How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App in 2026?

If you’ve found yourself Googling “how much does it cost to develop an app,” you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common (and often the first) questions we get asked. The cost to develop a mobile app depends on far more than just coding hours.

It’s a bit like asking, “How much does it cost to build a house?” The answer depends on what you’re building, where it’s located, and how it’s constructed. In 2026, the average cost to develop an app ranges anywhere from $40,000 to over $300,000, with enterprise-scale projects reaching well beyond that.

This guide breaks down the key factors that influence the cost of developing an app and what to expect when working with professional app development companies.

Why the Cost to Develop an App Varies Widely

The cost of app development can fluctuate dramatically depending on your goals, audience, and platform. A simple mobile app with a handful of screens might take a few months and a small team, while a large enterprise solution could require dozens of engineers and a year or more to complete.

Further complicating matters, Android and Apple app development costs differ slightly based on platform costs, testing requirements, and device fragmentation. Similarly, web app development costs vary depending on whether the app needs advanced integrations, real-time data syncing, or custom dashboards.

Returning to the home-building example: a one-bedroom cabin and a luxury smart home both serve as living spaces, but they differ significantly in materials, design, and complexity. The same goes for the cost to develop an app.

Key Considerations Before You Budget

Here are the core questions you should answer to narrow in on app development costs:

• What platform(s) will you support? Android only, iOS only, or both? (Keep in mind that you can start with one platform, then develop the other later. It’s very popular to launch an app on iOS first, followed by Android.)
• Do you have a preference for Native or Hybrid development? (Or know the difference?)
• What features, integrations, and complex workflows are required? (Versus which are nice-to-haves?)
• What level of design polish and user experience are you targeting? (Does this app need to be easy to use with minimal instruction? Who is the audience for the app? Consumer apps tend to need more polish than internal business applications.)
• Will the backend infrastructure need to scale for increasing user volume? (B2C apps often assume user growth, while some B2B or internal applications assume a steady number of users.)
• Have you factored ongoing maintenance and updates into your budget?

Knowing the answers to these questions helps developers estimate the cost of your application,

Typical App Development Cost Ranges for 2026

Here are rough benchmarks for standard custom builds in 2026:

• Simple mobile app (basic features, Android or iOS only): ~$40,000 – $80,000
• Mid-complexity app (multi-platform, custom backend, integrations): ~$80,000 – $200,000
• Enterprise-grade / high-scale app (multi-platform, advanced features, large user base): ~$200,000+

These ranges reflect the average cost to develop an app.

What Impacts the Cost to Develop an App

1. Platform and Technology

The first factor in your mobile app development costs is the platform(s) you choose.

• Android app development prices tend to be most impacted by the vast range of devices and screen sizes available.
• iOS app development costs aren’t necessarily higher, but the fees charged to developers are.
• If you’re building both, expect roughly 1.5–2x the cost of developing for a single platform.

Of course, this assumes Native development. There are always hybrid apps and progressive web apps, which are advertised as more cost-effective alternatives to native apps. In our experience, the trade-offs are rarely worth it, except in certain specific cases. For this article, we’ll focus on Native development. For more information on the types of mobile apps, check out this article.

2. Design and User Experience

Many people assume they can skimp on design to save money, but that strategy often backfires. After all, a well-designed interface can make or break user adoption.

Polished design involves:

• Understanding and documenting key user flows
• Detailed wireframes and user flow mapping
• Full-color screens, sometimes with animations
• Accessibility and responsive layouts

A functional app with minimal styling costs less, but consumer-facing products, especially in competitive markets, require high-quality design to stand out. Similarly, internal or B2B applications targeted to non-technical users may require additional handholding to guide users through the application.

3. Features and Integrations

Every new feature adds layers of complexity: payment systems, user accounts, subscriptions, GPS tracking, AI recommendations, etc. All of these add development hours. Even simple-sounding requests like “real-time updates” or “push notifications” can multiply the cost to develop an app when executed at scale. The devil is often in the details, as being simple to explain does not equal simple to build.

4. Backend Infrastructure and Scalability

Behind every sleek app is a powerful engine of APIs, servers, and data systems. Apps with thousands of users require stable architecture, security layers, and scalability features that increase the cost of developing an app. Without a robust infrastructure, your app runs at risk of crashing during peak traffic times or exposing your users’ data to malicious attacks.

Investing in infrastructure early prevents technical debt (and expensive rebuilds) down the line.

5. Maintenance and Support

App development isn’t a one-and-done investment. Expect to allocate 15–20% of your initial app development cost annually for:

• Bug fixes and updates
• Security patches
• Feature enhancements
• Compatibility with new OS releases

Technology is constantly and rapidly evolving, including the very languages, operating systems, and APIs that your mobile app is built on. In order to keep your application functioning and secure, regular maintenance is a must. Ignoring maintenance is like skipping oil changes: you’ll save money now, but pay for it later. In the short term, you may not notice any problems, but with enough technical debt, it may be impossible to maintain and instead require a full rebuild.

Industry Impact on App Development Costs

The cost to develop an app can vary dramatically depending on the industry it serves. Every industry comes with its own technical requirements, security standards, compliance obligations, and user expectations, all of which directly affect the overall cost of app development.

Highly regulated industries tend to have higher development costs due to stricter data protection requirements, ongoing compliance needs, and more complex system integrations. Other industries may appear simpler on the surface, but still require sophisticated logic, infrastructure, and third-party services to deliver a seamless user experience.

Below is a closer look at how industry-specific demands influence app development pricing.

Healthcare App Development Costs

Healthcare is one of the most regulated industries in the world, and for good reason. Healthcare applications handle sensitive patient information, making data security, privacy, and compliance non-negotiable.

Healthcare apps must often comply with regulations such as HIPAA in the U.S., along with additional state, federal, or international healthcare data laws, depending on where the app is used. These requirements drive up development costs due to:

• Advanced data encryption and secure authentication
• Role-based access control
• Audit logs and data traceability
• Secure cloud infrastructure and hosting
• Ongoing compliance monitoring and updates

In addition, healthcare applications frequently integrate with Electronic Health Records (EHRs), medical devices, insurance systems, or third-party providers, further increasing complexity.

Fintech Apps

Finance is yet another highly regulated industry. Fintech apps often deal with real-time transactions, sensitive financial data, and direct fund transfers, which make security, reliability, and performance critical.

Key cost factors in fintech app development include:

• High-level encryption and secure data transmission
• Compliance with financial regulations and standards
• Integration with banks, payment processors, and third-party financial tools
• Fraud detection and monitoring systems
• Ongoing security updates to counter emerging threats

Additionally, fintech applications require continuous investment after launch. Security is never “done,” as bad actors are constantly searching for vulnerabilities.

eCommerce Apps

eCommerce apps often look straightforward from the outside, but behind every “Add to Cart” button is a surprising amount of logic and infrastructure.

For example, users expect their shopping cart to persist across sessions, devices, and platforms. A cart created on a mobile app should appear instantly on a desktop browser when the user logs in. While this feels basic to consumers, it requires careful data synchronization, user authentication, and backend logic.

Additional complexity comes from:

• Payment gateway integrations
• Inventory and order management
• Product catalogs and search functionality
• User accounts and order history
• Shipping, taxes, and promotions

The good news is that many eCommerce best practices are already well-established. Developers rarely build payment systems from scratch; instead, they integrate with trusted platforms. However, these tools often come with licensing fees or transaction-based pricing that should be factored into the total cost of app development.

On-Demand Service Apps

On-demand service apps include ride-sharing, food delivery, home services, and similar platforms. While these apps may seem familiar to users, they are among the most complex to build from a technical standpoint.

These platforms typically require:

• A consumer-facing app
• A service provider app (e.g., drivers, couriers, contractors)
• An admin dashboard to manage users, pricing, and operations

That alone can significantly increase development effort. On top of that, on-demand apps rely on advanced real-time functionality such as:

• GPS tracking and mapping
• Live request matching
• In-app messaging
• Real-time notifications
• Secure payment processing

Because these systems must work reliably at scale and in real time, they require a robust backend infrastructure and careful system architecture.

What You’re Really Paying For

When you compare app development companies’ costs, remember you’re not just paying for code. You’re paying for the experience, efficiency, and strategic insight of a multidisciplinary team (project managers, UX designers, software architects, QA testers, and DevOps engineers) all collaborating to build a seamless product.

Cutting corners can lead to technical debt or fragile code that’s expensive to maintain. Paying more up front often means fewer issues later and a product that scales as your business grows.

How to Choose the Right App Development Company

When evaluating partners, consider:

• Do they understand your business goals, not just your tech specs?
• Have they delivered similar apps before?
• What’s included in their mobile app development quote: design, testing, maintenance?
• How do they handle security, scalability, and post-launch support?

Look for a partner that can balance technical skill with business understanding. The best app development companies do more than write code; they act as strategic technology consultants.

Final Thoughts

The cost to develop an app in 2026 depends on scope, platform, and quality. Whether you’re budgeting costs for an Android app, an Apple app, or the full cost of developing an app across both platforms, plan strategically. Invest in design, infrastructure, and long-term support, not just the initial build.

At Saritasa, we help businesses build smarter by focusing on scalability, usability, and measurable ROI. Ready to estimate your mobile app development project for 2026? Let us help you build something better.