---
title: "App Development Costs: What Does an App Cost? | Artus Engineering"
description: "What does it cost to build an app? Get a realistic price range in two minutes — no jargon, calibrated on real projects."
canonical_url: "https://artus-engineering.de/en/app-development-costs"
md_url: "https://artus-engineering.de/en/app-development-costs.md"
last_updated: "2026-09-11T14:47:09.931Z"
lang: en
---

# App Development Costs Estimated Realistically in 2 Minutes

*App Development*

What an app costs depends mostly on what it should do, which devices it runs on, and which systems it connects to. Answer a few plain-language questions and get a realistic price range right away, based on data from projects we have shipped.

## Cost Drivers

### Where the App Runs

A browser-only app is the most affordable. A real app for iPhone and Android costs more, and two completely separate apps cost the most.

### What the App Should Do

An app that only shows information is built quickly. A marketplace with booking and payments takes considerably more effort.

### Connections to Other Systems

Links to accounting, payments, or company systems are often the biggest hidden cost.

### Login and Roles

A simple login is cheap. Several roles with different permissions mean more work.

### Look and Design

A clean standard design is quick. A fully custom design costs more and pays off for consumer-facing apps.

### New or Existing

Building on a solid existing foundation is often cheaper than starting from scratch.

## Typical Budget Ranges for App Projects

As a rough orientation: these three examples show which scope typically lands in which price range with us. The ranges overlap because platform and feature scope together determine the effort.

### Lean scope: Web app, internal tool, or customer area

Budget: 15,000 € – 40,000 €

No app store. Typical for information, checklists, and simple workflows.

### Medium scope: App for iPhone and Android

Budget: 30,000 € – 80,000 €

With login, notifications, and offline support — for example employee or booking apps.

### Large scope: Extensive app with several roles

Budget: 80,000 € – 150,000 €

Connections to company systems, live features, or AI.

How maintenance is calculated: Typically 15–20% of the development cost per year

Binding price: After clarifying audience, scope, and priorities

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does it cost to develop an app?

A rough orientation: a simple app or web app runs €15,000–40,000, an app for iPhone and Android with login and notifications €30,000–80,000, and extensive apps with several roles, connections to company systems, or live features €80,000–150,000. We name the binding fixed price after the discovery workshop.

### Which factors influence app development costs the most?

What matters most is which devices the app runs on (browser only, iPhone and Android, or separate apps), what it should do, which other systems it connects to, and whether there are different user roles. The visual design matters less. Those are exactly the few questions the calculator asks.

### Which is cheaper: a web app, an app for iPhone and Android, or separate apps?

A web app is the most affordable; it runs in the browser on phone and desktop. An app for iPhone and Android from a shared codebase costs more but saves roughly 30–40% compared with two completely separate apps. Separate apps only pay off when you need maximum performance or deep device access.

### What does a first version (MVP) cost?

A deliberately lean first version starts at around €15,000–30,000. With integrations, login, and the first larger features it usually lands at €30,000–80,000. A clear cut matters: in the discovery workshop we define what truly belongs in the launch scope.

### What does it cost to maintain an app?

Ongoing maintenance typically runs 15–20% of the development cost per year.

### How is the binding fixed price determined?

The calculator gives a non-binding orientation. We name the binding fixed price after the discovery workshop. Together we clarify audience, scope, and priorities so both sides know exactly what gets built.

A non-binding orientation based on our experience. We name the binding fixed price after the discovery workshop.

## Get a Precise Estimate for Your App.

[Request a discovery workshop](https://artus-engineering.de/en/contact.md)

## Sitemap

Complete overview of every page: [Sitemap](https://artus-engineering.de/en/sitemap.md)