App development cost calculator - what your app should cost.
- No sign-up
- Native, cross-platform & web
- Typical US ranges
A single native iPhone/iPad app - the leanest path to one platform.
Estimated app build
$14,500-$21,500
iOS · Simple · Standard · 8 screens
A transparent ballpark using typical US studio ranges - not a quote. Your real number depends on exact scope, integrations, and design.
What goes into app development cost
The first lever is platform. A single native app (just iOS or just Android) is the leanest build. Two native apps roughly multiply the front-end work, while a cross-platform build (React Native or Flutter) ships both stores from one codebase for far less - the calculator lets you compare those paths directly.
Then comes scope and complexity: more screens mean more design and build, and a complex app with real-time features costs more than a simple, mostly-read one. Finally, features - accounts, payments, chat, maps, AI, a custom backend, an admin dashboard - are each priced on top because they are real, separate work. The calculator stacks all of these so the range reflects the actual app.
Typical app development costs
| App type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Simple app / MVPFew screens, standard features | $25,000 - $60,000 |
| Medium-complexity appCustom backend, integrations | $60,000 - $150,000 |
| Complex appReal-time, AI, or heavy custom logic | $150,000+ |
| Cross-platform (both stores)One codebase, iOS + Android | $30,000 - $120,000 |
| Two native appsVersus a single native platform | 1.6 - 1.8x |
| Ongoing per yearMaintenance, hosting, new features | 15 - 20% of build |
Source: 2026 US studio/agency ranges - typical custom app pricing
Budgeting tip
Price the app, then get a fixed quote.
The calculator gives you the ballpark. Tell us what you're building in a short brief - platform, scope, features, and timeline - and we'll come back with a fixed, itemized quote and a delivery plan. No obligation.
Common questions
In the US, a simple app typically runs $25,000-$60,000, a medium-complexity app $60,000-$150,000, and a complex app with custom backend, real-time features, or AI can exceed $150,000. The main drivers are the platforms (iOS, Android, both, or cross-platform), the number of screens, the feature set, and how much backend the app needs. The calculator above turns those into a transparent range.
Building a single native platform (just iOS or just Android) is the cheapest. Two native apps roughly multiplies the front-end work. A cross-platform build (React Native or Flutter) lets you ship both from one codebase for far less than two native apps, with a small trade-off on the most platform-specific features. The calculator lets you compare those paths directly.
Custom backend and APIs, payments and subscriptions, real-time chat or messaging, AI/ML features, maps and live location, offline mode, and an admin dashboard are the heaviest items. Auth, push notifications, and third-party integrations are lighter but still real work. Each feature is design, build, and testing, which is why the calculator prices them as add-ons.
The estimate covers building the app and the backend you select. It does not include ongoing costs - app store fees, cloud hosting, third-party API usage, and maintenance or new features after launch, which typically run 15-20% of the build cost per year. We break all of that out in the real quote so there are no surprises.
No - it is a transparent ballpark from typical US studio ranges to help you budget before talking to anyone. Your real number depends on exact scope, the complexity of each feature, the backend, and design ambition. Start a brief at /start and we'll return a fixed, itemized quote and a delivery plan.
A simple app or MVP usually takes 2-4 months, a medium-complexity app 4-7 months, and a complex app 7 months or more. Cross-platform shortens dual-platform timelines, while custom backends, AI, and real-time features extend them. A rushed timeline is possible with a larger team but raises the cost.