What mobile apps cost
| App complexity | Typical cost | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $10,000 – $25,000 | A few screens, basic backend |
| Medium | $25,000 – $50,000 | Accounts, payments, real-time data |
| Complex | $50,000 – $75,000+ | Multi-role, integrations, offline |
What drives the cost
- Features. Every screen and flow adds time — the same as web.
- The backend. Most apps need an API, database, and admin behind them; that's real software too.
- Native vs. cross-platform. Native means two separate codebases (iOS and Android); cross-platform is one.
- Integrations. Payments, push notifications, maps, and third-party APIs each add work.
Native vs. cross-platform
Native (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) gives maximum performance but doubles much of the work. Cross-platform with React Native ships one codebase to both stores and is the right choice for most apps — it cuts cost and time without a meaningful downside for typical products. We build mobile apps in React Native (it's how PlasmaPoker ships iOS, Android, and desktop from shared code).
Don't forget the backend
The app is only half the product — most need a server, database, and admin. Budget for both. Get a free estimate for your specific app.