The cost of an app depends on complexity, platform and features. This page explains which factors determine the price and what you can realistically expect.
From €10,000 · Transparent quote per phase · No-obligation introductory call
Companies that trust us
Pricing
An honest answer: it depends on what the app needs to do. To give you a concrete picture, here are the typical price ranges per project size:
These prices include design, development, project management and publication in the App Store and Google Play. Excluding VAT. Want to understand the full process? See our app development guide with the full process.
Want an estimate for your own app? Work it out below, or call us: 010 307 6100
Cost estimator
Six questions about what you want to build. You see where you land as you go.
Pricing factors
The price of an app is determined by the combination of these factors:
Flutter vs native
Want to support both iOS and Android? Flutter is structurally cheaper than two separate native apps:
The Next App builds exclusively with Flutter. That means we are specialised and efficient: no switching frameworks, no extra coordination. That keeps costs low and quality high.
After launch
Costs do not stop at launch. Factor in recurring costs as part of your business case:
We provide a quarterly advisory report on recommended maintenance work. You decide what to have done. Deferred maintenance accumulates technical debt, which eventually requires a larger catch-up investment.
Additional costs
The quote covers design, development, project management and publication. Alongside it run costs that do not go through us but do end up on your invoice. They are rarely large, but they do take people by surprise:
We do not include these items in the quote, because they follow from your choices rather than from the build. We do list them, so you do not run into them only after launch.
Pricing model
Two agencies can name the same amount and still offer something entirely different. The difference is not the price but who carries the risk when things turn out harder than expected:
The most useful question in a quote conversation is not "what does it cost" but "what happens when it turns out harder than expected". So always ask for the description of what is included, not just the number underneath it.
Worked example
Indicative prices stay abstract until you break them apart. Below is an app of the kind we build regularly, with the items listed separately. It is not an existing project but a composite of what we encounter in practice.
The brief: an app for the employees of a company, around 400 users. Fourteen screens, sign-in with the employer account, one integration with an existing system for the data, and push notifications. iOS and Android via Flutter. No payments, no offline mode.
What moves that number is almost always the same item: the integration. If the existing system is well documented, you sit at the lower end. If it first has to be worked out how to get the data out, you sit at the upper end. That is why we only quote that item after the preparation phase, not before it.
Saving
The biggest saving is not in the rate but in the scope. What works:
And what makes it more expensive over time:
A low quote is not the same as low cost. Where agencies differ, and where that difference comes from, is covered in why the cheapest app quote costs you more.
Request a quote
Indicative prices give a first impression, but every app is different. In a no-obligation introductory call we will tell you what an app like yours realistically costs, based on your specific requirements.
Our office is at Westblaak 33 in Rotterdam. We are also happy to come to you or connect online.
Schedule a no-obligation call →Previous work
FAQ
A first version with core features only (MVP) starts from €10,000. This covers an app with limited features, one user role and a minimal or no backend. A basic Flutter app for both iOS and Android starts from €15,000 and an app with a backend for data or user management from €20,000.
After validation you can develop further based on user feedback. Many successful apps started as a simple MVP.
An app with a backend for user management, data storage and integrations with external systems starts from €20,000. Fully developed, with multiple user roles and integrations, such an app typically costs between €25,000 and €60,000. The exact price depends strongly on the number of user roles, the complexity of the business logic and the quality of the external APIs to be connected.
Yes. Flutter uses one codebase for iOS and Android. That means one development team, one maintenance track and shorter lead times. Compared to two separate native apps, you typically save 30–40% on development costs, and structurally on the annual maintenance burden.
We work with a fixed daily rate and produce a detailed quote per phase. That way you know exactly what you get and what it costs for each phase, with no surprises afterwards. The total price depends on the number of screens, the complexity of the features, the backend, the design and any system integrations.
Budget around 10–15% of the initial development cost per year to keep the app healthy. This covers framework updates (Flutter, NestJS), security patches and OS updates for new iPhone and Android versions. On top of that come hosting costs (typically €50 to €200 per month on Google Cloud Run) and the Apple developer fee (€99/year).
Yes. We work in phases: preparation, design, development and publication. Each phase has its own budget and deliverable. You can decide after each phase whether and how to continue. This provides financial flexibility and reduces risk: you never commit to the full budget upfront.
We host by default on Google Cloud Run: a serverless platform that scales automatically and costs nothing when not in use. For an active business app you typically pay €50 to €200 per month, depending on the number of users and data volume. We handle setup and day-to-day management of the hosting environment.
A day rate alone tells you nothing. Ask each agency for a fixed daily rate, a clear phase definition and a description of what each phase delivers. That way you compare like for like. Also check what is not included: design, App Store publication and project management are sometimes billed separately.
Even an unchanged app needs annual maintenance. Apple and Google release new OS versions every year that require compatibility updates. On top of that come security patches for the libraries used. Budget at least €1,500 to €4,500 per year. Skip this and you risk the app being rejected in the stores or accumulating security vulnerabilities.
Let's grab a coffee. Tell us about your idea and we'll give you our honest take on what's possible.
Schedule a call →Usually a reply within seconds
