How much does it cost to build an app?

What actually drives the cost of an app

Every package above is the same team and the same process — the price moves with how much your app has to do:

• How many screens and features — a single-purpose tool (one core feature, up to 3 screens) is Kickstart territory; each layer beyond that adds design and build time.
• Accounts, payments, and the app stores — the moment people sign in, come back, and pay, you need secure login, a real database, and App Store / Google Play publishing. That's Launch.
• AI in the product — chat, recommendations, generation, or matching, with a second AI verifying results. That's Automate.
• Multiple sides — marketplaces with different user types, their own interfaces, an admin dashboard, and real-time features. That's Scale.

The only ongoing costs are hosting and a web address, paid directly to those providers (usually $10–50/month) — and after your free 30 days of bug fixes, new work is just $35/hour, no retainer, no minimums.

Why do agencies quote $40,000 for the same app?

Most agencies bill hourly, so the quote has to cover project managers, account managers, office overhead, and every meeting along the way — and when billing is hourly, slower is more profitable. We run it differently: a small senior team, a flat price agreed up front before any money changes hands, and a free design first so you see exactly what you're buying before you pay anything. Same app, without the agency markup.