How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App?
Real numbers, real breakdowns — not the vague "it depends" answer.
Cost Range
$8,000 – $150,000+
Average Project
$38,000
Timeline
8–20 weeks
Mobile app development in 2026 costs between $8,000 and $150,000+ depending on platform, complexity, and feature set. A simple MVP with core features costs $8,000–$25,000. A full-featured app with AI, payments, and real-time features costs $40,000–$100,000. Here's exactly how that breaks down.
Cost by Project Size
Simple MVP
$8K–$20K
6–10 weeks · Idea-stage founders validating a concept
- 3–6 screens
- Basic auth (email/social)
- Core user flow
- 1 platform (iOS or Android)
- Cloud deployment
Mid-Complexity App
$20K–$55K
10–18 weeks · Funded startups building V1
- 10–20 screens
- Auth + payments (Stripe)
- Push notifications
- iOS + Android
- Admin dashboard
Full-Featured App
$55K–$100K
18–26 weeks · Scale-ups adding advanced features
- 20+ screens
- Real-time features (chat, GPS)
- Third-party integrations
- Offline support
- AI/ML features
Enterprise App
$100K+
26+ weeks · Enterprises with complex requirements
- Custom architecture
- Multi-tenant / white-label
- Compliance (HIPAA/PCI)
- Enterprise integrations
- Dedicated QA team
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | Low End | High End | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UI/UX Design | $3,000 | $15,000 | 15–20% |
| Frontend Development | $8,000 | $50,000 | 35–45% |
| Backend / API | $5,000 | $35,000 | 25–35% |
| QA & Testing | $2,000 | $12,000 | 10–15% |
| App Store Submission | $500 | $2,000 | 2–5% |
| Project Management | $1,000 | $8,000 | 5–10% |
What Drives the Cost Up
Number of platforms
+40% for both iOS & Android (native)
Flutter/React Native reduces this to ~10% extra vs. native
UI complexity
+20–50% for custom animations
Standard UI components vs. pixel-perfect custom design
Backend complexity
$5K–$40K additional
Simple CRUD vs. real-time, ML pipeline, or third-party integrations
Third-party integrations
$2K–$8K per integration
Stripe, maps, biometrics, social login, analytics
Compliance requirements
+15–30% for HIPAA/PCI
Healthcare or fintech apps need extra security architecture
Offline support
+10–20%
Data sync, conflict resolution, offline storage adds complexity
Common Cost Myths — Busted
"You can build a quality app for $5,000"
At $5K you get a prototype or a template-based app. Real product development with custom UI, backend, and QA starts at $8,000 minimum.
"Native iOS + Android doubles the cost"
With Flutter or React Native, dual-platform adds only 10–15% to the cost vs. building two native apps.
"The cheapest quote is the best deal"
Cheap development often means offshore teams with poor communication, missed deadlines, and code that needs to be rebuilt. Total cost ends up higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a simple mobile app cost?
A simple app with 4–6 screens, basic auth, and a core user flow costs $8,000–$20,000 and takes 6–10 weeks to build.
Is Flutter cheaper than native development?
Yes — Flutter provides iOS and Android from one codebase, reducing development time by 30–40% compared to building two native apps. It's our default recommendation for most projects.
How much does ongoing maintenance cost?
Expect $500–$2,000/month for a basic app (bug fixes, OS updates, minor features). More complex apps with active feature development run $3,000–$8,000/month.
What's included in Ubikon's project price?
All our project prices include design, development, QA testing, app store submission, and 30 days of post-launch bug fixes. No surprise invoices.
Get your exact project cost
Use our free calculator for a ballpark, or book a call for a fixed-price proposal within 48 hours.