"I want to build a mobile app — how much does it cost?" has no short answer, but by the end of this you can estimate your own project within ±20%. In 2026 cost is driven by four variables: platform (iOS, Android, both), stack (native vs React Native vs Flutter), scope (MVP vs full product), and backend complexity.
Platform
|---|---|
| iOS only | 1.0× |
| Android only | 1.0 – 1.1× |
| iOS + Android (native) | 1.8 – 2.0× |
| iOS + Android (React Native / Flutter) | 1.1 – 1.3× |
Stack choice
Native (Swift + Kotlin): highest performance, full platform access, 1.8-2× cost.
React Native: single codebase, reuses web React talent, faster iteration.
Flutter: consistent UI, strong animations, smaller ecosystem.
Pragmatic rule: B2B, fintech, e-commerce, content, booking, CRM → React Native. Heavy graphics or device-sensor apps → native.
Scope tiers
MVP: 3-5 flows + basic backend.
€8,000 – €25,000, 8-14 weeks.
Mid-tier product: auth, push, payments, maps, analytics.
€25,000 – €80,000, 14-24 weeks.
Enterprise: multi-role, admin, offline, segmented push, SDKs, A/B, i18n.
€80,000 – €250,000+, 24-52 weeks.
Cost breakdown (typical €60,000 project)
|---|---|---|
| Product discovery + UX research | 10% | €6,000 |
| UI design + design system | 15% | €9,000 |
| iOS + Android development (RN) | 40% | €24,000 |
| Backend (Node.js + Postgres) | 20% | €12,000 |
| QA + test automation | 8% | €4,800 |
| DevOps, CI/CD, store releases | 5% | €3,000 |
| Project management | 2% | €1,200 |
Hidden costs
- Apple Developer: $99/yr · Google Play: $25 one-off
- Push: Firebase free → Braze/CustomerIO ~$500/mo
- Crash tracking: Firebase free → Sentry $26/mo+
- Analytics: Firebase + Mixpanel growth $250/mo+
- Hosting: $50-$5,000/mo
- Maintenance: 15-25% of build cost per year
Regional rates
|---|---|
| US / Canada | $120-$200 |
| Western Europe | $90-$150 |
| Turkey | $35-$70 |
| India / Pakistan | $20-$45 |
| Eastern Europe | $45-$80 |
Turkey offers a strong nearshore option for EU clients: proximity in timezone, high English fluency, visa-free visits.
*Makrops is a React Native and native mobile app development company. Contact us for a free scoping session.*