features used, and the app’s maintenance requirements, as well as the locations of the team that develops it and the development team’s location, among other factors.

How do you calculate the app maintenance costs?

Maintenance costs are based on the complexity of the application features, updates to features, and security updates to fix bugs, as well as server hosting fees. Typically, they are 15 to 20%of the development cost per year.

What are some ways to lower maintenance costs?

To reduce maintenance costs, consider selecting the appropriate development platform, automating tests, analyzing app performance, staying current with technological trends, outsourcing non-critical tasks, and incorporating user feedback to ensure continuous improvement.