In the fast-paced digital era, mobile apps have become essential tools for businesses aiming to provide convenience, accessibility, and a seamless customer experience.

National IT has honed its expertise in delivering high-quality mobile apps across various companies. We've seen firsthand how transparent budgeting can make or break the success of an app project. Below, we break down the factors influencing the cost of mobile app development and share how our team approaches this crucial aspect to ensure clients achieve their goals within budget.

Average Costs of an App?

When a business owner wants an estimated ok development cost, it includes some factors that directly influence the cost of app development. An average cost can be estimated by an app’s functionality, proposals, integration points, supported devices, visual objects, and maintenance plans. You can spend 80,000 to 80,00,000 BDT. For this, you have to identify the type of app you want to develop and what you need this for, what its features, functions, etc.

Cost Depends on the Types

Three types of the Here app have different costs based on their platform devices and features.

They are:

1) Basic app

2) Medium complexity app

3) A complex app

Basic Apps: Apps with minimal features, such as login functionality, basic UI, and no external integrations, are typically the least expensive. These apps are ideal for startups testing out a new idea or service.  You will get this app in 2 months.

Medium Complexity Apps: These include more sophisticated features like user profiles, in-app purchases, payment gateways, and third-party API integrations. It includes pictures with 6-15 screens. It can be custom UI elements and animations. Also, the localization language. This type of app costs 4,00,000- 8,00,000 taka, and it will be developed in 3 months.

Complexity Apps: If your app requires advanced functionalities such as real-time features (like live tracking or video streaming), complex backend systems, or integration with AI/ML algorithms, the development cost will increase proportionally. It includes Complex features with advanced business logic and consists of more than 15 screens. It has a large-scale user base. This app is all for one platform and costs starting from 10,00,000 takas. It will be provided in more than 4-6 months.

Factors that Affect the Cost of an App

Simply, features and different factors affect the final figure of the price of app development. The number of features increases, and some more prices will be charged. Simply, it depends on your needs. Some factors can directly influence the App development cost.

Such as:

a) Features and their complexity

b) Customization of design

c) Number of platforms

d) Team setup

e) App maintenance cost

Features and Their Complexity

The number of features affects the cost that we mentioned before. You have to choose the feature you need before developing the app, like a pre-plan. You have to understand the type of business and its needed features, like the number of screens you need, buttons, etc. Some features are simple, while some have complexity, and that affects the price of App Development.

Here we give some features that affect the price:

User engagement feature- These types of features are networking and notifications. This can be simple or more complex. It adds functions like storing passwords, password recovery, and visual design. Features like notification, social sharing, and commenting require extra cost as they demand integration with third-party libraries.

In-app purchase- This is a type of feature that is used in an app to purchase things. Credit cards, Google Wallet, and PayPal are embedded within apps. Every payment processing demands extra time and costs in app development in Bangladesh.

Location-based features- these types of features are quite expensive. This teacher used to track the locations.

Customization of Design

Design is the most effective factor in an app as it can attract a user and make them a customer. It gives the first impression of being in the app. But all types of design cannot be appropriate for the app. So, business owners customize the design of their choice, which directly determines the final price of an app. UX/UI designers work on this, and 43% of people customize their app and spend money on this factor.

Number of Platforms

Another factor that can affect the price is the number of platforms. It depends on you whether you want the app for one platform or multiple platforms. Different platform apps are developed using different programming languages and different tools. Single-platform apps will cost less when you compare them with two or more platform apps. Here, the cost of app development will increase.

App Maintenance Cost

This is an important factor that app owners forget. This is the era of technology, and the market is constantly changing, so your app should be changed to be part of the competition. That's why updating and maintenance are an important aspect, but it costs you some money. An app development maintenance cost is around 20% to 30% of the main price annually. It keeps your app updated in the race of a competitive market and helps you to be a step ahead of your competitors.

Why Do You Need a Mobile App?
Before we talk about cost, let’s understand why people build apps:

• To grow their business online

• To reach more customers

• To improve customer experience

• To automate parts of their business (like sales, delivery, booking, etc.)

• To turn a startup idea into reality

• No matter the reason, having an app can give your brand a strong digital presence.

Types of App Development Cost:

App development cost depends on the type of app you want. Here are the most common

App Type                                Example                                              Example Cost

Basic App                               News app, info app, calculator          1,50,000 – 3,50,000 BDT

Business App                       Restaurant, salon, clinic                     2,50,000 – 7,00,000 BDT

E-commerce App             Online shop                                         5,00,000 – 15,00,000 BDT

Custom App                         Unique startup idea                            10,00,000 – 80,00,000 BDT

The more features you want, the more time and cost it takes. For example:

• Login system

• Push notifications

• Online payment

• Chat or messaging

• GPS tracking

• User profiles

Design Quality
A good user interface (UI) makes your app look professional and easy to use. Custom UI/UX design adds to the cost but improves user satisfaction.

Platforms: Android, iOS, or Both?
Building an app only for Android is cheaper. But if you want it on both Android and iOS, the cost increases.

Backend System (Admin Panel)

Do you need an admin dashboard to manage app users, orders, or content? Most apps do. This adds to the cost but gives you control over your business.

Development Time
More complex apps take longer to build. Development time depends on the app’s size and features.

Example: Cost Breakdown for a Medium App

Let’s say you want an app for a food delivery business. Here’s what the cost might look like:

Task                                                                 Estimated Cost (BDT)

UI/UX Design                                                  15,000 – 30,000

Android App Development                   65,000 – 85,000

iOS App Development                              75,000 – 1,50,000

Admin Panel (Web Dashboard)          45,000 – 90,000

Payment Gateway Integration             20,000 – 40,000

Testing and Launch                                    15,000 – 50,000                     

Total                                                               2,35,000-4,50,000

Why is National IT Solution Ltd more reliable?

• Offer long-term support, security, team collaboration and proper documentation.

Ready-Made Package vs. Custom App

Some companies offer ready-made app packages (like food delivery, e-commerce, news apps) starting from 50,000 BDT. But ready-made apps become much more difficult to customize, add new features, and maintain in the future. So, if you have a unique idea, go for a custom-built app to match your needs.

Additional Costs You Should Know

Here are some extra costs you should plan for:

• Google Play Store Fee: One-time $25 (around 2,800 BDT)

• Apple Developer Fee: $99 per year (if iOS)

• Hosting & Domain: 8,000 – 25,000 BDT yearly

• App Maintenance: Monthly or yearly fee, depending on the company