Despite all the hype about mobile app development, there are a number of unexpected truths about the business. These include the fact that there is a significant gender gap in the overall app user population. Also, the cost of developing a mobile app in India versus the U.S. is considerably higher. And the process of app development can be complicated.

Video streaming is the most popular app category amongst Indian users

Among the various app categories, video streaming is the most popular app category in India. Currently, the total number of app users in India is predicted to reach 154.1 million in 2022. In the forecast period, the user penetration rate is predicted to grow to 10.5% in 2021. The average number of apps on Indian smartphones is 32. In 2017, Indians downloaded over 12 billion apps. In addition, India is the fastest growing market for apps in the world.

Most of the Indian users are aged between 25 and 34 years old. These users spent over three hours on their smartphone per day. In fact, in 2017, Indians checked their phones more than 100 times a day.

The top app categories include videos and movies. These users have access to a wide range of regional content including Tamil, Kannada, Urdu, Malayalam, and Telugu.

Another popular Indian OTT platform is Hotstar. They offer a large library of TV channels, movies, and live shows. They also have a free membership option.
Female app users make up almost 70% of the overall app users in India

Despite having less revenue than China, India's app market is growing fast. Overall, apps were downloaded by an estimated 12 billion users in 2017. In fact, the total number of smartphone users in India is expected to surpass 440 million by 2022, with a projected growth rate of 8.5% per year.

The top three categories in the category of most downloads were games, shopping and entertainment. These were followed by media & video, personalization and tools. The most impressive of these is the fact that they made up more than a quarter of all downloads, while the most popular category, social, had a mere 6% share.

The other important category is the low-end telco or broadband mobile services, which will likely continue to grow at a rate of around 20% over the next few years. These services are likely to prove indispensable to India's burgeoning middle class. While the smartphone is the most popular device for the aforementioned category, the average Indian checks their phone more than 100 times a day.

Cost of mobile app development in India vs in the U.S

Compared to other countries, the cost of mobile app development in India is cheaper. It has an enormous pool of talented developers. They work on a continuous basis to improve their skills in different platforms. The per hour charge is also less. The rate ranges between $225 and $250, which is much lower than the US, UK and Canada.

The cost of mobile app development in India varies according to the type of application. The complexity of the app is a major factor. The cost will also depend on the number of features and customizations. In addition, the type of platform will affect the costs.

The good news is that the costs are significantly reduced if you hire a team of dedicated app developers in India. They can develop a simple application in five weeks. Depending on the complexity, a sophisticated app can be developed in 16 weeks.

You can also hire an in-house team to develop your application. This option is suitable for small businesses with limited budgets. However, it requires infrastructure and a place to house the team.