Is the app development gold rush over? Opening the app store on your phone is a guaranteed encounter with decision paralysis. There are over 5 million apps across Google Play and Apple’s App Store, all fighting for your attention. With such a vast range of options, you would be forgiven for thinking that multiple apps already covered every possible need and trying to compete with established names was a fool’s errand.
However, this view is shortsighted. Technology, and everything that results from it, evolves constantly. Despite the number of apps, the marketplace is still rife with opportunity; it just takes a keen eye and a sharp understanding of the landscape to find your entry point and thrive.
Let’s consider the different ways the app industry has changed and what options still exist for new apps and new developers.
The Crowded Marketplace Reality
The fact is that there are a lot of apps out there. Google Play boasts around 3.7 million apps, while Apple’s store features around 1.8 million apps, and these numbers are growing by thousands every day across both platforms. If you can think of a need, the chance is high that there are several apps all competing for your attention to solve that need.
This makes the marketplace an imposing and even overpowering place for new developers, particularly those operating on a budget. Another fact is that many good apps don’t make it because they lack the necessary exposure to survive, as they are drowned out by the noise created by large apps with a dedicated marketing budget.
Breaking through in online stores is particularly challenging because more than half of smartphone users do not download any apps in a month, and those that do tend to stick with familiar names that already have an element of trust established with users.
Innovation Opens New Doors
For savvy developers, these challenges are a puzzle to be solved rather than a reason to walk away. Technology is always advancing at a rapid pace. It can bring about a revolutionary idea that solves a problem in a way that makes older apps unnecessary.
Artificial intelligence, for example, has created entirely new app categories. Apps like Replika offer AI companionship, while Lensa provides AI-powered photo editing. These solutions were impossible just five years ago and confirm that app development is far from reaching its peak.
Augmented reality (AR) also opened a new frontier in app development, where traditional creative boundaries were shattered. Pokémon Go paved the way for the successful integration of AR in apps, from gaming to interior design.
Gaming apps have also seen a strong boom, thanks to AI and augmented reality, offering developers diverse monetization models. The same advancements also enable apps where you can earn real money and other rewards through gameplay that surpasses traditional gaming apps. New gaming apps can survive by using emerging technology to stay one step ahead of the competition rather than going toe to toe with it.
As technology expands, the range of smart home integrations and the broader Internet of Things connectivity grows. As more homes move towards voice-driven devices such as Alexa and Google Assistant, new avenues will open for tech-forward developers and eager customers.
Niche Solutions Still Win
Developing apps that solve niche solutions is a good way to build success. Broad-spectrum apps no longer make the grade, with users wanting to have something that serves one need well, rather than something that boasts a range of helpful high-level features. Nextdoor managed to survive in the social space by focusing on a specific neighbourhood and connecting users who live within it. At the same time, Citizen carved its own space by providing real-time local incident alerts and reporting.
The best new apps don’t have to recreate what already exists when there are so many existing issues that people want to have solved. BeReal, yet another social media app, carved its place by stripping away the overly polished picture-perfect look of other sites.
There is also a growing need for apps that connect different systems in the healthcare and professional services sectors. Many companies in these sectors are weighed down by outdated software and are ready for new solutions.
Mental health and wellness apps continue growing as people become more open about self-care and mental health support. Users actively seek apps that connect them with others who understand their struggles. There is fertile ground in the community niche, with people keen to communicate with others who understand their struggles.
User Experience Trumps Feature Lists
Users want to have their problems solved, but they also want an app that is easy to understand, navigate, and use. The user experience is more important than the list of features. The same applies to apps that value privacy and security. Users prefer apps that respect them and their data over feature-laden ones that have complex designs and questionable data practices.
Single-purpose apps are thriving in marketplaces globally, with apps like Forest targeting focus management and Sleep Cycle tracking, and recording sleep patterns and health. A single focus also means smaller studios with fewer staff are more likely to survive in this saturated environment. These apps build trust with the user base and help set a solid foundation for future apps.
App Development Has a Bright Future
As technology continues to advance, there will always be space for new application development. Technologies such as VR, AR, and even blockchain integration are yet to start realizing their full potential. New app categories will emerge as users begin to understand the latest technology and seek ways to use it to their benefit.
Succeeding as an app development studio is not easy. It requires patience, creativity, and an understanding of the broader market; the ability to spot a problem and devise a solution accordingly. It’s not necessarily about budget or marketing, but rather identifying problems and providing a solution that users really need, which is not always the same as the one they want.
For new developers, the app development gold rush is far from over. The sky remains the limit for what can be done now or could be possible in the future. The trick is to focus on real problems and provide real, straightforward solutions, no matter how obvious it may seem. The next breakthrough app does not have to change the world. It simply needs to solve an existing problem that everybody else has overlooked.
