Do I get the source code for the app?

At XX Disruptive Minds, yes: at close we transfer the repository, the App Store and Google Play accounts, the backend and all credentials. The code is yours from day one and any developer can continue it. Many agencies hold the code to lock you into a maintenance contract; it is worth confirming this in writing before you hire.

Does the price include maintenance and app store publishing?

At XXDM, development includes publishing to the App Store and Google Play and 3 to 6 months of support depending on the plan. Ongoing maintenance afterward (OS updates, new features, backend hosting) is covered by an optional monthly retainer or minimal hosting. Also budget for the store fees: Apple charges $99 per year and Google charges $25 one time.

How Much Does It Cost to Build an App in the US (2026)? Real Prices

Q: Does building for both iOS and Android cost double?

Not necessarily. With pure native development you would maintain two codebases (one for iOS and one for Android) and the cost approaches double. With React Native, a single codebase runs on both platforms, so you cover iOS and Android without doubling the cost or the maintenance burden. That is why XX Disruptive Minds builds business apps in React Native from $18,000.

Q: What makes an app most expensive?

The factors that move the price the most are: the number of screens and flows, integrations with external services (payments, maps, third-party APIs), whether it needs a custom backend and admin panel, the level of custom design, and advanced features like realtime chat, geolocation or offline mode. A simple informational app is cheap; a transactional marketplace is the most expensive.

Price ranges by app type

The price of an app depends mostly on its complexity. These are the realistic ranges in the US market in 2026:

App type	What it includes	US market range	At XXDM
Simple app / MVP	A few screens, login, content, no complex backend	$30K – $60K	from $18K
Business app	Custom backend, admin panel, payments, push notifications	$60K – $120K	$24K – $40K
Complex app / marketplace	Multi-role, realtime, geolocation, multiple integrations	$120K – $250K+	from $40K

What actually drives the price?

Two "similar" apps can cost very differently. These are the factors that move the quote the most:

Platforms: iOS only, Android only, or both? With React Native, both don't cost double.
Number of screens and flows: this is the #1 driver of effort.
Backend and admin panel: whether the app stores data, authenticates users or needs a custom control panel.
Integrations: payments (Stripe, PayPal), accounting/ERP, maps, third-party APIs.
Advanced features: realtime chat, offline mode, push notifications, geolocation.
Design: using a base design system is cheaper than a 100% custom visual identity.

Who builds it? Freelancer vs. agency vs. studio

The provider changes both the price and the risk:

Option	Cost	Risk
No-code (Glide, Adalo)	Very low	Hits a ceiling fast; hard to scale or customize; you pay for licenses forever.
Freelancer	Low–medium	Cheap, but a single point of failure; variable quality and continuity.
US agency	High	Sells hours and slide decks; long timelines; sometimes holds the code.
Offshore (India)	Low	Cheapest hours, but a 10–12h time-zone gap, language/culture friction and devs you manage.
Nearshore product studio	Medium	Delivers a product in production with a fixed or "from" price, a closed timeline and code that's yours — on your time zone.

How long does it take?

With a focused studio, a business app is built in 4 to 8 weeks. As a real reference, XXDM built the mortgage platform Hypothek — multi-role, with 8 modules and realtime chat — in 12 days, against a prior 5-month quote from an agency. The key: clear scope from the start and a single codebase.

How to lower the cost without sacrificing quality

React Native instead of double native: one codebase for iOS and Android cuts development and maintenance in half.
Start with an MVP: launch the core that creates value and add features in phases, with real user data.
Demand the source code: if it's yours from day one, you're never held hostage by a maintenance contract.
Modern backend (Supabase): less infrastructure to maintain and low hosting costs.

Frequently asked questions

Does building for both iOS and Android cost double?+

Not with React Native: a single codebase runs on both platforms, so you cover iOS and Android without doubling cost or maintenance. Double native does approach double.

What makes an app most expensive?+

The number of screens, the integrations (payments, accounting, APIs), whether it needs a custom backend and admin panel, custom design, and features like realtime chat or offline mode.

Do I get the source code?+

At XXDM, yes: the repository, the App Store and Google Play accounts, the backend and credentials. The code is yours from day one. Confirm it in writing with any provider before you hire.

Does it include maintenance and app store publishing?+

Development includes publishing to the App Store and Google Play and 3 to 6 months of support. Ongoing maintenance afterward is an optional retainer. Watch the store fees: Apple $99/year, Google $25 one-time.

How much does it cost to build a mobile app in the US?