In 2024, building a mobile app is no longer optional for many businesses, but pricing confusion is still one of the biggest blockers. Industry reports show that over 60 percent of founders underestimate mobile app development costs before they start. The mistake usually comes from thinking in terms of platforms too early, instead of understanding what a “simple app” actually costs as a product.
Most people jump straight into asking, “How much does an iOS app cost?” or “Is Android cheaper?” That question matters, but only after you understand the shared foundation. A simple app is first a product. Platforms come second.
If you are researching native iOS app development cost, this guide will still give you that clarity. But it will do so in the right order. First, we explain the total cost of building a simple app as a combined Android and iOS project. Then we break down where costs stay the same and where they split.
This approach reflects how real projects are planned, priced, and delivered.
What a “Simple App” Means in Cost Terms
A simple app is not defined by how small it looks. It is defined by how contained its logic is.
From a cost perspective, a simple app usually has one core purpose, a limited number of user actions, and predictable workflows. Users are not triggering complex calculations, real-time syncing, or heavy personalization. Data flows are straightforward. Edge cases are limited.
Examples include:
- Appointment booking apps
- Internal business tools
- Basic customer portals
- Content-based apps
- Calculators
- Simple ecommerce companion apps
These apps can still be well-designed and professional, but they do not carry heavy technical weight.
This matters because cost is driven by logic and systems, not by visual simplicity. Two apps that look equally simple can have very different prices if one requires deeper backend logic or more platform-specific handling.
Why You Should Think “One App” Before Thinking Platforms
When a business builds both Android and iOS versions of a simple app, a large portion of the work is shared. Planning, design, backend development, and product decisions are not duplicated per platform. They are done once.
This is where many cost estimates go wrong. Some articles present Android and iOS as completely separate projects from day one. In reality, most of the cost sits above the platform layer.
Before we talk about platform-specific pricing, you need to understand the combined cost structure.
The Combined Cost Range for a Simple App
When built professionally for both Android and iOS, a simple app typically costs between $30,000 and $90,000 in total.
That range includes everything required to launch a stable, production-ready app on both platforms. The wide range exists because “simple” apps are built with very different priorities.
Some are built only to validate an idea. Others are built as long-term business assets.
Understanding where your project fits inside this range is the foundation of accurate budgeting.
Where the Shared Costs Come From
Before any Android or iOS code is written, most of the cost is already determined.
Shared costs usually include:
- Product discovery and planning
- User experience and interface design
- Backend development and infrastructure
- Security planning and data architecture
These components apply equally to Android and iOS. They do not double just because you support two platforms.
This is also where smart planning can significantly reduce total cost. Clear scope, well-defined features, and disciplined prioritization prevent expensive rework later.
Discovery and Planning Costs
Discovery is where a simple app either stays simple or quietly becomes expensive.
This phase includes defining features, mapping user journeys, clarifying technical requirements, and deciding what not to build yet. It also includes choosing the right architecture so the app can grow without needing a rebuild.
For a combined Android and iOS project, discovery typically costs $3,000 to $7,000.
Skipping discovery often leads to cost overruns during development. Changes made after coding starts are always more expensive than decisions made early.
Design Costs Shared Across Platforms
Design is another shared cost that many people underestimate.
A simple app still needs thoughtful UX. Navigation, layout, typography, and interaction patterns must feel intuitive on both platforms. While Android and iOS have design differences, the core experience is designed once.
For a simple app, shared design costs usually range from $5,000 to $12,000.
Costs increase when branding is custom, accessibility requirements are strict, or multiple user roles exist. Clean design reduces development time across both platforms.
Backend Development as a Shared Investment
The backend is the engine of your app. It handles user data, authentication, content, and business logic.
Backend development is fully shared between Android and iOS. Whether one user logs in from an iPhone or an Android device, the backend logic remains the same.
For a simple app, backend development typically costs $8,000 to $20,000, depending on complexity and scalability needs.
This backend investment is one of the most important factors in long-term cost control. A strong backend reduces future development effort on both platforms.
Where iOS Enters the Cost Conversation
Platform-specific costs come later, during frontend development. This is where Android and iOS diverge.
Native iOS development often costs slightly more due to Apple’s performance standards, UI expectations, and review requirements. This is where native iOS app development cost becomes a meaningful consideration, but it should never dominate the entire pricing discussion.
Where Android and iOS Costs Begin to Split
Up to this point, most of the cost of a simple app is shared. Planning, design, backend, and architecture apply equally to both platforms. The real cost difference appears when frontend development begins.
This is the stage where Android and iOS stop being abstract platforms and become separate builds.
Frontend development involves translating the shared product logic into platform-specific code. Each platform has its own language, frameworks, UI rules, and performance considerations. Even when features are identical, the implementation is not.
This is also where conversations around native iOS app development cost become relevant, but only as part of the larger picture.
Frontend Development Cost for Android
Android development is typically done using Kotlin and Android-specific frameworks. Android offers more flexibility in UI behavior, device variation, and background processes, but that flexibility also introduces complexity.
For a simple app, native Android frontend development usually costs $10,000 to $22,000.
Costs stay lower when:
- Standard Android UI components are used
- Device-specific behavior is kept minimal
- The app does not rely heavily on background processes
Costs increase when the app must support a wide range of screen sizes, hardware behaviors, or older Android versions.
Android pricing is often more predictable when the scope is tightly controlled.
Frontend Development Cost for iOS
Native iOS frontend development is done using Swift and Apple’s frameworks. Apple’s ecosystem is more controlled, but expectations are higher.
For a simple app, native iOS frontend development usually costs $12,000 to $28,000.
iOS costs tend to be higher because Apple enforces stricter design consistency, performance optimization, and memory management. Even small UI behaviors must meet Apple’s standards to pass review.
This is where native iOS app development cost differs most clearly from Android. Not because iOS features are more complex, but because the margin for error is smaller.
Why iOS Is Often Slightly More Expensive
The cost difference between Android and iOS frontend development usually ranges from 10% to 25%.
This difference comes from:
- Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines
- Stricter App Store review requirements
- Higher testing standards
- Performance optimization expectations
An iOS app that feels “good enough” often gets rejected. Fixing those issues after submission adds time and cost.
Shared Logic Still Saves Money
Even though frontend code is written separately, shared planning and backend work significantly reduce the total cost.
Feature logic, API design, data models, and workflows are already defined. Developers are not reinventing the app for each platform. They are implementing the same logic in two environments.
This is why treating Android and iOS as one combined project first is financially smarter than planning them as two separate apps from day one.
Combined Cost Scenarios Explained Clearly
Let’s put real numbers together so this makes sense in practice.
A simple app built for both Android and iOS with minimal features, basic UI, and a lightweight backend usually costs $30,000 to $45,000 in total.
A business-ready, simple app with custom design, solid backend architecture, and proper testing typically costs $45,000 to $70,000.
A simple app built with future growth in mind, including performance optimization, documentation, and scalability planning, often costs $70,000 to $90,000.
In all three cases, Android and iOS share a large portion of the cost. The difference comes mainly from the frontend development effort.
Testing Costs Across Both Platforms
Testing is another area where costs increase with multiple platforms.
For a combined Android and iOS project, testing typically costs $4,000 to $8,000.
This includes:
- Device testing across Android and iOS
- OS version compatibility checks
- Bug fixing and regression testing
Skipping or reducing testing is one of the fastest ways to create expensive problems after launch.
App Store and Play Store Submission Costs
Publishing on both platforms adds additional work.
For a combined project, submission and compliance costs usually range from $2,000 to $5,000 total.
This includes preparing store listings, handling privacy requirements, configuring permissions, and addressing review feedback from both Apple and Google.
iOS submissions usually require more iteration due to stricter review guidelines. This is another factor that contributes to native iOS app development cost, even for simple apps.
Why Cross-Platform Is Not Always Cheaper
Some founders consider cross-platform frameworks to reduce cost. While they can lower initial frontend spend, they often introduce limitations, performance trade-offs, or higher maintenance costs later.
For simple apps with long-term plans, native development often provides better value over time, even if the upfront cost is slightly higher.
Cost decisions should always be made with a multi-year perspective, not just launch pricing.
A Practical Cost Checkpoint Mid-Project
This is the point where many businesses pause and reassess scope. That is a good thing.
At Trifleck, we often help clients review combined Android and iOS costs before frontend development begins. Small adjustments at this stage can save thousands without reducing core functionality.
This type of checkpoint helps keep native iOS app development cost and overall app cost aligned with business goals.
Ongoing Costs After Launch That Affect Your Real Budget
One of the most common budgeting mistakes businesses make is assuming app cost ends at launch. In reality, launch is only the beginning of ownership.
Both Android and iOS evolve constantly—operating systems update. Devices change. Security requirements tighten. Apps that are not maintained slowly degrade, even if they were built well initially.
For a simple app built for both platforms, annual maintenance usually costs 15% to 25% of the original development cost.
If your combined Android and iOS app cost $60,000 to build, a realistic yearly maintenance budget would fall between $9,000 and $15,000. This typically covers bug fixes, OS compatibility updates, minor improvements, and performance tuning.
Ignoring maintenance is one of the fastest ways to turn a reasonable native iOS app development cost and Android investment into an expensive rebuild later.
Platform Differences in Maintenance Costs
While most maintenance work is shared, platform-specific issues still appear.
iOS maintenance often requires a faster response to OS updates because Apple enforces compatibility more aggressively. Android maintenance may require more device-specific testing due to hardware diversity.
In most cases, iOS maintenance costs slightly more year over year, not because changes are bigger, but because timelines are tighter.
Third-Party Services and Hidden Recurring Expenses
Many simple apps rely on third-party services for analytics, push notifications, authentication, payments, or cloud storage. These services often look inexpensive at first, but scale with usage.
Some charge per user. Others charge per request or per transaction. As your app grows, these costs grow quietly in the background.
While these are not development fees, they directly affect your total cost of ownership. In some cases, investing more upfront in custom backend logic reduces long-term third-party expenses.
This trade-off should always be considered when evaluating total app cost, not just development price.
Feature Expansion Is Almost Guaranteed
Very few apps remain unchanged after launch.
Users request improvements. Businesses refine workflows. Market needs shift. Even a simple app usually evolves within the first six to twelve months.
The key cost difference is whether your app was designed to handle expansion.
Apps built with clean architecture and documentation are cheaper to improve. Apps built only to launch often require partial rewrites when features expand. This significantly increases both Android costs and native iOS app development cost over time.
How to Control Cost Without Hurting Quality
Cost control does not mean cutting essential work. It means making disciplined decisions early.
One effective strategy is feature prioritization. Build only what users need on day one. Avoid speculative features. Launch, observe real usage, then invest where value is proven.
Another approach is leaning on platform-native components. Native UI elements are faster to build, easier to maintain, and more stable across updates. Custom components look appealing but increase both initial and long-term cost.
Clear documentation also saves money. It reduces onboarding time for future developers and shortens bug-fix cycles. Documentation may not feel urgent during launch, but it pays off quickly.
These strategies help keep the combined Android and native iOS app development cost predictable and manageable.
Native Versus Cross-Platform From a Cost Perspective
Many founders consider cross-platform frameworks to reduce upfront cost. In some cases, they work well. In others, they introduce long-term trade-offs.
Native development often costs more initially, but it delivers better performance, smoother user experience, and fewer platform-specific issues. It also tends to age better as Android and iOS evolve.
Cross-platform apps may save money at launch but require more maintenance, workarounds, or even rewrites later.
When cost is evaluated over two to three years instead of just launch, native development often proves more cost-efficient for simple apps with real business usage.
A Practical Budgeting Checkpoint Before You Commit
Before signing a development agreement, insist on a feature-level cost breakdown. Not a single number. A breakdown that explains where money goes and why.
At Trifleck, we often help businesses refine scope and platform decisions before development begins. In many cases, clients reduce total cost simply by removing features that add complexity without delivering business value.
This kind of upfront clarity often saves more money than negotiating hourly rates later.
Final Cost Guidance for Decision Makers
A simple app should never feel financially confusing.
You should clearly understand:
- What costs are shared across Android and iOS
- Where platform-specific costs begin
- How maintenance fits into the budget
- What future growth might require
When these points are clear, budgeting becomes a business decision rather than a guessing game.
Understanding native iOS app development cost in context, alongside Android development, leads to smarter planning and fewer surprises.
Final Thoughts
A simple app can become a strong business asset when it is planned and built with intention. Cost should never be ignored, but it also should not be feared. When pricing is understood clearly, decisions improve, budgets stay under control, and projects move forward with far less risk.
Whether you are launching on Android, iOS, or both, the goal is not to build the cheapest product possible. It is to build an app that works reliably, scales when needed, and delivers long-term value. Understanding factors like native iOS app development cost alongside overall app pricing helps businesses invest wisely instead of reacting to surprises later.
That is the real difference between an app that simply exists and one that actively supports growth, efficiency, and revenue over time.
