Building a mobile app for a small or mid-sized business in New York typically costs between $10,000 and $150,000. A focused first version (MVP) with a few core features usually falls between $10,000 and $40,000, a full-featured business app between $40,000 and $100,000, and complex apps with many integrations can cost more. Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter can lower costs by building iPhone and Android apps from one codebase.
Key takeaways
- Simple MVP apps typically cost $10,000 to $40,000.
- Full business apps usually cost $40,000 to $100,000; complex apps can exceed $150,000.
- Features, platforms, integrations and design drive the price.
- Cross-platform development (Flutter) often costs less than building two native apps.
- Budget 15% to 20% of the build cost per year for maintenance and updates.
How much does it cost to build an app in New York?
| Type of app | Typical price range | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple MVP (one platform or cross-platform) | $10,000 to $40,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Business app (accounts, payments, notifications) | $40,000 to $100,000 | 3 to 5 months |
| Complex app (marketplaces, real-time, many integrations) | $100,000 to $250,000+ | 5 to 9+ months |
| Internal/field-team app | $15,000 to $60,000 | 2 to 4 months |
Our pricing: Tech Engineers Group builds MVPs from $8,000 and full business apps from $18,000, with fixed quotes after a free discovery call. Learn more about our mobile app development.
What affects the cost of an app?
Features
User accounts, payments, bookings, chat, maps, notifications and admin dashboards each add development and testing time. The single biggest way to control cost is starting with only the features you need to launch.
Platforms
Building separate native apps for iPhone (Swift) and Android (Kotlin) costs more than one cross-platform app built with Flutter or React Native. For most business apps, cross-platform is faster and cheaper with near-native performance.
Design
Custom, polished design and animations cost more than standard layouts, but they often improve how many people keep using the app.
Backend and integrations
Connecting to your booking system, CRM, POS, payment provider or inventory adds work. So does building a custom backend and admin panel.
Who builds it
Rates vary widely by location and team type. New York agencies often charge more than offshore teams, while local teams offer easier communication, meetings and accountability.
What are the ongoing costs of an app?
| Ongoing cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Maintenance and updates | 15% to 20% of build cost per year |
| Hosting and backend | $50 to $500+ per month |
| Apple Developer Program | $99 per year |
| Google Play developer account | $25 one time |
| Third-party services (maps, SMS, payments) | Varies with usage |
How can you reduce the cost of building an app?
- Start with an MVP that solves one core problem well.
- Use cross-platform development unless you need heavy device-specific features.
- Use proven services for payments, login and messaging instead of building from scratch.
- Get a fixed-price quote with a clear feature list.
- Plan version 2 based on real user feedback, not guesses.
Do you need an app, or a better website?
Many local businesses get more from a fast mobile website with online booking. Apps make the most sense for repeat customers (ordering, loyalty, memberships) or internal teams. If you are unsure, our website development and app teams can recommend the right option.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a simple app cost?
A simple app with a few core features typically costs $10,000 to $40,000, especially when built cross-platform.
Is it cheaper to build one app for iPhone and Android?
Usually yes. Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter let one codebase run on both, which often reduces cost and time compared with two native apps.
How long does it take to build an app?
A focused MVP often takes 6 to 10 weeks. A full business app typically takes 3 to 5 months.
Who owns the app code?
You should. Make sure your contract states that you own the source code and app store accounts once the project is paid.
How much does app maintenance cost?
Plan for roughly 15% to 20% of the original build cost per year for updates, OS changes, bug fixes and small improvements.
Get a fixed app quote
Book a free growth audit or discovery call and we will recommend the right approach, features and budget for your app, with a fixed quote.
