Taylor Simmons 
So you’re ready to build an app. That’s exciting! But before you start mapping out features and choosing color schemes, there’s one decision that will shape everything else: should you go native or cross-platform?
This isn’t just a technical choice. It’s about budget, timeline, and how you want your app to perform. The difference in costs between these two approaches can be tens of thousands of dollars, and the wrong choice could leave you stuck with an app that doesn’t scale or burns through your budget faster than you expected.
Native app development can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000 or more, while cross-platform development typically runs between $20,000 and $150,000. But those are just starting points. Your actual costs will depend on your app’s complexity, the features you need, where your team is located, and how you plan to grow.
Let’s break down exactly what drives these costs and help you figure out which path makes sense for your business.
TL;DR
App development costs vary widely based on approach, complexity, and location.
- Native apps offer top performance but cost more ($50,000–$250,000+) and take longer (4–9 months).
- Cross-platform apps reuse code for iOS and Android, reducing costs to $20,000–$150,000 and time to 3–6 months.
- Expect annual maintenance at 15–20% of your initial budget.
- Developer rates range from $15/hour (India) to $150/hour (US).
For most startups and growing businesses, cross-platform development provides the best balance of cost, speed, and long-term ROI.
Understanding What Actually Drives App Development Costs
Before we compare the two approaches, you need to know what you’re paying for. App development costs aren’t random numbers pulled from thin air. Understanding what affects development cost will give you the bigger picture.
Developer rates vary wildly by location
In the United States, React Native developers charge between $40 and $150 per hour due to high living costs and strong demand for tech talent.
In India, hourly rates typically range from $15 to $30, and despite lower rates, many developers there are highly experienced and capable of delivering high-quality work.
Eastern Europe offers rates from $30 to $60 per hour with strong tech education systems and good English skills.
Your app’s complexity matters more than anything else
A simple utility app with basic login and a few screens will cost far less than a feature-rich platform with real-time chat, payment processing, and custom animations.
Simple apps with basic features typically cost between $10,000 and $30,000, while medium complexity apps with user authentication and eCommerce functionalities range from $30,000 to $70,000.
Complex apps with real-time features, custom animations, payment processing, advanced security, and multiple integrations can easily exceed $100,000. Think about apps like Uber or Airbnb. These require sophisticated backend systems, real-time data processing, and seamless user experiences across multiple user types.
The more features you add, the more hours your developers spend coding, testing, and refining. Each additional feature compounds the complexity.
The tech stack you choose affects both development speed and cost
Your choice of programming languages and frameworks directly impacts your timeline and budget.
- Native apps built with Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android give you maximum performance but require separate codebases. This means you’re essentially building two apps if you want to reach both iOS and Android users.
- Cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter let you reuse code across platforms, cutting development time significantly. In cross-platform development, about 80% of the code is reused, saving time and capital that can be spent on other things.
The tradeoff? Native apps access every platform-specific feature and deliver optimal performance, while cross-platform apps might have minor limitations with certain advanced features.
Backend infrastructure adds significant costs
Backend development, including database setup, third-party integrations, and cloud functions, ranges from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on scale and security needs. Apps with complex data requirements or real-time features will land on the higher end.
Testing and quality assurance can’t be skipped
You might be tempted to rush through testing to save money. Don’t. Bugs in production cost way more to fix than bugs caught during development.
Testing often accounts for 15 to 25% of the total development budget, ensuring your app works smoothly across different devices and operating systems.
What Native App Development Actually Costs
Native apps are built specifically for one platform using that platform’s native programming languages and tools. For iOS, that means Swift or Objective-C. For Android, it’s Kotlin or Java.
The Price Range for Native Development
Developing a native app costs around $10,000 to $250,000 based on features, complexity, and developer rates. If you need your app on both iOS and Android, you’re essentially building two separate apps, which doubles your investment.
Here’s how costs break down by complexity:
Simple apps like calculators or weather apps with limited functionality fall toward the lower end at $10,000 to $30,000, while mid-level complexity apps cost $30,000 to $100,000, and advanced apps with AI, AR, or complex integrations exceed $100,000.
Why does native development cost more?
You’re paying for platform-specific expertise.
Native app development requires specialized knowledge in frameworks like Java or Kotlin for Android and Objective-C or Swift for iOS, and since the talent pool for these frameworks is relatively shallow, these developers command higher rates than average.
The Advantages That Justify the Cost
Native apps deliver better performance, smoother animations, and full access to device features like Face ID, ARKit, and platform-specific APIs.
Native iOS apps built with Swift ensure optimal performance and integration with Apple features. This translates to a better user experience, which can mean higher retention and more revenue.
Users can tell when an app feels native versus when it feels like a wrapper around web content. That polish matters, especially for apps where user experience drives business outcomes.
The Catch: You’re Building Two Apps
If you build natively for both Android and iPhone, that means double the app cost, as you’ll need an iOS development team and an Android development team working separately
Your timeline stretches longer, too, since you’re managing two parallel development tracks. Any feature you add needs to be implemented twice, tested twice, and maintained twice.
| Region | Simple App (Basic Utility) | Mid-Level App (eCommerce, Authentication) | Complex App (AI, AR, Real-Time Data) | Average Hourly Rate |
| United States & Canada | $30,000 – $70,000 | $70,000 – $150,000 | $150,000 – $300,000+ | $40 – $150/hr |
| United Kingdom & Western Europe | $25,000 – $60,000 | $60,000 – $130,000 | $130,000 – $250,000+ | $40 – $120/hr |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Romania) | $15,000 – $40,000 | $40,000 – $90,000 | $90,000 – $180,000+ | $30 – $60/hr |
| India & South Asia | $10,000 – $25,000 | $25,000 – $60,000 | $60,000 – $120,000+ | $15 – $30/hr |
| Latin America | $15,000 – $35,000 | $35,000 – $80,000 | $80,000 – $160,000+ | $25 – $55/hr |
Cross-Platform App Development: The Budget-Friendly Alternative
Cross-platform frameworks changed the game by letting developers write code once and deploy it on multiple platforms. The most popular options are React Native (by Meta) and Flutter (by Google).
The Cost Advantage Is Clear
Cross-platform app development costs around $20,000 to $150,000. That’s significantly less than building two native apps.
React Native apps typically range from $20,000 to $250,000 depending on complexity, with lean MVPs starting around $15,000 to $30,000 and large enterprise-grade apps landing between $150,000 and $300,000
Why the Savings Happen
You’re maintaining one codebase instead of two. Your team can move faster, test more efficiently, and roll out updates simultaneously on both platforms.
Every feature, bug fix, and improvement only needs to be implemented once. That’s a massive time and cost saver, especially when you’re iterating based on user feedback.
React Native and Flutter: The Leading Players
Both frameworks have strong communities and backing from major tech companies.
React Native development in Asia costs roughly $15 to $50 per hour, with India frequently in the $20 to $40 range for experienced developers, while rates in the United States and Canada typically run $60 to $150 per hour..
Flutter developer costs fall between $30 and $100 per hour, depending on experience, location, and project complexity
The Tradeoffs Are Real but Manageable
Cross-platform apps might not access every single native API or achieve quite the same level of performance as native apps.
React Native operates with a JavaScript bridge, which can sometimes cause slight delays in communication between native components and code. And for simple apps, this difference is negligible, but for apps with heavy animations or advanced features, it could impact user experience.
For most business apps, like productivity tools or content planners, these limitations won’t matter.
When Cross-Platform Makes Perfect Sense
Startups and large companies save up to 40% on development costs by picking a cross-platform approach instead of creating natively for different platforms.
You get to market faster, test your concept with real users, and iterate based on feedback before making a bigger investment. If your app takes off and you need the performance boost, you can always rebuild natively later when you have the revenue to justify it.
Breaking Down the Cost Comparison
Let’s look at how these approaches stack up across the factors that matter most.
The Performance Gap Isn’t What You Think
Unless you’re building something highly interactive like a 3D game or AR experience, cross-platform frameworks deliver near-native performance. Most users won’t notice the difference.
Modern cross-platform frameworks have come a long way. They’re optimized, mature, and used by major companies for production apps.
Maintenance Costs Add Up Over Time
With native apps, every bug fix, security patch, and feature update needs to be implemented twice.
Native apps can cost 30 to 40% higher annually for maintenance. Cross-platform apps keep these costs down since you’re maintaining a single codebase.
This advantage compounds over the years. The savings in years two, three, and beyond can be substantial.
What You’ll Actually Pay for Maintenance (Don’t Skip This Part)
Here’s something most businesses underestimate: the app you launch is just the beginning. Keeping it running, secure, and competitive costs real money.
The Industry Standard for Ongoing Costs
Annual app maintenance costs range from 15 to 20% of the app’s initial development cost. So if you spent $100,000 building your app, plan for $15,000 to $20,000 per year in ongoing costs.
This isn’t optional spending. It’s necessary to keep your app functional, secure, and relevant.
What Maintenance Actually Includes
- Bug fixes and performance updates
- Security patches
- OS compatibility updates
- Server hosting and infrastructure
- App store fees
- Third-party service subscriptions
API compatibility issues can disrupt payments, signups, or analytics leading to direct revenue or insight loss
First-Year Costs Run Higher
You should budget 15% to 40% of your original development cost for the first year as you address bugs, add features, and respond to user feedback, then costs stabilize to 15 to 20% annually in subsequent years.
The first year always requires more attention. You’re learning what users actually need, fixing issues that only appear at scale, and refining features based on real-world usage.
Don’t Forget the Hidden Costs
Apple charges $99 annually for individuals or $299 for enterprises for its developer program, and Google charges a one-time $25 fee.
Server hosting can run anywhere from $70 to $320 per month, depending on your app’s data needs and traffic. These costs scale as your user base grows.
Hidden Costs That Catch Everyone Off Guard
Beyond development and maintenance, several expenses sneak up on businesses that aren’t prepared.
App Store Fees and Commissions
Apple and Google take 15% to 30% of in-app purchases and subscription revenue, depending on your earnings. This ongoing revenue share needs to be factored into your business model from day one.
Third-Party Integrations Aren’t Free
Developers integrate third-party services for features like authentication, payments, and maps, with these integrations costing between $200 and $2,000 each plus recurring subscription fees.
Services like payment processors, analytics platforms, and marketing tools all come with monthly or annual fees that add up quickly.
Security and Compliance Can Get Expensive
GDPR and HIPAA fines for non-compliant apps can exceed $100,000 per incident, which is a cost far higher than regular updates.
Apps handling sensitive data need:
- Regular security audits
- Vulnerability scans
- Compliance updates
- Penetration testing
Device Testing Multiplies Your Costs
Multi-device testing can raise mobile app maintenance costs by $3,000 to $12,000 annually.
The more devices your app needs to support(different phone models, tablets, screen sizes) the more complex and expensive testing becomes. Cross-platform apps actually help here since you’re testing one codebase.
Emergency Fixes Cost More Than Planned Updates
Emergency hotfixes can cost 3 to 5 times more than planned updates due to urgency, testing, and expedited review submissions.
When something breaks in production, you’re paying premium rates to fix it fast. Regular maintenance helps you avoid these fire drills.
Timeline Differences
In every business, time is money, and the development approach you choose directly impacts how quickly you can launch.
Here is a simple timeline table you can use to compare which option is more suitable for you.
Key Takeaways
1. Developer location heavily impacts costs
Rates vary significantly worldwide:
- US: $40–$150/hr
- Eastern Europe: $30–$60/hr
- India: $15–$30/hr
2. App complexity defines your total budget
- Simple apps: $10,000–$30,000
- Mid-level: $30,000–$70,000
- Complex: $100,000+
3. Cross-platform saves up to 40%
Reusing 80% of code across iOS and Android means faster development and smaller teams.
4. Maintenance is ongoing
Plan 15–20% of your initial build annually for fixes, hosting, updates, and compliance.
5. Timelines differ by model
- Native: 4–9 months
- Cross-platform: 3–6 months
6. Choose based on goals
- Native for high-performance apps like games or AR.
- Cross-platform for MVPs, startups, and budget-conscious launches.
The Bottom Line
Native development costs more upfront but delivers optimal performance and platform integration. Cross-platform development saves money and time by using a shared codebase but comes with minor performance tradeoffs.
For most businesses, especially startups and companies launching their first app, cross-platform makes the most sense. You’ll save 30% to 40% on development costs, get to market faster, and maintain your app more easily.
The key is being honest about your priorities:
- Speed and cost-efficiency → Cross-platform
- Maximum performance and polish → Native
Ready to start building your app? Get a free consultation with our development team to compare native vs cross-platform options for your specific project. We’ll walk you through the costs, timeline, and technical approach that makes sense for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does cross-platform app development cost?
Cross-platform development costs $20,000 to $150,000. MVPs start at $15,000, while enterprise-grade apps can exceed $200,000.
What is a realistic budget for app development?
- Basic MVP: $20,000 – $50,000
- Mid-level app: $50,000 – $100,000
- Complex app: $100,000 – $250,000+
Add 15–20% annually for maintenance.
Is it cheaper to build an app myself?
Building it yourself saves development fees but demands technical expertise and time. You’ll still pay for:
- App store fees ($99/year Apple, $25 one-time Google)
- Hosting ($70–$320/month)
- Third-party services and integrations
Most businesses find hiring professionals delivers better quality and faster market entry.
Why is it so expensive to build an app?
App costs reflect the need for specialized developers (Swift, Kotlin), backend infrastructure ($5k–$50k), testing (15–25% of total), design, and multi-device maintenance.
How much does it cost to develop an app like Uber?
Complex, multi-sided platforms like Uber require real-time GPS, payments, authentication, and custom backend systems. Expect $200k–$500k+ (native) or $150k–$300k+ (cross-platform).
How much does a native app cost?
Native apps range from $10,000 to $250,000. Building for both iOS and Android doubles that cost since they require separate codebases.
What are the disadvantages of native apps?
- Double development cost
- Longer build time (4–9 months)
- Separate specialist teams
- Each update applied twice
- 30–40% higher annual maintenance costs
What’s the hourly rate for app developers?
- US: $40–$150/hour
- UK: £50–£100/hour
- India: $15–$30/hour
- Eastern Europe: $30–$60/hour
How much does it cost to hire a developer?
Rates range from $15–$30/hour (India) to $150/hour (US).
- Freelancers: lower cost, less accountability
- Agencies: mid-range cost, full project support
- In-house teams: higher cost, ongoing benefits
What are the hidden costs of app creation?
- App store fees (Apple $99/yr | Google $25 one-time)
- Third-party integrations: $200–$2,000 each
- Server hosting: $70–$320/month
- Multi-device testing: $3,000–$12,000 yearly
- Emergency fixes: 3–5× the cost of planned updates
- Store commissions: 15–30% of in-app purchases
Which is better: cross-platform or native app development?
Neither is objectively better. Native offers peak performance; cross-platform offers faster, cheaper builds with ~80% code reuse. Choose based on priorities—speed vs. performance.
Which platform delivers better ROI?
Cross-platform saves up to 40% in development costs, great for quick market entry. Native wins ROI for complex apps where performance directly drives revenue (e.g., gaming, AR).
Is cross-platform slower than native?
Only slightly. React Native’s JavaScript bridge can cause small delays in animation-heavy apps, but most users won’t notice a difference.
Which apps use native vs cross-platform frameworks?
Native: Instagram, Spotify, major banking apps
Cross-platform: Facebook (React Native), Microsoft Teams (React Native), Alibaba (Flutter), BMW (Flutter)
Which language is best for cross-platform app development?
- React Native (JavaScript/TypeScript): large community, mature ecosystem
- Flutter (Dart): backed by Google, faster rendering, great for UI-heavy apps
Choose based on your team’s skill set and project complexity.
Why do hybrid apps generally cost less to develop?
One codebase powers multiple platforms, cutting build time nearly in half. Around 80% code reuse leads to 30–40% cost savings versus two native apps.
What are the main disadvantages of hybrid apps?
- Slightly slower performance
- Limited access to platform-specific APIs
- Occasional UI inconsistencies
- Dependence on framework updates
- More complex debugging
Which apps are hybrid?
React Native: Facebook, Discord, Shopify, Bloomberg, Walmart
Flutter: Google Ads, Alibaba, eBay, BMW, Reflectly
Many combine both—native for core functions, hybrid for the rest.
Which type of app is fastest and least expensive to develop?
Cross-platform apps using React Native or Flutter cost $20k–$150k (vs $50k–$250k+ native) and take 3–6 months (vs 4–9 months native). Ideal for MVPs, startups, and quick market validation.
Ready to start your app development project? Contact Fyresite for a free consultation on native vs cross-platform development.
