Apps should have one core feature only

In the world to app development less per app is more.

Here are 4 reasons why it is usually better to split features out into individual apps than it is to add more features to a single app.

  1. Specialisation leads to better solutions

When you are trying to solve too many problems at the same time your solutions for each problem becomes mediocre.

If you are tackling one problem, you can tailor the solution and build the User Experience (UX) around it.

  1. Gone are the days where people download an app for life.

The only apps that stay on your phone are those that you use everyday. These generally consist of social media (Facebook & Twitter), banking, direct communication (Whatsapp, email, Slack and SMS), maps (Google Maps) and industry specific tasks like an exchange rate checker if you’re a forex trader.

People download an app when they stumble upon it, when it is advertised to them or if they identify a specific need or interest — like needing a mortgage calculator when you’re considering to buy a house.

If your app and its long feature list isn’t going to solve a daily problem, then split the features off and offer them as expert solutions for once-off problems.

Don’t worry if a user deletes your app after you’ve made their lives better. If they’ve downloaded it once and they were happy with the result they will download it again when the same problem arises.

  1. Size matters

Apps with fewer features are smaller and tend to use less data. There are exceptions to this.

Most of the world is internet data conscious and most phones have limited space. Try keep things light.

This is particularly important when developing for third-world markets.

  1. Market Reach

There are two reasons why a business would make an app. 1) They want to make money from the app by entering a new market or by expanding their existing market, or 2) they want to promote their brand by showing current or potential customers that they are innovative and are able to compete in the digital world.

It is very difficult to get millions of downloads and it is even harder to make money from an app. It is far easier to expand your presence in the digital world by bolstering your app catalogue.

Listing 10 apps on your website it better than listing one app with 10 mediocre features.

Everyone has one app, who has 10?