App Development Costs: What Does an App Cost in 2026?

App Development Costs: What Does an App Cost in 2026?

"What does an app cost?" - the most common question we hear. The answer: It depends. But that doesn't help you. That's why we show you concrete numbers, typical cost drivers, and how to optimally use your budget in this guide.

Table of Contents

1. Price Overview by App Type
2. What Drives Costs?
3. Native vs. Cross-Platform
4. How to Save Budget
5. Don't Forget Hidden Costs
6. FAQ

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Price Overview by App Type

Simple App (Information App)

What it is:

• Static content
• No user accounts
• Few screens (5-10)
• No complex features

Examples: Company app, menu, event info

Item	Cost
Design	€3,000-€8,000
Development	€10,000-€25,000
Total	€15,000-€35,000

Timeline: 6-10 weeks

Standard Business App

What it is:

• User registration and login
• Database connection
• Push notifications
• 15-25 screens
• Admin backend

Examples: Booking app, member portal, company intranet

Item	Cost
Conception	€5,000-€10,000
Design	€8,000-€20,000
Development	€30,000-€80,000
Backend	€15,000-€40,000
Total	€60,000-€150,000

Timeline: 3-6 months

Complex App / Platform

What it is:

• Multiple user types
• Real-time features (chat, live)
• Payment integration
• Third-party APIs
• 30+ screens
• Scalable architecture

Examples: Marketplace, social app, FinTech app

Item	Cost
Conception	€10,000-€25,000
Design	€20,000-€50,000
Development	€80,000-€200,000
Backend	€40,000-€100,000
Total	€150,000-€400,000

Timeline: 6-12 months

MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

What it is:

• Core function only
• Quick market testing
• Basis for iteration

App Type	MVP Cost	Timeline
Simple	€10,000-€20,000	4-6 weeks
Standard	€30,000-€60,000	2-3 months
Complex	€60,000-€120,000	3-5 months

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What Drives Costs?

1. Platforms

Option	Factor	Explanation
iOS only	1.0x	Base
Android only	1.0x	Base
iOS + Android (Native)	1.8-2.0x	Two separate developments
iOS + Android (Cross-Platform)	1.3-1.5x	One codebase, two platforms

2. Design Complexity

Level	Effort	Example
Basic	€5,000-€15,000	Templates, standard UI
Custom	€15,000-€40,000	Own design system
Premium	€40,000-€80,000	Animations, micro-interactions

3. Features by Effort

Feature	Effort	Cost
Login (Email/Password)	2-4 days	€1,500-€3,000
Social Login	2-3 days	€1,500-€2,500
Push Notifications	2-4 days	€1,500-€3,000
In-App Payments	5-10 days	€4,000-€8,000
Chat/Messaging	5-15 days	€4,000-€12,000
Maps/Location	3-7 days	€2,500-€5,500
Camera/Images	3-5 days	€2,500-€4,000
Offline Mode	5-10 days	€4,000-€8,000
Admin Backend	10-30 days	€8,000-€25,000
API Integration (per API)	2-10 days	€1,500-€8,000

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Native vs. Cross-Platform

Native (Swift / Kotlin)

Advantages:

• Best performance
• Full access to device features
• Best UX for respective platform
• Less tech debt long-term

Disadvantages:

• 2x development costs
• 2x maintenance costs
• Longer time-to-market

Ideal for: Performance-critical apps, games, AR/VR

Cross-Platform (React Native / Flutter)

Advantages:

• One codebase for iOS + Android
• 30-50% cheaper than native
• Faster development
• Consistent UX

Disadvantages:

• Slightly worse performance
• Not all native features available
• Framework dependency

Ideal for: Business apps, MVPs, budget-conscious projects

Recommendation 2026

For most business apps: Cross-Platform (Flutter or React Native)

Only if you really need Native:

• Games or AR/VR
• Very hardware-intensive apps
• You have budget for 2 teams

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How to Save Budget

1. Start with MVP

Instead of building everything at once:

• Identify core function
• Launch in 8-12 weeks
• Collect user feedback
• Iterate based on data

Savings: 40-60% initially

2. Choose Cross-Platform

Instead of two native apps:

• Use Flutter or React Native
• One team, one codebase

Savings: 30-50%

3. Use Backend-as-a-Service

Instead of custom backend from the start:

• Firebase, Supabase, AWS Amplify
• Migrate later if needed

Savings: €20,000-€50,000 initially

4. Prioritize Scope

Separate must-have from nice-to-have:

• Core features for V1
• Rest for V2, V3

5. Choose the Right Partner

• Not the cheapest
• Not the most expensive
• The most efficient

Rule of thumb: Experienced teams are often cheaper (fewer mistakes, faster decisions)

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Don't Forget Hidden Costs

One-Time Costs

Item	Cost
App Store Fees (Apple)	€99/year
Play Store Fees (Google)	€25 one-time
Test Devices	€500-€2,000
Legal Review (Terms, Privacy)	€1,000-€5,000

Ongoing Costs

Item	Cost/Month
Hosting/Backend	€50-€500
Push Service	€0-€100
Monitoring/Analytics	€0-€100
Maintenance	€500-€2,000
Typical Total	€600-€3,000/month

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Conclusion

Having an app developed costs between €15,000 and €400,000 - depending on complexity, platforms, and features. The key to success: Start small with an MVP, validate your idea, then scale.

At Balane Tech, we develop apps from MVP to enterprise. Cross-platform with Flutter or React Native, fast and high quality. Contact us for a free estimate.

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FAQ

What's the minimum price for an app?

Realistic minimum costs for a simple app: €15,000. Anything below is either no-code or unrealistic.

How long does app development take?

MVP: 2-3 months. Standard app: 4-6 months. Complex app: 6-12 months.

Native or cross-platform - what's better?

For most business apps: Cross-platform (Flutter/React Native). Native only for performance-critical or hardware-intensive apps.

What does app maintenance cost?

15-25% of development costs per year. Plus hosting (€50-€500/month) and potential OS updates.

Can I build an app myself?

With no-code tools (Adalo, FlutterFlow) yes, but with limitations in functionality and scalability.

Fixed price or time & materials?

With clear scope: Fixed price possible. With uncertainty: Time & materials more flexible.