How much does a website cost in 2026?

Website costs range from $300 for a simple landing page to $50,000+ for complex web applications. A typical business website costs $2,000–$5,000 (freelancer) or $5,000–$12,000 (agency). Ecommerce stores range from $3,000–$15,000 depending on product count and features.

How accurate is the Project Cost Estimator?

Our estimates are within ±18% of real market quotes, based on 200+ scoped projects across 5 geographic markets. The tool uses 9 calculation engines analyzing 30+ features, platform-specific pricing, and 2026 market rates.

What platforms does the estimator support?

We support WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and custom development. The tool automatically recommends the best platform based on your project requirements, budget, and feature needs.

Is the cost estimator free?

Yes, the full 5-step configurator is free. You get platform recommendation, total cost estimate, complexity score, risk level, and timeline. Professional PDF reports with detailed breakdowns are available for $9.

How long does it take to get an estimate?

About 2 minutes. The wizard guides you through 9 steps covering project type, features, design, integrations, and growth options. Results update in real-time as you configure.

Mobile App Development

How Much Does a Mobile App Cost to Build?

Mobile app development is one of the most expensive software projects you can undertake. The gap between a $10,000 app and a $150,000 app comes down to platform choice, feature complexity, and backend requirements. Here is a clear breakdown for 2026.

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Quick Mobile App Cost Estimate

Freelancer

$10,000 – $50,000

Cross-platform, 8–20 weeks

Agency

$25,000 – $150,000

Native or cross-platform, full team

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Native vs Cross-Platform — The Defining Cost Decision

This is the single biggest cost decision for any mobile app project. Building native means two codebases (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android). Cross-platform means one codebase for both:

React Native (cross-platform)$15,000–$70,000

Code sharing: 85–90% code shared · Performance: 90–95% native performance · Best for: Most apps, startup MVPs, content apps, ecommerce

Flutter (cross-platform)$15,000–$65,000

Code sharing: 90–95% code shared · Performance: 95% native performance · Best for: UI-heavy apps, consistent cross-platform design

Native iOS only (Swift)$15,000–$80,000

Code sharing: iOS only · Performance: 100% native · Best for: iOS-first products, AR/ML-heavy apps, Apple ecosystem integration

Native iOS + Android$25,000–$150,000

Code sharing: Two codebases · Performance: 100% native · Best for: Performance-critical apps, complex animations, hardware-intensive features

For 90% of mobile apps in 2026, React Native or Flutter is the right choice. The 30–40% cost savings over native development are significant, and the performance gap has narrowed to near zero for most use cases. Reserve native development for games, AR experiences, or apps that need deep hardware integration.

Backend Costs — The 40% You Forget to Budget

Every mobile app needs a backend — APIs, databases, user management, push notifications, and file storage. Backend development typically costs 30–50% of the total project budget. Here is what different backend architectures cost:

●

Firebase / Supabase (BaaS)$3,000–$10,000

Hosting: $0–$200/mo · Great for MVPs. Auth, database, storage, push notifications included. Limits appear at scale.

●

Custom API (Node.js / Django / Laravel)$8,000–$30,000

Hosting: $50–$500/mo · Full control, custom business logic. Required for complex apps or specific compliance needs.

●

Enterprise backend (microservices)$20,000–$60,000

Hosting: $200–$2,000/mo · Separate services for auth, payments, messaging. Scales independently. Complex to build and maintain.

App Store Fees and Submission

Getting your app on the stores has both upfront and ongoing costs. Apple charges a $99/year developer fee. Google charges a one-time $25 fee. Both take a 15–30% commission on in-app purchases and subscriptions.

Apple's review process takes 1–3 days for initial submissions and can result in rejections. Budget 2–4 weeks for the full submission process, especially for first-time submissions. Common rejection reasons include incomplete metadata, privacy policy issues, and guideline violations. An experienced developer will know how to avoid these, but expect at least one round of revisions.

For subscription-based apps, the store commissions are a significant ongoing cost. At $10/month per user with 1,000 subscribers, Apple takes $1,500–$3,000/month in commissions. Factor this into your pricing model from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?

A mobile app costs $10,000–$50,000 with a freelancer or $25,000–$150,000 with an agency in 2026. Simple apps (5–10 screens, basic features) cost $10,000–$25,000. Medium-complexity apps with user accounts, payments, and push notifications cost $25,000–$60,000. Complex apps with real-time features, AI, or marketplace functionality cost $60,000–$150,000+.

Should I build native or cross-platform?

Cross-platform (React Native or Flutter) costs 30–40% less than building separate iOS and Android apps. Native development costs $40,000–$150,000 (building twice) vs $25,000–$90,000 for cross-platform. Choose native only if you need maximum performance, complex animations, or deep OS-specific integrations.

What are the ongoing costs of maintaining a mobile app?

Annual app maintenance costs $5,000–$20,000, covering OS updates, bug fixes, security patches, and minor features. Apple Developer Program costs $99/year, Google Play costs $25 one-time. Backend hosting adds $50–$500/month. Budget 15–20% of the initial build cost per year for maintenance.

How long does it take to build a mobile app?

A simple app takes 8–12 weeks. A medium-complexity app takes 12–20 weeks. A complex app takes 20–40 weeks. Add 2–4 weeks for app store review and approval. Cross-platform development is typically 20–30% faster than building two native apps.

How much do app store fees cost?

Apple charges a $99/year developer fee plus 15–30% commission on in-app purchases and subscriptions (15% for developers earning under $1M/year). Google charges a $25 one-time fee plus 15–30% commission. For subscription apps, these commissions are a significant ongoing cost — budget accordingly.

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