"How much does a mobile app cost?" is a bit like asking "how much does a house cost?": the answer depends on what you want to build. Two apps described in the same way can be very different; one might be an information app of a few screens, while the other is a full platform with payments, live tracking and an admin panel.
Rather than quoting a single price, this article explains the factors that drive the cost. Knowing them helps you plan a realistic budget and compare proposals from different companies on a like-for-like basis.
1. Scope: which features do you really need?
The biggest cost driver is the list of things the app has to do. Every feature generates cost four times over: in design, development, testing and maintenance. Limiting the first version to the features that deliver the core value (the MVP approach) is therefore the most effective use of your budget.
- Registration and sign-in (email, phone, Sign in with Apple and Google)
- Payments, subscriptions or in-app purchases
- Maps, location and live tracking
- Messaging, notifications and real-time updates
- Offline mode and data synchronisation
- Camera, file uploads, QR or barcode scanning
- Multi-language support
2. Platform: native or cross-platform?
Building separate native apps for iOS and Android means two separate codebases. Using cross-platform technologies such as React Native or Flutter to ship both platforms from a single codebase is a lower-cost and easier-to-maintain route for most business and commercial apps. Native development may be the better fit if you need heavy graphics processing, low-level hardware access or advanced platform-specific features.
3. Design
There is a significant difference in effort between a clean interface built from ready-made components and a bespoke, animated interface where every screen is designed individually. The design scope depends on the number of screens, the types of user (for example customer, courier and administrator) and whether user testing is carried out.
4. Backend and admin panel
The app users see is only part of the work. The server side (backend) where data is stored, a web-based admin panel for managing content and users, and reporting screens often take as much effort as the app itself. When requesting quotes, always ask whether these parts are included.
5. Integrations
Every external system the app needs to talk to means additional analysis and development. ERP or CRM systems, payment providers, couriers, e-invoicing providers and map services are the most common integrations. The quality of the external system's documentation and whether it offers a test environment also directly affect the timeline.
6. Security, data protection and testing
Any app that processes personal data must meet its obligations under KVKK (Türkiye's data protection law) and, where relevant, GDPR: privacy notices, explicit consent flows, where and how data is stored, and authorisation rules. Testing on different devices and operating system versions, load testing and security checks are also items that belong in the budget.
7. Launch and post-launch costs
Publishing the app on the App Store and Google Play, preparing for store reviews and writing store listings are work items too. After launch, the following recurring costs begin:
- The annual Apple Developer Program membership and a Google Play developer account
- Infrastructure costs for servers, databases, file storage and notification services
- Compatibility updates for new iOS and Android versions
- Bug fixes, security updates and small improvements
- New features added in response to user feedback
When planning your budget, accounting not only for development but also for the first year or two of maintenance and infrastructure costs avoids surprises.
What to look for when comparing quotes
- Is the scope written down and defined screen by screen? A vague scope means requests for extra fees later.
- Are the backend and admin panel included in the quote?
- Which technology will be used, and why?
- In whose name will the source code and store accounts be held?
- Are testing, store publishing and a warranty period within scope?
- How is post-launch maintenance priced?
Smart ways to reduce cost
- Limit the first version to the features that deliver the core value, and add the rest based on user data.
- Choose cross-platform technology where it suits the project.
- Use proven, ready-made components for the admin panel.
- Rely on trusted ready-made services for payments, notifications and maps.
- Do not start development before the scope has been agreed in writing.
Conclusion
The cost of a mobile app is determined by its scope, platform choice, design, backend, integrations and post-launch maintenance. Discussing these items up front allows you to set a realistic budget and compare proposals against the same scope.
If you would like to assess your app idea in terms of scope and cost together, get in touch; after a requirements analysis meeting we will prepare a screen-by-screen scope and proposal.