How much does it cost to build an app in the UK?

A focused first version of a mobile app built by a UK freelancer or small studio usually costs between £4,000 and £40,000. Where you land depends far more on what the app does than on how it looks.

Typical budgets

• Simple app, a handful of screens, no accounts: £4,000–£10,000
• Bookings, log-ins and payments: £10,000–£25,000
• Marketplace or two-sided app with an admin dashboard: £25,000–£40,000+
• Maintenance after launch: usually 10–20% of the build cost per year

What pushes the price up

Every user role (customer, staff, admin) is close to a separate app. Payments, maps, chat and notifications each add days. Building natively for both iOS and Android costs more than one cross-platform build in React Native or Flutter.

How to keep it on budget

• Write down the one thing the first version must do and cut everything else.
• Share wireframes, even rough ones, so every developer quotes for the same thing.
• Ask for a fixed price per milestone with a demo at the end of each.
• Agree in writing that you own the code and the app store accounts.

Freelancer or agency?

A good freelancer is usually cheaper and faster for a tight first version. An agency brings design, testing and project management under one roof. Get a quote from both and compare what is actually included.