The question “what does it cost to have an app built” has no one-line price tag. And any studio that names one straight away, without asking you a thing, is guessing. What you actually want to know: which type of app fits your goal, what is a realistic budget, how long it takes, and where the gap sits between a smart choice and an expensive one. This article answers that without the sales pitch. We walk through the cost ranges per app type, the choice between native, cross-platform and web app, the lead time, and what to check when picking an app developer or studio. For the wider custom-build decision, read our complete guide to building custom software, and for the raw numbers our honest price guide for custom software.
What does it cost to have an app built?
Having an app built in 2026 costs roughly €8,000 to €18,000 for a simple MVP, €20,000 to €45,000 for a cross-platform custom app, and €45,000 to €80,000 or more for a complex or fully native app. The price turns on scope, number of platforms and integrations, not on the hourly rate alone.
| App type | Example | Build cost | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP / first version | 1 main flow, login, 1 integration, 1 platform | €8,000 to €18,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Web app / PWA | Runs in the browser, installable to your screen, no app store needed | €10,000 to €35,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Cross-platform custom app | iOS + Android from one codebase, 8-15 screens, 2-4 integrations | €20,000 to €45,000 | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Complex or native app | Separate iOS and Android code, offline use, hardware, real-time or AI layer | €45,000 to €80,000+ | 3 to 5 months |
Pricing verified 2026-07; always request a tailored quote, because scope makes or breaks the figure. For the full build-up of these numbers, including maintenance and the costs that sit next to the build, everything is broken out in our price guide for custom software.
Which type of app do you need: native, cross-platform or web app?
Before you look at price, you pick the type. This is the single most important decision of the whole project, because the types differ sharply in cost and maintenance. Short version: many SMBs assume they need a native app when a web app solves the same problem for half the money.
- Native app. Separate code for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin). The fastest, slickest experience and full access to camera, GPS and notifications. Also the most expensive, because you are effectively building and maintaining two apps.
- Cross-platform app. One codebase in React Native or Flutter that runs on iOS and Android. You get 90 percent of the native experience for roughly 60 to 70 percent of the cost. React Native and Flutter are among the most widely used cross-platform frameworks among developers (Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025), so you can easily find people to maintain your app later. For most business apps, the sensible choice.
- Web app / PWA. Runs in the browser, works on any device, and can sit as an icon on the home screen. No app store, no review, update instantly. Ideal for a dashboard, portal or internal tool. See our comparison of web app vs SaaS vs custom platform.
- No-code app. Built in Glide, Softr or FlutterFlow. Quick and cheap to validate an idea, but you hit walls the moment you need your own logic or integrations.
Torn between native and web? Ask yourself one question: do you genuinely need offline use, heavy animation or deep hardware integration? If not, a web app or PWA is often live sooner and years cheaper to maintain.
Build the app yourself or have it developed?
No-code tools let you throw a simple app together today. For an internal list or a quick test that is fine. But once the app becomes the face of your business, or has to link with your accounting or CRM, DIY runs aground. Then you pay for custom work anyway, plus the time lost on the failed try.
The honest rule of thumb: validate for free or cheap, build custom only once the idea is proven. That is exactly why we start many clients with an MVP rather than the full app up front. When no-code is enough and when custom pays off, we explain in no-code vs custom.
How long does it take to build an app?
Count on 3 to 6 weeks for an MVP, 6 to 12 weeks for a full cross-platform app, and 3 to 5 months for a complex or native one. Across the industry, lead times of 2 to 6 months are common by complexity. The biggest delay is rarely the building itself, but indecision over scope and slow feedback.
Our approach cuts the project into short stretches: a discovery of one to two weeks, then a working first version, then expansion based on real usage. That way you see something tangible within weeks instead of waiting months for one big delivery.
What determines the price of an app?
The price of an app is set by six dials: the number of screens and features, the platform choice, the count and weight of the integrations, the depth of the design, the backend and real-time functions, and the demands around maintenance and scale. The studio’s brand name does not set the figure, these six together do.
- Number of screens and features. An app with 6 screens costs about a third of an app with 20 screens and several roles.
- Platform choice. Web only is cheapest. iOS and Android via cross-platform is the middle ground. Two separate native apps is most expensive.
- Integrations. One link to a modern API (Stripe, a CRM, your accounting) costs €1,500 to €3,500. A link to an older package without a clean API climbs to €4,500 to €8,000.
- Design and UX. A polished, bespoke design with animation costs more than a plain standard design. Worth it for consumer apps, rarely for internal tools.
- Backend and real-time. Login, data storage and push notifications are standard. Live updates, chat or heavy calculation logic add up fast.
- Maintenance and scale. An app that has to carry ten thousand users demands different choices than an app for your own team of twenty.
What does it cost to put an app on the App Store?
The publishing fees themselves are low. An Apple Developer account costs 99 euros per year and a Google Play account is a one-time 25 dollars, nothing after that. That is all it takes for the bare right to publish. The real cost sits in building the app plus side items: a privacy policy, certificates, and your store listing.
What people underestimate is the rest around it: a privacy policy, Apple’s review that usually clears within one to a few days, and setting up your store listing properly with screenshots and copy. Go for a web app or PWA and you skip the app stores entirely: no account, no review, online straight away.
How do you pick a good app developer?
You pick a good app developer on six questions up front: do I own the code, is the price fixed or an open hourly rate, can I see real cases, which stack do they build on, what happens after delivery, and do I talk directly to the builders? The answers predict the partnership better than any brand name.
- Do I own the code? Demand 100 percent code ownership so you are never stuck. Read why in code ownership and vendor lock-in.
- Is the price fixed or an open hourly rate? For a defined scope you want a fixed price, so the risk sits with the studio.
- Can I see real cases? Ask for built apps and measurable results, like our Mastone case.
- Which stack do they build on? Standard open source (React Native, Flutter, modern web stacks) means no lock-in and easy handover.
- What happens after delivery? Ask about the bug guarantee and the rate for further development.
- Do I talk to the builders? Short lines to the people who actually make it save weeks.
Which costs come after launch?
An app is not a one-time purchase but a living product. Budget 10 to 20 percent of the build price per year for maintenance and tweaks. Plus: hosting and database (€40 to €250 per month), the store accounts, and updates whenever Apple or Google ships a new OS. The build price alone hides what keeps it alive.
A worked example makes it concrete: build an app for €30,000 and €3,000 to €6,000 per year in maintenance is realistic. It looks like a lot, but it keeps your app secure, fast and compatible with every new phone that ships. Treat it like a periodic service for your software: skip it and you only notice once it is late and expensive. Plan this budget from day one, not as a surprise afterwards.
How do you actually get started?
Start small and sharp. A discovery of one to two weeks costs €1,500 to €3,500 and produces a scope document you can use to compare any quote on an equal footing. That document is your insurance against apples-to-pears comparisons and against hidden extras later.
Book a free intake call. In thirty minutes we look at your idea, give an honest price indication, and tell you which type of app fits your goal and budget. With or without working together, you walk away with a clear picture.
