How much does it cost to develop a mobile app in 2026?

Mobile app development cost in 2026 varies widely based on the type of app, feature complexity, platform (iOS, Android, or both), and where your development team is located. There’s no fixed number, but here are realistic ranges you can expect:

Typical Cost Ranges (Global Market)
• Simple apps: ~$10,000 – $30,000 — basic features with minimal backend.
• Mid-complexity apps: ~$20,000 – $50,000 — login, APIs, dashboards, moderate features.
• Advanced/feature-rich apps: ~$30,000 – $100,000+ — real-time sync, chat, payments.
• Enterprise-grade/large platforms: $100,000 – $1 million+ — high scalability, complex backend.

These figures include design, development, and quality assurance/testing — but not ongoing maintenance or marketing.

iOS App Development Cost Specifically
Because of Apple’s design standards and review process, iOS app development cost is often somewhat higher per platform than Android alone:
• Simple iOS app: ~$10,000 – $25,000
• Moderate iOS app: ~$20,000 – $50,000
• Complex iOS app: ~$40,000 – $100,000+
These ranges reflect pure iOS development only (not Android or cross-platform work).

What Influences the Mobile App Development Cost in 2026

Platform choice
• Native iOS vs native Android vs cross-platform (React Native/Flutter).
iOS often costs a bit more per native project for polished design.
App complexity/features
• Login, payments, maps, chat, AI/ML all add to cost.
Complex features like AR/VR or real-time data raise the total significantly.
Development team location & rates
• North America/Western Europe charge higher hourly rates than India/Eastern Europe.
Backend infrastructure & maintenance
• Server setup, cloud services, APIs, ongoing updates are extra.
Maintenance budgets are often 15–20% of initial build per year.

Quick Takeaway

Mobile app development cost in 2026 broadly spans from about $10,000 for simple apps up to $100,000+ for full-featured products — and even over $1 million for large enterprise solutions.
iOS app development cost alone can range from around $10,000 for basic apps to well over $100,000 for high-complexity native iOS experiences.