App development cost
The honest guide to app development cost
App development quotes range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands, and the difference is rarely quality. It is scope, billing model and honesty. Here is what actually drives the cost, and where our fixed price fits.
What actually drives the price
Cost comes from scope: how many screens, workflows and integrations your first version needs, and whether it includes complex elements like marketplaces, real-time features or regulated data. A focused first version of almost any idea is dramatically cheaper than the full vision.
- Each core workflow adds design, build and testing time
- Third-party integrations add setup, approval and maintenance
- Native mobile apps cost far more than web apps; we build web apps that work beautifully on phones
- Open-ended hourly billing is the biggest cost risk of all
Why quotes vary so wildly
A $5,000 quote and a $150,000 quote for the same idea usually mean different scopes, different billing models and different assumptions about who owns the result. Always ask three questions: what exactly is included, is the price fixed, and do I own the code and accounts?
Where we fit
Paramount Profits builds the focused first version: a scoped web app MVP in 14 days for a fixed $9,997 USD. That includes the build, a sales page, $500 of Facebook ad spend, training on your own app, 12 months of standard hosting and 30 days of fixes. You own everything.
We publish the price because the scope is fixed before you pay. If your idea needs more, your plan says so honestly, and later phases are quoted separately once the first version has real users.
Common questions
What is a realistic budget for a first app?
For a focused first version built by a professional team, realistic budgets start in the low thousands and rise with scope. Our fixed price is $9,997 USD with everything included, which is only possible because the scope is agreed and locked before the build begins.
Why not just use a no-code tool?
No-code tools are fine for experiments, but you rent the platform, hit its limits, and own nothing portable. Custom software costs more up front and gives you an asset you fully own.
Are there ongoing costs?
Your build includes 12 months of standard hosting. After that, hosting and any third-party services (like email sending or payment processing fees) are modest and in your own accounts, so you see exactly what you pay for.
Paramount Profits
Find out what your idea could become
Answer a few questions in the free Fit Check and we will show you honestly whether your idea fits a 14-day scoped build, and what your first version could look like.