How Much Does it Cost to Build a Mobile App In 2023?

What is the cost of building a mobile app in 2023? Find out what factors influence the cost of mobile app development and what to expect from a mobile app development project.

Author

Ahona DasSenior Technical Content Writer

Date

Mar 28, 2023

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Mobile App In 2023?

Book a call

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why do we need to optimize the development of mobile apps in 2023? In data we trust — and according to a Statista survey, global revenue from mobile apps across most business segments will reach around 613 US billion dollars by 2025!

A graph depicting the global revenue from mobile apps according to a Statista survey.

Source: Statista 2023

So how much does it cost to build a mobile app in 2023? This blog will try to answer this query in detail.

Setting the Ground Rules

The price of developing a mobile app can range anywhere from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars, depending on several factors. These are determined by some common factors that can impact the cost of building a mobile app:

App complexity: App complexity is directly proportional to cost. Apps with features such as AI/AR or Machine Learning are more resource-intensive and cost extra time and money.
App platform: Are you developing for iOS or Android? Developing for iOS is more expensive owing to Apple’s strict guidelines and licensing fees, while Android app development is comparatively less expensive.
The app development team: The quality of your app development team will also determine the cost of your application. Offshore development teams are usually less expensive, provided they have the proper skills and expertise.
App maintenance and ongoing costs: Mobile apps require regular post-launch support and ongoing expenses that can add up over time. However, these upgrades and maintenance are necessary to ensure a smooth-functioning, relevant, and updated app.

The factors and costs can be summarised in an equation as follows:

An equation to summarize the factors and costs of app development

The variable costs will be deductions in case of discounts and additions in case of mishaps and project extensions. The target is to keep the variable costs to a minus or zero.

A Closer Look at the Factors Involved

App complexity

This can range from basic to medium or highly complex. Let us break this down in the following table:

Screenshot 2023-03-22 at 11.11.41 AM.png

App platform

Developing for iOS generally costs more than Android app development. However, while iOS has a more loyal user base and a higher average revenue per user, Android has a more fragmented device market.

iOS — $ 25,000 - $ 150,000, depending on app complexity
Android — $ 20,000 - $100,000, depending on app complexity

The app development team

The cost of hiring an app development team varies depending on the team’s experience, location, and hourly rates. Offshore development teams are generally preferable, as they are less expensive but offer diverse skills and expertise.

Apart from the app development team, you will also require designers, testers, and project managers, which will further elevate the associated costs. The following is a country-wise guide on app development costs:

Screenshot 2023-03-22 at 11.15.02 AM.png

App maintenance and ongoing costs

The mobile app development project does not end with deployment. Post-launch updates, upgrades, and routine maintenance are also necessary to ensure a seamless user experience and an app that competes with market standards.

Regular maintenance generally costs between $ 5,000 to $ 15,000 annually or more. In comparison, major upgrades can cost between $ 20,000 to $ 100,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the application and the new features added.

Summing Up

Building an application is a long-term app commitment that is time and resource-intensive. If you want an application that is performant, efficient, and easy to maintain, it is crucial to keep scalability and flexibility in mind during development. A modular structure allows you to add new features and functionality to your app without rebuilding it from scratch. Therefore, it is essential to select a development team that has proven experience in creating dynamic, high-performance apps and is willing to provide ongoing support as needed.

At GeekyAnts, any project we take up is optimized for costs and maximum ROI for your business. We analyze the best tech stacks for the project requirement and then analyze how to execute the idea without having our clients break the bank.

Curious to explore how much your app development will cost with GeekyAnts? Schedule a call with us today: CLICK HERE.

SHARE ON

More from the engineering frontline.

Dive deep into our research and insights on design, development, and the impact of various trends to businesses.

How to Build an AI MVP That Can Scale to Enterprise Production

Article

Apr 17, 2026

How to Build an AI MVP That Can Scale to Enterprise Production

Most enterprise AI MVPs fail before production. See how to design scalable AI systems with the right architecture, data, and MLOps strategy.

How to De-Risk AI Product Investments Before Full-Scale Rollout

Article

Apr 17, 2026

How to De-Risk AI Product Investments Before Full-Scale Rollout

Most AI pilots never reach production, and the reasons are more preventable than teams realize. This blog walks through the warning signs, the safeguards, and what structured thinking before the build actually saves.

Business Cost of Shipping an AI Prototype Too Early

Article

Apr 17, 2026

Business Cost of Shipping an AI Prototype Too Early

85% of AI projects fail to deliver ROI. Explore the hidden costs of early prototypes and how to move from demos to production-ready AI systems.

Scroll for more

View all articles

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Mobile App In 2023?

Introduction

Setting the Ground Rules