How much a mobile app costs: what the price depends on

The cost of a mobile app can differ several times over: a simple app with a few screens and a complex service with payment and accounting are different projects. Below I break down what makes up the price and how not to pay for what you don't need.

First: do you need an app

A mobile app makes sense when you need:

• push notifications and constant contact with the user;
• access to the camera, geolocation, the phone's storage;
• work without internet;
• daily use, where convenience matters more than reach.

If you just need to show information or take an order, a phone-friendly website or a web app may be enough. It is cheaper and faster.

What makes up the price

Number of screens and scenarios

Every screen and every scenario (registration, payment, history) adds work. A simple app with 5–7 screens and a complex one with 30+ are different scales.

The server side

If data has to be stored and synchronised, you need a server. A ready back end (your website, a service) saves money. If there isn't one, it has to be built: see full-stack development.

Integrations and device features

Payment, maps, camera, scanning, push notifications, social login: each feature adds work and testing.

Design

A unique custom design with animations costs more than standard elements. If you already have a Figma design, you pay only for development.

Several languages, dark theme, tablets

Additional requirements increase the amount of testing.

Publishing and support

Publishing to the App Store and Google Play, and updates after new system versions come out: these are ongoing costs, not a one-off price.

Flutter or native

For most business tasks, Flutter saves budget and time with no noticeable loss of quality.

Costs beyond development

• Developer accounts: Apple charges an annual fee (currently $99 a year), Google Play a one-off fee (about $25). Check the current terms.
• Server and hosting, if you need a back end.
• Updates and support after launch.
• Promotion: without it, nobody will find the app.

How not to overpay

1. Start with a first working version: the key screens and features. Add the rest based on feedback.
2. Prepare the design in advance.
3. Decide whether you need both platforms at once.
4. Plan a budget for support.

How much it costs

A task can be estimated after a conversation, but a price quoted blind is guesswork. Write what the app has to do, and I'll lay out the screens, stages and cost.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build for one platform first?

You can, but with Flutter the price difference between one platform and two is small, so it is usually better to build for both at once.

How can I test an idea cheaply?

Launch a minimal version with the main feature, show it to users and only then add the rest.

Flutter mobile apps: terms and what is included.