In today’s mobile-first era, app size has become more critical than ever. Every megabyte saved can make the difference between an install and an uninstall—or worse, a user who never downloads at all. Developers are using on-demand feature delivery and app thinning in Android to build smaller, more efficient apps. Let’s dive into how Android App Bundles and modular delivery methods are reshaping the installation process.
In the competitive app market, first impressions matter—and so does file size. An app that’s too large can discourage potential users from downloading it, no matter how impressive its features might be. Research from Google reveals that for every 6 MB increase in APK size, install conversion rates drop by approximately 1%. That may sound small, but when you’re targeting millions of potential users, even a 1% drop can translate into thousands of missed downloads.
App bloat isn’t just about taking up extra space—it directly impacts user acquisition and retention. In regions with limited bandwidth, slower internet speeds, or expensive data plans, a large app download can feel like a burden. Even users with high-speed internet might hesitate if they see a hefty download size, especially when their device storage is already near capacity. And once installed, a bloated app may consume more system resources, leading to slower performance and higher chances of being uninstalled.
This is where App Thinning and On-Demand Feature Delivery come into play. Instead of forcing every user to download every single resource and feature—many of which they might never use—these methods allow developers to deliver only what’s necessary at install time. Additional features or resources can be fetched later, only when the user requests them.
App Thinning is a collection of optimization techniques aimed at reducing an app’s download and storage footprint. Instead of shipping a “one-size-fits-all” APK that contains resources for every possible device configuration, app thinning ensures that users get only the code and assets their device actually needs.
On Android, this approach is mainly executed using the Android App Bundle (.aab) format. When developers upload an App Bundle to Google Play, the Play Store generates optimized APKs specifically tailored to each user’s device setup. This includes:
By stripping away irrelevant resources, Android ensures smaller initial downloads and reduced storage consumption, which directly benefits both performance and user satisfaction.
Since August 2021, Google Play requires all new apps to be published using the Android App Bundle (.aab) format. By November 2021, even updates to existing apps had to comply. This shift wasn’t just a technical change, it was a push toward more efficient, user-friendly applications. As a result, app thinning practices are now the default for Android development, and developers who adopt them often see:
By leveraging app thinning, developers are not just cutting excess weight—they’re delivering a faster, more personalized experience right from the start.
While app thinning focuses on tailoring resources for a user’s device, On-Demand Feature Delivery takes optimization a step further. Also known as Play Feature Delivery or dynamic delivery, this approach allows developers to break an app into modular components—downloading certain features only when they’re needed.
This means your users don’t have to install every possible feature upfront. Instead, they get the core experience immediately, and additional features are fetched only if and when they decide to use them. The result? A smaller initial download, faster installs, and better overall user satisfaction.
With on-demand modules, developers can keep the base APK lightweight while storing less-frequently used functionality separately. When a user triggers a specific action—say, opening a premium editing tool, accessing a specialized analytics dashboard, or playing an advanced game level—the app requests that feature module from Google Play, downloads it in the background, and activates it instantly.
For example, imagine a photo editing app that offers AI-powered image restoration. If only 10% of users use this feature, why make all users download its heavy machine-learning libraries? By delivering it on demand, you save storage for 90% of your audience while still providing the feature to those who want it.
Google Play offers multiple delivery modes so you can tailor how and when features are sent to users:
On-Demand Feature Delivery not only reduces initial download size but also boosts conversion rates, minimizes data consumption, and helps apps run smoothly even on lower-end devices. It’s a win-win for both developers and users—developers save bandwidth and storage costs, while users enjoy a faster, leaner, and more personalized app experience.
Implementing On-Demand Feature Delivery in Android isn’t as complicated as it may sound, but it does require a thoughtful approach to modularization. The process starts with the dynamic-feature Gradle plugin, which allows you to create feature modules that can be downloaded separately from your base app.
Once you’ve created a dynamic feature module in Android Studio, you can configure whether it should be delivered install-time (with the base app) or on-demand (only when the user needs it). For older Android versions that don’t natively support dynamic delivery, enabling fusing ensures that users can still access these features by including them in a single APK.
To handle feature downloads at runtime, Android provides the SplitInstallManager API. This API lets you request, monitor, and uninstall dynamic modules based on user interactions, ensuring that features are delivered exactly when they’re needed—no earlier, no later.
Here are some of the best practices for implementing effective on-demand delivery:
Use tools like R8 or ProGuard to remove unused classes, methods, and resources before publishing. This further reduces module size and speeds up downloads.
Not all features make sense for on-demand delivery. Identify seldom-used or heavy features—such as advanced analytics tools, niche language packs, or experimental modes—and modularize them.
The Google Play Console provides app size insights, showing the size impact of each module and how different devices receive them. Regularly reviewing this data will help you spot optimization opportunities and track the effectiveness of your modularization strategy.
Dynamic delivery can behave differently depending on device capabilities and internet speeds. Simulating slow networks and testing low-storage scenarios ensures a smoother user experience.
By combining the right tools with these best practices, developers can not only keep their apps lean but also deliver precisely targeted functionality that improves performance and user satisfaction. The result? Faster installs, happier users, and a competitive edge in the crowded app marketplace.
While App Thinning and On-Demand Feature Delivery sound great in theory, their real power is shown in measurable results. Developers across industries—from gaming to productivity—have reported significant performance and engagement improvements after adopting these techniques.
A mid-sized Android game studio modularized its title by moving optional levels, high-resolution texture packs, and multiplayer assets to on-demand modules. This reduced the initial download size by 35%, which translated to a 12% increase in install conversion rate in markets with slower internet speeds.
A global e-commerce platform used conditional delivery to provide location-specific payment gateways and language packs only where relevant. This approach reduced the base APK size by 20 MB and sped up initial installs by nearly 40% on average. The company also saw a notable drop in uninstall rates linked to storage concerns.
A popular note-taking app implemented instant delivery for its collaboration features, allowing users to “try” shared workspaces without committing to a full install. This generated a 15% increase in feature adoption and gave the product team valuable insight into user behavior before rolling out larger updates.
These examples show a consistent trend—when apps are smaller, smarter, and more targeted, users are more likely to install, explore, and keep them. Beyond the technical benefits, App Thinning and On-Demand Feature Delivery are strategic tools for user retention, market penetration, and app store ranking.
In today’s competitive Android ecosystem, delivering exactly what the user needs—when they need it—has shifted from being a performance perk to being a core business advantage.
Building an Android app with App Thinning and On-Demand Feature Delivery involves more than just standard app development. It requires modular architecture, optimized resource handling, and specialized testing to ensure smooth dynamic delivery. The overall cost depends on the app’s complexity, the number of feature modules, and where your development team is based.
The primary cost drivers include:
A basic app with core features and 1–2 on-demand modules can cost between $8,000 and $15,000 in India and $20,000 to $35,000 in the US/Europe.
A moderate complexity app with 3–5 on-demand modules, conditional delivery, and basic analytics might range from $15,000 to $25,000 in India and $35,000 to $60,000 in the US/Europe.
An advanced app with multiple modules, AI-powered features, instant delivery capabilities, and a custom backend can easily go beyond $25,000 to $50,000 in India or $60,000 to $120,000+ in the US/Europe.
Beyond core development, there are additional costs:
The development cost of web app in India varies largely due to team location, scope of features, and technical complexity. In India, developers typically charge two to three times less than their counterparts in the US or Europe. Adding more feature modules, complex delivery rules, or third-party integrations such as payment gateways and AI services can significantly increase the budget. Additionally, apps optimized for low-end devices require more thorough testing, adding to development hours and costs.
Storage space and download speed play a critical role in determining an app’s success. To address this, Android developers now rely on App Thinning and On-Demand Feature Delivery as game-changing strategies. By using the Android App Bundle format, developers can tailor APKs to specific devices and deliver modules only when needed. This approach makes apps quicker to install, lighter on storage, and more user-focused.
The advantages go beyond technical enhancements. Smaller, smarter apps boost install conversion rates, lower uninstall rates, and encourage users to explore advanced features without feeling overwhelmed.
Whether you’re developing a mobile game, an e-commerce app, or a productivity tool, these optimization techniques are a must. Hire an agency that provide app development services to get the ultimate results. In today’s crowded Play Store marketplace, adopting them is essential to staying competitive.
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