White Label vs Custom Mobile App Development – Which Is Best?

Businesses and organizations looking to get a dedicated mobile app have two options: white label and custom mobile app creation. They can go with an agency for generic solutions or hire experts like a mobile app development agency in Chicago for a customized application.

This article is about white label vs. customized app development, focusing on:

• App cost
• Development time
• Sustainability issues
• Source code access
• User experience (UX)
• App design
• App publication
• Maintenance
• Security
• Updates

Find out if a white label or custom app solution suits you best. Let’s go!

100+ companies trust us with their mobile app development needs. Watch the video below to learn why.

Comparing App Costs

White-label mobile apps are cheaper than custom-made ones, because they have pre-built features that you can rebrand and customize to suit specific requirements. The development cost is shared among multiple clients, making it more cost-effective.

Custom-made mobile apps, such as healthcare telemedicine apps, are designed from scratch to meet specific business needs. Therefore, these require more time, resources, and expertise to create, thus making them more expensive.

Differentiating App Development Time

White-label mobile apps are usually quicker to develop than custom-made mobile apps. The apps are nearly complete and ready to use, and developers only need to focus on customizing them to suit specific client requirements.

Custom-made mobile apps require more time to develop to meet the needs of specific clients and customers. Developers must analyze requirements, design and code the app, and test it to ensure that it meets the desired standards.

The mobile app development time varies according to the complexity and features required, but the developer's expertise also matters.

Highlighting Sustainability Issues

Personalized mobile apps score higher on sustainability than white-label mobile apps, because these meet the needs of a business. Developers future-proof these apps to evolve with changing market trends and technological advancements, thus, developers expect fewer updates or replacements. For all of these reasons, personalized mobile apps are more sustainable.

Alternatively, white-label mobile apps cater to a broad range of clients. The app may not be tailored to a business's needs, leading to long-term sustainability issues. Generic mobile apps may be updated less frequently, losing functionality and relevance over time.

Accessing Source Codes 

White-label and custom-made mobile apps' short code access is similar. Third-party providers usually manage shortcodes when offering businesses access to services. Both white-label and customized apps integrate with these services to enable shortcode access for users.

Shortcodes are for SMS-based marketing campaigns, customer service, and other interactive services. These allow customers to subscribe to services, receive alerts, and participate in surveys or polls. To enable access, businesses must work with a short code provider to obtain a unique code associated with their company.

Rating User Experience (UX)

Custom-made mobile apps are usually better at providing top-notch UX. Developers keep the business's and its users' preferences in mind, thus supplying the best possible experience for the intended user.

Personalized apps also have a clean and intuitive user interface. This results in a more engaging and satisfying user experience. Meanwhile, white-label mobile apps cater to a wide-ranging client base. Some users may find the interface engaging and helpful, while others may not be as receptive, thus negatively impacting the user experience.

Focusing on App Design

Compared to white-label apps, custom-made apps have unique and improved designs.These are visually appealing and engaging, which attracts the target audience. Personalized apps have a consistent visual theme and brand identity that reflect the business's values and style.

On the other hand, white-label apps have a generic or standardized appearance, leading to a less visually appealing and engaging app design.

Checking App Publication

More than 3.55 million apps are in the Google Play Store, while the Apple App Store has 1.6 million available apps. These are custom-made and generic apps with almost similar publication processes.

White-label mobile apps are typically easier to publish and are ready to use. Businesses can simply purchase, customize, and publish on the app store, saving time and effort. Custom-made apps require more time and effort to design, develop, and test.

Focusing on App Maintenance

Personalized mobile apps are easier to maintain and update over time. Built specifically for businesses and their users, companies can fix bugs and errors and optimize the app's performance without disrupting the user experience.

Generic apps, on the other hand, may be more challenging to maintain because they are designed for a broad range of clients. Any updates or maintenance must be standardized across all clients, affecting the ability to customize the app for its users.

App developers need to consider additional factors to create or update a business-to-business (B2B) company mobile app. Because B2B firms serve companies and organizations, updates are carefully thought through and applied to ensure that there is no disruption in their clients' business processes.

Securing App Users

Custom-made mobile apps are more protected from harm, because they are set up with security as a top priority. They have features such as secure coding practices and robust security features such as data encryption, two-factor authentication, and safe login.

Conversely, generic mobile apps may have security vulnerabilities because they cater to general users. Updates to the app’s safety and protection features and protocols are regulated across all clients, limiting app customization for the business's security needs. There is also a higher risk of data breaches or unauthorized access in white-label apps.

Summing Up

Custom-made apps are more expensive and take more time to develop, but they are also scalable, have better app design, are more secure, and easier to update. These qualities contribute to a positive user experience and better brand recognition.

White-label apps are cost-efficient, easier to develop, and ready to integrate into any business. However, these apps are not as secure and are a challenge to upgrade. Understanding the pros and cons of these apps to find the ideal one for your needs is essential.

Choosing between white-label or custom-made apps depends on your budget, desired features, the development platform used, and other factors. Study these well and consult an experienced mobile app development agency in Chicago for expert advice. Call Digital Authority Partners today to learn how we can help.