Published on January 21st, 2025
Today, there is a mobile app for everything. There are about 3.3 million apps on Google Play Store and 2.2 million on Apple App Store. Not only this, the mobile app market revenue will reach $567 billion by the year 2030. With such popularity, it is evident that businesses of all sizes are investing into mobile apps. So, as an established business or startup, you must be looking to build mobile apps for your company. Now, the question comes to what is the cost of mobile app development cost. To figure out the overall cost, you need to determine factors like complexity and platform to be used for the app development.
To answer this question, we share a detailed insight for startups and established businesses to determine how much app development cost and budget needs.
Mobile App Development Cost, in Statistics
- By 2025, the global spending on mobile apps will reach $270 billion
- In 2024, spending on non-gaming application surpassed spending on gaming applications
- In 2022, Apple App Store generated 21.2 billion U.S. dollar through consumer spending for in-app purchases
- In 2022, Google Play Store generated 10.4 billion U.S. dollars as gross app revenue
You have a strong case to pursue mobile app development for your company because of these facts. “How much does mobile app development cost?” should be your first concern when deciding to invest in mobile development.
The complexity of your application, its features, your company niche, your business model, and other factors all affect how much it will cost to develop. To help you understand the cost of developing a mobile application, our specialists have provided a comprehensive reference below.
Factors Determining Mobile App Development Cost
The average cost of developing a basic mobile app is about $45,000, but more complicated apps with numerous integrations and sophisticated features can cost $120,000, $150,000, and more.
Why so? You need to think about the development of mobile applications similar to building a house. There are some default things like foundation and options such as a garden near the house. So, the more functional the house, the more you need to pay. The same is applicable for mobile app development. There are a few key factors you need to understand for estimating development cost.
- Platform – iOS, Android, and cross-platform
- Technical complexity
- Features – Types and Numbers
- Design Requirements – Basic or Custom
- Location and structure of development team
Platform Choice: Android, iOS, and Cross-Platform
You need to choose a platform for your mobile app development based on your target audience and specific needs. Your decision will influence mobile app development cost.
Android vs. iOS
If you are developing a mobile application for a single platform, there will be minor differences in the cost whether you choose the iOS or Android. Both the platforms require different programming languages and each has its own development tools and software development kits (SDKs). Your main consideration should be the audience while choosing any platform. For instance, Android is present in the other regions, but iOS is more common in the US and Europe. Therefore, depending on the developer’s hourly rates, the average cost of developing a mobile app ranges from $70,000 to $250,000.
Cross-Platform Development
With frameworks like React Native and Flutter, you can create apps for both iOS and Android. You may drastically cut down on the time and expense of developing mobile apps by using this method. This is because you don’t need different development teams and most of the code is similar for both the platforms. For example, the cost of mobile app development through react native for iOS and Android usually ranges from $50,000 to $200,000. This is significantly lower than native apps.
Technical Complexity
A mobile application might appear simple and beautiful solving your problems, however, a ton of data is churned through its intuitive design and powerful features.
Simple Mobile App Development Cost
When it comes to development of simple mobile applications, we first need to create a minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype with basic functionality. The main motive is to solve the most crucial pain points of the app users. You can get a simple mobile app built quickly in less than three months. The cost of building a simple mobile application with basic functionality will be nearly $45,000.
Medium Complexity Mobile App
More complicated features, such as interactive aspects and substantial content, are seen in medium complexity apps, such as e-commerce apps. Fitness monitors and online learning resources are just two examples. These smartphone apps take anything from three to six months to design. For medium-complexity apps, the cost of developing a mobile app ranges from $120,000 to $200,000.
Complex Mobile App Cost
Complex mobile applications have advanced features, complex infrastructures and multiple integrations with the third-party services. These apps typically take seven to twelve months for development and demands for more investment. The mobile app development cost for complex apps is around $200,000 to $300,000 or more.
Features – Types and Numbers
Along with technical complexity, the app features are one of the most significant cost drivers. The complexity of any mobile application is determined by its features. For example, you need to invest in an app with a simple messaging feature as compared to a video calling facility. The main issue is that some features can be implemented quickly while other features might take longer time for implementation. Thus, it means that each feature affects the timeline and overall cost of creating an app. Here’s a list of most common app features and approximate cost for their development.
| Feature | Details Included | Estimated Time (Hours) | Estimated Cost |
| Onboarding Screens | App introduction with descriptions, animations, or video tutorials | 20-30 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| User Authentication | Login and registration via phone number, email, or social media accounts; logout functionality | 60-80 | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| Main Dashboard | Entry screens with tutorial highlights, multimedia content (images, videos, text), and navigation menu | 80-200 | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Camera Functionality | Photo and video capture capabilities | 40-60 | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Profile Management | Options to modify settings, view FAQs, update personal information, and edit user details | 30-70 | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Search Tool | Features like keyword search, filters, suggestions, and organized search results | 35-60 | $1,750 – $3,000 |
| Messaging System | Includes private and group chats, file sharing, media attachments, emojis, and GIF integration | 50-90 | $2,500 – $4,500 |
| Notifications | Alerts for updates, incoming messages, and user engagement reminders | 20-40 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
Design Requirements: Basic vs. Custom UI/UX
So moving forward, the next factor which can add dollars to your bill is the design. With our experience, we have found that most of our clients are looking for attractive designs to stand out of competition. The time has gone when a working app with poor design was accepted by users. Nowadays, investors are more into design rather than product ideas. UI and UX are the main components of app design. Let’s understand the UX and UI.
- UX design means “user experience”. It’s all about making the mobile application useful. A thorough research and testing is involved in understanding how the user will interact with the mobile application. A UX designer is involved in designing user experience, which accounts while estimating mobile app development cost.
- UI design means all the elements you see on the app including icons, spacing, typography, etc. Even illustrations and animations are counted as part of UI design. It’s quite costly to develop a custom UI design for a mobile application.
| Type of Design Work | Estimated Cost |
| UX Design | Starting at $5,000 |
| UX Writing | $50–$200 per hour (varies based on location) |
| UI Design | Ranges from $10,000 to $25,000 |
| Branding | Between $2,500 and $10,000 |
You need to understand the more advanced the design is, the higher is the mobile app development cost. In case of budget constraints, you can go for standard design and template elements. We suggest that you should never overlook the user experience and UI design. As per research, neglecting UX/UI design can lead to poor user retention and harm the mobile app success.
Location & Structure of the Mobile App Development Team
The location of the team plays a significant role in determining mobile app development cost. You can choose either an offshore or nearshore mobile app development company.
Nearshore App Development: You can go for a mobile app development company from your city or nearby country with a timezone difference of around two to four hours.
Offshore App Development: You can pick a mobile app development company from a faraway land that may not align with your timezone but offers a perfect solution at cost-effective prices.
Mobile App Development Employee Cost Comparison by Region
| Title of Employee | United States (USD) | Latin America (USD) | Eastern Europe (USD) | Asia (USD) |
| Business Analyst | $110 – $205 | $45 – $55 | $40 – $63 | $30 – $42 |
| Architect | $198 – $292 | $60 – $72 | $50 – $77 | $35 – $48 |
| Project Manager | $133 – $233 | $55 – $66 | $45 – $70 | $35 – $48 |
| Junior Developer | $105 – $111 | $35 – $44 | $25 – $42 | $18 – $24 |
| Middle Developer | $132 – $140 | $30 – $52 | $35 – $56 | $24 – $35 |
| Senior Developer | $154 – $163 | $45 – $55 | $45 – $70 | $30 – $42 |
| Lead Developer | $176 – $187 | $50 – $61 | $45 – $70 | $30 – $42 |
| Junior QA | $77 – $81 | $30 – $39 | $25 – $42 | $15 – $24 |
| Mid-Level QA | $99 – $105 | $35 – $44 | $30 – $49 | $20 – $30 |
| Senior QA | $143 – $169 | $40 – $50 | $40 – $63 | $25 – $36 |
| Graphic Designer | $79 – $163 | $40 – $50 | $35 – $56 | $25 – $36 |
How Can You Reduce Your Mobile App Development Cost?
Decide About Your Mobile App Features and Do the Research
You must first clearly define your goals for your mobile application. It would be simpler to estimate the cost if you have a clear idea of the features and specs. Research and discussion with your coworkers can make it simple. Advanced features can wait till later in the development process. Therefore, starting with a minimum viable product (MVP) is advised.
Consider Flutter as a Solution for Cross-platform App Development
Google offers a hybrid platform for developing mobile apps called Flutter. It facilitates the development of apps for iOS and Android platforms. Flutter’s primary advantage is that it lowers the cost of app development. You can save a plenty of time as it supports both iOS and Android. If we talk about simple applications and features, about 90% of the code is shared between the two platforms. So, the less time you spend in building the app, the less investment you need to make.
Start with functional MVP
MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product. It means a mobile app is developed with a minimum but essential set of features. MVP allows you to launch apps faster and lets you improve it over time. It focuses on essential features avoiding unnecessary elements. Thus, you get flexibility to adapt to user needs. With MVP, you can minimize risks and ensure your app aligns with market demands. And when it comes to budgeting, it’s cheaper to start with MVP.
Outsource Your Mobile App Development
It has been seen that hiring an in-house team for mobile app development is both costly and time-consuming. You can outsource mobile app development to save on equipment and team building. Outsourcing services reduce mobile app development cost and provide value-added output. You need to research well to choose a company offering complete development services for the best results.
Keep Good Communication With the Development Team
Clear communication is necessary for successful mobile app development. You must share your requirements precisely and stay involved in discussions. Tools like Slack or Jira can be used to track progress and manage your priorities. With good communication, you can avoid misunderstandings, save time and reduce mobile app development cost.
How iTechnolabs Can Help You With Mobile App Development Cost?
So, how much does mobile app development cost? Well, this is clear that there is no clear cut prediction for this question. Considering all the factors might help you arrive at a nearly accurate cost for turning your app idea into reality.
In a nutshell, mobile app development cost can be determined by hours the designers and developers spend. With a well-planned strategy, you can reduce the cost as it minimizes rework.
If estimating the cost of mobile app development still seems challenging, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at iTechnolabs. We can provide you with a rough estimate based on your unique needs and product idea. It could be the start of an exciting collaboration!
