Mobile app development usually starts at a few thousand euros for a simple version and grows depending on platforms (iOS, Android or both), the number of features and backend complexity. There is no fixed price for "an app" — like a house, what matters is how big and how complex you want it. Below we explain what drives the price so you can plan a realistic budget.

What drives the cost

The budget is built from several factors, each with its own weight. The more there are and the more complex they get, the higher the price.

  • Platforms — Android only, iOS only or both at once.
  • Features — login, payments, push notifications, maps, chat, offline mode.
  • Backend — server, database and the admin panel that ties them together.
  • Design — a standard interface or a custom experience with its own animations.

Native or cross-platform

Separate native development for iOS and Android is, in practice, two projects and costs almost double. Cross-platform technologies (one shared code for both) cut budget and time noticeably while keeping high quality for most business apps. Native development is only justified for extreme performance needs, such as games or heavy image processing.

Hidden costs to budget for

To the development price you add developer accounts (Apple App Store and Google Play, with annual fees), backend hosting, maintenance and updates required by each new iOS or Android version. An app lives for years and "ages" if you leave it unattended. Plan an annual upkeep budget from the start, otherwise your product risks failing to launch on a simple system update. On top of that come publishing costs and the strict store approval rules, which sometimes demand unplanned changes before your app goes live. These are exactly the line items most businesses forget, and they run out of budget right after launch.

How to trim budget without hurting the product

Start with a minimal feature set that solves the user's real problem, launch, then expand based on real store feedback and reviews. That way you avoid paying for ideas that, in practice, no one uses. A common mistake is demanding everything in the first version; the result is an inflated budget and a launch delayed by months. At shadowforge we design apps in clear stages with a fixed price per stage and a transparent roadmap, so you see exactly where the money goes. Send us your idea and we will estimate it in detail by component.