Mobile app development in India costs ₹3–8 lakh for an MVP, ₹8–20 lakh for full-featured business apps, and ₹20 lakh+ for enterprise builds in 2026. Add 15–20% of build cost per year for maintenance — a real cost most quotes omit.
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The ranges, by what you're building
App costs are driven by screens, backend complexity and integrations — not by 'iOS or Android'. Cross-platform frameworks (Flutter, React Native) now deliver both stores from one codebase at roughly 60–70% of dual-native cost, which is why they're the default recommendation for most business apps.
| App type | Typical range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| MVP (core feature set) | ₹3 – 8 lakh | 10–16 weeks |
| Full business app + backend + admin | ₹8 – 20 lakh | 16–24 weeks |
| Enterprise / high-complexity | ₹20 lakh+ | quoted after spec |
The cost that's hidden in most quotes: maintenance
Apps aren't finished at launch. OS updates break things, stores change rules, users find edge cases. Budget 15–20% of the build cost per year for maintenance. Any developer who doesn't mention this is deferring the conversation, not the cost.
How to keep your app budget honest
Three disciplines save lakhs: ruthless v1 scope (every feature you postpone is money saved and learning gained), a clickable prototype before code (changes are free in Figma, expensive in Swift), and owning your accounts (developer accounts, backend, code — in your name from day one).
And one question that reveals everything about a development partner: 'What did your last project cost, and what did maintenance cost in year one?' Specific answers mean real experience.