How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App: Complete Breakdown
Updated September 3, 2024
It won’t come as a shock if we tell you that one of the most asked questions is, “How much does it cost to develop an app?” when clients approach us for a mobile app development project. Alongside the timeline and the experience of app developers, app cost is one of the most influential factors when deciding whether to develop a mobile app.
Often, company owners are at a crossroads, trying to figure out which one is better: in-house development or hiring professional service providers. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and we recommend reviewing both. This will help you calculate the approximate cost of your mobile app.
We’ll explore this subject further in our article, but for now, let’s discuss mobile app development cost, its elements, and the calculation process. As much as we’d love to, we can’t actually give you exact numbers and budget since all apps are unique and the price is influenced by many factors. However, we can guide you through the calculation process and offer you our insights and approximate costs from our experience.
Let’s break down the article to help you navigate through it. You’ll find information about:
- What influences app development cost?
- How to calculate the app development budget?
- How to find the best development team?
Content
What Factors Influence the Price of App Development?
As we already mentioned, there are some factors that influence app development cost that you need to take into account. These factors separately don’t seem like a hassle, but as they add on, they create a significant difference between the prices of simple, medium, and advanced applications:
- App complexity
- Platforms and devices
- Design and user experience
- App development team
- Backend infrastructure
- Maintenance plans
App complexity
What type of mobile app do you have in mind? What functions and features do you want it to have? Simple mobile apps won’t cost you a lot, but complex and feature-rich applications will take a bit of a toll on your budget.
For example, a skilled developer can code a simple calculator in JavaScript in less than 2 hours. It won’t take much time to develop a regular to-do-list application as well, but if you add extra tools like face recognition for hidden notes, speech-to-text features for accessibility, and more, both the time and cost of your app development will grow.
That’s because simple apps have limited user interaction, need to be straightforward, and don’t need to process a lot of data. But what happens when you’re developing an advanced app for your medical facility, a property management app for your real estate business, or even an e-commerce app that can be bought off the shelf?
Since complex apps require multiple integrations, third-party services, and developers with experience and exceptional skills, your app development budget will grow.
Let’s explore the table below. It provides key characteristics of the difficulties of applications.
| Key Factors | Simple Apps | Medium Apps | Complex Apps |
| Feature Set | Basic features, minimal user interactions | Moderate features, including user authentication | Advanced features, multiple integrations, real-time updates |
| Design & UX | Basic, template-based design, straightforward UX | Custom design, standard UX patterns, some animations | Highly customized design, unique UX, complex animations |
| Platform Support | Single platform (iOS or Android) | Cross-platform or multi-device support | Native development for multiple platforms, including wearables, smart TVs |
| Backend Infrastructure | Basic or no backend, minimal data storage needs | Moderate backend with APIs, user management | Complex backend with high scalability, cloud integration, and advanced security measures |
This table should provide basic information about the difference between complexity levels.
Design and user experience
Design and UX are significant factors. Whether you choose or not to create an intuitive mobile app with aesthetically pleasing visual elements will increase or decrease your app development cost.
For example, if you include custom animations and illustrations like Duolingo has or decide to integrate AR and VR in your mobile app, it will significantly enhance the cost of your mobile app development. However, if you opt for standard UI components, simple color schemes, and minimal custom fonts, like in Google Maps or Evernote, you won’t have to pay as much as you’d have to for customization.
App development team
Another significant factor to think about when creating a budget for mobile app development is the development team you choose. The composition and location of your team members will have a huge impact on the final cost of the software. For example, if you hire a few developers, a designer, and a tester, you might cut down on costs, but if you add project managers, researchers, and marketing specialists, the cost of your app development will increase.
Similarly, geographical location will increase or decrease the price. If you hire a development team from regions where the cost of living is high (like North America and Western Europe), you might have to pay a higher price compared to locations like Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Backend infrastructure
We could’ve mentioned this factor alongside the complexity of the app, but our professionals recommended highlighting this separately since it has such a significant impact on the price.
If you’re developing an application that needs a strong backend, data collection, and storage or will be heavily dependent on cloud services, you will have to invest in the right technologies, services, APIs, and professionals.
Maintenance plans
We don’t recommend developing a mobile app without maintenance and support plans. This plan can help you provide ongoing support for your app to run smoothly and securely and be up-to-date with the latest technologies. That’s why we always offer our clients ongoing maintenance and support services with every development project. You can’t just let the app roam free without updates and adjustments.
It’s essential to consider maintenance costs since you’ll need specific professionals for this job. Factor these costs into your final budget to get a realistic picture.
How Much Does App Development Generally Cost?
Since we can’t tell you exactly how much your mobile app development will cost, we can show you a general overview of the prices on the market. There are some typical benchmarks that can help you navigate this complex subject and provide you with approximate pricing information. This is, of course, if you decide to develop a custom-made mobile app. For off-the-shelf solutions, pricing differs. However, features and flexibility also decrease and will require you to spend more over time as your business grows.
Below, you’ll see a table where you’ll find the prices of various apps, depending on their complexity.
| App Complexity | Average Development Cost | Development Timeline |
| Simple App | $5,000 – $60,000 | 2-4 months |
| Medium App | $60,000 – $150,000 | 4-9 months |
| Complex App | $150,000 – $300,000+ | 9-18 months, and more |
This table can give you approximate information, but further research and analysis will help you calculate the final cost.
Analyzing the development stages can help you get the whole picture. We section mobile app development process into Planning, Design, Development, Testing, and Launch.
The planning stage involves discussing your mobile app idea. Usually, our experts research the audience and market, scope the project, and consider the tech stack and development team composition. This stage is usually the medium-pricy stage and takes around 10-15% of the whole budget.
Now, in the design stage, you’ll find that prices are growing, and costs will take up to 20-30% of the budget. This stage is one of the most important steps in app development. Our UI/UX designers create an intuitive and user-friendly design, create mockups and prototypes, and focus on harmonizing colors and visual elements.
The development stage is the most costly stage of mobile app development. Almost 40-50% of the budget goes into this stage, where your app developer and the whole team will work on coding, backend infrastructure, integration of chosen features, and more. At the end of this stage, you should have a functional mobile app ready to be deployed.
Testing and launch stages aren’t as pricy as the previous stages, but they are a must. We don’t recommend launching a mobile app without thorough manual and automated testing, which will take around 15-20% of the budget. And finally, when the app is ready, you launch it and spend around 5-10% of the budget for maintenance and support.
We haven’t forgotten about the hidden costs, but that’s a subject for later. Before we explore that subject, you can use our cost calculator to get your app’s approximate budget.
It’s also essential to note how the key factors we listed above in the article influence the price. Below, you’ll find a pie chart explaining how much some of these factors influence the final app development cost.
App development cost by mobile app type
Since we’re discussing price benchmarks, let’s explore prices for different mobile app types. Below, you’ll find a table exploring various app types and their approximate prices and development timelines.
| App Type | Estimate cost, $ thousands | Estimate timeline in working hours |
| Mobile App | 30–300 | 1,200–1,300 |
| iPhone App | 55–300 | |
| Android App | 50–300 | |
| Web App | 60–300 | |
| Startup App | 40–400 | 1,600–1,800 |
| Cab App | 50–400 | |
| Gaming App | 60–250 | |
| Retail App | 50–150 | 1,200–1,300 |
| AR App | 100–250 | 1,600–1,800 |
| E-commerce App | 60–250 | |
| Social Media App | 50–300 | 1,200–1,300 |
| Industry-Specific App | 50–200 | |
| Educational App | 60–225 | 900–1,100 |
| Streaming App | 80–300 | 1,600–1,800 |
| Restaurant App | 40–150 | 900–1,100 |
| Community/Forum App | 18–150 | |
| Shopping App | 30–180 | |
| Dating App | 50–350 | 1,400–1,600 |
| Delivery App | 40–150 | 900–1,100 |
| Hybrid App | 40–200 | 1,200–1,300 |
| Medical App | 55–300 | |
| Typical App | 40–300 |
App development cost by OS platforms
Your app development budget will change according to which platform you choose. We already discussed this subject in the influential subjects section, but here’s a table that describes the approximate pricing of an app development project for various platforms.
| OS Platform | Estimate cost, $ thousands |
| iOS | 75-500 |
| Android | 50-500 |
| Hybrid | 90-700 |
App development cost by geographical location
Last but not least, your app development budget will also be affected by the geographical location of your app developers and the whole development team. In case you decide to outsource the development, you’ll also need to consider geographical locations when drafting a budget.
| Geographical Location | Simple App Cost | Medium App Cost | Complex App Cost | Average Hourly Rate |
| United States | $25,000 – $60,000 | $60,000 – $120,000 | $150,000 – $300,000+ | $100 – $250/hr |
| Western Europe | $20,000 – $60,000 | $50,000 – $150,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 | $80 – $200/hr |
| Eastern Europe | $10,000 – $30,000 | $30,000 – $80,000 | $50,000 – $150,000 | $30 – $70/hr |
| Middle East | $20,000 – $60,000 | $40,000 – $120,000 | $80,000 – $200,000 | $40 – $150/hr |
| Africa | $10,000 – $30,000 | $20,000 – $80,000 | $50,000 – $150,000 | $20 – $50/hr |
| India | $5,000 – $10,000 | $10,000 – $30,000 | $30,000 – $100,000 | $20 – $50/hr |
| Australia | $20,000 – $60,000 | $40,000 – $120,000 | $80,000 – $250,000 | $50 – $150/hr |
Real-Life Pricing Cases of Successful Mobile Apps
What better way to showcase how mobile app pricing works than showing you how these successful applications were developed and how much time and budget it took to finalize the process?
In this section of the article, we’re going to discuss five famous and successful applications from different industries with different functionalities:
- Tinder: A dating app with various advanced features
- Ikea: Online shopping experience with AR
- Uber: Taxi and food delivery services
- TikTok: A popular social media platform
- Airbnb: A peer-to-peer accommodation marketplace
Tinder
Tinder is one of the most popular dating apps on the market. It’s popular among various audiences, and when clients are looking for dating app development services, they often ask if we can develop an app similar to Tinder. That’s why, in this guide, we offer you an approximate outlook on Tinder’s development budget and timeline.
Tinder started as a simple MVP in 2012 and only had swiping and matching features. Over time, it developed and included video chatting, subscriptions, recommendations, and personalized push notifications. We can suggest that developing this app costs somewhere around $50,000 to $100,000, including all updates and changes.
Ikea
IKEA developed its app to improve shoppers’ experience and make shopping more available. While the company hasn’t shared the exact app development budget with the public, we can assume that the development price would be around $50,000 to $300,000.
The price, in this case, also depends on the complexity of the features and design. For example, developing AR and 3D graphics can cost $15,000 to $28,000. And that’s only the design,
Uber
Uber is probably one of the most popular taxi apps around the world. It also has food delivery services, but according to statistical information and research, developing such an app with advanced features will cost $90,000 to $300,000 and will take 9+ months to develop.
For simpler solutions, some companies have paid $40,000 to $60,000, but considering that Uber also offers food delivery services, the price of the complete app may be even higher.
TikTok
We’ve all seen TikTok dances, trends, and parodies. This platform gained popularity at high speed and continues to retain its audience. TikTok development probably surpassed many other budget examples, but developing such a platform would cost around $70,000 and more.
Depending on the complexity of the app, it could take a few months or over a year. And don’t forget about maintenance, regulations, and updates.
Airbnb
What started as a simple loft rental became one of the most popular booking services worldwide. This mobile app has many features, including listing management, booking, payments, reviews, and more. Developing such an app would cost around $150,000 to $500,000.
For a simpler solution, the prices can start from $75,000, but you’ll be safer if you discuss this with your development service provider, just to be sure.
So, how much does it cost to develop such apps? Even though the companies don’t share exact prices and we can only speculate how much money and time it took to develop such mobile apps, we can, at least, approximately tell you how much it will take to develop similar apps for you.
Again, the prices are heavily influenced by several factors. For example, if you remove AR from IKEA’s application, you’ll probably cut down around $15,000 from the budget. However, if you add custom-made AI-powered chatbots, you’ll probably be paying around $5000-10,000, depending on which development approach you decide on (in-house or outsourced).
If you’re interested in developing mobile apps, we recommend reading our article about real estate mobile app development for industry-specific app development.
How to Calculate the Price of Your Mobile App Development?
Once again, we’re asking the question, how much does it cost to develop a mobile app? As you might’ve already guessed, this question will be followed by further questions, and you’re the one who can answer them. In this section of the article, we’ll explore how you can calculate the cost of your app development with a few simple steps.
We’ll also teach you how to avoid the hidden app development costs that we mentioned earlier, how to use app development cost calculators and more.
- Decide what features you want to include: Features will make or break your mobile app. They will also influence the final app cost, so be careful when choosing them. Consult with your mobile app developer
- Choose the OS platform: If you’re looking for iOS app development, you’ll have to pay a bit more than developing a native app for Android. However, the development cost will grow if you decide on a cross-platform solution
- Consult with a mobile app developer to estimate the timelines: If you’re planning to hire an app developer, you should know how many hours each development stage takes. For example, planning and research will take up to 4 weeks, design – 8 weeks, development 6 or more months, and so on
- Research and calculate the hourly rate: Scroll through freelancing platforms and job boards to find suitable app developers. Their hourly rate will differ depending on the region, so consider that as well. Multiply estimated working hours by their rates, and you’ll have an approximate budget
- Decide whether you want in-house development or outsourcing: Outsourcing mobile app development can benefit companies not looking for in-house developers and extra costs from recruitment. We recommend working with professionals since inexperienced mistakes can affect app development costs
App development cost calculators
There’s no sure way of knowing the app cost, but we can estimate your budget with cost calculators. How do these calculators work? App cost calculators are specifically designed for you to estimate the budget by answering a few questions about your app idea, industry, complexity, specifics, design elements, and so on.
We designed this cost calculator to help our clients draft their initial budget. To calculate the cost, you’ll need to answer the questions we provided earlier when guiding you on DIY cost calculation.
Doesn’t matter if you’re developing gaming apps, hybrid apps, native apps, android apps, iOS apps, or simple MVPs; we can help you calculate the initial cost of app development and suggest the timeline as well.
How to avoid the hidden costs?
When we explored the development stages and process, we mentioned that there were some hidden costs to application development. This goes for every software development, as a matter of fact.
So what does it mean to have hidden costs, and how much does it cost to develop a mobile app if you’re unsure about the initially estimated cost?
Hidden costs happen when changes occur in your app development project. This happens when you haven’t defined initial requirements properly and are faced with changing the tech stack or leaving some of the desired features out because of the skill gap in the team.
One of the most significant cases of hidden costs happens when your app developer undervalues the complexity of the features. This happens quite often, especially when working with individual freelancers. Integrating basic features like push notifications may seem like an easy task, so sometimes, developers may incorrectly provide the timeline of the project and face some challenges when implementing more advanced notification features. Such mistakes can lead to longer development time and higher costs if you’re paying per hour.
Sometimes, marketing and app deployment fees get overlooked. It’s a natural mistake that happens when you’re developing your native app in-house. Sometimes, teams have skill gaps or are too busy with more important processes. If you want to develop an app, we recommend working with professionals who provide full-stack app development services, including marketing and monetizing.
So, how to avoid hidden costs?
- Clearly define all your app requirements before you develop an app
- Define the composition of your in-house team (if you’re developing in-house)
- Choose the right development service provider with years of expertise, like Glorium Technologies
- Use agile development, which has proven to be the most cost-avoiding approach for our company
- Plan app maintenance costs
- Double-check freelancer estimations
If you follow these recommendations, you won’t see any hidden costs during the development process.
How much does it cost to hire an app developer?
Now, onto more descriptive subjects. Let’s discuss the cost of hiring an app developer. The answer depends on various factors: geographic location, experience level, complexity of the project, hiring models, and so on.
You’re probably looking for app developers on freelance platforms and job boards. If you’re planning to hire a developer for a one-time project, a freelancer is the best choice for you. However, if you’re looking for a dedicated team member, you’re probably building a whole recruitment plan.
Let’s discuss the numbers. For example, hiring a developer in North America (USA, Canada) will cost you around $100 to $250. However, Eastern European (Ukraine, Poland) developers typically offer a lower rate of $30-70 per hour.
You’ll also notice differences between rates according to the experience level. For example, you can hire an app developer for $20 on Upwork if you’re looking for a junior.
This table illustrates the differences between costs:
| Factor | Details | Cost Range |
| Geographic Location | North America: Highest rates due to demand and cost of living | $100 – $250 per hour |
| Western Europe: High rates, slightly lower than North America | $80 – $200 per hour | |
| Eastern Europe: More affordable, known for quality developers | $30 – $70 per hour | |
| Asia (India, China, SEA): Most cost-effective region | $20 – $50 per hour | |
| Experience Level | Junior Developers (0-2 years): Lower cost, limited experience | $30 – $60 per hour (NA); $15 – $30 per hour (Asia) |
| Mid-Level Developers (2-5 years): Balanced cost and experience | $60 – $120 per hour (NA); $30 – $50 per hour (Asia) | |
| Senior Developers (5+ years): High expertise, higher cost | $100 – $200 per hour (NA); $50 – $100 per hour (Asia) | |
| Hiring Model | Freelancers: Flexibility, often more cost-effective | $30 – $150 per hour |
| In-House Developers: Full-time, additional costs for benefits | $60,000 – $150,000 annually + benefits | |
| Outsourcing to Agencies: Comprehensive service, cost depends on scope | $50,000 – $500,000 per project |
How much does it cost to hire an outsourcing company?
The process of determining the cost of outsourcing your app development project is similar in this case as well. Geographical location, experience level of developers, project complexity, and collaboration models also have a significant impact on the price.
One of the most significant influential factors is the geographical location. It shouldn’t be a surprise if we tell you that the most costly option is hiring such a company in North America and Western Europe. Asia and Eastern Europe offer lower prices. For example, if you hire an outsourcing agency in Ukraine, you’ll have to pay an hourly rate of $30-40 (minimum) and around $16,000 per project (depending on the complexity).
One of the most comfortable factors when working with such a company is the flexibility within collaboration models.
If you already have an in-house team and you’re looking for someone who’ll fill in the skill gaps, we also offer various collaboration models and outstaffing services. You can hire a professional developer from Glorium Technologies’ vast talent pool.
Why Work With Professionals in App Development?
A decision companies often have to make is whether to hire an in-house team, fill in the skill gaps of existing teams, or outsource the app development process. In this section of our article, we’re going to explore the advantages and benefits of working with an outsourcing company with experienced developers, UX designers, QA engineers, and dedicated project managers.
Glorium Technologies is an outsourcing mobile development and software development company with 14+ years of expertise in developing industry-specific apps. We’ve had the pleasure of working with various interesting clients and building creative, successful apps.
We often work with clients who come to us to develop their apps from scratch and with clients who ask us for app maintenance costs, app cost validation, and adjustments. Coming from this, we can safely assume that most mistakes are made and hidden costs occur when companies work with freelancers or overlook the skill gaps in their teams.
In this section of our guide, we’ll explore how you can avoid such mistakes and cut down on the app cost by working with an outsourcing agency like Glorium Technologies.
Expertise and efficiency
The first benefit of collaborating with an app development company is the opportunity to find experienced employees in creating applications, including UX/UI design, programming, and quality assurance. Professional team members have years of experience with development, testing, and app maintenance. This means they’re less likely to make mistakes and cost you hidden or unexpected charges.
It’s also an advantage for you to work with such professionals since they can include exact features that you have in mind without a hassle, including personalized push notifications, an attractive mobile app design, an intuitive user interface, and more.
You can easily build an Android native app, an iOS app, or a hybrid app without worrying about the app’s complexity.
Scalability and flexibility
How much does it cost to adjust your mobile app to environmental changes and technological advancements if it’s not custom-made and is just off-the-shelf? Or, how much does it cost to make changes to your Android and iOS apps if you only hired a freelancer for a one-time project?
Average app development cost is already unstable to begin with, and such changes can increase and significantly influence the final budget (including app maintenance). That’s why we recommend developing an app with professionals who don’t have issues with the app’s complexity and can build you an application that grows alongside your business.
Businesses are very fluid, and as the industries develop, they grow as well. Your application needs to be scalable and flexible for it to grow alongside your company. Professional outsourcing agencies build scalable products and offer flexible collaboration models for future adjustments.
App development cost breakdown
We already discussed this subject, but app development cost increases with the mistakes made in the initial evaluation. Freelancers and in-house project managers who don’t have experience in developing industry-specific mobile apps often make mistakes when breaking down app development costs.
App development companies, on the other hand, offer detailed cost breakdown so you can develop an app knowing how much you’re spending on it.
Focus on core business functions
One of the most significant reasons why companies choose to outsource their app development to professionals is the time exchange. Let us explain this better.
Imagine you’re building a team for your app development project, yet you don’t have all the necessary professionals, so you address your recruitment department. Hiring and onboarding a new employee will take several months; assigning the project manager and setting the agile project management methodologies will also add time and money to that.
App development companies, on the other hand, offer full-stack services, including all the necessary professionals for your app development project. This means that you can delegate complex tasks such as tech team management, design, and development to a professional, and at the same time, you have more time to focus on what matters the most – crucial business operations.
Risk mitigation
Outsourcing app development also aids in managing risks that may be associated with the project. Large-scale app development companies have streamlined processes and efficient work frameworks to identify issues that may arise and apply solutions in the shortest time possible.
In the current business world, this approach of risk management can help business organizations to a greater extent by saving the businesses a lot of money that would otherwise have been spent unnecessarily on furthering project time, additional expenses, and non-conformity to regulatory standards. By hiring an external team of developers, businesses can be assured the app is built to the highest quality and avoid wasting money and getting a lower ROI.
How to Choose a Mobile App Development Company?
Although there are many offers for the software industry, it is possible to get confused and choose the wrong strategy for selecting a contractor. To avoid making a mistake in choosing the right person for your job, stick to the recommendations given below.
Learn about app development technical requirements
There’s no point in contacting an outsourcing company if you don’t know the basic technical requirements of app development. Yes, you can receive an app development cost estimate, but you have to make sure you’re working with a transparent company.
Research the stages of app development (like we mentioned above) or scroll up to see the approximate timelines and stages. Know what typical tech stack is used for an iOS or Android app, how different app stores require different documentation, and so on.
Explore the company’s portfolio
If you can’t find a portfolio or the company doesn’t provide it, we wouldn’t recommend working with them. Some agencies are new to the market, and collectively, they might not have experience, but separately, they’ve worked with lots of clients, but it’s extremely difficult to determine if it’s true, so prioritize companies with portfolios and client reviews.
Exploring their portfolios will help you understand their approach, their expertise, and their clientele and help you decide whether you want to work with them or not. Make sure to look for client onboarding roadmaps, case success stories, tech stack used, initial problems, final results, and other necessary information.
Request an initial consultation
We can not highlight this enough – don’t neglect the need for personal initial consultation. These consultations will give you information that can’t be found on any websites, email sequences, and articles.
We always offer our potential clients and those who are interested in app development a free consultation with no strings attached. We believe that every project is unique, and a one-for-all type of approach won’t work for all applications. That’s why we recommend scheduling an initial interview, where you’ll find out more about the company, its approach, and its team members and will have enough information to decide.
Read their privacy policy
Don’t forget about privacy and their compliance with regulations and industry-wide standards. Development cost can grow significantly if your app doesn’t adhere to industry-specific regulations.
Additionally, request an NDA signing to make sure your intellectual property stays with you.
How can Glorium Technologies Help?
We at Glorium Technologies have been helping companies embody their mobile app ideas. We have been collectively doing this for 14 years, but our experienced developers, intuitive UX designers, and professional project managers have done this independently for many years.
We bring extensive and industry-specific experience to your company and offer flexible collaboration models for your unique company requirements.
You can outsource the development process completely and focus on your core business. You can also fill in the gaps in your in-house team, hire our developers, etc.
Schedule a free consultation with us today and ask as many questions as you’d like. You’ll speak to our experts, receive mobile app development cost estimates, discuss timelines, and more.
