What Does an App Development Company Cost?

What this actually means

Cost is driven by scope, platform count, integration surface, compliance requirements and how much content or media the product has to move.

At Wve Labs, engagements start at $25,000. A focused v1 on two platforms with a backend typically lands in the low-to-mid six figures over four to six months.

When it is the right choice

A prototype or design sprint to validate before committing: weeks, not months.

A single-platform v1 with a modest backend: the lower end of the range.

Multi-platform with DRM, live streaming, payments, enterprise SSO or regulated data: the upper end.

How we build it

Fixed-scope first milestone with a fixed price, so the first invoice buys something you can see.

A prioritised backlog after that, billed in sprints, with scope traded rather than added.

Post-launch support quoted separately and honestly — usually 15–20% of build cost annually.

What a suspiciously cheap quote leaves out

Design, QA, backend, DevOps, store submission, analytics, accessibility and the first three months of fixes are the usual omissions. Each is real work; someone pays for it eventually.

The most expensive app is the one built twice. Ask any vendor what happens in month seven, and judge the answer.

Talk to Wve Labs

Wve Labs is a digital product company founded in 2015 — product strategy, design and engineering in one team, with more than ten years of mobile at the heart of it. We build mobile apps, web platforms, custom software and applied AI for startups, growth companies and global organizations.

Engagements start at $25,000. Email business@wvelabs.com or call (800) 588-9094 and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right team for your build.