How much does a simple app cost in India?
A focused app with login, a few screens and a straightforward backend typically starts around ₹1.5–4 lakh. The number moves quickly with payments, multiple roles, real-time features or a second platform.
PRICING GUIDE · APP DEVELOPMENT · INDIA · KERALA
AVAILABLE FOR WORKFreelance · Contract · Full-time
App development cost in India and Kerala, explained.
Quotes for the same app can differ by 5×, and the cheapest one is rarely the least expensive. This page explains what actually drives app development cost in 2026, the ranges you should expect, and how to compare two quotes fairly.
Kochi, Kerala · India · Remote worldwide
01 · PRICE DRIVERS
Six things decide the price — screen count is not one of them
Counting screens is the worst way to price software. Two apps with 20 screens each can differ by a factor of five depending on what those screens do.
The real drivers are: the number of user roles and permission levels, how much backend has to be built, which third-party services are involved, how much of the design exists, how many platforms you need, and what happens after launch. A booking app with one role and a calendar is a different project from one with providers, customers, payments, payouts and admin reporting.
02 · TYPICAL RANGES
What apps cost in 2026
These are planning ranges for the Indian market, not a quote. They assume a professional build with testing, store release and handover.
| Project type | Typical range (INR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Focused MVP, one platform, simple backend | ₹1,50,000 – ₹4,00,000 | 6–10 weeks |
| Cross-platform app, accounts, payments | ₹3,50,000 – ₹8,00,000 | 2–4 months |
| Marketplace or multi-role product with admin | ₹7,00,000 – ₹18,00,000 | 4–6 months |
| OTT app on an existing streaming backend | ₹4,00,000 – ₹12,00,000 | 2–4 months |
| Full OTT product with catalog, CMS and billing | ₹12,00,000+ | 4–8 months |
| Feature work on an existing app | ₹25,000 – ₹2,00,000 | 1–6 weeks |
Design, content preparation, store accounts and third-party subscription costs sit outside these ranges.
03 · PLATFORMS
One platform or two — the real difference
A Flutter build for Android and iOS costs meaningfully less than two separate native apps, because the screens, logic and API layer are written once. Budget roughly 20–40% more than a single platform, not double.
Smart TV is its own platform with its own design constraints and store review. Adding a TV app is not a port of the mobile app — navigation, typography and playback controls have to be redesigned for a remote.
04 · ENGAGEMENT
Fixed price, retainer or hourly
Fixed price per milestone works when the scope is genuinely defined. You know the total, and delivery risk sits with the developer. It depends on a written scope with explicit exclusions.
Monthly retainer suits products that keep evolving: a defined capacity each month for features, fixes and maintenance, without renegotiating every change.
Hourly is fairest for small, unpredictable work — audits, a specific bug, a short spike — but a bad fit for building a whole product.
05 · COMPARING QUOTES
How to compare two quotes honestly
Line up what is actually included: design, testing, backend, integrations, store submission, documentation, post-launch support, and who owns the accounts. A lower quote that excludes testing and handover is not cheaper.
Ask each vendor what happens when a requirement changes mid-build and how that is priced. The answer tells you more about the final cost than the headline number.
06 · REDUCING COST
Where cutting cost is safe, and where it is not
Safe: reduce the number of user roles in version one, launch on one platform, reuse an existing design system, defer admin reporting, use a managed service instead of building infrastructure.
Not safe: skipping testing, skipping the backend design, skipping store release preparation, or launching without crash monitoring. Those savings come back as emergency work at the worst possible time.
WHAT QUOTES OFTEN EXCLUDE
Check for these before comparing totals
- ✓Design
UI/UX design, brand assets and illustration are often a separate line. - ✓Content
Copy, images, catalogue data and translations are usually your responsibility. - ✓Store accounts
Apple Developer and Play Console fees are paid by you, in your name. - ✓Third-party services
Maps, SMS, push, streaming, DRM and payment fees are usage-based. - ✓Maintenance
Ongoing upkeep is typically 15–25% of build cost per year. - ✓Change requests
New scope after sign-off is priced separately unless agreed upfront. - ✓Testing devices
Physical device testing can be a real cost on fragmented Android. - ✓Legal
Privacy policy, terms and compliance review are not development work.
SELECTED EXPERIENCE
Real products, practical engineering.
Explore examples of mobile, Smart TV and integrated product work.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Working together
Why are quotes for the same app so different?
Because they describe different products. One quote may exclude design, testing, backend or handover. Compare line by line and ask what is explicitly out of scope before treating the totals as comparable.
Do you charge hourly or fixed price?
Fixed price per milestone for defined scopes, and a monthly retainer for products that keep evolving. Hourly works for small audits and isolated fixes.
How much does app maintenance cost?
Plan for roughly 15–25% of the build cost per year to cover OS updates, store policy changes, dependency upgrades and monitoring. Product growth work is additional.
Can I start small and add features later?
Yes, and it is usually the right approach. A focused first version that reaches real users teaches you more than a six-month build with no feedback.