How much does a simple app cost?

A simple MVP app typically costs $1,200 – $5,000 with an offshore team, depending on the number of features and whether it needs a custom backend.

Is it cheaper to build for iOS and Android at the same time?

Usually yes. With React Native, one codebase serves both platforms, which is typically cheaper and faster than building two separate native apps.

How long does it take to build an app?

An MVP usually takes 4–8 weeks, a full business app 8–14 weeks, and a complex platform 3–6 months.

Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?

A freelancer's hourly rate can be lower, but check for the things an established studio or agency should give you: a written scope, a clear process, references and long-term support.

Do I own the source code?

You should. Make sure your contract assigns intellectual property to you and that the code lives in a repository you control. At Genikode, clients own their code.

How much does it cost to build an app in 2026?

By Ghayas Ali, founder of Genikode · Updated November 11, 2026 · 9 min read

“How much will my app cost?” is the first question almost every founder asks — and the honest answer is that it depends on what the app needs to do. This guide gives you real USD ranges, explains what actually drives the price, and shows how to budget so there are no surprises later.

Short answer

In 2026, a simple MVP app typically costs $1,200 – $5,000 with an experienced offshore team, a full business app $5,000 – $12,000, and a complex multi-role platform $12,000+. The same scope from a US or UK agency usually costs several times more, because hourly rates there run roughly $100–$200 compared with $25–$45 offshore. Features, platforms, backend work and integrations drive most of the price.

App development cost at a glance

Most apps fall into one of three bands. The ranges below are what an experienced offshore studio (like ours) typically charges for an iOS + Android app built with React Native, including the backend and store submission.

App type	Typical features	Cost (offshore team)	Typical timeline
MVP app	iOS + Android (React Native), Core feature set, Basic backend & authentication, App Store / Play Store submission	$1,200 – $5,000	4–8 weeks
Business app	Payments & subscriptions, Push notifications, Admin panel, Analytics & crash reporting	$5,000 – $12,000	8–14 weeks
Complex platform	Multiple user roles, Real-time features (chat, tracking), Complex integrations, Scalable cloud architecture	$12,000+	3–6 months

If you hire a US or UK agency for the same scope, expect the total to be roughly 3–5× higher. The work is similar; the difference is mostly the hourly rate of the team doing it.

What drives the cost of an app?

Two apps that look similar on the surface can differ in price by a factor of ten. These are the factors that make the difference:

Number of features and screens — every screen has to be designed, built, connected to data and tested.
User roles — an app with customers, staff and admins is effectively three apps sharing one backend.
Platforms — iOS only, Android only, or both. A cross-platform framework such as React Native lets one codebase serve both.
Backend and admin panel — user accounts, databases, APIs and a dashboard to manage content and users.
Integrations — payments, maps, chat, video, CRMs, accounting tools and other third-party services.
Real-time features — live tracking, chat and notifications need more engineering and infrastructure.
Design depth — a custom design system with animation costs more than a clean, standard interface.
Security and compliance — finance and health apps need extra work on encryption, audit logs and data handling.

Developer rates by region

The single biggest factor you control is who builds the app. Hourly rates vary widely by region, while the tools and frameworks used are largely the same everywhere.

Typical agency hourly rates by region, 2026 (approximate market ranges — individual quotes vary)
Region	Typical hourly rate (USD)
United States & Canada	$100 – $200
UK & Western Europe	$80 – $150
Eastern Europe	$40 – $80
Latin America	$35 – $70
South Asia (incl. Pakistan)	$20 – $50

Genikode's rates are $20–$35 per hour for hourly work, with fixed quotes for defined projects. You work directly with the senior engineer building your product, which keeps communication tight even across time zones.

React Native vs. native: how it affects cost

Building separate native apps in Swift (iOS) and Kotlin (Android) means two codebases, two sets of bugs and two teams. React Native shares most of the code between both platforms, so a cross-platform build usually costs noticeably less than two native apps — often around 30–40% less, depending on how much platform-specific work the app needs.

Native still makes sense for apps that depend heavily on device hardware, advanced graphics or AR. For most business, commerce, booking, fintech and content apps, React Native delivers a genuinely native experience at a lower cost.

Want an exact number for your project? Get a free scoping call and a fixed USD quote.

Book a free call

Hidden and ongoing costs to budget for

The build is only part of the total cost of owning an app. Budget for these as well:

Apple Developer Program: $99 per year. Google Play developer account: $25 one-time.
Hosting and backend services: from around $20 per month for a small app to several hundred dollars for high-traffic platforms.
Third-party services: SMS, maps, email and payment processing fees, usually billed per use.
Maintenance: a common rule of thumb is 15–20% of the original build cost per year for updates, OS compatibility and fixes.
New features: most successful apps keep evolving after launch, so plan a budget for version 2.

How to reduce app development cost without cutting quality

Start with an MVP — launch the smallest version that proves the idea, then build on real user feedback.
Go cross-platform with React Native unless you have a specific reason to go native.
Use proven services for authentication, payments and notifications instead of building them from scratch.
Write down the scope — a clear list of features and user flows prevents expensive changes mid-build.
Choose fixed-price milestones so you pay for delivered, working software.
Work with a senior offshore team to get experienced engineers at a lower hourly rate.

How to get an accurate quote

An accurate quote needs a clear picture of what you want to build. Before you contact any development team, prepare: a short description of the problem the app solves, the main user types, a list of must-have features, any apps you like as references, and your target launch date.

At Genikode we turn that into a scoped plan during a free consultation, then send a fixed quote with milestones — so you know the total before any work starts.