How much does it cost to develop an app?
How much does it cost to develop an app?
$50,000 – $175,000 average cost to make a mobile app
App development cost
App development costs $50,000 to $175,000 on average, depending on the type, features, complexity, developer rates, and whether building for Android or iOS. The cost to make a simple app is $40,000 to $60,000, while the cost to create a highly complex mobile app is $150,000 to $300,000+.
| App complexity | Average cost | Timeline | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple app | $40,000 – $60,000 | 2 – 3 months | Calculator, alarm clock |
| Medium-complexity app | $60,000 – $150,000 | 3 – 6 months | McDonald’s Loyalty app |
| Complex app | $150,000 – $300,000+ | 6 – 10+ months | Uber, Instagram, Airbnb |
Cost to develop an app by type
| App type | Average cost | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple app or tool | $10,000 – $25,000 | Calculator, clock, to-do list |
| Social network app | $50,000 – $300,000+ | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn |
| eCommerce app | $30,000 – $300,000+ | Amazon, Alibaba, retail stores |
| Marketplace app | $125,000 – $300,000+ | Airbnb, eBay, Etsy, Booking.com |
| On-demand service app | $50,000 – $400,000+ | Uber, GrubHub, Handy |
| Game app | $50,000 – $300,000+ | Angry Birds, Pokémon Go, Candy Crush |
| Audio/video streaming app | $60,000 – $300,000 | Spotify, YouTube, Netflix |
| eLearning app | $50,000 – $230,000 | DuoLingo, Udemy, iNaturalist |
| Health/fitness app | $50,000 – $300,000 | Headspace, MyFitnessPal, Strava |
| Dating app | $45,000 – $350,000 | Tinder, Match, Bumble |
Enterprise app development cost
Enterprise app development costs $100,000 to $500,000+. Enterprise apps are large-scale programs built with corporate needs in mind and often integrate multiple systems, including messaging, billing, project management, content management, and marketing.
Cost breakdown to create or make an app
| Stage | Length | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Planning and analysis | 2 – 4 weeks | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Design / UX and UI | 3 – 12 weeks | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Development / coding | 4 – 26 weeks | $20,000 – $95,000 |
| Testing | 1 – 3 weeks | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Deployment / launch | 1 – 3 weeks | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Total | 11 – 48 weeks | $50,000 – $175,000 |
| Maintenance / running | Annually | 15% – 20% of development cost |
The following factors affect the cost of app development:
App type – Developing a game, marketplace, or social networking app costs more than a simple calculator or to-do list app.
App complexity – Complex apps with multiple features, screens, and third-party integration cost more to develop than basic apps with only a few screens and no integration.
Development team & project management:
Developer location – Developer rates in the U.S. and Australia are significantly higher than rates in Eastern Europe, India, and Asia.
Freelancer vs. agency – Hiring a freelance developer typically costs less than an agency but may not provide the same quality and reliability.
Development team size – Developing a complex app requires multiple areas of expertise and may involve several developers, designers, a business analyst, and a project manager.
Platform – Native apps are designed exclusively for Android or iOS, while cross-platform or hybrid apps function on several platforms.
Native app development costs more and takes longer but offers higher performance and more functionality than a cross-platform app.
Cross-platform app development costs 25% to 35% less than creating two separate native apps but may require sacrificing some of the features, responsiveness, and design.
Design (UX and UI) – App design is the process of creating the user experience (UX) and visual design or user interface (UI). Complex apps with many screens, custom illustrations, and detailed layouts require more design time.
Third-party integration – Features like geolocation, social media integration, and in-app purchases require third-party API integration, increasing development time and costs. Many third-party services also have recurring monthly or annual costs.
Database complexity and encryption – Many mobile apps require one or more secure databases to store data such as user login information or sync data across devices. Apps with many users or a high volume of data generation typically require a high-performance database with greater storage.
Compliance and security requirements – Apps that are subject to mandatory security protocols like HIPAA or GDPR require extra development time, increasing costs.
Admin or content management system (CMS) – Adding a web portal or CMS to manage the app increases development costs.
Performance management and analytics – Tracking a large number of user behaviors and parameters to assess the app’s performance costs more.
Scalability – An app with a large number of users requires added database storage and server and performance upgrades.
Ongoing app maintenance – Maintaining an app costs 15% to 20% of the original development cost per year.
Cost to plan and start an app
Planning an app costs $10,000 to $25,000 on average and takes 2 to 4 weeks. The planning stage—also called the discovery stage—typically includes:
Market analysis to determine the target audience, market size, demand, and current trends
Competitor research to assess similar apps and how they perform
Setting a business goal
Scope definition to document the project requirements and complexity
Cost analysis and budgeting
Cost to design an app {#design}
App design costs $3,000 to $30,000+, depending on the features, complexity, number of screens, and customization. App design includes user experience design (UX) and user interface design (UI) and takes 3 to 12 weeks on average.
UX design ensures the app is user-friendly and provides a smooth an enjoyable interaction. UX designers create mind-maps, sketches, wireframes, and prototypes to show the app’s layout, navigation, placement of key elements, and the user’s journey through the app.
UI design incorporates color schemes, fonts, illustrations, and animations to create the app’s visual design and overall appearance. UI designers create detailed mockups to preview the app’s look and feel.
App design often includes the creation of a custom logo, matching icons, and other unique branded visual elements:
Logo design costs $300 to $1,500 on average.
Graphic design costs $20 to $150 per hour, depending on the designer’s location and experience. Graphic designers charge $200 to $1,000 to design the app’s launch icon and $10 to $200+ per icon for other in-app icons.
Website design costs $3,000 to $10,000 for a small business site or $10,000 to $40,000 for a larger or more complex site.
Cost to code or program an app
The cost to code or program an app is $20,000 to $95,000 on average, depending on the features, complexity, third-party integration, and infrastructure requirements. Coding or programming—also called developing—takes 4 to 26 weeks and makes up 40% to 50%+ of the total cost to create an app.
| Feature | Average hours | Average cost @ $40/hour | Average cost @ $100/hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| User registration / login | 20 – 40 | $800 – $1,600 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Profile setup and editing | 30 – 90 | $1,200 – $3,600 | $3,000 – $9,000 |
| Push notifications | 25 – 30 | $1,000 – $1,200 | $2,500 – $3,000 |
| File uploading | 15 – 30 | $600 – $1,200 | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Search | 10 – 20 | $400 – $800 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Chat / messaging | 80 – 170 | $3,200 – $6,800 | $8,000 – $17,000 |
| Video / audio calls | 250 – 350 | $10,000 – $14,000 | $25,000 – $35,000 |
| Video / audio streaming | 90 – 150 | $3,600 – $6,000 | $9,000 – $15,000 |
| Map / geolocation tracking | 50 – 150 | $2,000 – $6,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Payments | 40 – 80 | $1,600 – $3,200 | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Sync across devices | 40 – 160 | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 – $16,000 |
| Offline mode | 40 – 80 | $1,600 – $3,200 | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Data storage | 20 – 60 | $800 – $2,400 | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Data encryption | 20 – 60 | $800 – $2,400 | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Mobile ads | 10 – 20 | $400 – $800 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| 3rd party API integration | 40 – 80 | $1,600 – $3,200 | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| CMS / admin management panel | 50 – 150 | $2,000 – $6,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Performance management and analytics | 20 – 80 | $800 – $3,200 | $2,000 – $8,000 |
| Scalability for large number of users | 100 – 200+ | $4,000 – $8,000+ | $10,000 – $20,000+ |
App testing, deployment, & launch cost
App testing costs $5,000 to $15,000 and takes 1 to 3 weeks on average. Testing ensures the app’s functionality, stability, speed, performance, and usability meet expectations. Greater complexity, more features, and a larger number of screens increase the testing time and cost.
Deployment costs $5,000 to $15,000 on average and takes an additional 1 to 3 weeks. Common costs to launch an app include:
Licensing and publishing to app stores – Apple charges $99 per year for a developer account to publish apps in the App Store. Google charges a one-time $25 registration fee to publish apps in the Play Store. Both stores allow unlimited free app updates.
App store optimization (ASO) costs $40 to $250 per month for a subscription to a tool like AppTweak, ASOdesk, App Radar, or AppFollow. Optimizing your app increases the chance that users will discover it in the App Store and Google Play.
Marketing – App marketing costs $20 to $1,000+ per month, depending on the method. Common marketing methods include:
Social media
Paid ads
PR agency outreach and press releases
Influencer marketing
Legal fees – Filing a patent costs $5,000 to $35,000+, depending on the complexity. A trademark costs $275 to $660 to protect the name of your business or a series of themed apps.
Cost to run and maintain an app
Maintaining an app costs 15% to 20% of the original development cost per year and includes ongoing updates, bug fixing, supporting the latest OS versions, and developing new features. Running an app also involves recurring costs for hosting, licensing, payment processing, and push notifications.
App hosting costs $20 to $150 per month on average but can exceed $300 per month for apps with a large number of active users. App hosting prices depend on the amount of storage needed, the number of users, and the number of data requests and transfers.
Push notifications or SMS messaging cost $10 to $200 per month, depending on the number of users.
Payment gateways charge 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction to process in-app purchases.
Cost to build an app by developer type
Developer rates are one of the biggest factors impacting the cost to create an app. Outsourcing to an agency in another country or hiring a freelance developer is significantly cheaper than hiring a local agency or building an in-house development team.
| Developer type | Average hourly rate | Pros and cons |
|---|---|---|
| Outsourcing to another country | $20 – $60 |
|
| Local agency | $100 – $150 |
|
| Freelancer | $20 – $80 |
|
| Build a local in-house team | $100 – $150 |
|
Freelance app developers cost by location
Freelance app developers cost $20 to $150 per hour, depending on their location and qualifications and the platform you hire them through. Freelance developers are quick and easy to find but may not provide the quality, accountability, or reliability of an agency developer.
| Region | Average hourly rate |
|---|---|
| United States (USA) | $100 – $150 |
| United Kingdom (UK) | $70 – $120 |
| Australia | $90 – $120 |
| Western Europe | $60 – $100 |
| Eastern Europe | $30 – $60 |
| South America | $35 – $55 |
| India | $20 – $50 |
| Southeast Asia | $25 – $35 |
Cost to hire in-house app developers
Hiring an app developer costs $100,000 to $120,000+ per year in the U.S. Building an in-house team gives you direct control over the project, and employees are typically more invested in the product. However, expenses for recruiting, equipment, office space, and employee benefits increase the development cost.
| Developer type | Hourly rate – United States | Hourly rate – Eastern Europe | Hourly rate – Latin America | Hourly rate – Asia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Analyst | $80 – $200 | $30 – $65 | $40 – $55 | $20 – $45 |
| Project Architect | $100 – $300 | $40 – $75 | $45 – $75 | $25 – $50 |
| Project Manager | $90 – $230 | $35 – $70 | $45 – $70 | $30 – $50 |
| Lead Developer | $90 – $180 | $40 – $70 | $50 – $70 | $30 – $65 |
| Sr. Developer | $80 – $160 | $35 – $70 | $45 – $65 | $30 – $50 |
| Mid-Level Developer | $70 – $140 | $30 – $55 | $35 – $60 | $25 – $35 |
| Jr. Developer | $50 – $120 | $25 – $40 | $30 – $55 | $20 – $30 |
| Senior QA | $90 – $170 | $35 – $65 | $40 – $60 | $25 – $35 |
| Mid-Level QA | $70 – $110 | $30 – $50 | $35 – $45 | $20 – $30 |
| Junior QA | $60 – $90 | $20 – $40 | $30 – $40 | $15 – $25 |
| Graphic Designer | $80 – $160 | $25 – $55 | $40 – $70 | $20 – $50 |
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for my app?
Mobile app prices range from $0.99 to $9.99 on average, depending on the features. Before setting a price for your app, analyze the target market and compare prices for competitors’ apps to determine what users are willing to pay.
Mobile app pricing typically follows one of these models:
Free – Free apps are often attached to an existing service, such as a banking app, retail store app, or on-demand service like Uber.
Free-to-premium – “Freemium” apps give users access to some features for free but require purchasing the app to access the full features. Some freemium apps allow full access to all the features for free for a limited time instead.
Subscription – Subscription apps often start as a freemium app by offering users a free trial for a limited time before charging a monthly or yearly fee. The subscription model is commonly used for music streaming, dating, and newspaper apps.
Ad-supported – Many free apps generate revenue through in-app advertising. Some apps allow users to pay a fee to remove the ads.
In-app purchases – In-app purchases allow users to buy extra content, goods, or services from directly within the app. For example, in many mobile games, users can buy powerups and access to additional levels not available in the free version.
Paid – Apps that require upfront payment are less common because most users aren’t willing to pay for something they haven’t tried yet. Paid apps require a much higher marketing budget than freemium or subscription apps.
Paymium – With “paymium” apps, the user pays for the app up front but can also access additional features for an extra cost. This model is typically used only by established brands with strong reputations, such as well-known game companies or celebrities.
Is iOS app development easier and cheaper than Android?
iOS app development is typically cheaper and faster than Android app development due to the smaller number of devices supported. iOS uses Swift, Apple’s native programming language, which many developers find easier to work with than the Java and Kotlin languages used in Android development.
Developing separate native apps for each platform costs more but provides improved functionality and performance over a single cross-platform app.
How long does it take to develop an app?
Developing an app takes 2 to 10+ months, depending on the features and complexity.
| App complexity | Development time |
|---|---|
| Simple | 2 – 3 months |
| Medium | 3 – 6 months |
| Complex | 6 – 10+ months |
Getting estimates from mobile app developers
Before you hire a mobile app developer, be sure to:
Review the company’s portfolio. Confirm their apps are functional, well-designed, and easy to use.
Read reviews of their previous apps from other users in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Read the company’s reviews on Thervo and Google.
Interview the developers personally.
Ask about the company’s privacy and data security policy.
Confirm the developers are willing to sign confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.
Get a detailed contract and timeline in writing before the project begins.
Confirm you will retain ownership of the finished app.
Never pay in full up front. Follow a payment schedule instead.
Questions to ask
How long have you been in business?
How many apps have you developed?
Have you worked with clients in my industry before?
Can I see your portfolio?
Can you put me in touch with former clients?
How large is your development team?
Will you handle the entire design and development process in-house or outsource some of the work?
Should I get a native Android or iOS app or a cross-platform app?
How long will it take to develop the app?
Can you walk me through your development process?
What is your communication process?
How do you handle quality control and testing?
How will you get feedback from potential users before launching the app?
How will the app keep my users’ data secure?
What is your pricing structure and payment schedule?
Do you offer ongoing maintenance and support? If so, how much extra does it cost?
Will you submit my app to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store?
Who owns the app when it’s finished?
Will you sign confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements?