Business · Free tool
Mobile App Cost Estimator
The mobile app cost estimator helps you plan an app before you ask for quotes. Choose the platforms, features and project phases you need, and it turns them into an itemised scope with the running-cost ranges we publish and the store fees you pay Apple and Google. We have not published standard app prices, so the build is quoted separately: send your scope to us for a proper quotation.
Free, no sign-up Runs on our server Reviewed
Mobile App Cost Estimator
Your selections are sent to our server only to build the estimate; they are not stored unless you send them with an enquiry.
How to use the Mobile App Cost Estimator
- 1 Choose the platforms: Android, iPhone, both, or a progressive web app.
- 2 Tick the features the first version must have.
- 3 Choose the project phases you need from us, and any running costs.
- 4 Press Calculate to see your itemised scope, then print it or send it to us for a quotation.
What it does
- Compare Android, iPhone, cross-platform and progressive web app options
- Itemised scope of features and project phases
- Apple and Google store fees, checked against their official pages
- Hosting and domain running costs from our published ranges
- Print or save as PDF, and send your scope with a consultation request
Useful for businesses planning a customer app, founders testing an app idea and organisations choosing between an app and a progressive web app.
Limitations
- We have not published standard prices for mobile apps, so the build and each feature are marked "quoted separately" rather than guessed.
- Store fees and rules are set by Apple and Google and can change; check their pages before you budget.
- Third-party charges such as payment fees, SMS, maps and other paid services an app uses are not included.
The phases of an app project
Most apps, large or small, go through the same four phases. Knowing them helps you compare quotations, because each phase should appear in a proposal.
- Discovery and design. Agree who the app is for, the two or three journeys it must make easy, and which platform comes first. Then design and test the key screens so the app feels natural on a small screen. This is the cheapest point to change your mind.
- MVP build and testing. Build the minimum viable product: the smallest version that does the core job well, with its back-end and admin dashboard. It is tested on a range of real Android and iOS devices, not just simulators.
- Launch and store submission. Prepare the store listing, screenshots and privacy details, then submit to Google Play and the Apple App Store. We recommend publishing under your own developer account so you keep long-term control.
- Maintenance and improvement. Operating systems update every year, so apps need regular updates and fixes. Usage and crash reports show what to improve next.
Choosing a platform
- Android or iPhone only suits apps whose users are mostly on one platform, or a first release that tests demand.
- Cross-platform builds both from one codebase with a framework such as Flutter or React Native. It is usually the most efficient way to reach both platforms.
- A progressive web app (PWA) is built with web technologies but behaves like an app: MDN describes PWAs as installable, able to work offline and to integrate with the device. There is no app-store download, which makes it a good first step for many services. Read more in 5 reasons to opt for progressive web apps.
Store fees are paid to the stores
App-store fees are not part of our price; you pay them directly. At the time of writing, the Apple Developer Program costs US$99 per membership year and Google Play charges a one-off US$25 registration fee. A PWA needs neither.
Read your estimate
We have not published standard prices for mobile apps, so the build, each feature and each phase are listed as quoted separately. That is deliberate: a “chat” feature can be a simple contact thread or a full messaging system, and we would rather ask than guess. The yearly figures are the hosting and domain ranges we publish.
Your estimate is still useful: it is the scope we quote from. Press Request an app quotation and your selections are copied into the form below. Tell us who the app is for and what it must do first, and we will reply with questions and then a written quotation. If your app is mainly a web system, the web application cost estimator shows our published range for custom web applications, and our mobile app development page explains how we work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a mobile app?
It depends on the platforms, the number of screens and features, the back-end and the integrations. We price apps after a short scoping conversation; this estimator turns your choices into the scope we quote from and shows the running costs we publish.
How much are the Apple App Store and Google Play fees?
The Apple Developer Program costs US$99 per membership year, and Google Play charges a one-off US$25 registration fee (both checked on 31 October 2026). Apple offers fee waivers to eligible non-profit organisations, accredited educational institutions and government entities.
Is a cross-platform app cheaper than two native apps?
Usually. A cross-platform framework such as Flutter or React Native builds the Android and iPhone versions from one codebase, which saves time and keeps both versions in step. We build native apps where the project calls for them.
Do I need an app or a progressive web app?
If customers use your service occasionally, a fast mobile-friendly website or progressive web app is often enough. An app makes sense when people return frequently, when push notifications matter, or when you need device features.
What is an MVP?
A minimum viable product is the smallest version of your app that does its core job well. Launching it first lets you learn from real users before you pay for more features.
What does an app cost after launch?
Budget for hosting the back-end (GHS 600 – 3,000 or more a year in our published range), the Apple membership every year if you publish on the App Store, and maintenance: operating systems update every year, so apps need regular updates.
Sources
The figures in use apply from .
Phoot Technologies
Get a quotation for your app
Send us your scope and a few words about who the app is for. We will reply, usually within one working day, to talk through the platforms and first version, then send a written quotation.
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