How Long Does It Take to Build an App, and Cost?
Most business apps take 6 to 12 weeks to build. Android starts at $12,000 and iOS at $15,000, plus features. See the timeline, cost drivers and hidden fees.
A focused business app typically takes six to twelve weeks to design, build and submit to the app stores, and larger platforms with complex back ends take longer. At Kemafy, Android apps start at $12,000 and iOS apps at $15,000, with features such as user accounts, payments, chat and an admin dashboard priced individually on top.
Those numbers surprise people in both directions. Some expect an app to cost a few thousand dollars because a website did; others have heard six-figure figures from large agencies. The truth depends on what the app does, so this guide walks through the phases, the cost drivers and the expenses that come after launch.
Key takeaways
- Most small-business apps ship in six to twelve weeks when scope is clear and decisions are made quickly.
- Features, not screens, drive cost. Payments, chat, offline mode and admin tools each add real work.
- Apple and Google charge their own developer account fees, which are separate from any build quote.
- Store review, testing and content preparation need time in the schedule.
- Plan for ongoing maintenance, because operating systems and store rules change every year.
The phases of an app project
| Phase | What happens | Typical share of the schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Goals, users, feature list, integrations, success measures | About a week |
| UX and UI design | User flows, wireframes, clickable prototype, visual design | One to three weeks |
| Development | App screens, back end, API, admin panel, integrations | The largest block, often half or more |
| Testing | Device testing, bug fixing, beta testing with real users | One to two weeks, overlapping development |
| Store submission and launch | Listings, screenshots, privacy details, review process | Several days to a couple of weeks |
Phases overlap in practice. Design for later screens continues while developers build the first ones, and testing happens throughout, not only at the end. A weekly check-in with a short demo of working screens keeps everyone aligned and surfaces problems while they are still cheap to fix.
Discovery: the week that saves a month
Discovery turns an idea into a written scope: who the users are, what they must be able to do on day one and what can wait. Skipping it is the most common reason app projects run over time and budget, because unanswered questions resurface as expensive changes mid-build.
Design: prototype before you code
A clickable prototype lets you tap through the app on your own phone before a line of production code exists. Changing a screen at this stage takes minutes. Changing it after development can take days.
Store review: the part you do not control
Apple reviews every iOS app and update; Google reviews Play Store submissions too. Reviews are often completed within a few days, but first submissions are commonly rejected for fixable reasons like missing privacy details, placeholder content or login problems for the reviewer. Build that possibility into the launch date.
What an app costs, feature by feature
Here is how Kemafy prices mobile apps, which gives you a transparent way to see how a total is assembled.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Android app (base) | $12,000 |
| iOS app (base) | $15,000 |
| User accounts and login | $1,500 |
| Push notifications | $1,000 |
| In-app payments | $2,000 |
| Chat or messaging | $2,500 |
| Admin dashboard | $3,500 |
| Offline mode | $1,500 |
| Maps and location | $1,200 |
As a worked example, an iOS booking app for a Denver salon group with accounts, push reminders, payments and an admin dashboard would total $15,000 + $1,500 + $1,000 + $2,000 + $3,500 = $23,000. Adding an Android version and maps for multiple locations would raise it further. Store submission, app icon and splash screen design and a period of post-launch maintenance are included in Kemafy app builds.
What makes an app take longer or cost more
- Two platforms. Building for both iOS and Android costs more than one, though cross-platform frameworks can reduce the gap compared with two fully separate native apps.
- Integrations. Connecting to your existing POS, CRM, booking engine, ERP or a third-party API adds work, especially if the other system is old or poorly documented.
- Real-time features. Live chat, live location tracking and instant updates require more back-end infrastructure.
- Regulated data. Health information under HIPAA, financial data and children's data need extra safeguards, documentation and review.
- Custom design and animation. Heavily bespoke interfaces take longer than well-crafted designs built on platform conventions.
- Slow decisions. Waiting a week for feedback on each round quietly doubles a schedule.
Costs that come after launch
An app is never truly finished. Budget for these recurring items:
- Developer accounts. Apple's Developer Program carries an annual fee, and Google Play charges a one-time registration fee. Both are paid by you, in your name.
- Hosting and services. The back end, database, file storage and services like push notifications, maps or SMS may carry usage-based fees as you grow.
- Maintenance. Apple and Google release major operating system updates every year, and their store requirements change. An app nobody updates can break or be pulled from sale.
- Store commissions. If you sell digital goods or subscriptions inside the app, platform commission rules may apply. Physical goods and services, such as a haircut or a delivery, generally use your own payment processor.
- Improvements. Once real users arrive, you will want to act on what they tell you.
How to keep your app on time and on budget
- Define a true version one. List every feature, then cut anything customers could live without for three months.
- Start with the platform your customers use. If your analytics show most visitors on iPhones, launch on iOS first.
- Nominate one decision-maker who can approve designs and answer questions within a day or two.
- Prepare content early: product data, copy, images, privacy policy and store listing text.
- Insist on ownership. Source code, store listings and developer accounts should be in your name.
If you are still deciding whether you need an app at all, read our guide on choosing between a website, web app and mobile app, or explore our mobile app development service. Have an existing site? Our web design team can advise whether it can be extended into an app. To get a feature-by-feature estimate, start a project or call +1 720 645 6094.
Frequently asked questions
Can an app be built in less than a month?
A very simple app with few screens and no custom back end can be, but most business apps with accounts, payments or admin tools need six weeks or more to build and test properly.
Why does iOS cost more than Android at Kemafy?
The iOS base price reflects Apple-specific design conventions, device testing and a stricter review process. Both platforms then use the same feature pricing.
Do I need to pay Apple and Google separately?
Yes. Apple charges an annual developer program fee and Google charges a one-time Play Console registration fee. These accounts should be registered in your business's name.
How much does app maintenance cost per year?
It depends on the app's complexity, number of platforms and how many improvements you want. Ask for a maintenance quote alongside the build quote so you can budget for the full first year.
Is it cheaper to build a web app instead?
Sometimes. A web app avoids store review and runs everywhere from one codebase, but it cannot match native apps for push notifications, offline use and device features.
