# Mobile App Development Cost: iOS, Android, and Cross-Platform

- Tool: Development Cost
- Last updated: November 2026

## TL;DR

Mobile app development costs $15,000 to $400,000 or more, depending on platform and complexity. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter typically cost 60–80% of building separate iOS and Android apps, per GoodFirms and Netguru. A simple cross-platform MVP with login, payments, and push notifications runs $25,000–$85,000 over two to four months, while a complex app built as two native codebases can exceed $300,000.

## Mobile app cost by platform and complexity

GoodFirms' 2026 survey of 267 companies prices iOS, Android, and cross-platform separately, and the gap is consistent: building one native app, then a second from scratch, costs noticeably more than one cross-platform codebase that ships to both stores. Netguru and Cynoteck agree on the direction even where their exact numbers differ.

| Tier | Examples | Cost | Timeline |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cross-platform simple | React Native, Flutter, or FlutterFlow MVP, one core workflow | $15,000–$85,000 | 2–4 months |
| Cross-platform medium | Multiple workflows, payments, integrations, both stores | $40,000–$185,000 | 4–6 months |
| Single native platform | iOS-only or Android-only, simple to medium features | $25,000–$150,000 | 3–6 months |
| Dual native (iOS + Android) | Two separate codebases, simple to medium features | $50,000–$300,000 | 3–9 months |
| Dual native, complex | Marketplace, real-time, or enterprise features on two native apps | $300,000–$700,000+ | 9–18 months |

## What each feature adds, mobile-specific

| Feature | Cost range | Hours | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Push notifications | $2,000–$5,000 | 20–40 | Purrweb prices this closer to $3,320+ |
| Offline mode | $8,000–$20,000 | 80–200 | Needed for apps used with unreliable connectivity |
| Chat / realtime | $12,000–$35,000 | 120–250 | Netguru and Radical Labs both flag this as a top-cost feature |
| Admin panel | $10,000–$25,000 | 120–300 | Shared across web and mobile builds |
| AI features | $20,000–$60,000+ | 80–300+ (plus usage) | Same range applies whether the feature lives on web or mobile |
| App store submission & review | Built into timeline, not a separate budget line | – | Budget days to weeks per rejection cycle |

## Cost by who builds it, mobile rates

| Option | Hourly rate | Total for a typical v1 | Trade-offs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Upwork freelancer (≥$10K earned, mobile) | $30/hr median ($20–$40 IQR) | $20,000–$45,000 | You coordinate PM, QA, and architecture yourself |
| Vetted freelance network (Arc) | $61–$80/hr average | $40,000–$75,000 | Higher quality bar for a solo hire |
| Offshore/nearshore agency | $35–$86/hr by seniority (Accelerance, Eastern Europe) | $45,000–$100,000 | Timezone overlap varies by region |
| US agency | $100–$199/hr | $100,000–$220,000+ | Full PM, design, and QA team |
| US in-house mobile developer | Salary median $170,000/yr (Stack Overflow 2025) | ~$33,000 for one dev over 10 weeks, before recruiting | UK median $99,383; Germany $93,972; India $10,462 |

## Ongoing costs after launch

| Item | Cost | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Apple Developer Program | $99/yr | Apple's own pricing page |
| Google Play developer account | $25 one-time | Google's own pricing page |
| Apple commission | 15% (Small Business Program) or 30% standard | Google: 15% on the first $1M/yr, 30% above |
| OS compatibility updates | 40–80 hours/yr per platform | Netguru estimate |
| Backend hosting (<50K MAU) | $200–$800/mo serverless | Netguru estimate |
| Maintenance | 15–25% of build cost per year | Consistent across most agency guides |

On a $9.99/mo subscription, Apple's small-business rate takes about $1.50, Google's US/EEA/UK subscription rate (10% + 5% billing fee) takes about $1.50, and routing payment through a web checkout with Stripe costs roughly $0.66 after card and billing fees.

## Costs people forget to budget for

- App Store and Play Store review rejections add resubmission cycles that delay launch.
- A device and OS QA matrix, different phones, screen sizes, and OS versions, is easy to underscope.
- HIPAA compliance adds roughly $25,000–$60,000 on top of a standard build, per Netguru.
- Choosing two native codebases roughly doubles QA effort compared to one cross-platform build.
- App Store Optimization and store listing assets are often left out of the initial budget.
- SDK and OS version deprecations force periodic update cycles even without new features.

## How to spend less without regretting it

- Build one cross-platform codebase (React Native, Flutter, or Expo) instead of two native ones.
- Launch on one platform first; a single-platform MVP runs $25,000–$60,000 per Netguru, versus $50,000+ for both.
- Consider a PWA first for content-heavy apps; Topflight prices this at roughly 30% of native cost.
- Validate the idea in FlutterFlow or Lovable before committing to a fully custom native build.
- Offshore or nearshore the build to Eastern Europe or LATAM for meaningful savings over a US agency.
- Scope push notifications and offline mode as a phase two instead of launch requirements.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does mobile app development cost?

Mobile apps cost $15,000 to $400,000 or more. A simple cross-platform MVP runs $25,000–$85,000; a complex app built as two separate native codebases can exceed $300,000.

### Is iOS or Android app development more expensive?

They're close. GoodFirms prices Android slightly higher due to device fragmentation, but the bigger cost driver is whether you build native, cross-platform, or both.

### How much cheaper is cross-platform development than building two native apps?

Cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter typically cost 60–80% of what two separate native codebases cost, according to GoodFirms and the wider agency consensus.

### Why do quotes vary so much?

Agencies price different team locations, platforms, and feature sets under the same label. A $25,000 quote and a $250,000 quote can both be accurate descriptions of very different scopes.

### How long does it take to build a mobile app?

A simple cross-platform MVP takes 2–4 months; dual native builds with more features typically take 3–9 months, and complex dual native apps can run 9–18 months.

### What ongoing costs come after launching on the App Store and Google Play?

Budget $99/yr for Apple's developer program, a one-time $25 for Google Play, store commission (15–30%), and maintenance at roughly 15–25% of build cost per year.

### Can I use a mobile app development cost calculator to get an exact number?

Calculators give a rough range based on estimated hours and a chosen rate; they can't account for your specific features or team. A fixed-price quote after a scoping call is more reliable.

### What does RapidDev charge for a mobile app?

RapidDev quotes $18,000–$23,000 for a cross-platform MVP with login, payments, admin, and push, delivered in 7–9 weeks. Two native codebases or heavier features need a bigger scope.

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Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/cost/mobile-app-development-cost
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