Category: Building and launching apps

To plan an Android app in India, decide who it is for, what it must do without a connection, how it will be tested, and where it will be published. The time and cost follow from those four decisions far more than from the technology.

1 · Start with one user and one job

Write one sentence: “This app helps [who] to [do what].” If it needs two sentences, it is two apps. A focused first version is easier to finish, test and explain on a store page.

2 · Decide what must work offline

Many users in India face weak or expensive connections, so an app that works offline is a real advantage. It also removes servers, accounts and much of the privacy paperwork. Decide early which parts, if any, truly need the internet.

3 · What drives time and cost

• The number and complexity of screens.
• The content: writing, voice, sound, music, animation and images. This is often larger than the code.
• Platforms: Android only, or Android and Windows.
• Accounts and servers: an app that needs logins and a backend costs more than one that does not.
• Testing on real phones, across screen sizes and Android versions.
• Store requirements: the listing, the privacy policy, the data safety form and Google’s testing rules. See our guide to Google Play developer accounts.

A small, focused offline app usually takes weeks, not days. Larger apps take months. Store review and testing add time on top.

4 · What to put in your brief

• Who the app is for, and what they do today without it.
• The one job it must do, and three things it need not do.
• Which languages it should speak.
• Whether it must work offline.
• Where you want it: Google Play, Windows, or both.
• Any content you already own: text, voice, images, brand.

5 · Choosing who builds it

Whoever you choose, ask who will be your single point of contact, who writes the content, how testing is done on real devices, and who prepares the store listing. At TD Film Studio one contact looks after the whole job, including voice, sound and animation made in-house. See app development or start a project.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build an Android app?

A small, focused app usually takes weeks, not days, and larger apps take months. Testing and the store’s requirements add time.

Should my app work offline?

If it can, yes. Offline apps are faster, more private and work on weak connections.

What should I prepare before I talk to a developer?

One sentence on who the app is for and what it does, the languages you need, and any content you already have.

A Google Play developer account costs a one-time US$25. The real decision is the account type: a personal account is quicker to open, but new apps must pass a 14-day closed test with at least 12 testers, while an organization account needs a D-U-N-S number and skips that rule.

What a Google Play developer account costs

Registration is a one-time fee of US$25, paid to Google. After that you can publish free or paid apps. The fee is the same for personal and organization accounts.

Personal or organization: how they differ

• Personal account. You register with your identity and phone number, so it is the quicker route. For personal accounts created after 13 November 2023, every new app must first run a closed test with at least 12 testers who stay opted in for 14 days in a row. The developer name shown on the store is your own legal name.
• Organization account. You need a D-U-N-S number for the organization. It is free from Dun & Bradstreet and can take up to about 30 days, so apply first. Never pay a third party for it. The 12-tester rule does not apply, and the store shows the organization’s name.

Google also lists some health-related apps among those that need an organization account, so check the current policy if your app touches health. Read Google’s own pages: organization account requirements, testing requirements for new personal accounts and the health apps policy.

What to prepare before you upload

• An Android App Bundle (AAB). Google Play takes AABs, not APKs, for new apps.
• A target Android API level of 36: new apps have needed it since 31 August 2026.
• A privacy policy page on your own website, and the Data safety form filled in honestly.
• The content rating questionnaire and a target audience (many small apps choose adults only).
• Store graphics: a 512 by 512 icon, a 1024 by 500 feature graphic and at least two phone screenshots.

How to run the 12-tester test

Ask friends, colleagues or members of your community who have Android phones and a Google account to join. Send them the opt-in link from Play Console, ask them to stay opted in for the full 14 days, and collect their feedback while the clock runs. Start early: the 14 days cannot be shortened.

What we are doing

TD Film Studio is preparing its own first apps for Google Play now, so this guide is written from the same checklist we are working through. See our apps. These rules were checked against Google’s own help pages on 5 November 2026. Google changes them, so always confirm in Play Console before you pay or upload.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Google Play developer account cost?

A one-time registration fee of US$25.

Do I need a D-U-N-S number?

Only for an organization account. Personal accounts do not need one.

What is the 12-tester rule?

For personal accounts created after 13 November 2023, a new app needs a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in for 14 consecutive days before it can go to production.