How Much Does It Cost to Make An App

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞.

Once when they build it wrong. Again when they rebuild it right.

The #1 reason this happens is because their developer failed to thoroughly understand their technical requirements.

This is how budgets explode and projects stall.

Every founder is focused on one question: “How much does it cost to make an app.”

And while this IS important, there’s so much more than needs to be addressed before you get to the estimate. 

What founders don’t realize is that each developer interprets their vision differently.

They aren’t comparing apples to apples. 

One founder I spoke with told me she received quotes ranging from $40,000 to $100,000.

𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭. 150% 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. How is she supposed to choose?

Is the $40K quote too cheap? Will the $100K quote give her a better app?

Here’s the truth: They’re all guessing.

Yes, they have experience to gauge how much your application may cost, but it’s still a guess!

The only way to get an accurate estimate is to go through formal requirements gathering.

This is where you tell the developer details such as:

• What the product does (the actions and features).
• How the product behaves (the speed, security, and quality).
• The boundaries you must stay within (the budget, tech, and deadlines).

Let’s use the Uber app as an example. Here is how those three categories look in practice:

• The app must allow a rider to request a car and a driver to accept the trip.
• The map must update the car’s location every second so it doesn’t look like it’s “jumping” across the screen.
• The system must use the phone’s built-in GPS and process payments specifically through a secure gateway like Stripe.

Identifying these requirements BEFORE development begins ensures you build the right app and avoid costly reworks down the road.

It is 100x cheaper to change a requirement on a piece of paper today than it is to change the code after the product is already built.

That’s why New Idea Machine offers our clients use of the App Cost Calculator. 

The App Cost Calculator:

• Translates your vision into technical requirements
• Helps developers understand exactly what you need built 
• Provides you with a realistic estimate 

Don’t leave your budget to guesswork.

If you’re ready to see what your app actually requires to succeed, let’s talk. 

Book a free clarity call today, and we’ll give you complimentary access to our App Cost Calculator to map out your requirements properly.