Mobile technology has changed how businesses engage with customers, making mobile applications essential across industries, from healthcare to finance. According to Statista, the number of smartphone users worldwide is expected to exceed 7.5 billion in 2025, fuelling an ever-increasing demand for innovative, user-friendly mobile app solutions.
The cost of mobile app development can vary widely. Whether you’re outsourcing app development or managing your app development project in house, understanding the key factors that shape the final app development cost is crucial for setting realistic expectations and managing resources effectively.
In this blog, we’ll show an app development cost breakdown and share strategies to help you stay within budget.
Key factors influencing mobile app development costs
The total cost of developing a mobile app depends on a multiple factors:
App complexity
Development costs vary depending on the level of app complexity:
- Simple apps (e.g., calculators) – may have basic features such as user registration, static content, and straightforward navigation
- Medium complexity apps (e.g., eCommerce apps with payment integration) – may include user authentication, database integration, push notifications, and basic social media integration
- Highly complex apps (e.g., fitness tracking or gaming mobile apps) – involve advanced app features such as real-time updates, machine learning capabilities, third-party services, multilanguage support, and hardware or Internet of Things integration
The more complex your app’s features and its integrations are, the longer the development time and the higher the app development cost.
Platform choice
The choice to build for iOS, Android, or both platforms affects the mobile app development cost. Developing native apps for each platform requires separate codebases and dedicated mobile app developers skilled in platform-specific languages — Swift for iOS, Kotlin or Java for Android — which demands more time and resources, increasing the overall app development cost.
To optimise their app development budgets, many businesses opt for:
- Cross-platform development using frameworks such as React Native and Flutter, which enable a mobile app developer to build apps for multiple platforms using a single codebase.
- Hybrid apps are developed using web technologies and wrapped in a native app shell. While typically more affordable, these mobile apps may not perform as well as native or cross-platform apps.
Ultimately, your choice of platform should depend on your target audience, market research, and app development budget.
UI/UX design
User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design impacts both app development cost and usability. Simple, template-based designs are more budget-friendly, while custom, fully branded, and highly interactive interfaces come at a higher app development price.
Incorporating user feedback and iterative design enhances usability, but it can also extend the mobile app development process and increase costs. Additionally, advanced animations, seamless visual transitions, and custom graphics require more development time and resources to implement.
Mobile app testing
Comprehensive testing helps guarantee your app’s functionality, performance, security, and compatibility across different devices and operating systems. The more complex the mobile app, the more thorough and time-consuming the testing process becomes. While app testing may seem like an additional expense, it can save you from expensive post-launch fixes and secure your app’s long-term success.
Location and composition of the development team
Where your app development team operates greatly affects the final app development cost. App developers in the US and Western Europe generally charge more per hour. In contrast, outsourcing your app development project to regions such as Eastern Europe, Latin America, or Asia can be a more affordable option, as app developers in these regions offer a balance of competitive pricing and high quality.
Read also: Mobile app development services in Thailand |
Your app development budget is also influenced by the size and expertise of your development team. A skilled, well-rounded team of designers, app developers, quality assurance engineers, and project managers can streamline the app development process and deliver high-quality results. However, assembling such a team will require a more significant investment of resources.
Ongoing maintenance and updates
When budgeting for your mobile app, make sure to account for ongoing maintenance costs. Once launched, apps need regular updates to resolve bugs, add new features, apply security fixes, and stay compatible with the latest OS versions.
On average, app maintenance costs amount to roughly 15–25% of the initial app development cost per year.
Hidden costs in mobile app development
Not all expenses are obvious at the outset — and these hidden app development costs can significantly inflate your overall budget:
Backend infrastructure and third-party integrations
Every mobile app is powered by a robust backend infrastructure that handles data management, user accounts, and server-side operations. The complexity of this infrastructure affects both the development time and app maintenance costs.
Additionally, apps that rely on third-party services or APIs (e.g., payment gateways, cloud storage, or analytics tools) require careful integration, ongoing maintenance, and regular monitoring to guarantee smooth functionality. Furthermore, these services usually come with subscription or usage-based fees.
Security measures
Implementing cybersecurity measures, such as encryption and secure authentication, adds to the app development cost and effort but is vital for compliance and user trust.
SaaS and SDK subscriptions
To streamline development, many apps integrate plug-and-play Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tools or software development kits (SDKs). Examples include services such as Chargebee for subscription management or Google Maps for geolocation. However, these tools often come with additional subscription costs tied to app usage. The overall app development cost will vary depending on how many and which services your mobile app uses.
Marketing and distribution
Building the mobile app is just the start. Your app development budget must also account for the cost for promotional campaigns, publishing fees on platforms such as Google Play or Apple App Store, and app store optimisation.
Tips to control app development costs
Cost control doesn’t mean compromising quality. Try out these proven ways to stay on budget:
Start with a minimum viable product (MVP)
Developing an MVP lets you test your idea with only basic features. This reduces upfront costs and helps you gather user feedback before investing in full-scale mobile app creation.
Adopt Agile development
Agile methods promote rapid, iterative progress. You can pivot quickly based on feedback and avoid costly rework down the line.
Keep app design simple and functional
Prioritise functionality over overly intricate designs. A clean, user-friendly mobile app interface simplifies development, reducing both complexity and costs.
Explore cross-platform app development
Save time and money by developing for both platforms with a single codebase using frameworks such as React Native and Flutter.
Leverage cloud services
Services such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform eliminate the need for heavy infrastructure investment, helping you scale affordably.
Outsource to a mobile app development company
Partnering with an experienced app development company gives you access to a full app development team without the overhead costs of building one in house. By outsourcing to experienced app developers, you can reduce costs while ensuring the mobile app is aligned with your vision.
Final thoughts
Understanding the various factors that affect the final app development cost allows you to allocate resources effectively. However, every mobile app development project is unique, making it essential to work with experienced app developers who can customise solutions to meet your specific business needs.
As a trusted app development agency, Manao Software delivers high-quality, cost-effective mobile app solutions for businesses like yours. Our skilled app developers specialise in:
- Native app development
- Hybrid app development
- Mobile app development on multiple platforms
With us as your partner, developing mobile apps is easier, thanks to expert support from concept to launch. Get in touch with us today for accurate app development cost estimation, and let us help you bring your vision to life.