Knowledge
Having an app developed: the complete guide
Having an app developed costs €15,000 to well over €100,000 depending on scope, and takes about two to six months from concept to launch. Three routes lead to an app: a builder, a freelancer, or an agency or software company. This guide shows which route fits when, what the process looks like, and what to check before you sign.
- custom development
- from €15,000
- concept to launch
- 2–6 months
- builder, freelancer, agency
- 3 routes
- read
- 8 min
Do you need an app at all?
Not every project needs a native app — sometimes a web application that runs in the browser and needs no store approval is enough. Three questions settle it:
- Do your users need device features? Camera, GPS, push notifications, offline use — then a native app has a strong case. Pure information and form-based tools often run just as well in the browser.
- How often do users come back? An app pays off for recurring use — field staff, customers with an account. For one-off visits, a website is the shorter path.
- Which systems need to be connected? As soon as ERP, CRM or specialist applications are involved, the platform question becomes secondary — what matters is the provider's integration skills.
Web app, PWA or native app?
Before talking to providers, settle the basic question — it moves budget and timeline more than any other decision:
- Web app: runs in the browser, one codebase for all devices, no store approval, updates reach everyone instantly. Limits: restricted access to device features, no store presence. Often the most economical option for internal tools.
- Progressive web app (PWA): a web app that can be installed like an app and works offline. Push notifications work well on Android, with limitations on iOS. The middle path when the store is not a must.
- Native app (iOS/Android): full access to camera, GPS, sensors and offline use, best performance, presence in the stores. In return, separate effort per platform — or a cross-platform framework such as Kotlin Multiplatform as a compromise.
The three routes to an app — and what they cost
Depending on requirements and budget, there are three routes. For standard requirements without custom logic, a builder is the cheapest way — nobody needs an agency for that.
- App builder / no-code (roughly €10–100 a month depending on the provider): ready-made blocks, no code. Good for menus, simple booking or info apps. Limits: your own processes, integrations, data-protection requirements, performance. More in the comparison Build an app yourself or have it built?
- Freelancer (hourly rate, typically €80–150 in the DACH region): fits small, well-defined projects with technically experienced supervision in-house. Risks: availability over the years, maintenance, knowledge tied to one person.
- Agency or software company (projects from around €15,000): a team covering development, design and project management that takes responsibility for the result, maintenance and further development. The usual route for business apps with system integration.
What does it cost to have an app developed?
Simple apps run €15,000 to €50,000, mid-complexity apps €50,000 to €100,000, complex applications from €100,000. What drives the price — platform choice, backend, integrations, offline use — plus three typical example projects with ranges: see the costs page with estimator. On top come running costs for operation, stores and updates.
How does development work?
Five phases: requirements, design, development, testing, launch. With a tightly scoped first version, a productive release is often possible in eight to twelve weeks; mid-sized projects take three to five months. The full process with duration per phase and the roles in the team: Process, timeline, team.
What to check when choosing a provider
The four most important checks up front — the full 12-point checklist with red flags has its own article:
- Code ownership: the complete source code must contractually belong to you — otherwise you are locked in. At appDev, code handover is part of every project.
- Pricing model: fixed price for a fixed scope, or time and materials with a cap — both work. A fixed price without knowing your project does not.
- Verifiable references: named projects rather than a logo wall, ideally with a contact person — ours are under References.
- Operation after launch: who handles OS updates, incidents, store maintenance — and at what price?
App development in companies: three typical patterns
Most business apps fall into three patterns — they match the example projects on our costs page:
- Capture apps for teams: receipts, delivery documents, documentation — one purpose, one platform, quick benefit. Typically €15,000–50,000.
- Field-service apps with offline mode: working without a connection, syncing when back online. Typically €50,000–100,000.
- Customer apps with accounts and system integration: login, personal data, connection to existing systems, usually iOS and Android. From €100,000.
After launch: operation, stores, updates
Launch is where day-to-day operation begins: Apple and Google ship new OS versions every year that apps must keep up with; the stores require developer accounts (Apple US$99 a year, Google a one-off US$25); servers and integrations need care. The orders of magnitude: what an app costs to run. Skip this in the budget and a year later you have an app nobody updates.
AI belongs in the planning today
Receipt recognition, smart search or an assistant — AI features deliver their value inside the app, where your users already work. If you are planning an app, plan the AI use cases from the start instead of bolting them on later. What is realistic today: bringing AI into your systems and products.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to have an app developed?
Simple apps €15,000–50,000, mid-complexity €50,000–100,000, complex from €100,000. You'll find the ranges and a cost estimator on our costs page; the exact price comes out of a first conversation.
How long does it take to have an app developed?
From concept to launch usually two to six months, depending on scope and integrations. A tightly scoped first version is often in production within eight to twelve weeks.
Can I build an app myself?
For standard requirements, yes: app builders cost roughly €10–100 a month and need no programming skills. The limits are custom processes, integrations and data-protection requirements — from there, custom development pays off.
Who owns the code in the end?
The contract decides — check it before you sign. At appDev, the complete, documented source code belongs to you; the handover is part of the project.
Native or cross-platform?
For performance-critical or data-sensitive apps, often native (Swift, Kotlin); modern frameworks such as Kotlin Multiplatform combine native performance with cost efficiency. The choice follows from the requirements, not from gut feeling.