Blog Post

Have you ever heard the phrase – “There’s an app for everything”?

This million-dollar statement has become more of a drift now as mobile app development trends are raging like never before. Both Play Store and App Store have recently celebrated their 10th anniversary, and the number of apps does not seem to slow down anytime soon.

Although the total number has surpassed 7 million, there’s still room for more, encouraging companies to build impressive apps that revolutionize the way people connect with your venture – Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Zs alike.

With this rises another critical question that has been bugging business leaders since day 1 – What would be the app development cost?

On This Page: 

1. App Development Cost Breakdown
2. Cost to Build an App Based on Development Stages
3. Factors to Estimate Your App Development Cost
4. 5 Hidden Costs of Developing an App
5. How to Reduce the App Development Cost?
6. Optimize the Cost of App Development with Valorwide Ltd
7. Average Cost to Develop an App
8. Over to You

In general, the average cost of app development is somewhere between $20,000 – $200,000. However, it can reach up to $350,000+ for complex apps.

That is a lot of generalized estimation right there. What 5 years of mobile app development experience actually taught us is that there is no fixed answer to this; apps do not come with a price tag. However, we can tell you that the development cost and product quality are directly proportional. The rest depends on a lot of variables that you should carefully consider to ensure success.

So, unlike all those long-drawn-out articles that take a big chunk of your time but end up with off-the-shelf answers, our blog will take a closer look and give you a clear idea about the mobile app development cost ballpark.

Let Our Expert Development Team Take the Responsibility of Building Your Application

Hire Expert Developers

App Development Cost Breakdown

What usually happens with clients when they go for a consultation with an application development company about their app idea because they have zero clues regarding the development process, and hence, the expense as well. Sure, they have clearly outlined their requirements and desired functionalities, but that is not enough to create a fair estimation.

Yes, the upfront cost quoted by the agency is not everything. App development is a complex process, and the trick to knowing how much app development costs is doing in-depth research and a detailed understanding of app dynamics.

In a nutshell, the cost to build an app comes down to these five basic elements:

•  Functionalities of the app – What the product will do and what needs it will fulfill for the customers.
•  Complexity of app features – It can be a Digital Banking App or Blockchain base. The feature complexity will shape the development complexity as well as the cost.
•  Targeted devices and platforms – You can opt for native vs cross-platform development to support one specific platform or multiple platforms.
•  Maintenance plan – You would need technical support after the deployment of the app to ensure that it consistently works and even to improve it.
•  Third-party integration – Do you need to integrate third-party services (like location sharing or payment) with your app? If so, it will increase the cost.

Fair enough? So, on the one hand, you can consider the above-mentioned parameters and come up with a fixed budget for the entire project.

Or as an alternative, you can use a simple formula as an app development cost calculator and figure out how much it is going to charge you:

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Based on Development Stages?

You have already used some calculators on some sites or googled the average cost to create an app to get a rough figure. But let us tell you that no matter how accurate the number seems, it will probably just put you off. In most cases, those numbers are pretty misleading as the development cost depends on the app’s features, technologies used, design, development team location, and so on.

So, what we are going to do is to break down the cost structure for app development as per different stages of mobile app development so that you can accurately know what each phase costs and what piece it will take from your budget.

1. Cost of Discovery/Strategy Stage

Pre-research, planning, discovery, or strategy, it all means one thing – market analysis, business plan, and documentation. At this phase, any competent development firm will ask you a plethora of questions about your business and application goals, and if they shy away from asking questions, that is a big red flag.

Around 10% of the total mobile app development cost goes into this stage, and it will take 20-200 hours for completion.

The final document should contain the following information:

• Competitive analysis
• Objective declaration
• MVP concept
• User and market research
• A clear project roadmap

Estimated Cost – $1,200 – $10,000 (with a timeline of 2-5 weeks)

2. Cost of Design Stage

The second phase is all about software prototyping and wireframing, user experience design, and visual (UI) design. As we know, the first impression is everything, and so it is tremendously important for you to build a beautifully designed app that wins the hearts of your users.

That is why you should not be stingy in investing your resources in design, as it can make or break your project. It will take somewhat 10-15% of the cost of creating an app, and the man-hours might be higher due to intricate screens, custom components, visual complexity, and so on.

Estimated Cost – $2,000 – $10,000 (with a timeline of 3-5 weeks)

3. Cost of Development Stage

This is the most important and expensive stage of mobile app development, where the complexity of the functionalities defines the estimated cost of app development. The more complex the features are, the more time it will take for development to create them, leading to increased costs.

Apart from the features, this stage requires you to focus on the application architecture, data encryption, and storage, userbase, third-party integration, etc.

This stage needs a lot of collaboration and the minute attention of your developers as the cost of coding and programming is way more than all other stages combined. Additionally, building your app with cross-platform mobile app development frameworks will save you a ton as opposed to creating multiple apps for multiple platforms.

Estimated Cost – $3,000 – $60,000 (with a timeline of 2-6 months)

Scale up Your Online Presence by Developing a Cutting-Edge App from Scratch

Get Started

4. Cost of Testing and Deployment Stage

Next up is testing that validates the quality of an app. This phase plays an important role in estimating the cost of making an app as you do not have to unnecessarily spend resources on post-launch bug fixing.

Comprehensive testing by the quality assurance team means that your customers will face fewer inconveniences in terms of crashes, glitches, and lags. The best way to ensure user satisfaction is to release the app with minimum issues.

And regarding the testing and deployment cost, it again depends on how complex and feature-rich your app is.

Estimated Cost – <$5,000 (with a timeline of 2-5 weeks)

How to Estimate App Development Cost?

Now that you know the cost to build apps in each development stage, let us walk through three basic yet crucial factors to consider while estimating your app development cost.

What is Your App Type?

Even though your app idea is great, making your users love it is a different task altogether. There are different types of apps, and choosing the right one for your business goals will have a high impact on your development cost.

Type of App	Description	Estimated Cost
Basic Apps	Basic apps like simple games, clocks, and calculators do not need heavy front-end or back-end development.	$20,000-$60,000
Data-driven apps	Data-driven apps like calendars, weather forecasting, and maps access tons of information, evaluate it, and show it to users.	$25,000-$80,000
Social network apps	Social network apps, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest, manage a huge user base and hence, need a strong back-end.	$30,000-$100,000
On-demand services app	On-demand service apps offer a variety of solutions with immediate access.	$60,000-$120,000
eCommerce apps	eCommerce apps like Alibaba, eBay, or Amazon need to have multiple critical features like payment, location, user registration, etc.	$80,000-$150,000
Gaming apps	Gaming apps are graphics-intensive apps that require high processing power and complex UI development.	$30,000-$200,000
Enterprise apps	Enterprise apps are for the internal use of organizations, such as sales and marketing, CRM, HRM, etc.	$50,000-$300,000
Healthcare apps	Healthcare apps offer medical and health-related services to patients and healthcare professionals.	$45,000-$250,000
eLearning apps	eLearning apps enable online learning and other educational services like virtual classrooms, course distribution, training, etc.	$60,000-$300,000
Video streaming apps	Video streaming apps allow users to watch video content over the internet in real time without downloading it.	$50,000-$350,000
Blockchain Base fintech apps	financial service with the decentralized system	$150000-$500000+
ERP solution	Enterprise resource planning	$150000-$750000

Do You Want to Hire an Agency or a Freelancer?

Picking the right sort of development team plays a vital role in figuring out how much it costs to make an app. You can hire an app development company or recruit independent mobile app developers to execute your project. And frankly, neither of these two options is a terrible choice, but hiring an offshore agency might give you an edge over opting for freelancers.

The primary advantage of employing freelance developers is that they are pretty cheap, with as low as $20 per hour. But there are a few serious downsides as well.

Why? Because building an application isn’t simply about writing a couple of hundred lines of code. There are a ton of other important things to consider, like planning, UI, and UX.

On the contrary, an app development agency comes with an array of benefits that freelancers cannot ever offer, including:

•  Accountability
•  Smooth project management
•  Ease of communication
•  Quality assurance
•  All-inclusive solutions
•  Discipline and schedule
•  Efficient involvement

In simple words, app development cost with freelance developers is less, but the process takes a long time to complete, whereas development companies might cost more, but you will get quality results in a way too short time.

Let’s Build a Growth-Oriented App for Your Business with Our Custom App Expertise

Show Me How

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain an App?

Deploying your app on the server is not the final step since you must monitor and maintain the app to ensure the app keeps running smoothly, always remains secure, and continues to meet the on-demand needs of its users.

The cost to maintain an app can vary depending on multiple factors such as the frequency of updates required, the complexity of the app, the technology stack used, and the size of the dedicated development team.

Generally, app maintenance costs can range from 15% to 20% of the original development cost annually. For example, if an app costs $100,000 to develop, the annual maintenance cost would be around $15,000 to $20,000.

However, this is just a rough app development cost estimate, and the actual cost can be significantly higher or lower depending on the specific requirements of the app. It’s essential to consider some more factors like server costs, bug fixing, new feature additions, security updates, and user support when calculating the maintenance cost of an app.

What is the Complexity Level of the App?

The complexity of an app can have a significant impact on the cost of app development. In general, the more complex an app is, the more time and resources it will take to develop, which will result in higher development costs. Here are a few ways that complexity can influence the app development cost:

•  Features: The more features an app has, the more complex it is likely to be as developing additional features needs more time and resources.
•  Integrations: If an app needs to integrate with other systems or services, it can significantly increase the complexity of the development process.
•  User Interface: A more complex user interface can require more design and development time, as well as additional testing and debugging.
•  Security: Implementing complex security features and protocols can increase the development time and cost of an app.
•  Platform: Developing an app for multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android, can increase the complexity and cost of development.

Hence, it’s important to carefully consider the complexity of an app during the planning and design phase to ensure that the app creation cost is within the project budget. Here’s how complexity influences the price:

Complexity	Functionalities	Examples	Cost
Simple apps	Standard UI elements, low-tech screens, no storage, basic MVP, single platform	SMS app, clock, calculator, audio/video player	$20,000-$60,000
Mid-level apps	Customized UI, API integrations, data storage, push notifications, high-quality screen, GPS access	Chatting app, budgeting app, photo and file sharing app, food delivery app, cab booking app	$50,000-$200,000
Complex apps	Two-factor authentication, chatbots, real-time synchronization, nonlinear workflows	Gaming app, logistic app, enterprise app, healthcare app, trading and lending app, telehealth app, Fintech	$80,000-$500,000+

What is the location of the development team?

The location of the development team can have a significant impact on the cost of building an app since the labor cost varies across different regions of the world. For example, developers based in North America and Europe generally command higher salaries than those in Asia and South America.

Additionally, taxes and regulations related to employment can also differ significantly between different countries and regions. Hiring developers in some countries may require employers to pay additional taxes, insurance, or benefits, which can add to the overall cost of development.

The infrastructure costs of operating a development team can also vary according to the location. Office rent, utilities, and other overhead costs can be higher in some regions than in others. Moreover, the availability of skilled professionals in certain regions can affect the average cost of app development. If you require a specific technology or skillset, it may be more difficult and expensive to find the right talent in some areas.

Lastly, working with a development team in a different time zone may impact the speed of development and the costs associated with coordination and communication.

To give you a general idea, the following table decodes how location influences the ultimate cost of building an app:

Region	Cost/Hour
USA	$100 – $120
UK	$90 – $100
Australian	$70 – $90
Western Europe	$70 – $80
Eastern Europe	$60 – $70
India	$40 – $50
South America	$50 – $70
Bangladesh	$28 – $40

Create a Robust App That Performs Seamlessly Across All Platforms and Devices

Get It Done

5 Hidden Costs of Developing an App

App development can be a complex process that requires a lot of time, effort, and resources. While the upfront costs of developing an app are often the most obvious, there are also hidden costs that can add up quickly, such as:

1. Design and user experience
   Creating an app that looks good and is easy to use requires a lot of design work. This can include everything from designing the user interface to creating icons and graphics. These design costs can quickly increase, especially if you need to hire a professional designer.

  2. Testing and debugging
Once you finish building the app, you need to test it thoroughly to make sure it works as expected. This can involve testing on a variety of devices and platforms and can take a significant amount of time. Additionally, if there are any bugs or issues that need fixing, this can add to the average app development cost.

3. Maintenance and updates
Apps require ongoing maintenance and updates to stay functional and keep pace with the latest technologies. This can include everything from fixing bugs to adding new features. The cost of application maintenance can be significant, especially if you want to keep your product competitive and relevant.

4. App Store fees
If you plan to distribute your app through app stores like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, there are fees associated with each download. These fees can vary depending on the platform and the pricing model you choose.

5. Marketing and promotion
Getting your app noticed and downloaded by users requires marketing and promotion efforts. This includes everything from creating social media profiles and a website to running ads and promotions. This can impact the overall cost to build an app and may continue even after your app has launched.

How to Reduce the App Development Cost?

While a well-built app can transform your business vision into reality, you need to make sure you have the finances to go through with it. Optimizing your app making price can help you stay within budget and maximize your ROI. And to help you with that, we have listed some tips:

• Start with a well-defined scope: Before starting the development process, make sure you have a clear and well-defined scope of the app. This will help you avoid scope creep and decrease the app development time and cost.
• Outsource development: Consider outsourcing some or all of your development to a third-party provider. IT outsourcing can be a cost-effective option, especially if you choose an offshore provider with lower labor costs.
• Choose the right development team: Make sure to hire an app development team with experience in developing products like yours. This will help avoid mistakes and save resources.
• Use open-source technologies: Open-source technologies can help you save money on licensing fees and optimize your app development budget.
• Prioritize features: Prioritize the most important features and build them first. This will help you save money on unnecessary features and launch your app faster.
• Test early and often: Testing your app early and often can help you catch bugs and issues early on, which can save you time and money in the long run.
• Leverage app development tools: Use app development tools and frameworks to simplify the development process and reduce costs.
• Focus on user experience: Focusing on user experience can help you create a better app that users will enjoy using, which can lead to increased engagement and revenue in the long run.
• Utilize Agile development methodologies: Agile development methodologies can help you develop your app in small, iterative steps, which can reduce the average cost to make an app.

How Valorwide Can Help You Optimize the Cost of App Development?

It can be hard to find a trustworthy app development partner. There is a range of things to consider, which can occasionally be overwhelming. Yet, app developers at Valorwide can work with you to create a scalable and secure application even if you have a tight budget. Well, here’s how:

• Understanding your requirements 👍

We start by taking as much time as we need to understand your requirements, including your business goals, target audience, and budget. This understanding helps us create a strategy that meets your requirements while staying within your budget.

• Choosing the right technology: 

Our expert devs can help you choose the right technology stack for your app development, which can significantly impact the cost of the app. We will suggest using the latest technology and frameworks that can help in reducing development time and costs.

• Providing a detailed proposal

We provide you with a detailed proposal that outlines the scope of the project, the timeline, and the budget. This proposal will help you to understand what you are paying for and what you can expect from us.

• Offering cost-effective solutions
  We have come up with a cost-effective solution for your project. Using our in-depth expertise and development experience, we find ways to reduce the costs of developing an app without compromising on quality.
• Providing regular updates
  By providing you with regular updates on the progress of your project, we allow you to keep track of costs and make any necessary adjustments to stay within budget.
• Testing and quality assurance
  Testing and QA are essential parts of the app development process. We have a team of testers and quality assurance experts who will ensure that your app is bug-free and meets your requirements. This will help you to avoid costly rework later on.

• Post-development support
  We offer end-to-end post-development support to ensure that the app is working correctly, and any issues are resolved promptly. This can save costs in the long run by avoiding any future issues or errors that may require additional development time and money.

Build a Long-Lasting Impression of Your Business with a Feature-Rich Application

Get in Touch

Average Cost to Develop an App

So, if we consider the average cost to develop an app, it would be around $20,000 to $200,000, depending on the app platform, application features, functionalities, user base, and complexities. However, it can go up to $350,000 as well. The cost for app development for both native iOS and Android app development is usually higher than cross-platform app development.

As per Business Apps, the app development cost with simple features costs up to $32,000, while a medium complexity of app costs you up to $48,000. The complex application development cost starts from $72,000.

In addition, GoodFirms also conducted a different survey regarding the cost of building an app. As per their report, feature-rich and complex applications like Tinder, Uber, or Instagram cost you from $100,000 to $185,000.

UpCity also came up with a survey report on “How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?” stating the average application cost for each development phase. It costs around $10,000-$15,000 for the discovery phase, $10,000-$15,000 is the average cost to design an app and $5,000 for developing an application with advanced features like notifications and analytics. Testing, maintenance, and support phase costs around $5,000-$10,000.

Over to You

We tried to provide you with a rough overview of the plethora of factors that go into determining how much does it cost to program an app. But the best thing is that you now at least have enough sense to figure out the realistic cost needed to create a decent app and avoid those deceptive cost calculators.

So, if you are ready to start working on your budget and need a helping hand, our team is waiting to talk to you. We strongly believe in delivering the right product at the right price, making us just the right fit for your project.

Developing a seamless mobile app is challenging, and it takes considerable skills and expertise. Having over two decades of app development experience, we have seen apps soaring high from the bottom or falling head-first, only to enrich our competence in delivering successful products.

Explore our field-proven mobile app development services and suit yourself with dedicated professional developers. Rest assured; we will build an app that does not burn a hole in your pocket!