Launch Is Just the Beginning

Congratulations on launching your app! Now the real work begins. A successful app requires ongoing maintenance to stay functional, secure, and competitive.

Types of Maintenance

1. Corrective Maintenance

Fixing bugs discovered after launch

No matter how thorough your testing, users will find issues:

• Edge cases you didn't anticipate
• Device-specific problems
• Integration issues with third-party services
• Performance problems at scale

Budget: 15-25% of annual maintenance

2. Adaptive Maintenance

Keeping up with platform changes

Mobile platforms evolve constantly:

• iOS major versions annually (iOS 18, 19...)
• Android updates (API level changes)
• New device sizes and capabilities
• Privacy regulation changes

Budget: 25-35% of annual maintenance

3. Perfective Maintenance

Improving based on user feedback

Users will request:

• New features
• UI improvements
• Performance enhancements
• Workflow optimizations

Budget: 30-40% of annual maintenance

4. Preventive Maintenance

Proactive improvements

Stay ahead of problems:

• Security updates
• Dependency updates
• Code refactoring
• Performance optimization

Budget: 10-20% of annual maintenance

Annual Maintenance Costs

Rule of thumb: 15-20% of initial development cost per year

App Complexity	Initial Cost	Annual Maintenance
Simple	$30,000	$4,500-$6,000
Medium	$75,000	$11,250-$15,000
Complex	$150,000	$22,500-$30,000

Platform Update Timeline

iOS

• June: WWDC announces new iOS
• September: Public release
• December: Deadline for new SDK requirements
• Action needed: 2-4 weeks of updates annually

Android

• More gradual updates
• API level deprecations announced yearly
• Action needed: 2-4 weeks of updates annually

Third-Party Dependencies

Your app likely depends on:

• Analytics (Firebase, Mixpanel)
• Payment processing (Stripe)
• Maps (Google Maps, Mapbox)
• Push notifications (OneSignal)
• Social login (Facebook, Google)

Each can introduce breaking changes requiring updates.

App Store Requirements

Apple and Google continuously update requirements:

• Privacy nutrition labels
• App tracking transparency
• Minimum SDK versions
• Design guideline updates
• Security requirements

Failure to comply can result in app removal.

Our Maintenance Plans

Essential Plan

• Critical bug fixes
• Platform compatibility updates
• Security patches
• Coverage: Core functionality maintained

Standard Plan

• Everything in Essential
• Performance monitoring
• Minor feature updates
• Quarterly review meetings
• Coverage: App stays competitive

Premium Plan

• Everything in Standard
• Priority support
• Dedicated developer time
• Proactive improvements
• Analytics review
• Coverage: App continuously improves

Conclusion

Mobile app maintenance is an ongoing investment, not a one-time cost. At PeakCodeSolutions, we offer transparent maintenance plans that keep your app healthy without surprises.