Short answer: A simple app costs roughly $15k–$40k with a freelancer, $40k–$150k+ with an agency, a few hundred dollars/month with no-code, and near-zero to prototype with an AI app builder. The variable that moves the number most is scope, not who builds it.
The 4 things that actually drive app cost
- Number of screens and features.Each screen, each integration, each “can it also do…” adds hours. A 5-screen MVP and a 30-screen marketplace are different universes.
- Backend complexity. A static app is cheap. The moment you add accounts, a database, payments, and real-time data, cost multiplies.
- Design polish. Template-grade vs custom-designed-from-scratch can double the bill.
- Who builds it. This is where the path matters — see below.
Cost by path
Hire an agency: $40,000 – $150,000+
You get a team and a process, but you pay for overhead, account management, and margin. Timelines run 3–6 months for an MVP. Best when you’re funded and want hands-off delivery.
Hire a freelancer: $15,000 – $40,000
A solid React Native freelancer can build an MVP for a fraction of agency cost. You trade some reliability and project management for price. Timelines 2–4 months. Best for founders who can spec clearly and stay involved.
Build in-house: $120,000+ / year per developer
Only makes sense if the app isthe company and you’re hiring anyway. The cost is salaries, not a project fee.
No-code platforms: $0 – $500 / month
Tools like Bubble or Glide get you live cheaply, but most produce web apps (or limited mobile wrappers), and you’re renting the platform. Great for internal tools; limiting for a polished, store-published native app.
AI app builders: near-zero to prototype
This is the 2026 path. Tools like ShipNative generate a real React Native (Expo) app from a description, with a live preview, on a free or low-cost tier. You can prototype the same MVP a freelancer would charge $20k for in an afternoon, then export the code if you bring in a developer later. The catch to check: code ownership and reliability (does the app stay working as it grows?).
Cost by app complexity
| App type | Example | Freelancer | Agency | AI builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple (5–8 screens, no backend) | Calculator, info app | $5k–$15k | $20k–$40k | ~Free to prototype |
| Medium (auth + database + payments) | Habit tracker, booking app | $15k–$40k | $40k–$90k | Low (build) → export |
| Complex (real-time, marketplace, maps) | Delivery, social app | $40k–$80k+ | $90k–$200k+ | Prototype + dev handoff |
Hidden costs people forget
- Apple Developer Program: $99/year. Google Play: $25 one-time.
- Backend hosting / database: $0–$100+/month early on.
- Maintenance: budget ~15–20% of build cost per year for OS updates and fixes.
- App Store rejections: time, not money — but real. (See How to submit an app to the App Store.)
How to cut app cost without cutting corners
- Ruthlessly scope the MVP.Cut every feature that isn’t the core loop. (How to build an MVP in days.)
- Prototype with AI first. Validate the idea and UX for free before spending a dollar on development.
- Own your code. Avoid platforms that trap your app — migration later is its own cost.
- Use React Native. One codebase for iOS and Android instead of building twice.
Estimate your app in 60 seconds
Use the free App Cost Calculator to price your specific idea — or skip the estimate entirely and prototype it free in ShipNative to see what it really takes.