App Development Cost Calculator
Pick your platforms, features, design level, backend and team location to get an indicative budget range, effort in hours and a timeline for your mobile app. The hour-based formula is published in full below the tool.
Estimate your app
How we calculate
Most app agencies price by effort, so this calculator does too. It estimates engineering hours for your scope, turns that point estimate into a range of −15% to +15%, then multiplies the low hours by the low hourly rate and the high hours by the high hourly rate. That is why the cost range is wider than the hours range: it captures uncertainty in both scope and seniority mix.
| Input | Value used |
|---|---|
| Base hours (screens, navigation, core flows) | Simple 150 · Medium 360 · Complex 800 |
| Platform factor on base hours | Single native app 1.0 · Cross-platform 1.2 · Two native apps 1.8 |
| Feature factor | Single native 1.0 · Cross-platform 1.1 · Two native apps 1.5 |
| Feature hours (before factor) | Login 50 · Payments 80 · Chat 160 · Maps 80 · Push 35 · Offline sync 140 · Video 180 · Analytics 35 · AI features 160 · Web admin panel 160 (not multiplied) |
| Customer-facing web app | +60% of base hours |
| Backend | None 30 · Standard 0.3 × base + 40 · Complex 0.8 × base + 200 |
| Design uplift | Basic +8% · Custom +15% · Premium +25% |
| QA, release and project management | +20% |
| Hourly rates | Offshore $40–$70 · US/UK $120–$180 |
| Team capacity per week | Simple 60 hrs · Medium 105 hrs · Complex 180 hrs, plus 2–3 weeks for discovery and store release |
A simple cross-platform MVP with login, push notifications and a standard backend comes out at roughly $15k–$40k with an offshore team over about 8–12 weeks. That matches the bands we use across the site: MVP $15k–$40k, growth product $40k–$120k and enterprise $120k+. The "comparable scope" label under the results always uses offshore rates, so a US/UK estimate for an MVP-sized app still says MVP even though the dollar figure is higher. For a feature-by-feature discussion of these numbers, see our mobile app development cost guide.
Assumptions and exclusions
- Two native apps are not double the cost. The API, design, QA planning and project management are shared, so we use a factor of 1.8 rather than 2.0.
- Cross-platform is not free. Flutter and React Native share most code, but platform-specific work (permissions, payments, background tasks, store rules) usually adds 10–20% over a single native app. Our engineering comparison of Flutter vs React Native architecture explains where those hours go.
- Features are "standard" versions. Chat means one-to-one and group messaging on a proven real-time service, not a custom protocol. Video means integrating an established streaming or calling SDK. AI features means calling a model API for a scoped feature, not training models.
- Excluded: third-party subscriptions (maps, SMS, video minutes, model usage), app store fees, cloud hosting, content creation, legal review, penetration testing and post-launch feature work.
Rates reflect typical senior-team pricing in each region. Freelancers can be cheaper, but the hours model assumes a managed team with QA and a release process, which is what a production app needs.
Ways to lower the number without cutting quality
- Launch on one codebase. For most business apps, cross-platform delivery costs less than two native apps. Switch the platform input to see the difference.
- Defer expensive features. Offline sync, video and in-app chat are the three biggest items. Many MVPs launch with email or WhatsApp hand-off instead of chat.
- Use a design system. Basic design with good UX writing often tests as well as bespoke visuals for a first release.
- Write requirements first. Unclear scope is the main reason estimates grow. Our MVP requirements template helps you pin it down.
- Plan the launch early. Store listings, privacy labels, crash reporting and analytics are cheaper to set up during the build. Use the mobile app launch checklist so nothing is left to the last week.
When you are ready to move from a range to a fixed-scope proposal, our mobile app development team can review your selections and requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a mobile app in 2026?
As an indicative guide with an offshore team, a focused MVP is typically $15k–$40k, a growth-stage product $40k–$120k and an enterprise app $120k or more. The same scope with a US or UK team usually costs two to three times as much.
Is cross-platform development always cheaper than native?
For most business apps, one Flutter or React Native codebase costs less than two native apps. The saving shrinks when an app relies heavily on device-specific features, complex background processing or advanced graphics, where native work is needed anyway.
Why does the calculator show hours as well as cost?
Hours are the real measure of scope. Showing them lets you compare quotes from teams with different hourly rates and check whether a very low quote leaves out QA, design or backend work.
What is not included in the estimate?
Third-party subscriptions such as maps, SMS or video minutes, app store fees, cloud hosting, content, legal review, penetration testing and post-launch feature development are all excluded.
Turn this range into a fixed quote
Copy your estimate and send it with your feature list. We will review the scope, flag risks and come back with a fixed-price proposal.
Get a fixed quote