One of the most important things to decide when creating a mobile app is how many features to include.

While there’s no set number of features per app, it’s a careful balance between functionality and usability. The right balance equals an app users want to keep coming back to.

With careful planning, it’s not hard to decide on the right features for the app.

Keep It Simple

Users prefer mobile apps that are simple and straightforward. The feature set of any successful app should be as simple as possible to make it easy for users to understand. Apps that require in-depth tutorials just to navigate are overwhelming.  The more intuitive the app, the more likely users are to want to keep using it. This is most important with navigation. Navigation is one of the most important features and it should always be basic and obvious.

Takeaway: Features don’t have to be complex to be useful. Simple features come together to create a highly effective app. The best mobile developers understand exactly how to achieve this perfect balance.

Customisable Settings

Every great mobile app has one feature in common – customisable settings. Users like to be able to customise settings such as sound, music, notifications and more. This gives the user control over the app and their own unique experience. If any features in the app can be customised, give the user the ability to do so.

Takeaway: Give the user a chance to customise apps.

Limit Permissions

Some apps become bloated because they need access to everything a user’s mobile device. Unless absolutely necessary, limit permissions and features to only utilise necessary components of the phone. For instance, if the app doesn’t use the camera, don’t build-in the permission for it. Users expect the app to have obvious features for every permission. Limiting permissions helps trim down unnecessary features.

Takeaway: Only include the features and permissions that are necessary to make the app functional. If you’re not certain about which features are necessary, consult a mobile developer for assistance.

Think About Screen Size

The most important consideration when choosing a number of features is the user’s screen size. Mobile screens vary greatly between smartphones and tablets. Limit features to only the most useful and beneficial to the user. An abundance of features often leaves the user unable to easily see or use the app.

Takeaway: Test mobile apps thoroughly, starting with the smallest screen sizes. App developers always test on a variety of devices to ensure the app is fully functional and easy to use.

Save Additional Features For Updates

The best mobile apps start with a minimal feature set. The app includes only what it needs to serve its purpose. As users provide feedback, updates are released that either change, add or remove features. This gives you the chance to edit the app over time to give users the best feature set possible. Apps never start off perfect. They always get better after incorporating user feedback to create the ideal features for the target audience.

Takeaway: Start off with only what’s necessary. Every app update is a chance to improve the features once you see how users react. App developers can create an update schedule to ensure new features are implemented smoothly.

Consider The App’s Purpose

Choosing features comes down to ensuring the app serves a purpose. For instance, will the user need to input data? If so, a keyboard is necessary. Carefully consider the purpose of the app and which features are needed to make the app functional. Adding unnecessary features only confuses the user. They download apps to solve a problem, inform them or entertain themselves. Choose the number of features based around these set needs.

Takeaway: Apps only need as many features as required to serve the app’s purpose. Mobile developers understand which features are necessary to make the app user friendly without overwhelming the user.

Conclusion

Every app requires a different number of features. It all depends on the purpose of the app and the target audience. The one main rule is to keep it simple and functional.

Having trouble deciding on the right number of features for your business app? Contact StuartMedia today for assistance from a professional mobile app developer.

Image: Jason Howie