Mobile App Development Costs in Europe (2025/2026): A Digital Kitty Guide

You can see our current prices on the Prices page. And in the calculator you can calculate the approximate cost of your project, without registration of contacts.

In this article, we focus on the Fixed Price model. With this approach, we analyze your project requirements, detail all stages, and establish a fixed timeline and budget. The timelines mentioned are based on working days.

If you're short on time and want to discuss your mobile app project right away, feel free to contact our Digital Kitty managers or use chat on our website.

What types of apps are there?

The cost depends on the type of mobile application, meaning its complexity and the scope of work required for its creation.

• What will the app's structure be?
• Will it be cross-platform or native development?
• What kind of control elements will it have?
• Are integrations needed, and if so, which ones?
• Is server-side development necessary?
• How will data be stored?
• Will animations be simple or complex?

Each of these questions can affect the complexity of the mobile app. The scope of work refers to the specialist time spent on design, development, and deployment of the mobile app. A simpler app will cost less and be completed faster. A complex app will require more time, and its price will be higher.

At Digital Kitty, we generally categorize mobile apps into two types based on implementation complexity:

Mid-Tier Applications

An app with 3-5 core features, a user account area, and a backend can be classified as mid-tier. These apps might support social media logins, integrate with payment systems, include feedback functions, and have a loyalty system with ratings and reviews. Examples include chatbots, promotional apps, and booking systems.

Complex Applications

Complex apps are multifunctional and high-load applications. They might feature sophisticated animations and integrate with various third-party services. For example, integration with government service portals or complex financial systems can significantly impact the app's cost.

Another example of complex integration is advanced analytics. Unlike websites where you might just install Google Analytics, mobile apps are diverse, each with specific tasks. Therefore, even basic analytics might require a combination of services like Google Firebase, Amplitude, or AppsFlyer. Complex apps include banking apps, corporate enterprise tools, food ordering apps, taxi and delivery service apps, and mobile e-commerce stores.

Feature Comparison: Mid-Tier vs. Complex Apps

Now that we've covered the types, let's look at the key stages of mobile app creation to understand what else affects the implementation timeline.

How the Scope of Work is Formed

Creating a mobile app involves several distinct stages: requirements gathering, prototyping, design, development, and testing. Regardless of whether the app is simple or complex, it goes through all these stages. A simpler app just moves through them faster as fewer specialist hours are needed.

Let's explore each stage in more detail.

Analytics

At Digital Kitty, the analytics stage is divided into two main tasks: creating a technical specification (or Product Vision) and preparing a prototype.

Technical Specification or Product Vision

The development of any software solution, including a mobile app, begins with clarifying requirements. A Technical Specification or Product Vision document helps forecast future functionality and view the product in the long term. The technical specification solidifies the requirements for the future app: what it should ultimately do, its capabilities, and how it will work. It serves as a guide for developers and designers who will bring the client's idea to life, detailing features, UI requirements, performance, and security.

Prototyping

At this stage, mockups of the app's screens – wireframes – are created. They schematically show content layout, functionality, and user flow within the app. Beyond static wireframes, clickable prototypes offer a visualization of the future app. They allow stakeholders to see how the app will look and feel, and to test its usability without any actual programming. A prototype helps to walk through the user journey, assess user-friendliness, identify obstacles to completing target actions, and figure out how to fix them. It allows for an analysis of the entire product functionality and testing of main user scenarios. A prototype also helps to more accurately estimate the budget, development timeline, and implementation complexity. For instance, startups use prototypes for investor presentations – to not just talk about their idea but also to back it up with an interactive model. A prototype can also be shown to a focus group before development begins. This helps determine which functionalities are essential, which need reworking, and which can be omitted.

• Timeline: Crafting a detailed specification and prototypes typically takes from 80 hours for analysis and from 60 hours for design.
• Cost: Starting from approximately €6,500.

Design

This stage involves UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface) design. The main goal is to make the app intuitive and convenient to interact with, ensuring users can easily achieve their goals, and that it is visually appealing. While UX design focuses on the internal structure, logic, and functionality, UI design covers the app's appearance: color palettes, fonts, images, and animations. The design stage can vary. Sometimes a client already has a corporate style, which forms the basis for the app's design. Other times, if there's no existing brand identity, it must be created first, then used for the app design. This naturally affects the project cost.

• Identity & App Design: If creating branding (logo, style guide) and then designing the app based on it: from 2 months, costing from €10,000.
• App Design (Existing Brand): If the company has a brand style and the app design needs to adhere to iOS and Android platform guidelines: from 3 weeks, costing from €5,000.
• Animations: Animations deserve special attention. Screen transitions are also animations. If you want to draw attention to specific functions or add interactivity, animations help. Their development depends on complexity and takes from 1 week, with costs starting from €1,500.

Summing up these services, the minimum cost for mobile app design would start from around €6,000 - €7,000.

App Development

The timeline and budget for app development depend on whether it's native or cross-platform. The difference is that with native development, code is written separately for iOS (e.g., using Swift or Objective-C) and Android (e.g., using Kotlin or Java). With cross-platform development (e.g., using React Native, Flutter), a single codebase can work on both platforms. We've previously discussed how to choose between native and cross-platform development based on business needs. The choice significantly impacts time and budget.

• Native Development (iOS & Android): For a typical app, prices can range widely, from €15,000 to €45,000+.
• Cross-Platform Development: Using cross-platform technologies, the price range is typically €12,000 to €35,000+.

Backend Development

Some applications require significant effort and time for backend (server-side) development. This is common for messengers, social networks, and other apps with complex structures and high loads. The backend must operate quickly in real-time and display correct information. Besides handling large volumes of data, it often stores users' personal data, requiring robust security measures. Backend work heavily depends on the app's tasks and features, potentially taking from 1 to 4 months.

• Cost: Varies from €6,000 to €25,000+, depending on complexity.

Testing

After development, the testing phase begins. Before the app reaches end-users, it must be thoroughly checked. User experience scenarios are developed during app creation, but real-world usage can be unpredictable. Therefore, QA testers check how the app behaves in various situations. Figuratively speaking, they try to "break" it to find bugs in the code and fix them before release. This stage verifies how the app displays on different device screens and how it handles load. How does it react to incoming calls while in use? Is the app's logic working correctly? This phase aims to release a bug-free, working product.

• Timeline: Testing typically takes from 3 weeks.
• Cost: Approximately €3,500 upwards. Testing often runs parallel to development, so its impact on the overall app creation timeline can be minimal.

Publishing to App Stores

First, about account creation costs: For the Apple App Store, the annual fee is $99 (or equivalent in EUR). For Google Play, it's a one-time payment of $25. Once the app is developed and tested, it's published to stores like Apple App Store, Google Play, and sometimes Huawei AppGallery. This involves preparing screenshots, descriptions, icons, videos, and submitting the app for moderation.

• App Store Review Time: 24 to 48 hours. During holidays or peak update times, it might take several days as Apple engineers get busy.
• Google Play Review Time:
  • New apps from new developers: 1 to 7 days.
  • New apps from established developers: 1 to 4 days.
  • App updates: 24 to 36 hours, sometimes less.

Technical Support & Maintenance

After release, the app needs ongoing maintenance to stay current, as iOS and Android operating systems are constantly updated. Also, as the audience starts using the product, areas for improvement that weren't obvious during development become clear. Technical support depends on the project's complexity and specifics.

• Cost: Minimal support can start from €1,000 per month. If new functionality needs to be developed, this is considered app improvement and is billed as separate development work.

Project Management

Beyond all previous stages, there's work that isn't tangible like a prototype, design, or a finished app: project management. Project managers handle all organizational work. A team, not just one person, works on the project. Different people may perform their work differently, with varying timelines and quality. Everything depends on how well the process was organized, tasks were set, requirements were formulated, and quality was checked. During mobile app development, the client is supported by a Project Manager and an Account Manager. The former controls the entire workflow, distributes tasks among technical specialists, monitors risks, and makes decisions. The latter handles contracts, document signing, tracks project timelines and budget, and issues invoices. If a client has a question, the Project Manager or Account Manager is always there to help.

• Time: A manager's involvement in a project depends on its complexity and scope, typically 1-2 hours per day.
• Cost: The approximate cost of project management is 10-15% of the project cost.

Specialist Workload by App Type (Typical Hours/Duration)

How Digital Kitty's Rate is Formed

The cost of creating a mobile app is derived from the time specialists (managers, analysts, designers, developers, testers) will spend on the project. The client essentially invests in the expertise of the company's team who will build their product. Companies set their rates based on the level and experience of their employees.

At Digital Kitty, our average blended hourly rate for specialists is around €65–€85. Therefore, the development cost equals the number of specialist hours required for the project, multiplied by Digital Kitty's hourly rate.

Why Might the App Cost Change?

The cost of a mobile app can change during development, but typically only at your initiative. This happens if functionality is introduced that was not previously agreed upon. Adding new features requires assessing the additions, preparing prototypes, designing them, writing code, and testing everything. These changes require additional specialist work, which affects the cost.

For example, a client ordered a mobile app for an electronics store. Initially, it was agreed that the user account area was only for retail customers. Later, the client realizes they also need an account area for wholesale buyers. This creates a new task: we need to plan, design, and develop the wholesale account area. This work will impact the cost and timeline. Price changes are always justified by additional work not covered in the initial agreement. This doesn't happen suddenly; we are always in communication, and any changes are discussed in advance. If you realize something needs to be added, we gather all the details, estimate it, and inform you of the cost. The final decision to add functionality rests with you.

Approximate Mobile App Costs

Let's estimate the cost of different types of apps based on Digital Kitty's rates and the hours needed.

For complex and large applications, native development is often chosen as it's better suited for long-term perspectives.

As a bonus, here are some estimated costs for different app types:

Example 1: Pharmacy Chain App

Given: Develop a mobile app for a regional pharmacy chain. Type: Complex.

Stages, Timelines, and Costs (EUR, Approx.):

• Technical Specification: From €3,500. From 3 weeks.
• Clickable Prototype: From €2,500. From 1.5 weeks.
• Design (assuming existing brand identity): From €6,000. From 3 weeks.
• App Development (e.g., Flutter): From €18,000. From 2 months.
• Backend Development: From €18,000. From 2 months.
• Testing: From €8,000.
• Technical Support: From €1,200 per month.
• Project Management: From €6,000 (or 10-15% of project cost).
• Integrations (e.g., with inventory systems): From €5,000. From 1 month. Total Estimated Cost: Starting from €65,000 - €70,000.

Example 2: Pet Supplies Delivery App

Given: Develop a delivery app for pet supplies in one city. Type: Mid-Tier.

Stages, Timelines, and Costs (EUR, Approx.):

• Refining Technical Specification (initial draft exists): From €2,500. From 2.5 weeks.
• Clickable Prototype: From €1,500. From 1 week.
• App Design: From €3,000. From 2.5 weeks.
• App Development (e.g., Flutter for iOS & Android): From €11,000. From 1.5 months.
• Backend Development (using client's own server, API development): From €7,000. From 1.5 months.
• Testing: From €3,500.
• Technical Support: From €850 per month.
• Project Management: From €2,500 (or 10-15% of project cost).
• Integrations (e.g., payment gateway): From €2,500. From 2 weeks. Total Estimated Cost: Starting from €30,000 - €35,000.

The cost of a mobile application is calculated individually depending on business tasks and the product's technical features. In this article, we've tried to show what work can be included in development and how it can affect the final cost. If you want to know the price of your project, our managers at Digital Kitty will clarify the necessary inputs and provide you with an estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions on Mobile Development

When clients approach Digital Kitty for mobile app development, certain questions often come up. We've gathered the most popular ones and answered them.

What is needed to start creating a mobile app?

You'll need a dedicated budget for app development and ongoing support. To start work, a Product Vision or Technical Specification is essential. If you don't have either, don't worry – Digital Kitty can help prepare these documents. It's enough to understand why you need a mobile app and what goals you set for it.

How do you create a mobile app for Android?

The process is no different from creating any mobile app. You contact an IT company like Digital Kitty, describe your request, ask for an estimate, and make a decision. If you are specifically interested in Android and know for sure you want to create an app for this platform, we can tailor the development process focusing on Android-specific best practices and design guidelines.

How much does it cost to develop a user account area in a mobile app?

It's impossible to give a single figure. The cost depends on the functionality, complexity, number of integrations, and design of the user account. Digital Kitty works with two pricing models: Time & Material and Fixed Price. In the first case, you pay for the hours spent developing the user account (our rates are typically €65-€85/hour). In the second case, we clarify project requirements, analyze functionality, determine development stages, and set a fixed timeline and budget. We have another article discussing why businesses need user accounts and common pitfalls in their development, which might be helpful.

---