8 Cost-Saving Tips When Hiring an OTT App Development Company

Cost-saving is an aspect that entrepreneurs focus on when planning to build an app. With that in mind, there are decision-makers who have decided on OTT app development. Considering that the streaming market is proving to be beneficial for revenue generation and has the user captivated, the market has drawn entrepreneurs into the business.

These decision-makers plan on building apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime, but the cost-saving factor stays behind their heads. As that is meant to be an element in business, they must understand that, simultaneously, the OTT app quality also matters. To state the obvious, quality is a priority while budget can be adjusted. However, mindful expense management is no longer necessary, and to assist you with that, we believe that decision-making works when hiring an OTT application development company. 

Considering that the premise talks about the smart ways to save money when hiring a company, you should also know that quality must not be compromised at any cost. That being said, we must begin with the bifurcation of it and begin with our apprehension.

8 Cost-Saving Tips to Consider When Hiring an OTT App Development Company

Even though it is repetitive, we must remind you that you must focus on app quality. Along with that, you must also focus on bringing an OTT app that has features and functionalities as per the user’s preference and convenience. With that stated and presented, let us dive deep into the considerations that can assist you in saving money while hiring an OTT app development company. 

• Opt for Cross-Platform Development

Users’ preference is always a priority that you must focus on without thinking twice. That being said, it also applies to OTT apps when different users prefer distinctive platforms for streaming purposes. Some might choose mobiles, some may go for a Smart TV, and some may go old school with their desktop. Keeping that in mind, you must build an app with cross-platform OTT app development, focusing on all the devices that your users may use. This way, rather than building an app for individual platforms, you build an app for all the devices and save money.

• Clearly Define Your MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Oftentimes, businesses build the entire app without assessing it with the users for feedback and launch it in the market with every possible feature. We must say that a feature-rich app is not a bad idea, but a preference. However, when you initiate targeting a market, going full-blown may require hefty capital investment. In such a situation, begin by building the OTT app with an MVP, roll out priority features, get user feedback, and until gaining traction, work on them and release it with 100% successful analytics.

• Choose a Company with Pre-Built OTT Frameworks or Reusable Components

Beginning from scratch when working on OTT apps can be costly in terms of time, launch, and resources. The more time a project takes to build, the more capital investment goes into the OTT app development. In that case, you can hire a services provider that has pre-built OTT frameworks and reusable components to ensure that you can begin working on the complex part of development right from the project initiation. 

• Leverage Cloud-Based Infrastructure from the Start

Upscaling the solution elements like license renewal, hosting costs, and many more can be turned into annual expenses that can be counted as additional or hidden costs that are not taken into consideration. However, in this case, you can start building the OTT app with an auto-scaling cloud-based infrastructure that provides you with the pay-as-you-go model. With the assistance of an OTT application development company, you can save money right from the project’s beginning. 

• Use Open-Source Video Solutions

It is often seen that premium video SDKs and platforms come with license fees and usage-based pricing that can add up to the final development cost. But depending on your needs and prior discussion with the development company, you can start with open-source video players like ExoPlayer, Video.js, and AVPayer that are customizable and incur negligible costs.

• Avoid Overengineering the Backend

Unless you’re running at Netflix scale, you don’t need to build a massive backend from day one and make an infrastructure that is interdependent. You can convey to the OTT app development company about the use of serverless or Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms like Firebase, AWS Amplify, or Supabase to reduce infrastructure costs.

• Hire Based on Value, Not Just Cost

Observations reflect that choosing the cheapest quote may lead to more issues later, like bugs, rework, project delays, or even security concerns. Instead, evaluate OTT application development companies based on their OTT-specific industry experience and past project success stories to prevent costly errors and ensure smoother content delivery. 

• Negotiate for Post-Launch Support in the Contract

Last but not least, you can have a reduction in post-launch support and maintenance costs in the final contract. This way, you save additional costs from the contract and focus on finessing the OTT app first. 

As we wind up the smart ways to save cost when hiring an OTT app development company, we hope that the bifurcation has assisted you. With these tips on cost-saving, we hope you make better decisions while focusing on the OTT app quality.