How Much Does Mobile App Development Cost For Businesses?
Discover mobile app development cost in 2025, including factors like complexity, platform, & features, to help budget your next app project effectively & affordably.
App costs vary a lot - Building a basic app can cost $25K–$60K, a mid-level app $60K–$150K, and a complex one $150K–$300K or more, especially if you add AI or real‑time features.
Many factors affect price - Your bill depends on platform choice (iOS, Android, or both), features you pick (login, chat, AI, etc.), design complexity, backend setup, and third‑party integrations.
Ongoing expenses matter - After launch, you’ll still pay 20–30% of development costs each year for updates, bug fixes, security patches, and hosting.
Team and location drive rates - US developers charge $150–$200/hr onsite, while offshore teams (e.g. India) can cost $20–$40/hr; blending onshore and offshore often works best.
Hidden costs add up - Don’t forget QA/testing (15–20% of budget), app‑store fees (Apple $99/yr, Google $25 one‑time), legal/compliance checks ($5K–$15K+), and marketing to get users.
BigOhTech develops custom, cross-platform apps to boost business reach and user engagement. Our 360° app solution for an auto client led to improved experience and increased sales.
When it comes to developing an app, a question that arises in the minds of startup owners is how much it costs to create an app in 2025. The cost of building a simple app ranges between $25,000 and $250,000, depending on app complexity, integrations, and scalability.
However, if you're incorporating features like AI-driven automation, real-time syncing, and advanced APIs, the cost can exceed six figures. Integration of AI-driven and machine learning capabilities can increase development costs by 60-80%.
There's never an exact price that businesses can pay for mobile app development, as it depends on several factors:
The platform for which you want to create the app (Android or iOS, or both)
Features you want to add
Complexity of the app
Location of app developers
In this blog, we'll cover the exact cost of creating a mobile app and the factors that affect mobile app development costs.
App Development Market and Growth Stats
Here are some startling statistics that indicate the importance of investing in mobile apps -
There are 7.21 billion smartphone users worldwide. An average user spends nearly 4 hrs. and 37 minutes per day.
Smartphone usage is higher on weekdays than on weekends.
In terms of application category, gaming apps hold the maximum revenue of more than 40% in 2023.
The global mobile app market size is expected to increase by USD 629.39 billion by 2039. There has been growing hype for all categories of mobile apps, such as gaming, health and fitness, music and entertainment, retail, and commerce.
What Would Be The Exact Cost of Building a Mobile App?
Developing a mobile app is complex, and the cost can range from $ 25,000 to $500,000.
You can calculate the mobile app development cost through two key factors: development hours and the hourly rate of developers. That constitutes your total cost of making an app.
But it also depends on the number of features you want and the estimated time to market the app. If you need to sell the app faster, then you need more developers and hence more development hours.
Then there are some industries in which developers cost more than others. Suppose you want to create a fintech app that requires hiring experienced developers with extensive knowledge in developing secure and compliant applications.
Similarly, the more custom designs and integrations you need, the more it adds to the overall development cost.
What Factors Affect Mobile App Development Costs?
Here are a few factors that affect the cost of developing a mobile app -
1) Which Platform Costs More: iOS, Android or Cross Platform
Before developing an app, you should be clear about the platform you would like to choose. It all depends on your target audience, and then you can develop an Android app, an iOS app, or a cross-platform app.
Mobile app developers can develop an app for two platforms: Android and iOS. The costs for developing an app differ based on the type of programming language you choose.
On the contrary, developing an iOS app would require developers with Swift or Objective-C expertise.
Cost Considerations
Native development for both platforms effectively doubles the effort, requiring separate teams and increasing overall cost.
Cross-platform development can significantly reduce development time and cost but may involve trade-offs in terms of performance and user experience.
Expert Tips:
If you're working with a tight budget, start with a single platform, ideally the one most used by your target audience.
If your goal is to reach both Android and iOS users, and performance is a top priority, consider building native apps for both platforms.
If you need to go to the market quickly and cost-effectively, a cross-platform app could be the right fit.
App platform
Average cost of developing an app
Android and iOS apps
$40,000 -$1,00,000
Hybrid apps
$15,000 -$50,000
Cross platform apps
$25,000 -$70,000
2) How Do App Features Affect The Cost?
Yes, app features significantly impact mobile app development cost.
The more complex and advanced the features, the more time and expertise they require—leading to higher costs.
For example, integrating AI capabilities, real-time data handling, or custom user flows increases both development time and budget due to the added technical complexity and testing effort.
If you're developing an app for the first time, it's smart to start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—focusing on 2–3 core features that solve the primary pain points of your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).
This allows you to validate your app idea with real users, gather feedback, and iterate without overspending.
Cost Estimates for Common Features
Here’s a breakdown of what some basic features may cost to implement:
Feature
Description
Estimated Cost
User Login
Social login or email/password authentication
$500 – $1,000
Profile Completion
Users can add/edit personal details and basic info
$900 – $1,000
In-App Messaging
Real-time chat or messaging system
$3,000 – $5,000
AI Integration
Chatbots, personalized recommendations, or predictive models
$5,000 – $15,000+
Real-Time Features
Live location tracking, data syncing, or dynamic content
$4,000 – $10,000
Note: These are average estimates and can vary based on development platform, team location, and tech stack.
Expert Tips:
If you’re on a limited budget, start with a simple MVP and only the most essential features.
Prioritize features that directly align with your users’ core problems.
Add advanced features like AI or real-time sync after validating your MVP.
P.S - Want to create MVP for your business?
3) How Much Does App Design Influence The Cost?
A well-designed user experience and user interface can affect the development budget (by 5-10%), but at the same time, it will also enhance user engagement.
The complexity of the app's design and animation directly affects development costs. Apps that require minimal features or use standard UI elements tend to cost less. On the other hand, apps with custom UI and interactive animations demand more time and expertise, raising the app development cost.
Standard UI: Uses pre-built components. It’s quicker, more cost-effective, and easier to maintain.
Custom UI: Involves unique visual elements, transitions, and animations. While it can significantly improve the user experience, it is also more expensive and time-consuming to develop.
In some cases, overly customized interfaces can even hinder usability if not designed thoughtfully.
For example, creating a 3D animated product showcase app or a high-end gaming app will cost considerably more than building a simple utility or content app.
This is because 3D graphics, rich animations, and real-time interactions demand specialized design and development efforts, contributing to higher costs.
App design and animations
Average cost of developing an app
UX design
$2000- $8000
UI design
$10,000 -$40,000
Animations
$1,000 -$20,000
Expert Tips:
For Less Established Brands: Stick to standard UI components with minimalistic animations. This ensures faster development, better platform consistency, and lower costs while maintaining usability. It’s the safest route when brand recognition is still growing.
For Strong, Well-Established Brands: Use a custom UI with smooth, on-brand animations to deliver a seamless and unique experience across both Android and iOS. These brands often follow their own design guidelines and aim to set trends.
Example: Apps like Uber focus heavily on polished design and fluid interactions to enhance user perception and differentiate from competitors.
4) How Does App Category Matter For Budgeting?
The cost of developing an app can vary significantly depending on its category or type. Shifting from one app category to another—say, from a utility app to an e-commerce or fintech app, can either increase or decrease development costs based on factors like:
Number of users the app needs to support
Type and complexity of features
Required security standards
UI/UX complexity
Backend infrastructure
Let's understand this with an example.
The cost of developing e-commerce apps such as Amazon is considerably more expensive than building a basic productivity tool because these applications are loaded with -
Tons of advanced features (e.g., product search, payment gateways, real-time inventory)
Complex UI/UX design
Robust backend architecture
High-level data security
Scalability for large user bases to deal with
Here's the breakdown of cost depending on each app category-
App category
Average cost of developing an app
Social media app
$50,000 -$3,00,000
E-commerce app
$50,000 -$2,50,000
Dating app
$40,000 -$1,00,000
5) Does Choice of Architecture Impact Your Development Cost?
Yes, architecture can impact your development cost by 10-15%.
When developing an app, the architecture you choose plays a critical role in determining both cost and the scalability of the product. It affects everything from the tech stack and hiring needs to long-term maintenance and deployment complexity.
Architecture defines how different layers of your application interact, such as the user interface, server-side logic, database management, and third-party integrations. Selecting the right structure ensures your app aligns with your business goals, timelines, and budget.
Common Backend Architectures
Two key architecture types commonly used in backend development are:
Monolithic Architecture: A single, unified codebase where all functionalities are tightly coupled and deployed together. Easier to start with, but harder to scale as the app grows.
Microservices Architecture: A collection of small, independent services that communicate over APIs. Each service is responsible for a specific function, making it easier to scale and maintain, but more complex to build and manage upfront.
Your backend is the engine behind the app; it handles business logic, user authentication, data processing, real-time operations, and integrations with external systems. As backend requirements grow in complexity, so do the development efforts and associated costs.
Cost Implications of Backend Complexity
The more advanced your backend needs are, the higher your development investment will be. This includes the number of APIs, real-time data handling, user management logic, and the use of advanced technologies like AI/ML or cloud scaling.
One of the biggest cost drivers in backend development is the choice of architecture, especially considering the skills needed for implementation and long-term maintenance.
Backend Complexity
Description
Estimated cost of app with Complex Backend
Basic
Simple data storage, minimal business logic, limited APIs
$10,000 – $30,000
Moderate
Structured data flow, user roles, third-party API integrations
Use Monolithic architecture if your team is centralized, the app is small to medium in scale, and fast initial development is a priority.
Use Microservices architecture if your app requires high scalability, is expected to grow rapidly, or your development team is distributed.
6) Will Third-Party Integrations Increase Your App Development Costs?
Third-party integrations can both reduce and increase your app development costs, depending on how you use them.
Instead of building every feature from scratch, you can use third-party APIs and SDKs to enhance your app functionality, improve user experience, and speed up development. These integrations are often ready-made solutions that save time and reduce initial development effort.
However, not all integrations are free. Some come with subscription costs, usage-based fees, or licensing charges. Additionally, integrating and maintaining third-party tools can introduce technical complexity, especially if they aren't well-documented or regularly updated.
Key Considerations:
Choose integrations that align with your business goals and add clear value to users.
Evaluate both short-term savings and long-term costs (such as maintenance or scalability issues).
Ensure the tools you select are reliable, secure, and compatible with your tech stack.
Third-party integrations can optimize development costs when chosen wisely, but blindly integrating tools without strategic alignment may lead to hidden expenses down the line.
Integration type
Estimated Development cost per Integration
Basic integrations
$5000-$10,000
Advanced Integrations
$20,000-$40,000
7) Do Size of Development Team Impact Mobile App Development Cost?
Yes, the size of your development team directly impacts the overall app development cost.
Before developing an app, you should have clarity on the team structure required to build it. The size of your team will depend on the app’s scope, timeline, and complexity.
A typical app development team may include developers, UI/UX designers, QA testers, project managers, and DevOps engineers. The more complex the app, the larger the team you'll likely need.
The cost of app development increases with the number of professionals involved. Each team member brings specific expertise but also adds to the overall cost.
For a basic app or MVP, you may only need a small team—1 to 3 people—who can handle full-stack development, basic design, and testing. However, for feature-rich or enterprise-level apps, 5 to 10+ specialists may be required to manage parallel workflows and meet deadlines.
You need to decide between building your app with a small, agile team that works at a slower pace but is cost-effective, or with a larger team that can speed up development at a higher cost.
Cost Considerations
A small team reduces initial mobile app development costs but may result in longer timelines due to limited bandwidth.
A medium to large team increases monthly expenses but enables faster delivery and better task specialization.
Expert Tips:
If you're building an MVP or testing an idea, start with a small, focused team to manage costs.
If you’re on a strict timeline or developing a complex app, invest in a larger team to speed up development and ensure quality.
If you're scaling the app or aiming for enterprise-level performance, plan for dedicated roles like QA engineers, DevOps, and project managers to streamline the process.
Here’s the exact cost of creating a mobile app -
Estimated Cost
Simple app
Medium app
Complex app
Timeframe for development
2-6 months
6-9 months
9-15 months
Developers
$20,000 – $60,000
(2–4 devs) $60,000 – $150,000
(4–6 devs) $150,000 – $300,000
UI/UX designs
$5,000 – $15,000
$15,000 – $30,000
$30,000 – $60,000
Project manager
$5,000 – $10,000
$10,000 – $25,000
$25,000 – $50,000
QA specialist
$3,000 – $8,000
$8,000 – $15,000
$15,000 – $30,000
Business Analyst
Optional
$8,000 – $15,000
$15,000 – $30,000
DevOps engineer
Rarely required
$10,000 – $20,000
$20,000 – $40,000
Team cost estimate
$30,000 – $90,000
$110,000 – $250,000
$250,000 – $500,000+
8) Does App Security Influence App Development Cost?
Business owners in compliance-driven sectors such as Fintech, Healthcare (HIPAA), BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), and other industries dealing with sensitive user data are increasingly focused on protecting customer information.
This data often includes personal, financial, or medical details that must be safeguarded to maintain user trust and meet legal obligations.
If your app requires advanced security measures—such as data encryption, secure authentication, or compliance with security standards like OWASP Top 10—then development costs (additional) will be increased by approximately 10%, compared to apps built for sectors with more relaxed security requirements.
Common security implementations include:
Data encryption (at rest and in transit)
2-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)
Secure API communication (OAuth, HTTPS, etc.)
Role-based access control
VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing)
Compliance with OWASP Top 10 security risks
Security Level vs Estimated Cost (with 10% increase)
Security Level
Features
Estimated Additional Cost (USA)
Basic Security
Standard login, HTTPS, basic data validation
$5,500 – $11,000
Advanced Security
Encryption, 2FA/MFA, secure backend, OWASP Top 10 compliance, VAPT testing
$22,000 – $55,000
9) Does The Location of The Development Team Affect Development Costs?
Yes, the location of your development team plays a significant role in determining the overall app development cost. This is primarily due to differences in labor costs, hourly rates, taxes, and regional regulations.
For example, developers in the U.S. or Western Europe tend to charge significantly higher rates compared to those in Asia, Eastern Europe, or Latin America. Taxes, employee benefits, insurance, and legal compliance also vary across countries and add to the total cost.
Cost Comparison by Engagement Model
Engagement Model
Location
Hourly Rate (Avg)
Estimated Cost for Medium App (6–9 months)
Onsite
USA / Western Europe (in-house)
$150 – $200/hr
$250,000 – $450,000
Offsite
USA / Western Europe (remote)
$100 – $160/hr
$180,000 – $350,000
Nearshore
Latin America / Eastern Europe
$40 – $80/hr
$90,000 – $180,000
Offshore
India / Southeast Asia / Africa
$20 – $40/hr
$60,000 – $120,000
Key Differences by Model
Onsite: Highest cost; best for culturally nuanced, high-collaboration projects.
Offsite: Slightly reduced cost; great for remote-first U.S./EU teams.
Nearshore: Balanced between quality, time zone overlap, and cost.
Offshore: Most affordable; ideal for scaling or MVP development, but may require stronger management processes.
Expert Tips:
Blended models (e.g., core team onsite, support offshore) can help reduce costs while maintaining quality and communication.
For startups, offshore or nearshore can stretch your budget further, especially during MVP and early scaling stages.
For enterprise or compliance-heavy projects, invest in offsite or onsite teams where tighter control and collaboration are critical.
10) How Much Does Mobile App Maintenance Cost After Launch?
When it comes to mobile app development, the expenses don’t end at the launch. App maintenance is an ongoing requirement and should be planned for from the beginning.
Mobile apps need regular updates to stay compatible with new operating system versions, fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, and ensure optimal performance. Developers also need to provide technical support and implement improvements based on user feedback.
According to research, app maintenance typically costs around 20%–30% of the initial mobile app development cost annually, depending on the app’s complexity, tech stack, and frequency of updates.
What’s Included in App Maintenance?
Bug Fixes & Performance Optimization
OS & Device Compatibility Updates
UI/UX Improvements
Server & Hosting Management
Security Updates
Feature Enhancements Based on Feedback
App Type
Description
Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost
Basic App
Few static pages, minimal backend, no user login or real-time data
$3,000 – $7,000
Moderate App
User login, data sync, API integrations, user profiles
Expert Tip: Plan your budget with at least 20–30% of your initial development cost allocated annually for maintenance, more if your app is feature-rich or depends on external APIs and third-party services.
11) How Much Non Functional Requirement Impact App Development Cost?
Non-functional requirements (NFRs) play a critical role in the performance, scalability, robustness, documentation and security of your app. While they don't define specific features or functions, they directly influence development effort, architecture decisions, infrastructure, and overall reliability.
Functional vs. Non-Functional Requirements: Cost Split
Requirement Type
What It Covers
Estimated Cost Contribution
Functional Requirements
Core features, user flows, UI interactions, business logic (e.g., login, messaging)
While functional features drive the user experience, non-functional requirements are what make the app stable, scalable, and secure.
Neglecting NFRs can lead to performance bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities, or expensive refactoring in the future.
Plan for 30% of your total app development budget to be allocated toward robust non-functional implementation, especially if your app is expected to scale or handle sensitive data.
What Should Be The Hidden Cost of Developing an App in 2025?
Developing a mobile app requires continuous time, effort, and financial resources. While most companies focus on initial development costs, they often overlook the hidden or long-term expenses that can significantly inflate the total cost of development.
App development is not a one-time event—it's an ongoing process. Think of your app as a living product that evolves with user needs, market trends, and platform changes.
Expert Tips:
Always allocate a budget not just for launch, but for iterations and improvements. The first version is rarely final—it will need refinement.
Even small decisions, such as choosing a particular tech stack, can impact your long-term development budget. These after-launch costs will double your budget over time.
Below are the major hidden costs associated with mobile app development
1) Design and User Experience of The App
Startups often cut corners on UI/UX to save money. But design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about how users interact with your app.
But a poor user experience leads to negative reviews, high uninstall rates, and user churn. On the other hand, well-designed apps that follow platform guidelines (Google’s Material Design or Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines) demand more expertise, time, and budget.
Expert Tip: If your development partner lacks skilled UX designers and ignores native design standards, you may face higher redesign and user acquisition costs later. This led to a decline in users and longer-term costs.
2) Quality Assurance
Many people don't thoroughly test the product before releasing it. However, testing your app is a continuous process, yet people often treat QA as an afterthought. To ensure your app runs smoothly and has no usability issues, testing plays a significant role.
For that, consider hiring a software development company that provides QA testing services. Neglecting the testing phase results in negative user reviews, post-launch fixes, and increased development expenses.
Expert Tip: Quality assurance can account for 15-20% of the total development budget. No matter if you develop the app for one device or one operating system, you need to conduct rigorous testing of how the app functions well across different devices.
3) Regular Maintenance Expenses
Maintenance expenses can even eat up to 20% of the original budget annually. Businesses need to pay regular maintenance expenses, including new devices, operating system updates, security patches, and keeping up with market trends.
Your post-app development budget will increase because of these reasons-
Small bugs occur when users start downloading these apps.
If a design or feature update rolls out without being updated, people tend to leave.
Many teams don't gather user feedback and update their UX accordingly.
You don't update your app to the latest Android or iOS version.
Your app is not secure as you don't conduct regular security audits. Security audits are important for protecting user data.
Expert Tip: Allocate around 15-20% of the initial development cost annually for maintenance.
4) Marketing Expenses
The app will go to waste if there's no proper marketing strategy. For that, you need to have clarity about the target audience, demographics, and channels.
When you're about to launch the app, it requires financial resources for advertising, graphics, and literary material. That's why keeping funds aside for marketing is crucial for an app's success and thus should not be overlooked.
Here are different types of costs associated with marketing an app -
You're creating brand awareness about the launch of the app. These include landing pages, building an email list, and doing press release outreach.
To improve the app's discoverability, you need to do app store optimization, meaning optimizing the title, description, keywords, etc. By optimizing the app with the right keywords, your app can reach the right target audience.
Invest in content marketing and promote your app through blog posts, videos, and social media content.
Expert Tips:
A well-aligned MVP + GTM strategy ensures faster launch, better adoption, and more efficient use of resources
Clearly define your Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy. Identify the App key features that directly support your GTM goals—those are the only ones that should go into your MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
Don’t overload your MVP with features that don’t drive immediate value. Save non-critical or "nice-to-have" features for future iterations after launch. This helps reduce time-to-market, optimize your budget, and focus on validating your product with real users
5) Too Much Reliance on AI Tools
AI tools such as Cursor and Claude have made the development faster, but not cheaper. Of course, they can write boilerplate code and design iterations, but you still need skilled developers for architecture, testing, and long-term code stability.
AI can shorten timelines, but only when used strategically, not as a shortcut for proper planning.
6) App Store Fees
Both Apple and Google charge for publishing apps:
Apple Developer Fee: $99/year
Google Play Developer Fee: $25 one-time
These may seem small, but they are recurring costs that need to be accounted for, especially if you manage multiple apps or business units.
7) Compliance and Security
Having an app secure and compliant with legal regulations is non-negotiable, especially when handling sensitive user data. A robust security policy helps protect your users and your business from breaches, penalties, and reputational damage.
To achieve this, you must comply with relevant data protection laws and industry standards such as:
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation – EU)
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act – US)
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – US healthcare)
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
If you constantly check the app's performance and security, it will cost more money. However, if you don't perform security checks beforehand, it will ultimately increase your mobile app development costs.
For instance, legal documents can cost around $5000- $15000, depending on the compliance required, whether it's HIPPA or GDPR or PCI DSS.
Security is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing investment. Regular security audits, penetration testing, and compliance checks do increase costs upfront. However, skipping them can lead to even higher costs later in the form of data breaches, user lawsuits, or regulatory fines.
Legal Compliance Costs: The cost of having legal compliance (HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS) in app compliance can range from $5,000 to $15,000+, based on the app’s complexity and the level of legal support required.
How Can BigOhTech Help You With Mobile App Development?
From third-party integrations to feature creep to ongoing maintenance, the real cost of developing a mobile app is always influenced by decisions you've not made yet.
As a custom mobile app development company, we create enterprise-ready apps that can work across different platforms such as Android wearables, TV, or web. By spending less, you can double your business reach.
We've served one automobile client that has partnered with Volvo retailers to offer merchandise solutions. These include full service, car service, and 360-degree walkaround tours showing new and used vehicles.
The client approached us to redesign their mobile and web applications.
They wanted us to add a few features to mobile apps, such as
360-degree views for immersive experiences
Smarter touchpoints to provide a snapshot of the main features
Dedicated player component to provide 360-degree car tours.
Our product designers conducted a comprehensive design process from design studies to user interviews to mockups.
Benefits? 360-degree capture features result in more sales and revenue.
FAQs
Is app development expensive?
App development can be expensive for you in some cases. However, it's affordable if you need a simple app with basic functionality.
For example, the average development cost for a simple app is around $5000 -$50,000. If you need complex apps with advanced technologies and features such as AR/VR, AI, and machine learning, it will cost around $1,00,000 – 3,00,000.
Which is the best company for app development
BigOhTech, an app development company, has expertise in custom app development services.
Hiring a dedicated mobile app development team can be a game-changer for your business, as we specialize in launching interactive native, hybrid, and cross-platform apps using the latest tools and technologies.
How much does it cost to outsource app development?
This depends on the scope, complexity of the app, and experience of the outsourcing team. It also depends on the region of the outsourcing partner. Nearshore is always expensive as compared to an Offshore development Centre in India.
Based on your App Scope, it may cost anywhere from $15,000 to $100,000
What’s the timeframe required for building apps?
There’s no fixed timeline for building mobile apps. Generally, it depends on factors such as app complexity, features, and platform.
I just wanted to get an estimate of the app development costs. How can I do that?
Yes, there are a couple of online calculators that will give you a rough estimate of how much it costs to build an app. However, these calculators fail to provide a realistic picture, as they overlook key variables such as integration, post-launch maintenance support, and compliance.
