With around 2.2 million apps in the App Store and an average of 2,540 new apps released daily, the iOS ecosystem is booming. 

The financial potential of the iOS platform is pretty clear with the company’s consumer spending on in-app purchases, subscriptions, and premium apps which reached $89.3 billion in 2023.

Furthermore, a user defection trend is noticed among Android users, with nearly 18% switching to iOS. This shift is attributed to the consistent performance and innovation offered by iPhones, making them a preferred choice for many.

By and large, iOS apps are known for their top-notch quality and revenue-generating potential, attracting both startups and big brands for investment in iOS app development services. The perks of choosing iOS platforms for startups include user loyalty, market dominance, and most importantly the chance to earn ROI in pretty little time. 

To know more about the benefits of the iOS platform for mobile app development for your startup in 2024, read this article till the end. 

Why choose iOS Platforms for Startups?

1. Better User Experience

Developing a mobile application for iOS offers the opportunity to create a memorable and incredibly convenient user experience within the app. Apple provides guidelines called Dos and Don’ts for UI design, which help designers ensure the quality and performance of the app.

iOS benefits from a closed ecosystem and a unique software development kit, allowing iOS apps to stand out in terms of UI/UX design and functionality. This helps startups create a simple yet appealing user interface that enhances the overall user experience of the application.

In summary, iOS app development enables startups to deliver a significantly better user experience to their target customers compared to developing for Android.

2. Higher Revenue

Despite iOS having a smaller market share compared to Android, it generates significantly higher revenue.

Apple’s total net sales were $383.29 billion in 2023. This is because Apple users are more inclined to spend money on in-app purchases and subscriptions. For example, in 2021, spending on subscription apps from the Apple App Store was $6 billion, whereas it was $2.5 billion on the Google Play Store.

Additionally, consumer spending on iOS mobile apps is projected to reach $161 billion by 2026. This highlights the lucrative potential of the iOS platform for businesses.

For mobile app startups, being part of the iOS ecosystem can be a profitable decision due to the higher likelihood of generating revenue from app sales and in-app purchases. Therefore, investing in iOS app development services can be a wise choice for businesses looking to maximize their earnings potential.

3. Enhanced Security 

iOS offers enhanced security compared to Android, particularly concerning user data security and privacy. This is primarily because iOS operates within a closed ecosystem, while Android is an open-source system.

Apple’s platform security guidelines ensure that every iOS app is protected from unauthorized access, viruses, malware, data leaks, and man-in-the-middle attacks. When submitting an app to the Apple Store, it undergoes evaluation for both UI/UX design and security protocols to identify and address any potential security vulnerabilities.

iOS app security features include encryption through Data Protection, secure boot with hardware and software integration, malware protection, secure operating system kernels, application sandboxing to protect user data, cloud storage security, and a dedicated AES engine for encryption and decryption.

Additionally, iOS offers robust security and testing tools like TestFlight, accessible through an Apple Developer Program account, which costs $99 per year. This fee provides access to multiple benefits, making it a reasonable investment for startups considering the security advantages of iOS app development.

4. Loyal Customers

iOS apps and Apple devices have a devoted customer base because of the top-notch security and user experience they offer. According to a Statista Global Consumer Survey, 92% of iOS users are satisfied with the brand, and 48% are so loyal that they wouldn’t switch to another brand.

Considering the Net Promoter Score (NPS) of iOS is also beneficial. NPS measures customer loyalty towards a brand, with scores higher than zero considered good and scores above 50 exceptionally impressive. As of 2022, the Apple iPhone boasts an outstanding NPS of 72.

For startups competing in the mobile app industry, having the support of such a loyal customer base is crucial for success. Choosing iOS app development can give your app access to this loyal user base, making it easier to grow your user base and revenue.

5. Innovative OS Updates 

Apple regularly releases OS updates to address bugs and enhance platform security, which benefits iOS app developers in improving application security. For instance, iOS 16 introduced exciting new features like home screen page suggestions, focus mode (allowing notifications from selected apps even in Do Not Disturb mode), Messages Collaboration API, and easy setup of shortcuts for apps with Siri.

These iOS updates and feature releases can be leveraged by developers to further enhance the user experience of their applications. The continuous rollout of updates ensures that iOS app development brings lasting benefits to businesses and brands by providing access to new technologies that continually improve application user interfaces and experiences.

As app owners, utilizing innovative and frequent iOS updates helps in keeping users engaged (user retention), attract new users, and ultimately increase business revenue. In summary, embracing iOS development allows startups to capitalize on innovative updates to enhance user experience, interface, and overall application functionality.

6. Easy, Fast, and Cost-effective Development

Choosing iOS app development can be more cost-effective and faster compared to Android app development. This is because Swift, the primary programming language for iOS, is powerful, easy to use, and requires less coding than Java.

Swift accelerates the development process, reducing the time and money spent on UI/UX designers, QA engineers, resources, and developers. Many popular apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Uber, and Lyft are built using Swift.

Additionally, Swift apps constitute 50% of the apps on the App Store, according to a recent survey by Statista. This programming language streamlines development with interactive coding experiences and tools like TestFlight for testing.

In summary, iOS app development is generally more affordable and faster, making it an ideal choice for mobile app startups looking to optimize their budget and streamline their development process.

7. Low Fragmentation and Ease of Testing

The process of testing iOS apps is simpler and quicker compared to Android apps due to lower fragmentation. Apple releases only one update to its operating system each year, and the majority of iPhone users are on the latest iOS version. This reduces testing time and ensures a faster time to market for iOS apps.

Moreover, due to the consolidated iOS market, businesses find it easier to reach a large portion of iPhone users. This motivates them to invest in iOS app development. Additionally, the low fragmentation in iOS results in more scalable apps, and new features introduced by Apple continuously enhance existing apps.

Conclusion

We trust this blog has provided valuable insights into the advantages of choosing iOS app development platform and the benefits of creating an app for your startup. iOS apps offer assured market visibility, profitability, and customer loyalty, which is why they are favored over Android apps. If you’re considering investing in iPhone application development or wish to understand the significance of iOS app development, reach out to a reputable iOS app development company. Their team will simplify the process for you and address all your inquiries promptly.