An app development estimate is useful only when each supplier is pricing the same outcome. “An iOS and Android app” is a platform label, not a scope. Start by deciding what the first release must prove and which user journey will provide that evidence.
Use the iOS and Android app cost calculator for a concrete starting scope. One example from this studio: a one-feature Flutter MVP for both platforms is €15,000; adding product design and QA of the main feature brings that project to €18,000. Both figures exclude VAT. This is one defined offer, not an industry average.
Define the work before comparing prices
Give every supplier the same brief. Describe the result users need, the work required to deliver it and the evidence that will mean it is ready. Include:
- The users, roles and main journeys, with a clear list of what is outside the first release.
- iOS and Android requirements, including features that need platform-specific behavior.
- Backend, data migration, third-party integrations and who controls each dependency.
- Design, accessibility, localization, privacy and security expectations.
- Testing, acceptance criteria, release responsibilities, handover and who answers open questions.
The estimate usually shifts with uncertainty: an undocumented integration, inconsistent existing data, late design decisions, extra approval steps or a platform requirement that was not in the brief. Ask suppliers to name their largest assumptions, how they will verify them and what happens if one proves wrong. For broader MVP ranges and the factors behind them, see what building an MVP costs in 2026.
Compare quotes on equivalent work
Put each proposal against the same scope. Ask for written answers on deliverables and exclusions, assumptions and dependencies, who will do the work, how progress and acceptance are handled, and how a change affects cost or schedule. Check whether testing, release preparation and handover are included.
A lower total may leave more scope or delivery risk with you. Compare the assumptions and change process before negotiating the number. A fixed fee and time-and-materials arrangement also allocate risk differently; see how those contracts differ.
Turn the proposals into a decision
Put the offers in the same order and make every gap visible. A short comparison sheet should cover:
- Outcome and acceptance. Name the user flows, platforms and integrations included, then write how you will demonstrate that each one works. A feature label such as “payments” is too broad to accept against.
- People and availability. List who will do the work, who makes technical decisions, how much time the senior lead gives the project, and who covers handover or holidays.
- Delivery and dependencies. Show the sequence of milestones, what your team must provide, and how delays in app-store accounts, APIs, test devices or approvals affect the plan.
- Changes and aftercare. Write what happens when an assumption changes, what support is included after release, and which recurring services or new features cost extra.
If one proposal omits an item, ask that supplier to price it or state the exclusion. If the offers still describe different products, send the same revised brief to each supplier and request a new estimate. Averaging incomparable totals hides the very risk you are trying to price.
Separate development from costs after launch
The build covers an agreed product being designed, implemented, tested and handed over. After release, budget for services that may continue—such as hosting, storage, external APIs, monitoring and store accounts—and for maintenance such as bug fixing, dependency updates and operating-system compatibility. Some service bills vary with usage. New features are additional development, even when the same team builds them.
Make the release and support boundary explicit. This studio's release package includes one month of bug fixing, a QA environment, and the project repository and documentation in your hands. Agree separately how support works after that month and which services your company pays directly.
Keep ownership and handover clear
Your company should control the source repository, store accounts and cloud accounts. The agreement should state who owns custom code and design, identify third-party licenses, and include practical build, test and release instructions. A new engineer should be able to continue without private access held only by the supplier.
If the app already exists, inspect it before pricing a rewrite
Review the repository, current builds, dependencies, tests, release pipeline, backend boundaries and known production issues before deciding what to replace. A Product Audit can show what to keep, repair or rebuild before you commit to a migration.
Use the app cost calculator to adjust a defined starting scope, then compare quotes against the same outcome, ongoing responsibilities and ownership terms.