Most app cost guides still price apps the way they were built a few years ago: big teams, long timelines and every screen written by hand. We build differently. Wonkrew is an AI-first engineering team: our engineers use AI coding and testing tools through the whole build, and senior engineers review everything that ships. This guide shares our published prices, what moves the number up or down, the costs that come after launch, and the apps we have built that are running at scale today.
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The Quick Answer
At Wonkrew, apps for iOS and Android start at Rs.1,00,000 ($1,500). Apps with user accounts, payments, an admin panel and integrations cost more, and complex platforms typically fall between Rs.3,00,000 and Rs.15,00,000+. AI products and AI agents start at Rs.2,00,000 ($2,500). You get a fixed estimate once we have scoped your requirements.
Typical timelines:
- Simple apps: 2 to 4 weeks.
- Custom applications: a focused first version (MVP) in 4 to 8 weeks.
- Complex platforms: 8 to 16 weeks.
- You review a working build every 1 to 2 weeks, so nothing is a surprise at the end.
Why AI-First Development Costs Less, and What It Does Not Change
A large share of any app is work that every app needs: screens and forms, sign-in, profiles, API wiring, admin panels, tests and documentation. This is where AI saves the most time.
- Screens and standard flows are generated from the approved designs and then refined, instead of being written from scratch.
- APIs, data models and admin panels come together faster from a clear written spec.
- Tests and documentation are written alongside the code, not left for the end of the project.
- Working prototypes reach you earlier, so your feedback arrives before changes become expensive.
What AI does not change: architecture, security, data protection, performance under load, App Store and Play Store review, and the decisions only you can make about your users and your business. Those still need experienced engineers, and that is where we spend the time AI saves.
The result is not a cheaper app built carelessly. It is the same production standard, with more of your budget going into the features that make your app different.
App Development Cost by Type of App
These are starting points from our published pricing, not quotes. Two apps of the same type can differ a lot in cost depending on the factors in the next section.
| Type of app | What it usually includes | Wonkrew price | AI you can add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple business app | Content, catalogue or enquiry screens, sign-in, push notifications and a basic admin panel | From Rs.1,00,000 | An assistant that answers common customer questions |
| Ordering or e-commerce app | Catalogue, cart, payments, order tracking and an admin panel for orders and stock | Rs.3,00,000 to Rs.15,00,000+ | Product recommendations and order updates on WhatsApp |
| Booking or ticketing platform | Slot or seat selection, payments, e-tickets, entry scanning and sales reports | Rs.3,00,000 to Rs.15,00,000+ | An assistant for buyer questions and smart reminders |
| Business app or ERP | Several user roles, approval flows, field data entry, reports and integrations | Rs.3,00,000 to Rs.15,00,000+ | Reading invoices and documents, summaries of daily reports |
| Learning or assessment platform | Courses, tests, gradebook, live classes and admin views | Rs.3,00,000 to Rs.15,00,000+ | Question generation and personalised learning paths |
| AI product or AI agent | An agent or assistant that works with your data and tools, with an admin console | From Rs.2,00,000 | Built around AI from the start |
See mobile app development, custom CRM and ERP and AI agent development for what each service includes.
What Drives the Cost of an App
- Screens and user flows: the more journeys a user can take, the more there is to design, build and test.
- User roles: customers, staff, vendors and admins each need their own screens and permissions.
- Integrations: payment gateways, CRM, ERP, WhatsApp, SMS, maps and shipping partners.
- Backend and admin panel: a simple content admin costs far less than a full operations console.
- Offline use: field apps that must work without signal and sync later need more engineering.
- Real-time features: chat, live tracking and live updates add backend work.
- Security and compliance: sensitive data, audit trails and fine-grained access control.
- Design: a fully custom design system costs more than adapting a proven component library.
- Platforms: iOS and Android only, or a web app for customers or staff as well.
Sign-in, payments, push notifications and offline behaviour should be planned from the start, because adding them later costs more.
Cross-Platform or Native: What It Means for Your Budget
We build most business apps with Flutter or React Native, so iOS and Android share one codebase, one release cycle and one team. Compared with two separate native builds, this typically costs 40 to 50% less, and every update goes to both stores together.
Native development in Swift and Kotlin makes sense when an app depends heavily on device hardware, complex animations or maximum performance. We recommend one or the other after scoping your requirements.
Costs Beyond the Build
The build is the biggest cost, but not the only one. Budget for these as well:
- App store accounts: the Apple Developer Program costs $99 a year, and a Google Play developer account is a one-time $25 fee.
- Hosting: servers, database and file storage for the backend. We host on Hetzner with Coolify and Cloudflare by default, or on AWS if you prefer. The cost grows with your users and data.
- Third-party services: SMS for login codes, email, maps, payment gateway fees and WhatsApp Business messages. Our WhatsApp tools and pricing guide explains how WhatsApp pricing works.
- AI usage: if your app uses AI models, each request has a small running cost that grows with usage. We design prompts and caching to keep it predictable.
- Maintenance: iOS and Android release new versions every year, and apps need security updates, bug fixes and new features. We quote maintenance with the build, based on hosting and the support level you need.
Freelancer, Agency or In-House Team?
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | Small apps, prototypes and tight budgets | One person covering design, code, backend and testing, and what happens if they become unavailable |
| Development partner | Business apps that need design, backend, testing and store launch handled together | Compare quotes phase by phase and confirm who owns the code |
| In-house team | Products that will be developed continuously for years | Hiring time, salaries and management before anything ships |
For a full checklist, see our guide on how to choose a web or app development partner.
How to Keep Your App Budget Under Control
- Start with an MVP. Launch the few features that matter most, in as little as 4 weeks, then improve the app based on how people actually use it.
- Write down your users and their journeys before you ask for quotes. Clear scope gives you accurate quotes.
- Use proven building blocks for sign-in, payments and notifications instead of custom-building them.
- Ask for a fixed estimate by phase, with a clear policy for change requests.
- Insist on full code ownership and documentation, so you are never locked in to one vendor.
Built to Scale From Day One
Cheap apps get expensive when they have to be rebuilt. We engineer for the business you will be in two or three years, backed by 22+ years of engineering experience, including enterprise systems at Cognizant, 2 Million+ lines of code and 500+ projects across 12+ industries.
- SmartCNICA: an arbitration workflow ERP with 11 modules and 100,000+ lines of code, with zero downtime since launch.
- Chocomans: a custom e-commerce platform with 63,000+ lines of production code across frontend, backend and AI services. It handled its first festive season without downtime.
- Veda Pile App: one ERP and mobile app running two companies, from pile logging on site to running bills.
Apps We Have Built and What They Delivered
- GFA International: a custom ticketing website and door scanner app for concerts in Singapore and Malaysia. SGD 250,000+ in ticket sales and 5,000+ tickets sold across 4 events, all on the platform we built.
- Stride Edutech: an AI-native EdTech platform, built alongside the marketing that drove 662% enrollment growth.
- Veda Pile App: site engineers log every pile from the field, and materials, purchase orders, petty cash and running bills move through multi-stage approvals in one system, replacing spreadsheets, WhatsApp and paper challans. Live on web and mobile.
- Aviawiz: our own learning and assessment platform for aviation ground schools, in use at a premier Middle East-based government aviation academy.
How We Price Your App
- Scoping call: your goals, your users and the features you cannot launch without.
- Written scope: features, user roles, screens and integrations, agreed before any code is written.
- Fixed estimate: cost and timeline broken down by phase.
- Build in sprints: a working build to review every 1 to 2 weeks.
- Launch: we handle App Store and Play Store submission and approval.
- Handover: 100% code ownership, with source code, API docs and deployment guides. Maintenance is quoted with the build.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build an app in India?
At Wonkrew, apps for iOS and Android start at Rs.1,00,000 ($1,500). Apps with user accounts, payments, an admin panel and integrations cost more, and complex platforms typically fall between Rs.3,00,000 and Rs.15,00,000+. You get a fixed estimate after we scope your requirements.
How long does it take to build an app?
Simple apps take 2 to 4 weeks. Custom applications reach a first version (MVP) in 4 to 8 weeks, and complex platforms take 8 to 16 weeks. You review a working build every 1 to 2 weeks.
Does AI make app development cheaper?
Yes, for the right parts of the work. AI tools speed up screens, standard flows, API wiring, tests and documentation. Senior engineers still design the architecture, review the code and own security. The saving shows up as faster delivery and more features for the same budget, not lower quality.
How much does it cost to add AI or an AI agent to an app?
AI products and AI agents start at Rs.2,00,000 ($2,500) with us. An AI feature inside an app you are already building is scoped and priced with the app. AI models also have a small running cost per request that grows with usage. See AI agent development.
Is a cross-platform app cheaper than a native app?
Usually, yes. Flutter and React Native share one codebase for iOS and Android, which typically costs 40 to 50% less than two separate native builds. Native development makes sense when an app depends heavily on device hardware, complex animations or maximum performance.
What are the ongoing costs after launch?
App store accounts (Apple charges $99 a year, Google Play a one-time $25), hosting, third-party services such as SMS, WhatsApp and payment gateway fees, AI usage if your app uses AI, and maintenance. We quote maintenance with the build, based on hosting and the support level you need.
Do I own the source code?
Yes. You get 100% ownership of the source code, documentation and IP, with no vendor lock-in.
Can you take over an app another team built?
Yes. We audit the existing codebase, fix bugs, add features and refactor where needed, whether the app was built in-house or by another agency.
Do you build apps for businesses outside India?
Yes. Many of our clients are outside India, including in the US, Europe, Singapore and the Middle East, and prices start at $1,500. See offshore development from India.
Get a Fixed Estimate for Your App
Tell us what you want to build and who it is for. We will come back with a written scope, a fixed estimate and a timeline. Contact us or see how we approach mobile app development.