How much does it cost to build an app?
It depends on what it needs to do. Until that’s mapped out, any number you hear is a wild guess.
Get full discovery for $197, not the usual $3,000+.
In 24 hours, you’ll have:
- App Development Cost Estimate & Timeline: what it costs to build, and how long it takes
- App Feature List: what to build, written so any developer can follow it
- App Delivery Checklist: a way to confirm you got what you agreed on
- Launch & Ownership Plan: what your app costs to run, and when it breaks even
Why only $197?
Because AI now does the discovery work our team used to do by hand. And if you build with us, the fee is credited back.
New Idea Machine is a Calgary custom software and AI automation agency serving small business owners worldwide.
Started without a $20,000 discovery fee
"They wanted a $20,000 discovery fee upfront to look at the project, which I thought was wildly insane."
Read the transcript
One of the companies that I talked to, I had developed a document laying out the scope of the project, and the project was relatively simple from a programming perspective. They wanted a $20,000 discovery fee upfront to look at the project, which I thought was wildly insane. Obviously, in business, I know how far $20,000 should go. When you speak of trust and value, they really did not meet the mark. Whereas with New Idea Machine, the exploration phase of the project was essentially complimentary. It was part of the discussion. We got to a position where we were comfortable moving forward, and I'm glad we did.
Want to see typical app costs before you start? Read our free App Development Cost Guide.
What does the App Cost Calculator give you?
You know your business better than anyone.
You already have all the answers. The calculator coaxes them out of you, one simple question at a time, and hands you a realistic estimate range plus the plans any developer needs to build it. Know the number before you invest, so you build it once, the right way.
Use your reports from first idea to launch:
- Before you hire anyone
Decide which features can wait, with the cost and timeline of the entire build broken down section by section in your App Development Cost Estimate & Timeline.
- When you pitch or apply for funding
Back up your ask with a realistic range, plus what your app costs to run each month and when it breaks even, from your Launch & Ownership Plan.
- While your app is built
Keep every detail of your idea in the build: your developer works from your App Feature List.
- Before you launch
Go live with confidence: check off everything you agreed on with your App Delivery Checklist.
See a sample of what you receive: App Development Cost Estimate & Timeline, App Feature List, App Delivery Checklist, or Launch & Ownership Plan (PDF).
How does the App Cost Calculator work?
Answer simple questions
About 20 minutes. The same questions a senior developer would ask. You don't need to be technical or have every answer.
Know exactly what to build within 24 hours
Your App Feature List (technical requirements) shows what to build, and your App Delivery Checklist (user stories) shows how to check you got it.
Go through your estimate together
We meet to make sure we fully understood what you're trying to build, then walk you through the range with no padding built into a fixed price. You also get your Launch & Ownership Plan.
Why do software projects go over budget?
Most owners who call us paid twice: once for the build they signed for, and again for the build they actually needed.
That happens because most developers guess at the estimate, so you pay more after you hire them, or they charge $3,000 and up to map out your app by hand before they'll quote.
Either way, nobody worked through the logic the software needs to do what it's supposed to.
What a right-sized build looks like
$22,000 once.
A right-sized build for one small business owner. He now saves $42,000 a year and earns resale revenue from other companies paying to use it.
Who built the App Cost Calculator?
Created by our CTO AL Del Degan, 33 years building software, including work with the Calgary Airport Authority, the City of Calgary, and Travel Alberta.
It's the same process we use to plan and estimate every app, automation and internal tool, shared because business owners deserve better than a guesstimate.
Questions business owners ask about the calculator
How long does the App Cost Calculator take?
About 20 minutes. You answer simple questions about your project, the same ones a senior developer would ask. You don't need to be technical, and you don't need all the answers.
What do I receive?
Four reports. Within 24 hours, you get your App Development Cost Estimate & Timeline, your App Feature List (technical requirements), which tells developers exactly what to build, and your App Delivery Checklist (user stories).
Then we meet to confirm we got everything right, go through your estimate together and share your Launch & Ownership Plan.
How long does it take to build an app?
Most builds finish in two months.
Is my idea confidential?
Yes. Your idea stays private throughout, all inputs are confidential, and your intellectual property remains yours.
What does it cost?
$197, credited back in full if you hire New Idea Machine to build your app. Having a developer map out your app by hand starts at $3,000.