Mobile app development cost in India ranges from under ₹1 lakh for a very simple app to ₹50 lakh and more for a complex platform. A typical mid-complexity business app is quoted at ₹10–30 lakh by some agencies and ₹1–2 lakh by others. Published ranges differ this much because they price different things.
This guide explains why the quotes disagree, what moves the number, what an app costs after launch, and how to compare proposals so you are comparing like with like.
- *Key takeaways**
- Published Indian ranges run from ₹5 lakh to ₹80 lakh overall, with basic apps at ₹3–8 lakh and medium apps at ₹10–30 lakh (Gomilestone); other agencies quote medium apps at ₹1–2.2 lakh (iSyn Bus).
- Cross-platform builds with Flutter or React Native typically cost 30–45% less than separate native iOS and Android apps (NodeAscend).
- Indian agencies charge about $25–49 an hour on average, and $35–70 for senior Flutter and React Native developers (Codexcelerate).
- Maintenance is commonly budgeted at 15–20% of the build cost every year (Tenet).
How much does it cost to build a mobile app in India?
Budget ₹3–8 lakh for a basic app, ₹10–30 lakh for a medium one with logins, dashboards and payments, and ₹50 lakh or more for a complex one with AI, real-time features or a marketplace (Gomilestone).
Lower figures exist. Some agencies publish ₹50,000–85,000 for a 5–7 screen app and ₹3–6 lakh for 20+ screens (iSyn Bus). These are published ranges from agencies, not quotes, and we haven’t verified any of them. Use them as a sanity check on the proposals you receive.
Why do quotes differ by 10x?
Quotes differ because they usually price different scopes, different teams and different amounts of testing. Three things explain most of the gap.
1. What “an app” includes. A 6-screen app that stores data on the phone is a different product from one with an admin panel, a backend, payments and notifications. The backend and admin side are often a third of the work, and cheap quotes tend to leave them out.
2. Who builds it. A freelancer, a small studio and an established company price differently, and so do their delivery risks.
3. How much is tested. Android runs on thousands of device models. Testing across them takes time that low quotes often skip.
Ask every vendor to list screens, backend work, admin panel, integrations and the number of test devices. A quote without that list is a number, not a proposal.
Android, iOS or cross-platform: what does each cost?
Cross-platform is usually the cheapest way to reach both stores. Building once in Flutter or React Native typically costs 30–45% less than two separate native apps (NodeAscend).
| Approach | Reported cost | Best for |
|—|—|—|
| Android only (native) | ₹3–20 lakh | Markets or user bases that are mostly Android |
| iOS only (native) | ₹6–25 lakh | Premium or B2B audiences on iPhones |
| React Native | ₹75,000–₹12 lakh | Business apps on both stores |
| Flutter | ₹1–14 lakh | Apps with custom interfaces on both stores |
Sources: native ranges from Gomilestone; cross-platform ranges from NodeAscend. The sources use different scope assumptions, so read the table as a spread, not a price list.
Go native only when you need heavy device features such as advanced camera work, Bluetooth peripherals or demanding graphics. For most business apps, cross-platform is enough.
What factors move the cost most?
Seven things decide where your project lands, roughly from biggest effect to smallest.
1. Number and complexity of screens and features. Every feature is design, build and test time.
2. Backend and admin panel. User accounts, data, reports and an admin dashboard.
3. Integrations. Payment gateways, SMS and WhatsApp, maps, ERP or accounting systems, biometric or IoT devices.
4. Real-time features. Live tracking, chat and live updates cost more than static screens.
5. Platforms. One platform, two native, or one cross-platform codebase.
6. Design effort. Template-based UI is cheap; custom design and animation are not.
7. Team and rates. About $25–49 an hour on average, higher for senior specialists (Codexcelerate).
What should a good quote include?
A useful proposal is itemised. Look for these lines before you compare totals:
- A screen-by-screen feature list and the user roles it covers.
- Backend, database and admin panel work, priced separately from the app screens.
- Every third-party integration, with who pays the recurring fees.
- Testing scope: how many devices and OS versions, and who fixes bugs after launch and for how long.
- Ownership: source code, designs and store accounts transfer to you on payment.
- A rate card for change requests, so extra scope has a known price.
If two quotes differ by a large margin, the missing lines usually explain it.
What does an app cost after launch?
Expect to spend 15–20% of the build cost every year to keep the app running (Tenet). That covers bug fixes, security patches, OS updates, server costs and support. Some Indian sources cite ₹30,000 to ₹1.5 lakh a month depending on complexity (DB Tech).
Store fees are small. Google Play charges a one-time $25. Apple charges $99 a year for individuals and $299 a year for organisations (DianApps).
Add the costs people forget: cloud hosting, SMS and notification charges, map and payment-gateway fees, and the staff time to answer user feedback.
A three-year view
A cheap build with no maintenance plan is often the expensive choice. Here is a simple way to compare, using an illustrative ₹10 lakh build.
| Year | Item | Illustrative spend |
|—|—|—|
| 1 | Build | ₹10 lakh |
| 2 | Maintenance at 15–20% | ₹1.5–2 lakh |
| 3 | Maintenance at 15–20% | ₹1.5–2 lakh |
| | Three-year total | ₹13–14 lakh |
The ₹10 lakh figure is an example, not a quote; the percentage comes from the sources above. Run the same arithmetic on each proposal. A vendor that is 20% cheaper to build but charges double for support can cost more by year three.
How do you keep the cost down without cutting corners?
Start with a minimum viable product (MVP), then grow it with real user feedback.
1. Pick the one job the app must do and cut everything else from version one.
2. Use one cross-platform codebase unless you have a reason not to.
3. Reuse standard components for login, payments and notifications.
4. Ask for a fixed-scope first phase with a written rate for changes.
5. Own your code and accounts. The Play Store and App Store accounts and the source code should be in your name.
If you are weighing a bespoke app against a ready-made product, our guide to custom software vs off-the-shelf covers that decision, and our custom software development cost guide covers what a wider build costs.
What we’ve seen at DECK IT
DECK IT is an Ahmedabad software company founded in 2017, and mobile apps are part of the custom software we build for Indian businesses. The most common mistake we see is a budget set from a headline number before anyone has written down the screens and the backend.
Our advice is to write a one-page list of the screens, the user roles and the systems the app must talk to before you ask for any quote. It makes proposals comparable and exposes the cheap ones that left out the backend. If you want a second opinion, our mobile app development team can review a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to develop a mobile app in India?
Is it cheaper to build an Android or an iOS app?
How much does Flutter or React Native app development cost in India?
How much does app maintenance cost per year?
How long does it take to build a mobile app?
What does it cost to publish on the Play Store and App Store?
Conclusion
Compare quotes on scope, not on the headline number. Write down your screens, roles and integrations, ask for the backend and testing to be itemised, and budget 15–20% a year for upkeep.
If you want help scoping an app or checking a quote you’ve received, talk to DECK IT.
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