This article was originally published in 2013 and has been updated to reflect the cost of building apps in 2026.

What separates a $25,000 app from ones costing over 6 figures?

It comes down to a handful of key factors, starting with the type of app you're building. 

$250,000+++ Projects

Social networking apps are as complex and costly as they come, due to their rigorous security requirements, vast infrastructures, platform diversity, and numerous third-party integrations, to name a few factors.

$150,000 Projects

On-demand apps (also known as three-sided marketplace apps and gig apps) have several moving parts, such as profile building, onboarding, push notifications, real-time communication, scheduling, and in-app payments.

$100,000 Projects

Bluetooth-integrated apps require specialized expertise, and manual QA makes the testing phase longer than in other mobile app projects.

$25,000 Projects

Apps that have account creation and perform 1-2 basic tasks.

What factors impact the cost of an app?

Most of the app projects listed above could jump up or down a price category depending on their: 

• Features (simple or complex)


• Integrations (simple, complex, or volume)


• Platforms (mobile, web, desktop, or combo)


• Development approach (native or hybrid)


• Developer type (local or overseas team)


• Timeline (expedited or standard)


• Maintenance (support plus additional iterations)

Are the app’s features simple or complex?

More functionality means more complexity, leading to higher costs. Lists, forms, and data sorting/filtering are straightforward app features. Custom cameras, Bluetooth, background services, and mobile payments are more complex.

Will the app need to integrate with other software?

Integrating with a framework for user interface additions (such as showing confetti on a success screen) is straightforward, whereas integrating with an organization’s API is more complex.

Volume is also a consideration. A dozen integrations contribute to more long-term maintenance and, therefore, more cost.

Which platforms will the app need to be on?

Better asked: Where are your customers? 

Mobile, web, desktop, smartwatch, TV, car? The more platforms your app needs to be available on, the greater the development cost. 

Should the app be built natively, or will a hybrid app work?

Native apps require separate codebases per platform (iOS and Android), while hybrid frameworks like React Native or Flutter use a single shared codebase. 

Hybrid development costs less upfront, making it a good choice for MVPs, informational/news apps, and productivity tools.

For more complex apps, native development tends to be more cost-effective over time, despite the higher initial investment.

Should you work with a local app development team or overseas developers?

Overseas teams are generally cheaper than local software agencies, at least initially. The lure of a good deal gets customers in the door, but missed deadlines and buggy products are, unfortunately, common experiences with offshore teams. 

Long-term savings are rare with offshore partnerships, but they can be successful if someone with a technical background manages the relationship, with additional considerations. (We’ve taken over so many projects that started with an offshore development team that we wrote a blog about it, so check that out next if you’re considering overseas app development.)

How soon does the app need to be built?

Standard app development takes 3-9 months. Tighter timelines can lead to development costs increasing exponentially.

What type of maintenance and support will the app need?

As an app grows and incorporates additional features, platforms, and integrations, the cost of maintaining it increases.

An initial $50,000 app can grow into a $100,000+ app in subsequent versions, which is a good thing!

---

App development costs aren’t one-size-fits-all. There is too much variability across projects in goals, users, and complexity. 

If you’re interested in seeing how this plays out in the real world, browse JMG’s case studies for real project examples, complete with the numbers behind them.