How to create an app? Make an app in 8 simple steps (Guide for 2025)

02.

Conduct in-depth research

Once you have defined your app idea, you can proceed to conduct detailed research and study. This step is incredibly important as it gives you a lay of the land. From gauging the demand for your app idea to analyzing your prospects, a detailed study will strengthen your app project in many ways.

Your research can be aimed at the following:

• Establish the uniqueness and effectiveness of your app idea.
• Demarcate suitable markets for the app.
• Determine the targeted location and audience.
• Identify your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.

This meticulous approach will enable you to redirect your effort, resources, and energy in the right direction. For instance, if there is not enough demand for your app concept then you can pivot at this stage. Similarly, analyzing the competitors will help you understand what works for them and what does not.

You can opt for several popular research methodologies. This includes:

• Internal data analysis: Use your own database to study your market and customer personas.
• Surveys: Conduct online and offline surveys to study the market, customers, etc.
• Focus groups: Interview a small number of your audience segment and collect feedback.
• SWOT analysis: Determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Conduct primary and secondary research and collect all the information you can. Get initial feedback and use existing resources to gain deeper insights about the industry you are planning to target.

03.

Outline app features and create mockups

Defining your app’s scope is an important precursor to development. You can apply your research findings at this stage and create an outline of your app. Discuss your app’s core purpose and functionalities with the stakeholders and create a list of your offerings.

Remember, adding unnecessary features will only cause clutter and confuse your end-users. Therefore, it is important to stay focused on your app’s core features and functionalities. Incorporate only those features as you proceed to create your app.

For instance, some features remain common across several apps. This may include the following:

• User authentication and login
• User profile creation and management
• Content search and filtering
• Side-menu and bottom bar menu
• Push notifications
• In-app purchases
• In-app advertising
• In-app chat support
• Analytics and reporting

Note that several of your app’s features will be based on your app type. For example, checkout and shipping for eCommerce apps, course subscriptions for education apps, appointment scheduling for clinic apps, menu ordering systems for restaurant apps, and so on.

Once your app idea is fully defined, you can create caricatures of the same. Many businesses also prefer creating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) at this stage. However, you can start by creating skeletal frameworks of the app. This may include the following:

• Wireframe: A low-fidelity blueprint that gives an idea of the basic architecture of the app.
• Mockup: A medium-fidelity visual draft of the app that showcases the design and workflows.
• Prototype: A high-fidelity app demo that allows interactive preview of screens, design, and features.

These frameworks will help you establish a simple layout of your app. It allows all your stakeholders to get a vivid picture of your app project and get on the same page as you. App prototyping is also used by developers to endorse the app idea and generate funds for the development process.

Depending on your goal, you can go with one or more methods listed above. While wireframing will need simple design tools, you can use more sophisticated ones for interactive prototyping. We recommend using AppMySite as you can create high-fidelity app previews for free here.

Again, the exact process of mobile app design depends on your approach. If you are coding your app from scratch, you can use UI/UX design tools to accomplish your goals. This includes tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and so on.

However, if you are using an all-inclusive low-code or no-code development platform, you should be able to design your app during the due process.

Once the design is ready, start developing the app with your choice of tech stack. Use the layout as a foundation and build your app around it. Create screens and add elements like buttons, menus, navigation bars, and so on.

Incorporate features of your choice in the codebase and keep developing the functional elements of the app. Remember, the exact steps of development will depend on the programming language and platform used for development.

4.2: How to design your app with a no-code tool?

For a sophisticated and no-nonsense approach, you can design and build your app with no-code app maker like AppMySite. You will be able to put your app together in minutes without any coding. Here are the steps to design and build an app with AppMySite:

• Create an account on AppMySite and get onboard. Select the product bundle that suits your goals. Enter the basic details and sign in to start building your app.
• Start designing your app with easy point-and-click tools. Create your app icon and splash screen or upload your existing designs. Keep previewing your app on a live emulator as you progress. It is as easy as it gets.
• Style your app’s theme and customize it to align it with your brand colors, typography, and so on. Create a bottom bar and menus with easy toggle options. Just a few steps and your app navigation will come to life.
• Preview your Android and iOS app on AppMySite’s simulators as well as real devices. Test the look, feel, and functionalities of the app and make modifications, if required.

The best thing about building an app with AppMySite is that you can manage everything from design to development under one roof. You can also test your fully built apps and submit them to the app stores.

05.

Create your mobile app

By this stage, you should be ready to choose your app development approach. First, decide on the type of app you want to create. The options are as follows:

• Based on OS: Based on the operating system, you may want to create Android apps, iOS apps, or both. We recommend launching apps for iOS as well as Android. It will give you access to a wider and more diverse user base.
• Based on app type: Based on your goals, you can choose to create native apps, cross-platform apps, progressive web apps (PWAs), or hybrid apps. While native apps ensure better performance, the latest technologies have bridged the gap. You can choose your preferred app type accordingly.

Next, it’s time to design and create your app. You can either use no-code tools to create your app without coding, or build an app from scratch. We’ve explained both options in the following sections.

5.1: Option #1: Create your app without coding

No-code app development allows you to overcome time, budget, and resource constraints. This is the fast and easy route. It is suitable for beginners as well as developers. For instance, AppMySite simplifies and democratizes app development and enables you to create your own app in minutes.

Here, you can create any type of app in a completely DIY (Do-It-Yourself) environment. No prior technical or coding expertise is required to develop the apps. Everything from development to deployment can be managed under one roof.

Notably, no-code app development has the following advantages:

• Eliminates the need to hunt for talent and hire a team of resources.
• Makes app development super fast, easy, and accessible for all.
• Enables beginners to build affordable and low-maintenance apps.

Remember, some no-code platforms offer limited customization and scalability. Go with a tool like AppMySite that allows you to turn any idea into an app. For instance, it offers the following products:

5.2: Option #2: Code your app with native or cross-platform technologies.

This is the traditional method of app development. It involves building an app from scratch by writing code. Programming languages, dedicated IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), and technological frameworks are used to code and write an app.

Here are the options for traditional app development:

• Code your own app from scratch using programming languages.
• Hire freelance app designers and developers to build your app.
• Outsource app development to a custom app development agency.

The list of technologies will depend on the type of apps you want to create. For example, if you want to create Android apps, you can use programming languages like Java and Kotlin. The apps can be built on Android Studio, the official IDE for Android. Knowledge of XML is considered essential for creating Android app interfaces.

Similarly, programming languages like Swift and Objective-C can be used to code iOS apps. You can build the apps on Xcode, the official IDE of Apple. For traditional iOS app development, it is important to have knowledge of Interface Builder, Auto Layout, UIKits, and other related tools.

Additionally, knowledge of app architecture, databases, version control, etc., is required for developing custom applications. Platforms like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin can also be considered for cross-platform application development.

If you’re not completely familiar with app development technologies, working with a no-code tool is a better option. You also have the option to use an AI-GPT tool like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc to provide you the code needed to build an app. However, you must have some basic understand of coding to follow along and build the app.

06.

Test your mobile app

Testing is an important step in app development and quality assurance. Test your mobile apps rigorously before submitting them to the app stores. It will help you eliminate the shortcomings at this stage and provide a flawless version to your users.

For instance, the app can be tested for the following elements:

• UI/UX: Test the visual elements of the app. Ensure design consistency and easy navigational flow.
• Functionality: Test the features and functionalities of the app. Ensure everything works as intended.
• Performance: Test the performance of the app in terms of response time, speed, adaptability, etc.
• Security: Test the app for potential vulnerabilities, crashes, data breaches, and so on.
• Compatibility: Test the app’s compatibility and adaptability across various operating environments.
• Integrations: Test the performance and flow of the tools integrated with the app.

In addition to the above elements, your app may require testing of other aspects like usability, network connectivity, data accuracy, and so on. Prepare your test cases accordingly and perform thorough checks for every element.

Notably, AppMySite allows you to preview every step of development and test your apps on emulators as well as real devices. For other approaches, you can adopt the traditional methods of testing. This includes:

• Automated testing: It involves the usage of specialized tools and scripts. Pre-defined test cases are used to test the app and verify its functioning and performance.
• Manual testing: This process involves human testers manually executing the test cases and exploring the various aspects of the app including design, performance, features, and so on.

Depending upon your use case, you can also use testing tools to examine your app. This includes testing software and tools like Appium, LambdaTest, XCTest, Espresso, and so on.

Test your applications and collect the responses and feedback. Implement changes and test again if required. You can also receive feedback from beta testers regarding the overall design and functionality of the app. Perfect every aspect of your app and make it ready for launch and distribution.

While the exact process of app submission differs from one platform to another, here are some steps that you can take to initiate app submission:

• Create your developer accounts on Google and Apple and pay the fees for the same. It is a primitive requirement for submitting your apps to these marketplaces.
• Next, go through the guidelines for Google Play and Apple App Store submissions and make sure you have what is required.
• Create and compile assets like app build files, app descriptions, screenshots, preview videos, privacy policy documentation, etc., as needed.
• Generate certificates and fill in details related to your app. You can follow the prompts and get help from the platform’s official documentation.
• Go on to upload your apps and submit them for review.

Note that it might be easier to get your app live on Google Play as compared to the Apple App Store. However, it depends on your app’s compliance with the guidelines.

Alternatively, submitting PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) will be simpler. You can host the app on a web server and link a web domain to it. Distribute your app the way you want and make it available for your users.

Else, simply create and launch your apps with AppMySite. The platform allows you to publish Android and iOS apps seamlessly. Here, you can also publish iOS apps without a MacBook and push new versions of the app with only a few clicks. Thus, launching and updating apps becomes a breeze.