How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App in 2026?

You’ve got an app idea. Maybe it’s a tool for your business, a marketplace connecting buyers and sellers, or a platform that solves a real problem you’ve seen in your industry. Now comes the expensive question: what’s this actually going to cost?

We’re a mobile app development agency. Most agencies will quote you $50,000-$150,000 for a standard app. We don’t. We use React Native and Expo, which means we build in half the time without sacrificing quality. Same professional result, 40-60% less cost.

Here’s what apps actually cost in 2026 — and why most agencies are overcharging you.

The Real Numbers: What Apps Actually Cost in 2026

Traditional Agency Pricing (Native Development):

Simple app: $30,000-$60,000 (3-4 months) Medium complexity: $60,000-$120,000 (4-6 months) Complex app: $120,000-$250,000+ (6-12 months)

Modern Agency Pricing (React Native + Expo):

Simple MVP: $10,000-$25,000 (4-8 weeks) Medium complexity: $25,000-$50,000 (8-12 weeks) Complex app: $50,000-$90,000 (12-18 weeks)

The difference? We write code once that runs on both iOS and Android. Traditional agencies build everything twice.

What You Get At Each Price Point

$10,000-$15,000: Bare Bones MVP

Timeline: 4-6 weeks

What you get:

• 5-8 screens
• User authentication (login/signup)
• Basic database (Firebase/Supabase)
• Core functionality only
• Template-based design with your branding
• Launches on iOS and Android

Perfect for:

• Testing a concept before big investment
• Internal company tools
• Simple booking or directory apps

Example: A local service booking app with user login, service listings, basic scheduling, and contact forms.

$15,000-$30,000: Professional MVP

Timeline: 6-10 weeks

What you get:

• 8-15 screens
• Custom UI/UX design
• Payment processing (Stripe/PayPal)
• Push notifications
• User profiles and basic social features
• Admin panel for content management
• App Store submission assistance

Perfect for:

• Marketplace apps
• Social platforms
• On-demand service apps
• Customer-facing business apps

Example: A food delivery app with restaurant listings, menu browsing, cart, checkout, order tracking, and user reviews.

$30,000-$50,000: Feature-Rich App

Timeline: 10-14 weeks

What you get:

• 15-25 screens
• Polished custom design with animations
• Real-time features (chat, live updates, location tracking)
• Multiple user types (customers, vendors, admins)
• Advanced search and filtering
• Integration with third-party services
• Analytics dashboard

Perfect for:

• Multi-sided marketplaces
• Complex scheduling platforms
• Social networking apps
• Delivery/logistics apps

Example: An Uber-style platform with driver and rider apps, real-time GPS tracking, in-app messaging, payments, ratings, and admin dashboard.

$50,000-$90,000: Complex/Custom App

Timeline: 14-20 weeks

What you get:

• 25+ screens
• Custom backend architecture
• Advanced security and compliance
• AI/ML features
• Video streaming or processing
• Complex business logic
• Multiple integrations (CRM, ERP, payment gateways)
• White-label or enterprise features

Perfect for:

• Fintech applications
• Healthcare platforms (HIPAA compliance)
• Enterprise tools
• Apps requiring custom algorithms

Example: A telemedicine platform with video consultations, medical records, prescription management, insurance verification, and HIPAA-compliant infrastructure.

Why We’re 40-60% Cheaper Than Traditional Agencies

Single Codebase = Half the Development Time

Traditional agencies build:

• iOS app in Swift (8-12 weeks)
• Android app in Kotlin (8-12 weeks)
• Total: 16-24 weeks, basically building your app twice

We build:

• React Native app (8-12 weeks)
• Works on iOS AND Android from day one
• Total: 8-12 weeks, one codebase

Real example:

• Traditional agency quote: $65,000, 5 months
• Our quote for same features: $32,000, 10 weeks
• Savings: $33,000 and 3 months

Expo Eliminates Expensive Native Configuration

React Native with Expo means we don’t waste billable hours on:

• Native build configuration (saves 1-2 weeks)
• Platform-specific debugging (saves 20-30% of dev time)
• Custom implementations of camera, notifications, updates (saves $3K-$8K)

These aren’t shortcuts. Expo is production-ready and used by companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Coinbase.

Over-the-Air Updates = Lower Maintenance Costs

With Expo, we can push bug fixes and updates instantly without App Store approval.

Traditional app: Find bug → Fix code → Submit to Apple → Wait 2-7 days → Users update app

Our apps: Find bug → Fix code → Push update → Users get it instantly

This means maintenance costs you 40% less because we’re not burning hours waiting on Apple/Google approval for every tiny fix.

We’re Lean, Not Bloated

We don’t have:

• Account managers who don’t touch code ($120K/year)
• Multiple layers of project management
• Fancy offices in expensive cities
• Sales teams taking 20% commission

We have:

• Senior developers who actually build your app
• Designers who understand mobile UX
• One project manager who codes

This overhead difference is why we charge $15K where traditional agencies charge $40K for the same scope.

When React Native Doesn’t Work

We’ll be honest about when you shouldn’t use React Native:

Don’t use React Native for:

• Heavy 3D games (use Unity or soon Unreal Engine)
• Apps with intensive video processing (use native Swift/Kotlin)
• Apps requiring absolute bleeding-edge features released last week

For everything else, React Native is better:

• Marketplaces (Airbnb started on RN)
• Social apps (Facebook, Instagram use RN)
• E-commerce (Shopify uses RN)
• Booking platforms (Uber Eats uses RN)
• Business tools (Microsoft uses RN)

If you’re not building a game or doing heavy video work, React Native saves you money without compromise.

What Actually Drives Your Cost

Features, Not Screens

More screens ≠ more expensive. Complex features = more expensive.

Cheap to build:

• User login/signup: $500-$1,000
• Static content pages: $200-$500 each
• Basic forms: $300-$600
• Image galleries: $400-$800
• Push notifications: $800-$1,200

Medium cost:

• Payment processing: $2,000-$4,000
• Real-time chat: $3,000-$6,000
• GPS/location features: $2,500-$5,000
• Advanced search: $2,000-$4,000
• Social features (likes, follows): $2,500-$5,000

Expensive to build:

• Video calling: $8,000-$15,000
• AI/ML features: $10,000-$25,000
• Complex matching algorithms: $8,000-$20,000
• HIPAA/SOC2 compliance: $15,000-$35,000
• Multi-language support: $5,000-$12,000

Design Complexity

Template-based design: Included in base price

• Professional UI using proven patterns
• Your branding (colors, logo, fonts)
• Clean, modern look
• Fast to implement

Custom design: Add $4,000-$12,000

• Unique visual identity
• Custom illustrations and animations
• Multiple design revision rounds
• Detailed style guide

For MVPs, template design is fine. Save custom design budget for when you have users and revenue.

Backend Requirements

Firebase/Supabase backend: Included in base price

• User authentication
• Database (scales to millions of users)
• File storage
• Real-time updates
• Monthly cost: Free tier covers most MVPs, $50-$200/month (although very popular apps will pay upwards of thousands) as you scale

Custom backend: Add $8,000-$25,000

• Custom APIs and business logic
• Complex data relationships
• Advanced security requirements
• Third-party system integrations
• Monthly cost: $100-$500+

Most apps start with Firebase/Supabase and only need custom backend when they hit enterprise scale.

The Hidden Costs You Need to Budget For

Your development cost isn’t everything. Plan for:

Mandatory costs:

• Apple Developer Program: $99/year
• Google Play Developer: $25 one-time
• App icons and screenshots: $300-$800 (if not included)

Ongoing costs:

• Backend hosting: $0-$200/month for most apps
• Push notifications: Free-$100/month
• Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
• SMS/phone verification: $0.01-$0.05 per message
• Bug fixes and updates: 10-15% of build cost per year

Optional but recommended:

• App Store Optimization: $500-$2,000 one-time
• User acquisition: Budget at least 50% of dev cost
• Analytics tools: $0-$200/month
• Customer support tools: $50-$300/month

Real example:

• Build cost: $25,000
• Year 1 total: $25,000 + $99 + $25 + $2,400 hosting + $3,000 maintenance + $5,000 marketing = $35,524
• Year 2+: ~$8,000-$12,000/year ongoing

How to Actually Budget Your App Project

Start Lean, Scale Smart

Month 1-2: Launch MVP ($12,000-$25,000)

• Absolute core features only
• Basic but professional design
• Launch on both iOS and Android
• Get real users immediately

Month 3-4: Learn and Iterate ($5,000-$12,000)

• Fix what’s actually broken (not what you think is broken)
• Add features users are actually asking for
• Improve conversion on key flows
• A/B test messaging

Month 6+: Scale What Works ($3,000-$8,000/quarter)

• Performance optimization
• Advanced features that drive revenue
• Integrations that reduce manual work
• Polish and animations

Why this works:

• You learn from real users, not assumptions
• Each phase funds the next
• You can pivot without losing $60K
• You build competitive advantages, not bloat

Don’t Overbuild Your MVP

We see this constantly: founders want to launch with every feature they’ve imagined.

Bad MVP (6 months, $75,000):

• User profiles with photo galleries
• In-app chat
• Reviews and ratings
• Favorites and wishlists
• Email marketing integration
• Referral program
• Multiple payment options
• Push notifications
• Advanced analytics

Good MVP (8 weeks, $18,000):

• User login
• Core transaction flow
• One payment method
• Basic admin panel

Launch the good MVP. Add features 2-9 based on what users actually do, not what you think they’ll do.

Red Flags: How to Spot BS Quotes

Suspiciously cheap ($3,000-$6,000 for a “full app”)

• Template with zero customization
• Offshore shop that will vanish
• Constant upcharges once you’re locked in

Insanely expensive ($150K+ for basic CRUD app)

• Overengineering everything
• Padding hours because they think you don’t know better
• Building native when cross-platform works fine

Vague scope

• No technical details in proposal
• Can’t explain their tech stack choice
• No wireframes or feature breakdown
• Timeline is “4-6 months” with no milestones

Sketchy contract terms

• 100% payment upfront (standard is 30-50% deposit)
• They own the code, not you
• No defined deliverables
• No post-launch support window

Portfolio doesn’t match

• They’ve built websites but never apps
• Can’t show apps live in App Store
• Portfolio is all concept work, no shipped products

Traditional Agency vs Freelancer vs Us

Traditional Agency

• Cost: $50,000-$200,000
• Timeline: 4-12 months
• Tech: Native iOS + Native Android (built separately)

Pros: Established processes, full team, reliable

Cons: Expensive, slow, inflexible, overkill for most projects

Freelancer

• Cost: $10,000-$40,000
• Timeline: 3-6 months
• Tech: Whatever they know

Pros: Cheap hourly rate, direct communication

Cons: One person (iOS OR Android, not both), you manage everything, no backup if they disappear, quality varies wildly

Modern Lean Agency (Us)

• Cost: $10,000-$90,000
• Timeline: 4-20 weeks
• Tech: React Native + Expo (iOS + Android together)

Pros: Agency quality at near-freelancer prices, full team, fast delivery, both platforms included

Cons: Not suited for 3D games or apps requiring bleeding-edge native features

What We Actually Charge

Simple apps: $10,000-$25,000

• Booking platforms, directories, simple marketplaces
• 4-8 weeks
• Template-based design, core features, both platforms

Standard apps: $25,000-$50,000

• Social platforms, delivery apps, on-demand services
• 8-14 weeks
• Custom design, payments, real-time features, notifications

Complex apps: $50,000-$90,000

• Multi-sided marketplaces, fintech, healthcare
• 14-20 weeks
• Custom backend, advanced security, complex workflows

What’s always included:

• iOS and Android (single codebase)
• App Store submission help
• 30 days post-launch support
• You own all code and assets
• Documentation and handoff

What costs extra:

• Ongoing maintenance ($2,500/month retainer or $150/hour as-needed)
• Backend hosting (you pay directly, typically $50-$300/month)
• Marketing and user acquisition
• Third-party service fees (Stripe, Twilio, etc.)

Get a Real Quote

We offer free 30-minute project scoping calls where we’ll:

• Review your feature list and requirements
• Tell you what it’ll actually cost (not a vague range)
• Explain what you can cut to hit your budget
• Show you similar apps we’ve built
• Give you a real timeline

Sometimes we’ll tell you to start simpler. Sometimes we’ll tell you it’s more complex than you think. We’ll always tell you the truth, even if it means you’re not ready to hire us yet.

Schedule Your Free Scoping Call — Get actual numbers in 30 minutes.

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Prices shown reflect typical project costs. Your specific app may cost more or less depending on features and complexity. All quotes include both iOS and Android.

Last updated: February 2026