App development

How much does an app cost?

When the phone rings, the conversation sometimes starts with the phrase: “How much does it actually cost to develop an app?”. It’s a natural question, but the answer can’t always be given right away.

That’s why “what does an app cost” is a tough question:

The reason we can’t immediately answer what it costs to create an app is because the price depends on your wants and needs, opt-ins and opt-outs, and level of ambition.

However, even the simplest apps usually have a starting budget of DKK 100,000 excluding VAT.

In addition, the following factors come into play:

UX and design requirements
Scope and functionality
Flows and their complexity
Platform support (iOS / Android)
Compatibility
Integrations and backend/database
Security, GDPR, accessibility, languages
Statistics, onboarding, creation
Dynamic content, user-generated content, timed content
Testing, penetration testing, performance testing
… And much, much more

Apps – when done right – are not web technology. It’s a piece of software that can move both people and businesses.

Read about the concept phase

Let’s be open about the budget

When you call in, you can rarely answer all of the above right away (for good reason). But often, you’ll have a budget that’s already been set – or an expectation. We’re used to many different budgets, and the sooner we get to the point, the easier it is to create a common framework for the project from the start.

This way, we can quickly get an overview and as soon as we’re close to a total price, we’ll make a clear announcement. It’s a bit like building a house: ambition and finances must go hand in hand.

Call us and ask for a business developer. We can usually uncover your needs during the first conversation.

Start with a concept phase

After the first conversation, we have good experience of continuing with a concept phase.

This is where we work together to establish the framework and find the solution that provides the most business value. Read more about a concept phase here or below.

More about the concept phase

App development on a tight budget

If you’re on a tight budget, our main task is to guide you to prioritise requirements and wishes so that the app’s most important requirements and features are implemented first – and before the budget is spent.

This way, both we and you agree on the goal and ambition for the app.

Being on a tight budget isn’t always a disadvantage – many of our best apps are created that way and started as an MVP.

Replace the requirements specification with a concept phase

We therefore recommend replacing the requirements specification with a concept phase.

During a concept phase, we jointly define a number of common goals for the app. The vast majority of the requirements and desires for what an app should be able to do only emerge when we meet – when our development experience intersects with your particular niche.

In the vast majority of cases, a requirements specification is therefore completely superfluous. Instead, we would like to create a prioritised plan that contains the most important goals including sketches set up in clickable prototypes. The latter is crucial for a common understanding of budget, goals and priorities. It’s also much more fun to work with.

More about the concept phase

And find a supplier you trust

If you need to specify everything down to the smallest detail to “make sure” you get what you pay for, then maybe you’ve got the wrong supplier? As with so many things, app development is all about trust and collaboration.

However, trust can be difficult to achieve, as trust is often built over time and the customer often doesn’t “know” the supplier before signing a contract. A good idea is therefore to contact one or more of the supplier’s previous references/cases, and to ask around in your network about knowledge of the supplier.

By following the recommendations above, you are guaranteed to get a better solution. You’ll also get a motivated supplier who can be allowed to be the expert you need.