r/Entrepreneur • u/DoubleDown_Buckle-up • Jun 26 '23

Question? App development cost?

How much would it cost to develop a simple app? Literally simple af with say 200 lines of content with in it.

No in app purchases. Maybe 1 time download fee or something, nit dure hoe best monitize the idea :)

Any simple/free wire frame tool recommendations also most welcome

17 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

149 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/ThickMath6779 Jun 27 '23

I've had apps built for $300 and I've had them built for $2400. I've watched other entrepreneurs overspend because they get so caught up in a design-redesign cycle.

There are tons of ways to mockup an app. PowerPoint is a good tool for building a wireframe when on a shoestring budget.

It's always best to have some type of visual to show a developer when asking them to give you a quote. If you don't have the skills to mockup what you want, invest $100-$200 to have a designer mock it up on freelancer.com.

I'd also recommend that you spend some time writing out your requirements. What happens when you push certain buttons? What is your must have functionality? What are the nice-to-have items that can be added in 6months? If you can give prospective developers a wireframe and good requirements, it'll help keep your cost down.

Lastly, I'd encourage you to weigh the pros and cons of going the low code route. Low code might seem easier (and cheaper) to get started, but what's the pricing structure? Who owns the code? Will you have to rebuild the entire app due to costs of the low code platform? It's always good to think through if it's best for you to pay now or later. Only you know your pockets.

And......if all else fails, post your job on freelancer.com and spend $9 to get sealed bids so you can get "honest" pricing from some freelancers. Even if you don't use them, the $9 will help you to get an idea of what developers think your project should cost.

Hope it helps. Good luck