A mobile app in India costs Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 for a simple informational app and Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 2,50,000 for a business app with login and admin panel. E-commerce apps run Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000, and on-demand apps Rs 4,00,000 to Rs 8,00,000. These are 2026 prices from OneCity’s Bangalore quotes for Android and iOS.
Below you will find the full price table, a six-step method to estimate your own app, the running costs that appear after launch, and the questions to ask any agency before you sign. The figures come from our mobile app development pricing. Where a number comes from a third party, we link the source.
Mobile App Development Cost in India by App Type
Cost follows two things: how many screens the app has, and how much of it needs a backend (live data, login, payments). The table shows the five tiers we quote most often, plus a browser-based option.
| App type | What it includes | Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informational | 5 to 8 screens, content, contact form, no backend | 5 to 7 weeks | Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 |
| Business app | Login, backend, admin panel, push notifications | 10 to 14 weeks | Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 2,50,000 |
| E-commerce | Catalogue, cart, Razorpay payments, orders, admin panel | 14 to 18 weeks | Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000 |
| On-demand or delivery | Several apps and panels, maps, live tracking | 18 to 26 weeks | Rs 4,00,000 to Rs 8,00,000 |
| SaaS or enterprise | Roles, multiple tenants, third-party integrations | 24 to 36 weeks | Rs 6,00,000 to Rs 15,00,000+ |
| PWA (browser-based) | Installable web app, no store approval | 4 to 8 weeks | Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,50,000 |
Prices for the first five rows assume Flutter, with one codebase that produces both the Android and iOS apps. Two separate native apps need two codebases and two rounds of fixes, so we quote native only when a feature needs it. Our Flutter page explains when that applies.
How to Estimate Your Own App Cost in 6 Steps
Do this before you ask for quotes. It takes about an hour and makes every quote easier to judge.
Step 1. List every screen
Write down each full-page view: login, home, list, detail, checkout, profile, settings. Count empty states and error states as screens, because they need design and testing too.
Step 2. Mark the screens that need a backend
Any screen that shows live data, needs a login, takes a payment or lets staff change content depends on a backend and an admin panel. Screens with fixed content do not. The share of backend screens is one of the biggest swing factors in the price.
Step 3. Match your list to a tier
Use the table above. Five to eight fixed screens fit the informational tier. Login plus an admin panel puts you in the business tier. Payments move you toward e-commerce. Several apps talking to each other (customer, driver, admin) put you in the on-demand tier.
Step 4. Add your integrations
Payments, maps, SMS one-time passwords, WhatsApp messages and push notifications each add design, build and testing time. List the ones you need. Each must be tested on real phones, which is why integration-heavy apps sit at the top of a tier.
Step 5. Add costs you pay to others
Store accounts, SMS and payment-gateway charges and hosting do not sit inside a development quote. The section on costs after launch lists each one.
Step 6. Add first-year maintenance
Our annual maintenance contracts start at Rs 5,000 per month, which is Rs 60,000 for the first year. Phones and operating systems change every year, and an app without maintenance can start to fail after a new Android or iOS release.
Worked example: a clinic appointment app
A clinic wants patients to book slots, get reminders and pay online. The list comes to 14 screens, a login, an admin panel for the front desk, and push notifications. That is a business app.
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Build (business app tier) | Rs 1,00,000 | Rs 2,50,000 |
| Hosting for 12 months (our typical range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000 a month) | Rs 18,000 | Rs 96,000 |
| Maintenance for 12 months (from Rs 5,000 a month) | Rs 60,000 | Rs 60,000+ |
| First-year total | Rs 1,78,000 | Rs 4,06,000+ |
Add USD 124 in store fees (USD 25 once for Google Play, USD 99 for the first year of the Apple Developer Program) and your payment-gateway charges. This example is for planning and is not a quote. A scoped quote comes after a discovery call.
What Pushes the Price Up or Down
| Cost driver | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Screen count | Every screen needs design, build and testing | 14 screens versus 40 screens |
| Real-time features | Live tracking and chat need server work and heavy testing | Cab tracking, order status |
| Number of user roles | Each role needs its own screens and permissions | Customer, driver, admin |
| Languages | Every language needs layout checks for longer text | English plus Kannada and Hindi |
| Existing systems | Connecting to old software costs more than building fresh | Hospital software, accounts package |
| Regulated data | Health, finance and children’s data need extra care | Patient records, payments |
Costs After Launch
These are the charges that arrive after your developer hands over the app.
| Item | What it costs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play account | USD 25, one time | New personal accounts also need a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days. |
| Apple Developer Program | USD 99 a year | Needed to publish on the App Store. |
| Payment gateway | 2% plus GST on the standard plan | Razorpay lists no setup fee or annual fee. Check its pricing page for UPI and card rates. |
| Google Maps | Free monthly calls per service, then paid | Since 1 March 2025 the old USD 200 credit is gone. Essentials gets 10,000 free calls per month, Pro 5,000, Enterprise 1,000. See Google’s pricing. |
| SMS one-time passwords | Per message, set by your provider | Indian senders must register on the DLT platform before messages go out. |
| Server hosting | Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000 a month | Our typical range. Small apps start on shared plans, busier apps move to a VPS. |
| Maintenance (AMC) | From Rs 5,000 a month | Bug fixes, updates for new Android and iOS versions, small changes. |
Freelancer, Agency or In-House Team
On Flutter business apps we see quotes of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000 from freelancers and Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 8,00,000 from large agencies. The lower number is not always the cheaper outcome.
| Option | Works well for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | A small app with a clear scope and a developer you can vouch for | One person covers design, build, testing and support. If they become unavailable, someone else inherits the code. |
| Agency | Apps with a backend, payments or several user roles | Ask for named live apps and who exactly will work on your project. |
| In-house team | Products you will change every week for years | Hiring and salary costs begin before the first release. |
How to Lower the Cost Without Cutting Quality
- Launch a smaller version 1. Keep the five to seven features that earn money or save time. Add the rest after real users show you what they need.
- Use one codebase for both platforms. One build team and one set of fixes costs less than two. Our Flutter development process is built around this.
- Prepare content before design starts. Logos, text and photos ready on day one stop designers redrawing screens.
- Fix the scope in writing. A signed feature list protects you and the developer from price changes halfway through.
- Use standard services for common jobs. Login, payments and push notifications have well-tested providers. Custom versions cost more and break more.
Seven Questions to Ask Any App Developer Before You Sign
- Which apps have you built that I can install today, and who was the client?
- Who owns the Google Play and Apple accounts and the source code at the end?
- What counts as a change request, and how is it priced?
- Which devices and Android and iOS versions do you test on?
- What does the maintenance contract cover, and what costs extra?
- How are payments tied to working builds?
- What is the timeline for each step, not only the total?
New to app projects? Read our step-by-step guide to building a mobile app in India.
For sector-specific builds, see our healthcare software development, hospital ERP and CRM development work. If the app needs a website and search visibility as well, our SEO team and website developers work with the app team. To scope your own app, send us your requirements.
Scoping a first version? See our MVP app development for startups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a simple app cost in India?
A simple informational app with 5 to 8 screens and no backend costs Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 at OneCity and takes 5 to 7 weeks. It covers design, development, testing and store submission for Android and iOS. A browser-based PWA costs Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,50,000.
How much does a business app with login and an admin panel cost?
A business app with user login, a backend, an admin panel and push notifications costs Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 2,50,000 and takes 10 to 14 weeks. The final figure depends on screen count and integrations such as payments, maps and SMS one-time passwords.
What does it cost to run an app after launch?
Plan for server hosting at Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000 a month, maintenance from Rs 5,000 a month, SMS charges, and a payment-gateway fee of 2% plus GST on Razorpay’s standard plan. Store fees add USD 25 once for Google Play and USD 99 a year for Apple.
Is it cheaper to build one app for Android and iOS?
Usually yes. A cross-platform framework such as Flutter produces both apps from one codebase, so you pay for one build team and one round of bug fixes. Native apps make sense when a feature needs deep hardware access, and we test that feature first.
Should I hire a freelancer or an agency?
A freelancer can suit a small app with a clear scope. Choose an agency when the app has a backend, payments or several user roles, because one person rarely covers design, build, testing and long-term support. Ask either option for live apps you can install and test yourself.
How long does it take to build a mobile app in Bangalore?
An informational app takes 5 to 7 weeks and a business app 10 to 14 weeks. E-commerce apps take 14 to 18 weeks, on-demand apps 18 to 26 weeks and SaaS products 24 to 36 weeks. A new personal Google Play account adds a 14-day closed test.
Author: L.K. Monu Borkala