Making an app can sometimes feel mind-boggling and you start raising questions, such as, how much money does it cost to make an app? In this guide, we’ll give you real numbers, show what drives cost, and help you pick the right development path so you don’t overspend.
If you’re just beginning your app journey, understanding the ballpark figures can save you from sticker shock. One of the first questions to answer is: how much does it cost to develop an app? Let’s break down what you can expect to pay, since app development cost depends heavily on your app’s overall complexity.
Here are realistic cost ranges based on industry standards in 2025:
The complexity of your app’s functionality, along with your choice of platform, features, design quality, and development region, all significantly impact the time and cost of building it. Understanding this also helps you plan mobile app monetization and ensure your investment pays off.
Many app budgets go off track due to hidden app development costs that aren’t obvious at the start. These might include fees for third-party tools, ongoing server and app maintenance costs, post-launch updates, legal compliance, and app store fees. Being aware of these early can help you plan a more accurate budget and avoid surprise expenses later.
Once you have a rough number in mind, it helps to understand why some apps are cheaper or more expensive.
Some features have higher cost to build than others. If you want more advanced user interfaces and features, expect to pay more. Here are the top cost drivers.
Where to save for an MVP: Focus only on the core value proposition, what problem your app solves.
Also, keep in mind that advanced features might boost engagement and growth metrics like DAU. What is DAU, you might ask. It stands for Daily Active Users, a critical performance metric for app success and monetization.
The tech stack and platform you choose can influence both your timeline and your budget. Here’s what to know when making that decision.
Pick one that fits your initial goals and user base. Cross-platform development continues to rise in popularity among current mobile app trends and is ideal for MVPs.
The backend powers your app’s data, logic, and user management. It’s often forgotten in early cost planning, but it can make a big impact on your budget.
To help manage these ongoing backend expenses, developers sometimes add background monetization SDKs like the Honeygain SDK.
This SDK allows apps to passively generate revenue by sharing unused internet bandwidth in the background, without affecting the user experience. It can be a strategic way to monetize your app, especially for those apps with high server demand.
Who handles your, for example, mobile app development matters just as much as what it does. Here’s how different app development team models affect cost and outcomes.
Freelance app developers are typically the most budget-friendly option for, for instance, mobile app development. They can work solo or in small groups and often specialize in a single area, like front-end development or UI/UX design.
When to choose: If you’re building a basic MVP or have technical experience managing developers, freelancers can be a lean and agile choice.
App development agencies provide an all-in-one solution with a dedicated team of app developers that handles every part of the app lifecycle, from design and app development stages to testing and project management. While more expensive, agencies offer structure and scalability.
When to choose: If you want a professional outcome, have a reasonable budget and prefer a hands-off approach, an agency is a smart investment.
Hiring your own in-house development team gives you total control over the process and product. However, it’s the most expensive and time-consuming option, making it suitable for specific scenarios.
When to choose: If mobile development is core to your business model and you plan to continuously improve the product, building an in-house team can offer the best long-term return.
If you want to enter app development project conversations with confidence and avoid budget surprises, use this simple 4-step process:
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
| Step 1 | Define 3-5 core features | Focuses your budget and avoids feature creep |
| Step 2 | Choose platforms (iOS, Android, web. etc.) | Impacts the number of builds and total dev time |
| Step 3 | Decide complexity (simple/medium/complex) | Helps narrow your cost estimate |
| Step 4 | Compare development paths (freelancer / agency / in-house) | Matches cost to your available resources and goals |
Create a clear document with your notes from each step and bring that into your first call with a developer or agency, it shows you’re prepared and saves everyone time.
You’ve now seen what goes into app development cost: from key features and tech choices to team structures and hidden costs. Use this quick summary to make smarter, budget-conscious decisions moving forward.