White Label App vs. Custom App

With 4.32 billion mobile users around the globe and 230 billion mobile applications downloaded in 2021, smartphone apps are becoming a must for many brands across industries.

A mobile application can help you gain a competitive edge, boost brand recognition, increase consumer loyalty and help you establish a strong relationship with your consumers.

To introduce your own mobile app, you can either develop one from scratch or use a ready framework, known as a white label app.

We'll examine the types of white label apps, compare white label and custom apps, and take a look at the development process.

By the end, you’ll be able to decide if a white label app is right for you!

What Is A White Label Mobile App?

A white label mobile app is a mobile application developed by a third party that can be rebranded under a different company.

If you purchase a white label app and offer it under your own brand, your customers can then download the app directly from Apple App or Google Play stores.

Most white label applications are specific to certain industries and include a set of common industry-based features.

For example, eCommerce apps include search filters and a checkout process, while a white label app created for restaurants includes features that allow customers to order food, set up delivery or make reservations.

A white label mobile app is most beneficial for:

Start-ups that are not willing to commit to substantial spending
Businesses that are the first and only to offer their products or services in a specific market area
Businesses that don’t need complex functionalities, such as eCommerce brands that do not use discount or bonus systems
Companies that conduct most of their business offline, such as gyms, beauty salons, florists, mechanics, dry cleaners or taxi companies
Companies that want to test how the market will react to a mobile app

Why do white label apps make sense for these businesses?

Because white label apps are quick, easy and affordable to develop.

Whether you need to speed up the presentation of your products to beat your competitors, test market reactions or simply engage with your customers, white label apps can help you achieve that.

Types Of White Label Mobile Apps

Depending on their technical characteristics and the features they offer, white label apps can be divided into two main groups: single-tenant and multi-tenant, where a tenant refers to you, as the app customer.

To illustrate the difference:

Single tenants (customers) reside alone in a single building, isolated from other buildings nearby. This single apartment building has its own facilities and security.
Multi-tenants (customers) reside in different apartments within a single apartment building. They share specific building facilities and security systems.

Single-Tenant White Label Apps

A single-tenant white label app is a singular application copy provided to the customer. This means you will receive a separate application customized for your brand to the extent allowed. The same app will be used by other companies, branded with their own elements.

To build single-tenant apps, developers use the same backend code they have used for other customers.

With one customer for the specific environment, single-tenant white label apps may be pricey.

Multi-Tenant White Label Apps

A multi-tenant white label app is an application that has a fixed set of features and uses the same platform for all other customers, known as tenants, while allowing adjustment of the UI design.

This type typically uses the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, where a service provider hosts your application in the cloud and makes it available to you over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Compared to single-tenant white label apps, multi-tenant apps are a cheaper and easier option because the cost for the environment is shared among the customers.

Sharing the same cloud environment means all apps on the server are affected by activities such as updates or bug fixing

White Label Mobile Apps vs. Custom Mobile Apps

So what’s the difference between a white label app vs. a custom mobile app? Here’s a breakdown:

Design

A white label app is created to satisfy the needs of multiple vendors in the same industry. It has the same appearance except for the colors, labels or brand elements added by your company. This decreases the possibility to demonstrate your brand identity look and feel.

A custom app allows you to create a unique user interface by adding animations, different fonts or graphics to make your brand easily recognizable.

Functionalities

A white label app offers limited functionalities because it is created to meet the requirements of multiple businesses. For example, it can lack functionalities that allow you to segment your target audiences.

A custom app is tailored to meet the specific needs of your business and target groups. As such, it includes everything you need, from reporting and historical data to controlled access and automation.

Customization

A white label app was not specifically designed and developed for your brand, hence the level of customization and personalization is low.

A custom app you develop from scratch, follows your specific requirements and includes the features you chose to meet the requirements of your customers and represent your brand identity.

Scalability

A white label app is created for a specific design or platform. It does not scale when you move it to a different operating system (OS) version or another device. To make it fit the requirements of a new platform or device, you must wait for a scalable version by the vendor or create a similar app with the help of a development company.

A custom app creation gives you the freedom to design and develop an application that can work across various platforms and devices as your business grows.

Support & Maintenance

A white label application has a code that has been tried and tested in different environments. Once the app is published, you get guaranteed maintenance and support to help reduce coding errors and bugs.

A custom app has an increased risk of bugs and coding errors. Each component of your application must be tested when you add new elements to ensure error-free operation.

Security

A white label app does not allow you to alter your application code, which leaves you little control over your app’s security. Typically, if you need a security audit, you will need to use the services of a software development company.

A custom mobile app you develop from the very beginning, which leaves room for code adjustment, code testing and more. You can also conduct mobile app testing to improve its performance and security.

Cost

A white label app is extremely affordable due to its ready-made framework, designed and developed to fit the needs of multiple companies.

A custom app is more expensive, because you pay for project management, design, development, quality assurance, maintenance and support.

Turnaround Time

A white label app allows you to enter a market niche quickly without wasting additional time and effort. This is especially beneficial in regions where you pioneer a product or service to gain rapid profits.

A custom app is associated with hours of designing, developing and QA testing, which makes the development and launch process slower.

How Are White Label Mobile Apps Developed?

From eCommerce app development and travel app development to blockchain application development, white label applications can be a great asset to your company.

To create a white label app, contact a company that specializes in application development outsourcing.

The process of white label app development typically includes the following steps:

Select a single-tenant or multi-tenant white label app
Decide what UI/UX features to customize
Set up a UI/UX customization dashboard to allow the customer customize their UI on their own
Choose a server
Implement error monitoring

Key Takeaways On White Label Mobile Apps

A white label mobile app is a mobile application designed and developed by one company and re-sold to another one, in order to customize it and use it for their brand.

There are two types of white label applications: single-tenant and multi-tenant apps, which share different technical characteristics and features.

White label mobile apps differ from custom apps in their: