When it comes to the cost of app development, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of just how much it will be. In general, the cost can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
However, many small businesses and startups can save money on developing apps by working with smaller app development companies or by using a pre-made app.
This article will help estimate rates of building an app based on a variety of factors and your choices. We have also included the top 10 sites to help you calculate your app development cost.
How Much Does It Cost To Develop an App?
Generally, the average rate of building an app ranges from $40,000 to $150,000, depending upon the complexity of the app.
If you are considering developing an app, it is important to understand all of the factors that can affect the cost. The factors influencing the app development cost are:
- In-house vs. offshore app development
- Features and functionality
- Location and structure
- The complexity of visual design
- Android or iOS
- Native or hybrid app
- Backend infrastructure
In general, the cost of developing an app will be higher if the app is more complex and the development team is located in a high-cost area.
App Development Price Based on App Type
The price of developing an app also depends upon what type of app you’re building. We’ve listed some popular types of apps, their estimated time, and the average rate of development to give you an idea of the cost:
- Web app: Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $60,000 to $300,000.
- Game app: Takes up to 1600 hours and costs between $60,000 to $250,000.
- Android app: Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $50,000 to $300,000.
- Mobile app: Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $30,000 to $300,000.
- Taxi app (like Uber): Takes up to 1600 hours and costs between $50,000 to $400,000.
- Startup app: Takes up to 1600 hours and costs between $40,000 to $400,000.
- Augmented Reality (AR) app: Takes up to 1600 hours and costs between $45,000 to $250,000.
- Ecommerce app: Takes up to 1600 hours and costs between $60,000 to $250,000.
- Retail app: Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $50,000 to $150,000.
- Social Media apps (like Instagram): Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $50,000 to $300,000.
- Learning app: Takes up to 900 hours and costs between $60,000 to $225,000.
- Business app: Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $50,000 to $200,000.
- iPhone app: Takes up to 1200 hours and costs between $55,000 to $300,000.
- Restaurant app: Takes up to 900 hours and costs between $40,000 to $150,000.
- Video Streaming app: Takes up to 1600 hours and costs between $80,000 to $300,000.
- Community app: Takes up to 900 hours and costs between $18,000 to $150,000.
Apart from the type and complexity of features, app development cost varies across different countries. The rate for a programmer in Eastern Europe is $30-$50/h, while Western Europe is $80-$100/h and the USA is $120-$150/h.
Examples of Applications and Their Rates
Here are some examples of applications and their estimated rate of development to give you an idea of the price.
IKEA
IKEA has an AR (Augmented Reality) type of application. They have catalogs displaying 3D models of furniture. Multiple new features and integrations along with security aspects have increased the cost of app development. The features of this application include:
- Real-time dashboard
- Analytics
- 3D visualization
- 360-degree view of the product
- Compliance with social media
- CRM integration
The average cost of developing apps like Ikea starts from $45,000 which takes around 1000 hours.
Amazon
Amazon is one of the biggest eCommerce marketplace apps, and building this type of app may increase your bill. The estimated range of developing an eCommerce app like Amazon costs around $155,000 to $280,000.
Top 10 Sites to Calculate App Development Cost
The market of the application industry is highly competitive. On average, 100,000 new apps are released every month on the Google play store and over 30,000 on the Apple App store. In such a market, with several million mobile apps, it’s quite challenging to reach your target users and meet your ROI objectives.
Therefore, many app development companies have developed multiple online calculators to calculate the app development cost. We have listed the top ten sites to calculate the price of building an app.
App Development Cost
App Development Cost is a lightning-fast tool that takes users just a few seconds to check with their tool. It walks users through multiple categories in a single-click interface. You get options to choose the quality, platforms, and whether you need project management services.
Buildfire
Buildfire is a seven-step calculator that gives you various options and filters to estimate your app rate. It includes platform, users, features, maintenance & hosting, monetization, integrations, and Buildfire services. Once you fill these sections, it will give you an estimation of app development cost.
Cleveroad
Cleveroad will walk you through 10+ questions to estimate the app development cost. You get options to develop apps similar to existing apps in the market like Uber and Airbnb or create a new one from the scratch. As you answer all the questions, you get an estimate with this excellent calculator.
Inoxoft
Inoxoft estimates the app development price designed for both desktop and mobile software. This tool gives you an estimated range on each step as compared to other app calculators. In addition to this, if you have special requirements but the survey doesn’t ask you for them, you can add them in the comments field there. You won’t need to send any additional emails for it.
Estimate My App
Estimate My App cost calculator has a different approach. It provides all the filters on a single page to estimate the price. These filters include:
- Size of app
- Account features
- UI complexity
- Mobile specific features
- Location & Date
- User-generated content complexity
- External API & Security
- Billing & eCommerce
- Social & Engagement
- Admin and Feedback
- Analytics
You can shift to other options if the estimated cost goes out of your budget. Therefore, when it looks good to you, you can launch an app with the same.
Litslink
Litslink calculator walks you through 27 questions in seven steps. Once you have answered all the questions, it provides you with a summary of all choices you made and asks you to fill out a contact form. You will then receive the app development cost based on your choices.
Venture Pact
Venture Pact is a six-step calculator that helps you estimate the cost for different types of apps like Android, Windows, iOS, or hybrid apps. Once you complete the survey, it sends you the estimated cost and details on your email address. The best thing about this calculator is the ability to select multiple platforms and price them out simultaneously.
Digitalya
Digitalya is a five-step calculator that provides both app development costs and the estimated development time. Digitalya also offers users the option to download estimates in PDF format. They also provide suggestions about the app’s internal architecture. Before launching your app, make sure to check out their detailed guide.
Andreasley
Andreasley calculator is designed in a shopping cart style, displaying itemized prices as choices are made to estimate the app development cost. It displays the price tag on the right side same as purchased items would in an actual shopping cart. It is an easy-to-use, intuitive calculator that provides multiple features to tailor your results. Once you get a budget estimate, you can also hire an app developer.
How Much to Make an App
How Much to Make an App is an eight-step calculator that provides a step-by-step price estimate, much like Inoxoft. The estimated cost at each step will display on the top right side. Once the choices are made, it displays the breakdown of the total cost and a contact form on the last page. Once you fill out the contact form, you can start on a new app development project with “How Much to Make an App”.
Final Thoughts
To get an estimated cost of building an app, you need to begin with deciding the app complexity and development team location. These two factors have a huge impact on the cost of app development. If you’re looking for an app developer, Pangea is a great resource to help with your search — let us know what you need, and we’ll have a list of up to 5 companies that fit the bill within 72 hours.
FAQs:
Q1. Can you build an app for free?
Yes, you can build an app for free. There are free app makers in the market like Apple Pie, Alpha Software, and others. These free app builder sites have a great advantage in that programming skills are not necessary, and they’re easy to use. However, they do carry the disadvantage of a lack of support from the app stores, and they tend to have limited cross-functionality. Furthermore, additional charges may also apply for the degree of use of the mobile apps. Hiring a developer can solve these problems and will benefit your business in the long run.
Q2. Can I create an app by myself?
You can build an app by yourself as long as you have the required technical skills. If you do opt to build an app yourself, make sure to research the market and your competitors. Download their applications, and look at the features they’re using. Knowing what they offer and what they struggle to provide can help you to build an even better app.
Q3. What is the cheapest way to build an app?
The cheapest way to build apps is to use free app builders like Jotform Apps, Apple Pie, Buildfire, etc. However, if you would rather go with a dedicated developer, the best way to cut down on expenses is to omit features that are irrelevant or unnecessary. Seeking out app developers in regions where they cost less can also reduce costs. For example, many talented app developers in Eastern Europe charge just $30 to $50 per hour, whereas developers in Western Europe or the US may charge double or even triple that rate.