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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App?
A native mobile app for iOS and Android costs from 4,900 € with Zemog, VAT not included, with publication on the App Store and Google Play included in the price. Here's what's behind that figure and what makes it go up.
Why do some apps cost a few thousand euros and others hundreds of thousands?
Because the price of an app isn't set by the number of screens, but by what's behind them: whether it needs its own backend (server, database, admin panel), whether it connects with external systems (payments, maps, messaging), whether it handles sensitive data that requires specific security measures, and whether it has to support many users at once. A simple commissioned app, with login, a basic backend and an admin panel, isn't the same project as a multi-user platform with roles, billing and a companion app: the second can cost several times more than the first even though they might "look similar" on the store at a glance.
How much does an agency charge to build an app in 2026?
Just like with websites, there's no public survey of what a Spanish agency charges to build an app: any specific figure without a source is an estimate, not a fact. What can be said without a number is that an agency with its own overhead tends to cost more than an independent developer for a comparable job, because it has fixed costs (office, sales staff, several layers of management) that a small studio doesn't.
| Option | Starting cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app with Zemog (iOS and Android) | From 4,900 € | Store publication included |
Zemog's price, VAT not included.
What does Clutch say about app development pricing, and why isn't it comparable?
The public figure with a verifiable methodology that does exist, although from a different market, is the one Clutch publishes: the average cost of a mobile app development project reviewed there is 90,780 $, with a typical range of 10,000 $–49,999 $, an hourly rate of 25–49 $/hr and an average timeline of 11 months (Clutch.co — Mobile App Development Pricing Guide, accessed on 21 September 2026). Two caveats before using it as a reference: it's a US market figure, with hourly rates well above Spanish ones, and Clutch mostly measures sizeable agency projects (with their own backend, integrations and a dedicated team), not a small job for a freelancer or a small business. That's why "90,780 $" isn't what a simple app will cost you in Spain: it's the order of magnitude of an international corporate app development project, useful to understand the scale of the market, not as a local reference budget.
What separates the price of a simple app from a platform?
These are the factors that really move an app's budget, regardless of who builds it:
- Backend and database. An app that stores and syncs its own data needs a server, a database and ongoing maintenance of that infrastructure, not just the part visible on the phone.
- External integrations. Payments, maps, push notifications, social login or connecting to an existing system (an ERP, a CRM) add integration and testing work.
- One codebase or two. Sharing most of the code between iOS and Android is cheaper than building each platform separately from scratch, though some cases genuinely need separate builds for performance.
- Admin panel. If the app needs a panel behind it to manage content, users or orders, that's a second product to design and build.
- Publication and compliance. Meeting Apple's and Google's policies, preparing the store listing and passing review adds work that isn't visible in pure development.
- Ongoing maintenance. Apps need updates whenever operating systems change version: it's not a one-off cost, but an ongoing fee after launch.
When does a native app NOT make sense?
Building an app isn't always the best decision, and saying so is part of giving an honest quote:
- If what you need is for people to view information or fill in a form from their phone, a well-optimised mobile website does the same job without forcing anyone to install anything, and costs considerably less than a native app.
- If you still don't know whether your idea works, launching a web version or a reduced MVP first lets you validate demand before investing in a full app for both platforms.
- If your project isn't meant to be used often (something people open once a month, not daily), it's hard to justify the ongoing maintenance cost of an app versus a website accessible from any browser.
A native app does pay off when you need features that only the operating system truly offers —push notifications, smooth access to the camera or GPS, offline use— or when expected usage frequency makes having an icon on the user's home screen genuinely matter.
How is the quote and payment structured with Zemog?
Building mobile apps with Zemog starts at 4,900 €, VAT not included, with publication on the App Store and Google Play included in the price. Payment splits into two equal parts: half to confirm the booking and the other half once the app is live and working on the stores. Each additional integration (payments, maps, your own systems) is quoted separately and agreed in writing before starting, never added to the final invoice without notice.
If you have an app idea and want to know what it would cost in your specific case, tell me in the contact form: I reply within 24 hours with a fixed quote, no obligation.