Owning Your Code vs. Using a Platform For Mobile App Development

There are lots of different factors to consider when choosing your mobile app development path. One of those key decisions involves ownership of the underlying code that powers your app. 

Do you really need to own your own code? The answer may surprise you.

Here’s the short version—if you’ve got a multi-million dollar budget and you’re trying to build the next Uber or Facebook, then yes, you should own your own code. But for everyone else, save yourself the time and money and just use an app development platform. 

Read on for a more in-depth comparison between these two development options. We’ll cover the pros and cons of each, as well as specific scenarios for when it makes sense to take these very different paths. 

By the end of this guide, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to make the right decision for your app. 

Coding From Scratch vs. Platform Development: Comparing Your Choices

When it comes to modern mobile app development, businesses essentially have two main options to choose from—building everything from scratch or using an app development platform. Each approach has its own advantages and drawbacks, catering to different business needs, resources, and goals.

The first option requires you to code everything from the ground up using your own in-house development team or hiring external developers. You’re starting with a completely blank slate, and every line of code can be customized to meet your specific needs. This approach is often favored by larger companies with unique requirements or entrepreneurs who are trying to create a groundbreaking unicorn (Facebook, Uber, Tinder, etc.). 

Alternatively, you can take the path of least resistance and use a mobile app development platform. These platforms provide a foundation of pre-built features, functions, and infrastructure that you can leverage. Instead of writing everything from scratch, you’re just customizing and configuring existing components to match your unique requirements. 

An app development platform can significantly reduce your development time and technical complexity, making it an attractive choice for businesses with limited technical resources or tighter budget constraints. 

But here’s the catch. If you want to own your own code, you’ll need to build everything from scratch. This isn’t feasible for most businesses, but fortunately, it’s not necessary either. 

Owning Your Own Code: Pros and Cons

When you build an app from scratch, you have full ownership of the code. This approach offers unparalleled control and flexibility, but it also comes with significant responsibilities and challenges. If you’re thinking of taking this path, make sure you have deep pockets and a budget that can sustain you beyond development and through post-launch maintenance. 

Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of owning your code.

Pros

• Complete Control: You have total freedom to customize every aspect of your app.
• Unique Features: You can develop highly specialized features that may not be available in existing platforms.
• Intellectual Property: The code becomes an asset that your business owns. 
• No Platform Dependency: You’re not reliant on a third-party platform to succeed. 

Cons

• High Development Costs: Building from scratch requires a significant investment, often hundreds of thousands of dollars—if not millions. 
• Technical Expertise Required: You need a full team of developers, designers, project managers, quality assurance agents, and more.
• Time-Consuming: Coding from scratch often takes 4-5x longer than using a platform. Expect to spend anywhere from 6-18 months writing the code prior to launch.
• Ongoing Maintenance: You’re responsible for all updates, bug fixes, and security patches for the lifetime of your app.  
• Scalability and Infrastructure: As your user base grows, you’ll need to continue investing in your backend infrastructure to handle the increased loads. 
• Cross-Platform Complexity: If you want your app to be available on multiple platforms (like iOS and Android), it requires additional time, money, and resources. 

While owning your own code provides maximum control, it’s important to consider whether you actually need this. For most businesses, especially those without in-house development teams or substantial budgets, the cons outweigh the pros. 

Using a Platform For App Development: Pros and Cons

App development platforms are the preferred choice for budget-conscious businesses that want to get to market quickly and benefit from a high ROI. Leveraging pre-built components and infrastructure helps you save time and eliminates the need for you to manage in-house development resources. 

While there are a few drawbacks to consider, most businesses can look past them when they understand the benefits. 

Pros

• Cost Effective: Significantly lower upfront fees and ongoing costs compared to custom development. 
• Faster Launch Times: Get your app to market in weeks, not months, by using pre-built components. 
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: You can launch your app on both iOS and Android from a single build without having to create and maintain two separate versions for each platform.
• Hands-Off Maintenance: Platform providers handle all ongoing maintenance, app store updates, and security on your behalf. 
• Technical Infrastructure: You can tap into all of the existing servers and infrastructure that’s required to power your app. From databases to authentication servers, push notification servers, and more, you won’t have to worry about any of this. 
• Proven Technology: You benefit from battle-tested features and infrastructure that’s been used on thousands of apps—eliminating trial and error. 
• Affordable Scalability: Leveraging built-in infrastructure means you can handle growing user bases with minimal ongoing investments. 

Cons

• Platform Dependency: Your app’s future is tied to the platform powering it, which is why it’s critical to use a platform with a proven track record and years of experience. 
• Some App Type Limitations: Platforms aren’t great for building certain types of apps, such as high-fidelity games.
• Lack of Code Ownership: You don’t own the underlying code that powers the app. 
• Shared Infrastructure: Your app may be running on shared servers with other apps, which could potentially impact performance.

While you won’t own your own code if you take this path, the tradeoff is often well worth it. Most businesses quickly realize that owning their own code isn’t really meaningful. There’s no reason or circumstance that would arise where owning the code would factor into the app’s success or business goal. It’s really a moot point. 

When it Makes Sense to Own Your Code

If you’re still on the fence about whether you need to own your code, see if any of the following scenarios resonate with you and your business model:

• You have a substantial budget (typically millions) dedicated to app development and maintenance.
• Your app’s core value proposition relies on cutting-edge technology that doesn’t yet exist.
• Your company has an experienced in-house development team that’s capable of building an app and maintaining it on a daily basis.
• Your team has the bandwidth to manage all oversight, technical infrastructure, and patches post-launch.
• You want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg and build the next unicorn app.
• Your business model relies heavily on algorithms and procedures that can’t be shared with anyone else.
• You can afford the indirect costs of employing an in-house app development team, like training, benefits, sick leave, etc.
• You’re building a high-fidelity gaming app with advanced graphics and sophisticated gameplay. 

When it Makes Sense to Use a Platform Like BuildFire

If you nod your head while reading the bullets below, then you’re a good candidate for using a platform for app development. 

• You need to launch your app quickly to capitalize on a market opportunity.
• You’re working with a limited budget but still need a professional-grade app.
• You lack an in-house development team or technical expertise.
• Your app has lots of standard features and components that can be found on other apps.
• You’re creating an app for internal use for a small or mid-sized business.
• You need a scalable solution that can grow with your business (without breaking the bank).
• You want to build versions for iOS and Android without doubling your development efforts.
• You’d rather focus on marketing your app and onboarding users, instead of worrying about technical implementation. 
• You want to iterate quickly based on user feedback without extensive coding.
• You prefer predictable cost management using a subscription-based billing model. 

The BuildFire Advantage

Leveraging a platform like BuildFire is a game-changer in the app development space. While you won’t own the code, you do own all of your user data. You can choose to do whatever you want with your data, and it’s yours to take with you if you ever decide to leave the platform. 

With BuildFire, 80% of the development work has already been done. There are over 180+ pre-built features that you can customize, plus all of the servers, app store publishing, and backend infrastructure are handled for you. So you can focus more on what makes the app unique to your users rather than having to build redundant features that are common to every app. 

One unique standout of BuildFire compared to other SaaS platforms in the app development space is we’re more than just a platform—we’re also an app development service. From ideation to launch and post-launch maintenance, our team will work with you to create an app that aligns with your business goals. 

Best of all, our app development service starts at just $5,000. You won’t find a better combination of value of quality anywhere else on the market. 

Unlike other platforms, BuildFire also offers some of the same perks that you’d get by coding your app from scratch.

For one, BuildFire is developer-friendly. So if you do want to create a totally custom feature that’s been written by an in-house or freelance developer, you can hook in your own custom code using the BuildFire SDK. 

BuildFire also has a white-label reseller platform. This means you can clone your app, re-brand it, and sell it to other businesses. So the profit margins are limitless if you’re interested in selling apps for a profit—and you don’t need to own your code to accomplish this. 

Making the Right Choice

Choosing between owning your code and using a platform is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your app’s success and your business’s bottom line. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, and what works for one company may not be the best solution for another.

To help you navigate this decision, we’ve compiled a list of key factors to consider. Evaluate each of these in the context of your business goals, resources, and long-term vision for your app:

• Available budget for development and maintenance
• Timeline for app launch
• In-house technical expertise
• Desired level of customization
• Long-term scalability needs
• Ongoing maintenance requirements
• Target platforms (iOS, Android, or both)

By carefully considering these factors, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision that aligns with your business objectives. Remember, the right choice is the one that best serves your unique needs and sets you up for long-term success in the mobile app market.

Final Thoughts

When building a mobile app, most businesses don’t need to own their own code. While it sounds appealing, owning your own code requires you to build everything from scratch and could cost you millions of dollars. 

Leveraging a platform like BuildFire is far more appealing for most brands. You can launch your app faster and for a fraction of the cost—translating to a higher ROI without having to worry about any of the technical implementation. 

By choosing a reliable platform like BuildFire, you’re not just saving time and money, you’re also gaining access to proven technology, ongoing support, and total flexibility. You can focus on running your business and let us handle the technical stuff.