Introduction: The Real Cost of App Development
The most common question we receive is: "What does an app cost?" The answer is more complex than a simple number. App development pricing depends on complexity, features, platform choice, team location, and regulatory requirements.
In this comprehensive guide, we break down real costs with transparent pricing, explain the 7 key factors that determine price, compare native vs cross-platform development costs, and reveal hidden expenses that catch teams off-guard.
Whether you're a startup founder budgeting your first MVP or an established company planning a life science application, this guide provides the pricing transparency you need to make informed decisions.
All prices in this guide reflect 2025 Danish market rates, with comparisons to other regions. For life science and medical device software, expect 30-50% higher costs due to regulatory requirements like GDPR compliance and ISO 13485 certification.
Understanding App Development Pricing
App development pricing is not like buying a product with a fixed price tag. It's a service-based investment where you're paying for expertise, time, and intellectual property creation.
Common Pricing Models
- Fixed Price: Predetermined scope and cost. Works well for clearly defined projects with minimal expected changes. Risk: Change requests can become expensive.
- Time & Materials: Pay for actual hours worked. Offers flexibility for evolving requirements. Risk: Total cost uncertainty.
- Milestone-Based: Payment tied to delivery of specific features or phases. Balances risk between fixed price and time & materials.
- Dedicated Team: Monthly fee for a dedicated development team. Suitable for long-term projects with continuous development needs.
Bon.do's Transparent Pricing Approach
At Bon.do, we prefer milestone-based pricing for most projects. This approach provides:
- Clear deliverables and acceptance criteria for each milestone
- Payment aligned with value delivery
- Flexibility to adjust scope between milestones
- Full IP ownership from day 1
- Comprehensive documentation included
Learn more about our pricing structure.
Price Comparison by Complexity
Apps fall into three complexity tiers, each with dramatically different price points:
| Complexity | Features | Timeline | Price Range (DKK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple App | Basic UI, 3-5 screens, simple backend, no integrations, basic user auth | 1-3 months | 50,000 - 140,000 DKK |
| Medium Complexity App | Custom UI, 10-20 screens, REST API, 3rd party integrations, push notifications, analytics | 3-6 months | 140,000 - 420,000 DKK |
| Complex App | Advanced UI/UX, 20+ screens, microservices, real-time features, AI/ML, extensive integrations, regulatory compliance | 6-12+ months | 420,000 - 1,750,000+ DKK |
Life Science Software Premium
For medical device software and life science applications, add 30-50% to the prices above due to:
- Quality management system (QMS) implementation
- Risk management documentation (ISO 14971)
- Design controls and traceability
- Validation and verification testing
- Regulatory documentation for CE marking
- GDPR and data privacy compliance
Example: A medium complexity life science app typically costs 210,000 - 630,000 DKK.
7 Key Cost Factors
These seven factors have the greatest impact on your final price:
1. Feature Scope and Complexity
The number and sophistication of features directly drives development time. Consider:
- User Authentication: Simple email/password (15-30 hours) vs OAuth/SSO/biometric (40-80 hours)
- Data Visualization: Simple charts (20-40 hours) vs complex interactive dashboards (80-200 hours)
- Search Functionality: Basic search (15-25 hours) vs advanced filters, facets, and AI-powered search (60-150 hours)
- Payment Processing: Single payment gateway (30-50 hours) vs multiple gateways with subscription management (100-200 hours)
2. Platform Choice: Native vs Cross-Platform
Your platform strategy significantly impacts cost:
- Native (Swift + Kotlin): Two separate codebases. Higher initial cost, best performance, full platform features. Cost multiplier: 1.6-2.0x
- Cross-Platform (Flutter/React Native): Single codebase for iOS and Android. Lower initial cost, good performance, 95% feature parity. Cost multiplier: 1.0x (baseline)
- Web-Based (PWA): Works across all platforms via browser. Lowest cost, limited native features. Cost multiplier: 0.6-0.8x
Recommendation: For most life science applications, Flutter or React Native offers the best cost-to-value ratio. We elaborate more on this in the dedicated section below.
3. UI/UX Design Complexity
Design directly impacts user adoption and development time:
- Basic Design: Standard UI components, minimal custom styling. Cost: 20,000-50,000 DKK
- Custom Design: Branded interface, custom components, unique visual language. Cost: 50,000-100,000 DKK
- Advanced Design: Animations, micro-interactions, complex gestures, accessibility optimization. Cost: 100,000-200,000+ DKK
Note: Healthcare applications require special consideration for usability, clinical workflows, and accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA minimum).
4. Backend Infrastructure and Integrations
Backend complexity often exceeds frontend costs:
- Simple Backend: Basic CRUD operations, simple database, user management. Cost: 35,000-85,000 DKK
- Medium Backend: REST API, multiple data models, file storage, email/SMS services. Cost: 85,000-210,000 DKK
- Complex Backend: Microservices, real-time features (WebSockets), AI/ML processing, extensive third-party integrations. Cost: 210,000-560,000+ DKK
Common integrations and their typical costs:
- Payment gateway (Stripe/MobilePay): 20,000-40,000 DKK
- EHR system integration (HL7/FHIR): 70,000-210,000 DKK
- Analytics and monitoring: 15,000-35,000 DKK
- Custom API integrations (each): 20,000-70,000 DKK
5. Regulatory and Compliance Requirements
For life science software, regulatory compliance is unavoidable:
- GDPR Compliance: Data privacy implementation, consent management, data portability. Cost: 28,000-70,000 DKK
- ISO 13485 QMS: Quality management system, design controls, documentation. Cost: 70,000-210,000 DKK
- CE Marking (Class I): Technical documentation, risk management, validation. Cost: 105,000-280,000 DKK
- CE Marking (Class IIa/IIb): Notified Body involvement, clinical evaluation. Cost: 210,000-560,000+ DKK
See our detailed guide on ISO 13485 certification for more information.
6. Team Location and Expertise
Developer location dramatically affects hourly rates (see detailed comparison below). Beyond location, expertise level matters:
- Junior Developers: 1-3 years experience. Rate: 200-350 DKK/hour
- Mid-Level Developers: 3-6 years experience. Rate: 350-500 DKK/hour
- Senior Developers: 6+ years experience. Rate: 550-770 DKK/hour
- Life Science Specialists: Regulatory and healthcare domain expertise. Rate: 650-900+ DKK/hour
Warning: Choosing the cheapest developers often leads to higher total cost due to technical debt, security vulnerabilities, and costly rework. For life science software, inexperienced teams can derail regulatory approval.
7. Testing and Quality Assurance
Quality assurance typically represents 20-30% of total development cost:
- Manual Testing: Test plans, test execution, bug reporting. Cost: 15-20% of development
- Automated Testing: Unit tests, integration tests, E2E tests. Cost: 20-30% of development
- Medical Device Testing: Validation protocols, traceability matrices, summative usability testing. Cost: 30-40% of development
- Security Testing: Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning. Cost: 20,000-70,000 DKK
Native vs Cross-Platform: Cost Analysis
One of the most impactful decisions affecting cost is choosing between native and cross-platform development.
| Aspect | Native (Swift + Kotlin) | Cross-Platform (Flutter) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Development Cost | 1.6-2.0x (two codebases) | 1.0x (baseline) |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Higher (two teams/codebases) | Lower (single codebase) |
| Performance | Excellent (100%) | Very Good (90-95%) |
| Platform Features | 100% access immediately | 95%+ (minor lag for newest features) |
| Time to Market | Slower (6-12 months typical) | Faster (4-8 months typical) |
| Best For | Performance-critical apps, heavy platform integration, large budgets | Most apps, startups, MVP, cost-conscious projects |
When to Choose Native Development
- App requires intensive graphics processing (3D, AR/VR)
- Heavy use of platform-specific hardware (advanced camera, sensors)
- Large established company with separate iOS and Android teams
- Performance is absolutely critical (real-time processing)
When to Choose Cross-Platform (Recommended for Most)
- Startup or scale-up with limited budget
- Need to launch on both platforms simultaneously
- Standard app functionality (forms, data display, API integration)
- Want to minimize maintenance burden
- Life science applications (Flutter handles medical UI/UX excellently)
Cost Example: Medium Complexity Life Science App
- Native Approach: 420,000-840,000 DKK (iOS: 210,000-420,000 DKK + Android: 210,000-420,000 DKK)
- Flutter Approach: 250,000-525,000 DKK (single codebase)
- Savings: 170,000-315,000 DKK (41-60% reduction)
Hourly Rates: Regional and Expertise Comparison
Developer hourly rates vary dramatically by geographic region and expertise level. Understanding these differences helps you evaluate proposals and manage expectations.
| Region | Junior (DKK/hour) | Mid-Level (DKK/hour) | Senior (DKK/hour) | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 500-650 | 650-900 | 900-1,300+ | Highest quality, local collaboration, regulatory expertise, time zone alignment |
| Nordic (SE/NO/FI) | 450-600 | 600-800 | 800-1,100 | Similar quality to Denmark, slight cost savings, cultural alignment |
| Western Europe | 350-500 | 500-700 | 700-950 | Good quality, moderate savings, EU regulatory understanding |
| Eastern Europe | 200-350 | 350-500 | 500-750 | Strong technical skills, significant savings, communication challenges, limited healthcare expertise |
| Asia (IN/PH/VN) | 100-200 | 200-350 | 350-550 | Lowest cost, large talent pool, major time zone differences, cultural gaps, limited regulatory knowledge |
Total Cost of Ownership Consideration
The cheapest hourly rate rarely results in the lowest total cost. Consider:
- Communication Overhead: Time zone differences and language barriers add 15-30% to timelines
- Rework: Lower quality code requires expensive refactoring (20-40% of project cost)
- Regulatory Delays: Lack of compliance expertise can delay market approval by 6-12 months
- Security Vulnerabilities: Poor security practices lead to data breaches and GDPR fines
Recommendation: For life science software, prioritize expertise over cost. A 30% higher hourly rate often results in 40-60% lower total project cost and dramatically reduced risk.
Hidden Costs You Must Consider
Many teams focus solely on development cost and get blindsided by these often-overlooked expenses:
1. Infrastructure and Hosting
- Startup Phase: 2,000-8,000 DKK/month (cloud hosting, database, CDN)
- Growth Phase: 8,000-30,000 DKK/month (scaling, redundancy, increased traffic)
- Enterprise Phase: 30,000-150,000+ DKK/month (high availability, global distribution, compliance)
Note: Life science software often requires EU-based hosting for GDPR compliance, which can be 20-30% more expensive than US-based hosting.
2. Ongoing Maintenance and Updates
Budget 15-20% of initial development cost annually for:
- OS and platform updates (iOS/Android release 2-3x per year)
- Security patches and vulnerability fixes
- Third-party library updates
- Bug fixes and minor improvements
- Compliance updates (GDPR, MDR changes)
Example: 350,000 DKK development cost = 52,500-70,000 DKK/year maintenance
3. App Store and Third-Party Service Fees
- Apple Developer Program: 750 DKK/year
- Google Play Console: 190 DKK (one-time)
- Payment Processing: 2-3% of transactions (Stripe, MobilePay)
- Analytics Services: 0-15,000 DKK/month (Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude)
- Monitoring and Error Tracking: 2,000-10,000 DKK/month (Sentry, DataDog)
4. Customer Support and Operations
Often forgotten but critical:
- Help Desk System: 1,500-8,000 DKK/month (Zendesk, Intercom)
- Support Staff: 25,000-40,000 DKK/month per FTE
- User Documentation: 20,000-70,000 DKK (initial), 10,000-25,000 DKK/year (updates)
- User Training Materials: 25,000-75,000 DKK
5. Ongoing Compliance and Certification
For medical device software:
- Post-Market Surveillance: 30,000-80,000 DKK/year
- Annual Notified Body Fees: 40,000-150,000 DKK/year (Class IIa/IIb)
- Periodic QMS Audits: 30,000-100,000 DKK every 1-3 years
- Regulatory Updates: 25,000-75,000 DKK when regulations change
6. Marketing and User Acquisition
Building a great app is only half the battle. Budget for:
- App Store Optimization (ASO): 15,000-50,000 DKK
- Paid User Acquisition: 100-500 DKK per install (highly variable)
- Content Marketing: 25,000-100,000 DKK/month
- PR and Launch Campaign: 75,000-300,000 DKK
7. Legal and Insurance
- Terms of Service and Privacy Policy: 15,000-50,000 DKK
- IP Protection and Contracts: 25,000-100,000 DKK
- Professional Liability Insurance: 15,000-75,000 DKK/year
- Medical Device Product Liability Insurance: 50,000-300,000+ DKK/year
Total Cost of Ownership Example
Here's a realistic 3-year cost projection for a medium complexity life science app:
- Year 0 (Development): 350,000 DKK development + 105,000 DKK regulatory + 35,000 DKK design = 490,000 DKK
- Year 1: 70,000 DKK maintenance + 56,000 DKK hosting + 42,000 DKK support + 56,000 DKK compliance = 224,000 DKK
- Year 2: 70,000 DKK maintenance + 84,000 DKK hosting + 70,000 DKK support + 56,000 DKK compliance = 280,000 DKK
- Year 3: 70,000 DKK maintenance + 105,000 DKK hosting + 105,000 DKK support + 56,000 DKK compliance = 336,000 DKK
- 3-Year Total: 1,330,000 DKK
Key insight: Initial development (490,000 DKK) represents only 37% of total 3-year cost. Always budget for the full lifecycle.
Interactive Price Calculator
Want an instant estimate for your specific project? Use our interactive calculator to get a personalized price range.
Coming Soon: Interactive Price Calculator
We're building an interactive calculator that will provide instant cost estimates based on your specific requirements. You'll be able to adjust factors like complexity, platform choice, feature scope, and regulatory needs to see real-time pricing.
The calculator will include:
- Adjustable complexity levels with visual examples
- Platform selection (native, Flutter, React Native, PWA)
- Feature checklist with individual cost impacts
- Regulatory requirements selector
- Timeline estimates alongside cost
- Total cost of ownership projection (3 years)
- Downloadable PDF estimate for stakeholders
In the meantime, get a personalized quote tailored to your exact needs:
ROI and Value Optimization
The question isn't just "What does it cost?" but "What value will it deliver?" Here's how to maximize return on your investment:
Start with MVP, Then Iterate
The most cost-effective approach for most projects:
- Phase 1 (MVP): Core features only. Get to market fast. Gather user feedback. Cost: 140,000-350,000 DKK
- Phase 2 (Enhancement): Add features based on real user needs. Improve UX based on data. Cost: 70,000-210,000 DKK
- Phase 3 (Scale): Optimize performance. Add advanced features. Scale infrastructure. Cost: 105,000-280,000 DKK
Benefit: Validate market fit before investing 1-2M DKK. Pivot based on real data, not assumptions.
Smart Cost Savings (Without Compromising Quality)
- Choose Cross-Platform: Save 40-60% vs native development
- Use Proven Technologies: Avoid cutting-edge frameworks that require more development time
- Leverage Open Source: Use established libraries instead of building from scratch
- Design System Approach: Reusable components speed up development and reduce costs
- Automated Testing: Higher upfront cost, but reduces bugs and expensive rework
- Cloud Infrastructure: Pay-as-you-grow vs expensive servers from day 1
Costly Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping Discovery: Building without proper planning leads to costly pivots mid-project
- Choosing Cheapest Bid: Low hourly rates often result in higher total cost due to poor quality
- Ignoring Scalability: Rebuilding for scale costs 3-5x more than building right initially
- Regulatory Afterthought: Retrofitting compliance can double development cost
- No Maintenance Budget: Technical debt accumulates rapidly without ongoing maintenance
- Overbuilding MVP: Investing in features users don't need wastes capital
Measuring ROI
Track these metrics to validate your investment:
- User Acquisition Cost (CAC): How much to acquire each user?
- Lifetime Value (LTV): Revenue per user over their lifetime
- LTV/CAC Ratio: Healthy ratio is 3:1 or higher
- Time to Market: Revenue lost during extended development
- Operational Efficiency: Staff time saved through automation
- Error Reduction: Cost savings from eliminating manual errors
Bon.do's Transparent Pricing Approach
At Bon.do, we believe in radical pricing transparency. Here's how we work:
Our Pricing Process
- Free Discovery Call: We discuss your vision, requirements, and constraints. No sales pressure.
- Detailed Scope Definition: We create a comprehensive project scope document with feature breakdown.
- Transparent Estimate: We provide a detailed estimate with line-item pricing for each component.
- Milestone Planning: We break the project into milestones with clear deliverables and acceptance criteria.
- Fixed-Price Milestones: You pay per milestone delivered, not hourly. No surprise invoices.
Our Guarantees
- Full IP Ownership: You own 100% of the code and assets from day 1
- Comprehensive Documentation: Technical, user, and regulatory documentation included
- Quality Assurance: All code reviewed and tested before milestone completion
- Regulatory Support: Guidance for ISO 13485, GDPR, and CE marking included
- No Vendor Lock-In: Clean, maintainable code that any developer can continue
Why Companies Choose Bon.do
- 10+ years life science software expertise
- Based in Denmark, understanding local market and regulations
- Proven track record with medical device software
- Transparent, milestone-based pricing
- Full-stack capabilities (backend, frontend, mobile, compliance)
- Long-term partnership approach, not transactional
Contact us today for a free consultation and transparent project estimate. Let's discuss how we can bring your life science software vision to reality within your budget.
Conclusion: Invest Wisely in Your Digital Future
App development is a significant investment, but done right, it delivers exponential returns through improved efficiency, new revenue streams, and enhanced user experiences.
Key takeaways: Price varies dramatically based on complexity, platform, and regulatory needs. Choose cross-platform development (Flutter/React Native) for optimal cost-to-value. Factor in total cost of ownership, not just initial development. Invest in quality and expertise, especially for life science software. Start with a focused MVP, then iterate based on real user feedback.
Remember: The cheapest option is rarely the best value. Focus on partnering with a team that understands your domain, delivers transparent pricing, and commits to your long-term success.
Ready to discuss your project? Contact Bon.do for a free consultation and transparent pricing estimate. Let's build something remarkable together.