A useful estimate starts with the work the product must do, including the system behind the app.
How much does it cost to build an app?
Some focused, well-prepared builds can begin around CAD $15,000. This is a starting context for contained work, not a fixed price or a market average. A multi-role platform, marketplace, regulated workflow or AI-heavy product needs a separate scope and budget. The first decision is whether you need a focused release or a larger system delivered in phases.
What changes the budget
The number of screens is only part of the work. User roles, permission rules, offline behavior, payments, data migration, device features and external integrations introduce states that must be designed, built and tested. AI features also require representative inputs, evaluation, fallback behavior and a decision about acceptable errors.
- Mobile surfaces: iOS, Android, device access and offline use
- Shared systems: APIs, authentication, databases and administration
- Operational work: deployment, store preparation, testing and monitoring
Compare the same scope
Two quotes may describe different products. One may include only the app interface while another covers the backend, admin tools, production setup and release support. Ask each team to name what is included, excluded, assumed and dependent on a third party. Separate one-time delivery work from recurring services and support. Confirm the currency and tax treatment in the proposal rather than assuming every number is comparable.
Keep the first release useful
Choose one complete workflow for a clearly identified user. A contained first version might connect a mobile interface to modest backend services and an essential administration flow. Defer secondary features deliberately, while retaining the permissions, error handling and operational work required for that first workflow to function. An MVP should reveal what to build next without hiding necessary work in a later phase.
Plan beyond launch
Hosting, storage, third-party APIs, model usage and ongoing maintenance can continue after development. App store submissions, operating-system updates, dependency changes and support also need ownership. Ask which recurring charges you will pay directly, what monitoring and response are included, and how future changes will be estimated. Usage-dependent services should be discussed using your expected workload, not an invented universal monthly fee.
Prepare for a useful estimate
Send the user problem, main workflow, user roles, must-have features, known integrations and intended launch. Notes, sketches, Figma screens or an existing app are useful starting points. Identify what already exists and who controls it. Include budget and timing constraints, plus unresolved decisions. Underlabs can use those inputs to distinguish a focused build from a larger product system and identify what needs investigation before a reliable quote.
Mobile app development services · Plan an MVP · Discuss your scope