iOS vs Android App Development: Differences to Know Before You Start

By Itobuz Technologies • May 2, 2025 edit

Android vs iOS app development: Which is the better space to invest in, in 2025? What are the main differences between the two? Which one is more suitable for your app-related aspirations?

This blog post covers every new detail you need to know about the iOS vs Android app development debate. It offers a clear roadmap for decision-makers aiming to enter the app market this year.

The mobile app gold rush is not slowing down, it is accelerating.

In 2025, apps are bona fide profit engines. With global app revenue projected to hit $613 billion this year, companies of all sizes scramble to stake their claim in the app world. Their motivation? Three words: reach, revenue, and relationship.

Mobile apps now command 88% of users’ screen time, dwarfing mobile browsers. Miss this window, and you’re invisible. But nail it, and your business app can potentially have direct access to 5.7+ billion smartphone users in 2025. To ‘nail it,’ you must choose the right operating system (OS) to launch your app in.

This mobile OS landscape in 2025 is a two-horse race: Android vs iOS app development.

On a global scale, two operating systems – Android (71.88% market share) and iOS (27.65%) have cemented their reign. Google’s Android thrives on ubiquity. From $50 budget phones in Jakarta to foldables in Tokyo, it is the OS of choice for approximately 72% of the globe. Apple’s iOS dominates wallets, not just devices. With over 57% market share in the US, it is the platform where luxury brands and startups monetize ruthlessly.

Android Vs iOS Key Differences Explained

Android vs iOS app development: Which one should you choose?

It starts with the audience. Android’s global share offers broad reach, while iOS’s U.S. dominance targets a lucrative market.

Cost is another factor. Android’s tools are more accessible, so Android app development costs are usually lower. While iOS app development costs are higher on average, iOS users spend almost twice as much per app.

Let us assess some other key differences between iOS vs Android app development so that you can determine which is the right fit for your business app.

1. Market Share and User Demographics

Android’s dominance as the world’s most popular mobile OS paints a picture of universal reach. However, this statistic obscures critical regional nuances.

iOS, while holding a smaller 27.65% global share, dominates affluent markets where purchasing power is concentrated. It commands 57% of the U.S. market, where users spend 2.5x more on apps than the global average. This geographic split creates strategic imperatives for businesses. Android thrives in emerging economies like Southeast Asia and Africa, where affordable devices drive mass adoption. eCommerce giants like Shopee leverage this reach to target price-sensitive audiences.

iOS dominates in high-income regions, making it the platform of choice for revenue-focused apps. The income divide further sharpens this contrast. iOS users typically belong to households earning 40% more than Android users. While Android’s user base spans socioeconomic strata, iOS attracts a concentrated cohort of high spenders, critical for subscription models or in-app purchases.

Engagement patterns diverge too: iPhone users tend to spend 32% more time on their smartphones than Android users. But, way more Android users are exposed to ads, and their ad viewership is way higher. Android users also have a higher opt-in rate (81% vs iOS’s 51%), which means that more Android users choose to opt in or receive push notifications.

In simpler terms, Android has more users, more eyes, but iOS users tend to interact more deeply in most cases. These differences guide where and how businesses target their apps.

The two mobile platforms have also cultivated distinct user psychographics. iOS loyalists are younger and wealthier. These users expect polished, minimalist interfaces and value ecosystem integration (for example, seamless Handoff between iPhone and Mac). In contrast, Android’s base is older and geographically concentrated in places like Africa, South Asia, and South America, where its market share is almost over 85%.

These users prioritize customization and tolerate ads for free services. These divides shape two different app development and design philosophies. iOS apps succeed with premium aesthetics and privacy-centric features (like Sign in with Apple). Android apps win through adaptability, by offering widget configurations or theming options that cater to personalization.

2. Development Languages and Tools

Creating apps for Android and iOS means using different tools and languages.

Swift, Apple’s modern language, revolutionized iOS development with its concise syntax and safety features. Unlike Objective-C (the language it replaced), Swift eliminates entire error categories through features like optional types and memory management automation. It is ideal for modern, graphics-heavy apps, where code stability is critical.

Meanwhile, there are many Android app development frameworks. But, Google’s Kotlin, is now Android’s primary language because it has successfully solved Java’s verbosity. Java code can be reduced in size by an average of 40% when rewritten in Kotlin. Its null-safety features also reduce crashes, while its coroutines simplify asynchronous tasks (like real-time chat apps).

Both of these language frameworks mirror their operating ecosystems perfectly. Swift thrives in Apple’s controlled world, optimized for chips like the M-series. Kotlin embraces flexibility, even sharing code with iOS via Kotlin Multiplatform.

Next up, their IDEs.

Think of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) as your app-building HQ. It is software that bundles everything, coding, testing, and launching, into one place. Xcode is Apple’s IDE for iOS and macOS-only. It covers all Apple devices and includes tools like UI builders and simulators. Android Studio, Google’s IDE on IntelliJ IDEA, works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering extras like device emulators. Both make app creation easier, turning big tasks like app backend development into simpler steps for beginners.

Xcode, exclusive to macOS, is iOS’s all-in-one vertically integrated toolkit. Its Interface Builder allows drag-and-drop UI design, while SwiftUI allows real-time previews across Apple devices. Tight integration with the Metal API simplifies GPU-intensive tasks, like gaming or 3D rendering.

Android Studio, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, tackles Android’s device fragmentation. Its Layout Editor adapts UIs for 20,000+ devices, and the emulator mimics everything from cheap phones to foldables.

While Xcode offers a streamlined experience, Android Studio’s flexibility comes at a cost: developers often need 32GB of RAM to emulate multiple devices simultaneously. Xcode’s macOS exclusivity also forces studios to invest in Apple hardware, a $2,000+ per developer upfront cost. On the other hand, Android Studio’s cross-platform availability lowers entry barriers.

3. Development Complexity and Time

Android’s device diversity breeds unpredictability. A camera app might function on a Pixel 7 but crash on a Huawei P60 due to differing image signal processors. Manufacturers may modify core APIs that make it difficult for a codebase to adapt. Samsung’s new foldables have even introduced unique screen ratio handlers.

To adapt to all of these varieties, Android app developers either have to create additional code branches for their apps or work with multiple mobile app development frameworks that simplify the code modification process.

On the other hand, Apple’s standardized hardware allows tools like SwiftUI to auto-adapt app interfaces for Dynamic Island or Always-On displays. Thus, testing your app for all active iPhones takes less than 48 hours versus multiple months for Android devices. Yep – Android’s 10k+ device matrix stretches testing timelines drastically.

QA teams have to test their Android apps across OS versions (Android 8-15) and OEM skins like Samsung’s One UI (custom notification systems). These variations inflate costs. Supporting 50 devices averages $18k in additional testing. Meanwhile, iOS development sidesteps all of this fragmentation.

But operating in iOS’s “walled garden” means facing strict governance. It can also limit your ability to innovate. For example, iOS apps may not be able to access NFC for transit payments in regions where Apple restricts the feature. Plus, all iOS apps must comply with ARKit 5’s LiDAR requirements and Apple’s design guidelines. While the four active iPhone sizes simplify UI work, App Store rejections often delay launches.

Following all the latest iOS app development trends also becomes more difficult as teams ponder whether their slightly daring innovations will be approved by the iOS store overlords. An MVP typically takes 14 weeks on iOS versus 18 weeks on Android. But, post-launch, Android’s open ecosystem allows faster feature rollouts.

For businesses, the choice between Android vs iOS app development, in this regard, hinges on risk tolerance. Android offers flexibility. But, your cost to maintain an app at the beginning might be slightly higher. Meanwhile, iOS provides predictability within tighter constraints.

4. Design Guidelines and User Experience

Android’s Material Design and iOS’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) are competing design philosophies.

Material Design treats pixels like physics labs. Every shadow has an elevation value measured in density-independent pixels (dp). Every animation adheres to easing curves that mimic real-world inertia. Buttons do not just click; they ripple outward like pebbles in water, confirming touch input through tactile choreography. The color system locks in primary and secondary hues, ensuring contrast pops for accessibility. This obsession with tactile realism serves Android’s chaotic hardware landscape: adaptive layouts bend across foldables, tablets, and budget phones without breaking.

With 150+ Material Components like snack bars and bottom sheets, customization always stays tight yet flexible. Android also demands that its XML layouts get manually scaled across 5 screen densities.

Conversely, Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) operate on Apple’s “content is king” ethos. Translucent layers and blur effects create depth without shadows. Typography rules with SF Pro and Dynamic Type scaling text for every eye.

Navigation bars? Too crude for iOS.

iOS apps swipe from edge to edge, with back gestures that feel as natural as turning a page. iOS Storyboards auto-adapt to iPhones, but Dynamic Island integration means your live activities must morph around Apple’s pill-shaped cutout. Apps must stick to UIKit controls and SF Symbols to create that seamless Apple vibe.

5. Performance and Security

iOS apps cold-launch 40% faster thanks to Apple’s A-series chips and precompiled binaries. Memory management is tight as a vault. Reference counting kills zombie objects instantly.

Meanwhile, Android’s garbage collector might pause apps to clean up and annoy users mid-scroll. But Android fights back against these issues with raw power.

In terms of launch speed, iOS rockets ahead meanwhile Android lags by leaning on JIT compilations that drag first runs.
In terms of memory, iOS’s reference counting snips memory leaks fast; Android’s garbage collector sweeps in bursts, smooth until it stutters.
Lastly, for battery burn, iOS is better at clamping down on background tasks, which sip power; Android’s freer reins boost app multitasking, but that drains the battery quicker.

Your Android app on a Pixel 9 will sing, but on a budget Redmi it will stumble. Your iOS app will perform just as good on an iPhone 12 as it does on an iPhone 16.

The same can be said about app security. iOS’s Secure Enclave locks down all app keys in hardware. Conversely, Android’s file-based Play Protect encryption varies across devices. It can scan 125B apps daily. But on cheap MediaTek-powered phones that lack hardware-backed key stores, the security isn’t nearly as good.

Overall, the average iOS app will outperform the average Android app by a mile.

6. Monetization Strategies

iOS dominates high-value monetization.

4.8% of iPhone apps are paid, while Google Play only has 2.3% of apps that are paid.
The global average in-app spend per user on iOS is $1 vs $0.47 on Android.
The average premium app user spends $12.77 per iOS app vs $6.19 per Android app.

This disparity stems from Apple’s affluent user base. Plus, the App Store’s strategically curated environment fosters trust and encourages users to store credit cards and enable auto-renewals.

Android compensates for this disparity with scale. Its 3.3 billion active devices drive considerably more ad impressions daily. Plus, Google’s leniency toward third-party payment processors like Stripe allows apps to bypass the 15% Play Store transaction fee. This leniency is critical for SaaS platforms and NFT marketplaces. It is something that Apple does not offer outright. Apple levies a 30% tax on all in-app transactions.

In short, iOS apps are better at monetizing a user base’s loyalty. But this monetization comes with a mandatory tax. It is harder to monetize the average Android app’s user base. But if your app manages to do that alongside setting up third-party processors like PayPal to dodge Google’s cut, your earnings will be tax-free.

7. Testing and Deployment

Android has some serious QA challenges. With 24,000+ device models in circulation, it is nearly impossible to fully test an Android app for all potential users. Cloud testing via Firebase can alleviate this issue. But that can cost $20,000+ annually.

In comparison, testing across 5 iPhone sizes (from mini to Pro Max) is simpler. But getting past Apple’s store submission process is way harder. The App Store’s Guideline 4.3, titled “duplicate functionality,” is the main cause of most app rejections. Due to this guideline, even minor similarities to existing apps (for instance, a dating app with swipe mechanics) can trigger rejections. After that, each post-rejection review takes 48+ hours.

Android’s Play Store offers automated approvals in 4 hours. This allows developers to rapidly launch and iterate their apps. But the risk of your app getting lost in a crowd of clones is significantly higher.

iOS vs Android app development: Pros and Cons Summary

Here’s our final rundown of all the pros and cons of each platform:

Android: Strategic Pros

Global Market Penetration: With a majority global market share, Android dominates emerging economies; this reach enables brands to tap into price-sensitive markets at scale.
Hardware Innovation Leadership: Since Android OEMs pioneer cutting-edge hardware like Samsung’s foldable displays or Xiaomi’s 200MP cameras, Android developers gain early access to experimental APIs for advanced features like under-display fingerprint scanners.
Payment System Flexibility: Unlike iOS, Android permits third-party payment processors, which allows apps to bypass Google’s 15% commission on in-app transactions.
Cross-Platform Efficiency: Kotlin Multiplatform enables a lot of code reuse between Android and iOS apps. This reduces development costs for teams targeting both ecosystems
Rapid Feature Deployment: Google Play Services allows critical updates (such as AR navigation) without requiring OS upgrades.
OEM Collaboration Opportunities: Manufacturers like Xiaomi can pre-install apps on devices sold in Southeast Asia, offering instant access to 150+ million users in high-growth regions.
Lower Development Barriers: Android Studio runs on Windows/Linux, eliminating the need for buying costly Apple hardware – a vital advantage for bootstrapped startups.

Android: Operational Cons

OS Fragmentation Complexity: Supporting both Android 8 (Oreo) and newer versions forces developers to maintain legacy code for a major chunk of users.
Piracy Revenue Leakage: In places like Indonesia and Brazil, many app installs are cracked APKs, costing developers billions annually in lost revenue.
Monetization Ceiling: Users spend way less on apps and push developers toward lower-margin ad models.
Delayed Security Patches: Non-Pixel devices have to wait 7+ months on average for critical security updates, exposing apps to vulnerabilities like the Strand Hogg 2.0 spyware.
Bloatware Performance Tax: Carrier-installed Android apps often consume large chunks of RAM on budget devices, causing crashes in memory-intensive apps like mobile games.
Slow OS Adoption: Android 15 will take many months to reach most devices; this’ll force developers to support 4+ OS versions simultaneously.

iOS: Competitive Pros

High-Value User Base: iOS users spend way more than Android users.
Unified Development Ecosystem: SwiftUI allows single-codebase deployment across iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, with automatic adaptations for Dynamic Island and Notch layouts.
Privacy-Driven Trust: Users prefer iOS apps due to Apple’s “Nutrition Label”. transparency and App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, which blocks third-party cookies by default.
Exclusive Hardware Integration: APIs for Face ID, LiDAR scanning, and Apple Watch sensors enable features like medical-grade heart rate monitoring unavailable on Android.
Instant OS Adoption: 80% of users install iOS updates within a month, allowing developers to deprecate legacy code faster than Android’s year-long adoption cycles.
Ecosystem Synergies: Features like Airdrop drive higher engagement in social apps by simplifying content sharing between devices.
Curated App Environment: With less than 1.9m apps (vs. the Play Store’s 2+ million), iOS offers less competition and higher visibility for niche categories like productivity tools.

iOS: Operational Cons

Revenue Share Burden: Apple’s mandatory 30% cut on digital goods forces subscription apps like Spotify to raise prices by 40% to maintain margins.
Hardware Lock-In: Developing for iOS means buying MacBooks for your whole team so that they can use Xcode – a massive cost for cash-strapped dev teams.
Annual Feature Limitations: Developers always have to wait for WWDC to access APIs like SiriKit upgrades; this often delays important app integrations, like AI chatbot integrations, by 6-12 months.
NFT Policy Restrictions: Apps cannot link to external NFT marketplaces, stifling blockchain gaming projects that rely on OpenSea integrations.
Enterprise Deployment Hurdles: Corporate apps require invasive Mobile Device Management (MDM) profiles, complicating BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies.
Unpredictable App Reviews: Many App Store rejections cite vague “guideline violations,” delaying launches for apps like email clients deemed “too similar” to Apple Mail.

Conclusion

For startups, Android app development services offer a cost-effective sandbox to refine MVPs before targeting iOS’s high spenders. Businesses leverage iOS for secure internal tools while deploying Android on rugged field devices. Content creators monetize iOS through loyal subscribers but rely on Android’s ad-driven volume for broad reach.

Ultimately, your choice between Android vs iOS app development depends on whether your business prioritizes scale (Android’s reach) or margin (iOS’s spending power). If you do prefer iOS’s spending power, make sure to team up with an iOS app development company that has prior experience in creating and launching revenue-generating iOS apps.

If you ever need a free consultation from such a company, feel free to reach out to Itobuz!