What an app costs mostly depends on what it needs to do. At Gain Impact, an MVP usually costs between €3,000 and €5,000, a simple app between €5,000 and €8,000, and a complete app roughly €10,000 to €15,000. This article explains where those numbers come from, what pushes the price up, and what an app like Uber realistically takes.
How much does an app cost? The short version
| Type | Estimate | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| MVP | €3,000 – €5,000 | You want to put an idea in front of real users as quickly as possible, with only the core feature. |
| Simple app | €5,000 – €8,000 | A clear app with a handful of screens, accounts and an admin area, without complex integrations. |
| Complete app | €10,000 – €15,000 | Multiple user roles, payments, integrations with other systems or real-time features. Where you land depends on the complexity. |
These are estimates. After a free intake we lock the scope and you get one fixed price and a fixed deadline. That price doesn't change as long as the scope stays the same.
What are you actually paying for?
An app is more than the screens you see. Roughly, the price covers four parts:
- Scope and design. Deciding what goes into the first version, how users move through the app and what the screens look like.
- The app itself. The iOS and Android app, or a web app that also works on a phone.
- The back end. The server, database, login, notifications and an admin area where you can manage data.
- Testing and launch. Testing with real users, publishing to the App Store and Google Play, and setting up hosting and monitoring.
What makes an app more expensive?
Two apps with the same number of screens can differ a lot in price. These factors matter most:
- Number of user roles. An app for one type of user is simpler than a platform with customers, providers and admins who each see something different.
- Payments. Online payments, subscriptions or payouts to third parties take extra work and careful testing.
- Real-time features. Live locations, chat or notifications that need to arrive instantly.
- Integrations. A connection to your POS, accounting software, CRM or an external API.
- AI. Smart search, chatbots or automatic document processing.
- Custom design versus proven patterns. A fully bespoke interface takes more time than a clean design built on familiar patterns.
How much does an app like Uber cost?
An app like Uber shows how quickly the price can climb. Under the hood it is really three products: an app for the rider, an app for the driver and an admin dashboard. Add live locations, matching rides to drivers, payments and ratings.
Everything Uber does today is years of work by large teams. You don't need to rebuild that. What is achievable is a first version with exactly the core of your concept: for example, a customer requests a ride or service, a provider accepts it, and payment happens afterwards. A product like that falls into the complete app category. How many features fit into the first version is something we decide together during the intake.
Tip: start with one city, one type of service and one payment method. Expand only once you see people using it. It's cheaper and you learn faster.
Why an MVP is almost always the smartest start
The most expensive app is one nobody uses. With an MVP you first build the smallest version that tells you whether your idea lands, usually within 4 to 8 weeks. After that you only invest in what users turn out to need. Read What is an MVP? to see how that works and what does and doesn't belong in one.
Costs after launch
Besides the build, plan for ongoing costs:
- Hosting for the server and database.
- Developer accounts for the App Store and Google Play.
- Maintenance, such as updates for new iOS and Android versions.
- Further development when you want to add features.
We agree up front which aftercare fits your app, so there are no surprises there either.
How do you get an exact price?
In a free intake we discuss your idea, your audience and what the first version minimally needs to do. You then get a concrete plan with a fixed scope, a fixed price and a deadline. Want to know more about how we work? See our process, or read more about custom mobile apps and custom web applications.