How much does a mobile app cost in 2024?

Mobile apps have become an essential part of digital transformation. But many entrepreneurs considering them for their business are still struggling with pricing. After consulting Google and ChatGPT, it’s easy to come across conflicting information that doesn't give a clear idea. Pricing is also influenced by the use of AI models at every stage of development. However, streamlining and accelerating production processes does not necessarily lead to lower prices.

This article should dispel all confusion while illustrating the financial complexity of development with clear numbers.

What’s the cost of development in 2026?

All estimates stem from 5 key factors:

1. Features

• Simple apps: Basic apps are for everyone looking for a quick and affordable solution. They usually cost between 4,000 and 20,000 Euros, minus the subsequent maintenance. Typically centered around one specific feature the price remains compressed, mostly due to a simple technical solution and a basic interface. AI can now significantly speed up the delivery of simpler projects, often saving dozens of hours of work, which in turn drives down costs. The biggest shift is now happening in prototyping, coding, and the automation of routine tasks.

• Moderately complex applications: Applications with multiple functions, such as user accounts, notifications or third-party integrations, can cost between 20,000 and 60,000 Euros. The vast majority of cross-platform mobile apps are priced on this level, including streamlined code and a comfortable user interface. Here, too, the automation of certain processes through AI is evident, which shortens time-to-market. At this level, however, the cost tends to shift to other aspects of the product, particularly architecture and technical quality.

• Complex apps: Developing complex mobile apps starts at about 60,000 Euros. In addition to extensive features, the price increases mainly with the number of screens. This applies to social networks or bigger e-shops with large catalogs. But you don't just pay for features –– if you expect daily traffic in tens of thousands of users, you need technically precise and stable software, which also requires thorough post-launch management and frequent updates. That is why the use of AI tools leads only to a partial reduction in costs. Artificial intelligence does not simplify complexity itself; rather, it shifts where time is invested. Most often, it is directed toward designing precise architecture, integration, or post-launch support.

2) Type of application

• Native App

Native development is separate for each platform. In practice, this ensures a more expensive and time-consuming process. Code is written in different languages (Java, Kotlin, Swift, and many others), requiring a more experienced and diverse team of programmers. However, the long process pays off with a sophisticated user interface and a robust technical solution.

In a nutshell –– it's extremely important to determine how quickly you want to go to market with your app and whether time-consuming development will get in the way. At the same time, it's a good idea to factor in costly post-release maintenance.

• PWA - Progressive Web Apps

PWA apps are web-based apps that run on mobile devices and support a good deal of native functionalities, including push notifications or offline mode. This simplifies the team's work, leading to more efficient and cost-effective results. But that doesn't mean it's suitable for every case.

Especially when developing for iOS, you’ll encounter a whole range of limitations. PWAs have a harder time accessing hardware here; they have more difficulty accessing Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS in the background. Push notifications are also severely limited, as they only work for apps added to the home screen via Safari, and users must approve them manually. The entire installation process is relatively unintuitive and may seem untrustworthy to the average user.

If you decide to take the cross-platform route, at Netglade, we primarily develop in Flutter.

• Cross-Platform App

Cross-platform apps use the same code to function on all platforms (iOS, Android) using frameworks like Flutter or React Native. This can make development faster and cheaper than native software. Unified code makes it easier to add new features and updates across platforms.

Bear in mind that you are developing for multiple platforms at the same time and cannot take full advantage of all the individual benefits of one or the other. But in terms of performance, current cross-platform apps are already on par with native.

3) Design (UI) and user experience (UX)

The costs of design and user experience are often underestimated because they’re not always deemed equal to technical solutions. Forget all that –– UX and UI are absolutely central to success.

If your app settles for a simple, preconfigured design, the cost is dramatically reduced. But custom design with original elements tends to be more popular with users and allows for better scalability.

Modern UX uses prototype testing and user data collection to analyze usage as accurately as possible. AI tools make it possible to quickly generate initial designs, test multiple options, and shorten the path from concept to a functional interface. While this speeds up the process, it also raises the bar for quality. Clients expect more design options, faster iterations, and better validation of user behavior.

Good UX design extends the lifecycle of an app that users love to return to and is intuitive to work with. But with repeated iterations, development time increases. Similarly, graphic design – from static images to more complex animations – must be created in close collaboration with frontend teams.

Hence, investments in professional design range from 4,000 to 20,000 EUR, depending on various factors, especially the amount of screens and their complexity.

4) Length and style of development

The longer the development, the higher the price – that much is certain.

In the first phase of the project, a pre-dev analysis should determine an estimate of the development time.

A simple application with basic features will take between 4 to 12 weeks. Complex applications take 6-12 months. The overall development time depends on the technical requirements, number of features, depth of testing, and complexity of UX/UI design.

Thoughtful use of AI tools can significantly speed up the early stages of a project, such as prototyping, UX design, or the implementation of core features. The first version can be developed in just a few days.

However, this does not mean that a production-ready application can be vibecoded in a few hours and launched immediately. While you can quickly create a functional prototype using rapid development, it does not meet the requirements for quality, security, and scalability. Reaching production-ready status still requires weeks or months of work.

In addition to the complexity of the application, the chosen development path also affects pricing:

FTFP (Fixed-time-fixed-price) applies the principle of a predetermined deadline at a predetermined price. The costs are thus seemingly under control, but this approach is not prepared for unforeseen pitfalls. Unfortunately, estimating numbers before development begins is always difficult and rarely accurate. When an unexpected snag occurs along the way or a client thinks to implement a new feature, development is prolonged, and the final price ticks up.

The agile approach works with phased development and thorough iteration. This gives the client better insight into each feature and allows them and the developer to adjust priorities on the go. The delivery date is flexible. Although the overall cost may increase, the agile approach is more mindful of the app’s technical state – A good choice if quality is your primary target.

5) Post-launch support

During initial planning, you need to think about how much will post-launch support influence the budget. The process includes resolving bugs, updating for new OS versions, and introducing new features. Pricing is determined by the frequency of updates and the complexity of additional features.

However, the use of AI significantly streamlines post-launch management. LLM models help automate testing, identify bugs more quickly, and analyze user behavior. This allows for faster responses to issues and shorter release cycles.

Annual maintenance can cost between 4,000 EUR to 20,000 EUR, which should be added to the cost.

Are you thinking of developing an app for your business?

At Netglade, we'll find the ideal approach for you.