What does it cost to build an app?
The price of an app can vary significantly because solutions can be very different. What matters most is what the app needs to do, who will use it, and what requirements you have for design, functionality, integrations, operations, and further development.
Development of a simple app often starts from approx. DKK 50,000, while a more comprehensive app with login, backend, integrations, or custom-developed features requires a larger budget. That is why it is rarely possible to provide a fixed price without first understanding the needs and scope.
At itpilot, we help you clarify what the app needs to do, which users it should support, and whether an app is the right solution – or whether a web app, PWA, or custom-developed platform would make more sense.
Price of a simple, medium-sized, and advanced app
There can be a big difference in what it costs to develop an app. A simple app with few features and limited technical complexity naturally requires a smaller budget than a solution with user login, backend, integrations, administration, and ongoing operations.
As a starting point, the price can typically be divided as follows:
Type of app | Typical content | Estimated price level |
Simple app | Few screens, simple design, limited functionality, and no or very simple backend | From approximately DKK 50,000. |
Medium sized app | Login, user roles, database, administration, selected integrations, or a more customised user interface | From approximately DKK 100.000 |
Advanced app | Multiple user roles, custom-developed backend, integrations, complex workflows, and higher requirements for operations and further development | From approximately DKK 250.000 |
Please note: The prices above are indicative. The final price depends on how clearly defined the solution is, how many features need to be developed from the start, and what technical requirements there are for security, operations, integrations, and future development.
An app for internal registration, a simple ordering flow, or a clearly defined prototype can often be kept relatively simple. An app that needs to handle multiple user roles, communicate with existing systems, store data, display dashboards, or support business-critical workflows will typically require more analysis, development, and testing.
What affects the price of app development?
The price of app development depends especially on the app’s functionality, technical complexity, and the requirements for design, user experience, backend, integrations, and operations.
Two apps can have the same overall idea but end up with very different prices. An app with few screens and limited functionality is typically cheaper to develop than a solution with login, multiple user roles, administration, integrations, and advanced workflows.
Features and complexity
The more features the app needs to include, the more development, testing, and clarification it will require. This is especially true if the app needs to support login, user registration, different user roles, permission management, payments, push notifications, offline functionality, messaging, chat, dashboards, or advanced search and filtering.
Features such as camera, GPS, Bluetooth, data import, data export, or integrations with other systems can also affect the price, as they often require more technical setup and more thorough testing.
This does not mean that these features should be avoided. Many of them can be central to the app’s value. But they should be prioritised carefully, so the first version focuses on what creates the most value for users and the business.
Design & user experience
Design is not only about how the app looks. It is also about how easy it is to use.
An app with a few simple screens is faster to design and develop than an app with many user flows, different user roles, advanced navigation, and a need for customised UI design.
Design work may include wireframes, user flows, visual identity, user interface, adaptation to different screen sizes, and testing of the user experience.
For businesses, usability is especially important if the app is to be used by employees, customers, partners, or other users who need to complete specific tasks efficiently. Good design can therefore help reduce errors, save time, and make the solution easier to adopt.
Backend, integrations, and administration
Many apps are not just what the user sees on their phone. Behind the app, there is often a backend, a database, an administration module, or integrations with other systems.
The backend may, for example, handle user data, permissions, content, orders, cases, documents, messages, or reporting. The administration module can give the business the ability to manage users, view data, update content, or monitor activities.
Integrations may be necessary if the app needs to exchange data with existing systems. This could include accounting systems, CRM, ERP, inventory management, booking, payment solutions, email platforms, or other business systems.
This is often where an app goes from being a simple mobile solution to becoming an important part of the company’s digital infrastructure. Backend, integrations, and administration therefore have a major impact on price, quality, and long-term operations.
What type of app do you need?
When you are considering having an app developed, it is important to choose the right type of solution. The choice affects price, user experience, maintenance, and future development opportunities.
Native app
A native app is developed specifically for either iOS or Android. It can be the right solution if the app needs high performance, intensive use of the phone’s features, or optimal support for camera, GPS, Bluetooth, push notifications, or offline functionality.
Native apps often provide the most app-specific user experience, but they can also be more expensive to develop and maintain – especially if separate versions need to be developed for both iOS and Android.
Hybrid app or cross-platform app
A hybrid or cross-platform app is developed using one shared codebase that can be used across iOS and Android. This can often reduce both development time and maintenance compared with two separate native apps.
This type of app may be relevant if you want a mobile app for multiple platforms while keeping the solution more efficient to develop and further develop.
Progressive Web App (PWA)
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web-based solution that can feel app-like to the user. It is accessed through the browser but can often be saved to the phone’s home screen and used more like a traditional app.
A PWA may be relevant if you want a flexible solution that is easier to maintain, and where you do not necessarily need distribution through the App Store or Google Play.
Web app
A web app is a custom-developed web-based solution that is used through the browser. It can be a good solution if the purpose is primarily to support workflows, administration, user roles, data, reporting, or integrations with existing systems.
For many businesses, a web app can be a good alternative to a traditional mobile app because the solution can be used across devices and is often easier to maintain over time.
Learn more about the different app types here 
Do you actually need an app?
Many businesses start by asking what it costs to have an app developed. But in some cases, it is more important to first clarify whether an app is actually the right solution.
A mobile app makes particular sense if users often need access from their phone, if there is a need for push notifications, offline functionality, camera, GPS, Bluetooth, or a user experience closely tied to the mobile device.
In other cases, a web app, PWA, customer portal, or custom-developed platform may be a better solution. This is especially true if the solution primarily needs to support internal workflows, administration, user roles, data, documents, reporting, or integrations with existing systems.
It is not about choosing the most advanced solution, but the solution that best fits your needs. Sometimes the answer is an app. Other times, a web-based solution is more flexible, more cost-effective, and easier to further develop.
At itpilot, we advise you on the options, so you do not start with a specific technology, but with the need the solution must fulfil.
Start with an MVP
An MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product and is the first usable version of the app, focusing on the features needed to create value for users and test the solution in practice.
This could, for example, be login, a single user flow, data registration, an administration module, or one important integration. Once the solution is in use, it can be further developed with more features based on real experience and needs.
An MVP can make the project more manageable, reduce risk, and provide a better basis for deciding what to build next. This is especially relevant if the idea still needs to be validated, or if there is uncertainty about users’ specific needs.
It is not about building half a solution, but about starting with the most important elements first.
Operations, maintenance, and further development
Once an app has been launched, the work is rarely completely finished. In addition to hosting, there may be an ongoing need for server operations, technical updates, security updates, bug fixes, support, and further development.
As a rule of thumb, it can be sensible to allocate around 15–20% of the development cost annually to operations, maintenance, and ongoing improvements. This is not a fixed rule, but an indicative estimate. The need depends, among other things, on the app’s complexity, number of users, integrations, hosting requirements, security requirements, and how actively the app will be further developed.
If the app is published through the App Store or Google Play, changes to platform requirements and new versions of iOS and Android must also be taken into account. In addition, integrations may change, APIs may be updated, and user needs may evolve over time.
Operations, maintenance, and further development should therefore be considered from the beginning, so the solution can remain stable, secure, and realistic to continue working with.
Do you want a price for app development?
Contact us if you would like a realistic estimate for your app. We will help you clarify your needs, assess the scope, and find out which solution makes the most sense for your business.
Call us on +45 87 25 07 87 or fill out the contact form.
