Quick answer
Cross-platform app cost is the hours of work multiplied by the hourly rate. Because one Flutter or React Native codebase ships to both iOS and Android, it usually costs much less than building two native apps.
- Hours depend mainly on the number of screens and flows, the back end and integrations.
- A simple MVP is typically 400 to 700 hours; larger business apps and marketplaces take far more.
- Plan for hidden costs: store fees ($99/year Apple, $25 once Google), hosting and yearly maintenance.
- Start with an MVP and weekly demos to keep the budget under control.
If you need an app on both iPhone and Android, cross-platform development is usually the fastest and most affordable way to get there. Instead of paying two teams to build the same app twice, one team writes a single codebase with a framework such as Flutter or React Native and ships it to both stores.
But “how much will it cost?” is still the first question every founder asks. This guide explains what actually drives the price, gives worked examples you can adapt, and shows how to keep the budget under control.
What is cross-platform app development?
Cross-platform development means building one app that runs on iOS and Android from a shared codebase. The two leading frameworks are:
- Flutter (by Google): uses the Dart language and draws its own interface, so the app looks the same on every device. It is strong for custom designs and animation-heavy apps.
- React Native (by Meta): uses JavaScript or TypeScript and native interface components. It is a natural fit if your team already uses React for the web.
In most business apps, 80 to 95 percent of the code is shared. The rest is platform-specific work such as push notifications, payments, Bluetooth or camera features.
What drives the cost?
App cost is mostly hours of work multiplied by the hourly rate. Hours depend on these factors:
- Number of screens and user flows. A 10-screen booking app and a 60-screen marketplace are very different projects.
- Back end. Does the app need its own server, database, admin panel and APIs, or can it use an existing system or a service like Firebase?
- Integrations. Payments (Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay), maps, chat, video calls, analytics, CRMs and third-party APIs each add work.
- Design. Using a clean standard design system is faster than a fully custom, animated interface.
- Roles. Customer, driver, vendor and admin apps multiply the number of screens.
- Quality and compliance. Automated testing, accessibility, security reviews and HIPAA or GDPR requirements take time, and they are worth it.
Worked examples: estimate your own budget
Use the table below as a starting point. The hours are typical planning ranges for a small senior team (developer, designer, QA and project manager). Multiply them by the hourly rate you are quoted.
| App type | Typical scope | Estimated hours |
|---|---|---|
| Simple MVP | Login, 8 to 12 screens, one main feature, Firebase back end | 400 to 700 |
| Mid-size business app | Custom back end, payments, notifications, admin panel | 900 to 1,600 |
| Marketplace or on-demand app | Several user roles, real-time tracking, chat, payouts | 1,800 to 3,500+ |
For example, a 1,000-hour project costs $18,000 at $18 per hour and $120,000 at $120 per hour. That is why the rate you pay matters as much as the scope. Digitruction’s dedicated developers start at $18 per hour, with a 15-day risk-free trial.
Cross-platform vs native: is it really cheaper?
For most apps, yes. Two native apps (Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android) means two codebases, two sets of tests and two teams to keep in sync. A cross-platform app usually needs around one team’s effort plus a small amount of platform-specific work.
Native still makes sense when your app depends heavily on the newest platform features, advanced 3D graphics or very low-level hardware access. If you are not sure, start with a short technical discovery, which is much cheaper than rebuilding later.
Flutter or React Native: which one costs less?
Neither is cheaper in general. The cheaper choice is the one that fits your team and product:
- Choose React Native if you already have React web developers or want to share business logic with a web app.
- Choose Flutter if design consistency and custom interface work matter most, or you also plan desktop and web versions from the same code.
Read more on our Flutter app development and React Native app development pages.
Hidden costs to plan for
- App store accounts: Apple charges $99 per year for its developer program, and Google charges a one-time $25 fee.
- Hosting and services: servers, databases, push notifications, maps and email or SMS providers usually bill monthly as usage grows.
- Maintenance: every year iOS and Android release new versions, and libraries need updates. Budget for ongoing support after launch.
- Analytics and iteration: the first release is the start, not the end. Plan for improvements based on real user data.
How to keep your app budget under control
- Start with an MVP. Launch the one feature that proves your idea, then grow it.
- Write down user stories before development, so estimates are based on real scope, not guesses.
- Use proven services for login, payments and notifications instead of building them from scratch.
- Insist on weekly demos. Seeing working builds early is the best protection against expensive surprises.
- Choose a team that owns quality. Bugs found by your users cost far more than bugs found in testing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a cross-platform app?
A focused MVP usually takes 2 to 4 months. A full business app or marketplace commonly takes 4 to 9 months, depending on scope and how quickly decisions are made.
Will a cross-platform app feel slow?
No, not for typical business, ecommerce, booking or social apps. Modern Flutter and React Native apps run smoothly when they are built well. Performance problems usually come from poor architecture, not from the framework.
Can I add native features later?
Yes. Both Flutter and React Native let developers write native modules for features such as Bluetooth devices, payments or camera processing whenever you need them.
Get an estimate for your app
Digitruction builds iOS and Android apps from one codebase for startups and businesses in the US and worldwide. Tell us what you want to build and we will send a scoped estimate. See our cross platform app development services or contact us for a free consultation.