What an app costs cannot be answered with a single number, and you should be sceptical of anyone who tries. The price is driven by what the app needs to do: a simple app that displays information is a completely different thing from an app with accounts, payments and its own backend. Here we break down what drives app development cost in 2026, which price levels are typical in Sweden, and how to avoid surprises. These are market levels, not a price list from us.
Why apps have no fixed price
The word app covers everything from a simple information app to a platform with thousands of users, payments and real-time data. Two projects both called an app can differ tenfold in price, because they require completely different amounts of work. So the important question is not what an app costs in general, but what your app needs to do.
A serious price always starts with a review of features, not with a finished number. That is also why you should be careful with agencies that throw out a price before they understand what you want to build.
What affects the price?
A few factors drive most of the cost. Understanding them makes it easier to compare quotes and to prioritize the right things.
Backend and data storage: an app with accounts, a database and logic in the cloud costs more than one that only displays content. The backend is often the largest item.
Integrations: payments, maps, booking, notifications and connections to other systems are work, and the number of them drives a large part of the price.
Design: a standard design is faster to build than a fully bespoke look with unique flows and animations.
Number of platforms: iOS and Android as two separate apps cost more than a shared solution.
Feature complexity: real time, maps, offline mode and advanced logic take more time than simple views and forms.
Market-typical price levels in 2026
An exact price requires a review of your specific project, but rough benchmarks are possible. The levels below move with scope and complexity.
Type of app
Market-typical price
Example
Simple app
from around €10,000
Information or booking app with a simple backend
Mid-size app
€15,000–30,000
Accounts, payments and a few integrations
Advanced app
€25,000–50,000 or more
Real time, complex logic and several systems
The hourly rate for app development on the Swedish market is typically between 80 and 150 euros. We do not set a flat rate ourselves. We give a fixed quote after a free consultation, so you know the price before we start.
One platform or two? With React Native one codebase is enough
One of the biggest questions for the price is whether the app is built natively, meaning separately for iOS and Android, or with a framework that works for both. Native development effectively means two apps to build and maintain, which costs more.
We build in React Native, where a shared codebase produces one app for both iPhone and Android. That keeps both development time and ongoing maintenance down, without the app feeling worse for the user. For most business apps it is a cost-effective choice. We explain how we work on our app development page.
Do not forget the running costs
The price to build the app is only part of it. An app needs to be maintained to keep working, and that costs over time.
Hosting: an app with a backend needs servers and a database, with a running cost that grows with the number of users.
Developer accounts: Apple and Google charge an annual and a one-off fee to publish in the App Store and Google Play.
Maintenance: iOS and Android update continuously, and the app needs adjusting to keep working on new versions.
Further development: most apps need new features after launch, based on how users actually use them.
Start with an MVP
A good way to keep the initial cost down and lower the risk is to start with an MVP, a first version with only the most important features. Instead of building everything you can imagine, you launch what is needed to solve the problem, and build further based on how the app is used in reality.
That gets you to market faster, gives you feedback early, and saves you from paying for features that may never be used. We often recommend this approach, especially for new ideas where the needs are still taking shape.
How we price an app
We never set a price before we understand what you want to build. After a free consultation, where we go through features, platforms and integrations, we give a fixed quote. That way you know the price before the work starts, instead of watching it add up by the hour along the way.
What an app costs is determined by what it needs to do: backend, integrations, design and number of platforms. Simpler apps typically start from around €10,000, advanced projects cost several times more, and on top of the build come running costs for hosting and maintenance. Building in React Native and starting with an MVP are two effective ways to keep the cost down.
The surest way to find out what your app would cost is to describe the idea to us. Then we can give you a fixed quote instead of a guess.
On the Swedish market, simpler apps typically start from around €10,000, while more advanced projects with a backend, integrations and custom features can cost €25,000 to €50,000 or more. These are market levels, not a fixed price list. You always get a fixed quote after a free consultation, so you know the price before the work starts.
Often, yes. With React Native the app is built for both iOS and Android from a shared codebase, instead of two separate apps. That means fewer development hours and simpler maintenance, which usually keeps both the build and the running cost down.
The backend and data storage are often the biggest item, followed by the number of integrations, how bespoke the design is, and whether the app targets one platform or two. The more logic and the more connections to other systems, the higher the price.
Beyond the build itself, there are costs for hosting, maintenance and updates. Expect server costs for the backend, a fee for developer accounts with Apple and Google, and ongoing work when the operating systems update. An app is a product that needs to be maintained, not a project that is ever fully finished.
Yes, and we often recommend starting with an MVP, a first version with the most important features. That lets you launch faster, test the idea with real users and build further based on what they actually need, instead of guessing everything up front.
I'm one of the founders of Developly and work as a software engineer with a focus on JavaScript. With 8 years of experience across both front-end and back-end development, I'm passionate about building smart, modern web solutions. I'm deeply involved in our projects and combine technical craft with an eye for what actually creates value for the client.
