The price of a mobile app depends mostly on what it has to do. A simple app with a handful of screens costs a fraction of an app with accounts, payments and a custom backend. Here is what moves the price, what to budget for after launch, and what we charge.
What drives the price
- Screens and features. More screens and more behaviour mean more build and testing time. This is the biggest factor.
- Accounts, payments and notifications. Each one adds integration work and testing.
- A backend. If the app stores data or has user accounts, something has to run behind it. A backend typically adds £650 to £2,100 to a project.
- Design. If you already have designs, the build is quicker. If you only have sketches, basic interface design adds £200 to £500.
- Platforms. Android only is the simplest. Supporting iOS as well adds work and is scoped per project.
- Release. Preparing the store listing, screenshots and release builds takes time. The stores also charge for developer accounts: Google Play has a one-time fee of US$25, and the Apple Developer Program costs US$99 a year.
Who builds it changes the price too
- Agencies bring a team of designers, developers and project managers. That suits large projects, but the overhead is part of every quote, so even a first version often runs into five figures.
- Freelancers are usually the cheapest option per hour, but you take on more of the coordination yourself, and continuity depends on one person's availability.
- Small companies sit between the two: one accountable point of contact, written scope and invoices from a registered business, without the overhead of a large team.
Whoever you choose, compare quotes on the same written scope. "Simple app" and "MVP" mean very different things to different people.
Costs after launch
The build is not the only cost. Plan for:
- Hosting and services. A backend, database or services such as Firebase have monthly costs, often small at first and growing with your users.
- Updates. Android and iOS release new versions every year, and the stores raise their minimum requirements. An app that is never updated eventually stops being accepted for new releases.
- Fixes and small improvements. Real users find issues and ask for changes. Setting aside a small monthly or quarterly budget is easier than handling it as an emergency.
What we charge
We are a small UK company working remotely, and we publish our prices. A small app of 1 to 5 screens is typically £2,400 to £5,100 and takes 2 to 4 weeks. A medium app of 6 to 15 screens is typically £3,600 to £7,300 and takes 6 to 10 weeks. Hourly work is £40 to £60 / hour.
Larger projects are scoped individually. We usually suggest a small first milestone, so you see working results before committing to the full scope. For a range that fits your own project, answer a few questions in the project estimate.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Start with one platform and add the second later.
- Keep the first version to what your users actually need.
- Bring sketches or designs, even rough ones.
- Use a ready-made service such as Firebase instead of a custom backend where it fits.
- Agree a small first milestone and review it before the next one.