Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Mobile Apps: Which is right for you?

For some companies, a mobile app is a key business differentiator, their bread and butter. While not business critical for others, it is an equally important version of their desktop software solution. Whether we’re addressing the first scenario or the second one, one of the first questions you will need to ask if you’re considering building a mobile app of your own is whether you go with a custom or an off-the-shelf one.

And this is what we’ll be tackling in our blog post. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice depends on your business’s needs, goals, and resources. We’ll explore the key differences between custom and off-the-shelf mobile apps, and outline the scenarios where each option is most suitable.

What are the main advantages of custom mobile apps?

1. Tailored: a custom app can be designed from the beginning to specifically meet your business requirements and as a result give your users the exact experience you like. This means you can add bespoke features and functionalities that cater to your target audience. Depending on your industry and target audience you can add elements such as personalized user interfaces, offline functionality, CRM integrations, gamification, and so on. If you would be buying off the shelf the likelihood of having the right set of specific features and functionalities you want is low and even if you were to add them separately it would most likely cost you more since it would need to interact with a complex ecosystem of existing legacy code.  
2. Scalability: custom apps can grow as your business grows. As your company expands, the app can be updated with new features and capabilities, ensuring it continues to meet your evolving needs. Customer needs nowadays are constantly changing, especially when it comes to how they use mobile apps and what they want from them. You need to be able to develop and test new ideas with ease and a custom app allows you to do just that.
3. Competitive advantage: Business survival is all about having a distinct advantage over your competitors, something that can’t be easily replicated or copied. With a custom app, you can do just that. Even if your competition can get “inspired” by your features and functionalities they won’t be able to so easily replicate the code behind it.
4. Security: Data privacy has become increasingly important for both customers and businesses alike and it will most likely stay that way for the foreseeable future. And to maintain that privacy, app security features will play a big role. Bigger players that offer off-the-shelf solutions can sometimes skimp on security features and come out ok when data breaches happen due to a big PR budget. But a smaller company or startup won’t have the same advantage. Custom apps can be built with specific security measures tailored to your business such as device hardening, app sandboxing, data retention, and more. Not to mention that with a custom app, you can set your own standards of testing the app in terms of security and then make any necessary changes immediately.

What are the drawbacks of custom mobile apps?

1. Higher initial cost: Developing a custom app typically involves a higher upfront investment compared to off-the-shelf solutions. This includes costs for design, development, testing, and ongoing maintenance.
2. Longer development time: Adapting an off-the-shelf solution usually takes less time than building a custom app from scratch because you don’t need to spend time on planning, design, and testing. This extended timeline can delay the time-to-market.
3. Maintenance and updates: Ongoing maintenance, updates, and bug fixes are the responsibility of your business. This can require a dedicated team or partnership with a software development partner. Usually, this should be included in the contract you sign with your custom software partner, the one responsible for building your app.

What are the main advantages of off-the-shelf mobile apps?

1. Lower cost: Off-the-shelf apps are generally more affordable than custom solutions. They usually come with a one-time purchase price or a subscription fee, making them a cost-effective option for businesses with limited budgets.
2. Quick deployment: Because these apps are ready-made, they can be deployed quite quickly, allowing your company to get up and running in a shorter period.
3. Functionality: Off-the-shelf solutions have already been tested by other users, reducing the risk of encountering major bugs or issues.
4. Updates: Vendors typically provide regular updates, ensuring the app remains functional and secure without the need for in-house technical resources.

What are the drawbacks of off-the-shelf mobile apps?

1. Limited customization: Off-the-shelf apps offer limited flexibility and customization. If they do offer it usually requires a lot of effort on your part, not just financially but also in terms of time and energy. As a result, you might have to compromise on features and functionalities, potentially leading to a less optimal user experience and reduced competitive advantage.
2. Integration challenges: Integrating off-the-shelf solutions with your existing systems can be challenging, particularly if the app doesn’t support custom integrations. This means that you need to wait for the software provider to work on that integration and this usually takes quite a lot of time. And if you happen to need an integration with a very specific software it might never happen because the supplier wouldn’t consider it commercially viable. Every single integration needs to be constantly updated and verified so off-the-shelf software suppliers are very strict when developing new integration options.
3. Scalability: As your business grows, an off-the-shelf app may not scale to meet your needs, or if it does give this option, it could require a more significant chunk of your budget.
4. Vendor dependence: When buying an off-the-shelf solution from a vendor you become reliant on the vendor for updates, bug fixes, security, and feature enhancements. And if something goes wrong on the vendor side your customers will be blaming you, not the vendor. Moreover, if the vendor decides to discontinue the product or goes out of business, it could pose a significant risk to your business’s health.

When to choose custom vs. off-the-shelf apps?

If your business:

• Has unique requirements and functionalities
• Is looking to provide a distinctive user experience or a differentiated product
• Needs integration with specific systems
• Has long-term plans to scale and enhance the app’s features

Then a custom solution would be right for you.

If your business:

• Is a startup or small business with a limited budget and less complex requirements
• Needs a quick and cost-effective solution to a common problem
• Prefers not to manage ongoing maintenance and updates in-house

Then you would be better off with an off-the-shelf solution.

What is the right choice for you?

The decision between custom and off-the-shelf mobile apps is a challenging one. But QTeam can help you make the right choice. We’ve partnered with many companies, big and small, to develop, test, and maintain custom software solutions and we can do the same for you. Get in touch with us and let’s put your ideas into software.

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