How Much Does it Cost to Build a Flutter App?

Have you also heard of the myriad of benefits of a Flutter app? As a result, do you want to develop a Flutter app for your business but are not aware of the Flutter app development costs?   

No worries. You are not alone!  

A lot of businesses read extensively or come across the advantages of the Flutter framework for app development on the internet but do not know the costs involved in the same. Thus, this blog will come to your aid!   

We will discuss the cost to develop a Flutter app, including the various factors that influence these costs.   

Flutter App Development Cost   

Flutter is one of the top choices for cross-platform app development. The popularity of the platform has grown manifold since its launch and the framework is definitely here to stay. Flutter developers thoroughly enjoy the app development process and businesses reap the benefits in the form of high-performing apps with stunning and intuitive user interfaces (UI).   

A 2022 developer’s survey stated that Flutter is the most popular cross-platform mobile framework used globally, with 46% of software developers having leveraged Flutter for mobile app development.  

Many famous apps are built using Flutter. Some of the big brands that have leveraged Flutter for their app development are the New York Times, BMW, Toyota, Google, etc.   

More and more businesses are exploring and going for this UI toolkit. However, after gaining knowledge about the features, advantages, and disadvantages of Flutter, the next important question that businesses ask is the cost to develop a Flutter app. This is a crucial question to weigh the costs and benefits for a more informed decision.   

Therefore, in this section of the blog, we will discuss the average Flutter app development cost, just based on the size and complexity of the app.   

The average Flutter app development costs range between $15,000-$200,000. 

App Type	Complexity Level	Average costs	Examples
Simple	Basic UI + MVP feature set	$25,000-$40,000	Apps related to fitness/journaling
Middle complex	Advanced functionality + customized UI	$40,000 – $60,000	Messenger apps with video call functionality
High complexity	Very advanced functionality + curated interface	$60,000 – over $200,000	Social media apps such as Instagram

• A small-sized, less complex app costs around $11,200 and takes up to 2 months to get developed. The MVP that a business might want to develop post-first release also can be built. With some additional changes, the cost range for a simple app with basic functionalities comes out to be between $25,000-$40,000.   
• It takes 3 to 4 months to construct a medium-sized and medium-complexity app with costs ranging between $40,000 – $60,000.  
• As the app becomes more complex and larger in size, the development time goes up by a few months, and takes 4-6 months and the costs start from $60,000 and increase with the number of features and functions added.   

The development time also depends upon the quality of planning, decisions, and execution. Similarly, the costs also depend on multiple factors that will be discussed in the next section.   

Factors that affect the Flutter App Development Cost  

There are multiple factors like design, features, layout, integrations, maintenance and support, etc., that affect the cost to build a Flutter app.   

Let’s learn more about these factors to understand the costs involved in the Flutter app development process.   

1. Functional factors:   

Factors	Description
Features	The features and functionality of any software are the primary contributors to its costs. Thus, Flutter app development costs are also heavily impacted by the features added to the app.     > Some of the most sought-after features include:      > User-friendly, responsive, and engaging UI   > Search and Filter options   > Two- or Multi-factor authentication   > Sitemaps   > Data caching   > AI chatbot support for quick chats/queries   > Payment gateways   > Multi-device synchronization
Complexity/Project scope	The project scope or the app complexity is another crucial determinant of the Flutter app development cost. It involves the number and complexity of features and functionalities added to the app.      An app that has more features and complex functionalities will take up more development time and hence will cost more. For example, a basic scheduling/calendaring app or a note-taking app would be cheaper to develop than a feature-rich social media app or e-commerce platform.      There are 3 app categories in the marketplace namely:     Dynamic Apps: These apps rely on real-time access and server-side execution. Examples: Facebook, Instagram, and other social media apps.   List Display Apps: Allow users to view and interact with multiple data objects through several or single selections.   Games: These apps have advanced features such as AI-enabled functions, 3D visuals, high-resolution animation, etc.       Some of the elements that decide the complexity of a Flutter app are:      > Third-party integration tools   > Model for deployment architecture   > Inclusion of emerging technologies such as AI/ML, AR/VR, Blockchain, etc.   > App capabilities to leverage native features of a device   > Smoothness of integration with already existing software or systems   > Admin panel development     Planning out and defining the project scope or the features and functionalities of the Flutter app in the initial stages is absolutely important for the determination of Flutter app development costs.
UI/UX Design	App design and layout are important elements. They are the first impressions that a user gets once he/she opens the app.     The success of any software depends on how user-friendly and engaging an app is, thus the layout and UI/UX design of a Flutter app must be done correctly and involve costs.     The visual presentation of the UI is facilitated by a layout. The following factors impact the layout and UI/UX design costs:     > Design and layout complexity   > Images, color, and animation content   > Visuals/graphic motions   > Interactive elements    A more detailed or modern design will take more expertise, and hours to complete and hence, involves more costs.      Costs and time involved in different Flutter design processes/stages:    App design research stage: Depends on niche and resource availability ($500-$700)   UI/UX design preparation: Sketches and wireframes are built (10-150+ hours, $200-$1000)   UI/UX visual elements: Mood board and mock-up development (14-100+ hours, $5,000-$10,000+)   Branding: the creation of logos, icons, and other design elements ($5,000-$10,000+)   Animations and illustrations: Screen as well as user content visualization ($1000-$10,000)
Backend development	For the development of the serve side and backend, in case the app requires them, the scale and complexity of the backend can impact the Flutter app development costs.       Development of APIs, and databases as well as server infrastructure management would also require additional resources, and this could drive up the costs.      Furthermore, the integration of backend services such as data storage, cloud hosting, and serverless functions also increases the Flutter app development costs. Lastly, backend technologies and hosting platform preferences also add to the costs.
Integrations	Third-party API integrations as well as integration with other systems also impact the Flutter app development costs.      The Flutter app could have the following integrations as per project requirements:      > Payment gateways integration   > Push notifications   > GPS or AR navigation   > Body sensors for medical apps    > AR/VR capabilities   > Social media integrations   > 3-D modelling   > SMS gateway integration
App maintenance and support	Businesses cannot just think that the work is done post-app launch. It’s a long journey and probably goes on for the lifetime of the app.     Once the app has been launched and in use, it will require regular updates, bug fixes, maintenance, and support as well as design changes, all based on the user feedback or input.      Thus, a business needs to put 15-20% of its Flutter app development budget aside for app maintenance and support services.
Platform fee	Google Play Store and the Apple App Store are the two major and most popular app distribution channels.      The platform imposes a release fee:      > a one-time $25 fee for Google Play   > an annual $99 fee for the Apple Store     Both platforms further deduct a fee from in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Server space rent	If the Flutter app is required to process and store user-generated data, then the business must factor in server space rent. A server that is not chosen carefully or is weak will hamper the app’s performance and lead to increased user response times.      The approximate cost of a server that works 24 hours and has an 8-core CPU and higher RAM space is around $1500/ year. However, customized servers may have higher costs depending on the project requirements.

2. Non-functional factors: 

The non-functional factor includes costs involved in different development methods. A business could either hire freelancers, hire an in-house team, or outsource Flutter app development.   

While freelancer costs would differ for different regions, and as per industry experience, expertise, and project exposure, etc., costs of hiring an in-house team would also depend on similar factors, seniority level and training and retaining expenses, being the additional costs.   

For the outsourcing engagement model, below are the rough costs to build a flutter app.   

Factor	Simple App	Medium App	Complex App
Development Cost	$5000-$10000	$10000-$30000	$50000+
Design and UI	$1000-$3000	$3000-$5000	$10000+
Testing and QA	$1000-$3000	$3000-$8000	$10000+
Project Management	$1,000 – $5,000	$5,000 – $15,000	$15,000 and above
DevOps	$2000-$3000	$3000-$6000	$10000+
Total Time	1-2 Months	3-6 Months	6+ Months

Outsourcing Flutter app development proves to be the most cost-effective and time-efficient method of development. While the third-party provider brings years of industry experience, and expertise to the table, the businesses need not worry about the recruitment or retaining process. Project management is the responsibility of the outsourcing company and thus risks are shared.   

Also Read: Difference between Outsourcing and In-House Team 

However, if you are going to outsource Flutter app development, ensure that you choose the right mobile app development company with significant industry experience and exposure, technical as well as analytical skills, among other things. Furthermore, choose a custom software development company that offers app maintenance and support services for the long-run success of the Flutter app.   

And we know one such company! It’s BigOhTech.  

BigOh specializes in building Flutter apps, IT consulting, emerging technologies, and staff augmentation. With the help of our Flutter app experts and dedicated development team, we ensure that your Flutter app gives the best results.   

Conclusion  

Thus, Flutter app development cost falls between the range of $15,000-$200,000+. However, this is just an approximate bracket. The cost to build a Flutter app majorly depends on the project scope and requirements.   

If the app has complex features and functionalities, it will cost more. On the other hand, if the app is simple and has basic functionalities, the cost would be less. For example, a fitness app offering workout suggestions, customized meal plans, personal profiles, and a weight diary would cost less than a messenger app with voice calls or a social media app like Instagram with advanced features and functionalities.   

Similarly, an app with more integrations or a more detailed and complex UI/UX design would cost more than an app with a smaller number of integrations and a basic UI/UX design with fewer animations, visuals, or detailing.   

Other factors that impact Flutter app development costs are backend development, server space rent, app maintenance and support, and platform fees.   

A business must identify its uniqueness, and its story and plan the product to highlight them. It then should thoroughly work out its Flutter app project requirements and communicate the same clearly to the most suitable software development company. Product specifications and a clear product roadmap would help to speed up the development process.   

And the rest could be left to Flutter because it is known for its fast development speed and high productivity!