Socilet Logo
    Pricing guide · Updated 2026

    Mobile App Development Cost in India

    A simple MVP app in India costs roughly ₹80,000 - ₹2,00,000. A medium app with login, payments and an admin panel costs ₹2,00,000 - ₹5,00,000. Complex, real-time apps run ₹5,00,000 - ₹12,00,000. Here is exactly what drives that number.

    App development cost in India by complexity

    App typeCost rangeTimelineTypical example
    Simple app (MVP, 4-6 screens)₹80,000 - ₹2,00,0004-6 weeksBooking app, catalogue app, basic service app
    Medium app (login, payments, admin panel)₹2,00,000 - ₹5,00,0008-12 weeksMarketplace, learning app, delivery app
    Complex app (real-time, chat, maps, multi-role)₹5,00,000 - ₹12,00,0004-6 monthsRide-hailing, fintech, social app
    Enterprise / SaaS platform₹12,00,000+6 months+ERP, CRM, multi-tenant SaaS

    Ranges reflect typical Indian agency and studio pricing. Freelancers may quote lower; large IT firms quote 2-3x higher.

    What actually drives the cost

    Number of screens

    Every additional screen adds design, development, and testing time. Screen count is the single biggest cost driver.

    Payments & integrations

    Payment gateways, maps, OTP, push notifications, and third-party APIs each add development and testing effort.

    Platforms

    Android-only is cheapest. React Native or Flutter covers Android + iOS at roughly 1.3x the cost of one platform, versus 2x for two native apps.

    Backend complexity

    A simple app with no login is far cheaper than one with roles, dashboards, real-time data, and an admin panel.

    Android, iOS or cross-platform — what each costs

    Platform choice moves the budget more than almost any other early decision. These are relative multipliers against a single-platform build of the same scope.

    ApproachRelative costWhen it makes sense
    Android onlyBaseline (1x)Cheapest starting point. Best when your audience is mostly in India, where Android dominates.
    iOS onlyRoughly 1x – 1.1xSimilar build effort, plus a paid Apple Developer account and a stricter store review.
    Cross-platform (React Native / Flutter)Roughly 1.3xOne codebase ships to Android and iOS. The usual choice for startups and MVPs.
    Two separate native appsRoughly 2xOnly worth it for heavy device features, AR, or very high performance needs.

    Freelancer, agency or in-house team

    The same app scope can carry very different price tags depending on who builds it. Here is the honest trade-off behind each option.

    Freelancer

    Lowest quoted price

    Good for small, well-defined scopes. Risk sits in availability, testing depth, and what happens after launch if one person moves on.

    Agency / studio

    Mid-range

    You get design, development, QA and project management as a team. Ranges on this page reflect this bracket.

    Large IT services firm

    2-3x the ranges above

    Process, contracts and scale. Usually oversized for an MVP or a first product.

    In-house team

    Highest fixed cost

    Salaries continue whether or not you are shipping. Makes sense once the product is proven and changing weekly.

    Template / ready-made app script

    Fastest and cheapest, but you inherit someone else’s data model. Customising beyond the surface often costs more than starting clean.

    Custom app built to your flow

    Costs more upfront, but the screens, roles and business rules match how you actually operate — and you own the source code.

    Costs most quotes leave out

    • Apple Developer account: $99/year (approx ₹8,500). Google Play: $25 one-time.
    • Server and database hosting: ₹1,000-₹10,000/month depending on traffic.
    • Push notifications, SMS/OTP, and email services are usage-billed.
    • Post-launch maintenance: budget 15-20% of build cost per year for OS updates and fixes.
    • App Store review changes — rejections can add 1-2 weeks if not planned for.

    Get a fixed quote for your app — free

    Send us your idea and we will give you a fixed price and timeline in writing, with no advance deposit before work begins.

    App development cost in India — FAQs

    Straight answers on pricing, timelines and payment terms.

    How much does mobile app development cost in India?

    In India, a simple MVP app costs roughly ₹80,000 to ₹2,00,000, a medium-complexity app with login, payments and an admin panel costs ₹2,00,000 to ₹5,00,000, and a complex app with real-time features costs ₹5,00,000 to ₹12,00,000. Enterprise and SaaS platforms start above ₹12,00,000.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    Why is app development cheaper in India than in the US or UK?

    The difference is developer rate, not quality. Indian developers typically bill $15-$40 per hour versus $100-$150 in the US, UK, or Australia. The same app scope often costs 60-70% less in India while using the same tech stack.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    How much does it cost to build an app like Zomato or Ola in India?

    A functional clone with core features — listings, ordering or booking, payments, live tracking, and separate apps for customer, partner, and admin — typically costs ₹8,00,000 to ₹20,00,000 in India. The original products cost far more because of scale, not features.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    Do I have to pay an advance for app development?

    With Socilet, standard website and WordPress work is zero advance. App projects run on milestone-based terms that are agreed in writing before work starts — you never pay for work you have not seen. There is no upfront deposit before development begins.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    What is the cheapest way to build an app in India?

    Start with an MVP: one platform, the three or four screens that deliver your core value, and no nice-to-have features. Use React Native or Flutter so a single codebase covers Android and iOS later. Most founders save 40-60% by cutting scope rather than cutting rates.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    How long does app development take in India?

    An MVP takes 4-6 weeks. A medium app takes 8-12 weeks. A complex, multi-role app takes 4-6 months including testing and store submission. Timelines slip most often due to delayed content and feedback, not development.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    Should I build for Android or iOS first in India?

    Android first is the usual choice for an India-facing product, because Android is the dominant platform here and there is no yearly developer-account fee. If your users are mainly in the US, UK or Gulf markets, iOS first often makes more sense. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter let you cover both from one codebase for roughly 1.3x the cost of a single platform.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    What does app maintenance cost after launch?

    Budget roughly 15-20% of the build cost per year. That covers Android and iOS version updates, library and security patches, bug fixes, and store compliance changes. Hosting, SMS/OTP, push notifications and email are billed separately on usage, typically ₹1,000-₹10,000 per month for an early-stage app.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation
    Is a ready-made app template cheaper than a custom app?

    Upfront, yes. A template or ready-made script gets you live faster and for less. The catch is that you inherit its data model — once your flow differs from the template, customising it often costs more than a clean custom build, and you may not own the underlying code. Templates suit standard use cases; custom suits anything where your process is the product.

    Ask on WhatsAppGet a Free Consultation