Cost to develop an app calculated feature by feature
"It depends" is not an answer. Here is the exact model behind every estimate we give: base hours per project type, an hour range per feature, overheads as separate lines and one rate. Run it on your project in the form below.
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Typical app development cost ranges in our model
- Website
- Base hours48
- Typical range$6,000 to $28,000
- Integration
- Base hours64
- Typical range$8,500 to $43,500
- AI feature
- Base hours96
- Typical range$12,500 to $58,000
- MVP
- Base hours200
- Typical range$26,000 to $79,500
- Web app
- Base hours320
- Typical range$41,500 to $124,000
- Mobile app
- Base hours360
- Typical range$46,500 to $126,000
| Project type | Base hours | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Website | 48 | $6,000 to $28,000 |
| Integration | 64 | $8,500 to $43,500 |
| AI feature | 96 | $12,500 to $58,000 |
| MVP | 200 | $26,000 to $79,500 |
| Web app | 320 | $41,500 to $124,000 |
| Mobile app | 360 | $46,500 to $126,000 |
The low end of each range is the base package alone, the high end a large scope with most features from the list below. Base hours cover the base package: architecture, data model, core screens, environments, testing pipeline and deployment. These are model results, not quotes, and your estimate uses your features.
Hours per feature
- User accounts and login
- Hours24 to 40
- Roles and permissions
- Hours16 to 32
- Team accounts
- Hours24 to 40
- Admin panel
- Hours40 to 80
- Payments and subscriptions
- Hours32 to 64
- Invoices
- Hours16 to 32
- Dashboard with charts
- Hours32 to 64
- Search and filters
- Hours16 to 40
- File uploads
- Hours12 to 24
- Email notifications
- Hours12 to 24
- Push notifications
- Hours16 to 32
- Real-time chat
- Hours40 to 80
- Calendar and booking
- Hours32 to 64
- Maps and location
- Hours16 to 40
- CMS and blog
- Hours16 to 32
- Multi-language
- Hours16 to 32
- Reports and export
- Hours16 to 40
- Public API
- Hours32 to 64
- Third-party integration, each
- Hours16 to 48
- AI document extraction
- Hours40 to 80
- AI assistant on your data
- Hours48 to 96
- Offline mode, mobile
- Hours32 to 64
- Analytics events
- Hours8 to 16
| Feature | Hours |
|---|---|
| User accounts and login | 24 to 40 |
| Roles and permissions | 16 to 32 |
| Team accounts | 24 to 40 |
| Admin panel | 40 to 80 |
| Payments and subscriptions | 32 to 64 |
| Invoices | 16 to 32 |
| Dashboard with charts | 32 to 64 |
| Search and filters | 16 to 40 |
| File uploads | 12 to 24 |
| Email notifications | 12 to 24 |
| Push notifications | 16 to 32 |
| Real-time chat | 40 to 80 |
| Calendar and booking | 32 to 64 |
| Maps and location | 16 to 40 |
| CMS and blog | 16 to 32 |
| Multi-language | 16 to 32 |
| Reports and export | 16 to 40 |
| Public API | 32 to 64 |
| Third-party integration, each | 16 to 48 |
| AI document extraction | 40 to 80 |
| AI assistant on your data | 48 to 96 |
| Offline mode, mobile | 32 to 64 |
| Analytics events | 8 to 16 |
Overheads and adjustments
- 01 UX and UI design: 20 percent, or zero when you bring finished designs
- 02 QA and testing: 15 percent
- 03 Project management: 10 percent
- 04 Second native mobile platform: 60 percent on the mobile base package
- 05 React Native or Flutter for both platforms: 25 percent on the mobile base package
- 06 Deadline shorter than the model suggests: 15 percent for a larger team
- 07 Rate: $89 per hour of team time, with the range rounded to the nearest $500
A worked calculation for a web MVP
Take an MVP with user accounts, roles, payments and subscriptions, a dashboard, email notifications and an admin panel.
The same steps run in the form above for any project you describe. Read the long version in how much does it cost to make an app.
- 01 Base hours for an MVP: 200
- 02 Features: 156 to 304 hours
- 03 Subtotal: 356 to 504 hours
- 04 Design, QA and project management, 45 percent together: 516 to 731 hours
- 05 At $89 per hour, rounded: $46,000 to $65,000
- 06 Planned on three full-time seats at 60 hours each per two week sprint: 6 to 9 weeks, or up to 5 sprints
What moves the cost to develop an app
Cutting one large feature from the first release often saves more than any discount. The estimate lets you try that in seconds. If you want to know how payment works once you have a number, see software development pricing.
- 01 The number of features, more than anything else
- 02 Native apps for two platforms instead of one shared codebase
- 03 Integrations with older systems that have weak APIs
- 04 Real-time features such as chat and live dashboards
- 05 A deadline that needs a larger team
- 06 Whether you already have designs
App cost questions
No. It is a preliminary estimate from the model. Discovery confirms the details, and the price of each later stage is fixed in the scope you accept.
Every feature has a simpler and a richer version. The range shows both ends. Discovery decides where your version sits.
No. Hosting, store developer accounts and third-party services are paid directly by you, in your own accounts. We list the expected running costs in Discovery.
Calculate the cost of your app
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