App quotes vary more wildly than website quotes because "an app" can mean a four-screen catalogue or a logistics platform with live tracking. Here is how the cost is actually built up.
Native or cross-platform
Building Android and iOS natively means two codebases, two test cycles and roughly 70% more cost. Cross-platform ships both from one codebase and is the right choice for the large majority of business apps. Native is worth it when you depend on heavy device features — continuous background GPS, advanced camera processing, or demanding animation.
| App type | Typical range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue / informational | ₹80,000 – ₹1,80,000 | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Customer app with login & payments | ₹2,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 | 8 – 12 weeks |
| Field-staff app with offline sync | ₹3,00,000 – ₹7,00,000 | 10 – 16 weeks |
| ERP companion app | ₹1,50,000 – ₹4,00,000 | 6 – 10 weeks |
The backend is half the project
An app is a window onto a server. If there is no existing system, someone has to build the API, the database and the admin panel that staff use to manage content and orders. When a quote looks unusually low, this is normally what is missing from it.
Ask these before signing
- Whose Google Play and Apple Developer accounts will the app be published under?
- Is store submission, review handling and the first update included?
- What happens when Android or iOS ship a breaking OS update next year?
- Does the app work on a weak connection, and what is cached offline?
- Are push notifications included, and is there delivery reporting?