What an app really costs.
Mobile app development cost in 2026, before the store takes its cut.
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Senior engineers
No juniors. No middlemen.
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Fixed price
Overruns are on us.
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Live in weeks
Weekly demos on staging.
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You own the code
100% of the IP, day one.
A mobile app typically costs $25k–$60k for a simple app, $60k–$150k for a typical product app and $150k–$300k+ for complex apps in 2026 market surveys. Building iOS and Android from one React Native or Flutter codebase usually costs well below two native apps. Budget another 15–20% of the build cost per year for maintenance, plus store fees and backend hosting.
Mobile app cost by complexity
| Complexity | Typical scope | Cost range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | A few screens, login, content or forms, basic backend | $25k–$60k | 6–10 weeks |
| Typical product app | User roles, payments, push, admin panel, 2–3 integrations | $60k–$150k | 3–5 months |
| Complex | Real-time features, offline sync, AI, marketplace logic | $150k–$300k | 5–9 months |
| Regulated or large-scale | Health or finance data, audits, many integrations | $300k+ | 9+ months |
Ranges from 2026 agency and marketplace surveys for cross-platform builds including backend, approximate. Native iOS plus native Android typically adds 30–60%.
Seven things set the price
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Platforms
One codebase or two
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Screens and roles
Each role is another app
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Integrations
Payments, maps, CRMs
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Offline and sync
The hidden big one
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AI features
Plus evals and API costs
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Compliance
Health, finance, children
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Team region
Rates vary 3–4x
Cross-platform vs native: the cost view
Native (Swift + Kotlin)
- Two codebases, often two teams
- Features built and tested twice
- Best for AR, heavy graphics, deep OS features
- Highest build and maintenance cost
Cross-platform (React Native, Flutter)
- One codebase for iOS and Android
- Most features built once
- Native modules where needed
- Lower build and maintenance cost for most apps
Costs quotes leave out
| Item | Typical cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer Program | $99 per year | Organisation account for company apps |
| Google Play developer account | $25 one-off | Organisation verification required |
| Store commission on digital sales | 15–30% | 15% under small-business and subscription programmes |
| Backend hosting | $50–$1,000+ per month | Grows with users, media and AI usage |
| Third-party services | Varies | Maps, SMS, email, analytics, crash reporting |
| Maintenance | 15–20% of build cost per year | OS updates, SDK changes, store policy changes |
Store fees from Apple and Google's published terms at the time of writing; check the current terms before budgeting.
Illustrative example: a booking app
Illustrative example with stated assumptions. A booking app for iOS and Android: customer and staff roles, calendar, payments, push notifications, admin panel. Cross-platform, built by two senior engineers in Central Europe.
| Line | Assumption | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and design | 3 weeks, 1 engineer + designer | $12k |
| App (iOS + Android) | 12 weeks, 1 senior engineer at $70/h | $34k |
| Backend, admin and payments | 10 weeks, 1 senior engineer at $70/h | $28k |
| Testing, store review, launch | 2 weeks, 2 engineers | $11k |
| Build total | ~$85k | |
| Year-one running costs | Hosting, services, store fees | ~$3k–$8k |
| Year-one maintenance | ~15% of build | ~$13k |
Illustrative example; hours and rates are assumptions based on 2026 market mid-points, not a Yarify quote. The same scope as two native apps would land closer to $120k. Rates by region: software developer rates.
Cut cost, not quality
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Launch one role first
Ship the customer app; run staff workflows from a web admin for version one.
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One codebase
Cross-platform unless a feature truly needs native. See React Native vs Flutter.
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Consider the web first
If users won't install it, a fast mobile web app may test the idea cheaper.
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Fix the price
A written scope and fixed quote moves estimation risk to the vendor.
One fixed number for your app.
We don't publish rates. After a free scoping call you get a written scope and one fixed quote. On a fixed-scope first version, if our estimate is wrong the extra hours are ours. You own the code, the store accounts and the IP.
Mobile app developmentQuestions buyers ask us
How much does it cost to make an app in 2026?
Most apps land between about $25k and $300k. Simple apps start around $25k–$60k, typical product apps with payments and an admin panel run $60k–$150k, and complex or regulated apps go higher. Platforms, integrations, offline features and team region move the number most.
Is it cheaper to build one app for iOS and Android?
Usually, yes. React Native and Flutter share most code across both platforms, so features are built and tested once. Two native apps typically cost 30–60% more to build and more to maintain. Native still wins for heavy graphics, AR or deep OS integration.
How much does app maintenance cost per year?
Plan on roughly 15–20% of the original build cost per year. That covers iOS and Android updates, SDK and dependency upgrades, store policy changes, bug fixes and small improvements. Hosting and third-party services are on top.
What fees do Apple and Google charge?
Apple's Developer Program costs $99 a year and Google Play charges a one-off $25 registration. On digital goods and subscriptions sold in the app, the stores take 15–30%, with 15% under their small-business and subscription programmes. Check current terms before you budget.
Why do app quotes vary so much?
Vendors assume different scopes, team seniority and regions, and some quote only the app without the backend or store launch. Compare quotes against the same written scope and ask what each one leaves out.
Can I get a fixed price for a mobile app?
Yes, for a defined first version. Yarify scopes it with you in writing and quotes one fixed price. If our estimate on that scope is wrong, the extra hours are ours. Changes you ask for are quoted separately first. See fixed price vs time and materials.
Keep reading
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Mobile app development
iOS and Android apps from one React Native or Flutter codebase. A senior team takes it from scope to App Store review, at a fixed price or as a monthly team.
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React Native vs Flutter
React Native or Flutter for your app? Language, rendering, performance, web reuse, hiring pool and maintenance compared, with plain rules for when each one wins.
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MVP development cost
What an MVP costs in 2026 by complexity, region and pricing model: market ranges, timelines, hidden costs and an illustrative booking-app estimate.
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Developer rates by country
Hourly software developer rates by country and seniority in 2026: US, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia, with monthly costs and freelance benchmarks.
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React Native developers
Senior React Native engineers for iOS and Android from one codebase. Expo, the New Architecture, offline data and store releases. Join your team monthly or take a fixed-price app build.
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Flutter developers
Senior Flutter engineers for custom-designed iOS and Android apps from one Dart codebase. Clear state management, smooth animations and store releases. Monthly or fixed-price.
Price your app before you build it
A free 30-minute call, then a written scope and one fixed quote for both stores.