The app development cost includes hours spent on design, iOS development, backend development, integrations, QA, and project management. The team multiplies the total development hours by the hourly rate to calculate the final development price.
The initial build cost is not the final cost. The budget usually continues after release through Apple Developer Program membership, maintenance, third-party services, and updates for new iOS versions. App Store reviews also create extra work when Apple rejects a submission. You have to take into account the development and post-launch expenses to give a clearer picture of the total iOS app budget.
This guide breaks down these costs and explains how to calculate and compare iOS app estimates in 2026.
What Does a Native iOS App Cost?
App complexity changes the development hours and timeline. Simple apps take less work, while custom backends, integrations, and real-time features increase the development effort.
The table below shows the estimated cost and timeline for simple, mid-complexity, and complex iOS apps.
| App complexity | What it includes | Cost range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | One main function, standard UI, one or two integrations, no custom backend | $15,000–$40,000 | 6–12 weeks |
| Mid-complexity | User accounts, custom backend, payments, push notifications, third-party APIs | $40,000–$120,000 | 3–6 months |
| Complex | Multiple user roles, real-time features, major integrations, ML or AR | $120,000–$300,000+ | 6–12+ months |
These cost ranges give an initial estimate for each level of iOS app complexity. The final price changes with the features, backend work, integrations, design, and development hours.
The ranges show the initial build price. App store resubmissions, third-party subscriptions, device QA, maintenance, and future iOS updates are separate expenses.
How to Calculate iOS App Development Cost
Calculate the development cost by multiplying the hours for each role with the hourly rate. Add each role’s cost to get the total project price.
Total cost \= hours for each role × hourly rate for each role
For example, a project can contain separate hours for:
- iOS development
- Backend development
- UX/UI design
- QA
- Project management
Calculate separate hours for iOS development, backend development, UX/UI design, QA, and project management. Apply the hourly rate for each role to calculate its cost.
For example, one company can estimate 2,000 hours at a lower rate. Another estimates 1,400 hours at a higher rate. Compare both the hours and rates to understand the difference between the two quotes.
Third-party services like maps, messaging, payments, and analytics have separate charges. Maintenance and iOS version updates also create post-launch expenses.
App Store review can delay the release. Apple states that 90% of submissions receive a review in less than 24 hours. Submissions with missing information or App Store guideline issues can take longer.
iOS App Cost Breakdown by Role
A detailed iOS project estimate separates the work by role. It shows the hours and hourly rate for iOS development, backend development, UX/UI design, QA, and project management.
Multiply the hours by the rate for each role. Add these amounts to calculate the total development cost. This breakdown shows exactly where the project budget goes.
| Role | Hours | Hourly rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS development | 900 | $25–$49 | $22,500–$44,100 |
| Backend development | 500 | $25–$49 | $12,500–$24,500 |
| UX/UI design | 200 | $25–$49 | $5,000–$9,800 |
| QA | 250 | $25–$49 | $6,250–$12,250 |
| Project management | 150 | $25–$49 | $3,750–$7,350 |
| Total | 2,000 | $25–$49 | $50,000–$98,000 |
This example is a mid-complexity iOS app estimated at 2,000 hours and priced at the Coding Crafts published rate of $25 to $49 per hour. It is an illustrative estimate, not a past project, and the split between roles changes with each app.
What Changes the Cost of an iOS App?
Features with more development work increase the total hours and cost. User accounts, payments, search, chat, maps, subscriptions, dashboards, third-party integrations, offline access, and real-time features all take additional development time.
Technical complexity also changes the hours. Showing stored data takes less work than processing live information from several external systems. A payment feature also involves more work than a basic form because it involves transaction handling, payment integration, errors, and security.
This is the reason why two apps with the same number of features can have different prices. Compare the estimated hours for each feature to identify which features cost the most to develop.
What Does iOS App Design Cost?
The number of screens, user flows, screen states, and custom interactions determines the design hours. A simple app with standard iOS layouts takes fewer design hours. Multiple user roles and custom screens increase the design work.
Loading states, error screens, onboarding flows, animations, and interactive prototypes increase the design work. Wireframes and a custom design system also take additional time.
A design estimate should state the number of screens and what the designer will deliver. Check whether the price includes wireframes, screen states, a design system, and a clickable prototype.
iOS Development Cost by Region
Development location changes the hourly rate significantly.
| Region | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| North America | $40–$200 |
| Eastern Europe | $30–$80 |
| Latin America | $30–$70 |
| South Asia | $25–$50 |
Regional rates create a large difference in the final development cost. A 2,000-hour project costs $60,000 at $30 per hour and $200,000 at $100 per hour.
Coding Crafts lists an hourly rate of $25 to $49 on Clutch. Its profile has a 4.9 rating with seven reviews, including six verified client reviews.
Some companies charge one blended rate for developers, designers, QA engineers, and project managers. Ask for the rate for each role separately to see how they contribute to the project cost.
iOS App Development Cost by App Type
The app category changes the development cost because each product has different technical work. For example, banking apps involve security and financial integrations, while telemedicine apps involve healthcare compliance, EHR integrations, and clinical workflows. The table below compares the estimated cost and timeline by app type.
| App type | Main cost drivers | Cost range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness | Wearable integration, subscriptions, live coaching, AI plans | $15,000–$250,000+ | 2–9+ months |
| Logistics | Real-time tracking, route optimization, fleet systems | $30,000–$300,000+ | 2–12+ months |
| E-commerce | Large catalogs, payments, multi-vendor functions | $30,000–$250,000+ | 3–12+ months |
| Banking | Security, compliance, core banking integration | $30,000–$300,000+ | 3–12+ months |
| Telemedicine | HIPAA work, EHR integration, e-prescribing, insurance | $40,000–$300,000+ | 3–9+ months |
Regulated apps involve additional security, compliance, and integration work. For example, a telemedicine app can involve access controls, audit logs, EHR integrations, e-prescribing, and clinical workflows.
These tasks increase development hours even when the app has fewer screens. Two apps with a similar number of screens can therefore have very different development costs.
iOS App Costs After Launch
The initial development budget is only part of the total cost. An iOS app also has maintenance and recurring expenses once it is live. These costs include Apple Developer Program membership, third-party services, bug fixes, and updates for new iOS versions.
Apple Developer Program
Apple charges $99 per year for the Apple Developer Program. Developers use the membership to publish and distribute apps through the App Store. It also provides access to app management, beta distribution through TestFlight, and Apple development services.
The $99 fee is paid every year. Add it to the yearly app budget for as long as the Developer Program membership stays active.
App Store Review and Rejections
Apple does not charge a standard fee when it rejects an App Store submission. A rejection can still increase the project cost because developers have to fix the issues and submit the app again.
Apple reviewed more than 9.1 million App Store submissions in 2025 and rejected over 2 million for guideline violations. More than 443,000 submissions were denied for privacy violations. Apple also identified over 371,000 submissions as spam, copycats, or misleading.
These numbers apply to submissions rather than individual apps. One app can have several submissions through updates and resubmissions. Therefore, the figures do not show the rejection rate for individual apps.
Apple states that 90% of submissions receive a review in less than 24 hours. A rejection can extend the release timeline as the team must correct the issue and complete another review cycle.
Maintenance
Coding Crafts uses 15% to 25% of the initial development cost as a planning range for annual maintenance. For a $60,000 app, annual maintenance comes to $9,000 at 15% or $15,000 at 25%. Over three years, that equals $27,000 to $45,000. The total cost of the app would reach $87,000 to $105,000 including the initial build.
Maintenance pays for bug fixes, dependency updates, minor product changes, security work, and support for new iOS versions.
Third-Party Services
Most iOS apps use paid third-party services. Maps, messaging, email, analytics, cloud infrastructure, payment services, video calls, and other APIs can create recurring charges.
Companies can charge by user, request, transaction, storage, or usage. Calculate these expenses separately from development because the monthly cost can increase as app usage grows.
iOS vs Android Development Cost
iOS and Android development costs depend on the app features, development hours, and technical work. The two platforms also have different store fees and QA work. These differences can change the initial and long-term app budget.
| Cost | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Developer registration | $99 per year | $25 one-time |
| Device ecosystem | Smaller device range | Larger device range |
| App review | Apple reported 2M+ rejected submissions from 9.1M+ reviewed in 2025 | Different review and distribution process |
Apple charges $99 per year for its Developer Program. Google charges a one-time $25 registration fee for full app distribution.
QA work also differs between the two platforms. Apple controls iOS and its device ecosystem. Android runs on devices from many manufacturers with different screen sizes, hardware, and OS versions. This larger device range increases Android QA hours.
The QA difference does not mean iOS development always costs less. Features, backend work, integrations, design, and development hours have a larger role in the final price.
Some online estimates claim that iOS development costs 10% to 15% more than Android. This guide does not use that figure because we did not find reliable evidence to support it.
For an app that targets both iOS and Android users, compare the cost of two native apps with a cross-platform build.
When You Should Not Build a Native iOS App
Some products do not justify the cost of native iOS development. A responsive web app can handle forms, dashboards, content, and database records without a separate iOS application.
Native development becomes more useful when the product relies on phone hardware, offline access, background processes, push notifications, or App Store distribution.
The target audience also matters. Building only for iOS can exclude a large part of the audience when most target users have Android devices. In that case, Android or cross-platform development can serve more users.
The budget should also account for maintenance after launch. A company with funds for the initial build but no maintenance budget can struggle to fix bugs, update dependencies, and support new iOS versions.
How to Reduce iOS App Development Cost
The best way to reduce the budget is to lower development hours without cutting QA or engineering standards. The number of features, the development location, custom work, and a few other factors affect the final price.
Reduce Features in the First Release
Build the main product functions first. Move lower-priority features to a later release. This minimizes the initial development hours and gives the team the required data to develop more features.
Compare Hourly Rates by Region
Development rates vary by location. A 2,000-hour project at $30 per hour costs $60,000. The same project at $100 per hour costs $200,000. Compare both the estimated hours and hourly rates when reviewing quotes.
Use Cross-Platform Development for iOS and Android
Cross-platform development uses a shared codebase for iOS and Android. This reduces duplicate work when the product must launch on both platforms. Compare the cost of this approach with the cost of building two separate apps.
Use Existing Services Instead of Custom Development
Existing services can take care of authentication, payments, analytics, messaging, maps, and other common functions. This limits the amount of custom code the development team has to build and maintain.
Compare What Each Quote Includes
A lower price can come from fewer features, fewer development hours, or work moved to a later release. Compare the features, integrations, QA, project management, and post-launch support listed in each quote.
Build an iOS App with Coding Crafts
Coding Crafts develops custom mobile applications for founders and businesses. Our Clutch profile lists rates of $25 to $49 per hour and a minimum project size of $10,000.
We estimate projects by development hours, team roles, features, integrations, and other technical tasks. Clients can see the estimated hours, labour rates, and major assumptions behind the total price.
Our healthcare experience includes a credentialing platform delivered over 10 months. The platform reduced provider onboarding from two to four weeks to one to two weeks. The published case study reports the project outcome but does not give the development cost.
For a new iOS app, the final estimate depends on the features, roles, backend development, integrations, design, security work, and the application complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost to Put an App on the App Store?
The Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year. Development, maintenance, infrastructure, and third-party services cost extra.
How Long Does a Native iOS App Take to Develop?
A simple app can take 6–12 weeks, a mid-complexity app 3–6 months, and a complex app 6–12+ months. Features, integrations, backend work, layout, and QA change the timeline.
Can I Build an iOS MVP for Under $20,000?
Yes, a small MVP can cost under $20,000 when it has one main function and limited backend work. Payments, custom backend work, real-time features, and integrations increase the price.
Should I Hire Freelancers, an Agency, or an in-House Team?
Freelancers usually cost less, agencies provide a complete team, and in-house teams give direct long-term control. Compare hourly rates as well as the total expenses and responsibilities.
What Happens to the Cost If I Add Android Later?
A native Android app creates another development and QA workload. The team can reuse the backend systems, APIs, and design work.
What Does Year Two Cost?
Annual maintenance often runs around 15% to 25% of the original build cost. A $100,000 app gives a planning range of about $15,000 to $25,000 per year.
Why Do Three Agencies Give Different Prices for the Same App?
Agencies can estimate different hours, rates, roles, and feature work. Compare the hours, rates, responsibilities, and exclusions behind each quote.
iOS App Development Cost Summary
A native iOS app can cost around $15,000 to $300,000 or more in 2026. Custom backends, payments, integrations, real-time features, security work, and complicated user roles increase development hours. The initial build is not the full budget. Apple charges $99 per year for Developer Program membership. Annual maintenance can add another 15% to 25% of the original development cost. Check the hours and rates in each quote and read the exclusions. Also calculate post-launch expenses to get a clearer picture of the total iOS app budget.
Get Your iOS App Quoted Line by Line
Coding Crafts ships App Store-ready iOS apps with senior engineers and a dedicated project manager at $25 to $49 per hour, scoped and quoted line by line before we start.