If you are a founder, product manager, or business owner researching app development, the first question on your mind is almost always the same: how much is this going to cost?
The honest answer is that it depends. But that is not a useful answer when you are trying to build a budget, pitch investors, or decide between building and buying. So here is a realistic breakdown of what app development actually costs in 2026, based on our experience delivering over 100 apps at Apptitude.
Quick-Reference Cost Table
Before we get into the details, here is a high-level view of what different app tiers typically cost:
| App Complexity | Estimated Cost | Timeline | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $25,000 — $50,000 | 4—8 weeks | MVP, single-platform utility app, basic content app |
| Medium | $50,000 — $150,000 | 8—16 weeks | Multi-feature consumer app, marketplace, SaaS mobile client |
| Complex | $150,000 — $500,000 | 16—36 weeks | Enterprise platform, AI-powered product, multi-role system with integrations |
These ranges assume a US-based team with senior engineers and designers. They include discovery, design, development, testing, and launch support. They do not include ongoing maintenance, which we will cover below.
If you want a fast estimate tailored to your specific idea, you can get a free quote here.
What Drives the Cost of App Development
There is no single price tag for “an app” because apps are not commodities. A simple calorie tracker and a multi-vendor logistics platform are both “apps,” but they live in completely different universes of scope and complexity.
Here are the factors that move the needle most.
Platform Choice: iOS, Android, or Both
Building for a single platform (iOS or Android) is naturally less expensive than building for both. The choice breaks down into three common paths:
- Single platform (native): You build specifically for iOS or Android using platform-native tools. This costs the least upfront but limits your audience to one ecosystem.
- Cross-platform (React Native, Flutter): You write one codebase that runs on both iOS and Android. This is the most cost-effective way to reach both audiences and is the approach we use most often at Apptitude with React Native. Expect roughly 60—70% of the cost of building two separate native apps.
- Two separate native apps: You maintain distinct iOS and Android codebases. This is the most expensive path and is rarely justified unless you need deep platform-specific features that cross-platform frameworks cannot handle well.
For most businesses in 2026, cross-platform development offers the best balance of cost, speed, and user experience. The frameworks have matured significantly, and the performance gap with fully native apps has narrowed to the point where most users cannot tell the difference.
Feature Complexity
This is the single biggest cost driver. Every feature involves design, engineering, testing, and edge-case handling. Some features are straightforward; others are deceptively deep.
Features that tend to be relatively inexpensive:
- User authentication (email, social login)
- Static content screens and navigation
- Basic forms and data entry
- Push notifications
- Simple analytics integration
Features that tend to add significant cost:
- Real-time messaging or video calling
- Payment processing and subscription management
- Complex role-based permissions
- Offline data sync
- AI/ML-powered features (recommendation engines, natural language processing)
- Third-party hardware integrations (Bluetooth, IoT devices)
- Multi-language and localization support
A good rule of thumb: every major feature adds $5,000 to $25,000 to the total, depending on complexity. This is why our discovery process starts with feature prioritization. Building the right ten features is almost always more valuable than building thirty mediocre ones.
Design Complexity
Design is not just about making things look nice. It is about reducing friction, improving conversion, and creating an experience that users actually want to come back to. Design costs vary based on:
- Basic UI: Using established component libraries with light customization. Functional and clean, but not distinctive. Adds $5,000—$15,000.
- Custom UI: Tailored design system with branded components, motion design, and thoughtful micro-interactions. This is what we recommend for most consumer-facing apps. Adds $15,000—$40,000.
- Premium UI/UX: Full design research, user testing, custom illustrations, advanced animations, and a polished design system. Common for apps where design is a core differentiator. Adds $40,000—$80,000.
Backend and Integrations
Many apps need a backend — a server, database, and API layer that powers the app behind the scenes. The backend cost depends on:
- Simple backend: User accounts, basic CRUD operations, and a managed database. $10,000—$25,000.
- Moderate backend: Multiple data models, third-party API integrations (payment gateways, CRMs, analytics platforms), and background job processing. $25,000—$75,000.
- Complex backend: Real-time data pipelines, AI model serving, multi-tenant architecture, compliance requirements (HIPAA, SOC 2), and high-availability infrastructure. $75,000—$200,000+.
If you are integrating with existing enterprise systems (Salesforce, SAP, legacy databases), budget an additional $10,000—$30,000 per integration. These projects always take longer than you expect.
Hidden Costs Most People Miss
The sticker price for building an app is only part of the story. Here are the ongoing costs that catch people off guard.
App Store Fees
- Apple Developer Program: $99/year
- Google Play Developer: $25 one-time fee
- Apple commission on in-app purchases: 15—30% of revenue (15% for small businesses earning under $1M/year)
- Google commission on in-app purchases: 15—30% of revenue
If your app generates revenue through in-app purchases or subscriptions, those commission fees add up fast. Factor them into your business model from day one.
Hosting and Infrastructure
Monthly infrastructure costs depend on your user base and architecture:
- Low traffic (under 10K users): $50—$200/month
- Moderate traffic (10K—100K users): $200—$1,000/month
- High traffic (100K+ users): $1,000—$10,000+/month
Cloud providers like AWS, which we use for most projects, offer pay-as-you-go pricing that scales with usage. The advantage is that you start small and only pay more as your app grows. The risk is that costs can spike unexpectedly if you have not architected for efficiency.
Maintenance and Updates
A live app is not a finished product. It requires ongoing care:
- OS updates: Apple and Google release major OS versions annually. Your app needs to be tested and updated for compatibility. Budget $5,000—$15,000/year.
- Bug fixes and minor improvements: Even well-built apps need post-launch fixes as real users encounter edge cases. Budget $1,000—$3,000/month.
- Feature updates: To keep users engaged, you will want to ship new features regularly. Budget varies widely depending on scope.
- Security patches: Dependencies and frameworks get security updates that need to be applied promptly. This is non-negotiable.
A common guideline is to budget 15—20% of your initial development cost annually for maintenance. For a $100,000 app, that means $15,000—$20,000 per year.
Marketing and User Acquisition
This is not a development cost, but it is the line item most first-time app builders underestimate. Building the app is half the battle. Getting people to download and use it is the other half.
Average cost per install (CPI) in 2026:
- iOS (US): $3.50—$5.00
- Android (US): $2.00—$3.50
- Organic installs: Free, but require ASO (App Store Optimization), content marketing, and time
If your business plan assumes 10,000 users and you are relying entirely on paid acquisition, you are looking at $20,000—$50,000 in marketing spend just to reach that number.
How Apptitude Prices Projects
We have built over 100 apps across industries, and we have landed on a pricing approach that works for both sides: fixed-price projects with a discovery phase.
Here is how it works:
- You tell us about your idea. Use our project intake form to share the basics. It takes about five minutes.
- We scope the work together. During a free consultation, we walk through your goals, timeline, and must-have features. No pitch decks, no pressure.
- We deliver a fixed-price proposal. After discovery, you get a clear scope document with a firm price and timeline. No surprise invoices.
- We build in milestones. You see progress every week and approve deliverables along the way. If something needs to change, we discuss it before the scope shifts.
This approach gives you budget certainty without sacrificing flexibility. You know what you are paying before we write a single line of code, and our transparent process keeps you informed throughout.
Charlotte Cost Context: Why Location Matters
If you are comparing quotes, you will notice dramatic price differences depending on where the development team is based.
Here is a rough comparison of hourly rates by region in 2026:
| Region | Hourly Rate Range |
|---|---|
| San Francisco / Bay Area | $200 — $350/hr |
| New York City | $175 — $300/hr |
| Charlotte / Southeast US | $125 — $200/hr |
| Midwest US | $100 — $175/hr |
| Eastern Europe | $50 — $100/hr |
| South/Southeast Asia | $25 — $60/hr |
Charlotte sits in a sweet spot. The cost of living is lower than the major tech hubs, which means you get experienced US-based engineers without paying Bay Area overhead. At Apptitude, our team is based in Charlotte and serves businesses across Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, and Asheville.
The advantages of working with a Southeast US team:
- Same timezone, same working hours. No 12-hour communication delays.
- US-quality engineering at 30—40% lower rates than coastal cities.
- Face-to-face availability. We can meet in person when it matters — for kickoffs, design reviews, or launch celebrations.
- Cultural alignment. Understanding the local business landscape, user expectations, and regulatory environment.
Offshore development can look attractive on paper, but we have seen many projects come to us after an offshore engagement went sideways. The savings evaporate when you factor in rework, miscommunication, and the management overhead required to keep a distant team aligned.
How to Get the Most Value From Your Budget
After building 100+ apps, here is what we have learned about spending wisely:
Start with an MVP
Build the smallest version of your app that delivers real value to users. Launch it, gather feedback, then iterate. An MVP that costs $30,000 and validates your market is worth more than a $200,000 app that nobody uses.
Prioritize ruthlessly
Every feature you add increases cost, timeline, and complexity. For every feature on your wish list, ask: does this need to be in version one, or can it wait?
Invest in design upfront
Fixing a design problem in Figma costs hours. Fixing it after development costs days or weeks. Good design is not a luxury — it is the cheapest insurance against expensive rework.
Choose cross-platform when possible
Unless you have a specific reason to go native, React Native or a similar cross-platform framework will save you 30—40% compared to building separate iOS and Android apps.
Plan for post-launch costs
Budget for at least 12 months of maintenance, hosting, and minor updates. An app that launches and then stagnates loses users quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build an app?
Timelines vary by complexity. A simple app can be built in 4—8 weeks. A medium-complexity app takes 8—16 weeks. A complex enterprise application can take 16—36 weeks or more. These timelines include discovery, design, development, testing, and launch. We outline our full process here.
Can I build an app for under $25,000?
It is possible for very simple applications, but we would be cautious about anyone promising a full-featured app at that price point. At that budget, you are typically looking at a single-screen utility app or a basic MVP with limited functionality. If your budget is tight, the better approach is to identify the single most important feature and build just that.
Should I build for iOS or Android first?
It depends on your target audience. If you are targeting a US consumer market with higher spending power, iOS tends to perform better. If you are targeting a global audience or price-sensitive demographics, Android has a larger market share. For most B2B applications, iOS is the priority because decision-makers tend to use iPhones. The most cost-effective approach for reaching both audiences is cross-platform development with React Native.
What is the difference between a fixed-price and time-and-materials contract?
With fixed-price, you agree on scope and cost upfront. The development team absorbs the risk of overruns. With time-and-materials, you pay for actual hours worked, which gives you more flexibility but less budget certainty. We prefer fixed-price with a discovery phase because it gives clients budget certainty while giving us the information we need to estimate accurately. Learn more about how we work.
How much should I budget for ongoing maintenance?
A common guideline is 15—20% of your initial development cost per year. For a $100,000 app, that means $15,000—$20,000 annually for bug fixes, OS compatibility updates, security patches, and minor improvements. This does not include new feature development, which is scoped and priced separately.
Do I own the code when the project is done?
At Apptitude, yes. You own 100% of the source code, design files, and documentation when the project is complete. This is not universal in the industry — some agencies retain ownership or charge licensing fees. Always clarify IP ownership before signing a contract.
Get a Free Estimate
If you are ready to turn your idea into a real project plan with a clear budget, we are here to help. Use our project intake form to share the basics about your app, and we will get back to you with a ballpark estimate within one business day.
No pitch decks. No pressure. Just a straightforward conversation about what it will take to build what you need.