App development cost in India depends on what your app has to do, not on where it is built. A short feature list on one platform is a small job. Chat, payments, an admin panel and both iPhone and Android is a large one. We do not quote prices or ranges here. This page shows what the money goes on and lists the fees Apple, Google and others publish.
What decides the cost
| What you ask for | Why it adds work |
|---|---|
| iPhone, Android or both | Two platforms means two builds, two sets of tests, two store accounts and reviews |
| Native vs cross-platform | Native gives deepest device access; cross-platform shares most screens but still needs platform fixes |
| Number of screens | Each needs design, build, states (empty, loading, error) and testing |
| User roles | Customer, staff and admin each have their own screens, permissions and tests |
| Logins and account recovery | Sign-up, OTP or password, reset, account deletion |
| Payments and refunds | Gateway setup, failed and pending payments, refunds, receipts, reconciliation |
| Admin panel | A second product: the screens your team uses to manage the app |
| Offline use | Local storage, syncing, and conflicts when two edits collide |
| Integrations | Each outside system has its own rules, limits and failure modes |
| Real-time features | Constant connections, ordering, retries, many more cases to test |
| AI features | Prompts, guardrails, testing answers, handling wrong ones |
| Moving old data in | Cleaning, mapping and checking data from a spreadsheet or old system |
Also: how clear your requirements are, and how often they change mid-build.
Fixed fees you pay to Apple and Google
All figures as listed on 9 October 2026.
| Fee | As listed on 9 October 2026 | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer Program | US$99 annual membership | Apple |
| Google Play developer account | US$25 one-time registration fee | |
| Apple commission, Small Business Program | 15% on paid apps and in-app purchases | Apple |
| Apple subscriptions | 30% in a subscriber's first year, 15% after it (you keep 70%, then 85%) | Apple |
| Google Play service fee, India | 15% on first US$1M a year, 30% above |
Sources: Apple Developer Program, Google Play registration, Small Business Program, Apple subscriptions, Google Play service fees.
- Apple says the Small Business Program applies to "developers who made up to 1 million USD in proceeds in the prior calendar year", and also to developers new to the App Store.
- Google's page has separate tables by region. The one covering India lists 15% for auto-renewing subscriptions.
- Both fees apply to the sale price, not to your build cost.
Physical goods and services
The commission applies only to digital sales inside the app. Apple's guideline 3.1.3(e) says that if your app enables people to purchase physical goods or services consumed outside the app, you "must use purchase methods other than in-app purchase". Google's Payments policy lists the same kind of items as outside its billing system, such as groceries, clothing, food delivery and gym memberships.
So a food ordering, grocery, salon booking or delivery app takes payments through a normal gateway (UPI, cards, wallets) and pays no store commission. A paid course, premium features or a content subscription is a digital sale and uses the store's billing. Decide which you are before you design payment screens. See the guidelines and the Google policy.
Running costs after launch
Ask your developer to list each of these by name, who pays it, and whose account it sits in.
- Hosting and backend. Most providers have a free tier for testing and paid plans that grow with usage.
- SMS OTP, email, maps, push notifications. Billed by your providers, usually by use.
- Payment gateway fee. A percentage per transaction. See Razorpay vs Cashfree vs PayU.
- WhatsApp messages. Billed per message by Meta. See WhatsApp Business API pricing in India.
- Updates. New phone OS releases can need small changes.
Red flags in a cheap quote
- You do not own the code. Then you are renting your app.
- Accounts in someone else's name. Developer accounts, hosting and domains should be in yours.
- No admin panel. Every change then needs a developer.
- No tests. Bugs found after launch are billed as new work.
- No written scope. Every extra becomes a new bill.
When we build, code and accounts are in your name from the start, and launch bug fixes are included.
How to get quotes you can compare
- Write the requirements first. One to three pages: users, screens, rules. See mobile app requirements document.
- Send the same document to everyone, and ask the same questions. See questions to ask before hiring a developer.
- Prefer fixed scope to hourly when the scope is clear. Hourly needs a cap and weekly reports.
- Ask what is not included. The gaps explain the price differences.
Every project we take on gets a written scope and quote after an intro call.
How to cut cost
- One platform first. Launch where most of your users are.
- A web app or PWA first. For bookings, forms or content, a mobile website needs no store approval. See React Native vs Flutter vs native.
- Do things by hand in version one. Approve orders or send refunds manually before building automation.
- Freeze scope during the build. Keep new ideas for version two.
Concept pieces, not client work: Odd Dozen, an online store and Bean, an iOS app prototype.
Want a written scope for your idea? Tell us about your project.
Frequently asked questions
Is it costly to develop an app?
It depends on scope. A single-platform app with a few screens is a very different job from a two-platform app with payments, chat and an admin panel. The store fees are published. The build is what varies. See how long it takes to build an app.
Can I create my own app for free?
You can build one for free, but publishing is not free. Apple's Developer Program lists a US$99 annual membership and Google Play a US$25 one-time registration fee, as listed on 9 October 2026. Anything that stores data also needs hosting.
Does Google take 30% of in-app purchases?
Not always. As listed on 9 October 2026, Google shows 15% on the first US$1M of yearly revenue and 15% for auto-renewing subscriptions, with 30% on other purchases above that. It does not apply to physical goods and services, which sit outside Google Play's billing.
Does Apple take 30% of in-app purchases?
Not for everyone. As listed on 9 October 2026, the Small Business Program gives a reduced 15% commission on paid apps and in-app purchases to developers with up to US$1M in proceeds in the prior calendar year. Subscriptions pay you 70% in the first year and 85% after. Physical goods and services use other payment methods.