How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App in the UK?
UK mobile app costs typically run £20k–£250k+ depending on complexity. Here's what actually drives the number, with a breakdown by app type.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App in the UK?
In the UK in 2026, mobile app projects typically range from around £20,000 for a simple MVP to £250,000+ for an enterprise-grade build, with the average UK app project sitting close to £90,000 and most falling somewhere between £10,000 and £50,000 depending heavily on scope. That range is wide enough to be nearly useless on its own — here's what actually moves your project within it.
Screen count and complexity
Cost scales with the number of distinct screens and how much logic sits behind each one. A login screen and a static list are cheap. A screen with real-time filtering, offline caching, and complex validation is not, even though both count as "one screen" on a wireframe.
Backend complexity
An app with no backend — pure local functionality — is the cheapest to build. Most business apps need one: user accounts, data storage, business logic. The more that backend has to do (real-time sync, complex permissions, background processing) the more it costs, often more than the visible app itself.
Integrations
Payment processing, push notifications, mapping, third-party APIs, and connections to your existing systems each add distinct cost — both to build and to test properly, since integrations are where most launch-week bugs come from.
Design depth
A functional but generic UI is far cheaper than a fully custom, branded design system with animations and platform-specific polish. Both can be the right choice — it depends on whether the app is an internal tool or a consumer-facing product competing on user experience.
Platform count
Building for iOS and Android both, natively, roughly doubles the platform-specific work compared to one platform. Cross-platform frameworks (React Native, Flutter) narrow that gap significantly by sharing most of the codebase, at the cost of some platform-specific nuance.
Rough cost by app type
| App type | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Simple MVP — one core function, minimal backend | £20,000 – £60,000 |
| Business-ready app — accounts, admin panel, integrations | £50,000 – £120,000 |
| Enterprise or regulated app — finance, health, logistics | £150,000 – £250,000+ |
These are starting reference points, not a quote — your project's actual number depends on the factors above. For how timeline connects to cost, see our post on what to ask before hiring an agency, which covers how to get quotes you can actually compare.