The cost of developing a mobile app
Real numbers for 2026 — not “price on request”. Fill in 7 steps and get a range $3,000–$30,000+ depending on platform, design and features. 15 years in mobile. 20+ products in production.
Fill in 7 steps and get a transparent estimate
In 2026, developing a mobile app usually costs from $3,000 for a basic MVP to $30,000+ for a product with a complex backend, integrations and two native platforms. The budget is driven most by the number of platforms, feature complexity, design level, backend, integrations and security requirements. The calculator below gives a preliminary range in 2 minutes. We lock the exact estimate after discovery and requirement clarification.
All prices are real. No vague “from…”. After the final step you will see the breakdown and receive a PDF estimate by email.
Native iOS+Android vs Flutter vs Progressive Web App
The cheapest path is not always the right one. The difference between Native and Flutter is 30% of the budget, but the performance gain is not always worth the price. PWA is a separate story.
iOS Swift + Android Kotlin
Flutter (Dart)
What about PWA? A Progressive Web App is a website with offline functionality. Budget from $2,000, but no access to the App Store / Play, and limited push notifications. Suitable only when brand or SEO matters more than the app stores.
How much a mobile app costs in 2026 — 3 typical scenarios
The calculator above gives a point. Below are three typical scenarios for reference.
For startups testing an idea. One store (App Store or Google Play), basic design, up to 10 screens.
- iOS OR Android (one)
- Up to 10 screens
- Basic template design
- 2–4 key features
- Publishing included in the price
For businesses with a validated model. Both stores, custom design, e-commerce.
- Flutter cross-platform (×1.7)
- 10–25 screens
- Custom design
- 5–8 features
- Backend + admin panel
- E-commerce + payments
- Publishing + ASO + 3 months of support
For large companies. Native iOS+Android, complex architecture, ERP/CRM integrations.
- Native iOS + Android (×2.0)
- 25–50+ screens
- Premium branded design
- 10+ features
- Architecture for an agreed load
- A dedicated team of 4–6 people
- SLA + year-round support
How we estimate cost and what you get after the calculator
The calculator is starting point. The real figure is locked after a short discovery.
Calculator → range (now)
In 2 minutes you get a range and a breakdown by component. No registration, no spam.Discovery call — 30 min free
Mykola Tabuchenko (Senior iOS) + Andrii (PM) discuss the business task. We will define 3 scope options with different budgets.Fixed estimate — within 5 working days
We prepare a detailed spec + a fixed price with a breakdown. No surprises mid-project.Contract + start
Contract under Ukrainian OR Estonian/US jurisdiction. You own the code from day one. Staged payment by milestones.Sprint-based delivery
Weekly demos, a transparent tracker, direct access to the developer. No “one more month”.What the cost includes — 6 key components
No hidden “that costs extra”. Everything is in the initial estimate.
Discovery + spec (5–10% of budget)
Founder interview, market analysis, user stories, technical architecture, MVP/v2/v3 scope. Everything is documented.UI/UX design (15–20% of budget)
Wireframes → prototype in Figma → high-fidelity mockups. Testing with 3–5 real users before development starts.Development (50–60% of budget)
Native iOS Swift or Flutter (Dart). Clean architecture, test coverage, code review on every PR. You own the code.QA + testing (10–15% of budget)
Functional, regression, device matrix (TOP-20 devices). Performance + security audit before release.Store publishing 🎁
App Store + Google Play submission, rejection handling, basic ASO. This is a free gift.Support (option, from $1k for 3 months)
Bug-fix, OS updates (iOS/Android), monitoring. First 30 days — free.How long development takes
Depending on complexity — from 1 month up to 9 months.
A hypothesis in 2 months
One store, up to 10 screens, minimum features. A fast launch to test the market.
A full-fledged product
Both stores (Flutter), custom design, e-commerce, backend. Up to 25 screens.
Complex architecture
Native iOS+Android in parallel, 50+ screens, ERP/CRM integrations, security audit. A dedicated team of 4–6 people.
20+ apps in production — here are some
Sadok.app
A CRM platform for kindergartens and after-school centers.
Unite communication between parents, educators and administration in a single app.
Live SaaS product, active clients in 3 countries. Built end-to-end for a client.
WiFi Heatmap
A tool for analyzing Wi-Fi coverage indoors.
Make complex mesh analytics accessible on a smartphone.
1M+ downloads on Google Play.
Wi-Fi AR
Augmented Reality visualization of the Wi-Fi signal.
Show an invisible signal through the smartphone camera.
5M+ downloads.
Benish GUARD
A car monitoring app for the Benish system.
Rebuild a legacy iOS app + add Android.
Native iOS + Android, real-time GPS integration.
Flagman
Logistics for the Ukrainian b2b segment.
A mobile-first solution for drivers + dispatchers.
Robotic order assignment, GPS tracking, 1C integration.
Qela
A healthcare app for a medical facility.
Doctor booking, telemedicine, secure medical-record exchange.
Native iOS+Android, full healthcare compliance.
3 reasons why app development is entrusted to us
15 years of iOS development
Mykola Tabuchenko has led iOS development since 2011. Flutter since the first releases — commercial projects, not “learned on a course”.
Products in production
Sadok.app — built end-to-end, live SaaS in 3 countries. WiFi Heatmap — 1M+ downloads. We are not just developers — we run products after release.
A full in-house team
Mobile developers, designers, backend, DevOps, QA — all in one team. You do not pay for coordinating 3 subcontractors.
FAQ
How much does mobile app development cost in 2026?
The real range for a business app is $3,000–$30,000+. An MVP for a single store with basic design starts at $3,000. A full Flutter cross-platform app with custom UI, e-commerce and backend is $5,000–$15,000. Native iOS+Android enterprise is $15,000+. The exact figure depends on platform, size, features, design and backend. The calculator above gives a range in 2 minutes. Store publishing — a free gift.
How long does development take from scratch to release?
MVP — 1–2 months. A full mid-level product (Flutter, up to 25 screens, with backend) — 3–5 months. A complex enterprise app with native development — 6–9 months. We send weekly demos, so you see progress every 7 days.
Native or Flutter — which to choose?
Flutter saves ~30% of the budget (×1.7 instead of ×2.0) and cuts timelines by up to 30%, but performance is 5–15% lower. Native need it if: AR/VR, games, complex graphics, direct hardware integrations. Fintech works fine on Flutter (PrivatBank). For most B2B SaaS, e-commerce and internal tools, Flutter is the optimal choice. During discovery we will recommend something specific to your task.
Who owns the code after handover?
You. We hand over full access to the GitHub repository from day one — you see every commit. All IP rights transfer to your company after the final milestone is paid.
Can we start with an MVP and add features later?
Yes — this is our recommended approach. We build MVP for $3–5k in 1–2 months with 3–4 key features, we launch in a single store and gather real data. Then we add features in quarterly sprints of $1–3k each. You pay only for what has been validated.
Why is store publishing a free gift?
Working with the App Store / Google Play since 2011, we know all typical rejection reasons. We include submission in the package free is our standard. We prepare for and support moderation: if we get a rejection due to our own mistakes, we fix it for free.
A word from the person who will lead development
“Most mobile development estimates fail because studios are afraid to tell the client the truth. I have been writing code for 15 years and have seen 20+ apps go from MVP to 6M+ downloads. An honest budget, realistic timelines, clear trade-offs — that is what professionalism in mobile means.
Mykola TabuchenkoSenior Mobile Developer · 15 years of iOS · Flutter since the first releases · 20+ live apps
Got a ballpark cost? See the details per platform: iOS app development, Android app development, Flutter apps. Or the full overview — mobile app development.
What costs appear after launch
Development is not the last expense. Here is what to budget for the first year after release.
Apple Developer Program
$99 / year — required to publish on the App Store.Google Play Console
$25 one-time — lifetime access to Google Play.Hosting and backend
from $20 to $200 / month depending on load and the number of users.Support and updates
from $1,000 per 3 months: fixes, compatibility with new iOS/Android versions.Updates for new OS versions
every year Apple and Google ship versions that break part of the APIs.ASO and promotion
a separate budget: without it the app will not be found in the stores.Calculation methodology
The calculator uses the rates of our Ukrainian in-house team and the standard hours of typical projects: MVP, systemic product, complex architecture. The $3,000 base is the MVP core (authorization, basic screens, publishing). Features, design level, size and platforms are added on top (Flutter gives one codebase for two platforms, Native is counted with a multiplier). It is a range, not a single figure, because an exact estimate is only possible after discovery and technical requirements.
Limits of the estimate: the calculator does not account for:
- complex integrations with legacy systems;
- regulatory requirements (healthcare, finance);
- loads above 100k MAU;
- hardware devices.
Such projects are estimated separately.
Estimate reviewed by: Mykola Tabuchenko, Senior Mobile Developer · 15 years of iOS · Flutter since the first releases. Prices are current as of July 2026.
Ready to move from the calculator to a real project?
A 30-minute discovery with Mykola and the PM — free. We will define 3 scope options with different budgets and tell you honestly: whether we are a fit for your task, or whether another approach suits you better.
Book a discoveryOr write directly: info@chyzh.agency