How much does it cost to build an app in the UK in 2026?
A plain-English guide to app and website development costs in the UK: typical price ranges, what drives the cost, and how to keep your budget under control.
By Code Rivals · 5 November 2026 · 7 min read
Key takeaways
- A simple business website typically costs £1,500 to £4,000.
- A web app or SaaS MVP usually starts around £6,000 and grows with features.
- A mobile app for iOS and Android often starts around £7,500.
- Features, design level and deadline matter more than the platform you pick.
The short answer
Most of the price of software is people's time, so the real question is how much work your idea needs. A small brochure website and a marketplace app with payments, chat and an admin panel are both 'apps', but one can be ten times the effort of the other.
Below are the typical starting ranges we see at Code Rivals. They are rough guides, not quotes: every project is priced after we understand the details.
- Business website: from about £1,500 to £4,000
- Online store: from about £3,500
- AI chatbot or automation: from about £2,500
- Custom dashboard or internal tool: from about £4,000
- Web app or SaaS MVP: from about £6,000
- Mobile app (iOS and Android): from about £7,500
What actually drives the cost
Each feature adds design, development and testing time. These are the features that move the price the most:
- User accounts and roles (customers, staff, admins)
- Payments and subscriptions, for example with Stripe
- An admin panel to manage content, users and orders
- Real-time features such as chat or live updates
- AI features: chat, search or content generation
- Integrations with your CRM, calendar or other tools
Design level and deadlines
A clean, proven layout is quicker to build than a fully custom design with illustrations and animation. Both can look great; the second simply takes longer.
Deadlines matter too. If you need something live in weeks rather than months, a team has to prioritise your project, which usually costs more. If your timeline is flexible, you get the best value.
How to keep your budget under control
The cheapest app is the one that only builds what your users need first.
- Start with an MVP: the smallest version that proves the idea works
- Use one codebase for iOS and Android with React Native or Flutter
- Use proven services (Stripe, Supabase, Firebase) instead of building everything from scratch
- Agree milestones so you can see progress and pause between phases
UK agency, freelancer or offshore team?
London agencies are often the most expensive option. Freelancers can be cheaper but carry more risk if they become unavailable. A team like Code Rivals, with a UK company and a development office in Pakistan, sits in between: UK project management and contracts, with lower development costs.
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