Mobile budgets are harder to predict than web budgets because you are building for two platforms, two review processes, and users who update on their own schedule. Here is how to plan.
Figures are planning ranges, not quotes, and depend heavily on scope and compliance requirements.
Planning ranges
| App type | Example | Timeline | Planning range (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | Content, forms, basic accounts | 3–4 months | $40k–$80k |
| Mid-complexity | Payments, push, offline sync, integrations | 4–7 months | $80k–$200k |
| Complex | Biometrics, real-time, regulated data, heavy backend | 7–12+ months | $200k+ |
Native vs React Native
| Native (Swift + Kotlin) | React Native | |
|---|---|---|
| Codebases | Two | One shared, thin native layer where needed |
| Best for | Platform-heavy, performance-critical apps | Products where speed to both stores matters |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Long-term cost | Two codebases to maintain | One, with occasional native work |
The savings from React Native are real but not 50%. Design, backend, QA, and store work do not halve. Expect a meaningful, not dramatic, reduction. For a real example of a native build driven by biometric auth and push, see the Ferra case study.
Costs teams forget
- App Store and Play Store review. Rejections happen. Budget time for privacy declarations and resubmissions.
- Backend and API work. The app is often the smaller half.
- Crash reporting and release monitoring. Set up before launch.
- Ongoing OS updates. Each new iOS and Android release can break things.
- Analytics and experimentation. You cannot improve what you do not measure.
How to reduce cost safely
- Launch on one platform or one core flow first, if your audience allows it.
- Reuse your existing API and design system.
- Choose cross-platform unless a specific feature demands native.
- Cut features, not test coverage.
FAQ
How long does it take to build a mobile app? Three to twelve months depending on scope. A focused first release is often 3–4 months.
Should we build the web version first? If your users are mostly on phones, no. If your product is a workflow tool used at a desk, often yes.
Planning a build? Read about our mobile app development process, or talk to us for a range specific to your scope.
