How Much Does It Actually Cost to Build an App in 2025?

"How much to build an app?"

It's like asking "How much does a house cost?"

Depends. Do you want a studio apartment or a mansion?

But unlike real estate agents, I'm going to give you real numbers.

Simple app: $15,000 - $50,000
Medium complexity: $50,000 - $150,000
Complex app: $150,000 - $500,000+

Let me break down exactly what you get at each price point.

The Real Cost Breakdown

Most agencies hide the details. Not us.

Here's what actually determines your app's price:

Factor #1: Platform (30% of cost)

• iOS only: 40% of cost

• Android only: 40% of cost

• Both platforms: 100% of cost (basically building twice)

• Cross-platform (React Native/Flutter): 60-70% of cost

Building for both iPhone and Android doubles your work.

Unless you go cross-platform. Then it's only 60% more.

Factor #2: Features (40% of cost)

Every feature costs money.

Basic features ($):

• User login

• Basic profile

• Simple navigation

• Static content display

Medium features ($$):

• Push notifications

• In-app messaging

• Search functionality

• Payment processing

• Photo/video upload

Advanced features ($$$):

• Real-time updates

• GPS/mapping

• AI integration

• Video streaming

• Augmented reality

• Complex algorithms

The more features, the higher the cost. Simple math.

Factor #3: Design (20% of cost)

Template design: Cheap but generic
Custom design: Expensive but unique
Premium design: Very expensive, award-winning

Most businesses should aim for custom.

Templates make you look like everyone else.

Factor #4: Backend Complexity (10% of cost)

Simple backend: Basic user data
Medium backend: User data + content management
Complex backend: Real-time sync, heavy data processing, integrations

The more your app does behind the scenes, the more it costs.

Price Tiers: What You Actually Get

Let's talk specific numbers and real capabilities.

Tier 1: $15,000 - $50,000 (Simple App)

What you get:

• Single platform (iOS or Android)

• 5-10 screens

• Basic user login

• Simple database

• Standard UI components

• 8-12 weeks development

Best for:

• MVPs (testing an idea)

• Simple tools or utilities

• Internal company apps

• Basic content apps

Example apps at this level:

• Simple booking app

• Content reading app

• Basic calculator or tool

• Employee directory

Timeline: 2-3 months

One of our clients built a field crew management app at this level.

Simple. Functional. Got the job done.

Tier 2: $50,000 - $150,000 (Medium Complexity)

What you get:

• Both iOS and Android (cross-platform)

• 15-25 screens

• Advanced user features

• Payment integration

• Push notifications

• Custom design

• Backend API

• Admin panel

• 12-20 weeks development

Best for:

• E-commerce apps

• Social platforms (small scale)

• Marketplace apps

• Service booking platforms

• Business management tools

Example apps at this level:

• Restaurant ordering app with payments

• Fitness tracking app with workouts

• Local marketplace

• Appointment booking system

Timeline: 3-5 months

Wei Zhang (Beijing construction company) invested in this tier.

Got a mobile app for field crews + web platform for office.

Result: "Transformed our operations. Worth every penny!"

Tier 3: $150,000 - $500,000+ (Complex App)

What you get:

• Native iOS and Android (separate builds)

• 30+ screens

• Advanced features (AI, real-time, etc.)

• Custom animations

• Complex backend infrastructure

• Multiple integrations

• Admin dashboard

• Ongoing support

• 20-40 weeks development

Best for:

• On-demand services (like Uber)

• Social networks

• Fintech apps

• Healthcare platforms

• Enterprise solutions

• SaaS products

Example apps at this level:

• Ride-sharing platform

• Dating app

• Stock trading app

• Telemedicine platform

• Project management suite

Timeline: 6-12 months

This is where you're building a full platform.

Not just an app. An entire business system.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Warns You About

The development cost is just the beginning.

Here are the ongoing costs most people forget:

App Store Fees

• Apple App Store: $99/year

• Google Play Store: $25 one-time

• Microsoft Store: $19/year

Small but required.

Hosting & Backend

• Simple: $20-50/month

• Medium: $100-500/month

• Complex: $500-5,000/month

Your app needs servers to run on.

More users = higher costs.

Maintenance

• Bug fixes: 10-15% of development cost annually

• OS updates: 2-3 times per year

• Feature updates: Varies widely

Apps require ongoing care.

Budget 15-20% of original cost per year.

Marketing

Most apps fail because nobody knows they exist.

Budget at least what you spent on development.

$100K app? Plan $100K for marketing.

Payment Processing

If you accept payments:

• Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

• Apple In-App: 30% of purchases (15% for small businesses)

• PayPal: 2.9% + $0.30

These fees add up fast.

Total ongoing cost: 30-50% of development cost annually

The Hourly Rate Reality

Most apps are priced by hourly rate.

Here's what you're really paying for:

Freelancer: $25-75/hour

• One person doing everything

• Slower delivery

• Mixed quality

• Communication challenges

Small Agency: $75-150/hour

• Small team

• Better quality

• Reasonable communication

• Limited availability

Established Agency: $150-300/hour

• Dedicated team

• High quality

• Excellent communication

• Fast turnaround

Top-Tier Agency: $300-500/hour

• Expert specialists

• Premium quality

• White-glove service

• Very fast delivery

At BSLabs, we're in the $150-200/hour range.

Not cheap. But not insanely expensive.

Why?

We're faster than most agencies.

What takes others 500 hours, we do in 300.

So even at $175/hour, you pay less total.

Simple App vs Complex App (Real Examples)

Let me show you the difference with actual projects.

Simple App Example: Field Management Tool

Client: Construction company
Goal: Track crew locations and tasks
Features:

• User login

• Task list

• GPS check-in

• Photo uploads

• Basic reporting

Cost: $35,000
Timeline: 10 weeks
Platforms: Cross-platform (iOS + Android)

Simple. Focused. Does one thing well.

Complex App Example: Integrated Business Platform

Client: Same construction company
Goal: Full operations management
Features:

• Field crew mobile app

• Office staff web platform

• Real-time job tracking

• Inventory management

• Client portal

• Payment processing

• Reporting dashboard

• Integration with accounting software

Cost: $180,000
Timeline: 6 months
Platforms: Native iOS, Native Android, Web app

Wei Zhang (President): "They developed both a mobile app for our field crews and a web platform for our office staff—all integrated perfectly."

This isn't just an app. It's a complete business system.

When to Build an App (vs a Website)

Real talk.

Most businesses don't need an app.

A mobile-optimized website works fine.

Build an app when:

✅ Users will use it daily or weekly
✅ You need device features (camera, GPS, push notifications)
✅ Offline functionality required
✅ You want to be on their home screen
✅ Performance needs to be lightning-fast
✅ Building a platform or marketplace

Stick with a website when:

✅ Users visit occasionally
✅ Content-focused (blog, portfolio)
✅ Limited budget
✅ Need quick iteration
✅ SEO is important

Don't build an app just because everyone else has one.

Build it because it solves a real problem.

The MVP Strategy (Start Small)

Here's what smart companies do:

Phase 1: MVP ($30K-60K, 2-3 months)

• Core features only

• Single platform

• Basic design

• Test with real users

Phase 2: Improvements ($20K-40K, 1-2 months)

• Fix issues from user feedback

• Add most-requested features

• Polish design

Phase 3: Scale ($50K-100K, 3-4 months)

• Add second platform

• Advanced features

• Integrations

• Marketing push

Total: $100K-200K over 6-12 months

This approach reduces risk.

You learn what works before investing heavily.

Red Flags When Hiring Developers

Watch out for these warning signs:

🚩 "We can build it for $5,000"
Unless it's super simple, they're lying or incompetent.

🚩 No portfolio or case studies
How do you know they're good?

🚩 Vague timeline
"It'll take as long as it takes" = disaster.

🚩 No contract or scope document
Never start without written agreement.

🚩 Won't show work-in-progress
You should see updates weekly, minimum.

🚩 Pressure to decide now
Good agencies don't need to pressure you.

🚩 Can't explain technical choices
If they can't explain it simply, they don't understand it.

At BSLabs, we show you:

• Detailed scope document

• Fixed timeline

• Weekly progress updates

• Clear contract terms

• Portfolio with results

Transparency from day one.

Platform-Specific Considerations

iOS Development

Pros:

• Higher-value users (spend more)

• Easier testing (fewer devices)

• Better monetization

• Premium brand association

Cons:

• Expensive to develop

• Strict app review process

• Limited to Apple ecosystem

Best for: B2C apps, premium products, US/Europe focus

Android Development

Pros:

• Larger global market share

• More flexible platform

• Easier publishing process

Cons:

• Fragmentation (many devices)

• Lower average revenue per user

• More testing required

Best for: Global reach, emerging markets, B2B apps

Cross-Platform (React Native, Flutter)

Pros:

• 60-70% cost of native development

• Code shared between platforms

• Faster development

• Single team needed

Cons:

• Slightly lower performance

• Some platform-specific features harder

• Less "native" feel

Best for: MVPs, budget-conscious projects, startups

What $100K Gets You (Detailed Breakdown)

Let's be specific about a $100,000 app project:

Discovery & Planning (10%, $10K, 2 weeks):

• Requirements gathering

• User research

• Competitive analysis

• Technical architecture

• Project roadmap

Design (20%, $20K, 4 weeks):

• User flow mapping

• Wireframes

• UI design (all screens)

• Brand guidelines

• Design system

• Prototype

Development (50%, $50K, 12 weeks):

• Frontend development

• Backend API

• Database design

• Integration work

• Security implementation

• Performance optimization

Testing & QA (10%, $10K, 2 weeks):

• Functional testing

• User acceptance testing

• Bug fixes

• Performance testing

• Security audit

Launch & Support (10%, $10K, 2 weeks):

• App store submission

• Server setup

• Documentation

• Training

• Post-launch support

Total timeline: 22-24 weeks (5-6 months)

The Questions to Ask Before Starting

Before you spend $50K-$200K, answer these:

1. "Who is this for?"
If you can't clearly define your user, stop.

2. "What problem does it solve?"
Features don't matter. Problems solved do.

3. "Why an app and not a website?"
Be honest. Do you NEED an app?

4. "What's the MVP?"
Start with core features. Add more later.

5. "How will people find it?"
Marketing strategy is as important as development.

6. "What's my budget for updates?"
Apps need ongoing work. Can you afford it?

7. "What's success look like?"
Define metrics before you build.

Answer these first. Then build.

Real Client Success Story

E-commerce Platform (South Korea)

Min-ji Park wanted to take her boutique online.

What we built:

• Beautiful shopping app

• Seamless checkout

• Payment integration

• Inventory tracking

• Email marketing integration

• Customer management

Investment: $95,000
Timeline: 4.5 months
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

Min-ji Park (Founder): "I couldn't be happier with my new online store. Sales have tripled since we launched."

ROI: App paid for itself in 8 months.

Now it's pure profit.

The Bottom Line

App development costs range wildly.

$15K-50K: Simple, focused tools
$50K-150K: Medium complexity with custom features
$150K-500K+: Complex platforms and enterprise solutions

But cost isn't everything.

What matters:

• Does it solve a real problem?

• Will people actually use it?

• Can you afford ongoing maintenance?

• Do you have a marketing plan?

A $30,000 app that people love beats a $300,000 app nobody uses.

Start with the problem. Not the features.

At BSLabs, we help you figure out what to build before you build it.

Strategy first. Development second.

Because the most expensive app is the one that fails.

Want to know what YOUR app would cost?

Get a free app estimate — We'll analyze your idea and give you honest numbers.

No sales pressure. Just real estimates based on your actual needs.

Because here's the truth:

Building an app is expensive.

Building the wrong app is even more expensive.

Let's make sure you build the right one.

Ready to turn your idea into reality?

Let's build an app that people actually use.

Book Your Free Consultation

BSLabs — Fast website and app development for businesses that mean business. No cheap work. No endless delays.