Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 What is a readymade app?
- 3 What is custom app development?
- 4 Industries that benefited from custom app development solutions.
- 5 Comparison between custom app development and readymade app development
- 6 Pros and cons of readymade app solutions
- 7 Pros of custom app development
- 8 Factors to consider while choosing custom app development and readymade app solutions
- 9 How Competenza helps in custom app development
- 10 Conclusion
- 11 FAQs
Introduction
You have almost made up your mind to choose between readymade apps and custom apps.
But still deep down you are skeptical about the decision. What if you get access to the pros of one, but you miss out on others?
You do want to have access to flexibility, scalability, and a compliant custom app solution, but when it comes to cost and time, you again reconsider your decision.
Or maybe you are almost ready to go for a readymade app, but you worry about the future.
What if the app can’t let you scale and you have lost your data?
So yes, decisions are tough, but only when you are confused with the priorities of your business.
Before you decide what to choose, first you have to prioritize the needs of your business. And this blog will help you with that.
From the definition of custom apps and readymade apps, and examples, to essential factors to consider, we have got you covered in this blog. We have defined each factor that will help you set your priorities clearly.
So without delay, let’s get started. Before we jump into the pros and cons and factors to consider first, let’s understand both terms.
What is a readymade app?
A ready-made app is a pre-built software solution available for immediate purchase or subscription.
You simply sign up, configure it, and start using it, saving significant time and development costs. However, since these solutions are designed for mass use, customization options are limited.
What is custom app development?
Custom app development involves designing and building an application tailored exclusively to your business. Though it requires more time and investment, it gives you full control over features, scalability, and compliance with UAE regulations.
Let’s understand how the custom app development actually works.
Custom app development is a long process, as I said earlier. Let’s see what stages are involved in the process of customized app development.
1. Discovery Phase – Define challenges, business goals, and scope.
So the first phase is the discovery phase. You will be asked specific questions based on challenges the application will solve. This phase will give you clarity about whether you have made the right decision or should change the decision to go with a readymade app.
This phase helps the custom app development company to do the planning for a product suitable for the needs of the business.
2. Design & Prototyping – Build wireframes and get user feedback.
In this phase, the custom application development company will create one detailed wireframe. This wireframe will give the outline for the structure and flow of the application. Once the wireframe is in place, they prepare the prototype that demonstrates how the application can work. At this stage, you can give your feedback regarding what is right and what needs to change.
3. Development & Testing – Code, integrate, and test modules
Based on your feedback, they will make the necessary changes and then start developing the app through in-depth coding. Once the app is ready, they test it for individual components and integration testing.
4. Deployment and maintenance
Once the app passes all the tests, the custom app development company finally makes it live. Here you can keep a close eye on its performance and escalate the issue if something is wrong. After deployment, the development team can also provide regular updates and maintenance services you require.
Hope this section has given you clarity about each phase of custom app development. Now, let’s see which are the top industries that benefit from custom app development.
Industries that benefited from custom app development solutions.
Custom app development is not for all types of industries. There are specific industries that particularly need custom app development compared to others.
For example, industries like hospitality, education, service providers, etc, function well with readymade apps. They don’t need to invest their time and money in custom app development.
But the industries like finance, healthcare, retail, and real estate require custom app development. Because these industries have specific criteria like
1. Data privacy and compliance
2. Scalability and ownership
3. High security standards
4. Workflow customization
5. Predictive maintenance
Now, let’s see how these industries have benefited from deploying custom app development in their businesses.
Industries benefit most from custom app development in Dubai.
1. Healthcare
In business like healthcare, the application solution should be compliant with all security standards of Dubai, should be scalable and should be able to integrated with existing hospital systems.
With ready-made solutions, this is limited. But when you go with custom app development, you can take care of these parameters.
With custom healthcare app development, you can make a solution that is completely compliant as per PGPL, DHA, and DHCC regulations, and can scale when you want to expand into other GCC countries.
In 2019, the Dubai Health Authority built a service app called Doctor for Every Citizen. Under this service, one can avail a free consultation through voice and video call 24/7. It is providing initial consultation and follow-ups through DHA-certified physicians.
This service was built on custom app development. And that’s why it was possible for them to integrate with the national health databases, ensure strict data compliance, handle 100s of concurrent video consultations, and include both English and Arabic languages.
If they had used readymade app solutions, this would not have been possible.
2. Finance
With custom app development, the finance businesses can integrate advanced security features, comply with UAE data residency laws, build a personalized user experience, and integrate seamlessly with existing banking systems.
In 2021, Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, deployed a custom app development solution called accurate digital ID verification. Through this solution, they allow their new customers to get their documents verified while opening a new bank account.
This app helped the bank to speed up the onboarding of new customers, and more secure verification. This also reduced identity fraud risk. With readymade app solutions, the compliance of customer data of customers would be the biggest concern.
3. Real estate
With custom app development, real estate companies deliver smart community experience, and predictive maintenance. They can provide residents with real-time access to payments, property updates, and service requests in one centralized app.
EMMAR development PJSC: a valuable and competent lifestyle developer introduced a central platform for residents to resale service requests and track their status, book community amenities, pay community fees, activate access cards, etc. These customized app solutions helped in predictive maintenance, centralized monitoring, etc, through connection to thousands of data points and building systems. With readymade app solutions, they might have amenity booking or service requests, but may not be able to integrate in real-time with IOT sensors.
Moreover, this includes many services in one app, which might not be the case with readymade app solutions. And because of this, users have to use multiple separate portals, which causes delay and inconvenience to them.
4. Logistics
With custom app development, you can boost operational efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction. Because custom-built logistic solutions allow end-to-end encryption, data ownership, and scalability.
In 2020, dnata launched a just-in-time freight handling platform across Dubai operations. This solution helps freight forwarders book time slots, schedule based on flight details, and plan dock appointments and resources. This reduced the freight handling time by 60%. With customized app development, they have more transparency in cargo flow and better planning for resources, which might not be possible with ready-made app solutions.
Though the decision of choosing custom app development and ready-made app development solely relies on the industry you’re in and your business needs, being aware of the pros and cons of both is essential.
Read top industries benefit most with custom software development for detailed insights and reasons here.
Comparison between custom app development and readymade app development
Pros and cons of readymade app solutions
Pros
Lower upfront cost
One of the significant advantages of a readymade app is that they are cost-effective. As they are already built, there is no requirement to hire a developer and manage infrastructure. Because of this, there is no need for significant capital investment.
While customized app development charges you 15000AED, the readymade app solutions will charge you only 5000 AED/year.
Instant availability
As explained above, the various stages of custom app development take 4-5 months to get ready. But readymade apps are prepared to deploy. The only time you need is to select the right solution from the right vendor. Once you choose the right vendor, all you need to do is pay for your subscription and sign up for our account.
So while custom app development may take 4-5 months, this takes hardly a few days to a month maximum. As per one of the articles in IBM, though ready-made apps are readily available, they are often designed as per one-size fit all approach. And it rarely works when it comes to specific needs.
Vendor-managed updates
With readymade apps, you don’t need to worry about software fixes, security patches, and feature updates. You can focus fully on your workflow rather than worrying about these updates.
All are taken care of by the vendor.
Reliability
You are not the only user of the particular solution. Hundreds of users might have used it before you. So there might be no chance of bugs and greater stability.
Cons
Limited customization
With readymade apps, the limited customization is a concern. As they have been built that appeal mass and not for precision. If you have a unique workflow like Arabic language functionality, right-to-left layout, and compliant data storage, then you might feel stuck.
Hidden cost
Though readymade app solutions are cost-effective, in the long run they are more costly than custom builds. Because some solutions charge per month per user or per transaction, or per feature. So during the initial phase of your business, it may charge you less, but as you grow, you have to pay high.
Data risk and compliance
Business in Dubai has to use solutions that give strict data storage, cybersecurity, and TDRA regulations. Many global vendors don’t comply with this. So any data breach may cost you lakhs.
Dependency on the vendor's roadmap
Since vendors manage every feature and update, if they change anything, your operation suffers.
Now, let’s see the pros and cons of custom app development.
Pros of custom app development
Cons
Perfectly fit for your workflow
With custom app development, you have complete freedom to design and develop it as per your business operations and workflow. You can scale it when your business grows. You don’t have any dependency on vendors, unlike readymade app solutions.
So, with a customized app, you can customize it for the Arabic language, right-to-left layout, etc.
Scalability without price hikes
In custom app development, the upfront cost is higher, but that’s a one-time cost. You don’t have to worry about a monthly subscription, or even if you need an extra feature or users.
Also, scaling it as you grow doesn’t require much cost like readymade app solutions.
100% compliance with UAE regulations
The other major advantage of using custom app solutions is that you can follow the Dubai regulation standard. You can make your solution compliant with TDRA, DIFC cybersecurity laws, and UAE data hosting requirements. And this helps you avoid any compliance gaps that lead to hefty fines and operational shutdowns.
Competitive differentiation and brand control
Unlike readymade apps, in custom app solutions, you have enough room to differentiate your brands from your competitors. As the design and development are entirely in your control, you can make it with a unique UX, proprietary features, and a branded experience.
Read 10 benefits of custom software development of growing businesses in GCC to know more.
Cons of custom app development
High upfront cost
In custom app development, every feature, workflow integration, and design is unique to your business; it involves a higher upfront cost.
From the discovery stage to the deployment stage of custom app development, massive workforce, complex systems and smart integrations, and devices are the factors for huge cost.
Longer time to market
As you are building from scratch, it takes a comparatively long time to market. Every stage, that is discovery, designing and prototyping, development, and deployment are a time-consuming process.
As per Mark Jhonsan, in his latest article in Forbes has quoted it beautifully, that building a custom app is similar to building a custom home. Both require great investment of time, efforts and money.. For example, in that article he has shared that making strategy only takes 3-4 weeks.
Require in-house or outsourced maintenance.
Since you are building it, it’s your responsibility to do periodic maintenance from time to time. You need to either hire an internal IT team or outsource it for regular updates, cybersecurity patches, and scaling enhancements.
Potential lock-in into your chosen tech
Apart from the upfront development cost, if you want to migrate to the latest technology, you have to invest a significant amount for that too. Otherwise, you get locked in the chosen architecture, cloud provider, or dev team.
Factors to consider while choosing custom app development and readymade app solutions
Budget
Budget is the first factor that everyone takes into consideration while choosing between custom app development and readymade app development. And it’s not only about upfront cost, it also includes maintenance, hosting, updates, scalability, and licensing over several other years.
If you don’t have enough capital, you should not consider going into custom app development. And start with readymade app development. Because, as mentioned in the above section, for a readymade app, the cost is 5000AED/year, while custom-made app development costs you 150000AED just for MVP.
Scalability and future expansion
Of course, budget matters, but other factors also matter that too more than your budget. And one of them is scalability. Like other businesses in Dubai, if you too have plans for expanding your business in other GCC regions, then you need flexible architecture. Then only you can have more users, regions, and features.
And for that, you have to go with custom app development.
Security data and ownership
Specific industries in Dubai, like finance, healthcare, and logistics, are strict with compliance with TDRA, DIFC, and cybersecurity. And if your business is in these industries, then your application solution should be aligned with it.
Many readymade app solutions are often not compliant with these security standards. Any data breaches may cost you millions of dollars.
Therefore better to go with custom app development where you can make your solution with these security standards.
Localization
While operating a business in Dubai and other GCC countries, one of the significant factors is language support and right-to-left layout. The people here prefer English-Arabic bilingual interface, RIGHT-to-left layout, and content preference like Hijri calendar, UAE holidays, dirham currency, etc.
Globally readily available apps do not support these, and therefore, in that case, you have to go with a custom app development option.
Integration with existing systems
Like other businesses in Dubai, if you too need the solution to integrate with legacy ERPs, POS systems, CRM, IoT devices, or even with government APIs like Dubai Pay, Emirates, etc, then you should go with custom app development.
Because in readymade apps, you have limited integration options.
How Competenza helps in custom app development
When it comes to choose custom app development company, the service provider must have
1. Technical expertise and tech stakeholder
2. Industry experience
3. Understanding of local compliance and localization
4. Development process and methodology
Etc
And when it comes to these factors, Competenza stands out as a strong choice for custom app development in Dubai because of its deep industry expertise, Agile delivery process, and focus on scalable, secure architecture.
Competenza has substantial experience in industries like healthcare, fintech, and logistics, and builds apps that are compliant with the UAE’s PDPL laws. Their dedicated project management, UI/UX-first approach, and post-launch support ensure faster delivery, superior performance, and long-term ROI advantages that readymade solutions or less experienced vendors often can’t match.
Read here how competanza helped InnRoad: a Property management system, in enhancing its robust UI/UX development system.
Read here how Competenza helped Justlogin in improving their usability, introducing new feature modules, and ensuring integration with third-party systems.
Conclusion
So, you must be clear about what to choose for your business. If your priority is data control, seamless integration, scalability, and compliance with Dubai’s regulation, custom app development is worth your time, money, and efforts.
But if your priority is budget, and going live quickly, and testing your idea, then you can go with readymade app solutions.
So before you make final decisions, ask yourself this one question
“Do you want an app that just works today or one that grows with your business tomorrow too!”
Not every business needs a custom app — but some can’t grow without it.
FAQs
How does custom app development give businesses in Dubai a competitive edge?
With custom app development, businesses in Dubai are able to build applications that are tailored to their unique workflows, customer needs, and compliance requirements. Unlike readymade apps, it offers them complete control over design, development, and scalability. It also allows for Arabic localization, seamless integration with the existing system, and scalable architecture for expansion
What is the cost of building a custom application in Dubai, UAE?
The cost of the custom app development depends on the features and complexity of the app. But for basic application development it costs 25000AED-50000AED, for mid-level application it costs 50000AED-150000, and for complex applications it costs 150000AED-500000AED.
Can I shift from readymade apps to custom-made apps once my business grows?
Yes, you can do this. And many businesses in Dubai do this. When the business outgrows the limited features, compliance, or scalability of a readymade app, they choose to transition to custom app development. To do this, custom application development companies help them transition their existing data, core system, and build a custom workflow to match the new goal.
What is the ROI of investing in a custom app for my business in dubai?
The ROI of an investigation custom app for your business comes from long-term scalability, customer retention, and process automation. Unlike readymade apps, you fully own the product, save recurring license costs, and scale without extra fees.
How does custom app development support integration with government platforms like DubaiPay or Smart Dubai APIs?
Custom app development allows businesses to seamlessly integrate with the UAE government system, such as DubaiPay, smartDubai, and EmiratesIDAPIs.
Can custom apps be built to support future technologies like AI, IoT, or blockchain?
Yes, custom apps can be designed with scalable architecture that easily integrates emerging technologies like IOT, AI, and blockchain.
