How Much Does a Mobile App Cost to Build in 2026?
A mobile app is not "a website you tap." It is two platforms, an app store gauntlet, and ongoing upkeep — which is why quotes run from €8,000 to €150,000+.
Building a mobile app means building for two platforms (iOS and Android), passing two app-store reviews, and keeping it working as those platforms change twice a year. That is why "how much does an app cost" has such a wide answer — from €8,000 for something simple to €150,000+ for a real product.
Here is what sits behind the number, and the one decision — native or cross-platform — that moves it the most.
The price tiers
Simple app
€8,000–20,000
A few screens, mostly self-contained, little or no server.
- Content, a form, basic logic
- One platform or simple cross-platform
- No accounts or light auth
- Weeks to a couple of months
Best for: A focused utility, event app, or a v1 to test an idea.
Standard app
€20,000–60,000
Accounts, a backend, and a proper feature set on both platforms.
- Login, profiles, a real backend
- Push notifications, some integrations
- iOS + Android
- A few months of work
Best for: Most business and startup apps with a clear core purpose.
Complex app
€60,000–150,000
Payments, real-time features, maps, or heavy integrations.
- Payments, chat, live data
- Multiple integrations
- Higher design and QA bar
- Several months, larger team
Best for: Marketplaces, fintech, on-demand, and social apps.
Large-scale product
€150,000+
Scale, security, and reliability as first-class requirements.
- High load, custom architecture
- Compliance and security
- Ongoing product team
- Continuous release cycle
Best for: Funded companies where the app is the business.
The decision that moves the price most: native vs cross-platform
Native means building separately for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin) — best performance and platform feel, but roughly two builds to pay for. Cross-platform (Flutter, React Native) builds both apps from one codebase, often cutting cost and time by 30–40% with excellent results for most apps. Unless you need cutting-edge performance or deep device features, cross-platform is usually the smart default in 2026.
Costs that don't stop at launch
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer account | €99 / year | Required to publish on the App Store. |
| Google Play account | €25 one-time | One-off registration fee. |
| Backend & hosting | €50–500+ / month | Scales with users and features. |
| Maintenance | ~20% of build / year | OS updates twice a year will break things if unmaintained. |
Key takeaways
- Mobile apps run €8k (simple) to €150k+ (large-scale); most business apps land €20k–60k.
- Cross-platform (Flutter/React Native) usually cuts cost 30–40% vs two native builds.
- Many "app" ideas are cheaper and better as a responsive web app or PWA.
- Budget store fees and ~20% of the build per year, or the app rots as the OSes change.
Frequently asked questions
Does iOS + Android cost double?
With native builds, close to it. With cross-platform (Flutter or React Native), you build both from largely one codebase, so it is far from double — one of the biggest cost savings available.
Do I need an app, or is a website enough?
If you do not need push notifications, offline use, or device features, a responsive web app or PWA is usually cheaper, faster, and avoids the app stores entirely. Reach for a native app when those capabilities genuinely matter.
How long does it take?
A simple app: 1–2 months. A standard app: 3–5 months. A complex app: 6+ months. Store review adds days, not weeks, but a clear scope is what really controls the timeline.
Will it get approved by the app stores?
If it is built to the guidelines, yes. Apple is stricter than Google, especially on payments and data. An experienced team designs around the rules from the start rather than discovering them at submission.
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