Neting Guides & insights Applications

How Much Does a Mobile App Cost in 2026?

Applications Updated 21 August 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer

In 2026, a mobile app costs anywhere from 2,490 € for a professional PWA to over 150,000 € for a complex native build at an agency. A market-rate MVP runs between 5,000 and 30,000 €. The final price depends on the number of screens, the features you include and the technology you choose.

Key takeaways
  • Professional PWA: 2,490 € at Neting, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks (iOS, Android and web)
  • Market-rate MVP: 5,000 to 30,000 € depending on scope
  • Native app at an agency: 10,000 to 150,000 €
  • Developer accounts: 99 USD per year for Apple, 25 USD one-off for Google
  • Store commissions: 15 to 30 % on in-app sales

How much does a mobile app cost in 2026?

A mobile app costs between 2,490 € for a professional PWA and over 150,000 € for a complex native project built by an agency. Between those two extremes, the market prices an MVP at 5,000 to 30,000 €, while a business app with payments and store publication comes in around 6,990 € at Neting. The final price comes down to three factors: how many screens you need, which features you include and which technology you pick. Before you compare quotes, make sure you are comparing the same scope.

What are the price ranges by project type?

Observed 2026 prices run from 2,490 € for a turnkey PWA up to 150,000 € for fully custom native work. Here are the orders of magnitude to know before talking to any provider.

Project typeTypical priceWhat is included
PWA Launch (Neting)2,490 €iOS + Android + web, push notifications, back office, 4 to 6 weeks
App Business (Neting)6,990 €Store publication, payments, integrations
MVP (market rate)5,000 to 30,000 €First version you can test with real users
Complex native app (market rate)10,000 to 150,000 €Fully custom build, dedicated team

What drives the price up?

Five items explain most of the gap between quotes: screens, user accounts, payments, integrations and design. Every additional screen adds design, development and testing time. User accounts require secure authentication and GDPR-compliant data handling. In-app payments call for a certified gateway and thoroughly tested checkout flows. Third-party integrations (CRM, ERP, business tools) mean API connections that must be built and then maintained. Finally, a fully bespoke design costs far more than an interface assembled from proven components. For every line you add to the spec, ask one question: essential at launch, or can it wait?

Which recurring costs do people forget?

Four recurring costs come on top of the initial build: developer accounts, maintenance, OS updates and store commissions. The Apple developer account costs 99 USD per year; the Google Play account is 25 USD, paid once. Apple and Google ship new versions of iOS and Android every year, and an app that is never updated eventually breaks or gets pulled from the stores. You should also budget yearly maintenance for fixes and back-office hosting. Finally, the stores take a 15 to 30 % commission on in-app purchases and subscriptions. All of these numbers belong in your business plan from day one.

PWA or native app: how does it change the budget?

A PWA costs several times less than a native app, because a single codebase covers iOS, Android and the web. Where native agency work starts at 10,000 € and climbs to 150,000 €, a PWA Launch costs 2,490 € at Neting, push notifications and back office included. There is a second saving: distributed through the web, a PWA sidesteps the 15 to 30 % store commissions. Native still wins for heavy hardware use (advanced sensors, 3D, intensive processing). For a detailed comparison, read our guide PWA or native app.

How can you cut the budget without cutting quality?

Three levers reduce the bill without weakening the product: a strict MVP, a PWA-first approach and proven building blocks. A strict MVP means cutting every feature that is not essential to version one; every screen you remove lowers the quote. Launching as a PWA lets you validate real usage before investing in native development. And relying on proven building blocks for authentication, payments and notifications costs far less than rebuilding everything from scratch. The cheapest feature will always be the one you decide not to build yet.

What should you ask a provider before signing?

Six questions let you compare quotes on a level playing field. Does the price include publication on the App Store and Google Play? Who owns the source code at the end of the project? Are maintenance and OS updates included, and at what price? Which technology will be used, and why? What recurring costs should you expect in year two? What are the validation milestones and the delivery deadline? A serious provider answers every one of these questions precisely, in writing, before you sign.

How do you get a reliable quote?

A reliable quote requires a written scope: the list of screens, features, integrations and goals. The sharper your brief, the easier quotes are to compare. Neting offers a free quote for your app, with an answer within 24 hours: PWA Launch at 2,490 €, App Business at 6,990 €, and custom builds priced on request for complex projects. You walk away with a firm price and a committed deadline, not a vague estimate.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a simple mobile app cost?
A simple app, with a handful of screens and no complex features, sits at the bottom of the ranges: 2,490 € for a PWA Launch at Neting, 5,000 to 30,000 € for a market-rate MVP. The price climbs quickly once you add user accounts, in-app payments or connections to external tools.
Do you have to pay to publish on the App Store and Google Play?
Yes. Apple charges 99 USD per year for the developer account, and Google Play charges 25 USD as a one-off fee. On top of that, the stores take a 15 to 30 % commission on in-app purchases and subscriptions. A PWA distributed through the web avoids those fees entirely, which genuinely matters when choosing a technology.
What costs should you expect after launch?
Plan for corrective maintenance, updates required by each new version of iOS and Android, back-office hosting and functional improvements. Add the yearly renewal of the Apple developer account at 99 USD and, if you sell inside the app, the 15 to 30 % store commission on every transaction.
How long does it take to build a mobile app?
A professional PWA is delivered in 4 to 6 weeks at Neting, push notifications and back office included. An MVP typically takes a few months, and a complex native project longer still. The timeline mostly depends on the number of screens, the integrations and how quickly you validate each milestone.
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