The edtech market is a booming business that has companies and startups eager to get in on the market share. In the last year alone, edtech has surged 67% in growth. No wonder so many startups are seeking affordable ways to develop apps.

Most people think technology is costly, but developing an app doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are three affordable ways edtech companies can develop apps.

1. Decide what is necessary for your app’s success

Children like color, motion, and a game-like approach in their edtech apps. Teachers want data. The more interfaces your app requires, the more expensive your app will be to build. Complexity can be costly.

Instead, develop your minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is an affordable way for any edtech startup to develop an app because you are creating a basic app that can be Beta tested and piloted. Then gather feedback to develop the next iteration of your app, or to develop a new app if this application doesn’t win favor.

2. Choose the right platform for your audience

Knowing which platform to choose is everything. Some edtech startups create their apps in each of the platforms, while others decide to build in one platform at a time, scaling up as the application enjoys more success.

An iOS app tends to cost significantly less to develop than Android versions, but schools are moving away from iOS platforms and relying more and more on Android and Microsoft apps.

Design your app on Android and Microsoft platforms, and you may spend more initially, but you will also appeal to a larger market.

3. Let an edtech app company help you

Many educators have dreamed about creating an app for their classroom. The complete cost of an edtech app, however, can be prohibitive for startups. Apps may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but you don’t have to spend that much money to get your foot in the door.

If you’d like to build a simple edtech app, an app-builder may be one of the most affordable ways you can develop your app.

The MIT App Inventor, for example, is a tool that will allow you to drag and drop your design components from your web browser. You don’t have to learn complicated programming language, and you won’t need a team of app development specialists. All you need is an idea and an hour. Once you build your app, you can decide whether or not to promote it in the Google Play Store ($25/year) or on Amazon ($99/year).

Edtech app development has never been more affordable.