More businesses and individuals are investing in mobile app development than ever before. Since more than 50% of internet users are on mobile devices, one of the best ways to reach them is through an original mobile app.
Unfortunately, the cost of developing a high-quality mobile app can be anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000. If you have a big company like Uber, you would probably pay over a million dollars to develop your mobile app. That should give you some idea of the complexity and sophistication that goes into developing high-end apps like the Uber.
Of course, nobody expects your mobile app to compete at the same level as Uber. However, you can still develop a high-quality mobile app for a reasonable price. All you need to do is learn the best strategies for cutting costs on mobile app development. Then, you may find an affordable path to developing your dream mobile app.
Below are six smart strategies to reduce your mobile app development costs.
1) No-Code App Development Platforms
The internet is crawling with dozens of no-code mobile app development platforms. Most of them have drag-and-drop user interfaces that make it easy to modulate your apps with the functions and designs you want them to have. You won’t need to know or write coding because the entire app development process is graphical and visual.
In 2025, the mobile app market is a massive, global phenomenon, with over 257 billion apps downloaded worldwide, generating over $935 billion in revenue
Some examples of no-code app development platforms include:
- Airtable
- Webflow
- Thunkable Live
- Kintone
- Zoho Creator
- Softr
Each app development platform tends to focus on specific types of app creation, such as web apps, business apps, or game apps. The pricing is typically a low monthly subscription or one-time fixed fee that most small businesses and individuals can afford.
2) Build Cross-Platform Apps Rather Than Native Ones
You can build your mobile apps with either a cross-platform or native approach. The difference pertains to the number of operating systems they can run on.
For example, a native approach to mobile app development means you are only building an app for one particular mobile operating system, such as Android or iOS. Coding in a different programming language is required to create an app for each operating system. That will cost you more time and money.
On the other hand, the cross-platform approach to mobile app development allows you to use one programming language to create an app compatible with multiple operating systems. Although cross-platform mobile apps have less flexibility and sophistication, they can certainly save you time and money by allowing you to build one app for all operating systems.
Statistically, developing a single cross-platform app is up to 20% less costly than building two or more native apps.
3) Cost Comparisons
You don’t need to settle for the first qualified mobile app developer you come across. Take the time to pick out at least three or four qualified developers for your consideration. Then, conduct price comparisons of each service to determine which accommodates your budget best.
The best choice doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest one. Try to find a developer offering a balance of quality and affordability in their service. That is usually the rule of thumb for hiring the ideal developer. Look through their work portfolios to see if their development experience aligns with your needs.
4) Open-Source Frameworks and Tools
The most expensive way to develop an app is if you do it from scratch. However, you don’t need to do that if you use an open-source framework as the basis for your app. Open-source frameworks are customizable, pre-written mobile app-building tools containing reusable coding and libraries.
Since they are “open source” tools, you don’t need to pay for a license or anything like that. Open-source tools are 100% free for you to use or modify into other apps as you see fit. That doesn’t mean you merely rebrand the open-source framework with your brand. You must use the framework as a template to build from to save time and money from developing a framework from scratch.
5) Find a Partner
There is no need to take on the financial burden of your app development project alone if you are on a tight budget. If you cannot bear the project’s cost, consider finding a business partner to assist you. They can put up a percentage of the investment needed to build your app. Then, in return, they will probably expect to be repaid in full or from a share of the revenue generated by the app.
For example, you could seek a venture capitalist to invest in your mobile app idea. Just ensure you have a business plan prepared to show the venture capitalist. It might persuade them to invest in your app development project if it is good enough.
Hire an Affordable Mobile App Developer
Griffon Web Studios specializes in mobile app development for businesses and individuals worldwide. Call our team at (212) 739-0374 or email [email protected] to schedule a consultation and seek assistance completing your app development project.
