App Development Cost in the UK
Planning your app budget? Get the real costs of mobile and web app development in the UK, plus expert tips on making your investment go further.
The Real Numbers
How Much Does It Cost to Build an App?
App development costs vary dramatically based on complexity, features, and quality. Here are realistic UK pricing ranges for 2025.
Mobile App Development
- Simple apps: £15,000 - £25,000
- Medium complexity: £25,000 - £40,000
- Complex apps: £40,000 - £65,000
- Enterprise solutions: £65,000+
Includes iOS/Android development, testing, and App Store submission
Web App Development
- Simple web apps: £10,000 - £20,000
- Medium complexity: £20,000 - £35,000
- Complex web apps: £35,000 - £60,000
- Enterprise platforms: £60,000+
Responsive design, hosting setup, and cross-browser compatibility
Why the wide ranges?
App development costs depend heavily on features, integrations, design complexity, and quality standards. A simple app with basic features costs significantly less than one with custom integrations, complex animations, and enterprise-grade security.
Read my detailed cost analysis to understand exactly what drives software development pricing.
What Drives Costs
Factors That Affect App Development Pricing
Understanding these factors helps you budget accurately and make informed decisions about your app's feature set and timeline.
Type of App (iOS, Android, Web)
Native iOS and Android apps require separate development, roughly doubling costs. Cross-platform solutions like Flutter can reduce this by 30-40%. Web apps are typically the most cost-effective option for getting started.
Complexity & Features
Each feature adds development time. User authentication might add £2,000, while complex features like real-time messaging could add £8,000+. The key is focusing on features that deliver real value - following the 80/20 principle.
Design Requirements
Custom UI/UX design adds 20-30% to development costs but significantly improves user experience and app store rankings. Template-based designs are cheaper but less distinctive and engaging.
Integration Needs
Third-party integrations (payment processors, CRM systems, APIs) add complexity and cost. Each integration requires development time for implementation, testing, and ongoing maintenance.
Market Rates
Average App Development Costs in the UK (2025)
Current UK market rates from different types of development providers. Quality and service levels vary significantly across these price ranges.
| Provider Type | Hourly Rate | Simple App | Complex App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Team | £15-30 | £8,000-15,000* | £25,000-40,000* |
| Freelancer (UK) | £40-80 | £15,000-25,000 | £35,000-55,000 |
| Small Agency | £60-100 | £20,000-35,000 | £45,000-75,000 |
| Large Agency | £100-200 | £35,000-60,000 | £80,000-150,000 |
*Offshore costs often exceed initial quotes due to communication overhead, quality issues, and rework requirements. Read about the hidden costs of offshore development.
Platform Comparison
Web App Development Cost vs Mobile App Cost
Each platform has different cost implications and benefits. Choosing the right starting point can significantly impact your budget and time to market.
Web App Development
- ✅ Lower initial development cost
- ✅ Faster time to market (8-12 weeks)
- ✅ Works across all devices
- ✅ No app store approval needed
- ✅ Easier updates and maintenance
- ❌ Limited access to device features
- ❌ Requires internet connection
Best for: MVPs, business tools, content platforms, and rapid market testing. Perfect for SaaS products targeting business users.
Mobile App Development
- ✅ Full access to device features
- ✅ Better performance and user experience
- ✅ Works offline
- ✅ Push notifications
- ✅ App store discoverability
- ❌ Higher development cost
- ❌ Longer development time (12-20 weeks)
- ❌ App store approval required
Best for: Consumer apps, games, apps requiring camera/GPS, offline functionality, or maximum performance and user engagement.
Smart Budgeting
How to Reduce App Development Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
Strategic decisions during planning can significantly reduce your development costs while maintaining quality and user experience.
- Start with MVP
-
Build a Minimum Viable Product first with core features only. Launch quickly, get user feedback, then add features based on actual user needs rather than assumptions.
- Choose Fixed Pricing
-
Avoid hourly billing which can lead to scope creep and budget overruns. Fixed-price development gives you complete cost certainty from day one.
- Focus on Core Features
-
Every additional feature increases cost. Skip features you don't actually need and concentrate budget on what delivers real user value.
Phase Your Development
Rather than building everything at once, consider a phased approach:
- Phase 1: Core functionality MVP (8 weeks, £15-25k)
- Phase 2: Enhanced features based on user feedback (4-6 weeks, £8-15k)
- Phase 3: Advanced features and optimizations (ongoing)
This approach spreads costs over time and ensures you're building features users actually want.
Real Example
Example Project Cost Breakdown
Here's how costs break down for a typical business app project - a task management application for small teams.
Task Management App - Web & Mobile
Core Features
- • User authentication & team setup
- • Task creation and assignment
- • Project organization
- • Due date tracking
- • Basic reporting
- • Mobile-responsive design
Cost Breakdown
- • Discovery & planning: £2,500
- • UI/UX design: £4,000
- • Backend development: £8,500
- • Frontend development: £6,000
- • Testing & deployment: £2,000
- Total: £23,000
Timeline: 10 weeks
This includes two weeks for design iteration and one week buffer for testing and refinements. The web app launches first, with iOS/Android versions following in Phase 2 if needed.
Get a Custom Quote for Your App
Every app is different. Get an accurate, fixed-price quote based on your specific requirements. No hourly estimates, no budget surprises.