Native Android app development for business and consumers
Whatever your Android app needs
Whether you're building a new Android app, improving an existing one, or looking for long-term Android development and support, we can help through a Fixed Price Project or Continuous Monthly Development, from planning through development to Google Play launch.
Why native Android development
A native Android app is designed and built specifically for Google's Android operating system, the world's most widely used mobile platform. When you want your app available exclusively on Android, or when you need full access to Google's latest features and optimal performance, native development delivers results that cross-platform alternatives can't match.
We have in-house developers experienced in building native Android apps using Kotlin and Java, plus designers who optimize your app's UI/UX following Material Design principles.
Considering both iOS and Android?
Cross-platform development using React Native might be more cost-effective if you need your app on both platforms. See our iOS development services here.
Advantages of native Android development
Platform-optimized performance
Native Android apps are built with Kotlin/Java and Google's SDKs, running directly on the Android operating system without translation layers. This results in faster execution, efficient resource usage, and responsive interfaces optimized for Android's diverse hardware ecosystem.
Full access to Android platform features
Native development provides immediate access to the latest Android capabilities: biometric authentication, Google Pay, ML Kit, ARCore, Jetpack libraries, and other frameworks that define modern Android experiences. Cross-platform tools often lag behind when Google releases new Android features.
Material Design implementation
Android users expect apps to follow Material Design principles, navigation patterns, motion design, visual hierarchy, and interaction behaviors that feel distinctly Android. Native development makes it easier to deliver experiences that meet these expectations and comply with Google Play guidelines.
Device flexibility and customization
Native Android development accommodates the platform's hardware diversity, different screen sizes, resolutions, manufacturers, and capabilities. This matters when your app needs to work consistently across budget phones, premium flagship devices, tablets, and emerging form factors.
Broader market reach
With over 70% global smartphone market share, Android development provides access to larger audiences across diverse markets, price points, and geographic regions where Android dominates.
Android app support and Continuous Monthly Development
Send tasks whenever they arise. With Care, everything runs in writing at one fixed monthly price: no estimates to approve, no cost overruns.
Care Plus gives you everything in Care at its own fixed monthly price, plus up to two hours of meetings per month with a Project Manager or any 1902 Software expert (for planning, advice, and technical discussion), up to two ongoing tasks at a time, and up to two developers working on your tasks at the same time.
Care Ultimate is for ongoing engagements, often across multiple systems, that need close collaboration: a fixed price for every task or group of tasks, approved by you before work begins, people with the right expertise added to your project as your needs grow, and meetings with any 1902 Software expert whenever you need them (billed at the going project management rate for the actual time spent).
Typical work includes:
- Bug fixes
- New functionality
- Android version updates
- UI and UX improvements
- Performance optimization
- API integrations
- Google Play releases
- Push notification improvements
- AI implementation
- Ongoing technical support
Fixed Price Projects
For a single, well-defined Android project (a new build, a major upgrade) you get one agreed price for the whole thing, fixed before work begins.
Typical projects include:
- New Android applications
- Major app redesigns
- Major version upgrades
- Backend integrations
- App modernization projects
Large projects typically start with a Project Scoping phase at an agreed, prepaid fixed price. The purpose is to precisely define what will be built and to establish the final price. This ensures full clarity for both you and us before development begins.
Taking over existing Android apps
Many of our Android clients originally worked with another Android app development company.
We regularly take over existing Android applications, review the existing implementation and continue development with minimal disruption to your business.
Our Android app development process
Discovery and planning
We start by understanding your business goals, target users, and app requirements. This includes defining features, user flows, technical architecture, and Google Play strategy before any code is written.
UI/UX design
Our designers create interfaces following Material Design guidelines while expressing your brand. You receive interactive prototypes in Figma that demonstrate user flows before development begins.
Native Android development
Developers build your app using Kotlin (or Java when appropriate) and platform-specific Android frameworks. You receive regular progress updates and working builds to test functionality as features are completed.
Quality assurance and testing
We test across different Android devices, manufacturers, screen sizes, and Android versions to ensure consistent performance across the platform's diverse hardware ecosystem.
Google Play launch and support
We handle Google Play Store submission, including compliance with Google's policies, store listing optimization, and addressing review feedback. Post-launch support ensures smooth operation as users adopt your app.
When native Android development makes sense
You're targeting global markets
Android dominates emerging markets, developing economies, and regions outside North America. If your users are global or in Android-heavy markets, native Android development captures the largest audience.
Device diversity matters
If your app needs to perform consistently across budget phones, premium devices, tablets, and different manufacturers, native Android development provides better control over compatibility and optimization.
You need the latest Google features quickly
When your competitive advantage depends on adopting new Android capabilities immediately after Google announces them, native development eliminates the waiting period for cross-platform tools to catch up.
You're building for a single platform
If your users are exclusively on Android, investing in native development makes more sense than compromising for cross-platform compatibility you won't use.
Technologies we use for Android development
Kotlin
Google's preferred modern language for Android development, offering concise syntax, null safety, and performance advantages that have made it the standard for contemporary Android applications.
Java
The established language for Android development, still widely used in legacy applications and enterprise projects. We handle both new Kotlin development and Java maintenance.
Android Studio and Android SDK
Google's official development environment and frameworks that provide access to all Android capabilities, from basic UI components to advanced features like machine learning and augmented reality.
Design and testing
Good mobile applications require more than programming.
Our in-house designers create user-friendly, modern app designs following Material Design principles, while our professional QA testers verify functionality, performance, and usability across devices, manufacturers, and Android versions before every release.
Our Android team uses modern AI-assisted tools in its daily work, from planning and design to development and testing. Everything we deliver is still reviewed, tested, and verified by experienced software developers and testers first.
Ready to build your Android app?
Whether you’re planning a new Android application, improving an existing app, or looking for ongoing Android development and support, we’d be happy to help.
Book a meeting and we’ll help you determine whether a Fixed Price Project, Continuous Monthly Development, or a combination of both is the right approach for your Android project.
Free, no-commitment
Commonly asked questions
Do you provide ongoing Android app support?
Yes. Continuous Monthly Development is our primary service for ongoing Android development and support. It allows you to continuously improve your app without requesting a quotation for every individual task.
Can you take over an existing Android app?
Yes. We regularly take over Android applications developed by other software development companies and continue development with minimal disruption to your business.
Should I build native Android or go cross-platform?
Build native Android when you’re targeting global markets where Android dominates (70%+ market share outside North America), need immediate access to the latest Google features, require optimal performance on diverse Android hardware, or serve exclusively Android users. Choose cross-platform (React Native or .NET MAUI) when you need both Android and iOS simultaneously, development speed and cost efficiency are priorities, and app functionality is standard without platform-specific feature requirements.
Kotlin versus Java for Android apps: what's the difference?
Kotlin is Google’s preferred modern language for Android development, offering concise syntax, built-in null safety, and performance advantages that make it the standard for contemporary Android apps. Java is the established language still widely used in legacy applications and enterprise projects. For new Android development, we recommend Kotlin. We handle both new Kotlin development and Java maintenance for existing applications that need updates or feature additions.
How do you handle Android's device fragmentation?
We test across different Android devices, manufacturers, screen sizes, and Android versions during QA to ensure consistent performance across the platform’s hardware diversity. Native Android development provides better control over compatibility and optimization compared to cross-platform tools. We use Android’s responsive layout systems, test on actual devices (not just emulators), and follow Material Design guidelines that adapt to various screen configurations and hardware capabilities.
Can we build Android first and add iOS later?
You can absolutely build Android first and add iOS later. Many businesses launch on their primary platform to validate the concept before investing in the second platform. This approach works well when your target market is Android-heavy or when budget constraints require phased development. If your audience uses both platforms equally and you need a simultaneous launch, cross-platform development (React Native or .NET MAUI) may be more cost-effective than building native apps sequentially.
Do you handle Google Play submission too?
We handle complete Android app development from planning through Google Play launch. This includes UI/UX design following Material Design principles, native Android development using Kotlin/Java, QA testing across devices and Android versions, Google Play Store submission including compliance with Google’s policies, store listing optimization, addressing review feedback, and post-launch support.
How long until an Android app is live on Google Play?
Timeline depends on app complexity and feature count. Simple apps with standard functionality can launch in 2-3 months from planning to Google Play. Complex apps with custom features, backend integrations, or extensive functionality take 4-6+ months. Google Play review typically takes 1-3 days (faster than Apple’s App Store review). We provide a specific timeline as part of the project scope after understanding your requirements.