In 2026, a mobile app available on both iOS and Android costs between €15,000 and €120,000, depending on scope, method and the level of quality you aim for. The single biggest factor is neither the design nor the number of screens: it is the choice between native development (two separate codebases) and cross-platform (one shared codebase). Here are the real ranges, what actually inflates the bill, and why one codebase for iOS + Android can cut the budget in half.
Price ranges in 2026
- No-code (FlutterFlow, Glide, Bubble…): €5,000 – €25,000. Fast for a prototype, but limited as soon as you need performance, native integrations or to pass store review.
- Freelance: €350 – €700/day, i.e. €20,000 – €70,000 for a first version on both platforms. Variable quality and reliance on a single person.
- Traditional agency going native (iOS + Android separately): €60,000 – €150,000, over 4 to 9 months. Two teams, two codebases, twice as many bugs to fix.
- Cross-platform (React Native / Expo): one codebase for both stores, typically 30 to 50% cheaper than native at equal scope.
- Fixed-price V1 package (Khufu): €15,000, delivered in 7 days, source code yours, store-ready.
Native or cross-platform: the real budget trade-off
With native, you build twice: a Swift app for iOS and a Kotlin app for Android. Every screen, every fix, every feature is written and tested twice. Cross-platform with React Native and Expo runs on a single codebase shared 85–95% between the two platforms. You divide development time, maintenance cost and the number of bugs — while keeping native performance for the vast majority of apps.
What really costs money
- The backend and APIs: syncing, user accounts, payments. Often half the budget, invisible to the user.
- Real-time features: chat, push notifications, geolocation, live tracking.
- Native integrations: camera, Bluetooth, in-app payments, biometrics.
- Publishing and compliance: Apple and Google developer accounts, App Store review, GDPR.
- Maintenance: iOS and Android updates every year, or the app eventually breaks.
A native app is twice the code, twice the bugs and twice the maintenance. A single codebase is a single budget.
Realistic timelines
Expect 3 to 6 months for a full native app at an agency, and 6 to 12 weeks for a typical cross-platform MVP. With a tight scope, a proven stack (React Native, Expo, NestJS) and AI-assisted development, a genuinely store-ready V1 ships in 7 days.
What to budget, concretely
For a standard mobile app (authentication, profile, one or two core features, notifications, payment), plan on €15,000 for a clean V1 in React Native/Expo, publishable on the App Store and Google Play. Then add a monthly maintenance budget (from €1,490/month) to keep up with OS updates and grow the product without piling up technical debt.