Mobile App Development Cost in 2026
App budgets are decided by feature count and backend complexity, not by platform. Here is how the numbers typically break down.
Indicative pricing
- MVP app — $1,200 – $3,000. Core flow, auth, 4–8 screens, one platform focus
- Business app — $3,000 – $7,000. Cross-platform, payments, notifications, admin panel
- Marketplace app — $7,000+. Multi-role, listings, chat, escrow-style payments
Cost drivers
Backend logic, third-party integrations and role-based permissions cost more than extra screens.
- Number of user roles (customer, vendor, admin)
- Payments, KYC and compliance requirements
- Real-time features: chat, tracking, live updates
- Offline support and device hardware access
- Design polish and animation depth
Ongoing costs to plan for
Apple Developer ($99/year), Google Play one-time ($25), backend hosting, push notification service, and OS-update maintenance roughly twice a year.
Cross-platform saves roughly 30–40%
React Native or Flutter shares one codebase across iOS and Android. Native only becomes worth it for heavy graphics or deep hardware use.
Frequently asked questions
Should I build iOS or Android first?
With cross-platform you rarely have to choose — one build ships to both, which is usually cheaper than two sequential native apps.
Do I own the app source code?
Yes, transferred in full on final payment.