iOS vs Android Development - Which Platform to Build First in 2025
iOS or Android first? Compare market share, costs, revenue, demographics, and time to market. Expert guidance for your 2025 mobile app strategy.
Overview
The iOS vs Android decision is crucial for app success and budget allocation. iOS dominates in the US (65% market share) and generates 2x more revenue per user, but Android leads globally with 72% market share and dominates emerging markets. This comparison analyzes market share by region, user demographics, development costs, monetization strategies, and time to market. We've launched 40+ apps across both platforms and helped clients choose the right platform for their target audience. The decision depends on your target geography, monetization strategy, and budget constraints.
In-depth Analysis
iOS Development: Building for iOS means targeting iPhone and iPad users with Swift (or Objective-C for legacy code). iOS users are typically in higher income brackets, spend more on apps (2x Android), and upgrade to new devices more frequently. iOS dominates in US (65%), UK (52%), and Australia (59%). Development is streamlined with fewer devices to support (20-30 active iPhone models vs 20,000+ Android devices). Xcode is the official IDE with excellent debugging tools. App Store review is strict but ensures quality. Publishing requires $99/year Apple Developer account. Android Development: Android means building with Kotlin (or Java) for Google Play Store distribution. Android dominates globally (72% market share) and owns emerging markets: India (95%), Brazil (85%), Indonesia (90%). The challenge is device fragmentation - 20,000+ unique Android devices with different screen sizes, OS versions, and hardware capabilities. Android Studio is the official IDE, constantly improving. Google Play review is faster (hours vs days) but has fewer quality checks. Publishing requires one-time $25 fee. Revenue Comparison: iOS generates $85 billion annually in App Store revenue vs $47 billion for Google Play, despite having fewer users. iOS users spend average $50/year on apps vs $23 for Android. However, Android's massive user base (3 billion devices) means scale can compensate. Ad-supported apps often make more on Android due to larger audience. Development Timeline: iOS apps typically take 8-12 weeks for MVP vs 10-14 weeks for Android due to device testing complexity. Android requires testing on multiple screen sizes, OS versions, and manufacturer customizations (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei each have custom Android versions). iOS testing is simpler with predictable devices.
When to Use Each
Build for iOS First if: • Your target market is US, UK, Canada, or Australia • You're building a paid app or subscription-based business • Your target users are professionals, executives, or high-income individuals • You want faster development and easier testing • You need to validate your idea quickly with early adopters • Your monetization relies on in-app purchases Build for Android First if: • Your target market is India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, or Africa • You're using ad-supported monetization model • You need to reach maximum user volume quickly • Your app targets budget-conscious users or emerging markets • You want easier app approval process • You're building for enterprise (B2B apps often start with Android) Build for Both Simultaneously if: • You have budget for both ($100K+) • Your target market is global • You're using cross-platform technology (React Native, Flutter) • You need maximum market reach from day one • You have enough resources for parallel development
Real World Examples
iOS-First Success Stories: • Instagram - Launched iOS-only in 2010, added Android 2 years later • Clubhouse - iOS exclusive for 1 year before Android launch • HQ Trivia - iOS exclusive helped create FOMO and exclusivity • Many productivity apps launch iOS-first (Things, Bear, Fantastical) Android-First Success Stories: • Google Pay - Prioritized Android for Google ecosystem • Many gaming apps in Asia launch Android-first • WhatsApp - Launched on Symbian/Android before iOS • Apps targeting India/Southeast Asia often go Android-first Simultaneous Launch: • Uber - Launched both platforms together to maximize reach • Spotify - Needed presence on both for market domination • TikTok - Launched globally on both platforms • Most venture-funded startups launch both (if using cross-platform)
Feature Comparison
Global Market Share
- 72% worldwide (35% in US
- 70% in Europe
- 85% in Asia)
Average User Revenue
Development Time
App Store Approval
- Stricter - 1-3 day review
- 30% rejection rate first submission
Development Cost
Monetization
- In-app purchases
- subscriptions
- paid apps work well
- Ads perform better
- freemium models
- more payment flexibility
Make the Right Choice
Compare strengths and weaknesses, then use our quick decision guide to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
What makes it great
- Users spend 2x more money on apps and subscriptions
- Smaller device matrix - easier testing and fewer bugs
- Higher quality user base - more engaged and loyal
- Better developer tools (Xcode, Swift Playgrounds)
- Faster development timeline (2-4 weeks less than Android)
- Consistent user experience across all iOS devices
- Higher prestige - 'Launch on App Store' has cachet
Weaknesses
Things to Consider
- Only 27% global market share (miss 73% of users)
- App Store review is strict (30% initial rejection rate)
- $99/year developer fee
- Apple's 30% commission on revenue (15% for small businesses)
- Limited to Apple ecosystem users
- Harder to deploy updates (review required for each)
- More expensive devices mean smaller potential audience
Quick Decision Guide
Find your perfect match based on your requirements
Your Scenario
Your target market is primarily US, UK, Canada, or Australia
RECOMMENDED
Build iOS first
Your Scenario
Your target market is India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, or Africa
RECOMMENDED
Build Android first
Your Scenario
You're building a subscription or paid app business
RECOMMENDED
Build iOS first (iOS users pay 2x more)
Your Scenario
You're using ad-supported monetization
RECOMMENDED
Build Android first (larger audience for ads)
Your Scenario
You need maximum reach with limited budget
RECOMMENDED
Build Android first, then iOS
Your Scenario
You have sufficient budget ($100K+)
RECOMMENDED
Build both platforms simultaneously with cross-platform tech
Frequently Asked Questions
Porting typically takes 60-70% of the original development time if done natively. For example, if your iOS app took 12 weeks, expect 7-9 weeks to build the Android version. This includes redesigning for Android's Material Design, adapting to different screen sizes, rewriting in Kotlin, and extensive device testing. Alternative: Using cross-platform frameworks (React Native, Flutter) from the start lets you launch both in just 20-30% more time than one platform. We recommend cross-platform for startups planning to support both eventually.
iOS generates 80% more revenue than Android despite having fewer users. iOS App Store revenue: $85B/year vs Google Play: $47B/year. iOS users spend average $50/year on apps vs Android's $23/year. However, Android can be more profitable for ad-supported apps due to 3x larger user base. Gaming apps make more on iOS, utility apps perform well on both, and enterprise B2B apps often see more success on Android. Your monetization model matters more than the platform.
Yes, but manageable with proper strategy. Android has 20,000+ device models vs iOS's 20-30 active iPhones. You need to test on multiple screen sizes (4.7" to 7"), OS versions (Android 9-14), and manufacturer customizations (Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI). However, Google's testing tools and responsive design frameworks handle most issues. Budget 20-30% more time for Android testing. We test on 10-15 representative devices covering 90% of users. Tools like Firebase Test Lab automate testing across 100+ real devices.
Yes, especially if using cross-platform development (React Native, Flutter). With cross-platform, launching both adds only 20-30% more time vs one platform. For native development, you need separate iOS and Android teams, doubling cost and timeline. Most venture-funded startups launch both simultaneously to maximize reach. Bootstrap startups often pick one platform first to validate, then expand. We recommend simultaneous launch if budget allows ($80K+) or if your market requires presence on both platforms immediately.
iOS alone reaches: 65% in US, 52% in UK, 59% in Australia, 28% in Western Europe, 5% in India, 10% in Southeast Asia. Android alone reaches: 35% in US, 48% in UK, 95% in India, 90% in Indonesia, 85% in Brazil, 70% in Western Europe. Globally, Android reaches 72% of all smartphone users. In developed markets, iOS coverage is higher. In emerging markets, Android dominates. Consider where your target users are before choosing.
Native development (separate iOS + Android): Initial build $100K-$240K (2x single platform cost), annual maintenance $30K-$60K (updates, bug fixes, OS compatibility). Cross-platform (React Native/Flutter): Initial build $60K-$120K (saves 40-50%), annual maintenance $20K-$40K. Maintenance includes: adapting to new iOS/Android versions (2x/year), fixing bugs, updating third-party dependencies, performance optimization. We recommend cross-platform for most projects to reduce long-term costs.
Best practice: Yes, follow platform conventions. iOS users expect iOS design patterns (bottom tab bar, swipe gestures, specific navigation). Android users expect Material Design (floating action buttons, navigation drawer, bottom sheets). Apps that ignore platform conventions feel 'wrong' to users. However, your brand identity (colors, logo, content) should be consistent. We design apps that feel native to each platform while maintaining brand consistency. Tools like Flutter can help achieve this with adaptive widgets.