"How much does an app cost?" is a fair question with an honest answer: it depends on scope. Here are realistic 2026 ranges and what moves them.
Ballpark by app type
- Simple app / MVP: $15K–$60K — core features, one or two screens of real logic, a single platform or cross-platform.
- Mid-complexity, dual-platform: $80K–$200K — accounts, payments, integrations, polished UX on iOS and Android.
- Complex / enterprise: $250K+ — heavy integrations, real-time features, compliance, scale.
What actually drives the cost
- Feature depth. Auth, payments, messaging, and offline support each add real engineering.
- Native vs. cross-platform. React Native or Flutter share one codebase across iOS and Android and usually cost less than two native builds; native wins when you need heavy hardware or performance-critical features.
- Design. A custom, premium UI costs more than a templated one — and is often worth it.
- Integrations & compliance. Fintech and healthcare cost more because of security and regulatory work.
The cheapest way to control app cost is to build an MVP first — validate with real users before funding the full roadmap.
How we estimate
After a short discovery call we give a fixed, itemized estimate tied to a defined scope, plus a phased plan so you can start lean and expand once the app proves itself.