Why Does App Size Matter?

Your app's design, performance, and overall user experience are key factors in determining whether or not customers will continue to use your app. To ensure that your app is successful, you need to make sure that all of the services and platforms it relies on work together smoothly and efficiently. This often results in developers adding more features – more SDKs, higher resolution images, better graphics, etc.- to serve and reach more customers. 

And that is good until it’s not! 

As an increasing number of features are added, app size become larger as well. The bigger the size of your app, the more space it takes up on a device. 

And large mobile apps are less likely to be installed, and more likely to be uninstalled. They take longer to download, and they generate higher expectations, which in turn become more challenging to meet.  

Why App Size is Important 

And as per google, there is a negative correlation between app size and the install conversion rate for apps with sizes below 100MB. 

For every 6 MB increase to an APK size, we see a decrease in the install conversion rate of 1%.To put it simply, the size of an app affects conversion rates. Naturally, the bigger a file size, the more space it takes up on a device.  

Large apps come with high data usage while downloading, more download time, and a high amount of device space. It reduces the chance for your application to get the reach that it easily could with a more reasonable size.   

In addition, users may prefer to download over Wi-Fi to avoid exceeding their data usage limits by downloading a large app. If users are not downloading apps while on-the-move, this will have a negative impact on conversion rates. 

Even if your app works offline, or you use cache it doesn’t matter. Millions of people with smartphones in their hands have limited access to data and if your app costs them 2GB of data there are very less chances they are going to install it. App size and install rates are certainly co-related and it is a fact. 

Facebook and Uber were compelled to come up with a ‘lite’ version of their apps in emerging markets when they accepted the above-mentioned ground reality. Though that app size and bandwidth usage reduction obviously come with tradeoffs. For example; Uber’s lite app version requires more effort from the backend team to support the low bandwidth use cases. Also, reduced customer functionality leads to less revenue per customer. Hence, a lite version isn’t sure the solution. 

Getting the app size right 

There are ways to avoid the bloating of your app to make it light and cool. Here is a list you will find useful: 

• Optimize app imagery 

Always use optimized app imagery to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your app's load time. Follow Apple's and Google's sponsored design guidelines to make sure your app is free of any extra weight that might slow it down. 

• Remove unnecessary files 

 Be sure to run regular maintenance checks on your codebase so that you can remove any files that are no longer needed and might be taking up space unnecessarily. 

• Use relevant SDKs Only 

 When considering working with a new Third Party SDK, weigh in the value of the data they will be providing - gathering data is not useful if you're not going to act on it. Make sure to work closely with your Product Management team so that you're always on the same page about which SDKs are being used in your app. 
 

As the mobile app space has matured over time, developers have added new features to serve and attract users, which has benefited many. However, as an increasing number of features are added to apps — more SDKs, higher resolution images, and better graphics — the larger APK sizes become. The developers can leverage optimization tools to reduce the size of the app which will lead to good conversion rates. 

 
Would you like to know how to improve your App's performance and deliver an enhanced App experience to your users? Connect with our team!   

At Hashbrown, our team has experience developing innovative Mobile Apps with high usability for clients from diverse industries in the most cost and time-efficient way. If you've got an idea and want to turn it into a well-developed App with higher usability, connect with our team!    

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