iOS App Development Cost in 2025: Breakdown & Factors

By Itobuz Technologies • November 22, 2024 edit

On average, iOS app development costs range from $25,000 to $50,000.

We know that is quite a wide range, and you expect a more specific figure.

So, in this article, we’ll explain:

All the factors that affect iOS app development costs
iOS app developer rates by region
Cost of integrating advanced features and technologies (like ARKit, CoreML) into your iOS app
Cost Breakdowns of small to enterprise-level iOS apps
How to cut costs by prioritizing important features, outsourcing to the right development partners, and using free open-source libraries and tools

Let us begin!

IoS App Development in 2025

In 2024, iOS users are projected to spend approximately $124 billion on apps in the App Store
Android users are projected to spend only $51 billion

That is why, the iOS vs. Android app development debate is still hotly contested despite Android having way more users. It is also why the cost of iOS app development is always justifiable for app developers.

Here are more reasons why an increasing number of companies are investing in iOS app development.

iOS apps yield higher revenues than their Android counterparts because iOS users are much more inclined to spend big on in-app purchases
iOS apps also generate billions of dollars of income through ad placements

Apple’s rigorous app review process (much stricter than Google Play) ensures that only A-grade apps enter the App Store
Your investment is highly likely to create a top-quality app that genuinely engages users and enhances brand loyalty

Factors That Affect iOS App Development Costs

Here are all the key factors that impact iOS app development costs:

iOS App Complexity

The more ‘complex’ an iOS app, the more is the cost:

Simple or Non-Complex iOS Apps

Simple or non-complex iOS apps are apps that have very basic functionalities
They have simple UIs, limited numbers of pages, and offer minimal user interaction
They do not take too long to develop
These apps do not require extensive backend support
The cost for developing simple apps ranges from $10k-$50k
The development timeline is typically 4-8 weeks

Todoist and Simple Calculator are two good examples of straightforward, minimum-functionality iOS apps

Medium Complexity iOS Apps

Medium-complexity apps have many more screens, pages, and features than simple apps
They may have features like password authentication, social networking, or eCommerce
They require a more robust backend and may involve integration with third-party services
The cost of developing medium-complexity iOS apps ranges from $60,000-$100,000
The development timeline is typically 12 to 16 weeks

Airbnb and Instagram are two good examples of medium-complexity iOS apps

Complex iOS Apps

Complex iOS apps need to give users advanced functionalities
They require real-time data processing and extensive backend integrations
They have hundreds of screens
These apps serve complex purposes so they require a ton of resources for UI design
UI/UX designers have to work a lot to simplify these apps’ complex functionalities
Development costs for complex apps can exceed $100k
Development timelines can extend beyond 20 to 24 weeks

Uber Eats and Snapchat are two examples of complex iOS apps

Design and User Interface

The more customized and intricate your iOS app’s User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design, the more you have to spend. On the other hand, if your app features standard templates, the costs are much lower-

Standard Templates

Standard iOS app templates are pre-designed layouts that can be easily customized with your brand elements
By using templates, you can expedite the design process and drastically reduce costs
Cost Range – $2k-$10k depending on the level of customization
The use of templates shortens the design timeline by approximately 1-4 weeks

Custom UI/UX Design

Custom design involves creating a unique interface tailored specifically to the app’s branding and user needs
This process typically requires extensive research, multiple design iterations, and usability testing
Custom UI/UX design can add anywhere between $15k-$100k to the overall cost
The design phase for custom UI/UX can last anywhere from 4-12 weeks

Is custom UI/UX design worth the money for your iOS apps? We believe, yes:

A well-designed UI makes your app’s navigation intuitive and interactions seamless
Good UX/UI practices minimize cognitive load and help users achieve in-app goals efficiently
Apps that prioritize UX/UI are likely to secure more in-app purchases

iOS App Developer Rates by Region

Now, let us discuss the cost of hiring iOS app developers:

USA

The average salary for an iOS developer (Swift) in the US is $96,474 to $103,565 per year
That is $60/hour

United Kingdom

£50k to £70k annually ($75 to $150/hour)

Germany

€50 and €100 per hour ($55 to $110)

Eastern Europe

According to Business of Apps, Ukrainian and Polish developers charge around $25 to $50 per hour

India

The average salary for an iOS developer in India ranges from ₹6,00,000 to ₹1,200,000 per annum
That is approx. $8k-$16k ($15-$40 per hour)

Australia

AUD 80 and AUD 150 per hour ($55 to $100)

Outsourcing or In-House?

Outsourcing iOS app development = cost savings:

A project that may cost around $100k in NA could be completed for as little as $50k if you outsource to countries in Eastern Europe
It can go down to $20k-$30k if you outsource to India
Outsourcing also gives you access to larger talent pools

In-house development offers greater control over the project and closer collaboration among team members. But, it comes with higher costs:

Salaries for in-house developers in North America can range from $90k to $140k p.a.
On top of that, you have additional expenses such as benefits and overhead costs.
In-house teams may also require investment in training and development tools

From a purely cost-based perspective, outsourcing development tasks is a way better option than maintaining an in-house team.

But, you must also weigh the benefits of keeping things close to home (like better quality control and collaboration) against potential savings when making your choice.

Here is a dollar-based chart that comes in handy when you have to make that choice:

References: Coursera – iOS Developer Salary, Business of Apps – iOS Developer Salary, Glassdoor – iOS Developer Salaries

Platform-Specific Features and Technologies

Using advanced frameworks or integrating platform-specific features and technologies into your iOS app increases development costs. Here are the most common technologies iOS developers add to their apps and how they impact project costs:

ARKit

ARKit is Apple’s framework for creating augmented reality (AR) experiences
It allows developers to blend digital content with the real-world
Implementing AR features can increase development time significantly
Adding 3D modeling, spatial awareness, and intricate user interaction design to your app can increase project costs by $10k-$50k
If you license high-quality 3D assets, that’s adding another $5k-$20k to the budget
Testing these AR features across various devices add another $5k-$10k to the budget

CoreML

CoreML is Apple’s machine-learning framework
It enables developers to integrate machine learning (ML) models into their apps

Want your iOS app to be on top of the latest iOS app development trends and perform custom, ML-powered features like image recognition?

That is adding at least $10k to the budget for data modeling and training
Hiring data scientists or ML specialists means spending anywhere between $100k to $150k annually, per expert

SwiftUI

SwiftUI is a framework for building user interfaces (UIs) for apps across all Apple platforms
In the past, the only supported language for iOS app development was Objective-C
The only supported UI framework was different for each device platform – UIKit for iOS and AppKit for macOS

Swift is now one of the top iOS programming languages if not the top. SwiftUI is the first “pure” Swift-based approach to creating UIs:

While SwiftUI simplifies UI development, there is a learning curve involved
If developers are not already proficient in SwiftUI, training them can add $2k-$10k to project costs
If your app is already using UIKit or AppKit, integrating SwiftUI requires refactoring existing code
This could increase costs by approximately $5k-$20k

Are these integrations to your iOS app development projects worth it? Depends on your project’s needs:

Want your app to deliver stellar User Experiences? Then investing in specialized skills costs you more
Overall project budgets may increase by approx. 20% to 50% with these integrations
If you think these cutting-edge technologies will help you secure higher user retention and engagement levels, then go for it

iOS App Development Cost Breakdown

The iOS app development cycle is long. To make sure you do not run out of capital halfway down the line, you need to allocate money properly.

Most iOS development companies divide the cycle into separate stages. Then they raise and allocate specific amounts of money for each stage.

Here’s the price tag for each of these stages based on the latest research:

Planning and Research

This stage involves:

Defining the app’s target audience
market research
competitive analysis
Defining the project’s scope and timeline

iOS development companies typically spend 10-20% of the total budget on this planning and research stage. That roughly translates to a dollar sum in the range of $5k-$10k.

Design and Prototyping

This stage focuses on:

Defining the app’s look and feel
Planning out the app’s UI and UX
Creating wireframes, prototypes, and mockups

The overall cost of these tasks varies based on the app’s complexity:

Simple Apps – $5k – $15k
Medium Complexity Apps – $15k – $30k
Complex Apps – $30k – $60k

Creating wireframes to outline the app’s structure costs you between $1k to $3k. Developing interactive prototypes to test user flows costs you between $2k to $5k.

Development Phase

This stage is where your app comes to life:

Developers write code to translate your UI/UX design into a functional app
They code all the features your iOS app is supposed to have
They perform front-end (Swift) and back-end development
Developers integrate all required third-party services and APIs into your app

Costs in this stage vary greatly depending on the app’s complexity, features, and UI/UX design goals:

Expect to spend 40% to 50% of your development budget on this stage
For simple apps, that is roughly $10k to $50k
For medium-complexity apps, that is $50k to $100k
For complex apps, costs in this stage can easily go from $100k to $600k

Developers complete this stage in about 2-4 months for simple apps and 4-8 months for medium apps. Complex apps may take well over 8 months.

Testing

Rigorous testing is vital to ensure your app’s functionality and usability across all devices and platforms; This phase includes:

Functional testing
Usability testing
Performance testing
Security testing

All testing should happen early on in the dev cycle and you can expect to spend 10-15% of the total budget in this stage:

For simple apps with basic testing requirements that translates to roughly $5k to $15k
For mid-complexity apps that need more extensive testing, it’s $15k to $30k
For complex apps, it is between $30k to $50k

Spending 10-15% of your budget is worth the money for keeping your app bug-free.

App Deployment and Launch:

Post-testing, you have to submit your app to the App Store
To do that, you need to participate in the Apple Developer Program
This costs you $99 in annual app store submission fees

After that, you have to optimize your app by investing in App Store Optimization (ASO).

You also need to promote your app. Here are the cost implications of all of these steps:

$1k to $5k for localization (translating app content for different audiences, adjusting the UI for different screen sizes, etc.
$5k to $20k on marketing, social media ads, influencer partnerships, etc.

App Store’s review process is super-strict:

You might have to adjust your app (for performance and legal issues) multiple times to get approval
Allocate at least $10k to $15k for this stage as a precaution

Hidden Costs of iOS App Development

Past the main iOS app development costs, several hidden fees can sneak into your project. Here’s what you need to prepare for:

Third-Party Integration Fees

Integrating third-party services like:

Google maps
Social media logins
Payment gateways
Analytics tools (Google Analytics)

…to your app add to your budget. Here are the main cost implications to consider:

Payment gateways typically charge 2.9% fees + $0.30 per transaction
Google Maps API can cost between $0.50-$7 per 1000 requests
Monthly subscriptions for analytics tools can range from $20-$500

Asking developers to integrate these services into your iOS app may add $5k to the budget.

Server and Hosting Costs

Hosting the app’s backend services is essential for managing user data effectively. This costs you:

$500-$5k per month on hosting
Shared hosting may cost around $70-$400 per month
Dedicated servers or cloud solutions (like AWS) can run higher based on usage.
As user traffic grows, costs increase significantly
A small app might start at $70/month
As it scales, it could cost upwards of $1000/month

User Acquisition

User acquisition strategies that combine organic and paid methods require investments:

Ads on Facebook or Google Ads can cost $1-$3 per click
Organic growth strategies (like SEO or content marketing) also cost up to $1000/month
Businesses should budget around $5000-$25,000+ per month, depending on their user acquisition goals

Localization + Internationalization

Expanding an app’s reach to specific local or global markets means spending:

$1k-$5k per language on translating app content
$500-$2k per language on adjusting the app’s UI for different user bases (e.g., right-to-left text for Arabic countries)

Legal and Compliance Fees

Ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA means spending:

$2k to $10k on legal consultation fees
$2k to $3k on annual compliance audits

Maintenance and Security

Budget around 15% to 20% of your overall development cost annually for maintenance
Regular security audits and penetration testing alone cost you $1k-$10k per annum
Bug fixes, updates for new iOS versions, feature enhancements, and other continuous improvements may cost around $5k-$20k per year

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

Here are two real-world case studies illustrating the costs associated with developing small-business iOS apps and enterprise-level iOS apps:

Small Business iOS App: Grove Collaborative

Grove Collaborative is an eCommerce platform that offers natural household products
Their iOS app allows users to shop for products and manage subscriptions
The development cost for such a small and simple eCommerce app ranges from $40k-$60k

Source: Tech-Ahead

For $40k-$60k, you can get an iOS app with essential features like:

User registration and login
Product catalog with search functionality
Shopping cart
checkout process
Payment gateway integration
Push notifications

Enterprise-Level iOS App: Salesforce

Salesforce is a top customer relationship management (CRM) tool
Many businesses use it for its AI-driven analytics
It helps businesses manage their sales and customer service
The development cost for such a complex enterprise-level app can be anywhere between $150k-$550k

SalesforceCost Component	Estimated Cost
Design and Prototyping	$30k-$70k
Development	$80k-$300k
Testing	$20k-$50k
Deployment	$5k-$10k

Source: Debut Infotech

Spending $150k-$550k on an iOS app gets you features like:

Custom backend infrastructure
AI functionalities
Predictive analytics
Real-time data processing
Comprehensive analytics dashboard

How to Optimize iOS App Development Costs

Want to develop a complex iOS app like Salesforce without spending three figures? Take these steps:

Conduct user research to determine which features are most important for your audience
Use tools like UserTesting to gather user feedback
Limit the number of app features based on essential user needs and business goals
Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with only essential features
launch the app fast and at a lower cost

Gather user feedback before investing in more features. Want to save more money? Outsource:

Scour platforms like Upwork or Freelancer to find skilled iOS app development freelancers
Look to countries like Ukraine, Poland, or India

Not comfortable with outsourcing? Ask your in-house team to use free open-source libraries as much as possible:

Use Alamofire to simplify and cheapen the process of integrating APIs into your app
Use Snap-Kit to automate the process of writing your iOS app’s layout code
Use Kingfisher, a Swift library to download and cache images from the web for free
Use Firebase to instantly add backend services like profile authentication or database management to your app
Adopt Agile practices to break down the project into smaller sprints
Prioritize development tasks based on immediate user needs
For building prototypes, use low-code/no-code platforms like Bubble or Adalo
Use pre-designed iOS app templates from platforms like ThemeForest

With strategic planning and execution, you can significantly reduce costs and maintain high-quality standards.

Conclusion

Follow all of the strategies we discussed to bring down your iOS app development costs. More importantly, find a development partner who is just as serious as you are about keeping project costs down. That is where iOS app development services from Itobuz can help.

We’ll evaluate your project, consult with your team, and give you a quote – for free! If you find our pricing cost-efficient, we’ll build from there! Contact us now!