If you're weighing whether to take your idea to both iOS and Android, the first thing worth knowing is that building for both platforms no longer costs twice as much. An iOS and Android app in 2026, built by a LATAM team with cross-platform technology (Flutter or React Native), costs between USD 12,000 and 30,000 for an MVP, between USD 30,000 and 70,000 for a mid-complexity app with a custom backend, and from USD 70,000 up for a complex app like a fintech or marketplace. Covering both platforms adds only 15-25% over a single one, because they share a single codebase.
In this article we break those ranges down: what you actually pay extra for two stores, where the real spend hides (hint: it isn't Apple's license), and how to request quotes you can genuinely compare.
Why iOS + Android no longer means paying for two apps
Ten years ago, reaching both platforms meant two separate projects: one team wrote the iPhone app in Swift, another wrote the Android app in Kotlin. Two codebases, two timelines, nearly double the cost.
Today most business apps are built with cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native: you write it once and the same codebase runs on iOS and Android. As a result, the second platform's cost drops to an extra 15-25%, which goes toward:
- Platform-specific design tweaks (an iPhone and an Android don't look or behave the same).
- Testing on real devices from both families.
- Publishing and review in each store separately.
If you want the technical detail on when cross-platform beats native, we cover it in our mobile app development service.
Cost of an iOS and Android app by complexity
The variable that moves price the most isn't "the idea" — it's the number of screens, integrations, and business logic behind it. Here's the reference table we use for a first estimate, already covering both platforms with a single codebase:
| App type (iOS + Android) | What it includes | LATAM range (USD) | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP | 4-6 screens, login, one core feature, basic backend | 12,000 – 30,000 | 8-12 weeks |
| Mid-complexity | 10-20 screens, custom backend, payments or integrations, admin panel | 30,000 – 70,000 | 3-5 months |
| Complex | Fintech, marketplace, advanced logic, high security, real time | 70,000 – 180,000+ | 6-12 months |
These ranges reflect teams in LATAM. In the US or Europe, multiply by 2.5 or 3: an hour of development in a country like Argentina costs USD 25-50, versus USD 120-180 in the US, at the same technical quality.
The real spend isn't the store license
A common misconception: people assume "paying for both stores" is the big cost. It isn't. Developer accounts are cheap:
| Platform | Account cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Apple App Store | USD 99 | Yearly |
| Google Play | USD 25 | One-time |
The real spend is elsewhere. These are the line items that actually drive a dual-platform budget:
- UX/UI design (15-25% of the project): screens that respect each platform's guidelines without rebuilding everything twice.
- Custom backend (20-35%): the logic, the database, the APIs. This is shared by both apps and is usually the most expensive part. If you need to connect external services, see our API development.
- QA on both platforms (10-15%): testing on real iPhones and Androids, not on a simulator.
- Publishing and review (5-10%): Apple's review is stricter than Google's and can add days if your first build is rejected. It's a time cost, not a license cost.
Have an app idea and want a realistic number for iOS and Android, with no surprises? Book a free intro call and we'll give you a concrete range based on your scope.
Real example: how a dual MVP budget breaks down
So it isn't abstract, here's how the budget split for an internal delivery MVP we quoted for a small business, with a customer app for both iOS and Android:
| Line item | % of project | Amount (on USD 22,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery + UX/UI design | 20% | 4,400 |
| App development (iOS + Android, single codebase) | 35% | 7,700 |
| Backend + database + API | 30% | 6,600 |
| QA on both platforms | 10% | 2,200 |
| Publishing to App Store and Google Play | 5% | 1,100 |
Had that same app been built natively as two separate projects, the development block would have jumped from 35% to roughly 60% of the total, pushing the project above USD 30,000 without adding a single new feature.
Costs almost everyone forgets to budget
Beyond the initial build, a dual-platform app has recurring costs worth tracking from day one:
- Annual maintenance: 15-25% of the build cost. iOS and Android ship a new version every year and force updates.
- Servers and cloud services: from USD 20-30 a month for an MVP, scaling with your users.
- Push notifications, maps, payments: many third-party services charge per usage once you grow.
- Apple account renewal: USD 99 every year, or the app drops off the App Store.
If your app needs to automate business processes behind the scenes, part of that backend can be solved with AI automation instead of hand-coding everything, which cuts hours.
When building for both platforms does NOT make sense
Being honest is part of budgeting too. There are cases where launching on iOS and Android at once isn't the best call:
- Your audience is concentrated on one platform. A premium app aimed at an iPhone-heavy market can start on iOS only, validate, and add Android later. The upfront savings are real only in this scenario.
- You haven't validated the idea yet. If you're not sure people will actually use the app, a leaner startup MVP — or even a web app before a native one — may serve you better.
- It's an internal tool. If the app is for your own team and everyone uses the same kind of phone, there's no point paying for the other platform's compatibility.
- The budget is very tight and the urgency is high. Sometimes it's better to start with one store, get traction, and reinvest, rather than stretching the launch.
In any of these cases, cross-platform is still the ideal foundation: even if you launch in one store first, the second is only 15-25% away, not a whole new project.
How to request quotes you can actually compare
The most common mistake is asking "how much does an app cost" without defining scope, then comparing apples to oranges. For three quotes to be comparable, ask each one to specify:
- Whether the price covers iOS and Android or a single platform.
- Whether it includes a custom backend or assumes you already have one.
- How many screens and which integrations (payments, maps, social login) are included.
- Whether publishing to both stores is included or billed separately.
- What support and maintenance are left after launch.
With those five points defined, price differences stop being a mystery and start reflecting real differences in scope.
In summary
Building an iOS and Android app in 2026 with a LATAM team costs USD 12,000 to 30,000 for an MVP, USD 30,000 to 70,000 for mid-complexity, and from USD 70,000 for complex apps. The key takeaway: covering both platforms adds little (15-25%) thanks to cross-platform development, and the real spend lives in the backend, the design, and the QA — not in store licenses.
Want a concrete range for your idea, with the scope clearly defined and no hidden costs? Start your project with us and we'll build a clear iOS and Android budget together, designed to grow without rebuilding everything next year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an iOS and Android app in 2026?+
With a LATAM team, an app for both platforms costs USD 12,000 to 30,000 for an MVP, USD 30,000 to 70,000 for a mid-complexity app with a custom backend, and USD 70,000 and up for a complex app like a fintech or marketplace. With cross-platform development (Flutter or React Native), one codebase covers iOS and Android, so both together cost only 15-25% more than a single platform.
Does building for both platforms cost twice as much as one?+
No. If you build with Flutter or React Native, a single codebase runs on both iOS and Android, and the extra cost of the second platform is only 15-25% (design tweaks, testing, and a second store submission). It only doubles if you choose separate native development, which rarely makes sense for a small or mid-sized business.
Is it more expensive to publish on the App Store than on Google Play?+
The account fee is: Apple charges USD 99 per year, while Google charges USD 25 once. But the real cost isn't the license, it's Apple's stricter review process, which can add days of work if your first build gets rejected. It's a time cost, not a licensing one.
Why did I get quotes of USD 8,000 and USD 60,000 for the same iOS and Android app?+
Because they aren't quoting the same thing. The low quote usually covers only the screens with a minimal backend or templates; the high one includes discovery, custom UX design, a tailored backend, integrations, QA, publishing to both stores, and support. The difference is scope, not the vendor cutting corners.
How much does it cost to maintain an iOS and Android app per year?+
Between 15% and 25% of the build cost per year. iOS and Android ship new versions annually and force updates; an app that cost USD 30,000 needs roughly USD 4,500 to 7,500 a year to keep running on both platforms.
Is it worth starting with just one platform to save money?+
Rarely with cross-platform, because the savings of doing only one are small and you lose half the market. It only makes sense to launch on one first if your audience is clearly concentrated (for example, a premium app in an iPhone-heavy market) and you want to validate fast with an MVP.
Want this working in your company?
At Deepyze we turn manual processes into systems that work on their own: AI automation, web and mobile apps, and custom software. Tell us your case and you will have a concrete proposal within 24 hours.
Sin compromiso · Respuesta en 24 hs · Equipo en tu mismo huso horario