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Having an App Developed: Costs, Process and Technologies in 2026

App development • 7 May 2026

As of: 23 June 2026 · Reading time: 6 min

By Björn Groenewold
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Key takeaways

  • Cross-Platform Flutter: once developing, iOS + Android
  • Offline-First doubles the effort – it is mandatory for external service apps
  • ERP integration: €5,000–15,000 per interface
  • MVP possible in 8–14 weeks with clearly defined scope

Letting app develop costs €40,000 to €120,000. This article explains cost drivers (offline capability, ERP integration), Native vs. Flutter, and gives realistic schedules – based on real B2B projects.

“An app’s success is decided before the first line of code—in user research and product clarity.”

– Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions

Develop app: cost, process and technologies 2026

App Developing: Costs, Processes and Technologies 2026

Short response: Let app develop costs 40.

Develop decision-makers around App: Use costs, processes and technologies 2026(/services), cost calculator: app development and explore solutions as structured next steps.

An external service app that also works offline. A customer portal app for iOS and Android. A storage app with barcode scanner.

What does it cost – and what is the technology choice?

The short answer: A professional B2B app for iOS and Android costs 40.000 to 100,000 €, depending on the complexity.

Simple apps with few features are possible from €20,000 if the requirements are clear and limited.

App development costs by type and platform

Native iOS OR Android (easy) 35,000 €
Cross plateform Flutter (iOS + Android) 55,000 €
External service app with offline sync 75,000 €
B2B app with ERP integration 95,000 €
Consumer app with backend 120.000 €

Groenewold IT Solutions · Experiences from 250+ projects

The most important cost drivers in apps

Offline capability: the biggest difference

Short: An app for the field service that works in the basement of a customer without a mobile network must be developed offline first.

An app for the field service that works in the basement of a customer without a mobile network must be developed offline first.

This means that all data is stored locally, changes are synchronized when a connection exists, conflicts are detected and resolved.

Offline-First often doubles the development effort compared to a pure online app – but is not optional for external service, warehouse or production.

“Offline-First is not optional for external service apps. If you require connectivity, an app will not work 30% of the time – just when it is needed." – Björn Groenewold, Dipl.-Inf.

ERP and Backend Integration

Short: Any connection to an existing system (SAP, Navision, Odoo, own ERP) requires API development, authentication, data transformation and broad tests.

Any connection to an existing system (SAP, Navision, Odoo, own ERP) requires API development, authentication, data transformation and broad tests. 5,000–15,000 € per non-triviar interface.

Device Functions: Camera, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC

Short: Barcode scanners, photo documentation, GPS tracking, NFC chip cards or BLE device connections are all possible – but each function costs development and testing time on real devices.

Barcode scanners, photo documentation, GPS tracking, NFC chip cards or BLE device connections are all possible – but each function costs development and testing time on real devices.

Native vs. cross-platform: cost and quality comparison

tr style="background:#ffffff"> Full tr style="background:#f9fafb"> td style="padding:10px > Very specific requirements
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Development costs/td> 2× higher Performance/td> Maximal Very good (mostly sufficient) <
Offline capability Full-length
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Short: For most B2B apps we recommend Flutter.

For most B2B apps we recommend Flutter. Once developing, running on iOS and Android (and web and desktop).

The performance is close to native, the code cover is one third compared to two separate native apps.

What Flutter can’t: Very deep integration into operating system-specific features (e.g. certain iOS security features for financial apps) and apps that require extreme performance (3D rendering, Augmented Reality).

Practical example: External service app (iOS + Android)

Short: For a service provider, we have developed a field service app with offline capability, barcode detection and SAP B1 connection.

For a service provider, we have developed a field service app with offline capability, barcode detection and SAP B1 connection.

| | | | | |--|--| MVP runtime (to App Store) | 12 weeks | | Platforms | iOS + Android (Flutter) | | Processing time per service order | –35 % | | Mistakes (from paper forms) | –90 % | | External service users | 60 |

What costs are incurred after the launch?

Short: App development is not a one-time project.

App development is not a one-time project. Recreate with running costs for:

  • App Store Care: New iOS/Android versions require regular updates (1–2× per year, 2,000–5,000 € each)
  • Backend maintenance: Server, database updates, security patches
  • Feature development: The first real users always deliver new requirements

Faustregel: Plan 15–20 % of the initial development budget per year for maintenance and development.

Frequently asked questions

Do we really need native apps or do we need a web app?

A progressive web app (PWA) is often the cheaper alternative – it runs in the browser, can be installed on the home screen and offers restricted offline capability.

For intensive device use (camera, Bluetooth, GPS) or app store distribution, a native/feeder app is better.

How long does the app development take?

MVP: 8–14 weeks. Full app with all features: 4–9 months. App Store approval (Apple): 1–3 working days.

Can we start with a MVP?

Yes – and we almost always recommend that.

A MVP with the 3-5 most important features typically costs 20–40 % of the full project and shows whether the app arrives with users before the full budget is invested.

*Groenewold IT Solutions, Leer – Flutter and React Native App Development for the German mid-sized businesses. Request project calculation. *

Additional notes

Checklist (compact, customizable)

  • Plan documentation and short courses for key users.
  • establish incident repository and postmortem culture.
  • Define release, rollback and communication plan for users.
  • Set up cost and license monitoring for cloud/environment.
  • Track dependencies on third-party providers and API versioning.
  • Record performance budgets and accessibility in QA. .### Practical impulse for the topic

Many teams underestimate Data quality and releases – especially when it comes to app, developing, letting cost.

A slim pilot with defined KPI (time savings, error rate, throughput) strikes a “Big Bang” that wants to cover all special cases on the first day.

Groenewold IT

supports architecture, implementation and integration – according to your focus: App development, Individual software development. If you are unsafe, which entry is the most risky one, start with a short architecture or discovery workshop instead of a maximum microscope.

Letting app develop: cost, process and technologies 2026

can be successfully implemented when technology, organization and measurability fit together – instead of insulated tool rollouts without process reference.

Use the overview in this article as a basis for discussion on priorities, risks and the first loadable pilot.

Intensify matching topics in category overview Blog category and check operational support via App development, Individual software development. Groenewold IT accompanies analysis, implementation and operation – from the first classification to scalable releases.

Short: The following independent references complement the classification on the topics of this Article:

The following independent references complement the classification on the topics of this Article:

Conclusion and next steps

About the author

Björn Groenewold
Björn Groenewold(Dipl.-Inf.)

Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH and Hyperspace GmbH

Since 2009 Björn Groenewold has been developing software solutions for the mid-market. He is Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH (founded 2012) and Hyperspace GmbH. As founder of Groenewold IT Solutions he has successfully supported more than 250 projects – from legacy modernisation to AI integration.

Software ArchitectureAI IntegrationLegacy ModernisationProject Management
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