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According to a recent Deloitte study, 76% of American companies outsource their IT functions. What drives this trend? Does outsourcing truly win the in-house vs outsourcing development battle? In this article, we will explore both strategies, evaluate their advantages and disadvantages, and help you choose the approach that best suits your project.

What Is In-House and Outsourcing Software Development?
In-house development refers to the process in which a company independently creates its digital products. In this case, only the internal team is involved in development, without hiring external specialists.
Do you think this approach is ideal because all IT functions will be handled by a reliable development team that you assemble yourself? In some ways, you’re right. However, it also comes with significant responsibility and high costs. After all, you will need to hire and manage developers, designers, product and project managers, and other personnel. But we will discuss the pros and cons of this strategy in more detail later.
Outsourcing software development implies hiring an external team or individual remote specialists to work on a software solution. Depending on the budget size, required technology stack, and other project specifics, you can choose between nearshoring, offshoring, and onshoring. What do these terms mean?
Offshoring refers to delegating processes to a distant country, often on another continent. This is considered the most cost-effective outsourcing option, as service rates vary significantly across countries. However, such price differences do not always affect the quality of the final product.
Take a look at these impressive figures: In Switzerland, developers earn around $100,000 per year, whereas in Norway, Australia, and several other countries, this amount is nearly half as much. Does this mean that specialists in those regions are less qualified? Hardly.

Nearshoring—outsourcing to a neighboring country. Preferably one that borders yours or is at least located on the same continent. The goal is usually the same—to save on IT services.
Onshoring—hiring external specialists from your own country. What is the point? It’s simple. Even within the same state, the cost of creating an identical digital solution can vary significantly.
As an example, take a look at the salary range in major USA cities (data provided by Indeed):
- Columbus, OH – $142,605 per year
- Bellevue, WA – $137,206 per year
- San Jose, CA – $120,751 per year
- San Diego, CA – $118,932 per year
- Houston, TX – $98,751 per year
So, we have figured out the definitions of in-house and outsourced software development and also discussed the types of the latter. What are the key differences between these strategies?
In-House vs Outsourcing: Key Differences
In-house vs outsourcing development is a choice that many teams face. The fact is that there are several fundamental differences between these approaches. They should be taken into account when organizing the development process in a company.

This comparison highlights the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches to software development. However, to make these differences even clearer, let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of outsourcing and in-house development.
Outsourcing Software Development: Pros and Cons
Let’s start by looking at outsourcing software development – the pros and cons of this approach allow the global outsourcing market to grow at an impressive rate. This suggests that the cons of this approach are not so significant, right?
If in 2024 it was valued at $611.8 billion, it is projected to grow to $1,345.5 billion in the next 10 years.

Outsourced Development Pros
Teams that opt for outsourcing digital solution development can expect the following benefits:
1. Cost Savings.
We’ve already mentioned that companies can save by outsourcing to regions with cheaper labor.
However, that’s not all. Toptal has created a calculator to estimate the actual costs of hiring in-house developers and remote specialists. According to the calculations, even with the same hourly rate, outsourcing will cost the company 1.5 times less:

This is explained by additional expenses for office rent, employee training, providing necessary infrastructure, and so on.
2. Access to the global talent pool.
Finding a developer with the necessary skills can be challenging, especially in regions where the number of specialists is not very large.
Take a look at how the number of IT specialists differs in various countries:

Access to the global talent pool allows you to use the latest technologies that may not be widely available in your region.
3. Flexibility and scalability.
According to Indeed, the hiring process can take anywhere from a week to a month or more! Therefore, if you anticipate the need to expand or reduce your team, it is wiser to consider outsourcing.
It also makes more sense to consider a remote candidate for short-term projects if there is no further collaboration planned after the project ends.
4. Accelerating Time to Market.
Outsourcing allows you to reduce the time spent on recruiting and hiring specialists. Additionally, there is no need for training and onboarding the development team, which, as you’d agree, is also a lengthy process.
Moreover, you can engage several teams to work on the project. They will work on different aspects of the application simultaneously, bringing its release closer. An additional benefit is the ability to work around the clock due to time zone differences.
5. Optimization of company operations.
Outsourcing IT functions will allow you to focus on other activities, such as marketing, customer service, implementing financial strategies, and more.
Furthermore, outsourcing makes sense even if you have an in-house development team. Engaging external specialists will reduce the load on your team and allow you to implement innovative technologies that your developers may not be proficient in.
Outsourced Development Cons
Along with the benefits for a company, turning to IT outsourcing can lead to certain challenges:
1. Communication problems.
This issue is especially relevant with offshoring, when specialists are located in different time zones. Just imagine: you need to urgently address an issue, but it's outside your team's working hours. This can seriously affect the efficiency of development.
Another possible barrier to productive collaboration is different languages and cultural differences. Wouldn't it be difficult to understand your counterpart if their vocabulary is unfamiliar to you, or if they adhere to values and traditions that differ from yours?
2. Quality control challenges.
When an in-house team is working on a software product, they are clearly aware of the standards they need to follow. This enables them to create solutions that meet the needs of the audience and business expectations.
In the case of outsourced development, there is a risk of discrepancies in quality standards between internal and external teams, especially when communication gaps exist.
The result is an unsatisfactory final product, which may lead to another outsourcing drawback—as we'll discuss next.
3. Hidden costs.
If the final product quality is lacking, you’ll have to hire other specialists to fix defects. However, this problem can be avoided by working only with trusted providers.
Still, there is the risk of additional costs for managing remote specialists and the possibility of project expansion due to control issues.
4. Data and intellectual property (IP) security.
Collaborating with third parties on development involves sharing confidential information about your business and clients.
Again, only work with reliable partners to ensure they won’t misuse your data or share it with unauthorized individuals.
We’ve discussed the pros and cons of outsourcing software development. How does the situation look with the advantages and disadvantages of creating an in-house team?
In-House Development: Pros and Cons
Despite the growing popularity of outsourcing, many companies still prefer to develop software in-house. This approach also has its own pros and cons.
In-house Development Pros
Developing software internally offers the following advantages:
1. Full control over the development process.
The decision to hire an in-house team is a step towards complete control over the development process.
You can select the optimal tech stack, implement methodologies that you deem suitable, and track every stage of the SDLC and its duration.
2. Intellectual property security.
According to ABI Research, U.S. companies lose between $180 billion and $540 billion annually due to intellectual property theft.
In-house development minimizes the likelihood of this issue, as the company will be the sole owner, and there is no need to share data with third parties.
3. Improved communication on the project.
Teams working in a shared workspace experience fewer communication challenges. They are not hindered by cultural and language differences or time zone discrepancies.
This, in turn, helps avoid several problems. According to recent statistics, poor communication methods can lead to a number of losses for a company. Among these, 68% of work time is wasted, 42% of employees face stress and burnout, and 12% of customers leave for competitors:

4. Team engagement and a deep understanding of business nuances.
An internal development team is likely to be better informed about the company's values, culture, and target audience. This enables them to create a tailored solution that aligns with the client’s vision.
Additionally, in-house developers are more invested in the success of the project, as they are part of the business.
In-house Development Cons
If you are an advocate of in-house development, be prepared for some challenges along with the benefits. Here are a few of them:
1. High costs.
With outsourcing, the company only spends money on the developer’s rate. The situation is completely different with an in-house team.
We present a list of expenses to consider:
- hiring costs;
- total salary of the team;
- provision of necessary infrastructure;
- training fees for technologies;
- bonuses and benefits;
- software license purchases;
- overhead costs.
Overall, the difference between in-house vs outsourcing development can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. And as you can see, it is not in favor of the in-house team.
2. Limited resources.
In-house specialists may have limited experience and knowledge in specific areas needed for the project. There are two solutions to this issue: employee training, which again incurs additional costs and time, or opting for familiar technologies that are unlikely to yield the desired results.
Moreover, the lack of resources may become noticeable when scaling the project significantly. Hiring an in-house specialist is a lengthy and complicated process.
3. Hiring issues and employee turnover.
According to Statista's analytics, in 2023, 54% of organizations experienced a shortage of tech talent. And this is not the peak — two years ago, this figure was at a record-high 70%.

However, even if you manage to hire the best talents, don’t rush to celebrate your victory. You still need to retain them. And here’s where the real challenge begins. To attract a developer to work specifically for your company, you will need to offer a high salary (higher than your competitors), social benefits, bonuses, etc. In other words, you will be committing yourself to unforeseen expenses. Whether this is justified is up to you to decide.
So, we’ve thoroughly discussed the advantages and disadvantages of in-house development and outsourcing. Now, it’s time to determine which strategy is best suited for you.
In-House vs Outsourcing: How to Make the Right Choice?
In-house vs outsourcing software development—which one should you choose for your company’s success? Here are the types of projects optimal for each of these strategies:
For in-house development:
- Long-term projects. If a project requires constant development, support, and close collaboration, it makes sense to build an internal team. This is especially relevant for complex systems that are continuously evolving and require in-depth knowledge of their architecture.
- Projects involving confidential data. If you are dealing with confidential data, in-house development can guarantee its complete security. This is facilitated by better control over work processes and the absence of the need to share data with third parties.
However, as an alternative, you can turn to a reliable outsourcing provider who guarantees the security of confidential data on par with an in-house team.
- Projects that are critical for the business. These are projects that involve creating products that must fully reflect the vision, culture, and strategy of the company. If you are not sure that you can achieve this with external developers, it is better to opt for an in-house team.
For outsourced development:
- Projects with a limited budget. Outsourcing allows savings on developer salaries and related expenses.
- Short-term projects. If the team is only required to create a product without further updates and support, hiring in-house specialists is not advisable.
- Projects where quick time-to-market is a priority. Time savings on hiring and adaptation, the ability for round-the-clock work, and involving multiple teams contribute to faster releases.
- Projects with changing resource needs. Here, the ability of remote teams to scale quickly is key.
- Innovative projects. Access to a global talent pool enables the use of cutting-edge technologies that may not be well-developed in your region.
Thus, if you are looking to save costs, use an innovative tech stack, and outpace competitors, outsourced development will be the best choice for your company.
Darly Solutions—Your Reliable Partner in Outsourced Software Development
The Darly Solutions team is ready to be your guide in the world of creating high-quality digital solutions. We provide comprehensive services, including web and mobile development, UI/UX design, MVP development, QA and testing, and much more.
By outsourcing your project to us, you can be confident in our full immersion in your product vision, data and intellectual property security, and guaranteed adherence to project deadlines.
Contact a Darly Solutions manager, calculate the estimated costs, and start your journey to digitalization today!

Modern medical centers, clinics, and even general hospitals are gradually transforming their internal processes, focusing on the digitalization of document flow and more. The same applies to billing operations, which are increasing over time.

The popularization of digitalization in payment processes is reflected in the growing demand for specialized systems. According to analysts at Straits Research, the medical billing software niche was valued at $15.34 billion in 2024. According to forecasts from the same source, in 2025 the niche will reach $16.96 billion and will continue to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% until 2033, reaching a total value of $37.68 billion.
There are plenty of reasons for such growth:
- Specialized systems significantly accelerate and automate payment operations.
- They make reporting and taxation processes autonomous.
- They guarantee transaction transparency and compliance with industry standards.
That’s why today we’ll dive deep into the core of medical billing software features. From this material, you will learn about the advantages of such systems, as well as their types, features, and the cost of integration. Familiarize yourself with the article before implementing the appropriate software in your medical facility.
Understanding Medical Billing Software
At first glance, it may seem enough to simply use online banking, POS terminals for accepting payments, keep records in spreadsheets, and not bother with the development, deployment, and configuration of Medical Billing Software. However, unsystematized and manual data management, including payment data, can lead to a number of problems. For example:
- Too many manual operations that require time and resources.
- Risk of revenue loss due to human error.
- Difficulty in accounting and generating reports.
Thus, Medical Billing Software not only automates your facility’s financial operations but also reduces risks, helps to systematize payment processes, reporting, and more. And that’s not all.
Importance of Medical Billing Software in Healthcare

According to a study by Bain & Company, about 80% of respondents—including heads of medical centers—plan to gradually increase spending on IT infrastructure components, including Medical Billing Software.
Why is this so important? For example, because of the advantages and medical billing software features that improve the operational capabilities of healthcare facilities. In particular, we are talking about:
- Automation and improved efficiency of payment processes—that is, minimizing the human factor and reducing the risk of calculation errors.
- Improved transaction accuracy, such as automatic calculation of service costs, report generation, and submission to the appropriate authorities.
- Acceleration of processes—fast information exchange with insurance companies, tax authorities, banks, and other related institutions.
- Compliance with industry standards, such as patient data protection policies and regulations like HIPAA in the United States.
- Increased service satisfaction levels—for example, due to faster billing for patients, simplified payment processes, etc.
- Analytical potential—automated reporting allows the company to better understand the capabilities and needs of the center, plan its development, and control financial flows.
And these are far from all the benefits a medical center receives from integrating specialized software. On the contrary, the key advantages lie in the details—and that’s what we’ll focus on next.
Essential Features of Medical Billing Software
Of the 201 healthcare facility executives in the U.S. who participated in the Bain & Company survey, 56% identified software and technologies as one of the top three strategic development priorities. In other words, the focus on modernizing healthcare provider infrastructure is a trend that will continue for quite a long time.

Among the main priorities for implementing modern IT systems, including Medical Billing Software, the following can be noted:
- User-Friendly Interface.
- Automated Claim Processing.
- Insurance Verification.
- Compliance with Healthcare Regulations.
- Patient Management and Scheduling.
- EHR Integration.
- Customizable Reporting and Analytics.f
- Automated Invoicing and Payment Processing.
- Denial Management and Appeals Tracking.
Let’s go through each point in more detail.
User-Friendly Interface
Traditionally, a fairly large number of tools can be used in medical infrastructure to manage finances. These include spreadsheets for calculations and reporting, third-party programs for data exchange, and external platforms like online banking.
Medical Billing Software offers a unified system with an intuitive and logical interface accessible to employees of all age groups and levels of computer literacy. This somewhat simplifies the learning curve and allows for faster processing of all payment operations—or even their automation.
Automated Claim Processing
Under normal conditions, a patient receives a service and pays for it at the facility’s cashier, right? With specialized billing systems, payment for services provided occurs almost instantly through the issuance of claims.
For example, a doctor or assistant selects the type of service, enters its cost (if it is not fixed), and issues the patient an invoice for payment—either in digital form (such as a QR code) or printed. Payment can be made via the built-in payment aggregator, after which the system automatically issues a receipt and registers the transaction.
Insurance Verification
If the patient’s case is covered by their insurance policy, a request for reimbursement of medical expenses can be submitted immediately after the service is provided.
The system automatically checks the patient’s policy number and the possibility of coverage for treatment. This reduces the time needed for payment processing and eliminates risks, such as denial by the insurance company.
Compliance with Healthcare Regulations
Modern systems must comply with industry requirements such as encryption and overall protection of sensitive data, payment algorithms, etc.
Medical Billing Software typically complies with standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO. In particular, it includes security elements that protect EHR-integrated data, EMR records, account details, transaction information, and more.
Patient Management and Scheduling
Advanced Medical Billing Software platforms go far beyond classic solutions and resemble a mix of ERP/CRM systems with additional accounting and financial functionality.
Thus, even processes like staff scheduling, patient management, appointment coordination, and more can be handled from a single interoperable interface. And yes, staff is divided into roles that are granted access only to specific subsystems. Therefore, confidentiality is maximized.
EHR Integration
To simplify patient management, a secure CRM system can be added to the Medical Billing Software. It allows for real-time updates of data from EHRs present in other compatible medical center networks, insurance references, and so on.
This significantly simplifies doctors' access to patients’ medical histories, allergy information, previous prescriptions, etc. Accordingly, especially in emergency cases, the specialist will be able to provide help to clients faster and more efficiently.
Customizable Reporting and Analytics
Not just automation of reporting, but also its personalization. Medical Billing Software can include several templates for the quick preparation and submission of information to regulators.
For example, reports about a patient’s treatment for subsequent submission to the insurance company, or financial reporting for a certain period to the tax authorities.
Automated Invoicing and Payment Processing
Medical Billing Software can issue invoices in both digital and physical formats. Likewise, it can print receipts or any other payment-related documents.
There is also the option to link patients’ financial data for automatic payment of services or to speed up transactions through a system of instant payments with requests sent to the user’s device.
Denial Management and Appeals Tracking
Even in crisis situations, Medical Billing Software can be a useful asset—for example, when the facility does not receive timely payment from the patient, or the patient disputes the issued invoice.
In such cases, it is possible to track payment progress, justify pricing to the relevant authorities, or even split payments to gradually settle outstanding debts.
Ultimately, the key functionality depends on the type of Medical Billing Software required by a particular healthcare facility. Therefore, next, we’ll look at the available implementation options for such solutions.
Types of Medical Billing Software
If briefly, payment software can be divided into several distinct types. Namely:
- Independent Billing Applications.
- Cloud-Based Billing Platforms.
- Integrated Medical Billing Systems.
- Customized Billing Software.
- EHR-Integrated Billing Solutions.

Medical billing software features will vary depending on the type of system chosen. In fact, so will the cost of development, deployment, and maintenance of each variant listed above.
When choosing software of this class, it should be done in such a way that its functionality and capabilities align as closely as possible with the needs of the facility, and its cost is compensated by the center’s income. Therefore, we offer a more detailed overview of each of the software subtypes and medical billing features.
Independent Billing Applications
Separate solutions used directly for transaction processing, invoicing, and revenue tracking. Typically, they do not integrate with medical systems, so they have poorer compatibility with data.
This type of software can be used in private clinics where the number of patients and staff is quite limited, as well as the profitability, and consequently, the requirements for reporting.
Cloud-Based Billing Platforms
This type of software can offer a better experience with the financial components of medical centers. Traditionally, these are SaaS solutions that are personalized for the needs of specific clinics. Such products can be quite versatile and interoperable.
Typically, solutions of this type have cross-platform performance, so they offer a mobile experience for both the clinic staff and clients. Specifically, this includes the ability for remote management of visit schedules, personal cabinets, one-click payments, and more.
Integrated Medical Billing Systems
Somewhat more complex to implement, but better in potential, these systems can be either SaaS solutions or separate programs that have a modular design and are integrated into the existing digital infrastructure of the clinic.
This type of product is almost universal; however, it offers somewhat worse compatibility with data compared to other platforms and systems. Although, provided that professionals are handling the development and integration, no issues should arise.
Customized Billing Software
Personalized products, often developed in the format of platforms with built-in tools such as ERP, CRM, EDMS, etc. Medical billing software features in such systems are tightly integrated with other components, ensuring instant and secure data exchange.
Note that custom development can offer the most flexible pricing and overall profitability. Yes, it is possible to implement the platform step by step, starting with an MVP, and gradually modernizing the system, scaling it, or transforming it according to the needs of the facility.
EHR-Integrated Billing Solutions
A universal class of systems suitable for facilities that provide a wide range of services to clients. Integration with EHR allows staff to quickly and securely access patient data, as well as store their own information, including treatment course, medical history, contraindications, etc.
This is a rather expensive but the best option for large medical institutions and clinics. Of course, each of the types of systems described can be deployed in any type of hospital. But is it worth it? Let’s also examine this question.
How to Choose the Right Medical Billing Software
It may sound cliché, but your choice should primarily consider the needs of the institution regarding medical billing software features. Here are the factors to pay attention to first:
- Functionality. What and how much needs to be automated, what integrations are necessary, and what financial management capabilities are required.
- Compliance. Primarily with HIPAA, GDPR, ISO standards, or others, if it's critical for the institution.
- Integrations. Specifically with the current infrastructure of the clinic, such as EHR, CRM, and payment aggregators.
- Ease of Use. Intuitiveness and ease of training staff of all age groups.
- Platform Type. Whether it's a local or cloud-based solution, or possibly a hybrid. This will also affect the UX and usage costs.
- Cost. Pricing models for the product, its maintenance, and updates.

If for some reason you are unable to determine what exactly your institution needs, you can always seek help and consultation from the experts at Darly Solutions. In fact, they can also help define an initial estimate for development, integration, deployment, and system maintenance.
Cost of Custom Medical Billing Software Development
Regarding the pricing of products of this type, their range can vary widely. Specifically, the following factors will affect the cost:
- Platform complexity. A basic system may cost around $30,000, while a solution with AI, coding CPT, ICD-10, etc., could be priced starting from $150,000.
- Technologies. The rule is similar—simpler and more accessible systems tend to have a lower product cost.
- Number and complexity of integrations. There is a logical progression as the complexity increases.
- UI/UX design. This depends partly on the chosen technologies but is usually calculated separately.
Security and regulatory compliance. This factor is mostly included in the base development cost, but sometimes it is itemized separately if specific data protection measures are needed.
Development time and team. This is rarely considered as a separate pricing factor, but you will have to pay extra for faster delivery. - Maintenance. Platform upgrades, bug fixes, and routine security patches are usually listed as a separate item.

The cost of creating Medical Billing Software is a dynamic figure, primarily depending on the center's needs and the service provider's pricing. So, if you want to save costs or at least avoid going bankrupt, use Darly Solutions’ help and a step-by-step implementation plan.
Future Trends in Medical Billing Software
This type of software follows all the traditional IT sector trends. Specifically:
- AI and ML for forecasting and automating reporting, analytics, operations, and risk management.
- Integration of blockchain elements for protecting data, transactions, and financial information.
- Development of telemedicine and expansion of IoT potential for use in this field.
- Transition to 100% cloud-based solutions for maximum mobility of medical services.
- Expansion of regulatory requirements aimed at service personalization and patient protection.
The technological horizon is currently quite dynamic, so trends that influence the niche today might be replaced by new ones tomorrow. But Darly Solutions always keeps its finger on the pulse and offers you a quality combination of the latest technologies and reliable practices.
Conclusion
Medical Billing Software is not an option but a real need for medical institutions that wish to provide modern services and have automated tools for billing. Yes, the development and implementation of such systems can be costly, but in the end, clinics gain long-term benefits.
For the development and implementation of Medical Billing Software, you need a clear understanding of your institution’s needs and a reliable provider. By choosing Darly Solutions, you get a comprehensive service that covers all stages of deploying this type of platform.
Ready to start collaboration? Contact our team manager to launch the project!

Since 41% of Americans own wearable devices (smartwatches or fitness trackers), fitness isn't just a lifestyle—it's a trillion-dollar digital gold rush. From tracking 10,000 steps to crushing personalized HIIT workouts, fitness apps are the new personal trainers.
In this article, we will explore the meaning of a fitness tracker app, its key features, market overview, trends, deployment steps, and monetization tips.
Fitness Software Development Overview
The fitness app market reached $9.25 billion in 2023 alone. COVID-19 forced a shift from gyms to virtual training, and the numbers prove it: downloads soared, and daily active users hit new highs.
The fitness apps market is surging at 14.08% annually, reshaping how people stay active. Moreover, with 94% of Gen Z on board with the rise of gadget usage, ready to embrace fitness apps as their go-to wellness tool, the market growth won't stop here. By 2029, it's projected to add size at 13.2%, and the market is set to hit $10.06B.
It seems there's no turning back for digital fitness.

Understanding Fitness Tracker Apps
To understand what a fitness tracker app is, think of it as a personal digital assistant that logs physical activities and health metrics.
Fitness tracker apps use built-in or connected devices' sensors—such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS, and heart rate monitors—to collect real-time data on movement, physiological changes, and sleep cycles.
If we look at how fitness tracker apps work, we will see that they visualize progress through graphs and charts—many sync with smartwatches or fitness bands to improve tracking accuracy.
Categories of Fitness Apps
Though by definition, it is clear that fitness apps monitor fitness data, they cover and support many other functions. Among them are wellness, nutrition, and mental well-being. Below, we'll break down six main categories.
Activity Tracking Apps
Activity tracking apps count each step taken. They are often paired with smartwatches or fitness bands to offer detailed activity achievements. Users can monitor their progress toward daily goals, like achieving 10,000 steps, using visual graphs and statistical data. Additionally, these apps show calories burned and may include sleep pattern analysis.
Examples: Fitbit, Google Fit, Strava.
Exercise and Training Apps
Exercise and training apps deliver structured programs for strength building, cardio improvement, and weight loss. They include video demonstrations and detailed instructions while tracking progress. Some apps extend their focus to running, cycling, and personalized nutrition plans.
Examples: Nike Training Club, MyFitnessPal.
Meal Planning and Nutrition Apps
Nutrition apps record calorie consumption and macronutrient breakdown. They include food logging, barcode scanning, and personalized meal plans. Users set clear dietary goals, whether for weight management, muscle development, or improved eating habits.
Examples: Lose It!, Yazio.
Mental Health and Mood Monitoring Apps
Mental health and mood monitoring applications help users keep track of their emotions and reduce stress. They entail mood diaries, guided meditations, breathing exercises, and CBT techniques.
Examples: Headspace, Calm.
Yoga and Meditation Apps
Yoga and meditation apps deliver structured yoga sessions and meditation guidance. They feature pose libraries and allow customized audio or video instruction sessions. Users benefit from increased flexibility, reduced stress, and clearer mental focus.
Examples: Down Dog, Insight Timer, and Asana Rebel.
Personal Coaching Apps
Personal coaching apps link users with professional coaches or trainers for customized fitness and health advice. The apps provide one-on-one support, personalized workout or nutrition plans, and scheduled accountability check-ins. This makes them suitable for people with specific objectives, like marathon training or long-term weight loss. Apps blend technology with human coaching to create a tailored experience and interactivity.
Examples: Noom, Trainerize.
Key Features of a Fitness Tracker App
A standout fitness tracker app grabs users with bold tools and electric energy. Here's what every app demands:
Activity and Step Tracking
Monitors daily motion and calorie consumption, presenting progress and history through simple visuals like graphs and charts.
Health Monitoring
Top apps track health data like heart rate and stress. They use sensors to give users accurate, ongoing updates and alerts.
Sleep Tracking and Analysis
A must-have for understanding sleep patterns—duration, quality, and stages (light, deep, REM). Top apps analyze this data to offer actionable tips for better rest, like adjusting bedtime routines.
Goal Setting and Progress Tracking
Allows users to set custom goals (e.g., 10,000 steps/day or 8 hours of sleep) and track progress over time, with visual milestones or rewards to enhance engagement.
Routes and Mapping
Uses GPS to map routes, track pace, and log elevation for outdoor enthusiasts like runners or cyclists. Plus, it allows them to review or share their paths.

Notifications
Timely reminders to move, drink water, or hit daily targets keep users on track. The app should balance usefulness with avoiding notification fatigue.
Integration with Wearable Devices
Ensures seamless syncing with smartwatches or fitness bands (e.g., Apple Watch, Fitbit), providing a unified experience across devices.
Social and Gamification Features
It adds leaderboards, challenges, and friend connections to make fitness fun and competitive, with gamification like earning badges—boosting long-term use.
Personalized Insights and AI-Based Recommendations
The AI analyzes workouts, sleep, nutrition, and progress trends to give personalized advice. For example, it might recommend a recovery day after heavy exercise or adjust goals based on well-being.
Tech Stack For Creating Fitness Apps
A strong front-end, back-end, database, APIs, and cloud hosting lay the groundwork for long-term success. Below we’ve outlined tips on the best tech stack:
Front-end
Craft a captivating user experience with the right front-end tools. Whether you're building for mobile or web, these technologies will help you create intuitive and visually stunning interfaces.
- Swift: Unlock native iOS performance and seamless integration with Apple services.
- Kotlin: Leverage robust Android development with Google's support.
- Flutter: Build cross-platform apps with a single codebase for cost-effective development.
- React Native: Rapidly develop cross-platform apps with a shared codebase.
For web apps:
- React.js/Next.js: Deliver responsive and dynamic web experiences.
- Vue.js: Enjoy a lightweight alternative with a more straightforward learning curve.
Back-end
A robust back-end powers your app's core functions. From data storage to real-time interactions, these technologies ensure your app runs smoothly and efficiently.
- Node.js & Express.js: Perfect for real-time interactions like chat support and live sessions.
- Django: Supports AI-driven recommendations for personalized insights.
- Firebase: Cost-effective and ideal for startups, offering real-time data sync.
- AWS Lambda: Go serverless to reduce maintenance costs.
Database
Choose the right database to store and manage user data effectively. Whether you need structured data or flexibility, these options have covered you.
- PostgreSQL: Ideal for structured data like exercise logs and progress reports.
- MongoDB: Flexible for apps with user-generated content.
- Google Firestore: Real-time syncing for social and community features.
- TimescaleDB: Optimized for analyzing long-term fitness trends.
APIs and Integrations
Integrate third-party services seamlessly with APIs. Enhance your app's functionality without extensive development.
- HealthKit & Google Fit: Track fitness metrics like workouts and heart rate.
- Strava API: Monitor running, cycling, and community challenges.
- TensorFlow/OpenAI API: Unlock AI-driven insights for personalized workouts.
- Google Speech-to-Text API: Enable voice logging for workouts and reminders.
Payment Gateways
Secure transactions are crucial for subscriptions and in-app purchases. These gateways protect financial information and ensure smooth processing.
- Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay: Secure and reliable payment options.
Push Notifications
Keep users engaged with timely reminders, updates, and challenges. Push notifications boost interaction and retention.
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): Send real-time notifications.
- OneSignal: Personalize notifications based on user activity.
Cloud and Hosting
Ensure your app scales efficiently with the right cloud hosting. From secure infrastructure to cost-effective solutions, these options support growing applications.
- AWS: Secure and scalable cloud hosting.
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Integrates analytics and AI capabilities.
- Firebase Hosting: Fast deployment for small apps.
- DigitalOcean: Cost-effective for early-stage apps.
Fitness Tracker App Development Process
Behind every great fitness tracking app is a rock-solid plan—here’s how to craft one that dominates the market.
Market Research and Target Audience Analysis
This initial phase will lay the groundwork for understanding how to develop a fitness app effectively. Explore the fitness tech industry, research competitors, and identify user habits to shape a product that resonates. Whether targeting everyday gym-goers or elite athletes, ensure the app meets real needs yet is unique.
Pro Tips: Use Google Trends and Statista for keyword insights, survey 200+ users with a 60/40 quantitative-qualitative split, and analyze at least 5 top competitor apps (e.g., Fitbit, Strava) on app stores, focusing on user reviews with 3-star ratings to spot unmet needs.
Defining Core Functionalities
Once research findings are clear, define core features like step tracking, calorie counting, and wearable integration while adding unique elements—personalized workouts or gamified challenges—to solve real user problems without clutter.
Pro Tips: Keep core features between 5 and 7. Focus 70% of fitness application development on essentials like accurate step tracking, and test early with 20-30 beta users.
Choosing the Right Technology Stack
Tech stack can make or break your app. Go native with Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android) for top-tier performance, or use Flutter or React Native for a cross-platform edge. Power the backend with Firebase for simplicity or AWS for enterprise muscle. Ensure seamless integration with Apple Health, Google Fit, and future expansions.
Pro Tips: Optimize for 80% of wearable users via Apple & Fitbit APIs, slash dev time by 40% using Flutter, and benchmark response times under 200ms for real-time accuracy.
UI/UX Design for an Engaging User Experience
Turn concepts into a sleek, intuitive app with fluid navigation, bold visuals, and a dashboard that highlights key fitness metrics. Additionally, fine-tune details with real user feedback for a flawless experience.
Pro Tips: Use a 60-30-10 color rule for balance, ensure 48x48px tap targets for accessibility, and run usability tests with 5-8 users to catch issues.
Development and Testing Phase
Here, development takes center stage. Engineers implement features, integrate APIs, and fine-tune performance while testers identify and resolve issues rigorously. The goal is a stable, high-performing app that remains reliable under real-world stressors like network fluctuations and peak traffic.
Pro Tips: Ensure crash-free sessions with Crashlytics, test on 10+ devices covering 90% of users.
Launch and Post-Launch Support
It’s release time! Publish on the Apple App Store and Google Play, track feedback, and squash bugs fast. Upgrade features and fine-tune performance to keep users engaged.
Pro Tips: Optimize App Store metadata with 3-5 high-traffic keywords, try to respond to all reviews within 24 hours for the first month, and schedule updates every 6-8 weeks based on usage data to maximize engagement.

Average Cost of Fitness App Development
A fitness app’s price tag correlates with its technical ambition. Entry-level builds (3–6 months) focus on MVP essentials—profile setup, exercise demos, goal tracking, and email/SMS alerts—costing $38K–50K. Mid-range projects (6–9 months) embed dynamic plans, device interoperability, leaderboards, and microtransactions, averaging $50K–75K.
High-complexity apps (9+ months) deploy AI posture correction, telehealth integrations, and enterprise dashboards, starting at $75K and rising. Freelancers may undercut agencies but risk fragmented deliverables. Invest in a vetted team with full-cycle development experience for scalable architecture and compliance.

How to Monetize a Fitness App
Revenue growth in fitness tracking app development is supported by:
- Paid Apps.
Charge users an upfront fee to download and access the app. Pricing depends on the app’s features, content, and platform.
- In-App Purchases.
Sell additional content such as workout plans, meal recipes, or motivational music to enhance the user experience.
- Premium Subscriptions (Freemium Model).
Offer a free version with basic features while reserving advanced fitness plans, personal coaching, and exclusive content for paying subscribers.
- Advertisements.
Display relevant ads without disrupting user experience. Fitness-related promotions work best to maintain engagement.
- Sponsored Content.
Partner with gyms, trainers, or fitness brands to distribute their content within the app in exchange for payment.
- eCommerce Integration.
Sell branded fitness gear, accessories, or custom fitness trackers through the app or an external store.
Most Popular Fitness Tracker Apps 2025
Explore the top fitness apps, their standout features, and key takeaways from their success.
MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is more than a calorie counter—it’s a complete nutrition and fitness tracking tool. AI-driven meal analysis scans food photos for accurate macros, while seamless wearable integration adjusts calorie goals based on recovery data.
Best For: Users who want precise food tracking and adaptive nutrition guidance.
Nike Training Club (NTC)
NTC delivers personalized workouts that adapt mid-session based on heart rate. "Smart Form Check" analyzes posture in real time, while AR integration brings guided workouts into any space.
Best For: Users seeking smart, adaptive training with real-time feedback.
Strava
Strava is the top choice for runners and cyclists, offering in-depth performance insights. New features track how terrain affects effort and monitor gear wear to prevent injuries.
Best For: Outdoor athletes looking for advanced performance tracking.
Fitbod
Fitbod creates strength-training plans based on fatigue and progress. It predicts recovery needs, suggests optimal weight increases, and highlights neglected muscle groups with 3D mapping.
Best For: Strength trainers wanting a data-driven, adaptive workout plan.
Headspace
Headspace connects mindfulness with fitness. It tracks stress, recommends pre-workout meditation, and logs post-exercise reflections to improve focus and recovery.
Best For: Athletes prioritizing mental resilience and recovery.
Challenges in Fitness Tracker App Development
Fitness tracker apps have revolutionized health monitoring, but their development is fraught with challenges. Four key hurdles stand out:
Ensuring Accuracy of Health Data
Accuracy of the health data is the backbone of any fitness tracking app. Users depend on metrics like step counts, heart rate, and calorie burn to make informed health decisions. Inaccurate data can mislead users, erode trust, or even pose health risks. Poor sensor quality, flawed algorithms, and inconsistent user input contribute to this challenge.
Solutions:
- High-Quality Sensors and Algorithms: Developers should use reliable sensors and collaborate with health experts to design precise algorithms. These algorithms must be validated against benchmarks to ensure metrics align with real-world outcomes.
- User Input Optimization: Create intuitive interfaces that encourage users to input accurate details (e.g., age, weight) and include calibration features to account for variables like terrain or weather.
- Continuous Refinement: Regularly update algorithms based on user feedback and emerging research to maintain accuracy over time.
User Privacy and Data Security Compliance
Health data is highly sensitive, and users expect it to be protected. Developers must comply with strict regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) while safeguarding against cybersecurity threats. A breach can damage user trust and result in legal consequences.
Solutions:
- Robust Encryption: Implement strong encryption for data both in transit (e.g., during syncing) and at rest (e.g., in storage) to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regulatory Compliance: Secure explicit user consent for data collection and anonymize data used for research or analytics to meet legal standards.
- Proactive Security: Use two-factor authentication and conduct regular security audits to stay ahead of evolving threats.
Device Compatibility and Integration Issues
Fitness tracking apps must function seamlessly across various devices, operating systems (e.g., iOS, Android), and third-party platforms (e.g., Apple Health, Google Fit). Variability in hardware, differing OS APIs, and high battery consumption complicate this process, potentially leading to inconsistent user experiences.
Solutions:
- Cross-Platform Development: Use modular designs and frameworks (e.g., Flutter, React Native) to adapt to hardware differences and ensure compatibility across operating systems.
- Third-Party Integration: Follow platform-specific protocols to integrate smoothly with external services, enabling data syncing without disrupting functionality.
- Battery Optimization: Minimize resource usage by optimizing code and reducing background processes to prevent excessive battery drain.
Keeping Users Engaged Long-Term
Since the market has its established leaders, it is tough to compete, surprise, and engage users. Many abandon apps due to a lack of motivation or repetitive experiences. Developers must find ways to unify their product to stay relevant over time.
Solutions:
- Personalization: Tailor fitness plans and recommendations to individual user goals (e.g., weight loss, endurance) and preferences, enhancing relevance.
- Gamification: Introduce rewards, challenges, or badges to make fitness fun and encourage consistent use.
- Community and Feedback: Build social features (e.g., leaderboards, group challenges) and provide actionable progress reports to foster a sense of connection and achievement.
Future Trends in Fitness Tracker Apps
The fitness app race is heating up. According to a fitness app market analysis by Grand View Research, top startups are betting on mHealth (hydration, women’s health, safety) and techs like AI, VR, and wearables. Miss these trends, and you lose. Read on for a detailed overview of trends:
Mental Health & Wellness
Mental wellness is now a core focus in developing a fitness app. Sensor Tower’s 2024 data shows rising demand for stress relief and mindfulness tools. Apps include meditation, breathwork, and sleep options. At the same time, Headspace and other platforms are adding fitness routines, which results in a well-rounded approach to health.
Women in Focus
With women making up almost 60% of users, fitness apps are stepping up. Sweat features top female trainers. HARNA customizes workouts based on menstrual cycles, providing a unique fitness approach.
Smart Personalization with AI & ML
AI-driven apps now customize workouts, predict the best recovery plans, and enhance motivation. Thus, Freeletics tailors schedules, MyFitnessPal adds competition, and Future delivers real-time coaching for next-level training.
VR and AR Revolution
VR and AR revolutionize fitness by making workouts an immersive and engaging experience. Instead of staring at a screen, users can cycle through 3D landscapes (Zwift) or boxes in an interactive arena (Liteboxer VR).
Seamless Wearable Integration
Fitness apps and wearables combine and extend their functionality beyond mere exercise trackers. With Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Whoop leading the charge, biometric data, such as sleep quality, heart rate, recovery, and exertion levels, helps them meet their fitness goals.
Gamification for Engagement
Gamification keeps users motivated with points, challenges, and rewards. Strava fuels competition with leaderboards, while Nike Run Club celebrates milestones with achievement badges, making every workout a victory.
Eco-Conscious
Gen Z demands sustainability, and fitness apps are stepping up. Low-carbon workouts, green brand partnerships, and impact tracking are redefining fitness. Plogga turns runs into clean-up missions, while Ecosia Active plants trees with every workout.
Build a Fitness Tracker App with Darly Solutions
Fitness platforms are close to one of our core specializations—healthcare and wearable app development. We follow a structured process to ensure a high-quality, user-centric product that meets your business goals.
1. Initial Consultation and Requirement Analysis.
Contact Darly Solutions to discuss your app vision. Their team will assess your objectives, target audience, and desired features to align the final product with market demands.
2. Concept Design and UI/UX Development.
Darly Solutions designs intuitive, engaging interfaces that enhance user experience. Their FitSync concept demonstrates expertise in crafting user-friendly fitness applications with personalized fitness plans.
3. Custom Software Development.
As a custom software development company, Darly Solutions builds scalable fitness tracker apps using the latest technologies to ensure smooth device performance.
4. Feature Integration.
Key functionalities include activity tracking, goal setting, data visualization, and wearable device integration. These features enhance user engagement and provide valuable fitness insights.
5. Quality Assurance and Testing.
Rigorous testing ensures a reliable, bug-free application that delivers optimal performance.
6. Deployment and Ongoing Support.
After launch, Darly Solutions provides continuous updates, security enhancements, and technical support to keep the app competitive.
7. Cost Considerations.
Development costs depend on complexity, features, and timeframe. Darly Solutions offers insights into budgeting to help you make informed investment decisions.

Partnering with Darly Solutions ensures a standout fitness tracker app that drives user engagement and success in the health and wellness market. Do you want to create your own fitness app, yet don’t know where to start? Darly Solutions will assist you with the right expertise and tech stack!

According to analysts, global employers are unable to fill about 40 million IT vacancies due to a shortage of technical specialists in their region. And the situation is expected to worsen further. For example, in the USA, it is projected that by 2030, there will be a shortage of over 85 million programmers.
What to do? The solution is simple: consider an extended development team as an alternative to in-house developers.
What are these teams? What are the benefits of this approach to creating digital solutions? We will discuss this and much more in this article.
What Is an Extended Development Team?
An extended software development team consists of specialists who work together on a single project, but can be located anywhere, even in different time zones. This type of work organization is typically designed to combine the internal team with external specialists.
In other words, by involving an extended team in your project, you can gain all the advantages of outsourcing while saving budget and maintaining full control over the development process.
According to research, 92% of G2000 companies use tended teams and other forms of outsourcing. Now is the time to consider involving freelance specialists and experience all the benefits of this approach for your business.
Key Benefits of an Extended Team Model
Integrating external specialists into an internal team helps achieve even the boldest business goals through the following advantages:
Access to Global Talent Pool
Do you want to create a truly innovative product that no competitor offers? Be prepared for the fact that the local market may not have a programmer with the relevant experience. Alternatively, a lack of personnel may make it very difficult to attract the right specialist.
The number of developers varies from country to country. In fact, the difference can be significant even within the same country. For example, in the USA, the highest number of software engineers resides in California. There are over 628,000 in this state, while in Michigan and North Carolina, the number of specialists barely exceeds 100,000.

In such a situation, extended development teams can be a real lifesaver. With their help, you will be able to attract experts from any corner of the world to your project.
Cost-Effective Scaling
Hiring an employee in-house is always costly. According to numerous studies, it can cost a company anywhere from $28,000 to $35,000. And this is just the cost of provided benefits, insurance, vacation, and additional payments (such as overtime). In addition, you'll need to spend on training and onboarding staff.
Apart from the high costs, all of this takes a lot of time, and the need for scaling sometimes cannot be delayed.
However, if you consider involving external specialists, these problems can be easily avoided. A reliable provider will quickly find the right specialist, and your expenses will be limited to payment per hour or based on the actual volume of work completed.
Additionally, with the extended team model, you have another opportunity to save. This is possible due to the lack of regional constraints—as the cost of labor for developers is evaluated differently in various countries. For example, in North America, the average software development hourly rate is $77. In Eastern Europe, the same service can be obtained for $58 per hour, and in the Asia Pacific region, developers charge even less—around $28 per hour.

Faster Development and Delivery
An extended software development team helps accelerate development cycles. Here’s how this happens:
- Involving developers from different time zones allows such a team to work on the project almost around the clock. Is this possible with in-house specialists? Hardly.
- By expanding your team, you can save time on hiring and staff training. On average, the recruitment process in the IT field takes 35 days.
- You can hire several extended teams to handle different tasks. They will work on the project in parallel, thereby reducing development time.
Flexibility and Adaptability
The hiring model discussed in this article allows you to be as flexible as possible when it comes to changes in project needs. Let’s break it down further.
- Have the project goals changed, and you need to scale quickly? As you know, finding an external specialist is much faster than hiring an in-house employee. Additionally, you can adjust the requirements for candidates as the product evolves.
- Geographical flexibility also plays a role here. If you're experiencing a shortage of the right talent in your region, you can look for experts in the required technology stack overseas. With extended development teams, anything is possible.
Hassle-Free Management
When working with external specialists, you can fully control the process of developing a digital solution. At the same time, managing such a team is economically efficient and requires less time.
Why?
- When turning to trusted providers, they take on all the responsibilities for staff selection. You don’t spend time and money on searching, interviews, and hiring.
- The high qualification of extended teams frees you from the need for micromanagement. This allows you to focus on project management and achieving global business goals.
- Outsourcing service providers typically have established communication channels. They use specialized tools like Slack, Trello, or Jira to bridge geographical distances. Moreover, such companies often provide a project manager. It’s their responsibility to ensure smooth collaboration.
Operational Process of an Extended Development Team
To ensure the seamless integration of external specialists into your internal team, several stages of organizing updated workflows must be followed. Remember, your team is the foundation on which the creation of the software product will be based. Therefore, no detail should be overlooked.

Initial Planning Stage
This stage is crucial for the success of the project. Clear planning is the key to knowing the direction you need to move in.
It includes the following steps:
- Formulating business goals. Start by defining the product you want to create and how it will benefit your business. It is also recommended to immediately outline the required features to be developed. This will help clearly define expectations for the final product and avoid misunderstandings between stakeholders and the team.
- Assessing internal resources. Identify what knowledge and skills are needed to achieve the set goals. After that, assess your internal team. Are there enough specialists? Do they have the necessary expertise?
- Project timeline and budget planning. Set realistic deadlines and determine the expenses you can afford. Consider development costs, project management, and potential unforeseen issues.
- Choosing the collaboration model. If the project requires external developers, you have several options. Among them are outsourcing, dedicated teams, and the extended team model discussed in this article. We will discuss the differences between these three approaches later.
- Risk assessment. Suppose you have chosen the extended team model. Think in advance about the risks you may face, such as communication gaps and potential time zone differences. In addition to the risks associated with engaging external specialists, consider other possible problems, including technical ones.
Finding the Right Tech Partner
Opt for a proven company with a good reputation. This guarantees that highly qualified professionals will be selected for you, whose expertise fully matches the project requirements.
Here are a few tips to help you choose a reliable provider:
- Study the company’s website, focusing on its portfolio.
- Read reviews about the provider online.
- Compare the specialization of the potential partner with the plan for your project.
- Assess the cost-to-quality ratio of the services offered.
- Ensure that the company’s values align with yours.
Building the Development Team
The main task at this stage is to ensure smooth integration of the new specialists into the existing team. To do this, it is important to clearly define the roles they will perform on the project.
And a few more recommendations:
- Work on staff selection together with your technical partner. This does not mean total control or direct participation in the interviews. Just stay in the loop to ensure the candidate matches your requirements as closely as possible.
- Balance the size of the extended team. Make sure the number of employees corresponds to the goals of the project and its budget. A team that is too large may lead to unnecessary costs, while one that is too small can increase time-to-market.
Onboarding and Integration
This step involves introducing external specialists to the nuances of your internal processes:
- Familiarization with the project specifics. Before starting work, make sure the hired developers fully understand the project’s goals and its specific requirements.
- Setting up communication channels. Inform the extended development team about the communication channels used in your team. Set up tools like Slack, Trello, or Jira for project management and daily communication.
- Providing access to technical infrastructure. Ensure that all team members have access to the tools necessary for efficient work. These may include version control systems, code repositories, etc.
- Discussing internal procedures and rules. Communicate to the team how you plan to measure project progress, which metrics you will use to evaluate performance developers, and how often you expect feedback from them. This will help avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
Establishing Clear Objectives
What do you think is the most important thing at this stage? The answer is simple. You need to ensure that both in-house and external specialists are working towards the same goal. To do this, you should:
- Clearly define the project goals. This may involve creating a product from scratch, implementing new functionality, or maintaining an existing system.
- Set milestones. Break the project into smaller segments. Each segment should have specific deadlines and deliverables. This will help track progress.
- Define KPIs. Predefine metrics to measure the team’s performance. These should relate to both the technical characteristics of the product (e.g., code quality or delivery speed) and the achievement of business goals (e.g., return on investment).
- Discuss communication issues: Frequency of meetings, reporting formats, communication channels—all of these should be discussed with the extended software development team at the very beginning of the collaboration. This will ensure you always know what stage of goal achievement you are at.
Project Kickoff and Execution
When all the details are discussed, it's time to start working on the project.
Project kickoff is the official start of collaboration. Now, the team needs to gather together (in whatever format possible), discuss the final details, and set the tone for the subsequent work.
The further work on the project includes:
- Prioritizing tasks. If the team uses an agile development methodology (which is most commonly used these days), this step involves planning the upcoming sprint. Specifically, it means defining the scope of work and aligning the team’s focus.
- Moving toward set goals. The team starts coding, testing, and building according to the project’s defined requirements.
- Monitoring progress and making adjustments. As the team completes tasks, it is important to track the status of the project. This allows for timely identification and resolution of problems.
The success of this stage depends on how accurately the previous steps for organizing the work with the extended team were followed.
Dedicated vs Outsourcing vs. Extended Teams: A Comparative Analysis
All three terms—dedicated team, outsourcing, and extended development team—refer to outsourcing work on a project to external developers. However, there are significant differences between them. Let's explore them further.

When to Consider an Extended Development Team?
There are several situations where it makes sense to consider the extended team model.
- Need for rapid scaling. Is your business growing quickly? Do you need additional staff but don’t have time for long-term hiring? An extended team can help.
- Need for specific expertise. If your internal team lacks certain skills, it’s not always necessary to hire a full-time employee. You can find an external specialist who will integrate into your team and contribute to the project.
- Risk of missing deadlines. Is it time to release the product, but your internal resources are exhausted? This is another reason to turn to external developers. Extra hands and minds can easily save the situation.
- Limited budget. Hiring external specialists is cheaper than increasing your full-time team. This is why extended teams are optimal for startups.
- A responsible project requiring personal control. Not every project can be fully outsourced. Often, the client wants to retain the right to control the development process themselves. This opportunity is exactly what extended teams provide.
Want to get the best global talent at your disposal? Need to relieve your internal team? Want to speed up time-to-market and beat your competitors? Create an extended software development team on your project, and all of this will become a reality.
Challenges of Managing an Extended Development Team
If you’ve decided to integrate external developers into your internal team, you should consider not only the benefits of this approach, but also the certain challenges that come with it. It’s better to know about these challenges in advance.
- Communication Barriers. If you’re bringing in foreign specialists, be prepared for language, cultural, and time zone barriers. However, some of these can easily be turned into advantages. For example, thanks to different time zones, work on the project can continue around the clock.
- Integration difficulties. External developers may use work methods different from yours. Therefore, it’s important to discuss all expectations for collaboration in advance.
- Limited visibility. It can be challenging to monitor the work of remote employees as closely as you would like. To avoid this, it’s important to use reliable communication channels, reporting tools, analytics, and project management systems.
- Risks related to data security. This is especially relevant for projects involving sensitive user data. To minimize risks, work only with a trusted provider who ensures the reliability of the provided staff.
- Team engagement. It’s logical that full-time employees are more invested in the company’s development and the project’s success. Therefore, when bringing in external specialists, make sure to focus on their adaptation and motivation.
As you can see, with a thoughtful approach to forming extended development teams, all potential challenges can be easily overcome, leaving you in a winning position.
Future Trends in Extended Development Teams
The popularity of the extended team model in the field of software product development is gaining momentum. What transformations can we expect for this approach to organizing workflows in the near future?
- Focus on the use of AI and automation. Innovative technologies will allow companies to optimize project management and minimize the risks associated with working with remote employees.
- Preference for hybrid work formats. Companies will become increasingly interested in combining internal teams with external specialists. This will allow them to tap into the global talent pool while still maintaining control over processes.
- Emphasis on Agile and DevOps. Recent practices show that more and more teams are abandoning classical development methodologies in favor of flexible approaches. This allows extended teams to integrate more smoothly into internal processes and stay on the same wavelength as the in-house team.
- Expanded integration of specialized tools. Collaboration platforms are an essential attribute of extended development teams. As this model of cooperation spreads, new tools will emerge, and existing services will be improved.
- Maximum focus on data security. This issue is critical for all companies that engage external specialists. As a result, improved security protocols will emerge, and decentralized development and blockchain will become more relevant.
In summary, the future of extended teams is closely tied to the implementation of progressive technologies, process automation, and the increasing spread of this work format.
Create Your Extended Development Team with Darly Solutions
Darly Solutions is your reliable partner in creating unique digital solutions that will become a competitive advantage and the hallmark of your business.
We are ready to strengthen your internal team with specialists in Web and mobile development, UI/UX design, and testing. A qualified project manager will seamlessly integrate our experts into your processes and ensure smooth operations.
Contact Darly Solutions for a personalized consultation and experience the full potential of an extended development team from a trusted provider.


With the global aging population and the rise of chronic diseases, the remote patient monitoring market is booming as ever. From 2023 to 2024, it grew from $30.97B to $36.31B. And it won't stop here. Insider Intelligence predicts 70.6M US patients will use software for remote patient monitoring by 2025.
We can't overstate the importance of remote patient monitoring software. Such apps improve access to care, reduce hospital readmissions, and help save up to 60% on hospital visits, which results in higher-quality treatment in the comfort of patients' homes.
And benefits don't end up here. With ongoing digitalization via IoT and modernization of the healthcare system, don't wait for the best time for remote patient monitoring software development. The best time is now.
We've detailed remote patient monitoring apps below and covered their benefits, architecture, and top examples. You'll also see how Darly Solutions crafted an app for the health tech company. Read on, and stay tuned.
RPM monitoring software—is a digital tool for wearables, mobile apps, and medical devices that collects, analyzes, and shares patient data with medical personnel. Heart rate, blood sugar, and oxygen levels are among the most vital metrics. RPM software scores help catch health issues early, manage chronic conditions, and aid post-operative recovery.

How remote patient monitoring software works
From heart rate to blood glucose, each RPM system is designed to monitor a specific aspect of the body. However, elements included in any remote patient monitoring software development are typically the same. This is how the RPM system works:
- Collects and exchanges data.
Once calibrated, the devices send the data from the patient to the provider. The devices must have a Wi-Fi or LTE adapter for successful transfer. The data can also be sent via Bluetooth to IoT mobile apps via RPM devices. - Centralizes storage.
The provider securely stores the data collected from various sources, including patient devices, analytics systems, and e-medicine.
- Analyze.
The data is processed using advanced AI for management and analytics. Alerts are sent to caregivers, providers, and patients as needed, per their preferences. - Broadcasts.
Remote monitoring systems become telemedicine platforms when integrated with communication features like video conferencing, simplifying doctor-patient interaction.
- Sends emergency notifications.
When doctors identify health issues requiring daily monitoring, they oversee the data collected by the RPM system. Notably, it can notify emergency services if a patient needs urgent care. For non-urgent cases, patients can receive instructions for the next steps. However, HIPAA and similar regulations may restrict including sensitive patient information in certain notifications to protect privacy.
Why build remote patient monitoring software? Key advantages
Nevertheless, the RPM is part of the broader automation revolution; it has universal healthcare benefits overall. Let's examine the main of them:
Better access to health services
With remote patient monitoring software, medical services have no geographical boundaries. Patients can get timely medical attention at home and manage their health, fostering a greater sense of control under health conditions.
Improved patient outcomes
A study found that RPM cut hospital admissions for chronic care complications by 19% to 41%, which results in improved patient outcomes.
Cost-effective care with reduced readmissions
The average cost of hospital readmission is about $15,200, which makes the prevention of readmissions through remote patient monitoring software financially beneficial for both patients and providers. Even more, it is a well-established fact that early detection generally translates to lower healthcare costs.
Better client engagement and satisfaction
Over 94% of patients are satisfied with RPM's care. It sparks their curiosity about their health and boosts engagement. Such an increased sense of involvement often inspires commitment to treatment plans.
Early detection and timely intervention
The CDC reports that RPM can cut chronic disease complications by 40%. This highlights the need for swift intervention to reduce health risks.
Components of remote patient monitoring software
There is no one-fit RPM soft, as it differs in nature. However, each patient monitoring system generally has 3 to 5 basic components. Let’s delve into them:
Personal monitoring devices
From continuous glucose and heart rate monitors to blood pressure cuffs, digital scales, and peak flow meters.
Patient-side mobile applications
Prioritize user experience, making it easy for patients to access their health data. Additionally, they offer features like medication reminders and secure chats with healthcare providers.
Cloud database
Cloud repositories allow healthcare providers to store large patient data securely. They are scalable and accessible, adapting to growing datasets for long-term monitoring.
Hospital-side web app
These applications are part of hospital management software. They ensure compliance, enable integration, and support decision-making. Additionally, they offer reporting, notifications, and analytics to improve patient care.
Other modules
These comprise decision support systems, reporting tools, notification systems, and analytics platforms.
Essential features in remote patient monitoring solutions
Here are the essential features of a remote patient monitoring (RPM) solution:
Real-time tracking of patient vital signs
Wearable sensors, fitness trackers, blood pressure monitors, and glucose meters perfectly gather and handle real-time health metrics. Then, this data is sent to healthcare providers and added to Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for timely interventions and informed decisions preventing complications.
Intuitive interfaces and user-friendly features
Machines must be easy to set up, a breeze to wear, and simple to operate. Meanwhile, patients should access their data effortlessly through a smooth web or mobile app to track their progress. This connection allows seamless communication with healthcare providers, ensuring everyone's on the same page.
Accessibility features
Ultimately, create a system with all users in mind. Consider accessibility guidelines like WCAG and CVAA to pave the way for inclusive innovation. Encompass voice control for effortless data entry, navigation, and text-to-speech features to support people with dyslexia and other disabilities. Moreover, a patient-first design shines with screen reader compatibility, high-contrast modes, and a crystal-clear interface.
Personalized risk alerts and reminders
For swift and customizable alerts, the RPM system must adjust thresholds. For example, alerts can be sent when vital signs fall outside preset limits. This enables timely intervention to reduce the risk of adverse events.
Safe data transmission and storage
Patient data security is a top priority in remote patient monitoring software development. Thus, apps must comply with all regulations like HIPAA, as they protect the privacy and security of patient data and save from hefty fines.
Smooth EHR integration
EHR integration allows the automatic transfer of RPM data, giving healthcare providers access to complete patient histories for better decision-making and outcomes.
Reports and analysis of patient health data
Advanced analytics and reporting in remote patient monitoring software development provide valuable data insights for healthcare professionals (for data-driven decisions) and patients (to motivate healthier choices).
The architecture of a remote patient monitoring system
Remote health monitoring systems are designed with a multi-layered architecture. Basically, it has five core components that enable uninterrupted data flow within the system. Let’s break into the point of the whole structure:

Smart-connected sensors for health tracking
The sensor layer comprises remote monitoring devices such as EKGs, sleep trackers, smartwatches, and blood pressure monitors. Then, they transmit this data to the dedicated mobile app via Bluetooth or to the cloud via the Internet.
Patient interface
Patient-facing RPM apps collect real-time health data from connected medical devices, allowing manual entry of symptoms and medication intake. RPM apps often include data visualizations for tracking health trends and may have integrated telemedicine features, such as video conferencing for appointments, follow-ups, prescriptions, and virtual consultations.
Cloud RPM server
Cloud services form the core of RPM systems, providing secure storage, processing, and data analysis from devices and the RPM app. This engine also integrates with EHR systems to access patient health information (PHI) in FHIR format. It can identify trends, such as early signs of complications.
Medical staff dashboard
Patient data flows bidirectionally between the medical staff interface and the cloud RPM server, enabling effective management by care teams.
- Data visualization module.
Via charts and graphs that show trends in vital signs, medication adherence, and other data, the module gives providers a 360-degree view of the patient. - Alert management module.
The system promptly alerts clinicians to critical situations and device failures in real-time. - Reporting module.
The module generates custom reports on patient data, which hugely help track progress and gain insights over time. - Communication module.
This module has two-way messaging, video chat, and/or telephony integration and is made for secure, remote communication between clinicians and patients. - Appointment management module.
This module handles appointment scheduling and patient-provider communication, allowing both patients and providers to request appointments.
Depending on the organization's needs, a doctor-facing RPM interface can include other modules, such as patient management, care plans, and patient education.
Admin web panel
A key part of the RPM architecture is a control dashboard. It helps with admin tasks like configuring roles, managing patients, and setting alarms.
Remote patient monitoring software development: Key steps
Once you have a clear idea for your software product, find an experienced dev company to implement it. When contacting your tech partner, you don't need detailed software requirements. A high-level understanding of the functionalities is enough to get started for any custom healthcare software development services stages. Let’s break them down:

Step 1: Requirement collection and analysis
The process starts by refining your product vision. Then, define project goals based on the health conditions your RPM solution will address. Your team will then identify core functions, pick the best tech stack, and plan the app's architecture. If integration with systems like EHRs is required, your tech partner will ensure compatibility.
Step 2: Outlining security and compliance requirements
Remote patient monitoring software must follow HIPAA and FDA rules. The development team implements audit trails, encryption, secure cloud storage, and APIs for secure communication to ensure data security and privacy. They also define a testing strategy for the pre- and post-production phases.
Step 3: Prototyping and design
To create an intuitive, user-first staff interface, UX/UI teams conduct user research to define user personas and journeys. Based on this research, designers create a prototype reflecting both the initial vision and user needs, gathering feedback on the user experience. The team prioritizes a clean, engaging, and accessible design. Based on feedback, they will refine the prototype and send the final designs to the dev team.
Step 4: Development and integration
Tech experts will use best practices to develop your RPM system iteratively to meet regulatory compliance. This work may include front and backend components, patient and doctor apps, and integration of medical devices.
Step 5: Testing
When it comes to RPM development—thorough software testing is as important as the development itself. After testing, developers should prioritize IoMT device compatibility. They must also ensure smooth integration with the RPM system for the most stability.
Step 6: Ongoing improvements
After deployment, the dev team monitors and tunes the RPM system to meet business and tech needs. They provide training and support for patients and healthcare professionals.
Beyond monitoring and troubleshooting, your tech team will prepare a roadmap for software updates. This will enhance the system's features and security in the future.
RPM Software Deployment: Challenges and Practical Solutions
Let us explore the most notable challenges organizations encounter while deploying their RPM.
Regulatory compliance
RPM's compliance with HIPAA and GDPR relies on strong data security and privacy. It must meet standards like ISO 27001 and IEC 62304 for this.
What to do:
- Develop a comprehensive compliance framework according to all requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, FTC (Federal Trade Commission), FDA regulations, and more.
- Conduct regular audits and assessments outlining clear policies and protocols for staff.
- Provide ongoing staff training to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities.
Data security and privacy
Healthcare organizations handle sensitive patient data (vitals, medical history, personal details, reports, treatment plans). Unauthorized access poses the risk of data breaches and subsequent fines that could total millions of dollars.
What to do:
- Use encryption techniques of RPM-collected data, telehealth appointment recordings, and other sensitive patient health data.
- Implement strong authentication and role-based access.
- Regular audits and security assessments.
- Conduct employee and patient training.
- Adopt role-based access control (RBAC)
Technology integration and compatibility
Outdated systems may lack compatibility, hindering integration and impacting data accuracy and security. Integrating EHR and clinical systems can also be difficult, affecting data sharing and patient care. Ensuring interoperability for seamless data exchange adds another layer of complexity.
What to do:
- Assess current infrastructure compatibility.
- Follow interoperability standards and protocols.
- Adopt HL7 and FHIR standards.
Cost-benefit analysis
RPM implementation presents a cost-benefit challenge for healthcare organizations. While offering benefits like improved outcomes and enhanced care, the substantial upfront investment in hardware, software, infrastructure, licensing, staff training, regulatory compliance, and data security must be carefully weighed.
What to do:
- Conduct thorough cost assessments.
- Estimate ROI and potential cost savings.
- Strategically allocate resources.
Data precision and accuracy
Inaccurate data transmission from RPM devices (e.g., wearables) poses a significant challenge, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and compromised treatment. Several factors can affect data accuracy, including device calibration, signal interference, network issues, and device quality.
What to do:
- Choose quality sensors and wearables.
- Regularly calibrate devices.
- Implement quality assurance measures.
Lack of patient engagement
Some patients fear switching to modern healthcare and its tech just because they are used to in-person hospital visits. Thus, using the devices, checking vital signs, and messaging the doctor may be hard for the patients.
What to do:
- Prioritize a user-friendly interface.
- Craft tutorials for device usage and RPM data analytics interpretation.
- Incorporate gamification elements (e.g., badges, progress tracking) to incentivize engagement.
- Bridge language barriers for diverse patient populations by providing support in multiple languages.
RPM software development cost
The cost of developing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) software varies based on complexity, features, and the development team's location. Here’s a breakdown of the estimated costs associated with RPM software development:
- Basic RPM application ranges from $50K–$70K.
- Standard RPM software ranges from $100K–$400K or higher, depending on the specific requirements and features.
- Costs can be $500K or more for advanced solutions with complex systems and integrations.
Both building an in-house tech team and outsourcing software development come with significant costs: salaries/recruitment expenses versus hourly rates and vendor fees. Without proper research, you risk overpaying for a software solution—whether through in-house hiring costs or outsourcing fees—or settling for a product that doesn't meet your requirements.
To calculate the precise budget for your RPM software development idea—please fill out this form. We will contact you shortly.
Best RPM software
Here are some popular remote patient monitoring use cases that might inspire you for your own:
CoachCare
CoachCare was founded over a decade ago, now supports over 3,000 organizations, and serves over 150,000 patients. Boasting a remarkable RPM, it claims a success rate exceeding 95%. It advocates for RPM coverage and collaborates with groups like CMS and AMA. CoachCare's tech lets patients log vital health metrics via an app. Its simplicity boosts engagement. Experts recognize its support of the healthcare industry.

Healee
Healee is a health tech company founded in 2017, now handles over 700,000 visits per month, both onsite and virtual, and supports 5,000 physicians across 200 clinics. With EHR, e-prescription, and billing integrations, the Healee platform streamlines healthcare delivery in wellness, mental health, chronic care, and women's health.

Doctolib
Founded in Paris in 2013, Doctolib is a top healthcare booking platform. It serves over 400,000 providers and 50 million users. It handles 70 million monthly bookings in France, Germany, and Italy. It offers appointment scheduling, telemedicine, and patient messaging. These services reduce missed appointments by 60% and save doctors 1.5 hours per week on administrative tasks.

Senseonics
This company revolutionizes blood glucose monitoring. The system features a sleek, removable transmitter and a sensor expertly implanted under the skin by a healthcare pro. Connected to a mobile app, the sensor offers real-time insights, alerting patients through their smartphones or smartwatches when their glucose levels are too high. Sharing data with healthcare providers and family members becomes a breeze, ensuring optimal treatment strategies.
Currently, around 6,000 users benefit from the Eversense CGM system. By 2025, Senseonics aims to double that number.

Teladoc
Established in 2006, this Hoboken, New Jersey-based powerhouse is revolutionizing healthcare. With an extensive network of licensed professionals, HRS proudly claims the #1 spot in KLAS’ ‘Top Remote Patient Monitoring Companies’ from 2020 to 2023.
HRS offers its innovative PatientConnect platform, featuring over 90 tailored RPM plans for healthcare providers. Beyond monitoring, HRS embraces holistic care, providing behavioral health services like therapy and psychiatry, ensuring a comprehensive touch on every aspect of patient wellbeing.

Improving patient outcomes with RPM software: A case by Darly Solutions
In particular, the health tech company approached us about remote patient monitoring software development. They faced challenges with patient tech literacy, especially among the elderly. There was a risk of data overload for providers. Patient engagement was inconsistent. There was a need for system integration, like with EHRs. Plus, they had to ensure data privacy and security (HIPAA compliance).
Since the deadline was tight and there were a lot of high-precision requirements—we created a detailed plan for the project, assigned UX/UI design, web development, QA, and project management tasks, and pinpointed the tech stack.
Technology stack
We understood that choosing the right technology stack was crucial for success. After thorough consideration, we selected:
- Angular: For building dynamic web applications.
- HTML/CSS: For structuring and formatting the user’s interface.
- Docker: To streamline deployment through containerization.
- ngRx: For effective state management.
- TailwindCSS: To enable rapid UI development.
- NGX Pagination: For efficient handling of large datasets.
- JSON: For smooth and efficient data transfer between client and server.
Our efforts paid off. We launched the product on time, meeting all design, functionality, and quality standards. Our client now has a competitive product that is well-placed to thrive in the innovative telemedicine sector.

Read the details of the case here.
Wrapping up
Rising public interest, health concerns, and tech advances drive the RPM market to new heights in solutions and revenue. As we noted earlier, these technologies enable 24/7 health monitoring. They also provide remote populations with access to quality treatments.
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff should focus less on routine, manual tasks in the next few years. They should focus on saving lives and providing treatment, which RPM can support perfectly. It can greatly reduce burnout and ease stress on global healthcare systems while driving market share to higher results and stakeholder benefits.
This is a great time if you're considering developing your RPM solution.

In recent years, mental health has taken center stage globally. Currently, approximately 792M people globally have mental issues and lack access to traditional therapy due to financial constraints or societal stigma. The best way to solve the issue — is to go digital. That is where mental health app development comes into play. It cuts costs and makes mental health available to everybody around the globe.
As to the market, in 2024 alone, the app market saw expansion to approximately $7.38B. In a decade, forecasts promise growth up to nearly 10% annually, scorching $17.52B.
If you are ready to build a new solution — now is the perfect time to start. Below, we will explain how to develop a mental health app, share standout mental health app ideas, and highlight key factors to keep in mind.
Why mental health apps are in demand
Even though people have faced mental disorders throughout the entire history, only in recent years solving these problems become normal and generally accepted. And it won’t stop. Let’s numbers speak louder — according to 2019 alone, the global capitalization for the global antidepressant market was estimated at $11.67B. By 2027, the market promises to grow to a record $18.29B.
Of course, depression is not the only issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is a growing tendency for PTSD, anxiety, and OCD (due to economic instability, military conflicts, pandemics, as well as personal problems).
Additionally, the fast-paced world daily brings panic attacks, triggers, and burnout (prevalent among doctors, teachers, and IT workers). Youngsters are prone to issues, too; among the most “popular” — are low self-esteem and social isolation.
Financial constraints and a lack of free time put hefty pressure on those who need a traditional approach to addressing mental problems. Then, an in-person visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist becomes a real luxury. But what if there is a more efficient, accessible alternative? That’s where developing your mental health app comes in.
Business and monetization models of mental health applications
For mental health app development, the following monetization models have proven to be the most profitable:
- Fee for the services of real psychologists.
According to this model, the application acts as a platform, connecting users with professional psychologists, coaches, or therapists (similar to a marketplace with reviews, ratings, cost of services, and other attributes). In this case, the application earns the commission from each transaction (usually 15-30%). - Subscription-based model.
This model has a fixed fee for regular access to content and/or services for a certain period (month, year, etc.). If your app has diverse content and functions, offer multiple pricing models. This lets users pick a plan that suits their needs best. - Freemium.
These models give free access to basic functionality, with particular features to be paid. Usually, there are personalized recommendations, access to exclusive courses, advanced progress analytics, etc. - One-time purchase.
This model involves a one-time purchase of the application, after which the user has access to all its functionality. - In-app purchases.
Here, the basic functionality is available for free, but additional materials or services are paid (personalized plans, unique selections of tracks for meditation, etc.). - Ad-supported model.
In this case, app is free but includes built-in advertising (banners, videos, native advertising, etc.). At the same time, to improve the user experience, you can offer an option to turn off ads for an extra fee. - B2B model.
This model translates into you selling licenses to companies with internal programs to support employee mental health. - Selling merch.
This model focused on branded wellness merchandise promotion via scented candles, self-improvement guides, and mindfulness notebooks.
Top mental health apps on the market
Now, let's explore the most popular mental health apps. Perhaps they'll give you extra inspiration for your mental health app development project.
Headspace
Endorsed by the editors of the New York Times and 2.8 million users globally, Headspace is a product of the mental health company of the same name. Its core functionality includes meditations dedicated to improving sleep quality, relaxation, and cultivating mindfulness. They also offer courses on meditation, managing borderline emotional states, and more. Moreover, the platform has scientifically proven results in stress reduction and a user-friendly interface.

Calm
The Calm app is loved for high-quality content and a simple and intuitive interface. by 4.5 million (2023). And it is rightfully so. This app spins everything, from meditation sessions and effective breathing exercises to audio programs that are good for falling asleep faster. As for monetization, there is a free version with limited access. Full access to functionals is only available with a paid subscription.

BetterHelp
BetterHelp has over 2 million users and connects with licensed therapists via text, phone, and video. Patients must pay a fee to continue their subscription and can also volunteer to donate to others. This app goes far beyond mood issues. It covers complex disorders and symptoms, such as clinical depression and PTSD.

Talkspace
Talkspace provides online therapy with licensed therapists through a tiered subscription model (with health insurance coverage). Moreover, this app is ideal for managing medication treatment and has many formats for direct communication with psychotherapists (including cases of emergencies).

Moodfit
Founded in 2018, Moodfit has become the top mood assistant for more than a million people worldwide. It has personalization options, customized mood data analysis through visualization tools, and mood-improving recommendations. In addition, the app has cognitive-behavioral therapy exercises as a handy and entertaining way to deal with mental issues.

Woebot
Woebot is a free AI-driven bot founded by Dr. Alison in 2017. It is based on text format and has cognitive behavioral therapy methods. Initially, this software was intended for youngsters in college and graduate school, but today, people of all ages use it.

Sanvello
Sanvello, created by Dale Beermann and Chris Goettel, provides evidence-based CBT techniques and tools to support mental well-being. Since 2015, the app has offered free features and premium content through subscription or insurance.

Key components of a mental health app
Let's determine what mental health app features should be included by default.
Registration/authentication/authorization system
The main functionality of this system includes two types of registration: full-fledged, with the user’s email, and fast, through social networks (this is implemented through the OAuth 2.0 protocol, which is suitable for integration with Google, Apple, and Facebook).
For better protection of user data, use two-factor authentication and store hashed passwords. This can be done, for example, using bcrypt. Additionally, allow password recovery via email or SMS and register log-in/logout events for a data security audit.
User profile
Include the functionality for adding, saving, and changing personal information (name, age, mental health goals), maintaining the user’s activity history (exercise completed, courses, sessions with psychologists, etc.), and privacy settings (public/anonymous profile). Typically, profile data is stored in a relational database (PostgreSQL/MySQL); it is also necessary to set a clear separation between public and private user data.
Home screen and navigation
The home screen should feature a clickable menu, allowing users to update content based on their settings. You can also add push notifications (for example, using Firebase Cloud Messaging). As for the menu, place meditations, psychological tests, stretching, and yoga exercises in text, video, and/or audio format. You can also include real-time communication with specialists via text, voice, and video chats.
Use cloud platforms such as AWS S3 to ensure scalable content storage. If your application is media-rich — add media streaming via HLS.
Finally, localize content for users from different regions if you plan to maximize your target audience.
In-app payment system
If you plan to monetize your app through subscription payments or in-app purchases, integrate App Store and Google Play to process payments via the In-App Purchase API. You can deploy the web version via Stripe. Once everything is ready, provide access control based on the paid features.
Analytics and recommendations
Place functionality for tracking user progress and boosting their motivation (e.g., mood changes) and recommendations based on analytics. The latter makes sense to implement using machine learning models (e.g., based on TensorFlow).
What to consider before creating a mental health app?
The basic functionality of a mental health app goes far beyond making it popular and profitable. Therefore, to maximize your chances of success, consider the following factors before creating a mental health app.
Competitive environment
Usually, it involves the user interface, content accessibility, and the quality of the exercises/recommendations. Notably, the Calm application (sleep stories) and BetterHelp (online chat with therapists) are prime examples of such.
Analysis of bad ratings — matters too. In particular, users usually complain about the high subscription costs, lack of personalization, navigation problems, and negative experiences with customer support service. You can use it to make a competitive feature.
Target audience
Your target audience — above all. This can be young people (18-35 years old) who need an effective solution for stress management and improving sleep quality. Or the elderly might be searching for a more convenient professional in-home/palliative care format. Finally, it could be corporate clients who want to implement programs for the mental support of their employees.
Ultimately, user needs may vary. Based on the insights, determine the preferred content format (e.g., meditation, CBT, DBT, video sessions) and presentation style.
Regulatory requirements and user data privacy
The most common and comprehensive regulations are GDPR and HIPAA regulations, which govern the processing of personal data and medical information. To comply with them under the mental health app development process, you must implement data encryption (via SSL/TLS) and ensure transparent privacy policies.
Marketing strategy
To attract a broad user base, create a unique selling proposition. This can be achieved through AI diagnostics, integration with wearable devices via IoT, or simply offering a lower price than competitors. Next, point out the comprehensive marketing strategy. Select the right promotion channels: social media, partnerships with therapists, or advertising through user reviews. is essential for developing a comprehensive marketing strategy. Additionally, to retain users — regularly update content.
Testing and feedback
It’s better to subject an app with a diverse target audience to beta testing. To do so, find the first users who could be your potential consumers, gather feedback, and optimize the app based on their input.
Financial costs and ROI
Finally, estimate the project budget. It should include development, marketing, updates, customer support, and infrastructure maintenance. Given the costs, you must also estimate how long it will take till your project is profitable. It might be useful for future investors.
What are the main phases of mental health app development?
Now that you have so many insights at hand, you can start the mental health app development process. Let's find out how this happens in practice.
Ideation
First, define the problem. It is the mental health issues that trouble your audience and their goals. Obviously, your app should cover it. The solution might vary. It could reduce stress, help with sleep, or heal depression. Moreover, in the very first stage — conduct a competitive analysis. This will help identify niche leaders, find the target audience, and formulate a USP.
Planning
At this stage of the mental health app development process, you will already have enough information to determine the main functionality of your teletherapy application. Select a technology stack (or at least decide whether it will be a native or cross-platform solution), and clarify the business model. Based on this, you can calculate an approximate project budget.
Design
From now on, your mental health app developers can start creating prototypes and gradually turn them into a full-fledged design. Note that to develop mental health apps, you must use WCAG 2.0 guidelines, which ensure all users can access the app's functionality. Once the mental health app design is complete, test usability with real users to refine the navigation.
Development
The mental health app development process is divided into frontend and backend. The first includes the implementation of the user part of the software, and the second – everything that happens on the server side. As individual modules are ready, your mental health app developers will need to perform unit and integration testing to prevent difficult-to-fix bugs in the future.
Testing
Once the entire codebase is ready, QA specialists and testers will create test cases to ensure each function works correctly and the app performs well under high user load. This testing also ensures that all user actions within the app are secure and protect their privacy.
Release
Now that testing is complete, and all detected bugs are fixed, you can publish the application in the App Store and/or Google Play (your development team will first need to check whether it meets all platform requirements). After publishing, you can launch an advertising campaign to attract the first users, as well as set up tracking tools like Google Analytics and Amplitude to analyze user behavior.
Post-release support
At this mental health app development stage, you must check your application's speed and stability regularly. You will also need to update/expand its functionality once in a while and optimize what already exists based on feedback from real users. An equally important point is ensuring compatibility with newer versions of iOS/Android.
Challenges in mental health app development
Various challenges can arise during the mental health app development process. Let’s analyze them:
- Compliance with regulations.
Mental health apps often handle and maintain personal information, including medical data, which imposes obligations on you as a developer to implement GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA compliance. - Balance between personalization and privacy.
While personalization — is a key feature of these apps, it sometimes conflicts with privacy requirements. To address this, implement advanced mechanisms for anonymizing user data, which will reduce the need to send sensitive information to the server.
- Evidence base.
The content provided by your app must be scientifically sound and effective for users. To do this, you should either accompany all your treatment plans with individual recommendations from real therapists or initially use approaches with proven effectiveness. - User retention.
Many users abandon apps after a few days of use, so your app may need additional retention mechanics (such as gamification and adaptive push notifications) that won’t make users feel guilty or overwhelmed. - Monetization efficiency.
Most users search for free or cheap health-related apps. At this point, you need to figure out the balance between user accessibility and the financial sustainability of your software.
How much do developers charge to build a mental health application?
The budget for developing a mental health app development depends on its complexity. So, we can't give exact numbers without first discussing your idea with your development team. But the approximate price ranges from:
- $140K for a teletherapy app.
- $70K for a simple mood-tracking app with self-monitoring features.
Back-end features, like a database and admin panel, are often overlooked in cost estimates. Developers typically include these in the overall pricing for mental health applications.
If you want to get an estimate of your project, please contact us.
Mental health app design: Best practices
Now, let's analyze several mental health apps (some of which have already been presented to you above) whose design has pleasantly surprised us. Maybe they will help you think better through your mental health app development process.
Headspace
This app is praised for its simple and minimalistic interface, with bright illustrations and smooth animations that literally "nudge" users to meditate with its help. It is also adapted for beginners and is generally perceived as intuitive. This approach to design minimizes anxiety in users and motivates them to meditate regularly.
Calm
The aesthetics of the Calm app lie primarily in the author's images of nature, a soft color scheme, and smooth animations. Together, they create an atmosphere of relaxation - that’s what you need to reduce stress. The app also stands out from its competitors with its "sleep stories" that help people with high anxiety fall asleep faster.
Reflectly
Reflectly's unique design uses artificial intelligence to offer a personalized experience. A clear, user-friendly interface, dynamic prompts, and mood analytics complement this. Together, these features make the app an ideal choice for audiences of all ages.

Daylio
Daylio's intuitive interface is accompanied by simple icons for tracking the user’s mood and activity. Moreover, all these application elements are easy. Developers ensured that performing target actions doesn’t take too long. The application also has a built-in report generator with visualization elements so that users can monitor their progress.

Happify
The Happify app has a gamified interface. It simplifies and informalises the process of improving the psycho-emotional state. The gamification principles here are based on scientific methods to improve mood. So, it does not add to users' cognitive load.

Mental health app ideas to succeed in 2025
In this section, let’s look through the most viral mental health app development ideas so you can pinpoint your project to success:
- Integration of AI.
AI assistants can help analyze moods and behavior patterns, give personalized recommendations on how to improve well-being, and remind them of any regular upcoming activities, like a daily mood rate system. - Social interaction.
This can be implemented via in-app groups of users with similar mental problems where they could share their healing experiences and receive mutual support. - Integration with wearable devices.
Through the IoT, you can analyze heart rate, assess stress levels, determine sleep quality, and create a common mental health map. - AR and VR tools integration.
It might be useful for relaxation (to enhance the immersion effect). - "Instant help".
Through the screen for quick access to ready-made materials and an online chat with a psychotherapist. - Content specially adapted for children and adolescents.
For example, these could be games for managing emotions or recommendations for teenagers on dealing with anxiety and stress; - B2B solutions for companies.
in particular, these could be psychotherapeutic assistance to prevent burnout.
Highlights of our experience in delivering healthcare solutions
Finally, we'd like to share our experience developing a mental health app. A client approached us to expand their services to the web, specifically to support small businesses recovering from the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The objective was to create a platform to attract a target audience seeking health-related products and services.
For this project, we assembled a team of ten specialists. We chose Ionic and Vue.js for the frontend tech stack, with Laravel for the backend. The result was an online platform featuring a simplified login process, the ability to schedule and reschedule meetings between clients and trainers, an intuitive search for events and classes, role-based access, and an integrated payment system for online payments (covering group and individual courses, as well as event participation). We also implemented live session connections via Google Meet and Zoom. The solution was complemented by a clean, minimalist design with a calming color scheme, ensuring a pleasant and user-friendly experience.

If you want to learn more about this project, please follow this link.
Final thoughts
With this comprehensive guide, you can confidently start looking for specialists who would bring your idea to life. Don’t go any further, as you are already in the right place! Just fill out this form, and our mental health app development team will contact you as soon as possible!

The future of healthcare is digital. In 2022 alone, the global patient portal market reached $2.9B, as the Grand View Research reports. By 2030, it’s projected to grow even higher—at a CAGR of 19.44%. This trend reflects how public and private healthcare organizations strive to digitize paper documentation and automate everyday business operations.
Indeed, the stakes in healthcare are high. Even minor errors can lead to incorrect diagnoses and worsen patients’ conditions. This is where patient portal software greatly minimizes errors, particularly those caused by human factors
Below, read on how to create a patient portal. We’ll analyze the target audience’s needs, dive into the most successful examples of its implementation, and examine the nature of the target audience's requirements.
What is a patient portal system?
An online patient portal is a web or mobile solution (usually for Android and iOS platforms) that gives patients access to medical records, helps schedule appointments in a few clicks, and easily communicate with healthcare providers at any time.
By automating the interaction between the parties via the patient portal, organizations can improve the quality of care while making their services more accessible and convenient for patients.
In particular, modern patient portal requirements are:
- Fast and secure access to their medical data and records with guaranteed privacy protection.
- High-quality medical services without the need to wait in long queues.
- A clear understanding of the treatment plan and progress.
Healthcare organizations instead aim to:
- Reduce their administrative costs – in particular, for maintaining paper documentation.
- Maximize personnel efficiency without the risk of burnout.
- Increase patient satisfaction through transparent interaction and remote patient monitoring.
- Comply with the healthcare regulations.
- Reach a new level of income by reducing expenses and attracting new patients.
That is why the patient portal system is the one-stop solution that, if implemented correctly, covers all the above-mentioned needs. This is typically achieved through the following features:
- Access to medical records (including medical history and test results).
- Appointment booking (with the option to select the date, time, and doctor).
- Online consultations (for example, via video calls and chats with doctors).
- Repeat prescription orders (automatic issuance of electronic prescriptions and reminders for refills).
- Online bill payment.
- Personal data management (including patient contact information).
- Push notifications (reminders for upcoming visits, tests, vaccinations, etc.).
- Educational materials.
- Feedback tools (surveys for patient satisfaction and forms for submitting complaints, etc.).
Types of patient portals: Which fits your healthcare needs?
Generally, there are two global types of patient portals: integrated and standalone. The former is presented as a component of electronic health records (EMR/EHR) and is fully tied to the infrastructure of a healthcare facility. Integrated portals ensure uninterrupted data exchange between doctors and patients but, in the case of ready-made solutions, are limited by the functionality offered by the specific healthcare provider.

Standalone portals, however, come in two forms: SaaS and on-premise. The former are hosted in the cloud and are available by subscription, which is especially convenient for healthcare providers within small organizations. Their advantage is quick deployment and configuration. At the same time, their customization options are often limited.
As for the second category, these are software solutions installed on local servers of a specific healthcare organization. They provide comprehensive control over data but require significant infrastructure and support costs. They can also be difficult to scale and integrate with third-party solutions.
It is worth noting that every medical organization has its own regular processes and specific business tasks distributed among different departments. In particular:
- The reception desk keeps track of patient records.
- Laboratories collect, process, and store test results.
- The finance department is responsible for payments and insurance processes.
- Doctors and medical personnel work with medical records and appointments.
All the above processes can rarely be integrated into a single system, which makes it difficult to automate them using only one off-the-shelf patient portal. Moreover, medical institutions vary greatly in specialization (including clinics, dentistry, laboratories, hospitals, etc.), and ready-made products do not always meet their needs.
If we add to this the need to comply with regional security standards for patient data, it becomes clear that out-of-the-box solutions may not be viable. This is the main reason why healthcare organizations are increasingly resorting to custom healthcare portal development.
Patient portal requirements: Key features and functionalities
Now, let's check the main functionalities and features that should be integrated into a patient portal.
User authentication and access management system
This portal component uses OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for secure login. It protects users' credentials and enables multi-factor authentication. Usually, developers provide multi-level access with restrictions based on user roles (including patients, doctors, administrators, etc.).
At the same time, when implementing role-based access, it is important to adhere to widely recognized patient data security policies, such as HIPAA and GDPR. Specifically, doctors and administrators should have full access to all patient data. In contrast, individual patients should only be able to view, edit, and delete their info.
Medical data storage
The storage is located on local or cloud servers using AES-256 and TLS 1.3 for data encryption. By the way, many cloud vendors have ready-made solutions for healthcare organizations that meet the standards of patient data privacy (including AWS HealthLake, Azure Healthcare, and others). It is also crucial to ensure that such storage is protected against data misuse and unauthorized access.
Integration with EHR systems
This integration is necessary for consolidating patient data. Thus, developers must adhere to FHIR and HL7 standards to ensure compatibility and data exchange. As for the integration itself, if we are not talking about legacy solutions, it is carried out through an API.
Finally, to ensure that the patient portal system complies with the requirements of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (particularly, the ONC's Cures Act), it is essential that the platform could get full access to the patient, with all the ability to edit and delete.
Appointment schedules, doctors’ cards, and telemedicine tools
The first two components involve creating a catalog with therapists’ information and a scheduling system where patients can book visits. This can be achieved through RESTful API to synchronize with hospital calendars. Also, integrating with trusted video communication platforms like Zoom Healthcare can facilitate direct communication between patients and doctors.

Automation of bill calculations and online payments
Online payments are processed through integrations with payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal. In general, they must support PCI DSS standards. As for the automated billing system, this is essentially a regular calculator that “pulls up” data on the cost of services selected by the patient and sums them up (minus insurance and benefits, if any).
Integration with wearable devices
This is necessary so that doctors can monitor the condition of patients in real time. To do this, developers use APIs to collect data from devices (for example, from Apple HealthKit or Google Fit, as well as more specialized IoT equipment). At the same time, they must also implement a mechanism for obtaining prior patient consent to collect personal data.
Messaging
It also makes sense to integrate a chat (with the ability to attach media files) for interaction with doctors, supporting end-to-end encryption (E2E) and using WebSockets protocols that provide real-time messaging.
User dashboards
The patient portal needs an interface for each user role. Basically, it should adapt the data and tools for doctors, admins, and patients. Among other things, it can also be enriched with advanced analytical tools. For example, Power BI or Tableau can be used to generate reports and visualize data (assessing attendance dynamics, treatment results, patient satisfaction, etc.).
How to develop a patient portal software: From concept to launch
When it comes to custom solutions, our telehealth website development services are provided in several subsequent stages. Let’s consider them in detail.
Ideation and requirements analysis
At this stage, our team consolidates the portal concept of custom healthcare portal development, according to your business goals, unique aspects of your internal business processes and IT infrastructure, the needs of the target audience, and an analysis of competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Based on this blueprint, we create documentation indicating functional and non-functional requirements.
Architecture design
From now on, our patient portal development team has everything ready to define the project's technological stack (for the frontend, backend, and database) and choose a specific architectural approach. We also approve the necessary third-party Integrations (including EHR, payment gateways, telemedicine solutions, etc.).
Finally, we select tools and protocols to ensure our portal has a proper security level, including data encryption, user authentication/authorization methods, diagrams of interaction between components, etc.
UI/UX design
This stage involves building interface prototypes and gradually transforming them into a full-fledged design after usability testing. At the same time, our patient portal app development experts always take into account the requirements for the accessibility of the user interface. Basically, they are most accurately outlined in the WCAG 2.1 and ADA guidelines.
Development
Now, we can start working on the frontend and backend of the patient portal. Once individual functional modules are ready, we conduct unit testing to prevent hard-to-fix bugs at later stages of the project. This stage also involves the implementation of security mechanisms and integration with third-party solutions.
Testing and quality control
When the code base is ready, our patient portal development experts conduct rigorous testing, including functional, load, security, usability, etc. This stage ensures that the solution meets the best specs and software quality standards in healthcare.

Deployment and launch
Before launching the portal, we prepare all the necessary infrastructure, build a CI/CD pipeline, and set up a monitoring system. If needed, we can train your staff on how to use the portal. After all the previous stages are checked—we usually start deployment.
Post-release support and updates
To better understand its further optimization, our patient portal development experts regularly check the portal’s logs and metrics, collecting feedback. In addition, as post-release bugs are discovered, we fix them and, if necessary, implement new features.
Understanding the needs of your patients
A patient portal and medical website design should fully adapt to the target audience's problems. That is why it is essential to define them in advance. Based on our experience, we would like to highlight the following ones:
- Long wait time when making an appointment.
Patients often encounter long wait times in phone and in-person queues. A patient portal can help. It lets users book online appointments 24/7 and choose a specialist. In addition, it sends SMS or push notifications to remind patients about upcoming visits. - Lack of full access to medical data.
Many patients are forced to visit clinics because healthcare organizations still document their test results manually. The patient portal gives access to electronic medical records, test results, and doctor recommendations, which can be easily downloaded or saved (for offline access). - Lack of understanding of the treatment plans.
Patients may find it difficult to track their treatments' progress, which may result in forgotten, delayed, or canceled visits and procedures. To prevent this, portals display the treatment plan and the current status of therapy. In addition, patients get notifications about upcoming procedures, calendars, and recommendations, which is very smart. - Difficulties in paying for medical services.
The need for patients to be physically present makes offline payments resource-intensive. Patient portals eliminate this headache with integrated payment systems, allowing users to view their payment history and current bills in just a few clicks. - Insufficient communication with the attending physician.
In-person appointments to explain test results and treatment plans can be time-consuming for both patients and healthcare providers. Patient portals streamline this process with online chat and video calling capabilities. - Weak control over the treatment of chronic conditions.
Patients with chronic conditions often lack convenient tools for regular monitoring. Portals can address this with real-time health data visualization, medication reminders, and appointment scheduling, as well as integrating with wearable devices for continuous data collection. - Low involvement in the treatment process.
Since some patients find it difficult to understand how their actions affect treatment results, the patient portal development team can also add interactive tools to the portal to track patients' treatment progress or provide educational materials.
Gamification elements can enhance the effect.

Patient portal development challenges and solutions
In this section, we will analyze the most typical challenges of patient portal software development and the most effective ways to overcome them.
- Ensuring compliance with regulations.
Telemedicine hugely relies on strong data protection, first—to comply with laws like HIPAA and GDPR, and second—obviously, it is for patient trust. End-to-end encryption, role-based access control (RBAC), and multi-factor authentication are key practices, along with regular system audits and penetration testing to ensure security. - Integration with existing solutions in the organization's IT infrastructure.
Many healthcare providers still use older systems that don't easily connect with modern software. To solve this, developers can build 'middleware'—software that acts as a bridge—to automate data transfer between patient portals and other systems, ensuring everything works smoothly. - Ensuring high performance and scalability.
Many portals frequently freeze when user traffic exceeds the original design capacity. To solve this, developers can host the portal in a cloud environment that scales as users grow and use a microservice architecture to balance the workload across the portal's services. Additionally, they can optimize a database through indexing and caching. - Ensuring intuitiveness.
Since the target audience of patient portals is diverse (including the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with no technical literacy), there should be universal access to the full use of all portal functionality. To solve this, during the development of the patient portal software, the team should conduct user research and surveys to guide and optimize the software effectively. They should also adhere to the compliance of this software with the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
- Accessibility on mobile OSes.
As patients increasingly manage their healthcare on digital devices, patient portals must offer a seamless mobile experience. Poor mobile optimization can lead to slow loading times and display issues. Developers can address this by building progressive web apps (PWAs) or cross-platform solutions, implementing offline access for key features, and optimizing content loading with techniques like lazy loading and data compression.
Patient portal software cost: What to expect
The cost of telemedicine app development depends on project complexity, the team involved in the patient portal software development process, geographic location, development timeline, and the scope of features. Let's examine each of the points that influenced the cost in detail:
1. Project complexity
- Basic consultation apps with user registration, appointment scheduling, video calls, and messaging: $30K-$100K.
- Advanced telehealth platforms with multi-user portals, integrated EHR, and health analytics: $100K-$300K+.
- Telemedicine platforms with IoT/AI integration: $250K-$500K.
2. Team composition
A typical team for creating a basic patient portal usually includes:
- 2-3 developers: Where 1-2 are front-end developers, and 1 back-end developer.
- The project manager: Tracks the project goals and wins.
- QA specialist: Tests the app to make sure it works correctly.
3. Development timeline
The time it takes for patient portal software development also affects costs. Most telemedicine apps take between 2 to 6 months to develop:
- Simple apps usually take about 2-3 months.
- More complex apps may take up to 6-12 months.
4. Geographic location
American tech experts can be expensive. For example, a front-end developer might earn over $100K annually, about $8K monthly. He might charge between $70K-$80K for a three-month project.
Hiring remote developers can save you money. For instance, Eastern European developers or other regions often charge between $2,500 and $3,500 monthly. You can easily hire a similar team for about $30K to $40K for the same project.
If you want to find out the patient portal software cost in your case, please fill out this contact form.
Improving patient outcomes with data management: A case by Darly Solutions
From theory to practice—let's examine our relevant Darly Solutions experience through a top case from our portfolio.
In particular, we were approached by a HealthTech company specializing in consolidating unstructured medical data for organizations in the healthcare sector. They needed a custom digital solution to monitor clinical data.
Faced with a tight deadline and the need for high precision, we meticulously planned and assigned all the UX/UI design, web development, QA, and project management tasks. We also reviewed the team's work schedule, as some members had to work overtime. Finally, we carefully chose the technology stack. We settled on Angular, HTML, CSS, Docker, ngRx, TailwindCSS, NGX Pagination, and JSON.
Finally, our efforts paid off. We launched the product on time and met all design, functionality, and quality standards. As a result, the client has a competitive product with all the chances to thrive in the innovative telemedicine sector.

Find out more about this case here.
The future of patient portal development
In general, the future of patient portal software development is closely connected with the fast development of modern technologies, such as:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
These technologies will personalize the portal and related healthcare services. AI-powered chatbots, including ones with recognition of human voice commands, will assist with scheduling appointments and answering FAQs. In advance, machine learning can also analyze patient data and symptoms to provide preliminary diagnoses.
- Blockchain.
The introduction of blockchain technologies in patient portals can be aimed at more secure storage of their medical records and ensuring access to them only to authorized users. In addition, with its help, each interaction with data (adding, editing, and deleting) will be recorded, increasing the system's transparency.
- Virtual and augmented reality.
These technologies can form the basis of next-generation telemedicine solutions. In particular, in the future, patients will be able to interact with doctors at a distance without reducing the quality of service. AR interfaces will also help inform patients about upcoming treatment plans.
- Internet of Things and integration with wearable devices.
IoT solutions can provide end-to-end RPM in real-time (for example, portals will be able to collect and analyze data on the patient's pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level, and activity). Based on this data, doctors can receive instant notifications of critical changes regardless of patients' locations.
- Big data and business intelligence.
Examples of patient portals use big data to identify trends, such as tracking the rise in the incidence of a particular virus or assessing the effectiveness of treatments. Also, end-to-end medical data analysis ensures timely prediction of exacerbation of chronic diseases. Finally, doctors and administrators of healthcare institutions will be able to monitor departments' workloads and optimize appointment scheduling.
- Biometric identification.
Biometric mechanisms can give users access to the portal through fingerprint, face, or voice scanning, making the authorization process more secure and easier.
Conclusion
Now you know everything about patient portal development and can safely choose an off-the-shelf solution or search for a team to implement a custom one. If the second option is closer to you but you would not like to turn the search process into a real headache, you can contact us, and we will be happy to discuss the details of our future cooperation to implement your idea.

In 2024 alone, the medical imaging software market size reached $8.11B. By 2029, it is projected to grow to $11.83B and up to 7.84% at a CAGR. This is a fairly predictable trend due to the development of AI. Especially since big data, cloud technologies, and other advancements are already significantly speeding up the accuracy of diagnostics.
If you are considering custom development of medical image analysis software, now is the most favorable time. Below, we will reveal the specifics of creating such solutions and describe the requirements and the challenges you may face.
What is the definition of medical imaging software?
Medical imaging software—it's the digital tool doctors use to examine medical images. Think X-rays, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds, PET, and other radiology scans. Basically, it helps to see the details of every complex illness and make informed decisions about patient care.
To maximize efficiency, medical imaging software integrates a range of advanced technologies. These include AI for anomaly detection, ML for image segmentation, and methods for filtering, contrast enhancement, and noise reduction to improve image quality.
Also, 3D reconstruction technologies create volumetric models of organs and tissues. Developers also rely on the DICOM standard for medical images as it allows seamless transfer. They also use cloud tech to access data, integrated medical records, and VR and AR to visualize data and create interactive interfaces.
As a result, with medical image analysis software, healthcare organizations reduce the workload of their doctors and researchers and minimize the likelihood of misdiagnosis.
Examples of medical imaging software
To better grasp how these solutions work, we suggest you look at several medical imaging software examples that have gained worldwide recognition.
RadiAnt DICOM viewer
It is a high-performance medical imaging software that processes DICOM images. Due to its rich functionality, both doctors and researchers use it in their work. It has smart multimodality tools for 3D and 2D visualization and MPR (multiplanar reconstruction). Moreover, developers made the interface very user-friendly, so this software is also a great choice for users with low technical skills.

OsiriX MD
Specifically designed for macOS, OsiriX MD is a powerful DICOM platform that meets the needs of radiologists. Its advanced capabilities support 3D and 4D image analysis, hybrid imaging with PET-CT and PET-MRI, and integration with PACS servers. Crucially, it is FDA- and CE-certified for clinical us.

Horos
Horos is a free OsiriX-based DICOM viewer available on macOS. It has rich customization options for analyzing volumetric data, such as 3D reconstruction, and is especially useful for students and researchers.

GE Healthcare Centricity PACS
GE Healthcare Centricity PACS is a proprietary enterprise medical image analysis software. It has EHR and EMR integration, real-time collaboration, advanced AI analysis, DICOM standards, and format support. It can be a full-fledged assistant for doctors and researchers.

Philips IntelliSpace Portal
Tailored for large clinical institutions, Philips IntelliSpace Portal excels in medical image analysis and visualization. It integrates AI-driven automation and tools for multiparametric imaging in cardiology, neurology, and oncology; this medical imaging software supports multi-user collaboration.

Key features of medical image processing software
This section explores the key functionalities typically found in standard medical imaging software.
Tools for viewing and processing medical images
Ensure your medical imaging software works with various input data (CT scans, MRI scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and hybrid studies like PET-CT and PET-MRI). Usually, this is done by supporting the DICOM format. In addition, you will need tools to scale, rotate, and adjust image contrast. So, optionally, develop a panel for 3D and 4D visualization, including multiplanar reconstruction.
AI-driven image analysis
AI is key in automating the detection of anomalies in medical scans. It can identify cancerous tumors, blood clots, and fractures early, with a high degree of independence. Also, AI in your medical imaging software can classify pathologies using trained models. It can segment organs and tissues on scans and analyze multiparametric data.
Diagnostic and treatment planning tools
This includes tools for creating 3D models, surgical planning, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment. You should also consider integrating your medical imaging software with robotic surgical systems.
Medical data management tools
To implement effective medical data management, you will probably need to integrate your medical imaging software with PACS (for storing and transmitting data), EHRs (for centralized access to personal patient information), and cloud solutions (for unimpeded access to images from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection).
Collaboration tools
It's mainly for remote access so doctors and specialists can chat and comment on each other's actions. It also involves integrating telemedicine platforms to discuss complex cases and hold educational seminars.
What development?

A wide range of organizations can benefit from medical image analysis software development. Now, let's find out which areas of healthcare benefit from medical imaging software the most.
- Cardiology.
In this field, medical imaging software is mostly used to analyze CT and MRI of the heart and angiography. In addition, it monitors treatment effectiveness, plans operations, and predicts cardiovascular disease risks.
- Dentistry.
Inevitable for 3D scanning when planning dental implants, diagnosing jaw diseases, visualizing root canals, etc.
- Oncology.
Here, medical imaging software detects and classifies tumors, tracks their growth, and assesses treatment effectiveness.
- Neurology.
In this sector, medical image analysis software analyzes brain MRIs and CTs and provides 3D visualizations to assess the spine and nerves.
- Orthopedics.
Orthopedics studies thrive on precise X-ray analysis, which includes 3D joint modeling and spinal disease diagnostics.
- Mammology.
Medical imaging software can detect microcalcifications and early breast cancer through comparative analysis of changes in mammary gland tissue.
- Urology.
In this industry, medical imaging software helps diagnose kidney and bladder diseases. It does this by analyzing CT and ultrasound images. Additionally, the software can help plan operations and monitor patients with chronic diseases.
- Pulmonology.
Industry specialists can use such software to diagnose lung diseases, analyze chest CT data, and assess COVID-19 damage.
- Gynecology.
In most cases, medical image analysis software is used to perform pregnancy ultrasounds. It helps monitor the fetus, find pelvic tumors, and analyze the endometrium and other tissues.
- Traumatology and emergency medicine.
In traumatology, 3D medical imaging software can quickly diagnose fractures and internal injuries. It can also visualize organs for urgent decisions.
Still, deciding on the right healthcare sector for your medical imaging project? Contact us and discuss the possibilities of its practical implementation with Darly Solutions' experienced developers.
Medical imaging software development: Steps to follow
Custom development must follow clearly defined stages that most teams use. But, it can still be approached in various ways. Below, we outline how healthcare software development services are delivered in our company.

Concept formation
Start your medical imaging software project with market analysis. Define the target audience, prioritize tasks the software should solve, and research competitors (to identify their strengths and weaknesses). Based on the insights, our medical imaging software development team assesses the functional requirements and evaluates the need for specific technologies to handle image processing. This ensures that the chosen solutions align with the project's technical needs and optimize the processing of healthcare-related images.
Planning
Once we agree on the conditions with all stakeholders, we will write a technical specification for your medical imaging software. This document will describe its functionality, interface, API, security, and integration requirements. We will also approve the tech stack and necessary integrations. Finally, we create a roadmap that defines the milestones and deliverables for each medical imaging software development project stage.
Prototyping
Now that everything is ready, we can begin creating user stories. They include handling DICOM file uploads and 3D models, among other key tasks. For UX/UI best practices of safe data, we follow the WCAG 2.1 guidelines. They ensure accessibility for users with varying technical skills. We also test prototypes with focus groups to see feedback on complex features, which is helpful for future design improvement. Finally, after the edits are done, we develop a full-fledged design.
Coding
The frontend has algorithms to process and analyze medical images. The backend ensures secure data transfer between the medical imaging software and storage. It also encrypts data and protects against vulnerabilities like SQL injections. These involve writing database queries for smooth software interactions and data storage interactions. And last but not least—we also integrate with your healthcare org's existing systems and services (if any).
Testing
Once the code for your medical imaging software is ready and all components have passed unit tests, we run complete test cases. We check for load, functional, non-functional, security, and usability issues.
Deployment
At this stage, we are choosing hosting for your medical imaging software (usually either cloud or local servers), setting up CI/CD, and training end users, for example, by providing them with documentation, training materials, or live courses. Once we've done it, we deploy the solution (first in the test environment and then—in the actual usage environment).
Support and updates
Finally, after the medical imaging software is deployed, we set up monitoring systems to track its performance and detect errors, fix post-release bugs, optimize it according to user feedback, and add new features if required.
Key tech specifications for medical imaging software development
Such software development can be complex, especially in its early stages. Basically, there is often no clear way to turn an abstract idea into actual requirements.
So, let's examine all the key tech specifications that are usually implemented in medical imaging software apps:
- Support for common medical image formats such as DICOM (including DICOM tags for metadata) and standards for storing, transmitting, and processing medical images (such as C-STORE, C-FIND, and C-MOVE).
- Compatibility with various devices (CT, MRI, ultrasound, etc.).
- Image processing can improve images by adjusting contrast brightness and applying filters. It can also segment them to highlight organs and tissues. Lastly, it can register them to compare scans over time.
- 2D and 3D visualization, including volume rendering (CT/MRI), support for iso-sections and reconstructions, and interactivity (e.g., rotation, zoom, and pan).
- Data security, including HIPAA and GDPR compliance, support for TLS (for data transfer) and AES-256 (for image and metadata storage) encryption standards, as well as access control with role-based authorization and two-factor authentication.
- PACS and EHR/EMR integration (e.g., via HL7/FHIR).
- Annotation (adding labels, arrows, and text comments) and providing real-time collaboration tools.
- PDF report generation and image export.
- Scalability (including horizontal scaling via the cloud), multi-threading, and hardware acceleration.
- WCAG 2.1 compliance and user interface customization.
- Logging and monitoring events (including loading, processing, and exporting scans), auditing user access, tracking system performance, and setting up failure notifications.
- Local deployment of software on physical servers (most likely, this will require ensuring compatibility with Linux and Windows OS).
- Setting up regular data backups and automatic recovery after system failures.
Of course, this is just a basic list of specifications. In practice, your project team will expand and refine the list of features while specifying the tools and technologies for the project's unique needs.
Medical imaging software development cost
When it comes to the development cost of medical image analysis software it depends on its complexity and the technologies used. Without data and business needs—it's hard to define the precise price, but on average, basic DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) typically ranges from $30K to $300K. A customized version of Basic DICOM may cost $30K to $50K. Advanced customizations could cost $70K to $150K.
Implementation costs differ based on the size of the practice:
- Small practices typically cost $5K to $10K and take 1 to 2 weeks.
- Medium facilities cost $20K to $50K and take 1 to 3 months.
- Large enterprises may cost $100K to $200K and take 3 to 6 months.
Please complete this form to calculate the precise budget for your medical imaging software development idea. We will contact you shortly.
Challenges in medical imaging software development
Let's examine the main challenges encountered when developing medical imaging software.
- Regulatory compliance.
Software handling sensitive data, like patient information, must comply with HIPAA, GDPR, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and CE Marking regulations. Key security measures include code audits, RBAC, 2FA, and strong encryption (e.g., AES-256, TLS).
To avoid fines, consult a local lawyer on medical standards.
- Integration with existing systems.
Integrating PACS, EHRs, and other systems requires DICOM, HL7, and FHIR support. Also, medical organizations have very different established IT infrastructures, which makes it hard to unify their software. If you create a universal solution, you must provide some middleware. It will help users adapt to various services and systems.
- High performance and scalability.
Medical images, especially CT and MRI, are large. This can slow their processing and increase resource needs.
In this regard, you may need to implement lossless compression mechanisms for images and multithreading and parallel data processing algorithms. By the way, a common fix is to move your software to a cloud solution designed for healthcare businesses.
- The complexity of big data management.
Storing and processing massive data, like images and metadata, require a careful choice of databases and storage. In particular, this implies a preference for distributed databases and object storage.
For even greater reliability, do not forget to provide backup and auto-recovery.
- Risks associated with cyber attacks.
Cyber attacks that leak medical data are a serious problem for healthcare software. To solve it, you must implement constant monitoring. Also, set up regular security updates, including patches and OS updates.
Finally, train your staff on social engineering. It can reduce the risks of phishing attacks.
Providing a user-friendly interface.
Interfaces for doctors and medical personnel should be user-friendly and intuitive, requiring minimal technical training to operate efficiently. To achieve this goal, you must test hi-fi prototypes on the real target audience and perform subsequent optimizations. Also, do not forget to ensure your interface is created under the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
The future of medical imaging software
Medical imaging software development will advance by adopting the newest technologies, process optimization, and increased integration with other medical systems.
So, here are the core areas in which medical imaging software can be optimized:
- Speeding up diagnostic.
- Increasing image recognition accuracy.
- Costs reduction.
- Improving user experience.
This can be achieved through the implementation and development of the following technologies:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
For highly accurate and automatic analysis of medical images and accelerated diagnostics.
- Cloud computing.
To provide quick access to medical images from anywhere in the world, process large amounts of data without the need to upgrade local infrastructure, and implement remote collaboration between healthcare specialists.
- VR/AR.
Medical imaging software development allows anatomy and pathologies to be studied using interactive 3D models and visualize the patient's anatomy before surgery.
- Quantum computing.
While most quantum computers are not yet available for widespread use, they will speed up processing large datasets and training neural networks for image recognition in a few years.
- Blockchain.
To guarantee the immutability and protection of data from medical imaging software while providing patients with comprehensive control over their medical information.
Our experience in medical imaging software development
This section covers the development of the PrismaORM brain scanner. This platform was crafted for chiropractors, neurologists, and neurosurgeons to monitor brain activity and brainwaves before, during, and after chiropractic treatments.
First, we assembled a team of eight experts to bring this vision to life. They worked closely with two external teams of medical imaging software engineers. We've pointed out a tech stack based on PostgreSQL, Typescript, React Native, Nest.js, Expo, Three.js, and SQLite. This tech of choice lets us build a platform that processes real-time data from brain activity helmets. The BLE protocol transmits this data. A tablet interface visualizes it. A key to the project's success was optimizing the user experience. This included better platform performance and integrating 3D models.

As a result—we've made a powerful tool that empowers medical professionals to conduct more precise diagnostics and offer more effective treatment recommendations.
For a detailed look at this project, visit our portfolio.
Wrapping up
Now that you understand the specifics of medical image analysis software development, you can begin searching for a team to bring your project to life. We are a reliable provider of custom healthtech solutions, ensuring a smooth, transparent, and predictable collaboration. Simply fill out the form, and we'll get in touch as soon as possible to discuss your medical imaging software project in detail.

From long patient wait times to inefficient manual processes and risky paper records, the healthcare sector has faced numerous challenges historically. This has created a fertile ground for doctor appointment apps. According to Verified Market Reports, in 2023 alone, the market was valued at an estimated $318.49M, projecting a surge to $862.16 million by 2030 (15.29% CAGR).
Given the growth of AI-based solutions in telemedicine tech and the modernization of the healthcare system, we can now highlight the importance of such solutions and dive deep into the specifics of healthcare appointment apps.
What is a doctor appointment system?
A doctor appointment application — is a digital solution that automates the registration of patients for an appointment with medical specialists. However, modern solutions imply more than just scheduling online appointments. They give patients useful information about a healthcare institution's services and specialists. Also, they connect patients with doctors and give access to their records in the comfort of their homes.

Why is this system gaining traction in the healthcare sector? Let’s break it down into factors:
- The widespread digitalization of the healthcare sector.
Healthcare is moving beyond in-person consultations in the facility. Now, it includes remote consultations, app-based therapies, and remote health tracking for timely interventions. - The development of modern technologies.
Various mobile applications and the affordability of smartphones make this format of interaction with patients desired and preferable. - Reducing the workload on administrators.
To prevent personnel burnout, medical institutions can use healthcare scheduling software systems to reduce the number of routine tasks assigned to administrators and the number of errors associated with the human factor. - Increased patient satisfaction.
Transparent access to doctors' schedules and the ability to choose a suitable time — increase customer loyalty. - Increased occupancy of doctors' schedules.
With a doctor appointment system, healthcare organizations can minimize empty appointment slots since it will be easier for patients to choose the optimal date and time for a visit.
Key doctor appointment app features
Since the Apple App Store boasts approximately 35,019 healthcare and medical apps, among which are approximately 10 to 20 types of doctor appointment apps, features might hugely range from app to app. Let's examine the main features of the doctor appointment app.
Online appointment booking
The system should have filters for doctors by specialization, review patient feedback, and book appointment availability by date and time. Additionally, patients should be able to receive reminders for upcoming appointments (e.g., push notifications, email, or SMS).
Telemedicine
For routine follow-ups, an online medical appointment system is essential. It's not a choice but an inevitability. Both patients and healthcare providers save travel time and can schedule appointments just in the app via online consultations, video conferencing, or text chat.
Integration with EMR and billing system
Integration with electronic health records provides access to the patient's medical data directly from the application, allowing doctors to update and review these records directly from the platform. As for the billing system, the PCI DSS-compliant payment gateway will be the core element of the online payment process. In addition, it provides an option for generating bills and receipts.
Feedback and ratings
Usually, this is a window where patients can rate their experiences and write reviews for specific providers using a simple scoring system. For usability, this feature must remain unobtrusive within the app interface.

FAQ and educational materials sections
The app should include a FAQ section covering usage and privacy. It should also have an educational section with information about specialists, a map of the institution, and service costs.
Monetization strategies for doctor appointment apps
The ideal monetization strategy for a doctor appointment system depends on the target audience and the organization's business model. Let's look at the most popular types of monetization in this niche:
- Subscription-based.
According to this model, after paying for a monthly or annual subscription, patients get access to advanced features, such as priority appointments or online consultations. - Pay-per-booking.
This model involves charging a fixed fee or a percentage of the service's cost (usually 5-10%) for each appointment. - Advertising.
Based on this model, you can publish advertisements for medical services, pharmacies, insurance companies, and other partner organizations. This can be contextual advertising, static banners, or affiliate programs (for example, you can recommend pharmacies for buying drugs). - Payments for telemedicine services.
This approach to monetization involves charging a fee (either a percentage of the service cost or a fixed amount) for online consultations implemented within the application. - Patient data monetization.
This type of monetization involves selling anonymized patient data to global healthcare corporations. They can be used in the future for both clinical research and to improve the quality of services of partner organizations (for example, insurance companies, laboratories, etc.). - White-label solution.
Finally, you can develop a customizable solution and sell it to other companies under their brand. In this case, you must provide a settings panel where each organization can set individual configurations.
Benefits of doctor appointment booking app development
To understand the benefits of the doctor appointment booking system, we first need to figure out the main pain points such software can solve. Previously, we’ve mentioned some, but for the sake of completeness, let's consider each of them:
- Simplification of the procedure for making an appointment with a doctor.
Earlier, patients had to call the clinic, wait for the admin to answer, and adjust to the schedule. With the app, they can choose the best time and date within a few moments on their smartphone. - Drop in missed sessions and treatment gaps.
With appointment alerts or medication reminders, patients won’t forget about upcoming visits to the doctor and taking medications, which ultimately saves the clinic's resources.
- Transparency of pricing.
Some patients find it difficult to understand the cost of the services; in turn, with the application, they will have access to all the price information before making an appointment. - Comprehensive information about doctors and services.
To prevent patients from choosing doctors blindly, the application can offer them a convenient rating system, reviews, and descriptions of services; thanks to this, they will make a more conscious decision about choosing a particular doctor/service.
- Minimization of paperwork.
Without a doctor appointment application at hand, medical personnel often had to work with paper journals. An app that integrates with the CRM, EHR, and other software will reduce reliance on paper docs. - Higher revenue.
You can sell additional services through the application; moreover, its convenience and transparency increase the likelihood of repeat visits. - Reduced need for human resources.
The application’s launch will help reduce the need for a large administrative staff, allowing existing employees to focus less on routine tasks and more on value-driven activities. - Greater return on marketing efforts.
The patient's behavior analytics can help you craft more targeted offers. With insights into patient habits and preferences, you can create highly targeted offers that resonate with your audience, optimizing both campaign success and budget efficiency while increasing engagement and retention. - Increased competitive advantage.
Modern clinics that offer convenient digital solutions win more patients, improve operational efficiency, reduce no-show rates, and enhance patient satisfaction, all of which contribute to a stronger competitive position in the overall healthcare market.
Steps to build a doctor appointment app
Let’s check the steps included in the medical software development services that our doctor appointment app development company provides.
Market research
At this stage, our doctor appointment app development team defines the application's target audience (the patients' age, smartphone proficiency level, etc.). Next, we analyze the institution's business model for which it’s being created while researching competitors and identifying their strengths and weaknesse

Based on the insights received, we determine the app's basic and advanced features. For example, we want real-time patient monitoring through wearables. We also need to agree on the OS, which can be Android and/or iOS. Lastly, we must choose the best monetization model. Finally, we determine the necessary integrations with third-party solutions and the requirements that must be met (usually GDPR, HIPAA, etc.).
Prototyping and UX/UI design
At this point, our experts create user stories to guide the development of prototypes (first lo-fi, and when agreed upon with all stakeholders, hi-fi). Once the prototypes are finalized, our team starts working on the full-fledged doctor appointment app design. We aim to create user-friendly navigation that cuts off the input needed from the user to complete tasks. At the same time, the team works on the UI, optimizing it for mobile platforms and obtaining WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines.
Architecture development
This stage involves choosing an architectural approach (for example, microservices for better scalability, REST or GraphQL for API, and so on). It is also important to plan the processes that will be implemented on the server side (in particular, record management, authorization, etc.). On the client side (usually, this is the patient and administrator interface) and on the database side (as a rule, flows for transactions and caching are separated). We also select specific solutions for implementing the necessary integrations.
Coding
Now, we have everything ready to define the technology stack for the backend and frontend. This decision is based on whether native or cross-platform development will be utilized for the doctor appointment app. Once individual program modules are ready, we proceed with coding and testing each component.
Testing
Since the entire code base is ready, our doctor scheduling app development team ensures that it is fully covered with test cases to perform integration, load, and other types of testing. If there are any bugs, we will fix them immediately and then test the product again. Repeat this process until we meet all the specifications.
Launch and deployment
Finally, our doctor app development experts set up the server infrastructure (optionally, they also introduce CI/CD practices). Ensures data security (through encryption and regular security audits) and carries out a test launch of the software. If there are no critical bugs in the beta version of the application, we release it in the App Store and/or Google Play.
Post-release support and development of updates
This stage includes maintaining app stability, fixing failures, adding new features, optimizing existing ones, updating the design, and scaling with the growing user base.
Doctor appointment app design: Best practices
When it comes to the UI design of a doctor appointment app, we prioritize WCAG 2.1 guidelines. This section details and provides practical examples of their effective implementation for an optimal user experience.

- Readability of information.
Maintain a color contrast ratio between text and background (at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text). Also, include doctor avatars and icons, ensure text scalability up to 200% (without loss of functionality), and add subtitles and text transcripts for videos (if any). - Ease of navigation.
All UI elements should be keyboard-accessible and have a minimum clickable size of 44x44 pixels. Ensure there’s extra space around buttons or links to prevent accidental clicks and include breadcrumbs for easier navigation. - Clarity of the interface.
Use simple language in the interface, label all form fields, provide input format examples (like "dd.mm.yyyy"), highlight errors, and offer step-by-step instructions for complex tasks, including a progress indicator. - Interface reliability.
Ensure that your application is compatible with assistive technologies (for all functional elements, use ARIA labels). Test your app on various devices and ensure it uses standardized data formats like JSON and XML for smooth communication with integrated third-party servic
Of course, this is only a small part of the best practices you can implement in the doctor consultation app development process. To maximize the loyalty of your audience and better understand what the design should be — read the WCAG 2.1 guidelines directly.
Doctor scheduling app development: Overcoming key challenges
Generally speaking, everyone who is going to develop a doctor appointment app faces challenges to one degree or another. To overcome them effectively, it's crucial to understand them in advance. Let's explore them in detail:
- Integration with software solutions that you already use.
Your application may require integration with systems and services that are either legacy or support non-standard data exchange protocols (i.e., different from HL7 and FHIR). In this case, you may need additional middleware development to ensure seamless data transfer. - Data security.
Medical information must be protected with particular care, as its leakage can lead to large fines and loss of reputation for your organization. To minimize risks, consider data encryption at rest and in transit, implement two-factor authentication and role-based access control. After all, try to regularly conduct pen-tests. - Performance and scalability.
High server load during peak hours can lead to failures in the operation of your application. To prevent this, you can initially choose cloud platforms that support autoscaling for hosting and implement data caching. - Testing complex scenarios.
During testing, your QA specialists risk missing complex interaction scenarios with the application. For example, when several patients simultaneously make an appointment for the same doctor or when the selected order of visits to several doctors is conflicting. To ensure comprehensive coverage of test cases, use automated testing tools. - Accessibility.
A confusing interface can drive users away, leading to fewer interactions with your app. To prevent this, conduct thorough UX research with real users before launch. Based on their feedback, make necessary adjustments to the app's functionality and design. - The unwillingness of personnel to switch to new digital solutions.
Adjusting to new rules might be hard, especially within historically established healthcare practices. You might consider providing training for your staff on how to manage new progressive software.
Beyond technical challenges, there are many business-related obstacles, from USP's definition to the choice of an effective monetization model. This is why, besides carefully selecting the right doctor appointment app development team, consider hiring skilled marketing experts, too.
Doctor appointment app development cost
From our experience of doctor appointment mobile app development, it is impossible to determine the accurate cost of such a project without understanding its functionality and the platforms it is intended for. However, based on the average cost for app development, we can give an approximate cost guide. Here’s a breakdown:
Complexity of projects:
- Simple apps typically range from $20K – $30K, and their implementation takes 4 – 6 months. These apps usually include basic functionalities like appointment scheduling and doctor search features.
- For medium apps like telemedicine integration and electronic health records (EHR), costs can rise from $30K to $45K with an approximate 6 – 9 months timeline. This includes both web and mobile platforms with a broader range of functionalities.
- Highly complex applications with real-time video consultations, comprehensive analytics dashboards, and AI-driven functionalities may exceed $45K+ and take 9 – 12 months.
Geographical variations
The cost can also vary by region:
- North America: Because of advanced technological capabilities, on average, it has the highest cost, ranging from $30K – $150K+.
- Europe: Cost ranges from $20K – $150K, influenced by economic conditions from country to country.
- Asia: Development costs are generally lower, ranging from $20K – $100K.
Have a thriving idea for a doctor appointment app and are curious about a budget estimate for its deployment? Simply fill out this form, and we will swiftly calculate your project and contact you back.
Top 5 successful doctor appointment apps
Now, let’s explore some top-tier doctor appointment apps that excel in every aspect. These examples might inspire you to build a doctor appointment app for your healthcare organization.
Zocdoc
Zocdoc is praised for its intuitive interface and powerful search tools. The platform has an intuitive interface and powerful search tools. The platform streamlines appointments and has instant confirmation features, reminders, a feedback system, and seamless integration with insurance providers and document uploads.

Practo
Popular in India, Practo gives patients access to doctor appointments, telemedicine services, ordering medicines for delivery, and storing medical records. Patients can view individual doctor profiles, including their education, experience, and certifications, allowing them to choose the best specialists for their treatment.

Doctolib
The Doctolib application simplifies making appointments with doctors and provides the option to cancel a visit. This application is integrated with doctors' calendars, automatically sends notifications, and provides rich functionality for doctors (including scheduling management and provision of telemedicine services).

Healthgrades
As for alternatives for the US market, we cannot help but mention Healthgrades. This application helps users find doctors and medical institutions based on location, specialization, and rating. Plus, it allows patients to make appointments and get detailed information about particular specialists and organizations.

MyChart
MyChart — is a top charted app in the US and Canada. Designed to manage medical information and schedule appointments, it allows patients to communicate with doctors online and get family access.

Darly Solutions' expertise in online booking and enhanced customer engagement
The most relevant case for online doctor scheduling app development was Glamezy, a B2C solution for the beauty industry. Our client sought to create an online platform to help small and medium businesses in the beauty sector expand their reach, especially after the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal was to develop a website that allowed customers to book beauty services online based on location easily. Also, the platform must have an easy and encouraging interface to communicate with potential partners while boosting sales and driving customer engagement. Ten experts worked on this project; and for the tech stack, we used React and Node.js.
As a result, we created a solution for easily searching and booking top beauty professionals. Now, the platform lets users add salons to a shortlist with one click, view nearby salons on an interactive map, and earn points for every transaction on the platform.

If you’d like to explore this case further, please visit our portfolio.
Final thoughts
It’s fair to say that at the heart of every design lies a larger goal for the benefit of humanity. A well-designed doctor appointment app boosts access and patient satisfaction while helping small and medium healthcare organizations and businesses thrive in the tech sector.
After you’ve read all the details about ideas and challenges for developing a doctor appointment app, it's time to find the right team to turn your vision into reality.
For now, don’t settle for less. Darly Solution is here to help! Contact us today to discuss your project in detail.

Specifically, according to the Exploding Topics resource, in 2024, Android has a 70.93% global market share while iOS only has about 25% of it. However, both platforms are undoubtedly popular, and each of them, with the right approach to development and promotion, can provide product owners with a stable income. Below, we will reveal the differences and similarities between iOS and Android development, paying special attention to security and customization options.
Android vs. iOS App Development: Key Differences
Let's first look at the fundamental differences in Android and iOS development.
Programming languages
When it comes to native development, the most popular Android development language can be considered Java or Kotlin (they are both officially supported by Android’s original IDE, but the last one is preferable for new projects). As for native development for iOS, here, developers will need knowledge of Objective-C or Swift (generally speaking, this is the best option for new projects, while Objective-C is mainly used to support existing solutions that were originally written in this language).
Development environment
As the primary development environment for the Android platform, Android developers use the open-source Android Studio IDE, although in some cases their choice may also fall on Visual Studio, Eclipse, and some other development environments. At the same time, iOS developers usually resort to the help of Xcode with the integrated iOS SDK.
Differences in design
iOS development requires following the platform’s own principles for user interface design listed in the Human Interface Design Guidelines (the main aspects of which are color variety without shadows (Flat Design Depth), minimalism (Clarity), and content-first approach (Deference)). In the case of Android development, these are the recommendations for recreating Material Design (the main aspects of which are expressing the hierarchy of elements through their size, colors, and shadows (Metaphoric Nature), using bold typography to highlight important elements (Bold Graphical Design), visualizing reactions to user actions (Meaningful Animation), as well as adapting the design to devices of different form factors (Adaptive Design)). Also note that Android allows the development of applications for operation in Kiosk Mode – this will be useful for businesses presenting their services and/or products through software installed on corporate Android-based devices.
Hourly rates
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary of an Android developer in the US ranges from $91K to $135K, while for an iOS developer this range is from $101K to $174K. From this, we can conclude that, on average, the iOS app development cost (if you stick to the hourly rate for specialists) will be somewhat higher compared to the Android app development cost, all other things being equal (in particular, the same number of supported device formats and OS versions).
Complexity of development
It is worth noting that native Android development tools and iOS mobile app development tools are quite easy to deal with and, in general, have a low entry threshold. That is why the complexity of implementing software for a particular platform should be considered primarily from the point of view of ensuring compatibility. The fact is that if you are planning Android development to cover as many user devices with different form factors as possible, your team will have to spend a lot of effort and time. Also, there is the need to provide compatibility with earlier versions of Android and, accordingly, adapt the software for devices that support them. Therefore, the development process for Android can be much longer than in the case of iOS, a platform that is characterized by a relatively small number of compatible user devices. On the other hand, for iOS development, the entire team must be equipped with macOS-based devices — only then will they be able to build the software and successfully test it in an emulator.
iOS vs. Android: Security and Privacy
The main difference between iOS and Android in terms of security lies in the fact that iOS security is more focused on providing strong software protection (which is facilitated by its closed nature and limited number of supported devices), while Android focuses on a combination of software and hardware protection (due to its initial open source nature, which can still be violated by individual vendors creating their own Android-based OSes, as well the variety of supported user devices). In the end, it is impossible to say that one of these operating systems is more secure or, on the contrary, more vulnerable, since by following the standards and generally accepted rules of secure development, you will be able to achieve optimal compliance for your software as well.
Which Platform Has a Bigger Market Share?
At the very beginning of this article, we indicated that Android is the undisputed leader in the mobile software market, with almost 71% market share. However, it is worth noting that the ratio of market shares between platforms may vary depending on the business niche for which the application is created. Moreover, there is rather old research that owners of iOS devices are more willing to download paid applications, while owners of Android devices prefer free software. As a result, this factor can determine your monetization opportunities for your app, too.
Which Platform Has More Customization Options?
In terms of customization options, Android gives developers more flexibility due to the open nature of the platform. Thus, they get more space for creativity, which allows them to implement non-trivial designs and functionality. In turn, the iOS platform is a closed ecosystem with its own strict compliance rules. This concept is aimed at maintaining uniformity of user interfaces, so it will not be possible to create something too non-standard on its basis.
Android vs. iOS App Development: Which One to Choose
Ultimately, we cannot say that development for any one of the platforms, be it iOS or Android, is more profitable. Everything depends on the niche for which the software solution is being implemented, its localization, and many other factors that determine the size of the target audience.
Additionally, it is important to be aware of app store fees for paid software and software with in-app purchases. In particular, iOS paid apps, in-app purchases of digital goods or services, and/or linking out to purchase digital goods and services on your website are subject to a 17% fee (or 10% If you're enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program/the Apple Video Partner Program/News Partner Program or renew a qualifying auto-renewal subscription beyond one year); also, if you use App Store payment processing and related commerce services for in-app purchases, you will be charged a 3% fee. As for Google Play, here, the fee is 15% on the first $1 million in annual revenue (or 30% on annual revenue exceeding $1 million), 15% on products with an auto-renewing subscription (regardless of annual revenue size), and 15% or less for developers who qualify for the Play Media Experience Program.
By the way, if you find that the ratio of potential users for each platform is approximately 1:1, you can consider the cross-platform app development option, which involves creating a single code base for iOS and Android platforms. In this case, you can save about 30% of the budget compared to developing two native applications, and also bring the launch date of your mobile solution closer. The only thing is that, like any other type of software development, this one also has some restrictions.
Regardless of whether you are considering cross-platform or native mobile app development, you can always choose us as a reliable service provider of custom mobile solutions. We will implement your business idea with the minimum possible budget without compromising its quality and select the best approaches and tech stack to ensure its competitiveness and profitability over the long term.

According to data from the Precedence Research resource, the worldwide SaaS market is estimated at USD 358.33 bln in 2024 and is expected to grow up to USD 1,251.35 bln by 2034 at a CAGR of 13.3%. Such demand is due to the ease of deployment of such solutions (instead of local installation, access to them is possible from any device with a purchased license where there is an Internet connection), as well as often extensive customization options. If you would like to launch your own SaaS solution, but are not yet sure about the final list of features, you should consider the SaaS MVP development option.
What Is MVP in SaaS?
A minimum viable product (MVP) in the context of SaaS development is a version of a product where only the key functionality is implemented – that is, the one that determines the value of a specific SaaS solution for the end user. The goal of a SaaS MVP is to reduce development time by cutting down on secondary functionality, and to obtain user feedback to determine the course of implementation of a full-fledged SaaS version.
SaaS MVP Development Benefits
What are the benefits of SaaS MVP development? Let’s find them out right now.
Ability to competently plan a budget and attract investments
Compared to implementing a full-fledged SaaS solution, MVP development is cheaper, since its task is to allow the target audience to test its key functionality in practice, without any excesses in the set of features and user experience (UX) design. This simplifies budget planning, too, as it does not require colossal expenses from the project owners from the very beginning. Also, thanks to this approach to development, its speed increases. Therefore, the working product can be presented to potential investors a few months from the start of work, and it will not just be a business plan in the form of a presentation, but a functioning software solution that can be applied to solve specific tasks. Usually, negotiations regarding further investment in such a project with this strong attribute (an MVP) are successful.
High productivity of the development team
Since an MVP has a limited number of features, your team will be freed from optimizing user interface. Therefore, work on the MVP will proceed faster. In addition, when developing such a software version, your team may gain valuable insights that were initially overlooked – they can also be implemented over time. Finally, when the solution’s functionality is limited, it is easier for developers to identify possible areas for improvement and, thus, address them in further development cycles associated with the launch of a full-fledged SaaS version.
Reduced time to market
An MVP approach allows you to release your solution first. Indeed, given the rapid development of the global SaaS market, this would be a wise move. A couple of months delay needed for implementing a full feature set could cost you the fact that your product's analog will appear and win the audience's favor first. At the same time, by launching your product as early as possible, you will also be able to start refining it earlier, too, ultimately receiving a SaaS platform with a lot of functions and advanced user experience after 9-12 months from the start of work on the project.
Common Challenges of Building a SaaS MVP
Along with all the benefits, it is also worth considering the possible challenges associated with SaaS MVP development.
Impossibility of applying the MVP concept to absolutely all products
It is worth starting with the fact that MVP development is not a universal approach, and not all products allow for feature prioritization. In particular, this applies to the ones in which all functions are interconnected, and it is not possible to single out the most priority ones among them.
Breaks in development cycles
It is important to understand that the release of the MVP in its first version is not always followed by the development of a full-fledged product. Sometimes, the team has to implement one or two more solutions with limited functionality before its participants come to a full understanding of the concept of the SaaS solution. Since the collected feedback may relate to non-overlapping functions of the product, the preferences and dissatisfaction of real users may not be fully covered in the full-fledged product.
The need to adopt new approaches to software development
Quite often, the development of MVP is accompanied by the introduction of radically new practices, such as Agile development and DevOps. In the long term, iterative development and other methods can increase the team's productivity by about a third, but the adoption and training can also take a lot of time for the team.
Possible issues with the program code stability
Typically, MVP development of a cloud-based solution implies speeding up each development stage (in particular, the one related to testing the program code and its optimization). In this regard, it often happens that teams pay insufficient attention to the code stability, and the MVP solution itself becomes susceptible to hacker attacks. That is why, regardless of the chosen development approach and methodology, developers are still better off adhering to generally accepted standards for user data security and using proven authentication/authorization methods, reliable encryption protocols, access rights delimitation, etc.
Difficulty of scaling
Even though the MVP is initially hosted in the cloud, its computing power may not be enough if the product becomes really popular. In this regard, when choosing a cloud provider to ensure a scalable architecture, it makes sense to initially focus on options that allow automatic scaling as the workload on the software changes. Today, such type of service is provided by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and some other cloud vendors.
Problems with long-term budget planning
Lack of a clear understanding from the very beginning of what set of functions will be present in the final solution can provoke difficulties with budget planning, which, in turn, carries certain risks for investors. Therefore, it is important for you as a product owner to discuss with them all possible risks and prospects of your MVP launch strategy at the early stages of your interaction.
How to Build a SaaS MVP
So, how to build SaaS product – you may ask. Therefore, let’s consider the main steps you have to perform to develop an MVP.
Defining the target audience
First, you will need to understand who the target audience of your SaaS solution is and what they expect to get from it. In fact, you will have to collect demographic and behavioral data about your product users to determine the most important functionality for the MVP and provide them with the most comfortable ways to interact with it.
Market research
To give your SaaS solution a unique selling proposition (i.e., to make it stand out from the competition in some way), you will need to conduct preliminary research that will determine both market trends in general and help identify the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors.
Identifying core functionality
Now, you have everything ready to determine the functionality that is the highest priority for your SaaS solution. Usually, this is the functionality that allows you to solve one or two key tasks assigned to your product (that is, without it, it will lose its value for the end user).
Choosing a business model
At this stage, you need to come up with ways to monetize your product. Note that in the context of SaaS, this is most often the purchase of either a license for a certain period of use or access to advanced functionality.
Building a roadmap
Now, you can create a step-by-step plan for implementing your solution, from MVP to launching and supporting a full-fledged SaaS product. Note that this is necessary not only for presenting the prospects of your project to investors and stakeholders, but also for the technical team to make them understand in which direction to move.
Creating an MVP
At this stage, your technical team can begin to build MVP, i.e., implement its user interface, server requests, database requests, alpha testing, etc.
Deploying an MVP and collecting user feedback
Once your team is confident that the MVP meets the previously defined specifications and everything works as intended, you can deploy it to the production environment and begin beta testing – that is, testing it on real users to gather feedback on possible improvements. After that, you will have to prioritize the aspects highlighted by users and plan to implement them in subsequent development cycles.
How to Accelerate SaaS MVP Development
Finally, let’s consider a number of best practices that will help you speed up the SaaS MVP development process:
- Use Backend as a Service (BaaS) and low-code solutions to reduce the amount of work for your backend and frontend specialists, respectively;
- Choose a time-tested technology stack that all members of your development team are familiar with;
- Delegate individual tasks within your project or the entire project to an outsourcing service provider to eliminate the need to urgently search for talent with the necessary skills;
- Establish processes for collecting feedback from users from the very beginning of work on your project.
SaaS MVP Development with Darly Solutions
Would you like to build an MVP as a Service solution and are looking for a seasoned team of developers who will bring your business idea to life? In this case, feel free to contact us. MVP as a Service is one of the key areas of our activity, which you can see for yourself by requesting our portfolio. You can also entrust us with individual tasks within your project, such as QA testing or, for example, UI/UX design. Whatever the list of our services you choose, rest assured that you will be satisfied with the results of our cooperation!

The mobile apps market is rapidly growing. According to Grand View Research, the global mobile app market was evaluated at approximately USD 253 billion in 2023 and is going to grow with a 14.3% CAGR by 2030. That’s why the need for qualified mobile development specialists is so relevant today.
At the same time, one of the key features of a competent specialist is knowledge of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and which of the existing models is best to use in a specific project. The following article will overview the most popular SDLC models and explain where to apply them for the best results.
What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?
The software development lifecycle is a methodology that guides the development team during the app creation process. Each of the development life cycle phases has its aims, timeframes, and challenges. Yet, a systemized approach toward software development ensures that the final product is of the highest quality.
In comparison, there are other approaches to software development. For example, development teams can choose from the following options:
- Application lifecycle management. It has a broader scope outside of the actual development process. It can include several SLDC development life cycle stages inside.
- Software testing lifecycle. This method emphasizes debugging and elimination of possible errors in the product.
- Product development lifecycle. This strategy includes market and product promotion after its development is complete.
What Is the Purpose of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?
The SDLC’s clear division into development cycle stages ensures that software is developed in a controlled environment. The systematic approach helps to avoid such challenges as:
- Budget breaches.
- Project overruns and crunches
- Failure to meet the requirements
- Expired deadlines
Creative freedom is important during the software development process. Yet, the SDLC approach ensures that all the creativity and revolutionary solutions are channeled constructively.
While following the life cycle of software development, each team member knows what task they should do and its deadline.
What are the 7 Phases of SDLC?
There are seven common SDLC phases:
- Requirements analysis
- Planning
- Design
- Development
- Testing
- Deployment
- Maintenance
Let’s consider them in more detail.
Requirements Analysis
It is the initial stage at which the developer's team evaluates the required features for the app. It defines how long the app will be in development, the budget’s size, and the deadlines.
This step answers such questions as:
- What is the objective of the app?
- Is it an upgrade or a brand-new software?
- What are the expected results?
Planning
The project can be planned after its goals and desired results are established. Planning in SDLC defines the technological stack and project roles. The project roadmap is also developed during the planning phase of SDLC.
Design
The software blueprint is created during the design stage. Ideas turn into features, architecture, and UI/UX design. Designing also includes consideration of the software's platforms and security as a part of SDLC processes.
Design can undergo several iterations before reaching its final look. During this phase, teams usually create a software prototype to see how all the features work together. This phase concludes with design document specification — a text description of the app’s functionality to share with stakeholders and within the team.
Development
Development is the long-lasting of the SDLC steps. During this stage, the team implements planned features and functionality into actual software. Tools for progress tracking and version control, such as Git, are common in the software development stage.
Testing
Testing comes after the implementation phase in SDLC. It is a rigorous process during which all software elements are evaluated. Testing can include:
- Performance testing
- Security testing
- Integration testing
- Alpha and beta testing, and so on
The result of the testing and debugging software development cycle phases should be a product meets its specifications and is ready for the commercial environment.
Deployment
Usually, the apps undergo testing and development in a secluded, special environment. Deployment implies transferring the software to the commercial space. The deployment phase includes final testing of the working product and gathering feedback from a limited audience.
The product is ready for full-fledged commercial use when the software development stages are over.
Maintenance
Maintenance is the final stage of the SDLC cycle. It includes software updates, security, and performance optimization. An upgrade or upscale of the software may be required in the future. In this case, the SDLC begins from the first stage, and the major update undergoes all the steps mentioned.
Most Common SDLC Models
The SDLC standards are common across the industry and development teams. However, there are different SDLC models. Each model serves its own purpose and offers a different order in which the different phases are performed.

SDLC Agile Model
The Agile SDLC model is the hallmark of modern industry. This model implies dividing the bigger tasks into smaller chunks and working on their implementation. The Agile method emphasizes communication between cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Agile also implies frequent feedback gathering and analysis. Rigorous quality control is also an integral part of the Agile model.
SDLC Big Bang Model
The Big Bang model is an almost informal approach to the SDLC cycle. It ignores any planning or assessment and jumps straight into the coding. Such an approach is more risky than others. However, the model works best if delivery time is critical.
The Big Bang model can work for you if you wish to experiment or test waters in new markets.
SDLC DevOps Model
DevOps is a combination of development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams to streamline the delivery of software products. The combined practices require service providers of highly skilled specialists. The main DevOps principles are continuous integration and delivery at the enterprise software development level. These methods help automate the process and streamline management tasks.
The DevOps model can strain the budget. However, the result is worth the cost. The DevOps SDLC cycle ensures that the product is in a deployable state and can be swiftly modified.
SDLC Iterative Model
An Iterative model is another representative SDLC cycle. Unlike the Agile model, iterative SDLC does not require continuous customer involvement. Besides, the iterative model has a more defined structure.
The Iterative model implies iterating the software and making changes between the cycles. Such an approach works well for expanded teams and allows the desired results to be achieved without failing deadlines or breaching the budget.
SDLC Lean Model
The Lean model is one of the oldest SDLC cycles that has persisted until today. It aims to achieve maximum efficiency in resource management. Unlike Agile, it focuses on the highest possible quality instead of close and consistent communication with the client.
It also takes a broader than Iterative model approach and improves the overall development process rather than the product itself. Lean is more philosophy than a precise model. As an SDLC model, Lean will ensure the quality of the product and client satisfaction before everything else.
SDLC Spiral Model
The Spiral model is a combination of Iterative and Waterfall models (this one will be discussed below), taking the best features from both approaches. The model consists of spirals, and each spiral has the following steps:
- Planning
- Risk analysis
- Development
- Testing
Such an approach allows risk mitigation at the early stage of the project. While being time-consuming, the Spiral model can be a fail-proof net for your project.
SDLC Waterfall Model
If you are looking for something straightforward and easy to manage – the Waterfall model is your choice. It takes the SDLC structure at face value and follows each step consecutively. The Waterfall model has its risks. It is rigid, and if changes or feedback appear in later stages, it will be hard to implement them. At the same time, the Waterfall model struggles with scalability.
On the other hand, it can spare the headache of complex management and task delegation.
Conclusion
Software development is a complex process that requires structure and precision. The Software Development Lifecycle provides such a structure. In seven steps, a software development team can clearly see goals and meet the client’s requirements.
Various SDLC models fit different needs and project scopes, and we know how to work with all of them. If you need specialists for custom software solutions, we are ready to answer your call and create a high-quality product. Contact us to discuss your project in detail.

According to Statista, in 2020, there were 6.9 billion mobile users. The number will increase to approximately 7.5 billion in 2025. Businessmen, students, housekeepers, gamers, readers, and sportsmen – everyone will need an app to satisfy their needs, and the demand for mobile app developers is high accordingly.
Yet, not every app finds its faithful audience. Only the best and highest-quality applications win the competition. Such applications require proficient mobile app development specialists. So, which skills distinguish a professional mobile app developer from a novice in 2024?
Stick to the article and learn what relevant skills you should look for in a full stack mobile app developer.
Top Hard Skills for Mobile App Developers
Hard app developer skills are the backbone of any mobile app development process. They define professional competence and allow developers to bring ideas into working digital solutions.
The most common hard skills for a mobile app developer are:
- Proficiency in programming languages for mobile app development (Java, C++, or Kotlin for Android, Swift or Objective-C for iOS, or JavaScript, Dart, or some other that is used for cross-platform development);
- Frontend development skills (SDKs and frameworks knowledge, understanding platform requirements, ensuring compatibility with different devices and OS versions, etc.);
- Backend development skills (database management, performance optimization, ensuring security measures, experience with backend frameworks, etc.);
- User interface (UI) design (including knowing the specifics of Google Material Design and iOS Human Interface Guidelines);
- Knowledge of RESTful APIs;
- Performance optimization and memory management skills;
- Experience in working with version control systems;
- Knowledge of app stores’ and other software development standards (like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.).
Top Soft Skills for Mobile App Developers
Hard skills are an essential but not the only necessary part of a developer’s competence. Soft application developer skills also play a critical role in CVs as they refer to knowledge and proficiencies related to communication and analytics. Also, they help organize the working process, solve problems, and build communication. When two developers with the same background in hard skills compete with each other, the one with stronger soft skills wins.
Top soft skills for a modern mobile app developer include the following:
- Problem-solving
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Creativity in app design
Most Important Mobile Developer Skills in 2024
Trends constantly change, but the demand for high-quality mobile applications remains the same. This block will explore the critical mobile app developer skills you should look for in a mobile app developer.
UI and UX Design
It's all about creating what users see on their screen and how they will interact with it. Usually, specialists follow generally accepted design rules (for example, Nielsen Norman's Heuristics), taking into account the requirements of the specific mobile platform for which development is being carried out. At the same time, native development tools provided by Android and iOS in particular, Jetpack Compose and SwiftUI significantly simplify this task, so experience working with them in the list of the most-wanted mobile developer skills will be highly preferable.
Frontend Development Skills
If we are talking about native development, the modern software engineer must have good programming skills in Swift for iOS development and Kotlin for Android development. However, some projects may also require knowledge of Objective-C, C++, or Java (for example, those that were developed a long time ago and need support), JavaScript or Dart (for cross-platform projects), or some other languages. Accordingly, the developer must have the necessary experience in frameworks for front-end mobile development, such as React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, SwiftUI, XCode, Android Studio, Native Development Kit, etc.
Backend Development Skills
The visual part of an app ensures the user’s engagement and experience with the app. The backend component is where the magic happens. A proficient back-end developer should know how to implement desired logic and manage the app’s inner data efficiently. A list of programming languages expands to Java, C#, Ruby, and Python, which are some of the most popular for backend development. Besides, a good backend developer should know how to work with mobile databases via SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. Backend development also includes knowledge of API integration, which streamlines data exchange between an app's frontend and backend components.
User Security
Data safety and user authentication deserve additional attention. Knowledge of safe coding principles and best practices (i.e., using data encryption protocols, following the OWASP standard, and so on) is a marker of a skilled mobile app developer. Mobile developers must also have skills in conducting static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST).
Knowledge of Mobile Platform Guidelines
Due to the influx of applications to app stores, moderation has become stricter. Knowledge of the marketplace’s guidelines increases the chances of an app’s success. Actually, that’s why the list of iOS developer skills should include the knowledge of Human Interface Guidelines. He or she also should be familiar with Material Design guidelines for Android development. Knowledge of the review process should also be part of the developer’s competence.
Mobile App Developer Skills by Experience Level
The job market of mobile developers is versatile and can offer different levels of qualification. That’s why, if you are looking for a mobile app developer, you should also take into account a potential developer's performance.
Junior-Level Mobile Developers
Junior mobile app programmers are prospective specialists with no more than 2 years of experience. At this level, a specialist should be familiar with:
- UI/UX design principles
- Programming languages for mobile app development
- Mobile app development frameworks
- Version control systems and databases
It is important to understand that hiring a junior does not mean that you will have to supervise the entire project to get a good result in the end. These specialists can easily be entrusted with simple tasks (which will save you from overpaying for specialists with higher qualifications), up to 50% scope of work.
Middle-Level Developers
These are specialists with 3-5 years of experience. A middle-level developer's main focus is learning how to scale an application and ensure its security and operational stability. The following mobile application developer skills needed to reach mid-level app development proficiency are essential:
- Specifics of integration with third-party services and APIs
- Cross-platform adaptation
- Knowledge of the best security practices
- Asynchronous and multithreading programming
- Knowledge of popular architectural patterns like MVVM, MVC, MVP, etc
Vital Skills for Senior-Level Developers
Senior developers usually have 5+ years of experience and lead development teams. They take on the most challenging and responsible tasks within a project and know how to solve them in the simplest way. Also, they can be experts in certain technologies, like AI, IoT, augmented reality, etc. Actually, here's why the knowledge of blockchain in mobile apps can be required for them.
Senior developers help the rest of the team with ongoing tasks and can take on some managerial duties. Therefore, the CV of a senior mobile app developer would benefit from the following soft skills:
- Leadership
- Interpersonal communication
- Teamwork
- Time management
Most Underrated Skills for Mobile App Developers
Technical prowess is paramount for cross-platform app development. Still, certain skills are often overlooked when hiring a mobile development specialist.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is a cornerstone of every other mobile developer skill. It lies in the base of problem-solving, code optimization, and debugging. A critical approach is the ability to remain flexible and tackle challenges from unexpected angles.
It is hard to measure critical thinking in hard numbers. Yet, even a junior developer with strong critical thinking and analytical skills can greatly benefit a team.
Creativity
Creativity is an elusive but vital skill for a mobile developer. Successful applications become popular not only because of flawless technical execution. They innovate and solve users’ needs like nothing else. From AI in mobile apps to IoT integration, there are numerous ways in which new technological advancements can be used in mobile app development.
There are numerous tasks that mobile apps can solve and help people with their everyday lives. A mobile developer's ability to be creative, innovate, and find what can be optimized is valuable at any professional level.
Learning and Adaptability
Constant technological advancement requires professional developers to update their skills. They should familiarize themselves with new technologies. Even senior developers have to keep up with the market evolution.
If a developer has an open mind and is ready to learn new methods and software, they will be a valuable asset to your project.
Conclusion
A professional mobile developer combines several important skills. He or she knows both the backend and frontend aspects of mobile app development. They also know the programming languages and tools to implement app ideas in the most cost- and time-efficient way. Most importantly, a mobile app developer keeps an open mind. They think creatively and approach problems from unusual angles. Darly Solutions is ready to assist with your project if you need such professionals. Contact our dedicated team to learn more details.

Most likely you have used these digital tools at least once – Google Docs, Dropbox, and Azure. They are based on the SaaS model. Apart from this widespread one, there are other variations of cloud application services, such as PaaS and IaaS. You will find out about their differences in this article, so keep on reading it.
IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS: Pillars of Cloud Services at a Glance
The highlighted models – IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS – are aimed at delivering digital tools and services to end users through the cloud on the subscription basis.
According to each aforementioned cloud model, end users don't have to pay for these services and tools one time – instead, as they are owned and supported by a specific vendor, the users are provided with entry credentials as they pay for a subscription. Only a steady web connection is needed to start using such a cloud application. At the same time, entire maintenance efforts in terms of cloud services remain on the provider's side. Even more, users are allowed to optimize their own facilities by offloading apps. Thus, they get more space while specific info is stored remotely on a secured server.
Let's take a deep look at each of these variations:
- IaaS – stands for Infrastructure as a Service and implies access to demand compute, storage, and networking resources, according to the pay-as-you-go pricing model. In this case, we speak about the IT infrastructure used to arrange the operation of diverse tools and regular processes in the remote, end-user’s office outside the vendor’s premises.
- SaaS – means Software as a Service and supposes that the cloud-based software vendor deploys it on its computing premises, supports it, and provides users with access to it as a ready-made web service.
- PaaS – stands for Platform as a Service and consists of providing end users with a ready-to-use cloud platform for developing, testing, and deploying their own applications, from simple cloud services to end-to-end industrial systems.
Let's check these cloud service models in more detail.
IaaS Is about Infrastructure
When the IaaS access option is requested, users get numerous facilities – servers, storage capacities, as well as network options, among others, – to leverage them as if those could be available physically within their own premises. Overall, the IaaS meaning lies in ensuring steady connection between the end users and IT facilities; the latter ones are located in remote spots.
SaaS Is about Services
This is the most sought-after offer that supposes using apps that are hosted remotely. Based on individual credentials, end users obtain access to such tools to cope with regular personal or business tasks. In return, they pay a predefined price for a timeframe of leveraging SaaS (usually, this is one year or one month). Thus, SaaS meaning is to guarantee straightforward access to specific software under remote and subscription terms.
PaaS Is about a Platform
It is a remote, cloud-hosted, platform aiming to produce, leverage, and support the operation of diverse apps. The facility holder owns all types of assets that guarantee steady operation. This is an all-in-one option comprising apps, systems, storage facilities, frameworks, functions, safety arrangements and protocols, backup copies, etc. PaaS meaning lies in forming a remote space where users can create, test, and run applications with specific functionality. For an oblivious reason, the PaaS variation is far cheaper in contrast when a user ensures all similar arrangements independently.
Public vs Private Cloud
But what about public vs private cloud – which of these options does each of the above models provide? A private option is entirely controlled by a single service provider without sharing the facilities with others. A public counterpart is offered to an unlimited number of external subjects who only intend to utilize specific offers. Most of the cloud providers are categorized as ones belonging to the second type.
But are there any intermediary options? Yes, there are hybrid cloud solutions, too, that are created and maintained on the so-called “edge” locations, i.e., thanks to both private and public facilities.
SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS: Distinct Features to Know
Each approach from the SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS trio is associated with distinct peculiarities. We will look at them from the user’s perspective:
Choosing the Right Model for Your Case
When the story comes to making a choice, there are numerous pitfalls to take into account:
Bottom Line
Leveraging software as a service is an efficient approach. It frees the assets owned by an end user and reduces one's expenses drastically. The single point is to have a clear overview of the project for which you request these external services. Therefore, you have to make a perfect match by saving this info with the comparison of sought-after models.
If you require further assistance in selecting personalized solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team possesses a vast portfolio that includes cases of bringing multiple IT solutions of different complexity into life. Just share with us your individual preferences and requirements, and get a custom solution in return.

You've probably experienced some inconveniences while navigating any web or mobile app, and this irritated you a lot, especially, when you were limited on time, right? A similar situation may occur to your app’s or website’s users if your development team makes these most popular mistakes.
Case #1 — Skipping User Profile
If you are aiming at crafting a truly bad UI design, don’t even try to figure out who your target audience is. And vice versa, if you wish to produce a good outcome, do make sure you have ascertained the user's preferences, needs, and the so-called “pain points”. If you address the customer's headache to the point, you will get positive feedback in return.
Consequences you should avoid:
- poor designs that may fail to address the expectations and encourage people to switch to another website or app;
- time wasted by users because they were unable to meet their needs through your solution.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- in-depth customer research, including interviews;
- creation of user personas;
- regular usability checks and testing (both alpha and beta) to make sure each element and user flow is as convenient as possible.
Case #2 – Complex, Complex, and a Bit More Complicated
There is a reverse effect, too. When developers strive to incorporate as many features as possible, especially the advanced ones, in the end, they may build bad interfaces.
Consequences to avoid:
- disorientation – the user may wander from feature to feature;
- lots of time needed for app/website onboarding and achieving an “expert” navigation level;
- low conversion rates.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- simplicity is above all, especially in terms of hierarchy design;
- templates must be consistent, so make interactive elements and the overall navigation coherent.
Case #3 – Ignoring Accessibility
Ensure that your app is easy to use by everyone, including people with disabilities.
Consequences to avoid:
- ethical and legal issues – non-compliance with the basic norms may lead to fines and blocking of the application/web resource;
- users with disabilities are excluded from the pool of the target audience;
- forming a negative brand appearance.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- adhere to the generally-accepted norms and best practices (you can find them in the WCAG 2.0 guidelines);
- utilize semantic markup;
- test your solution thoroughly before its launch.
Case #4 – Mobile Apps Appear in a Ban
As people use smartphones and tablets throughout the day, ignoring the peculiarities of mobile app development may become a catastrophic mistake.
Consequences to avoid:
- it is easy to lose a significant part of your potential users in a few seconds, as soon as they find out there is no mobile app on app stores;
- lower audience engagement score;
- poor navigation experience.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- develop a flexible UI/UX design that operates smoothly on multiple screen sizes;
- adopt a mobile-first design approach;
- test an app on devices with different form-factors.
Case #5 – Forgetting about the Balance between Appearance and Functionality
It is more than bad if you compromise one of these aspects. In fact, your app should solve the users’ tasks and be beautiful at the same time.
Consequences you have to avoid:
- building a reputation of a brand with “that poor design and bad user interface”;
- frustrated customers who like some aspects and hate other ones.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- prioritize functionality over appearance a bit – emphasize responsive designs;
- make sure these two aspects are coherent.
Case #6 – Following the Trends Blindly
There may be many trends. Still, be mindful when using them and pick only those that are coordinated with your solution’s concept.
Consequences to avoid:
- making your app too flashy;
- creating a solution that is similar or even identical to another one, especially a very popular one.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- develop your own personalized interaction design and follow it;
- be mindful and balanced when following some mobile design trends;
- avoid copyright issues – this is actually one of the most severe UI problems.
Case #7 – Overloading Users with Lots of Irrelevant Info
Trying to provide as many details as possible may sometimes have an adverse effect.
Consequences you should avoid:
- breaking your users’ minds with the irrelevant and unnecessary information;
- confusion because of numerous conflicts between the datasets;
- mistakes in the descriptions and other blocks of information.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- ensure there is a visual hierarchy between the separate information blocks;
- make sure it contrasts the rest of the space well;
- include relevant information solely;
- keep it brief, polite, and to the point.
Case #8 – Misleading Customers with Numerous Buttons and Links
Any excessive features will only worsen the overall impression a customer may have. Make sure you double-check that when the story comes to buttons and redirects. Keeping all the things as simple as possible is among the primary usability principles.
Consequences to avoid:
- including too many links and buttons, among other duplicating ones;
- providing irrelevant links.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- limit the number of redirects and buttons.
Case #9 – Pop-ups Bombarding
It is difficult to find something more irritating than pop-ups. When a developer foresees dozens of such features appearing once a user accesses an app, the situation turns into a nightmare.
Consequences to avoid:
- confusing users with unnecessary information and features;
- making them leave.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- be mindful about adding pop-ups – make sure they look well, and their number is not excessive;
- avoid those pop-ups that are difficult to close once they appear – let your users decide, they will be grateful only.
Case #10 – Avoid Any Upgrades and Optimization
If your customers are experiencing any interface issues, and you, as a service provider, prefer not to notice their complaints and respond to them, that is the right way to a failure. The issue is especially urgent if the interface is slow and lacks responsiveness.
Consequences to avoid:
- you leave your customers dissatisfied and make them switch to using a more user-friendly alternative;
- lower conversion rates.
Solutions to fix the problem:
- regularity test and fix UI issues as they appear;
- optimize features and images to make them load smoothly.
Bottom Line
The 10 most widespread mistakes listed in this article commonly adverse the overall user navigation and even make clients leave. Save this article to check the things to refrain from. If you would like to request proficient help with fixing these UI design mistakes and other possible drawbacks, get in touch with us. Our developers are keen on excelling in designs and functionality, so they will elaborate on truly effective solutions for your product.

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