How long does it take to build a mobile app?
A first version of an iOS and Android app (an MVP with login, back end and admin panel) typically takes 2 to 4 months, from idea to publication in the stores. A simple app, such as a catalog, booking or lookup tool, can be ready in 6 to 10 weeks; a complete app with integrations and payments usually takes 4 to 8 months. We build apps for companies that need to put their service in their customers' pockets, and publishing to the App Store and Google Play is included: we handle it for you.
How pricing works
App quotes vary widely for what looks like the same request, so here is what actually drives the cost:
- Number of screens and user flows, from a few lookup screens to full ordering, scheduling or messaging flows.
- Integrations with your existing systems, payment providers, maps or third-party APIs.
- Business rules: user roles, approvals, pricing logic, notifications.
- Native or cross-platform: one shared codebase for iOS and Android, or two native apps.
- The admin panel and back end, which are often half of the work.
You receive a written proposal with the feature list, delivery dates and a fixed price before any work starts. Ongoing maintenance after launch is optional and quoted separately.
What's included
- iOS and Android app: in most projects we use cross-platform technology, which delivers both versions from a single codebase and reduces cost and time.
- Web admin panel: you manage users, content and orders from the browser, without depending on us.
- App Store and Google Play publishing: we handle the listings, Apple's and Google's requirements and the review process until the app is live.
- Back end and infrastructure: server, database and APIs configured and ready to scale.
- Training and support after launch, with bug fixes covered by the contract warranty (90 days by default).
Native or cross-platform: which one?
Cross-platform apps (Flutter, React Native) serve most business projects very well: one codebase produces both the iOS and Android versions, which can cut cost and time roughly in half. Native development pays off when the app depends heavily on device-specific features: advanced camera use, augmented reality, heavy processing or games. During discovery we recommend the approach that fits your case and explain why.
How to compare app development proposals
Before comparing prices, check whether every proposal answers the same questions:
- Is the scope a list of features? A generic paragraph doesn't make clear what is in and what is out.
- Are there dated partial deliveries? You need to see the app working during the project, not only at the end.
- Is the admin panel included? It's the most underestimated part: the app your customers use is half the job; the other half is where your team runs things.
- Who owns the code and the store accounts? The repository, the servers and the Apple and Google developer accounts should be in your company's name.
- What happens after launch? Apple and Google change their requirements often; the proposal should say who keeps the app updated and how that is charged.
A proposal that skips any of these points isn't cheaper, it's incomplete.
How we build your app, step by step
- Discovery: we define the goal of the app, who will use it and which features must be in the launch version.
- Fixed-scope proposal: timeline, price and deliverables in writing before we start.
- Prototype, design and development in sprints: you click through the prototype and approve the screens before coding, then follow the app as it grows, with deliveries typically every 15 days.
- Testing and publishing: we test on iOS and Android devices, take care of the store reviews and put the app live.
- Training and support: we train your team and stay close during the warranty period; after that, optional maintenance covers platform updates and new features.
The source code, the data and the store accounts belong to your company, and we sign an NDA when your idea needs to stay confidential. We are based in the São Paulo metro area, Brazil, and work remotely with clients in the United States; our hours are 9 am to 6 pm Brasília time (UTC−3), one to two hours ahead of US Eastern time.
Want an estimate for your app? Send us a message and we'll reply within one business day. See apps our clients use every day, like Alma Odonto and HCI One, in our portfolio.
