Why Are Android Developers in High Demand and What is the Cost to Hire in 2025?

Introduction: The Android Market Share 

If you are looking to hire Android app developers, you probably know that Android holds a dominant position over the smartphone operating system market. As such, it caters to approximately 3.5 billion active users as of 2025 according to a Business of Apps report. A Statista report comparing Android and iOS on a quarterly basis from 2009-2025 also mentioned that Android maintained its consistent position over iOS as the dominant operating systemin the same period. With the extensive market share and established user base, Android app development is a top priority for businesses dependent on a digital product as their primary means to reach users.  

In this context, anyone looking for Android app development services will benefit from understanding the cause of this high demand and the various hiring options available to make an informed investment. This blog will guide you on the same.  

Why Is Android Development In Demand? 

Discussed below are reasons for the soaring demand for Android app development to hire Android app developers:  

1. Open-Source Operating System 

Mobile app developers can access the Android source code and Software Development Kit (SDK) for free because it is an open-source OS, eliminating the need to pay any Google fee for using it. As such, both, startups and enterprises can save on development and IT costs. Additionally, it gives developers enhanced freedom to work on the programming codes seamlessly.  

2. Deployment Ease and Minimal Barrier To Entry  

Businesses can publish their apps on the Google Play Store through a quick and simple review process as compared to the App Store review. Android apps can be deployed within a few hours or a single day, leveraging its direct APK distribution, and support for third-party app stores.  

3. Android User Base  

The Android user base of 3.5 billion users (as of 2025) indicates a well-established demand and familiarity with the Android OS, ensuring businesses can cater to users across the globe and meet their unique needs with custom app development. As such, more and more businesses are looking to hire Android app developers to capture this extensive user base and expand their reach.  

4. Developer Availability  

Any business looking to hire Android app developers can easily access development professionals because of Android’s popularity amongst them. Java and Kotlin are the two major programming languages required for developing Android applications. As such, Java has universal popularity among developers because it is taught early on in developers’ careers, and Kotlin is widely preferred for its concise syntax and ease of use.  

5. Device Compatibility  

Android app downloads are expected to reach 143 billion by 2026, marking a significant increase from 111 billion apps downloaded in 2021. This 30% increase can be attributed to Android’s extensive device compatibility and scalability among others. While iOS apps are limited to only Apple users, Android apps expand business reach across devices to Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and more devices. Additionally, Android can be optimized for different screen resolutions and sizes, including smartphones, smart TVs, smartwatches, and tablets.  

6. Minimized IT Expenditure  

Businesses and enterprises looking to reduce their IT expenditure can hire Android app developers to leverage its extensive software and hardware compatibility, seamless integration with ERP, CRM, and cloud systems, and overall device costs.  

7. Device Lifecycle Extension 

Android for enterprises facilitates extended device lifecycles with its built-in performance and battery optimization features, regular security and OS updates, and modular system upgrades, shielding devices from potential vulnerabilities and simplifying scale by eliminating the need to replace devices frequently.  

Android App Development Trends 

The mobile app development space is constantly evolving to offer users more lifelike, personal, immersive, and relevant experiences, giving businesses greater opportunities to create value. In this regard, major app development trends, as seen in 2025, are discussed below to help you approach Android development and hire developers with an informed knowledge of what is in demand: 

1. AI in Android App Development  

AI in mobile apps is set to revolutionize how users interact with digital products. Businesses can offer users hyper-personal apps that learn from their usage and offer tailored insights and recommendations for greater relevance, ensuring personalization for each user.  

2. Internet of Things Applications 

Increasing number of businesses are looking to hire Android developers to benefit from IoT, which connects Android apps to a vast range of intelligent and inter-connected devices, enabling users to seamlessly meet their digital lifestyle goals through an interconnected ecosystem. Android facilitates IoT apps with its beacon technology for smooth data transfer, device programming, and efficient functioning of sensors.  

3. Blockchain Apps 

With data protection and privacy becoming a priority for most businesses today, the demand for mobile app developers who are blockchain experts has risen extensively. Blockchain helps businesses protect all transactions by decentralizing data, ensuring unauthorized data access, eliminating data alteration, and ensuring transparency in all transactions.  

4. AR/VR Apps 

The Android OS facilitates augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) integration, enabling businesses to offer more immersive, lifelike, and accessible digital experiences. This is a major trend on the rise in 2025 as users expect their digital apps to deliver context-aware values.  

Hiring In-House vs Outsourcing  

The global talent acquisition for Android developers is heavily shaped by the business need to access top quality at reasonable prices and as fast as possible. With the growing demand to hire Android developers, in-house hiring and outsourcing emerge as two available options (the third being hiring freelancers). However, their efficacy in meeting present-day business requirements varies largely, as seen in the comparison below:  

1. Time to Hire  

In-house hiring takes time because of its traditional approach, lengthy hiring process, and time to find the right candidate. Remote developer hiring or outsourcing, on the other hand, reduces the time to hire through a quick and efficient process for connecting businesses with the right developer expertise tailored to their needs.  

2. Investment and ROI  

To build a competent in-house team, investing in skilled developers is necessary. However, hiring and training an in-house team takes time, and needs businesses to pay monthly salaries, benefits, and training costs, which gives returns years later. With outsourcing, businesses can hire ready-to-deploy Android developers on a project basis, at half the cost of hiring in-house and benefit from their ongoing training (facilitated by the company that employs them). 

3. Agility  

Outsourcing enables businesses to hire top-tier remote Android developers on a project-by-project basis, giving them to flexibility to upsize or downsize their development resources at scale. This agility is not possible with in-house hiring, which requires businesses to pay for ongoing salaries and training expenses even when there is no project need.  

4. Institutional Expertise  

An in-house Android development team builds remarkable and unparalleled institutional expertise over years of catering to different projects. However, it takes time to reach the required competency, which may not be possible for young businesses. Outsourcing enables them to access top-tier institutional expertise and extensive industry experience via developers trained and seasoned in catering to projects of varying complexities.  

What Is The Cost To Hire Android App Developer? 

The Android developer salary is estimated to be INR 6.5 lakhs or USD 7580 a year (depending on developer expertise, skillset, and years of experience), according to Glassdoor. By hiring offshore Android developers, businesses can access top-tier talent on their terms and conditions, with Junior Android developers available at $15 per hour, and Mid-level to Senior Android developers available at a range of $20-$25 per hour.