How Much Does It Cost To Hire An App Developer? App Development

You have a great app idea and are ready to turn it into a domestic name, generating millions of downloads that convert into substantial revenue. To bring app ideas to reality, you will need professional assistance from an experienced and dedicated software development team like Progatix. Want to know about hiring an app developer cost, reach out to us!
Before proceeding, one important question arises: How much should it cost to hire a mobile app developer?
What costs are involved in hiring app developers, and how do you set a precise budget for your app project? The good news is that we have all the answers to such pressing queries.
Keep reading this comprehensive guide to clearly understand the cost of hiring app developers and the budget for the whole app development process.
What is the average cost to hire an app developer?
Cost to hire an app developer ranges from $25 to $150 each hour depending on features such as their experience level, location, the project’s complexity, and the platform you need advanced for, with junior developers indicating closer to $25 each hour and senior developers reaching $150 or more.
Key factors affecting the cost:
-
Experience Level
o Junior Developer: $25 – $50 per hour
o Mid-Level Developer: $50 – $100 per hour
o Senior Developer: $100 – $150+ per hour
-
Location
Developers in regions such as the United States and Western Europe normally charge higher rates compared to those in Eastern Europe or Asia.
-
Project Complexity
A simple app with basic features will cost less than a complex app with innovative functionalities.
-
Platform
iOS or Android development individually can be more costly than using a cross-platform framework.
How to Estimate the Cost of App Development?
Past the hourly rates you have to pay to hire an app developer, there are some other costs and statistics that you must keep in check. If you don’t like surprises, then you must properly calculate your project cost.
There are four key steps involved when it comes to the cost of app development.
-
Define Project Scope
Outline the project’s goals, features, and functionalities clearly. Define the required platforms (iOS, Android, both) and technologies.
You must also divide the development process into phases, such as:
o Planning
o Design
o Development
o Testing
o Deployment
-
Research Developer Rates
Look into hourly rates or project fees that app developers charge. Rates differ based on aspects such as, location, experience, and skill set. Conduct detailed research to find right developers within your budget.
Connect with several app development agencies or freelancers to get complete quotes. Ensure these quotes integrate an analysis of costs, hourly rates (if applicable), and any additional expenses.
Study previous projects from potential developers to estimate their capabilities. Discuss potential extra costs, milestones, and payment schedules.
Speaking of payment schedules, now comes the time to choose your billing methods!
-
Choose Billing Methods
Understand diverse billing methods including hourly rates, retainer agreements or per-project fees. Choose a method associated with your project’s scope, financial preferences and timeline.
Now that you have an idea how much you have to pay for the whole project, it’s time to understand ‘how’. There are different ways of choosing to pay to hire an app developer.
First is that you can hire an app developer on hourly rates, allowing them to use time stamping software to track their hours. You are allowed to then review those hour logs and pay them for it.
Secondly, you can hire them on a per-project fee. This one provides more stability when it comes to cost and fits best for freelancers if you opt to hire them. On a per-project fee, you can hire an app developer, agree upon a rate, and then pay after the project completion as you desire. It also provides you more power over the finished products and helps you avoid paying for rework.
Lastly, if the project is going to take months, you can select to hire an app developer for a retainer agreement. You will have to formulate a legal agreement with informative clauses and agree to pay them a static ‘salary’ or retainer amount on a monthly basis.
-
Employ Online Cost Estimation Tools
Use online tools and calculators personalized for estimating app development cost. There are some good platforms available that input project details for rough cost estimates based on industry standards.
These tools ensure accounting for continuous maintenance and update costs, such as bug fixes and platform adjustments after the launch. You must also consider any hidden costs, including:
o Onboarding
o Equipment
o Potential Rework
o Software Licenses
Key Factors Impacting the Cost of Hiring an App Developer
The cost of hiring an app developer is somehow under your control too. Several factors play a part in how much it will cost to hire a mobile app developer for your project and it’s a great way to start by comprehending all these factors.
Here are the key factors that impact the cost of hiring app developers.
-
Experience
The experience of an app developer is a crucial factor that impacts costs related to the project. Developers with means of experience have a detailed understanding over the best practices, effective coding methodologies and possible challenges.
Their skilled expertise often translates to quick problem-solving, simplified development processes, and, eventually, a higher price tag for their services.
You also need to take into account their industrial vertical experience while evaluating experience. Industrial vertical experience refers to when your app developer has experience related to the similar industry or field your project is in.
-
Mobile Platform
Selecting the mobile platform for app development, whether iOS, Android, or both, will significantly influence your costs. Every platform needs different development environments, testing processes, and languages.
Development for both platforms include different costs due to the need for specialized expertise and extra testing efforts, making platform selection a significant cost consideration.
However, the cost to hire an iOS app developer will be less than Android developers because iOS apps take less time to build and do not need the similar skill set as an Android app.
-
Skills
An app developer’s skills, particularly in high-demand areas such as AI, AR/VR, or blockchain, can considerably impact the hiring cost. Developers holding dedicated expertise demand higher rates due to the inadequacy of these skills. Hiring a developer with niche expertise can be expensive, but it is important for projects demanding advanced functionalities. Keeping a balance between the necessary skill set and budget constraints is more crucial than it might look like.
You must sensibly assess their project requirements to regulate whether specific technical skills are crucial or if cost-efficient alternatives exist without compromising quality.
-
App Type
Irrespective of the platform you select, the type of app you are building plays a crucial role in how much cost you have to finance. For example, gaming apps often demand intricate graphics and advanced programming, which makes them more resource-demanding and expensive. Equally, the same apps with basic functionalities might have lower development costs.
Carefully assess the app’s projected functionality, as more complex features usually maximize development time and cost. Also, clearly define the app’s purpose and features upfront to efficiently manage expectations and the app development budget.
-
Geographical Location
The app development team’s geographical location plays a crucial role in the cost of hiring an app developer. Developers in areas with higher costs of living and stronger economies normally charge higher rates on an hourly basis for their services.
In contrast, outsourcing to regions with less labor costs may offer potential savings. However, businesses must look at potential trade-offs including time zone differences, communication-related challenges and varying quality standards.
Negating the pros and cons of diverse locations is crucial for making informed decisions while ensuring the overall app development project’s success.
-
Project Complexity
Your industry does not have an impact on the hourly rates but your app features does. App complexity including app features, design and integration capabilities with other systems is a crucial factor impacting the overall cost of hiring an app developer. More intricate projects require greater expertise, resources and time to ensure successful implementation.
For instance, an app needing complex backend integration, refined user interfaces, or real-time data processing will innately have a higher development cost.
Businesses must conduct a detailed analysis of the required features, possible integration points, and design complexities to manage costs efficiently from the beginning of the planning stages.
This proactive strategy helps in making accurate budget estimations while eliminating the risks related to unforeseen expenses during the whole development process.
Let’s Build Your App – Request a Quote!
Let's Connect
Hidden Hiring Costs
Hiring an app developer incorporates more than just assigned salary. Revealing hidden costs is important for precise budget, streamlined onboarding process and modifying possible financial surprises.
-
Onboarding Expenses
Past the salary, onboarding costs can silently add. These involve training material, orientation sessions and the time spent by the existing team members to simplify the beginner’s integration.
Investing in a thorough onboarding process can improve productivity and eliminate the risk related to the misunderstandings but should be adjusted into the whole cost of onboarding a new app developer.
-
Potential Work
Even if you are working with the most skilled developers, the iterative nature of app development might lead to unexpected changes or revisions. Rework, whether due to misinterpreted demands, shifting project significance, or developing market demands, can lead to extra costs.
Project managers must allocate resources for possible adjustments during the development lifespan to exclude financial revelations and project timelines maintenance.
-
Security Measures
As data breaches become more prevailing, investing in security measures is domineering. While not always noticeable on the surface, employing strong security protocols, conducting frequent security audits while ensuring compliance with data security regulations adds to the whole cost of an app development.
-
Equipment and Software Licenses
Equipping a developer with the required tools goes beyond a computer. Dedicated software licenses, development settings and other crucial tools might be needed. For instance, if you want an in-house team, you will have to acquire costs related to the set-up equipment and furniture. These costs can differ based on the Developer’s role and the project’s specific requirements. Ensuring that the Developer has access to the proper resources is important for effective work but will add additional figures to the expenses.
-
Team Integration and Collaboration Tools
Efficient collaboration and a lot of market research are important for successful app development. You may not consider the cost related to the team collaboration tools, project management software, or communication platforms, but they are vital for the smooth coordination among the team members. A few of the well-known names are Zoom and Adapty.io, Slack, Google Workspace, GitLab, or GitHub. While these costs won’t be THAT high, you must expect them to add up a little bit.
Where can you search for the best app developers to hire?
There are several app development companies, networking sites and online marketplaces where you can find and hire app developers, juniors, seniors or even freelancer developers effortlessly. With a number of options accessible for hiring an app developer, you may find it challenging to hire a professional app developer for your app development.
However, to help you find the source easily, here is the list of different sources that help you find app developers for hiring, besides telling you about their benefits, their suitability for short and long-term projects.
Source | Why Choose This Source? | Best For |
Freelance Platforms (e.g., Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr) | Offers access to a worldwide talent pool. Examine ratings and portfolios before hiring. | Short-term projects, projects with a limited budget. |
Job Boards (e.g., Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn) | Ability to reach a wide range of potential candidates. Can aim at dedicated skills and experience. | Hiring full-time developers for long-term projects. |
Developer Communities (e.g., GitHub, Stack Overflow, HackerRank) | Access to expert developers. Ability to review previous work and contributions. | Finding developers with specific skill sets and contributing to open-source projects. |
Social Media (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter) | Reach passive job seekers. Evaluate testimonials, portfolios, and skills. | Connecting and finding developers who might not be actively seeking work. |
Development Agencies (e.g., Space-O Technologies) | Offers a comprehensive solution from design to development to maintenance, ensuring professional management and delivery. | Huge or complex projects are projects where a single entity is required to manage everything from design to development to maintenance. |
Other than this, hire an app developer from a dedicated software development company. App development companies like Progatix can help with your app development project by having an experience working for more than 2 decades and having a team of skilled developers and having clients all over the world.
Top Tips to Reduce the Cost of Hiring App Developers
-
Clear Project Scope
Define the features and functionalities of your application accurately. A well-defined scope assists developers in offering correct quotes.
-
Prioritize Features
Primarily emphasize crucial features. Later, you can add advanced functionalities to future updates to control costs.
-
Freelancers and Remote Teams
If you hire developers from a freelance platform then look for hiring developers or development teams from areas with lesser lower costs.
-
Offshore Development
Discover offshore development firms for competitive rates without negotiating quality.
-
Discuss Static Price Contracts
Set clear expectations for the budget by communicating with developers regarding fixed-price alternatives.
-
Conduct Technical Interviews
Technical interviews are vital for hiring mobile developers, as they evaluate their knowledge of programming languages, industry best practices, and frameworks employed in development projects.
-
Review Previous Projects and Portfolio
Hire a junior developer with industry vertical experience for mobile app development, check past projects and portfolios, and hunt for experienced developers on diverse platforms.
-
Choose the Right App Development Platform
Hybrid app developers cost less than native app developers, which can influence the cost of your mobile app development. Thus, choose your development company sensibly.
Global mobile app market overview
The mobile application market size globally is estimated at USD 330.61 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach around USD 1103.48 billion by 2034, advancing at a CAGR of 14.33% from 2025 to 2034.
Let Us Help You with the Cost to Hire an App Developer
This blog has given you details about the cost related to hiring an app developer. This blog post includes the cost deviation based on the Developer’s position, along with the key factors that influence this cost. Yet, if you are still doubtful or want to know more regarding the app developer cost. We are here to help you.
Progatix is an experienced custom app development company with more than 20 years of experience in mobile app development. If you are seeking to hire an app developer, you can contact us. We acknowledge your requirements and offer you a comprehensive cost assessment to hire mobile app developers for your business. With our skilled and dedicated mobile app developers, you can be sure that your project will be executed on schedule, within your budget, and without any unforeseen costs. Get your custom app ready to cater to your needs and specifications by hiring our app developers.
Cost-Effective App Development – Contact Us Now!
Let's Connect