Last updated: October 10, 2026. All amounts are in US dollars and are planning estimates for a scoped build, not quotes. Store fees and platform prices link to their sources.

What a mobile app MVP costs

A single-platform MVP (iOS or Android) with core features, authentication, and a clean UI generally costs $10,000–$20,000 and can launch in 2–3 weeks.
A cross-platform app (iOS + Android) built with React Native or Flutter, including payments, push notifications, and backend, typically runs $20,000–$40,000.
An app with AI features, real-time data, offline sync, or hardware integrations (camera, location, sensors) usually costs $40,000–$55,000+.

Native, cross-platform or web first?

The platform choice moves cost more than any single feature:

Responsive web app: one codebase that runs in the phone browser with no store review, which is usually the lowest-cost way to test whether people want the product. Access to some device features is limited.
Cross-platform app (React Native or Flutter): one codebase that ships to iOS and Android through both stores, which suits most apps that need push notifications and common device features.
Native apps (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android): two codebases with the deepest access to device features, which is worth the extra cost when the product depends on advanced camera, sensor or background processing.

Store fees and accounts

Apple: the Apple Developer Program membership is $99 per year (Apple Developer Program).
Google: a Google Play developer account has a one-time registration fee of US$25 (Google Play Console Help).
Ownership: publish the app under developer accounts that your company owns, so the store listing, reviews and update rights stay with you if you change vendors.

Don't forget App Store and Play Store accounts, ongoing hosting, and maintenance; we factor these into the plan so post-launch costs are predictable.

Backend and hosting costs

A mobile app still needs a backend for accounts, data and notifications. Supabase's free plan includes a 500 MB database and 50,000 monthly active users with a limit of 2 active projects, and its Pro plan starts at $25 per month (Supabase pricing, checked October 10, 2026), so early backend cost is usually a small line next to the build. Costs that scale with usage, such as push messaging, media storage and AI model calls, are the ones to estimate before launch.

What to ask a mobile app vendor

Which framework will you use, and why does it fit my feature list?
Who submits the app to each store, and what happens if a review is rejected?
Which developer accounts will the app be published under?
Which device features does the MVP need, such as camera, location, notifications or offline mode?
What are the monthly running costs once the app has users?

Related cost pages

MVP development cost for the full breakdown by MVP type and team.
AI MVP development cost for apps with model features.
SaaS MVP development cost for subscription products.
Agency vs in-house MVP development for the hiring decision.

The ranges on this page are SpeedMVPs planning figures, so replace them with written quotes for your scope before you commit a budget.

What You'll Get

Itemized App Estimate

Cost by platform, feature set, backend, and AI capability.

Store-Ready App MVP

A polished iOS and/or Android app launched in 2–3 weeks.

Backend & APIs

Scalable backend, auth, and data sync built to grow.

Payments & Notifications

In-app purchases, subscriptions, and push wired in.

AI Feature Options

Vision, chat, or recommendations integrated natively.

Why Choose Us

Ship a production-ready build in 2–3 weeks, not 2–3 quarters: fixed scope, fixed timeline.
Senior AI engineers only; you talk directly to the people writing the code, with no account-manager layer.
You own 100% of the code, models, prompts, and infrastructure from day one: no lock-in.
Transparent fixed-price packages with a clear scope document before any work starts.

Pricing/Packages Table

Benchmarked for Global. Final quote depends on scope, integrations, and launch timeline.

Package	Price Range (USD)	Includes
Starter	$10k–$20k	Single-platform MVP with core features and auth
Growth	$20k–$40k	Cross-platform iOS + Android with payments and backend
Scale	$40k–$55k+	AI, real-time, offline, or hardware-integrated app

Launching a focused mobile MVP fast lets you gather real user data and store reviews before investing in a full feature set.

FAQ

How much does a mobile app MVP cost?

Most mobile app MVPs cost $10,000–$55,000. A single-platform MVP runs $10,000–$20,000, cross-platform $20,000–$40,000, and AI or hardware-heavy apps $40,000–$55,000+.

Is it cheaper to build for one platform first?

Yes. Launching on a single platform, or using cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter, reduces cost versus building separate native iOS and Android apps.

What drives mobile app cost the most?

Number of platforms, feature complexity, backend and real-time requirements, AI features, and hardware integrations like camera, location, or sensors.

How long does it take to launch?

A focused mobile MVP launches in 2–3 weeks. Cross-platform or AI-heavy apps take longer depending on scope and store review.

What are the ongoing costs?

Apple and Google developer accounts, backend hosting, third-party services, and any AI API usage. We document these so post-launch budgeting is predictable.