App Development Costs: What does an app really cost?

One of the first and most important questions in the planning of a new mobile application is: What does the development of an app cost?

The answer is complex because the costs depend on a variety of factors.

The main cost factors in app development

Short: The total cost of developing an app can be divided into four main areas:

The total cost of developing an app can be divided into four main areas:

1. Concept and planning: 5-10% of total cost Design (UI/UX): 10-20% of total cost
2. Programming and testing: 60-75% of total costs
3. Maintenance and further development: 15-20%

Detailed cost control

Short: | Cost point | Simple app | Medium size app | Complex app | |---------------------------- | Conception | 1,000-3,000 EUR | 3,000-6,000 EUR | 5,000-12,000 EUR | | UI/UX design | 1,500-4,000 EUR | 4,000-10,000 EUR | 8,000-20,000 EUR | | Development | 10,000-25,000 EUR | 25,000-70.

| Cost point | Simple app | Medium size app | Complex app | |---------------------------- | Conception | 1,000-3,000 EUR | 3,000-6,000 EUR | 5,000-12,000 EUR | | UI/UX design | 1,500-4,000 EUR | 4,000-10,000 EUR | 8,000-20,000 EUR | | Development | 10,000-25,000 EUR | 25,000-70.000 EUR | 70.000-250.000+ EUR | | Testing | 1,500-3,000 EUR | 3,000-8,000 EUR | 8,000-15,000 EUR | Total 15,000-40.000 EUR 40.000-100.000 EUR ** from 100,000 EUR**

Native vs. Cross-Platform Development

Short: The choice of the development method has a considerable influence on the costs:

The choice of the development method has a considerable influence on the costs:

| Aspect | Native | Cross-Platform | |------------- | Development costs | 100% (base) | 60-80% | | Maintenance costs | Hoeher (2 Codebases) | Low | | Time-to-Market | Laenger | Fast | | Performance | Best | Very good |

Tips for Cost Optimization

• Start with a MVP: Focus on core functions
• Define clear requirements: Reduces remedies
• Righty technology waive: Cross-platform can be more guerrilla
• Agile development: Flexible budget adjustment

Note Hidden Costs

• Server costs: 50-500+ EUR monthly
• App store fees: 99 EUR yes (Apple) + 25 EUR unique (Google)
• Marketing: Often 50-100% of development costs
• Maintenance: 15-20% yes

Fazite

Short: The costs for the App Development are an investment in the future of your company.

The costs for the App Development are an investment in the future of your company. A transparent planning and clear requirements are the key to a successful project.

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Sources: Unless cited inline, market figures and percentages are for orientation; see public sources such as Bitkom (2025) and Destatis. Project budgets and examples: Groenewold IT Solutions, internal reporting 2026.

References and further reading

Short: The following independent references complement the topics in this article:

The following independent references complement the topics in this article:

• Bitkom – German digital industry association
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
• European Commission – Digital strategy
• MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium

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— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions