Blog · 5 min read ·
MVP App Development at a Fixed Price: What Is Included
Direct answer: Our fixed-price MVP starts at $4,990: a single-purpose app for Android and iOS with up to 5 screens and store release, built in 4–6 weeks. Store account fees, third-party licences and content are not included.
What the S tier gives you
When a founder asks for a fixed price, the useful answer is a scope with a ceiling. Our S tier is a mobile app with one purpose, for Android and iOS, up to 5 screens, including store release. It costs $4,990 excl. VAT and takes 4–6 weeks.
We fix the scope in writing before work begins. A feature that is not in that document is not in the price. That is the only way a fixed price works: both sides must agree what "done" means.
What an MVP is and is not
An MVP is a working app that does one core job well enough to test with real users. It is not a smaller copy of your final product with many half-finished features, and it is not a prototype with buttons that do nothing.
Founders often feel that a small first version is a weak one. The opposite is usually true. A narrow app reaches real users sooner, and what they do with it tells you which of the next features is worth paying for.
Your scope should name one core job, one main type of user and one main flow. Take a hypothetical gym owner. The core job is "book a class", not "run a gym". If the same app also needs meal plans, a social feed and a shop, the scope has outgrown the S tier.
Tiers and prices
| Tier | Price | Timeline | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | $4,990 | 4–6 weeks | Single-purpose app, Android + iOS, up to 5 screens, store release |
| M | $9,990 | 8–12 weeks | Memberships, server and API, up to 15 screens, notifications |
| L | $19,900 | 12–20 weeks | Payments or subscriptions, admin panel, custom integrations |
Prices are in USD and exclude VAT.
S suits a simple flow with no login, or a very light one. M suits member accounts, a server connection and more screens. L suits payments, subscriptions, an admin panel or custom integrations.
What pushes the price up
These factors move a project from S towards M or L:
- Screens. Each extra screen adds design, states and edge cases.
- Accounts. Sign-up, login, password reset and user roles all add work.
- Server and API. A backend, a database or an outside API raises the cost.
- Payments and subscriptions. Card handling, receipts and refunds put a project in L.
- Admin panel. A dashboard for managing users, content or orders is L-tier work.
A hypothetical dog-walking app with bookings, payments and an owner dashboard would not fit S. Its core flow depends on accounts and money.
Costs outside the price
The fixed price covers the build and the store release. Running the app involves a few costs that are not ours to include.
Some costs belong to you or to the stores:
- Store accounts. The Apple Developer Program costs 99 USD per year. Other store accounts have their own fees.
- Third-party licences. Fonts, map services, plugins and software libraries.
- Content. Text, photos, icons and onboarding copy.
Terms, privacy policies and other legal texts should be checked by a lawyer.
Store approval is not up to us
Apple and Google review every app after you submit it. Typical reasons for a change request are unclear descriptions, missing privacy information or screens that do not work as described, so a complete and honest store listing helps. They may approve it, ask for changes or reject it. We prepare the release, but the decision, and how long it takes, belongs to them. So no fixed price can buy a fixed launch date. Plan some buffer.
A short checklist before you build
If your starting point is "I want to build an app for my startup", answer these first.
- What is the one job the app must do?
- Who is the main user, and what is the path from opening the app to finishing the job?
- How many screens does that path need?
- Do you need accounts, payments, notifications, an admin panel or a server?
- Who will supply the text, images and icons?
- Who will own the Apple and Google store accounts?
- Which outside services or APIs do you already use?
If your answer to question 4 includes payments or an admin panel, expect the L tier. If question 5 has no answer, content becomes a delay or an extra cost.
After launch
An app needs updates, small fixes and a check that nothing broke after a phone update. Our fix and care page describes the options. If you already have an app and are unsure about its state, an audit can cover one app flow from $490.
FAQ
What does the $4,990 S tier include?
A single-purpose app for Android and iOS with up to 5 screens and store release, in 4–6 weeks. The scope is fixed in writing before work starts.
Are store account fees included?
No. The Apple Developer Program costs 99 USD per year, and other stores have their own fees.
How long does an MVP take?
S takes 4–6 weeks, M takes 8–12 and L takes 12–20. Store review can add time, and we cannot control it.
When do I need M or L instead of S?
Choose M for memberships, a server, up to 15 screens or notifications. Choose L for payments, subscriptions, an admin panel or custom integrations.
What is not included?
Store account fees, third-party licences and content production. Store approval and its timing are also outside our control.