The cost to build a mobile app is usually the first thing people ask about. The decisions that set it come earlier: which platforms, how many user roles, whether the app has to work without a signal, and the admin panel behind it. This guide takes those decisions in order, then shares our published budget bands and the costs that sit outside the build.
iOS and Android: two native apps or one codebase?
Native development means two separate apps, Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. Every screen is built and tested twice, and every update runs through two codebases. In return you get direct access to everything each platform offers.
With a single codebase, using a framework such as React Native or Flutter, the same code runs on both platforms. For most business apps this is what we recommend, since budget and timeline are shared and both platforms update on the same day. Only a feature that needs platform-specific hardware access is written separately.
| Approach | When it’s right | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Single codebase (iOS + Android) | Both platforms needed, shared budget and timeline | 4-8 weeks |
| Single platform | Your users are mostly in one ecosystem | 3-6 weeks |
| Mobile web (PWA) | No store release needed, zero install friction | 2-4 weeks |
| Addition to an existing app | You have an app and need a new module or a refresh | 2-5 weeks |
These figures are for a first version and exclude store review. A PWA opens in the phone’s browser and can be added to the home screen without a store download. If you need constant background location or certain hardware features, you need a store app.
From idea to store: the steps in getting a mobile app built
On a fixed-scope mobile project the steps usually run as below, for a 4-8 week single-codebase build. As scope grows, development is the step that stretches.
- 01
Discovery call
30 minutesWe talk through who will use the app, where, and what for. The call is free, and you leave with a rough scope and timeline.
- 02
Written scope and price
Screens, roles and integrations are written down and priced as one total, with 30% paid on starting. Your product owner, the single point of contact, is named here.
- 03
Design
The core flows are designed at phone size, and the approved design becomes the reference for each weekly build.
- 04
Development
A build every weekEach week you install a new build through TestFlight or Google Play’s internal testing. The task list is open to you, and scope changes come with their impact in writing within 24 hours.
- 05
Testing and store preparation
The app is tested on different screen sizes and older operating system versions. Store screenshots, descriptions and privacy details are prepared.
- 06
Review and launch
About 1 week per storeThe app goes to the App Store and Google Play. Review is often quicker; the margin covers a possible rejection and a round of fixes.
What drives the cost to build a mobile app
Screen count gives a rough idea, but two apps with the same number of screens can take very different amounts of time. These six items set most of the price:
Screens and roles
Each role, such as customer, courier or manager, brings its own screens and permissions. One role is noticeably quicker to build than several.
Offline mode
Records stay on the phone and sync when a connection returns. Merging conflicting edits has to be planned early; adding it later changes the data model.
Notifications
One announcement is simple. Notifications triggered by what users do, scheduled, or varied by role are a separate piece of work.
Integrations
Payments, maps, SMS, accounting or your existing system. A clean API on the other side shortens the job; without one, you need an integration layer.
Admin panel
The web panel where orders are assigned and content and users are managed. Every mobile app has one, and it takes a sizeable share of the budget.
Design
Finished screen designs or a brand guide shorten the timeline. Design from scratch and custom animation are separate items.
Mobile app development cost: our published budget bands
These are the two mobile packages on our pricing page. The ranges exclude VAT and are valid as of 15 September 2026; when prices change, the date changes with them.
| Package | Budget (excl. VAT) | Typical time | Example scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple mobile app (iOS + Android) | US$5,000-10,000 | 4-8 weeks | One codebase, core flows, an admin panel |
| Mid-level mobile app (iOS + Android) | US$10,000-20,000 | Depends on scope | Multi-role flows, offline mode, notifications, integrations |
Where you land in a range depends on the items above. You get an exact figure in writing after the discovery call, tied to a written scope. Small jobs, such as one new feature or maintenance, start from US$1,000.
Fixed price or hourly?
With a clear scope we work to a fixed price: 30% on starting, the rest across delivery milestones. If the scope will take shape through user feedback, time and materials suits better, billed per person-hour by role (US$25-60). A developer hired alone is billed alone; the product owner, analyst and QA are optional, and fixed prices include them.
Costs outside the build
These are paid directly to each provider, usually from accounts in your name, and are not part of our price. Fees vary by provider and usage, so check current amounts on each provider’s own site.
| Item | Paid to | How it’s charged |
|---|---|---|
| Apple developer account | Apple | Annual membership fee |
| Google Play developer account | One-off registration fee | |
| Servers and database | Hosting provider | Monthly; grows with users and data |
| SMS (verification codes, alerts) | SMS provider | Per message sent |
| Maps and location services | Maps provider | By number of requests |
| Card payments | Payment provider | Commission per transaction |
| AI usage | Model provider | By volume of use |
If you sell digital content or subscriptions inside the app, the stores also take a share of each sale. Physical goods and services generally go through your own payment provider instead. Check current rates and exceptions in each store’s terms before you start.
Open the developer accounts in your company’s name. Apple and Google both ask organisations for a D-U-N-S number, which can take a while to obtain, so start the application in the project’s first week.
Store review, and what happens after launch
Both stores review an app before it goes live. Common reasons for rejection include a missing privacy policy, screenshots that don’t reflect the app, no in-app way to delete an account, and no test login for reviewers when sign-in is required. We prepare these during development.
Apple and Google release new operating system versions every year, and both stores expect apps to be built against recent versions. Budget for at least one update a year so the app keeps working on new phones.
How to keep the first version small
A small first version pays off more on mobile than on the web, because every update goes through store review before it reaches people’s phones. An MVP typically takes 3-6 weeks. Use this split to decide what goes in:
Put in the first version
- The one core flow the app exists for
- Sign-up, login and account deletion
- A simple admin panel that runs the core flow
- Notifications or offline mode, if the core flow needs them
Leave for later
- Every social login option
- In-app chat
- Detailed reports and exports
- Multiple languages and themes
- Gamification such as loyalty points and badges
On the web, a first working version typically ships in 2-4 weeks. If you aren’t sure your users need a store app, try the idea on mobile web first.
SoruVerse
Our own mobile product: a campus Q&A and community app, live on the App Store and Google Play.
Mobile app development
Our service scope: iOS and Android from one codebase, with the admin panel and store release included.
Pricing
Hourly rates by role, our four engagement models and all project budget bands.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a mobile app?
A first version for iOS and Android from one codebase typically takes 4-8 weeks, a single platform 3-6 weeks and mobile web 2-4 weeks. Store review comes on top; allow roughly a week per store.
What does a mobile app cost?
As of 15 September 2026, our published ranges, excluding VAT, are US$5,000-10,000 for a simple iOS and Android app and US$10,000-20,000 for a mid-level one with several roles, offline mode and integrations. Developer accounts, hosting and services such as SMS are paid to the providers.
Who owns the source code and the store accounts?
You do. The developer accounts are opened in your company’s name. On final payment the source code and IP transfer to you, along with documentation and setup instructions.
Can we start with Android only?
Yes. If most of your users are on one platform, a single-platform first version takes 3-6 weeks. On a single codebase, iOS can follow later with less effort, though the screens still need adjusting and testing on iPhone.