In development and under development are both grammatically correct expressions for something that is still being developed. The difference mainly involves context and emphasis, not correctness. The phrase in development often describes a project’s current development stage or status, while under development can place slightly more emphasis on the ongoing development process. Still, the meanings overlap, so you can use either expression for nearly any type of project.
For example:
The new app is in development.
The new app is under development.
Both sentences are correct, and each indicates that the app is not finished.
- In development: emphasizes the project’s development stage or status.
- Under development: can emphasize the ongoing development process.
In this guide, you’ll learn when to use each expression and how they compare with being developed and under construction.
Understanding the Core Difference Between In Development and Under Development
Both in development and under development can describe something that a team is currently creating, planning, testing, improving, or working on.
In development commonly presents something as being at a development stage or status. It tells the reader that the project has not reached its finished form.
The new software is in development.
Here, the phrase describes the software’s current status without specifying exactly what the developers are doing. For instance, they might write code, test features, fix problems, or plan the next stage.
Under development, by contrast, can place slightly more emphasis on the ongoing process of development.
The new software is under development.
However, the distinction is not absolute. Both phrases can describe the same project, and their meanings often overlap. A game can be under development, while an infrastructure project can be in development.
So, rather than following a rigid rule, consider what you want to emphasize: the project’s development status or the process it is going through.
What Does “In Development” Mean?
In development means that something is currently being developed and has not yet reached its final or completed form. It is useful when you want to describe the stage or status of a project, product, service, or other creation.
For example:
The company has a new payment system in development.
This tells us that the company has started developing the payment system, but the system is not yet complete.
You can use in development for many types of projects, including:
- Software and apps
- Websites and digital products
- Games
- Films and other creative projects
- New products
- Business services
- Research or technology projects
Here are a few natural examples:
The next version of the app is in development.
The studio has three games in development.
A new customer service platform is in development.
The company has a new product in development.
Importantly, the phrase does not tell us exactly how close something is to completion. A project can remain in development while the team plans, tests, or makes improvements.
When “In Development” Sounds Natural
In development works especially well when you are giving a status update. For example, a company might describe its projects this way:
- Website redesign — in development
- Mobile app — in testing
- New payment system — in development
- Customer portal — completed
In this context, in development clearly identifies the project’s current stage. It also works naturally when the development stage explains why something is not yet available:
The feature is still in development, so users cannot access it yet.
The new game is in development and has not been released.
The product is currently in development.
In each example, the phrase tells the reader where the project currently stands.
What Does “Under Development” Mean?
Under development also means that something is currently being developed, and it can emphasize that the development process is ongoing.
For example:
The new website is under development.
This tells us that the website is not finished and is going through development. Notably, the expression can describe both physical and nonphysical projects; it is not limited to buildings or construction.
For example:
A new software platform is under development.
The company has a new service under development.
Several improvements are under development.
The area is under development.
Depending on the context, development can involve planning, creation, testing, construction, improvement, or other work needed to bring something toward completion.
When “Under Development” Sounds Natural
Under development can work well when you want to emphasize that something is undergoing development.
For example:
The new feature is under development and will be tested soon.
This wording connects the feature with an ongoing development process, though it does not mean that developers must work on it at the exact moment you mention it.
The phrase also works in project and business contexts:
The company has several new services under development.
The technology is still under development.
The project is under development and will move through several stages.
Therefore, under development should not be reserved only for physical construction or formal projects.
In Development vs. Under Development: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Expression | Main idea | Common emphasis | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| In development | At a development stage | Status or stage | The app is in development. |
| Under development | Currently being developed | Ongoing process | The app is under development. |
The meanings overlap, so don’t exaggerate the distinction.
Compare these sentences:
The new website is in development.
The new website is under development.
Both tell the reader that the website is not finished and is currently being developed. The first can sound more like a status description, while the second can put slightly more attention on the development process. Either way, switching the phrase does not make the sentence grammatically wrong.
Can You Use Both Phrases for the Same Thing?
Yes, in development and under development can often describe the same subject.
For example:
The new mobile app is in development.
The new mobile app is under development.
Both sentences communicate that the app is currently being developed. Meanwhile, the difference can become more noticeable when the surrounding sentence focuses on either the project’s status or the work being performed.
For instance:
The feature is still in development, so users cannot access it yet.
Here, the phrase works as a status update. Compare:
The feature is under development, with engineers testing several possible designs.
In this case, the wording fits naturally with information about the ongoing development work. Even so, the distinction remains flexible. You could use under development in the first example or in development in the second without creating a grammatical error.
Choosing the Right Phrase by Context
Software, Apps, and Websites
Both expressions can describe software that a team has not completed.
The new app is in development.
The new app is under development.
Use in development when you are describing the app’s current stage or status:
The feature is still in development.
On the other hand, use under development when the sentence gives more attention to the development process:
A new security feature is under development.
The same distinction can apply to websites, platforms, software updates, and individual features.
Products and Business Projects
New products and services can also take either expression:
The company has a new product in development.
The company has a new product under development.
The first presents the product as being at a development stage, while the second can emphasize that the product is currently going through development.
Business projects work in much the same way:
The company has several new services in development.
Several new services are under development.
Planning, testing, improvement, and creation can all form part of the development process.
Games, Films, and Creative Projects
In development works naturally when discussing the stage of a creative project:
The studio has a new game in development.
The film is still in development.
That said, under development can also work:
The new game is under development.
The project remains under development while the team works on the story.
Ultimately, there is no strict rule that creative projects must use in development. The choice depends on the intended emphasis and the surrounding context.
Buildings, Real Estate, and Infrastructure
Under development can describe physical projects, especially when development involves more than simply putting up a structure.
A new residential area is under development.
The land is currently under development.
However, under construction may be more precise when you specifically mean that a building or structure is being built:
The new office building is under construction.
Development can involve planning, land preparation, infrastructure, construction, or broader work on an area, whereas construction refers more specifically to the building process.
In Development vs. Being Developed
In development describes a project’s status or stage, while being developed is a passive verb construction that more directly describes the action of development.
Compare:
The software is in development.
The software is being developed.
The first describes the software’s current status, and the second emphasizes that someone is developing the software. This distinction can help when you want to make the action clearer.
For example:
The new website is in development.
This works well as a general status update. Alternatively:
The new website is being developed by our design team.
Here, the sentence focuses more directly on the development activity and identifies who is doing the work. Both forms are useful, so choose the one that best matches the information you want to give the reader.
In Development vs. In Progress
In progress is broader than in development. If something is in progress, it has started but is not finished:
The project is in progress.
This does not tell us what type of work is taking place. By contrast:
The project is in development.
This specifically connects the project with a development process.
For example:
The website redesign is in progress.
This could mean that designers, developers, writers, or other team members are working on it. Compare:
The website redesign is in development.
This more specifically presents the project as being in its development stage.
Therefore, use in progress when you only need to say that work is continuing, and use in development when development itself is the relevant process.
Under Development vs. Under Construction
Under development and under construction are related, but they are not interchangeable in every situation.
Under construction specifically refers to construction work, especially the building or physical assembly of something:
The new hospital is under construction.
Under development, however, can have a broader meaning:
A new commercial area is under development.
Development of the area could involve planning, infrastructure, roads, buildings, utilities, and other work, since construction may form only one part of that larger process.
The distinction also matters for nonphysical projects:
The new software is under development.
You would not normally describe software as under construction. Therefore, use under construction when construction itself is the specific activity you mean, and use under development when the broader development process is the focus.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming Only One Expression Is Correct
Both in development and under development can be grammatically correct.
The new product is in development.
The new product is under development.
The surrounding context helps determine which expression sounds more natural.
Treating Them as Completely Interchangeable
The meanings overlap, but the phrases can create slightly different impressions. In development often works as a status or stage description, whereas under development can give more attention to the ongoing development process.
Since the difference is subtle, avoid treating it as an absolute rule.
Assuming “Under Development” Means “Under Construction”
Under development is not limited to buildings, roads, or other physical projects. Software, services, products, and technologies can also be under development:
The new app is under development.
The payment system is under development.
Use under construction instead when you specifically mean construction work.
Confusing “Under Development” With “Underdeveloped”
These expressions have different meanings. Under development means something is currently going through a development process:
The new technology is under development.
Underdeveloped, on the other hand, is an adjective describing something that has not developed enough or is less developed than expected:
The region has an underdeveloped transportation system.
The two forms are not interchangeable.
Forcing a Strict Rule Based on the Type of Project
It can be tempting to create a simple rule: creative projects use in development, and physical projects use under development. That rule, however, is too rigid.
A game can be under development, and a physical project can be in development. In the end, the choice depends more on the intended meaning, context, and naturalness of the sentence than on the type of project alone.
Practical Decision Guide
When choosing between these expressions, consider what you want to emphasize.
Are you describing a development stage or status? Use in development:
The new feature is in development.
Are you emphasizing an ongoing development process? Then use under development:
The new feature is under development.
Are you specifically talking about building work? In that case, use under construction:
The new bridge is under construction.
Do you want to emphasize the action of creating or developing something? Then use being developed:
The new bridge design is being developed by the engineering team.
Overall, these are useful tendencies rather than inflexible grammar rules. If both in development and under development fit your sentence, choose the one that sounds clearer and better matches your intended meaning.
Examples of In Development and Under Development in Sentences
Software
The new software is in development.
A new security feature is under development.
Mobile Apps
The updated app is still in development.
A redesigned login system is under development.
Products
The company has a new product in development.
Several product improvements are under development.
Games
The studio has two new games in development.
The sequel is currently under development.
Films
The director has another film in development.
The project remains under development while the script is revised.
Websites
The new website is in development.
A new customer portal is under development.
Buildings
The new shopping center is in development.
The office complex is under development.
Business Projects
The company has a new service in development.
Several new business initiatives are under development.
Infrastructure
A major transportation project is in development.
New infrastructure is under development in the area.
Together, these examples show that neither expression belongs exclusively to one category. Both can work across different types of projects when the context supports them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I use “in development” in a formal sentence?
Yes, in development works in formal, professional, and technical writing when you describe the status or stage of a project.
The new platform is currently in development.
Q2. Can “under development” describe a nonphysical project?
Yes, under development can describe software, services, products, technologies, and other nonphysical projects.
The new payment system is under development.
It is not limited to buildings or physical infrastructure.
Q3. Does “in development” mean the project has already started?
Generally, yes. The phrase presents something as being in the development stage rather than completed, though it does not specify exactly what work is currently taking place.
Q4. Does “under development” mean someone is working on it right now?
Not necessarily at the exact moment you mention it. It indicates that the development process is ongoing, but it does not require someone to actively work on it at that precise time.
Q5. Which phrase should I use in a project status update?
In development is a natural choice when you are listing or describing a project’s current stage:
Website redesign: in development
That said, under development can also work when you want to emphasize the ongoing development work.
Q6. Can “in development” and “under development” be used in the same sentence?
Usually, there is no need to use both for the same idea. Instead, choose the expression that best fits your intended emphasis:
The new feature is in development.
or
The new feature is under development.
Both communicate that the feature is not finished and is being developed.
Conclusion
Both in development and under development are correct ways to describe something that is still being developed. Use in development when you want to present the development stage or current status, and use under development when the ongoing development process is more relevant.
When neither distinction matters, either expression can work. If you mean physical building work specifically, under construction is more precise, while being developed is useful when you want to emphasize the action itself.