“How much does a mobile app cost?” is one of the first questions every idea owner asks, and one of the hardest to answer honestly. The answer depends so heavily on what the app actually has to do that a single number would be more misleading than helpful. Here are price ranges for three typical cases, and the main things that shape the cost. These are typical ranges on the Estonian market, not a fixed price list: an exact figure is only possible once the scope is pinned down.
A simple app: roughly €8,000–20,000
This covers apps with one clear purpose, a small number of screens and simple logic: a catalogue-style app, a simple tool with no user accounts, or a minimal mobile view of an existing web service. If the app doesn’t need a backend or user accounts, the price sits at the lower end. Once you add simple login and a small amount of data to store, it moves toward the upper end.
A mid-complexity app: roughly €20,000–60,000
This covers apps with a real backend, user accounts, some integrations (payments, push notifications, location-based features) and a proper admin side for managing content or users. Most business ideas that genuinely need an app (not just a website) fall into this range. This also includes the first solid version of platforms where users interact with each other or buy something directly inside the app.
A complex app: €60,000 and up
A complex app usually means multiple roles (say, a customer and a service provider in the same app), real-time features, more complex payment and order logic, several integrations with external systems, and larger volumes of data to manage and secure. These projects typically also need more testing and a longer post-launch maintenance period, which affects total cost.
What actually drives the price
- Native vs cross-platform development. Flutter or React Native let you build one codebase for both iOS and Android, which is usually cheaper than two separate native apps. Native development pays off when you need platform-specific performance or features that cross-platform tools don’t support well.
- Backend complexity. User accounts, data sync, notifications and security all mean separate server-side development, which is often just as much work as the app’s own interface.
- Design. A clean interface built on standard components is cheaper than an app with custom animations and a unique visual language.
- App Store and Google Play review. Meeting the stores’ rules (privacy policy, permission requests, in-app purchase rules) takes time and affects the early schedule if it isn’t planned for from the start.
- Post-launch maintenance. iOS and Android update every year, and an app needs ongoing adjustments or it eventually stops working properly. That’s a separate, recurring cost worth budgeting for from day one.
Often “how much does an app cost” is the wrong first question
Before asking about price, it’s worth asking a different question first: do you actually need a native app, or would a mobile-friendly website (PWA) solve the problem? Many business ideas are well served by a fast, well-built website that behaves almost like an app on a phone, at a fraction of a native app’s cost and without App Store review. A native app pays off when you need deep access to device features (camera, location, notifications) or when users need to open the app very often.
If you’re not yet sure whether you need an app, a PWA, or something in between, see how I build mobile apps, or look into web app options. Write to me with a short description of your idea, and I’ll tell you which price range it’s likely to fall into and why.