Most app projects cost between $10,000 and $49,999, according to Clutch’s pricing data from verified client reviews. The average is higher, about $90,780 over roughly 11 months, because large apps pull it up. What you pay depends on three things: how many features the app has, how complex the design is, and whether it needs its own back-end. Building one cross-platform app instead of two native ones is the biggest way to bring the price down.
How much does an app cost to build?
| Measure (Clutch, 2026) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Most common project size | $10,000–$49,999 |
| Average project | $90,780, over about 11 months |
| Most common hourly rate (Android, iOS and cross-platform) | $25–$49 |
| Canada and Poland | $50–$99 an hour |
| Australia | $100–$149 an hour |
| India | Under $25 an hour |
Clutch lists the main cost drivers as the features, the complexity of the user experience and the back-end. In plain terms: an app that shows information is far cheaper than one with accounts, payments, real-time updates or offline sync.
What makes an app more expensive?
- Accounts and logins: sign-up, password reset, profiles, and in-app account deletion, which Apple requires for any app that lets people create an account.
- A back-end: a server and database for data that is shared between users, plus an admin panel to manage it.
- Payments and subscriptions: in-app purchases or card payments, with the store rules that come with them.
- Real-time and offline features: chat, live tracking, and syncing data that was changed without a connection.
- Integrations: connecting to your website, CRM, booking system or other services.
- Custom design and animation: polished, unique interfaces take longer than standard components.
Is it cheaper to build one app for both iPhone and Android?
Usually, yes. A cross-platform framework such as Flutter or React Native uses one codebase for both stores, so most features are built and tested once. In the Stack Overflow 2024 Developer Survey, 9.4% of developers used Flutter and 8.4% used React Native, so both are mainstream choices. We build mostly in Flutter and add native code only where an app needs deeper access to the phone.
Two separate native apps make sense when the app depends heavily on platform-specific features or performance, but you pay for much of the work twice.
What costs come after launch?
- Store fees: the Apple Developer Program costs $99 a year; a Google Play developer account is a one-time $25.
- Hosting and services: servers, databases, email, push notifications and any paid APIs the app uses.
- Updates: new iOS and Android versions, new phone sizes and store policy changes all need app updates, usually several times a year. One rule to plan for from the start: apps with user accounts must let people delete their account inside the app.
- Quality monitoring: Google Play’s Android vitals flag apps whose user-perceived crash rate goes above 1.09% or ANR rate above 0.47% overall, and poor vitals can affect how visible the app is on Google Play.
- New features: the first release is rarely the last. Budget for improvements based on what users ask for.
How long does it take to launch an app?
Building is only part of it. Clutch’s average project runs about 11 months, while a focused first version (an MVP) can be much faster. Then there is store approval. New personal Google Play developer accounts must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days in a row before they can publish, and Google says production review usually takes up to seven days. Plan these weeks into your launch date. Our guide to the 12 testers, 14 days rule explains how to run the test.
How can you keep the cost down?
- Start with an MVP. Build the one or two features that prove the idea, launch, then add more based on real use.
- Choose cross-platform unless you have a clear reason for two native apps.
- Reuse what exists. If you already run a WordPress or WooCommerce site, the app can often use it as its back-end instead of a new one.
- Write down the scope. A clear list of screens and features gets you comparable, fixed quotes.
- Plan the store work early. Privacy policy, Data safety form, screenshots and testers take time that is easy to forget.
What do our apps cost?
We quote apps at a fixed price after a short call about what the app needs to do, so you know the full cost before we start. We build and publish our own apps too, including TripFund on Google Play, so we know the store set-up, testing and policy steps first-hand. See our app development service.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a simple app cost?
Clutch reports that most app projects cost between $10,000 and $49,999. A simple app with no accounts or back-end sits at the lower end; apps with logins, payments and a server cost more.
Why is the average app cost so high?
Clutch’s average of $90,780 is pulled up by large, long projects. The most common project size, $10,000 to $49,999, is a better guide for most small businesses.
Is Flutter cheaper than native development?
For most apps, yes, because one codebase serves both iPhone and Android, so features are built and tested once instead of twice.
What does it cost to publish an app?
The Apple Developer Program is $99 a year, and a Google Play developer account is a one-time $25. New personal Google Play accounts also need a 14-day closed test with 12 testers before publishing.
Want a fixed quote for your app?
Tell us what your app should do and we’ll come back with a fixed price and a realistic launch date. Get a free consultation.
Sources: Clutch: Mobile app development pricing (checked 4 November 2026); Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024; Google Play Console Help: testing requirements; Apple App Review Guideline 5.1.1(v); Android vitals; Apple Developer Program enrollment and Google Play developer account sign-up (fees). Store, policy and vitals pages checked 7 November 2026.