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How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App in 2025

By Gaurav Parvadiya | Last Updated On February 18th, 2025

The world has been transformed to a completely new era where mobile apps have become a necessity just like food, shelter and clothes. Statista’s Digital Market Outlook projects that mobile app sales will climb to $613 billion by 2025 across categories. Thus, businesses can take it as an opportunity and make customers more satisfied by offering them a user-friendly, engaging and useful mobile app. 

Given its ubiquity, almost every digital business invests in mobile app development. Despite this expenditure, the most popular inquiry is, “How much does it cost to build an app?”

Answering such questions comprehensively is the guide’s goal. It will also examine app development expenses, estimated cost to make an app, and much more. So, let’s dive into the details:

How Much App Development Costs – An Overview of Cost Estimate

A mobile app’s approximate cost to develop an app is basically between $25,000 and $150,000. Nevertheless, this amount can exceed $300,000 for complex and customized apps. For this reason, we refer to the price as “tentative” because it depends on several variables. Some of these considerations are the intricacy of the software, the range of features and functionalities it provides, the development methodology selected, and other elements.

Do not worry, though; we will examine these crucial variables that affect mobile app development prices in great detail. With this knowledge, you will be more capable of estimating the cost of developing your app idea.

The basic computation is based on calculating the total number of hours needed for each development process by the billable hours of the resources involved. The answer to the query, “How much does it cost to create an app?,” can be found in this formula.

Now, let’s understand the factors that affect your App development Cost:

8 Key Factors That Impact Your Mobile App Development Cost

Mobile app development costs depend on many aspects. Understanding these cost-influencing factors can help you make smart, budget-friendly decisions and maximize your return on investment. Cost-effectiveness and budget adherence depend on recognizing these elements. Let’s examine the main aspects that affect mobile app development costs.

Complexity of the App

How complicated an app is to develop is a key element that affects both cost and time. When starting an app development project, you must choose how big the project will be. This includes figuring out how many features, screens, buttons, and complex the application’s business logic will be.

  • Simple Apps: These programs have only basic functions, clear screens, and user interfaces. Apps for calculators and basic social networks are two examples. Usually, development takes two to four months.
  • Mid-Level Apps: These are more sophisticated, with capabilities like real-time messaging, extra screens, unique UI elements, and API interfaces. The development process should take six to ten months.
  • Complex Apps: These versatile programs include sophisticated functions, including media processing, chatbots, real-time synchronization, and detailed user interface animations. The development process can take up to eight months, a year, or longer.

Complicated apps are more expensive to produce. While mid-level and complex apps demand more extensive resources and, thus, a greater budget, simple apps are more affordable. Recall that the level of complexity you select will determine your app’s price and capabilities.

Development Approach

The development method you choose plays a major role in app development cost. 

  • Custom App Development 

Custom application development is suitable for those companies that need specific functionality, the ability to expand and high levels of protection. The costs vary from $20000 to $100000+ depending on the complexity of the project. This approach has great flexibility and high speed and is suitable for specific requirements of a business but it requires more investment and time.

  • Low-Code/No-Code Tools

For startups and small businesses, there is an opportunity to use low-code/no-code solutions such as Twinr, which costs from $500 to $5,000. These platforms do not allow programmers to code from scratch for an application, but instead they provide ready made templates and tools that can be easily moved around the interface to develop applications in a short span of time. That makes them ideal for prototyping or to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) in a short amount of time. 

A lot of businesses like food delivery businesses, investment, gaming and more are trusting no-code app development platforms more than custom approaches. This is because it is better in terms of cost, time and effort. To explore 10 best no code apps, read our detailed blog. 

  • Hybrid Approach 

A blended model intermingles manual coding with low code platforms, while still allowing for a certain level of customization while also being cost effective. Prices range from $5000 to $20000 depending on the additional features installed. It is most suitable for businesses that require somewhat complex and customizable functionality that doesn’t necessarily require a full custom development price tag.

Platform Choice

Selecting the right operating system, iOS, Android, or both has an impact on the cost of developing an app. Developing for both operating systems (cross-platform development) is costlier than developing for a single operating system. Native apps are better in performance compared to hybrid apps but they are expensive than hybrid apps; hence hybrid apps provide better solutions to most challenges at a lesser cost.

App Features

One of the most important factors that directly impacts the cost to make an app is its features and functionalities. 

  • Basic Features: Apps with basic and not-so-advanced features can be developed with less integrations and thus are not costier. 
  • Advanced Features: Including the payment gateway, offline feature, real-time tracking, push notification, etc mainly raises development expenses, but at the same time provides better user interaction and greater revenue.

Design Complexity

Complex and individualistic designs of UI/UX are expensive to develop but provide an exclusive and efficient interface. Basic layouts are cheaper than complex, rich graphical interfaces which in turn raise the price. Mobile application development cost cannot be overstretched while addressing aesthetic and functional design to ensure that the application is as effective as possible.

Creating Your Brand

Branding helps Apple, Nike, and McDonald’s stand out in a competitive market. While branding may not be your priority during app creation owing to expense, it’s essential to your business model. Branding will affect your app’s price, so start small.

You can gradually increase branding as you gain market share. Cost calculations should include app icon creation and marketing initiatives.

Location of the App Development Partner

The location of your app development partner can affect the final cost of your project. Each worldwide mobile app development hub has its price structure. Here are some prominent iOS and Android app development sites and their average hourly rates:

In India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, app development costs $25–35 per hour. In Australia, the UK, and South America, app development costs $40–$110 per hour.

North America is a top app development site. Due to their knowledge and extensive development capabilities, agencies in this region charge $130 to $160 per hour.

Consider your budget and project needs while picking an app development partner. Some places offer cheaper options, but others offer cutting-edge technology and innovation. Your choice should reflect your development goals and finances.

When recruiting an app developer overseas, you can cut costs significantly by using an employer of record service. EORs manage the hrining process on your behalf, taking care of all the regulatory and compliance requirements. Finding a suitable provider is relatively simple, too — if you’re seeking developers in London, for example, entering an employer of record UK into Google should be all that’s needed to source the talent you’re looking for.

Maintenance and Updates

The final stage of mobile application development doesn’t mark the end of expenses. Businesses must recognize the need to adapt their apps to evolving market trends and the continuous stream of new device models and operating system versions, all of which come with associated costs. So, what demands your budget post-app development?

  • App Bug Fixes: The notion of a completely bug-free application remains elusive in mobile apps. More often than not, bugs rear their heads only after the app has been launched and users start interacting with it. Vigilance is required to detect and address these issues promptly.
  • Design Evolution: Mobile app designs, in particular, tend to age and lose their appeal over time. For a brand aiming to retain user engagement, keeping the app’s design updated is crucial.

To gauge the financial commitment needed for app maintenance, it’s customary to calculate an annual average cost equivalent to around 20% of the total mobile app development expenditure. This app maintenance cost provision helps ensure the longevity and relevance of your mobile application in a dynamic digital landscape.

Your budget, project needs, and development engagement determine your hiring decision. If you hire an app development company, you will have to pay more than when hiring a freelancer.

Before deciding on app quality and pricing, explore all options.

How to Estimate App Development Cost?

It is important to consider and calculate mobile app development cost before you even begin. Thus, asking the right questions will help you to make a clean budget and spare yourself numerous surprises. Starting from defining the key characteristics to identifying the target audience, effective planning guarantees the fine line between cost and quality to be drawn. It is now time to dissect the main questions to assist you in estimating the cost to develop an app and strategizing further.

1. What features do you need?

Features are the main components of your app and help to determine the cost to make an app; To start with, describe the basic features, such as push notifications, forms, and search filters. If your application needs some of the additional features such as payment services, offline capability or tracking, the cost will be relatively higher. Business needs should be prioritized and some features implemented later because this approach allows for lower costs at the start while still satisfying users.

2. What’s your budget and timeline?

It is essential to know the estimated mobile app development cost so you can plan your budget and further planning accordingly. The cost of custom development can cost anything from $20,000 to well over $100,000, while the low-code/no-code platforms such as Twinr can cost as low as $ 500 to $5000. Faster timelines may also increase costs, so review your timeline for your project. It is suggested that firms first invest in MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) because they allow for market testing and greater future growth without requiring significant amounts of capital.

3. Who is your target audience?

Knowing your audience has a direct effect on the cost to develop an app and the platform chosen. Are they iOS, Android or both users? It determines whether you require native apps for effectiveness or cross-platform apps for cost-effectiveness. Also consider the demographic’s expectation — modern UI/UX design or interactivity may cost more but they will provide better returns. When your audience’s needs match your budget, you can create a sustainable plan without going over budget.

To dive into the detailed steps to develop an app with no-code app platforms, read our blog. 

App Development Cost with No-Code App Builders

The field of app creation has seen a revolution thanks to no-code app builders, which are revolutionary in terms of practicality and affordability. Several important considerations need to be taken into account when assessing the costs related to employing no-code app builders:

Pricing Models

No-code app builders usually provide a range of pricing options to accommodate diverse needs. Standard models consist of:

  • Free Plans: Numerous no-code platforms provide free plans with restricted functionalities, which are great for small-scale projects or testing.
  • Subscription Plans: Monthly or yearly membership plans are frequently offered to gain access to additional features and functionalities. These plans have different price tiers depending on the functionality and support needed.
  • Pay-as-You-Go: This flexible approach to expanding your app allows you to only pay for the services and resources that you utilize. It is available on certain platforms.

Subscription Plans

Selecting a suitable subscription package is necessary, considering the specifications and extent of your project. The amount of users, the amount of data storage needed, and the quality of technical support needed are all factors to consider when choosing a plan.

Additional Costs

Although no-code platforms can drastically save development costs, it’s important to consider whatever extra expenditures that arise. Payments for premium themes, bespoke domain names, and third-party integrations might be among them. If applicable, take into account recurring costs like hosting fees.

How to Reduce the App Development Cost?

It is possible to develop an application for a mobile device for a relatively small amount of money. It is possible to cut mobile app development cost and minimize the factors that increase the additional cost. Let’s discuss some best ways to reduce app development cost without impacting quality and compromising on features:

  1. Leverage no code platforms like Twinr: The development becomes more manageable with the help of no code app builders like Twinr which has a drag and drop option. This makes the development of apps cheap and easy to launch to the market.
  2. Start with Minimum Viable Product: Before launching the final app, start with launching an MVP to test the essential features and functionality of the app. It reduces the initial costs and allows you to expand further once the users’ response is received.
  3. Use templates or pre-built components: Applying ready-to-use UI/UX templates can help to save a lot of money because each and every functionality costs not only money but also time to develop which also increases cost. Employing pre-built templates makes the work easier yet making the application as trendy and easy to navigate as possible. 
  4. Optimize maintenance with automation: Attempt to incorporate automated maintenance tools because these monitor the app’s performance and help fix the bugs and issues as they are spotted instead of becoming huge disasters. Also, when the maintenance process is automated, the cost of manual maintenance is eliminated. 

The Bottom Line

Apps have become an essential part of everyone’s life; thus, businesses see potential for growth in their app ideas. Many apps are being built every day, and most of them are going great because people nowadays are looking for ease and ways to simplify their lives.

However, it is difficult for businesses to transform their ideas into a live apps because only some ideas are viable and under budget for businesses. Thus, a lot of ideas remain under documents only.

No-code app development ensures the app is built under budget and does not require coding specialization. A person with a little knowledge of app development processes can also build a full-fledged app without hiring an experienced developer. And, Twinr is among the best no code app builder platforms that have helped many businesses generate revenue from their apps.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to build an app, then Twinr is your right choice.

Let our team know what type of app you want, and we will help you with our app builder.

Gaurav Parvadiya

Gaurav is the founder and CEO of Twinr, a tech entrepreneur with a decade of experience and a passion for SaaS. With a Master's degree in Computer Science, he specializes in no-code development, driving innovation in the mobile app industry. When he's not busy growing the company, you'll find him writing about tech, growth, software development, e-commerce, and occasionally sneaking in a game of badminton.

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