What a mobile app developer does
A mobile app developer builds software that runs on phones — iOS, Android, or both — and gets it live in the App Store and Play Store. The visible app is only part of the job. Most apps need a backend to store data and manage accounts, store listings and assets, and a submission-and-review process with Apple and Google that has its own rules and rejections.
An early decision drives much of the cost: native (built separately for each platform for maximum performance) versus cross-platform (one codebase for both, faster and cheaper, with some trade-offs). A good developer explains which fits your app and why rather than defaulting to whatever they prefer. Where the backend is substantial, expect a backend developer involved too, sometimes the same person and sometimes a collaborator.
What it costs
Independent mobile app developers charge across a very wide band — $5,000–$80,000 per project — because “an app” covers everything from a simple single-platform tool to a two-platform product with a full backend. Three things move the price:
- Scope — number of screens, features, and integrations is the biggest driver by far.
- Platforms — one platform is far cheaper than two built natively; cross-platform narrows the gap.
- Backend — an app that stores user data, handles accounts, or processes payments carries a whole second project behind the screens.
See the full breakdown in our mobile app developer cost guide.
How to evaluate one
Only trust shipped work. Ask for apps that are live in the stores right now and go download one — anyone can show a prototype, but getting through Apple’s review and running in production is the real credential. Then ask them to justify the native-versus-cross-platform choice for your app; the reasoning tells you whether they’re thinking about your project or reaching for a habit.
Settle account ownership before anything else. The Apple and Google developer accounts, and the app listings, must be in your name — if they live in the developer’s account, your business is a hostage. Because these projects are large, insist on phasing: milestone payments tied to working deliverables, not one lump sum. Put it all in a statement of work, and read our guide to comparing quotes that aren’t comparable before you pick.
What to prepare before you start
An app is not finished at launch — it’s launched. Operating systems update, Apple and Google change their rules, and a live app needs ongoing maintenance or it breaks. Get the developer’s honest estimate of first-year maintenance before you commit, and decide whether that’s a retainer or an agreed hourly arrangement.
Be brutally clear about the first version’s scope. The fastest way to blow this budget is feature creep, so define the smallest app that delivers real value, ship it, and learn from actual users before building more. If you’re unsure the idea justifies a custom app yet, that instinct is worth pressure-testing — validate cheaply first, then spend once the demand is real.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Native or cross-platform, and why is that the right choice for my app specifically?
- Who owns the App Store and Play Store accounts, and will they be in my name?
- What's the backend behind this app, and who builds and hosts it?
- What does the first year of maintenance and OS updates realistically cost?
- Can you show an app you shipped that's live in the stores right now?
Red flags
- No live apps in the App Store or Play Store, only prototypes and mockups.
- They want the developer accounts in their name, not yours. That's your business held hostage.
- Silence on the backend and ongoing costs, as if the app is the whole project.
- A flat quote with no phasing on a large build. Big app projects need milestones, not one number.