# How much does it cost to build an app?

> The cost of an app depends on scope, platforms, design depth, integrations and who builds it, so no honest single number exists. The reliable way to find your price is to write a short brief, split it into milestones and compare real quotes from developers.

Canonical: https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-an-app
Last updated: 2026-11-06 (November 6, 2026)

## Why a single price does not exist

Ask ten developers what an app costs and you get ten different answers. That is not a trick. A simple booking page and a marketplace with payments are both called apps, but they need very different amounts of work. Price follows effort, and effort follows scope.

Be careful with any article that gives one headline price for all apps. Without a source, a date and a clear definition of what is included, such a number tells you very little. This guide gives you the drivers instead, so you can judge any quote you receive.

## The main cost drivers

- Number of features. Every screen, rule and edge case adds work. Ten simple features cost far less than three complex ones.
- Platforms. One web app (An app that runs in the browser on any device) is cheaper than separate iPhone and Android apps. Cross-platform tools can share code, but it is rarely free.
- User accounts and roles. Sign up, login, password reset and different permissions for admins and members are real work.
- Payments. Taking money, handling refunds and paying out to others involves a payment provider and careful testing.
- Integrations. Each connection to an outside service, such as email, maps or an API (A way for two programs to talk to each other), adds setup and testing.
- Design. A clean standard look is faster than custom illustrations, animation and a full brand system.
- Data and scale. Handling a few hundred users is simpler than millions, and migrating old data takes time.
- Rules and compliance. Privacy, health, finance and children's data bring extra requirements.

## Who builds it changes the price

The same scope is priced differently by a solo freelancer, an agency or a marketplace match. Agencies add project management and team overhead. Freelancers usually have a lower overhead but fewer people to cover absences. Our comparison in [freelancer vs agency vs marketplace](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/freelancer-vs-agency-vs-marketplace) explains the trade-offs without picking a winner.

Experience matters too. A senior developer may charge more per hour and still finish sooner, with fewer bugs. Compare the total for a clearly defined result, not the rate alone.

## How to get a real quote

1. Write down the problem, the users and the three to five features that must exist on day one. The guide on [how to write a project brief](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-project-brief) shows how.
2. Cut everything else for later. A first version is an MVP (Minimum viable product: the smallest version that real users can try). See [what is an MVP](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/what-is-an-mvp).
3. Ask for a fixed price per milestone, not a vague estimate for the whole project. See [fixed price vs hourly](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/fixed-price-vs-hourly).
4. Collect several proposals and compare what each one includes, not only the total.
5. Ask what is not included. Hosting, app store fees, design and later changes are common gaps.

## Costs people forget, with numbers you can check

Some costs are not part of any developer quote because you pay them to other companies. They are small next to the build, and they are the easiest numbers to look up. The table shows what four common providers state on their own pages. Prices change, so check the linked page before you plan.

**Running costs from provider pages**

|  | What the provider states | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Apple Developer Program (App Store) | $99 per year | [Apple Developer Program](https://developer.apple.com/programs/), checked 2026-11-06 |
| Google Play Console (Google Play) | US$25, paid once | [Google Play Console Help](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435), checked 2026-11-06 |
| Supabase (database and login) | Free plan at $0 per month. Pro plan from $25 per month, with a spend cap that is on by default | [Supabase pricing](https://supabase.com/pricing), checked 2026-11-06 |
| Vercel (hosting for web apps) | Hobby plan at $0 per month, for personal and non commercial use. Pro plan at $20 per month per developer seat | [Vercel pricing](https://vercel.com/pricing), checked 2026-11-06 |

Usage based services can cost more than the starting price once many people use your product. Ask your developer for an estimate at your expected volume.

Two more items are never in a quote: payment processing fees on every sale, and maintenance after launch, such as updates, security fixes and new phone versions. Your own time for feedback, content and testing is a cost too.

For the build itself, one public reference point for the value of development work is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It reports a median annual wage of $135,980 for software developers in May 2025 ([Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm), checked on 6 November 2026). This is an employee wage in the United States. It is not a price for a project, it leaves out overhead, and it does not describe developers in the EU. It only shows that experienced development time is a real cost, so be careful with offers that are far below what the work needs.

## A checklist for every quote

- Does it list what is delivered in each milestone, in words you understand?
- Does it say what is not included, such as design, content, hosting and app store submission?
- Does it show an estimate of the running costs after launch, with the provider names?
- Are the accounts for hosting, the database and the app stores in your name?
- Does it say how change requests are handled and priced?
- Does it say who fixes problems found right after launch, and for how long?

Put the answers of several developers into one table. Differences in what is included often explain most of the difference in price.

## How ErdiBuilds handles pricing

Free for clients. Developers send proposals for your project, and you compare them side by side. Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency. Each milestone is paid before work on it starts, and funds are released after you approve the delivery. That keeps the spend visible at every step. See [pricing](https://erdibuilds.app/pricing) for the full picture.

> A good first step: describe your idea, set a budget range and let proposals show you what is realistic. Nothing is lost by asking.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I build an app cheaply?

Yes, by keeping the first version small. Fewer features, one platform and standard design lower the effort. Very low offers for a large scope often hide missing parts, so check what is included.

### What does an app cost after launch?

Expect recurring costs for hosting, services, app store accounts and maintenance. The table above shows what four providers state for their plans. Ask every developer to list the running costs of your own setup in the proposal so nothing surprises you later.

### Is a fixed price or an hourly rate better for budgeting?

A fixed price per milestone gives the most certainty when the scope is clear. Hourly work can suit exploratory tasks. Our guide on [fixed price vs hourly](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/fixed-price-vs-hourly) compares both.

### Why do quotes for the same idea differ so much?

Developers read your brief differently, include different extras and have different experience. Compare line by line, and ask questions about anything unclear.

### Does ErdiBuilds charge clients to post a project?

Free for clients. Developers pay 8 percent plus payment processing on their side. See [pricing](https://erdibuilds.app/pricing) for details.

## Related

- [SaaS MVP Scope and Cost: What to Build First](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/saas-mvp-scope-and-cost): What belongs in the first version of a SaaS product, what can wait, and how scope decisions shape your cost and timeline.
- [How Long Does It Take to Build an App?](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-long-does-it-take-to-build-an-app): What decides how long an app, SaaS, website or game takes to build, with an example plan in weeks and tips for planning realistic milestones.
- [How to Write a Project Brief for a Developer](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-project-brief): A good project brief fits on one page: goal, users, must-have features, examples and limits. Here is what to include and a free tool to draft it.
- [Fixed Price vs Hourly for Software Projects](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/fixed-price-vs-hourly): Fixed price suits clear scopes, hourly suits open ones. See how each model handles risk, change and control, and when milestones give you the best of both.
- [Free milestone planner for your project](https://erdibuilds.app/tools/milestone-planner): Turn your project into an editable plan of milestones with lengths that fit the rules. Runs in your browser, stores nothing and estimates no prices.
- [Pricing](https://erdibuilds.app/pricing): What ErdiBuilds costs for clients and developers.