Is Building an App Expensive? How Much Does Mobile App Development Cost?

With billions of people glued to their phones, having an app is no longer a fancy add-on. Infact, it’s often the quickest way for a brand to reach customers, stay relevant, and stand out in a crowded market. Now these apps might look effortless to use, but they’re rarely effortless to build, and that’s why the true cost of mobile app development often surprises people. 

Most mobile app development cost tens of thousands of dollars to develop, and for apps with advanced features or large audiences, the price can easily climb into hundreds of thousands. It’s surprising to know that apps that seem simple can carry a hefty price tag once you factor in design, features, testing, and maintenance. To keep development costs as low as possible while still making a profitable app. You must understand why app costs vary, how platforms, frameworks, and team locations shape your budget, and how smart planning upfront can save you thousands while building a high-performing app. 

Why is Building an App Expensive?

Have you ever wondered why some apps cost a few thousand dollars while others can run into hundreds of thousands or even more? The truth is that the cost of mobile app development depends on many moving parts, from the number of features your app has, to the platforms it runs on, the design you want, the team you hire, and even where they’re located. Each of these factors adds time, effort, and expertise, which naturally drives the price up or down. 

What are the Factors affecting Mobile App Development Costs?

The cost of building an app depends on many things. More features, multiple platforms, fancy design, expensive teams, and ongoing maintenance all make the price higher. Knowing these factors helps you plan your budget and build an app that works well and lasts a long time.

1. Feature Load

The more features an app has, the more time and work it takes to build. Simple apps cost less because they have fewer features. Apps with many advanced features are harder to build, take more time, and cost a lot more.

2. Platform Choice

Which platform you choose affects the cost of mobile application development. Building an app for only iOS or Android is cheaper. But if you want it on both platforms, you usually need to build two versions, which almost doubles the work. Some features may also work differently on each platform, which adds even more work and cost. 

3. Design Requirements

Good design is about making the app easy and fun to use. Simple designs are faster and cheaper. But custom screens, animations, and unique visuals take more skill and time. Every change or revision adds extra cost. Featured-loaded and polished designs cost a lot more than simple ones.

4. Team Location

Where your developers are located changes the cost. Developers in North America or Western Europe usually charge more than developers in Eastern Europe, Asia, or Latin America. Lower-cost teams can save money, but sometimes communication or time zones can be harder to manage.

5. App Maintenance Plan

An app is never really finished. It needs regular updates to fix bugs, stay secure, work on new phones, and add new features. Skipping maintenance can make an app outdated or fail. Maintenance costs keep adding up, so it is important to plan for it from the very beginning.  

Different platforms and their App Development cost

Your choice of platform can dramatically affect the cost of your app: 

• Single-platform apps (just iOS or Android) are cheaper because you only need one version of the app. 

• Dual-platform apps (iOS + Android) usually require building two separate versions or using a cross-platform tool. This doubles the work in coding, design, and testing. 

• Platform differences also affect testing: Android has many devices with different screen sizes and OS versions, which requires thorough testing, while iOS has fewer devices but stricter design and interface standards. 

How Do Frameworks Make a Difference in Mobile App Development Cost? 

Frameworks are a smart choice for apps that need to run on both platforms without breaking the budget, but high-performance apps might still need native development. Many apps can save a huge chunk on costs when using a cross-platform framework instead of building two native apps.

1. Native iOS (Swift / Objective-C)

Typical Cost Range (USD): $30,000 – $150,000
Development Time: Moderate to Long 

Pros:

• Best performance and speed on iOS devices 

• Full access to all iOS-specific features 

• Optimized UI/UX for Apple users 

• High stability and reliability 

• Easier integration with Apple 

• Strong security features built-in 

Cons:

• Higher cost if building a separate Android app 

• Longer development time compared to cross-platform solutions 

• Requires specialized iOS developers 
• Updates tied to Apple’s development cycles

2. Native Android (Kotlin / Java)

Typical Cost Range (USD): $25,000 – $140,000
Development Time: Moderate to Long 

Pros:

• Optimal performance on Android devices 

• Full access to device-specific features 

• Ability to leverage background processes 

• High customization potential for different device sizes 

• Strong support for Google Play Store integration 

• Good long-term maintainability 

Cons:

• Higher cost if building a separate iOS app 
• Fragmentation challenges due to different Android versions and devices 
• Longer development cycles compared to cross-platform 

3. React Native (Cross-platform)

Typical Cost Range (USD): $35,000 – $180,000
Development Time: Frankly Shorter 

Pros:

• Single codebase for iOS and Android 

• Faster time-to-market and reduced development cost 

• Easier updates and bug fixes across platforms 

• Strong community and library support 

• Moderate performance for most app types 

• Supports hot reloading for rapid development 

• Lower maintenance compared to separate native apps 

Cons:

• Slight performance tradeoffs for heavy or graphics-intensive apps 

• Some platform-specific native modules may still be required 

• Limited access to certain device APIs without custom bridging 
• UI may feel less “native” in some scenarios

4. Flutter (Cross-platform)

Typical Cost Range (USD): $35,000 – $180,000
Development Time: Shorter 

Pros:

• Single codebase for iOS and Android 

• Beautiful, customizable UI with rich widgets 

• High performance closer to native apps 

• Strong community and Google support 

• Supports hot reload for rapid iteration 

• Good integration with Firebase and third-party libraries 

• Consistent UI across platforms 

Cons:

• Larger app size compared to native apps 

• Occasional platform-specific tweaks needed 

• Limited third-party library support for very new features 
• Less mature than React Native in terms of some enterprise solutions

5. Hybrid / Web-based (PWA, Ionic, Cordova)

Typical Cost Range (USD): $20,000 – $100,000
Development Time: Short 

Pros:

• Cheapest option for development 

• Single codebase across multiple platforms 

• Faster time-to-market 

• Easy to maintain and update 

• Runs on almost any device with a web browser 

• Good for MVPs and simple apps 

• Supports push notifications and offline functionality (with some limitations) 

Cons:

• Limited performance for heavy or graphics-intensive apps 

• Less access to native device features 

• Offline functionality may be limited 

• UI may feel less responsive compared to native apps 

• Not ideal for complex or enterprise-grade apps 

Which Country Gives You the Best Cost for App Development

Development costs vary widely depending on where your team is located. Nevertheless, when it comes to finding the best value, South Asia offers the lowest costs and best quality, if communication is carefully managed. 

• North America & Western Europe: High rates ($90–$250/hr), but experienced developers and strong communication. 

• Eastern Europe: Moderate rates ($35–$90/hr) with skilled teams, good balance of cost and quality. 

• South Asia (India, etc.): Low rates ($20–$50/hr), very cost-effective but may require careful team selection. 

• Latin America & Southeast Asia: Moderate rates ($25–$70/hr), affordable with decent quality. 

Wrapping up

The reason mobile app development is so in demand is the main reason why it is so expensive. The more features an app requires, the more time and people it takes to build, which naturally raises the cost. Smart upfront planning can anticipate future updates and maintenance, so you don’t spend extra fixing avoidable mistakes.  

Build a great app that doesn’t drain your budget. All you have to do is visit this site. Next, you choose a convenient date and time from our available slots. Once booked, one of our experts will reach out at the scheduled time. During the call, we explore your requirements, suggest the best approach, and provide insights on cost and timeline.