The honest answer: it depends. But here's a realistic framework for understanding what drives app development costs and what to expect at different investment levels.
A single-purpose utility app costs a fraction of a social platform with real-time messaging, user profiles, and content feeds. More screens, more features, more states, more cost.
Basic functional UI versus a premium, branded experience with custom animations, illustration, and a full design system. The visual bar you set directly affects timeline and cost. Our design approach →
Local-only apps are simpler. Add user accounts, cloud sync, push notifications, payment processing, or admin dashboards, and you're building two products: the app and the backend.
Rush timelines cost more. The ideal development pace balances speed with quality. Aggressive deadlines mean more parallel work, more coordination, and less room for iteration.
A well-designed, single-purpose app with 5-10 screens. Clean UI, core functionality, App Store ready. Perfect for validating an idea or launching a utility. Timeline: 6-8 weeks.
A polished product with 15-30 screens, user authentication, backend integration, and custom design system. This is where most successful apps sit. Timeline: 10-16 weeks.
Multi-user-type apps with real-time features, content management, analytics dashboards, and admin tools. Social features, payments, and complex data relationships. Timeline: 16-24 weeks.
Large-scale applications with multiple integrated systems, advanced security requirements, custom APIs, and ongoing development teams. Timeline: 6+ months with phased delivery.
£79/year for an individual or £249/year for an enterprise account. Required to publish on the App Store.
If your app has a backend, expect £50-500+/month depending on usage. Cloud services (AWS, Firebase, Supabase) scale with your user base.
iOS updates break things. Budget 10-15% of the original build cost annually for maintenance, compatibility updates, and minor feature additions.
The app itself is only half the equation. Budget for user acquisition, ASO, and growth marketing. Our marketing services →
Tell us about your project and we'll give you an honest estimate. No obligations, no sales pressure.
hello@moonshard.co