How much does an app cost in 2026?

“How much does an app cost?” has no single answer: a booking app for one salon and a marketplace with payments, chat and an admin panel are very different projects. This guide shows what published price guides say, what drives the price, which yearly costs to expect and how to compare quotes.

The short answer

Published guides put a basic MVP (a first version with the core features) at roughly $10,000 to $25,000 and a polished MVP at $25,000 to $60,000; apps with more screens, accounts, payments and integrations cost considerably more. Many businesses start with a smaller first version and add features later. Your price depends on your app, which is why we quote every project individually.

What published price guides say

• Basic MVP: about $10,000 to $25,000
• Polished MVP: about $25,000 to $60,000
• Moderate app (15–25 screens): about $20,000 to $150,000, depending on the team's hourly rate
• Complex app (30+ screens): about $50,000 to $315,000

Source: Techsy (updated June 2026), a development company's published estimates. These are market ranges, not Vanzasoft prices; compare what each quote includes, not only the total.

What drives the price

• Platforms: iPhone only, Android only or both. A cross-platform app with one codebase is usually cheaper than two separate native apps.
• Screens and features: every screen, user account, payment, chat, map or notification adds design, development and testing time.
• Back end and admin panel: most business apps need a server, a database and a dashboard where your team manages content, orders or bookings.
• Integrations: connections to your website, booking system, CRM, payment provider or ERP.
• Design: a custom, polished interface takes longer than standard components but feels more professional.
• Who builds it and where: hourly rates differ a lot between freelancers and agencies, and between countries.

Yearly costs to plan for

• Maintenance and updates: published guides commonly mention about 15–20% of the build cost per year (Techsy), for new iOS and Android versions, fixes and small improvements.
• App store fees: Apple's developer program costs $99 a year; a Google Play developer account costs a one-time $25.
• Servers and services: hosting, databases, push notifications, maps or text messages are often billed monthly and grow with the number of users.

How to keep the cost under control

1. Start with a first version (MVP). Build the features that matter most, launch, and learn from real users before adding more.
2. Write down the features. A clear list of screens and features makes quotes comparable and avoids surprises.
3. Choose cross-platform where it fits. One codebase for iPhone and Android saves time on many projects.
4. Ask about yearly costs in advance. Maintenance, hosting and store fees belong in the budget from day one.
5. Check who owns the code. The source code and the store accounts should be yours.

How we put together your quote

We don't work with fixed packages. You tell us what your app should do, for whom, on which platforms and by when. We then send you a clear, written quote with exactly what is included, free and without obligation. If a smaller first version makes sense, we suggest it.

Not sure you need an app yet? Read website or mobile app: what does your business need first? or see how we approach mobile app development, from the first sketch to the app stores.