What actually drives the cost
The biggest factor is scope: how many features, how complex they are, and how much custom design and backend the app needs. A simple, single-purpose app costs far less than one with accounts, payments, real-time features, and a custom backend.
Anyone who quotes a firm price before understanding your app is guessing. A real estimate comes from a scoping conversation that turns your idea into a concrete feature list.
- Number and complexity of features — the single biggest driver
- Custom UI/UX design vs. simpler, standard layouts
- Whether you need a backend, user accounts, and data syncing
- Integrations: payments, maps, third-party services, hardware
- Real-time features, offline support, and other specialized engineering
- Ongoing needs after launch: maintenance, updates, and iOS compatibility
How app work is usually priced
App projects are typically priced one of two ways. Fixed-scope pricing sets a price for a clearly defined feature list — good when requirements are firm. Time-and-materials pricing bills for the work actually done — good when the product is still evolving.
Beyond the build itself, budget for the costs that come from Apple, not from your developer: the annual Apple Developer account fee, and any third-party services (like SMS, maps, or hosting) that charge based on usage.
- Fixed-scope pricing: one price for a defined, agreed feature list
- Time-and-materials: billed for actual work, better for evolving products
- Apple's annual developer account fee, paid directly to Apple
- Ongoing running costs: hosting, and usage-based third-party services
- A maintenance budget for post-launch fixes and yearly iOS updates
More on ios apps
Frequently asked questions
Why won't you just tell me a price?
Because a real number depends entirely on what your app does, and quoting before understanding that would be misleading. A photo-sharing app with accounts, payments, and a backend costs very differently from a simple offline utility. We give you an honest estimate after a short scoping conversation that turns your idea into a concrete feature list — which we offer as a free consultation.
What makes an app more expensive?
Complexity and custom work. User accounts, payments, real-time features, offline support, custom design, third-party integrations, and a custom backend all add engineering. A simple app doing one thing well is far more affordable than a feature-rich platform. The clearer your must-have feature list, the more accurate the estimate.
Are there costs beyond the initial build?
Yes, and it's important to plan for them. Apple charges an annual developer account fee. Many apps have ongoing running costs like hosting and usage-based services (for example, text messages or map lookups). And apps need maintenance — iOS updates yearly and can require fixes. We'll lay these out honestly so there are no surprises.