Why app prices collapsed
Three things happened. Cross-platform frameworks matured, so one build now covers both iPhone and Android instead of two separate projects. Cloud services replaced months of backend work with configuration. And AI-accelerated development compressed the build itself from months to weeks. The €40,000 agency app of 2020 is, feature for feature, a €5,000 to €10,000 project today, and simple business apps cost far less.
What apps cost in 2026
| Type of app | Example | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalty and check-in | Coffee stamps, gym check-in, member card | €1,500 to €4,000 |
| Booking apps | Classes, appointments, deposits, reminders | €2,500 to €6,000 |
| Ordering apps | Click and collect, delivery, table ordering | €3,000 to €8,000 |
| Internal tools | Job sheets, rotas, fleet checks, stock counts | €2,000 to €6,000 |
| Startup MVPs | First working version to show users and investors | €5,000 to €15,000 |
Both App Store and Google Play publication are included in those ranges when you build with us, along with the boring-but-vital parts: store screenshots, privacy policy, and getting through Apple’s review.
Estimate your app in 20 seconds
Pick the closest starting point, then tick what your app needs.
Ballpark including both app stores. For a firm number, send us your idea and get a straight answer within a day.
The question to ask before building any app
Will your customers actually install it? An app earns its place on someone’s phone when they use it repeatedly: ordering every week, checking in every visit, collecting stamps every coffee. If a customer would only use it once or twice a year, a fast mobile website does the same job with zero install friction, and costs less. We will tell you honestly which one your idea is; roughly half the app enquiries we get are better served by a great website, and we say so.
The ongoing costs nobody quotes
- Apple developer account: $99 per year, required to be on the App Store
- Google Play account: $25, once
- Hosting and services: typically €10 to €50 per month depending on usage
- Updates: both stores evolve; budget a small annual tune-up, or a care plan covers it
Rule of thumb: if a quote does not mention who owns the code, who owns the store listings, and what happens after launch, keep your hand on your wallet. With us, you own all three. Price your app in the calculator.
Website or app? A 20-second answer
- Choose a website when people need to find you, read about you, and contact or buy occasionally. Google can find a website; it cannot find an app.
- Choose an app when the same customers come back weekly, and speed, loyalty or notifications matter.
- Choose both when the website wins new customers and the app keeps them. Built together, they share one system, which is dramatically cheaper than building twice.