Ask ten agencies what an app costs and you will get ten answers between $3,000 and $300,000. None of them are necessarily wrong — they are pricing different apps. The useful question is not "what does an app cost" but "what makes my app cost what it does". Once you know the drivers, you can make trade-offs deliberately instead of being surprised by the invoice.
The six things that decide the price
- Number of screens and user roles. A customer app with one type of user is far cheaper than a marketplace with buyers, sellers and admins, each with their own flows.
- Backend and integrations. Payments, maps, chat, notifications, and connections to your existing systems usually cost more than the screens themselves.
- Offline and real-time behaviour. Apps that must work without signal, or update live (delivery tracking, chat), need careful engineering and testing.
- Design depth. Using a solid design system is quick; bespoke illustrations and custom animations take real design and build time.
- Platforms. One cross-platform codebase for iOS and Android, or two native apps.
- Quality bar. Automated tests, accessibility, analytics and crash reporting add cost up front and save far more later.
Native vs cross-platform
For most business apps, a cross-platform framework such as React Native (often with Expo) or Flutter is the sensible default: one codebase, one team, and both stores. Native development (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) still wins for apps that lean heavily on the latest device features, demanding graphics, or deep platform integration.
Realistic price ranges
These are rough ranges for a cross-platform app built by an experienced Pakistan-based team. Teams in the US or Western Europe typically charge several times more for comparable work.
| App type | Typical range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple / MVP | From $2,000 – $8,000 | Booking app, content app, internal tool, a first version to test demand |
| Mid-complexity | $8,000 – $25,000 | E-commerce with payments, on-demand service, apps with chat and live updates |
| Complex platform | $25,000+ | Marketplaces, fintech, multi-role systems with admin panels and heavy integrations |
The running costs most quotes leave out
- Store fees. Apple's Developer Program costs $99 per year; a Google Play developer account has a one-time $25 registration fee.
- Hosting and services. Servers, database, file storage, email and SMS, maps and push notifications — usually modest at launch, growing with users.
- Maintenance. New iOS and Android versions arrive every year, and libraries need updates. A common rule of thumb is to budget around 15–20% of the build cost per year.
- Store commissions. If you sell digital goods inside the app, Apple and Google take a commission; physical goods and services usually avoid this.
- Your own time. Someone on your side must answer questions, test builds and approve releases. Plan for it.
How to keep the cost under control
- Start with an MVP. Launch the smallest version that proves people want it. Every feature you defer is money you keep until you know it is needed.
- Write down the user journeys before asking for quotes. Clear scope gets you comparable, honest estimates.
- Prefer proven services — authentication, payments, notifications — over building your own.
- Insist on owning the code and the store accounts from day one.
- Ask for milestones tied to working features you can install and test, not percentages of "progress".
Want a realistic number for your idea? Send us a short description through the contact form and we will reply with an honest range and the trade-offs that move it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a mobile app?
A focused MVP typically takes 6–10 weeks. Mid-complexity apps usually take 3–5 months, and large platforms longer, depending on integrations and review cycles.
Is it cheaper to build an app in Pakistan?
Generally yes. Experienced Pakistani teams usually charge significantly less than US or Western European agencies for comparable quality. The savings are real when the team communicates well and works to clear milestones.
Should I build for iOS or Android first?
With a cross-platform framework you usually do not have to choose — one codebase ships to both. If you must pick, launch where most of your target customers are; in Pakistan that is usually Android.
Have a project in mind?
Tell us what you are building — we reply within one business day.