How much does it cost to build an app? With an agency, from $15,000; built yourself with AI as a web app, $0.23. That was the real, measured cost of the app in this guide. Below, every price with its source: agencies, freelancers, store fees and maintenance.
The summary:
| Path | Upfront cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Development agency | $15,000 to $150,000 for a simple to mid-level app (Netguru and Ptolemay); complex apps run $150,000 to $500,000+ | 8 to 12 weeks simple, 12 to 20 weeks mid-level (Ptolemay) |
| Freelancer | $85 to $210 per hour for U.S. mobile developers, depending on seniority (Second Talent) | agency timelines as a reference: 8 to 12 weeks for a simple app (Ptolemay) |
| Building it yourself with AI (wanno, web app) | the one in this guide cost $0.23 (2.3 credits), within the free plan | 59 seconds of build time plus short adjustments |
01. How much does it cost to make an app with an agency
The ranges development companies publish for the U.S. and similar markets: Netguru puts a simple app (3 to 5 screens, no custom backend) at $15,000 to $50,000, a moderate one (user accounts, API, push notifications) at $50,000 to $150,000, and a complex one (real-time features, third-party integrations) at $150,000 to $300,000+. Ptolemay publishes $30,000 to $60,000 for simple, $60,000 to $150,000 for mid-level, and $150,000 to $500,000+ for complex builds, with 8 to 12 weeks for the simple tier.
These are figures published by companies that sell the service, and the spread between sources is wide. Treat them as a starting point for a quote, not a final price.
02. How much does it cost to develop an app with a freelancer
According to Second Talent, U.S. freelance mobile developers charge $85 to $127 per hour at junior level, $108 to $165 at mid level and $140 to $210 at senior level. Netguru publishes similar blended rates for the U.S. and Canada, across agencies and established freelancers: $80 to $110 junior, $120 to $160 mid and $160 to $220 senior.
A freelancer pays off when the project arrives well-defined and you can act as the coordinator; otherwise, the back-and-forth hours get billed all the same.
03. How much does it cost to publish an app in the stores
The two official fees: Google Play charges a one-time $25 for the developer account, and Apple charges $99 per year for the Apple Developer Program.
Here is the money-saving part: many businesses do not need the stores at all. A web app has its own link, opens in the browser with nothing to install, and gets shared over WhatsApp or Instagram. For a catalog with orders, a QR menu or a booking page, that is enough, with no fees and no review process.
04. How much does it cost to maintain an app
Annual maintenance, by source: Chop Dawg, itself a maintenance provider, puts it at 15% to 20% of the original build cost per year, and Netguru's portfolio data points to the same benchmark. The scale follows the build: for a $100,000 app that rule means $15,000 to $20,000 a year, and the $2,500 to $5,000 per month Chop Dawg cites for many U.S. apps works out, by that same rule, to builds in the $150,000 to $400,000 range. Add hosting: a serverless MVP backend typically runs $200 to $800 per month according to Netguru. A custom app without maintenance can break with the next Android or iOS update.
05. Building the app yourself with AI: the measured cost
Everything above assumes someone else writes the code. The other option: describe your app in one message, from your phone, and wanno builds and publishes it with its own link.
We measured the cost with a real app: the bakery catalog with WhatsApp orders from our guide to creating an app for your business was built in 59 seconds and cost $0.23 (2.3 credits), adjustments included, within the credit the free plan grants every day with a monthly cap. The demo is still live: marianas-bakery.wanno.dev.
What you get is a web app on a link ending in wanno.dev, with a "Built with wanno" badge on the free plan. The Starter plan, at $4.99 per month, removes the badge, adds your own domain and includes $10 of credits; if you need more, top-ups start at $5 (see the plans). If you are comparing tools of this kind, see our guide to Lovable alternatives with verified prices.
So, how much does it cost to build an app?
It depends on what the app does. Custom development, with logistics, proprietary integrations or features that no platform offers, costs what you saw at the top: tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus yearly maintenance, and that price buys software made exactly for that business.
But what most small businesses need, a catalog, orders, bookings, hours and a link to share, is now solved with the free plan or $4.99 a month. If you want to sell with a cart, there is a guide for building an online store with an admin panel from your phone. And checking these numbers is direct: describe your app in wanno and look at the result, because trying it is free.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make an app like Uber? It is among the most expensive projects: a marketplace with two user types, payments and real-time location. Ptolemay's complex tier runs $150,000 to $500,000+, and Netguru's complex range starts at $150,000. If that is your idea, the realistic path is validating demand with a minimal version before writing that check.
What is the average cost of app development in the U.S.? The sources publish ranges rather than one average: $15,000 to $150,000 for a simple to mid-level app (Netguru's floor to both sources' mid-level ceiling). Hourly, U.S. freelance mobile developers charge $85 to $210 depending on seniority. Built by you with AI in wanno, the app in this guide cost $0.23 on the free plan.
Can you build an app for free? Yes, if you build it yourself: wanno's free plan grants credit every day, with a monthly cap of $1.50, and it covers building, adjusting and publishing an app like the one in this guide. You pay to remove the badge, use your own domain, or for more credit than that cap. A free agency does not exist.
How much does it cost to keep an app running? 15% to 20% of the original build cost per year, according to both Chop Dawg and Netguru, plus hosting from about $200 per month for a small serverless backend. On wanno, your cost is your plan and the credits for the changes you request.
Read next: How to Create an App for Your Business in 2026 (No Coding)
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