Ongoing Maintenance Costs of Android Apps for SMEs

When SMEs budget for an Android app, most attention goes on the initial build. But the reality is that maintenance is where the app succeeds or fails long term.

An Android app used daily by field teams is not a static product. Devices change, Android versions evolve, workflows shift and small issues accumulate. Ignoring maintenance doesn’t save money — it usually delays problems until they’re more expensive to fix.

This guide explains what ongoing maintenance actually involves, what it typically costs, and how SMEs can budget sensibly without overpaying.

What “maintenance” really means

Maintenance is often misunderstood as “bug fixing”. In practice, it includes a much wider set of responsibilities:

• Keeping the app compatible with new Android versions
• Supporting new devices and hardware revisions
• Monitoring and improving sync reliability
• Responding to changes in workflows or regulations
• Updating libraries, SDKs and dependencies
• Ensuring security and data protection standards are met

Why Android apps need ongoing attention

Android OS updates

Google releases a new Android version each year. While Android is backwards compatible, changes to permissions, background processing and security can affect existing apps.

Apps that aren’t reviewed against new versions can suddenly show issues months after release — often when devices auto-update.

Device turnover in the field

Field devices get dropped, lost, replaced or upgraded. New models can behave differently, especially around camera use, battery optimisation and background tasks.

Real-world edge cases

No test environment perfectly matches real-world use. Over time, patterns emerge: unusual sync failures, rare crashes, or workflows that don’t quite fit how staff actually work.

Typical maintenance cost areas

1) Preventative maintenance

This is the quiet work that keeps apps stable:

• Testing against new Android releases
• Updating dependencies before they become a problem
• Monitoring crash and sync reports
• Minor performance and reliability improvements

Preventative maintenance is usually cheaper than reactive fixes.

2) Support and fixes

Even well-built apps need occasional fixes:

• Device-specific bugs
• Unexpected OS behaviour changes
• Edge cases discovered through use

3) Small enhancements

Over time, businesses naturally want small changes: extra fields, clearer statuses, minor workflow tweaks. These are often classed as maintenance, not new projects.

What maintenance typically costs

Costs vary widely based on complexity, but for most SME field apps:

• Low usage / simple apps: a small monthly or quarterly allowance
• Operational field apps: a modest monthly maintenance budget
• Business-critical systems: ongoing support plus scheduled reviews

The key point is that maintenance is predictable when planned, and expensive when ignored.

The hidden cost of “no maintenance”

Apps that don’t receive regular attention often fail in slow, expensive ways:

• Sync becomes unreliable after OS updates
• Staff lose trust and revert to manual processes
• Office teams spend time chasing missing data
• The app eventually needs a rushed, costly rewrite

In many cases, the cost of fixing a neglected app exceeds what sensible maintenance would have cost over several years.

How to budget sensibly as an SME

A practical approach is to:

• Treat the app as part of your operational infrastructure
• Set aside a small, regular maintenance budget
• Review the app at least annually against Android updates
• Address small issues early, before they become disruptive

This keeps costs smooth and avoids unpleasant surprises.

My approach

I design Android apps with maintenance in mind: stable architectures, sensible dependencies and clear upgrade paths. The aim is to keep ongoing costs boring, predictable and justified.

Maintenance isn’t about constant change — it’s about protecting the investment you’ve already made.