How Much Does It Cost to Build an App in Poland? 2025 Complete Price Guide

If you’re planning to build a mobile or web app and considering Poland as your development destination, the first question on your mind is likely: “How much will this actually cost?” Poland offers exceptional value for app development, but prices vary dramatically based on complexity, features, team composition, and engagement model.

This comprehensive 2025 price guide provides exact costs for every type of app—from simple MVPs to complex enterprise platforms. We’ll break down costs by feature, show real project examples, compare pricing models, and reveal hidden expenses most guides don’t mention.

Quick Answer: Building an app in Poland costs between $15,000-$500,000+ depending on complexity. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Simple app: $15,000-45,000
  • Medium complexity: $45,000-120,000
  • Complex app: $120,000-300,000
  • Enterprise platform: $300,000-500,000+

Let’s dive into the details.

App Development Cost Overview: The Big Picture

Cost by App Complexity (Complete Projects)

Complexity Features Timeline Team Size Total Cost Monthly Rate
Simple MVP 5-10 screens, basic features, 1 platform 2-3 months 2-3 people $15,000-45,000 $7,500-15,000
Medium App 15-25 screens, advanced features, 2 platforms 4-6 months 4-6 people $45,000-120,000 $11,250-20,000
Complex App 30+ screens, sophisticated features, multiple platforms 6-12 months 6-10 people $120,000-300,000 $20,000-25,000
Enterprise Platform 50+ screens, complex integrations, custom infrastructure 12-24 months 10-20 people $300,000-1,000,000+ $25,000-42,000+

Average App Cost in Poland: $75,000-90,000 for a typical business app (medium complexity, iOS + Android)

Cost by App Type (Industry Examples)

App Type Complexity Level Typical Cost Range Example Features
Simple Calculator/Utility Very Simple $8,000-20,000 Basic calculations, simple UI, offline
To-Do List/Notes App Simple $15,000-35,000 CRUD operations, sync, notifications
Restaurant Menu App Simple $18,000-40,000 Menu display, orders, simple payments
Fitness Tracker Medium $45,000-85,000 Activity tracking, charts, social features
E-commerce App Medium-Complex $60,000-150,000 Product catalog, cart, payments, admin
Food Delivery Platform Complex $120,000-250,000 Multi-user, GPS, payments, real-time
Dating App Complex $100,000-220,000 Matching algorithm, chat, profiles, payments
Fintech/Banking App Very Complex $200,000-500,000+ Security, compliance, transactions, KYC
Social Media Platform Very Complex $250,000-600,000+ Feeds, messaging, media, scalability
On-Demand Service Very Complex $180,000-400,000 Matching, GPS, payments, multi-sided

Detailed Cost Breakdown by Project Size

Simple App: $15,000-45,000

What You Get:

Component Details Hours Rate Cost
Planning & Design
Discovery & Planning Requirements, user flows 20-30 $50-70 $1,000-2,100
UI/UX Design 8-12 screens, basic design 60-80 $45-60 $2,700-4,800
Development
Frontend Development Single platform (iOS or Android) 150-250 $50-70 $7,500-17,500
Backend Development Simple API, basic database 80-120 $55-75 $4,400-9,000
Testing & Launch
QA Testing Manual testing, basic automation 40-60 $35-45 $1,400-2,700
App Store Submission Setup, submission, optimization 10-15 $50-65 $500-975
Project Management Coordination, reporting 40-60 $55-70 $2,200-4,200
Total – 400-615 hours – $19,700-41,275

Typical Simple Apps:

  • Personal productivity app (to-do, notes, habits)
  • Simple content app (news, blog reader)
  • Basic calculator or converter
  • Simple game (casual, 2D)
  • Event listing app
  • Recipe app with search

Features Included:

  • ✓ User authentication (email/social)
  • ✓ User profile (view/edit)
  • ✓ 8-12 screens
  • ✓ Basic CRUD operations
  • ✓ Push notifications
  • ✓ Simple search/filtering
  • ✓ Basic analytics
  • ✓ One platform (iOS or Android)
  • ✗ Real-time features
  • ✗ Complex algorithms
  • ✗ Payment processing
  • ✗ Multi-language support
  • ✗ Advanced animations

Add-Ons & Cost Impact:

  • Second platform (Android/iOS): +$8,000-15,000
  • Payment integration: +$3,000-6,000
  • Social features (sharing): +$2,000-4,000
  • Push notifications: +$1,500-3,000
  • Multi-language: +$2,000-5,000

Real Example: Habit Tracking App

  • Platform: iOS only
  • Features: Daily habits, streaks, reminders, basic charts
  • Team: 1 developer, 0.5 designer, 0.3 QA
  • Timeline: 2.5 months
  • Total Cost: $22,500

Medium Complexity App: $45,000-120,000

What You Get:

Component Details Hours Rate Cost
Planning & Design
Discovery & Planning Detailed requirements, wireframes 40-60 $55-70 $2,200-4,200
UI/UX Design 15-25 screens, custom design 120-180 $50-65 $6,000-11,700
Development
iOS Development Native Swift development 250-400 $70-85 $17,500-34,000
Android Development Native Kotlin development 250-400 $70-85 $17,500-34,000
Backend Development Complex API, integrations 200-350 $60-80 $12,000-28,000
Admin Panel Web-based dashboard 80-120 $55-70 $4,400-8,400
Testing & Launch
QA Testing Manual + automated testing 100-150 $40-55 $4,000-8,250
App Store Optimization Both stores, ASO 15-25 $50-65 $750-1,625
Project Management Full PM, reporting 100-150 $60-75 $6,000-11,250
Total – 1,155-1,835 hours – $70,350-141,425

Typical Medium Apps:

  • E-commerce mobile shop
  • Fitness/wellness app with tracking
  • Social networking (basic)
  • Food delivery app
  • Booking/reservation platform
  • Educational app with content
  • Travel planning app
  • Portfolio/business showcase

Features Included:

  • ✓ Advanced authentication (biometric, 2FA)
  • ✓ User profiles (extended data)
  • ✓ 15-25 screens
  • ✓ Payment integration (Stripe/PayPal)
  • ✓ Real-time notifications
  • ✓ Media upload/processing
  • ✓ Search & advanced filters
  • ✓ Social features (sharing, following)
  • ✓ Analytics dashboard
  • ✓ Both platforms (iOS + Android)
  • ✓ Admin panel (basic)
  • ✓ API integrations (3-5 services)
  • ◐ Real-time features (limited)
  • ◐ Complex algorithms
  • ✗ Video streaming
  • ✗ Advanced AI/ML

Real Example: E-commerce Fashion App

  • Platforms: iOS + Android (React Native)
  • Features: Product catalog, cart, Stripe payments, order tracking, wishlist, reviews, admin panel
  • Team: 2 developers, 1 designer, 1 QA, 0.5 PM
  • Timeline: 5 months
  • Total Cost: $78,000

Cost Breakdown:

  • Development: $52,000 (67%)
  • Design: $10,000 (13%)
  • QA: $6,000 (8%)
  • PM: $6,000 (8%)
  • Other: $4,000 (5%)

Complex App: $120,000-300,000

What You Get:

Component Details Hours Rate Cost
Planning & Architecture
Discovery & Planning Extensive research, strategy 80-120 $60-80 $4,800-9,600
System Architecture Technical architecture design 40-60 $90-120 $3,600-7,200
UI/UX Design 30+ screens, high-fidelity 200-300 $55-70 $11,000-21,000
Development
iOS Development Advanced native features 450-700 $75-95 $33,750-66,500
Android Development Advanced native features 450-700 $75-95 $33,750-66,500
Backend Development Microservices, scalability 400-600 $70-90 $28,000-54,000
Admin Dashboard Advanced analytics, management 150-250 $60-80 $9,000-20,000
API Development Complex integrations 100-150 $65-85 $6,500-12,750
Infrastructure & DevOps
DevOps Setup CI/CD, monitoring, scaling 80-120 $70-95 $5,600-11,400
Security
Security Implementation Encryption, compliance 60-100 $80-110 $4,800-11,000
Testing & Launch
QA Testing Comprehensive test suite 200-300 $45-60 $9,000-18,000
Performance Testing Load testing, optimization 40-60 $65-85 $2,600-5,100
App Store Launch Both stores, ASO, marketing 25-40 $55-70 $1,375-2,800
Project Management Senior PM, stakeholder mgmt 200-300 $65-85 $13,000-25,500
Total – 2,475-3,900 hours – $166,775-331,350

Typical Complex Apps:

  • Fintech/banking application
  • Healthcare/telemedicine platform
  • On-demand service marketplace
  • Advanced social media platform
  • Real estate platform
  • Comprehensive fitness/health app
  • Travel booking system
  • Enterprise CRM/productivity

Features Included:

  • ✓ Multiple user roles & permissions
  • ✓ Advanced authentication & security
  • ✓ 30-50+ screens
  • ✓ Multiple payment gateways
  • ✓ Real-time features (chat, notifications, updates)
  • ✓ Video/audio streaming
  • ✓ Advanced search & AI recommendations
  • ✓ Geolocation & mapping
  • ✓ Complex business logic
  • ✓ Both platforms (native or cross-platform)
  • ✓ Advanced admin dashboard with analytics
  • ✓ Multiple API integrations (10+)
  • ✓ Offline functionality
  • ✓ Multi-language support
  • ✓ Push notifications (advanced targeting)
  • ✓ In-app messaging
  • ✓ Content management system
  • ✓ Advanced reporting & analytics

Real Example: Food Delivery Platform

  • Platforms: iOS + Android (native)
  • User types: Customers, restaurants, drivers
  • Features: GPS tracking, real-time orders, payments, ratings, admin dashboard with analytics
  • Team: 3 mobile devs, 2 backend devs, 1 DevOps, 1 designer, 2 QA, 1 PM
  • Timeline: 9 months
  • Total Cost: $185,000

Cost Breakdown:

  • Mobile Development: $85,000 (46%)
  • Backend & API: $42,000 (23%)
  • DevOps & Infrastructure: $12,000 (6%)
  • Design: $16,000 (9%)
  • QA: $15,000 (8%)
  • PM: $15,000 (8%)

Enterprise Platform: $300,000-1,000,000+

What You Get:

Component Months Team Size Monthly Cost Total Cost
Phase 1: Foundation 3-4 8-10 $55,000-75,000 $165,000-300,000
Discovery & Architecture 1 3-5 $25,000-35,000 $25,000-35,000
Core Platform Development 2-3 8-10 $55,000-75,000 $110,000-225,000
Phase 2: Feature Development 6-8 10-15 $70,000-105,000 $420,000-840,000
Advanced Features 4-5 10-12 $70,000-88,000 $280,000-440,000
Integrations & APIs 2-3 8-10 $55,000-75,000 $110,000-225,000
Phase 3: Polish & Scale 3-4 8-12 $55,000-88,000 $165,000-352,000
Optimization 2 6-8 $42,000-58,000 $84,000-116,000
Security & Compliance 1-2 4-6 $28,000-42,000 $28,000-84,000
Total 12-16 months 8-15 avg – $750,000-1,492,000

Typical Enterprise Apps:

  • Banking/financial platform
  • Healthcare management system
  • Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
  • Supply chain management
  • Multi-tenant SaaS platform
  • Advanced IoT control system
  • Telecommunications platform
  • Large-scale marketplace

Features Included:

  • ✓ Multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web, tablet)
  • ✓ Complex user roles & workflows
  • ✓ Enterprise-grade security & compliance
  • ✓ 50-100+ screens
  • ✓ Advanced integrations (20+ services)
  • ✓ Real-time collaboration features
  • ✓ AI/ML capabilities
  • ✓ Advanced analytics & BI
  • ✓ Multi-tenancy support
  • ✓ Custom CMS
  • ✓ Extensive API ecosystem
  • ✓ White-labeling capabilities
  • ✓ Advanced admin tools
  • ✓ Scalable infrastructure
  • ✓ Disaster recovery
  • ✓ 24/7 monitoring

Real Example: Banking Mobile App

  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Features: Account management, transfers, bill payments, investments, credit score, budgeting, secure messaging, compliance (KYC, AML)
  • Team: 4 mobile devs, 4 backend devs, 2 DevOps, 1 security specialist, 2 designers, 3 QA, 2 PMs, 1 architect
  • Timeline: 14 months
  • Total Cost: $950,000

Cost by Feature: Build Your Own Estimate

Essential Features Cost Table

Feature Complexity Hours Cost Range Notes
Authentication & Users
Basic Email/Password Simple 15-25 $900-2,000 Standard implementation
Social Login (OAuth) Simple 20-30 $1,200-2,400 Google, Facebook, Apple
Phone Number (SMS) Medium 25-40 $1,500-3,200 Twilio integration
Biometric Authentication Medium 30-50 $1,800-4,000 Face ID, Touch ID
Two-Factor Authentication Medium 35-50 $2,100-4,000 SMS or app-based
User Profile (Basic) Simple 20-35 $1,200-2,800 View, edit, photo
User Profile (Advanced) Medium 40-70 $2,400-5,600 Extended fields, preferences
Payments & Commerce
Single Payment Gateway Medium 30-50 $1,800-4,000 Stripe or PayPal
Multiple Payment Gateways Complex 60-90 $3,600-7,200 2-3 providers
In-App Purchases Medium 40-60 $2,400-4,800 Apple/Google IAP
Subscription Management Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Recurring billing
Shopping Cart Medium 40-70 $2,400-5,600 Add, remove, quantity
Order Management Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Status, tracking, history
Refunds & Returns Complex 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Process logic
Social & Communication
Basic Sharing Simple 15-25 $900-2,000 Share to social media
In-App Chat (1-on-1) Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Real-time messaging
Group Chat Complex 100-150 $6,000-12,000 Multiple participants
Video Calls (1-on-1) Complex 80-120 $4,800-9,600 WebRTC implementation
Video Calls (Group) Very Complex 150-250 $9,000-20,000 Scaling, quality
Comments System Simple 30-50 $1,800-4,000 Basic commenting
Rating & Reviews Simple 35-60 $2,100-4,800 Stars, text, display
Activity Feed Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Social feed functionality
Follow/Friends System Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Connections management
Content & Media
Photo Upload Simple 20-35 $1,200-2,800 Single photo upload
Photo Gallery Medium 40-70 $2,400-5,600 Multiple photos, carousel
Image Processing Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Resize, crop, filters
Video Upload Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Video handling
Video Streaming Complex 100-180 $6,000-14,400 Live or on-demand
Audio Recording Medium 40-60 $2,400-4,800 Record, playback
Document Upload Simple 25-40 $1,500-3,200 PDF, DOC support
Content Management Medium 80-150 $4,800-12,000 Admin content tools
Maps & Location
Display Map Simple 20-35 $1,200-2,800 Google Maps basic
User Location Simple 25-40 $1,500-3,200 Get current location
Address Search Medium 35-60 $2,100-4,800 Geocoding
Route Planning Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Directions, navigation
Geofencing Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Location-based triggers
Real-time GPS Tracking Complex 80-140 $4,800-11,200 Live location updates
Search & Filters
Basic Search Simple 25-40 $1,500-3,200 Simple text search
Advanced Search Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Multiple criteria
Filters (Basic) Simple 30-50 $1,800-4,000 3-5 filter options
Filters (Advanced) Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Complex filtering
Search Suggestions Medium 40-70 $2,400-5,600 Auto-complete
AI-Powered Search Complex 100-180 $6,000-14,400 ML-based relevance
Notifications
Push Notifications Simple 25-40 $1,500-3,200 Basic push
Advanced Push (Segments) Medium 40-70 $2,400-5,600 Targeted notifications
In-App Notifications Simple 30-50 $1,800-4,000 Notification center
Email Notifications Simple 25-45 $1,500-3,600 Automated emails
SMS Notifications Medium 30-50 $1,800-4,000 Twilio integration
Analytics & Reporting
Basic Analytics Simple 20-35 $1,200-2,800 Google Analytics
Custom Analytics Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Custom events
User Reports Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Basic reports
Advanced Dashboards Complex 100-180 $6,000-14,400 BI-style dashboards
Export Data Simple 25-40 $1,500-3,200 CSV, PDF export
AI & Advanced
Chatbot (Rule-based) Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Scripted responses
Chatbot (AI) Complex 120-200 $7,200-16,000 NLP-powered
Recommendation Engine Complex 150-250 $9,000-20,000 ML-based suggestions
Image Recognition Complex 100-180 $6,000-14,400 Computer vision
Voice Commands Complex 120-200 $7,200-16,000 Speech recognition
Translation Medium 50-80 $3,000-6,400 Multi-language
Admin & Management
Basic Admin Panel Medium 80-140 $4,800-11,200 CRUD operations
Advanced Admin Panel Complex 150-280 $9,000-22,400 Analytics, reports
User Management Medium 40-70 $2,400-5,600 Manage users
Content Moderation Medium 60-100 $3,600-8,000 Review, approve
Role-Based Access Medium 50-90 $3,000-7,200 Permissions system

Quick Cost Calculator

Use this formula to estimate your app:

  1. Base Cost by Complexity:
    • Simple: $15,000
    • Medium: $45,000
    • Complex: $120,000
  2. Add Features from Table Above
  3. Platform Multiplier:
    • iOS only: 1.0x
    • Android only: 1.0x
    • Both Native: 2.0x
    • React Native/Flutter: 1.3x
  4. Add Margins:
    • Add 10-15% contingency
    • Add 10-20% for PM & QA

Example Calculation:

E-commerce App:

  • Base (Medium): $45,000
  • Payment Gateway: $3,000
  • Shopping Cart: $4,000
  • Order Management: $6,000
  • Photo Gallery: $4,000
  • Search & Filters: $5,000
  • Push Notifications: $2,500
  • Subtotal: $69,500
  • Both Platforms (×2): $139,000
  • PM & QA (+20%): $27,800
  • Total Estimate: $166,800

Cost Comparison: Poland vs Other Countries

Hourly Rate Comparison

Country/Region Developer Rate Designer Rate PM Rate Average Project Cost
Poland $50-85/h $45-65/h $55-75/h $75,000 (medium app)
Ukraine $40-70/h $35-55/h $45-65/h $62,000 (medium app)
India $25-50/h $20-40/h $30-45/h $45,000 (medium app)
Philippines $20-40/h $18-35/h $25-40/h $38,000 (medium app)
UK $100-180/h $80-130/h $90-140/h $165,000 (medium app)
USA (East) $120-200/h $90-150/h $100-160/h $195,000 (medium app)
USA (West) $150-250/h $110-180/h $120-190/h $245,000 (medium app)
Germany $90-160/h $70-120/h $80-130/h $145,000 (medium app)
Netherlands $95-170/h $75-125/h $85-135/h $155,000 (medium app)

Project Cost Comparison (Medium App)

Location Development Design QA PM Total vs Poland
Poland $52,000 $10,000 $6,000 $7,000 $75,000 Baseline
Ukraine $43,000 $8,000 $5,000 $6,000 $62,000 -17%
India $32,000 $6,000 $4,000 $5,000 $47,000 -37%
UK $115,000 $21,000 $12,000 $15,000 $163,000 +117%
USA $135,000 $24,000 $14,000 $17,000 $190,000 +153%
Germany $100,000 $18,000 $11,000 $14,000 $143,000 +91%

Key Insight: Poland offers 40-60% savings vs Western Europe/USA while maintaining quality comparable to or better than cheaper alternatives (India, Philippines).

Total Value Comparison

Factor Poland India Philippines UK USA
Cost 8/10 10/10 10/10 3/10 2/10
Quality 9/10 7/10 6/10 10/10 10/10
Communication 9/10 6/10 7/10 10/10 10/10
Time Zone (EU) 10/10 4/10 2/10 10/10 5/10
Stability 10/10 8/10 7/10 10/10 10/10
Legal Protection 10/10 7/10 6/10 10/10 10/10
Overall Value 9.3/10 7.0/10 6.3/10 8.8/10 7.8/10

Winner: Poland offers best overall value—not the cheapest, but best quality-to-price ratio.

Hidden Costs Most Guides Don’t Mention

Pre-Development Costs

Cost Item Amount When Optional?
Market Research $2,000-8,000 Before development Recommended
Competitor Analysis $1,500-5,000 Planning phase Recommended
User Research $3,000-10,000 Design phase Recommended
Technical Consultation $1,000-3,000 Architecture phase Recommended
Legal Setup (Company) $500-3,000 Before launch Required
Trademark Registration $500-2,000 Early Recommended

Post-Launch Costs (Annual)

Cost Item Annual Cost Notes
App Store Fees $100 Apple Developer ($99/year)
Google Play Fee $25 One-time fee
Hosting & Backend $1,200-12,000 Depends on traffic/usage
Database $600-6,000 Based on data volume
CDN & Storage $600-5,000 Media files, assets
Push Notifications $0-2,400 Free tiers often sufficient
Analytics $0-6,000 Many have free tiers
Error Tracking $0-2,000 Sentry, Bugsnag
Payment Processing 2-3% of revenue Stripe, PayPal fees
SMS/Email Services $500-5,000 Twilio, SendGrid
API Services $600-8,000 Third-party integrations
SSL Certificates $50-300 Security
Maintenance (15-20%) $11,250-24,000 Bug fixes, updates (for $75K app)
New Features $15,000-60,000+ Continuous development
Marketing $12,000-120,000+ User acquisition
Customer Support $6,000-36,000 Help desk, support team
Total Year 1 $48,000-287,000+ Varies widely

Planning Tip: Budget 40-60% of initial development cost for Year 1 post-launch expenses.

Unexpected Costs

Cost Item Amount Likelihood Prevention
Scope Creep 15-40% of budget High Clear requirements, change control
Design Revisions (Extra) $3,000-10,000 Medium Approval process, limited revisions
API Changes $2,000-8,000 Medium Use stable APIs, build abstraction
Platform Policy Changes $1,000-5,000 Low Stay updated, flexible architecture
Security Issues $5,000-20,000 Low-Medium Security audit, best practices
Performance Problems $3,000-12,000 Medium Load testing, optimization
Legal Issues $5,000-25,000+ Low Proper contracts, compliance
Team Turnover $5,000-15,000 Low-Medium Good documentation, knowledge sharing

Cost-Saving Strategies

Strategy 1: MVP First Approach

Comparison:

Approach Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Total Time to Market
Build Everything – – $120,000 $120,000 9 months
MVP Approach $45,000 (MVP) $35,000 (feedback) $40,000 (full) $120,000 3 months

Benefits of MVP:

  • ✓ Faster time to market (3 vs 9 months)
  • ✓ Validate idea with real users
  • ✓ User feedback drives features
  • ✓ Lower initial investment risk
  • ✓ Can pivot based on data
  • ✓ Start revenue generation earlier

MVP Savings: $0 saved overall, but much better ROI and risk management

Strategy 2: Cross-Platform vs Native

Approach Development Cost Maintenance Cost Total 3 Years When to Choose
Two Native Apps $90,000 $27,000/year $171,000 Best performance needed
React Native $62,000 $18,000/year $116,000 Good performance, shared code
Flutter $58,000 $17,000/year $109,000 Modern UI, fast development

Cross-Platform Savings: $55,000-62,000 over 3 years (32-36%)

Trade-offs:

  • Native: Best performance, full platform features, but 2x cost
  • Cross-platform: 90% of native performance, 70% less cost, some platform limitations

Strategy 3: Outsource Non-Core Features

Feature Build Custom Use Third-Party Savings Trade-off
Chat $10,000-20,000 $1,200/year (Stream, SendBird) $8,800-18,800 Less customization
Video Calls $15,000-30,000 $2,400/year (Twilio, Agora) $12,600-27,600 Recurring cost
Payment $8,000-15,000 $0 (Stripe) + 2.9% fees $8,000-15,000 Payment fees
Analytics $12,000-25,000 $0-$2,400/year (Mixpanel) $9,600-22,600 Data ownership
Push Notifications $5,000-10,000 $0-$600/year (Firebase) $4,400-9,400 Limited control

Total Potential Savings: $43,400-93,400 upfront (pay $4,200-6,600/year instead)

Strategy 4: Phased Feature Development

Example: E-commerce App

Phase Features Cost Revenue Potential ROI Timeline
Phase 1 (MVP) Product catalog, cart, basic checkout $35,000 Start selling Month 1
Phase 2 User accounts, order history, reviews $20,000 Repeat customers Month 4
Phase 3 Wishlists, recommendations, social $18,000 Engagement boost Month 7
Phase 4 Advanced analytics, loyalty program $22,000 Customer retention Month 10
Total Full-featured app $95,000 Continuous 10 months

vs. Building Everything: Same total cost, but:

  • ✓ Revenue starts in Month 1 vs Month 10
  • ✓ Features based on real user data
  • ✓ Lower financial risk
  • ✓ Faster iterations

Strategy 5: Choose Right Engagement Model

Cost Comparison (6-Month Project):

Model Total Cost Flexibility Risk Best For
Fixed Price $95,000 Low Vendor Clear scope, tight budget
Time & Materials $82,000-118,000 High Shared Evolving requirements
Dedicated Team $210,000 (year) High You Long-term development
Hybrid $88,000-105,000 Medium Shared Balanced approach

Savings: Choosing right model can save $10,000-30,000 on same project

Real Project Examples with Actual Costs

Example 1: Fitness Tracking App

Client: UK-based startup Timeline: 4 months Team: 1 Senior iOS dev, 1 Mid Android dev, 1 Mid Backend dev, 0.5 Designer, 0.5 QA, 0.3 PM

Features:

  • User profiles with goals
  • Activity tracking (steps, calories, workouts)
  • Progress charts and statistics
  • Social features (friends, leaderboard)
  • Push notifications for reminders
  • Apple Health & Google Fit integration

Cost Breakdown:

Component Hours Rate Cost
Design 100 $50 $5,000
iOS Development 280 $75 $21,000
Android Development 260 $65 $16,900
Backend & API 180 $70 $12,600
QA Testing 80 $45 $3,600
Project Management 50 $65 $3,250
Total 950 hours – $62,350

Post-Launch (Year 1): $8,400 (hosting, maintenance, updates)

Example 2: Restaurant Delivery App

Client: Polish restaurant chain Timeline: 7 months Team: 2 Mobile devs (React Native), 2 Backend devs, 1 DevOps, 1 Designer, 1 QA, 1 PM

Features:

  • Customer app (menu, cart, orders, tracking)
  • Restaurant dashboard (orders, menu management)
  • Delivery driver app (orders, GPS navigation)
  • Real-time order tracking
  • Multiple payment options
  • Push notifications
  • Admin panel with analytics

Cost Breakdown:

Component Hours Rate Cost
Design & UX 180 $55 $9,900
Mobile App (React Native) 520 $65 $33,800
Backend Development 400 $70 $28,000
Driver App 180 $65 $11,700
Restaurant Dashboard 200 $60 $12,000
Admin Panel 160 $60 $9,600
DevOps & Infrastructure 80 $75 $6,000
QA Testing 180 $50 $9,000
Project Management 140 $70 $9,800
Total 2,040 hours – $129,800

Monthly Operating Costs: $2,800 (servers, APIs, maintenance)

Example 3: Social Networking App (MVP)

Client: German entrepreneur Timeline: 5 months Team: 1 Senior Full-stack, 1 Mid Mobile dev, 1 Designer, 0.5 QA, 0.5 PM

Features:

  • User profiles with photos
  • Follow/unfollow system
  • Photo feed with likes and comments
  • Direct messaging
  • Push notifications
  • Basic search

Cost Breakdown:

Component Hours Rate Cost
UI/UX Design 140 $55 $7,700
iOS Development 320 $75 $24,000
Backend & API 280 $75 $21,000
Chat Feature 120 $75 $9,000
QA Testing 80 $45 $3,600
Project Management 70 $65 $4,550
Total 1,010 hours – $69,850

Note: Client later invested $45,000 more for Android version and advanced features

Example 4: Telemedicine Platform

Client: Healthcare provider (Netherlands) Timeline: 11 months Team: 2 Mobile devs, 2 Backend devs, 1 DevOps, 1 Security specialist, 1 Designer, 2 QA, 1 PM

Features:

  • Patient mobile app
  • Doctor mobile app
  • Video consultations (Twilio)
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Medical records management
  • Prescription system
  • GDPR-compliant data handling
  • Payment integration
  • Admin dashboard

Cost Breakdown:

Component Hours Rate Cost
Discovery & Compliance 120 $70 $8,400
Architecture & Security Design 80 $100 $8,000
UI/UX Design 240 $60 $14,400
Patient App (iOS + Android) 480 $75 $36,000
Doctor App (iOS + Android) 380 $75 $28,500
Backend Development 520 $75 $39,000
Video Integration 120 $75 $9,000
Security Implementation 100 $100 $10,000
DevOps & Infrastructure 140 $80 $11,200
QA & Testing 280 $50 $14,000
Compliance Review 60 $90 $5,400
Project Management 180 $75 $13,500
Total 2,700 hours – $197,400

GDPR Compliance: Built-in from day 1, saved potential $50,000+ retrofit costs

Pricing Models Explained

Fixed Price Model

How It Works:

  • Define complete scope upfront
  • Agree on total price
  • Vendor delivers for that price
  • Changes cost extra

Typical Costs:

Project Size Fixed Price Payment Schedule
Small MVP $18,000-40,000 30% / 40% / 30%
Medium App $50,000-110,000 25% / 25% / 25% / 25%
Large App $120,000-280,000 20% × 5 milestones

Pros:

  • ✓ Budget certainty
  • ✓ Vendor bears overrun risk
  • ✓ Clear deliverables

Cons:

  • ✗ Changes are expensive
  • ✗ Requires detailed spec
  • ✗ Less flexibility
  • ✗ Often costs 10-20% more

Best For: Simple projects, tight budgets, clear requirements

Time & Materials (Hourly)

How It Works:

  • Pay for actual hours worked
  • Typical rates: $50-85/hour
  • Billed weekly or bi-weekly
  • Flexible scope

Typical Monthly Costs:

Team Size Monthly Hours Cost Range
1 Developer 160 $8,000-13,600
2-3 Developers 320-480 $16,000-40,800
4-6 Developers 640-960 $32,000-81,600

Pros:

  • ✓ Maximum flexibility
  • ✓ Pay only for work done
  • ✓ Easy to scale
  • ✓ Can pivot easily

Cons:

  • ✗ Unpredictable total cost
  • ✗ Requires active management
  • ✗ Can exceed estimates

Best For: Evolving projects, ongoing work, unclear scope

Dedicated Team (Monthly Retainer)

How It Works:

  • Exclusive team for your project
  • Monthly fixed fee
  • Minimum 3-6 months
  • Full-time dedication

Typical Monthly Costs:

Team Composition Monthly Fee Annual Cost
2 Mid Developers $14,000-18,000 $168,000-216,000
1 Senior + 2 Mid $20,000-27,000 $240,000-324,000
Full Squad (5-7 people) $35,000-55,000 $420,000-660,000

Included:

  • ✓ Dedicated developers
  • ✓ Project management
  • ✓ QA testing
  • ✓ Team continuity

Pros:

  • ✓ Predictable monthly cost
  • ✓ Team becomes extension of company
  • ✓ Deep product knowledge
  • ✓ Long-term partnership

Cons:

  • ✗ Minimum commitment (3-6 months)
  • ✗ Pay during slow periods
  • ✗ Higher monthly expense

Best For: Long-term projects (6+ months), product companies, continuous development

Hybrid Model (Recommended)

How It Works:

  • Core team on retainer
  • Additional resources hourly
  • Best of both worlds

Example Structure:

Component Model Monthly Cost
Core Team (3 devs) Dedicated $22,000-28,000
Additional Developer Hourly (as needed) $0-10,000
Specialist (DevOps) Project-based $0-8,000
Total – $22,000-46,000

Pros:

  • ✓ Core team stability
  • ✓ Flexibility for peaks
  • ✓ Cost optimization
  • ✓ Predictable base cost

Best For: Most medium to large projects

Factors That Affect Your App Cost

1. Platform Choice

Option Cost Impact Development Time Maintenance
iOS Only Baseline (1.0x) Fastest Lower
Android Only Baseline (1.0x) Fastest Lower
Both Native Double (2.0x) Slower Higher
React Native +30% (1.3x) Medium Medium
Flutter +25% (1.25x) Medium Medium
Web App (PWA) -30% (0.7x) Fast Lower

Recommendation: Start with one platform (iOS if US/UK, Android if global), then expand based on success.

2. Design Complexity

Design Level Cost Impact Characteristics Example
Template +$2,000-5,000 Off-the-shelf components Basic utility app
Custom Standard +$8,000-15,000 Branded but standard patterns Most business apps
Custom Advanced +$15,000-35,000 Unique animations, interactions Premium consumer apps
Award-Worthy +$35,000-80,000 Cutting-edge design Brand showcase apps

3. Backend Complexity

Backend Type Cost Characteristics Use Case
No Backend $0 Offline only Simple calculators
Firebase/BaaS $3,000-8,000 Ready-made backend MVPs, simple apps
Simple API $8,000-20,000 CRUD operations Standard apps
Complex API $20,000-60,000 Business logic, integrations Business apps
Microservices $60,000-150,000+ Scalable, distributed Enterprise apps

4. Third-Party Integrations

Integration Type Typical Cost Examples
Simple API $1,000-3,000 Weather, currency
Payment Gateway $3,000-6,000 Stripe, PayPal
Social Login $1,500-3,000 Facebook, Google
Maps $1,500-4,000 Google Maps
Video/Chat $5,000-15,000 Twilio, Agora
Analytics $1,000-3,000 Mixpanel, Amplitude
CRM $3,000-8,000 Salesforce, HubSpot

Cost per Integration: $1,000-15,000 depending on complexity

5. Compliance & Security

Requirement Cost Impact When Required
Basic Security Included All apps
GDPR Compliance +$5,000-15,000 EU users
HIPAA Compliance +$15,000-40,000 Healthcare data
PCI DSS +$10,000-30,000 Credit card handling
SOC 2 +$20,000-60,000 Enterprise B2B
Penetration Testing +$5,000-20,000 High security needs

Making Your Decision: Budget Planning

Budget Allocation Guidelines

For a typical $75,000 app project:

Category Budget Percentage Rationale
Development $48,000 64% Core work
Design $9,000 12% User experience
QA & Testing $6,000 8% Quality assurance
Project Management $6,000 8% Coordination
Contingency $6,000 8% Buffer for changes
Total $75,000 100% –

Financing Your App Development

Option Typical Amount Pros Cons
Bootstrap Any Full control, no dilution Limited funds
Friends & Family $10,000-100,000 Flexible terms Relationship risk
Angel Investors $50,000-500,000 Expertise + capital Equity dilution
VC Funding $500,000-5M+ Large capital Significant dilution
Bank Loan $25,000-250,000 Keep equity Debt obligation
Grants $10,000-100,000 Non-dilutive Competitive, restricted

ROI Timeline

Typical App ROI Scenarios:

Monetization Model Break-Even Profitable Notes
Paid App 3-6 months 9-18 months Fast if marketing works
In-App Purchases 6-12 months 12-24 months Requires user base
Subscriptions 8-15 months 15-30 months Long-term value
Advertising 12-24 months 24-48 months Needs large user base
B2B SaaS 12-18 months 18-36 months Higher LTV
Marketplace 18-36 months 36-60 months Network effects

Conclusion: What Should Your App Cost?

The cost to build an app in Poland in 2025 ranges from $15,000 for a simple MVP to $500,000+ for enterprise platforms, with most business apps falling in the $50,000-150,000 range.

Key Takeaways:

By Complexity:

  • Simple app: $15,000-45,000 (2-3 months)
  • Medium app: $45,000-120,000 (4-6 months)
  • Complex app: $120,000-300,000 (6-12 months)
  • Enterprise: $300,000-1M+ (12-24 months)

Cost Drivers:

  • Platform choice (native vs cross-platform)
  • Feature complexity and quantity
  • Design sophistication
  • Backend complexity
  • Third-party integrations
  • Compliance requirements

Poland Advantage:

  • 40-60% cheaper than US/UK
  • 10-20% more expensive than India/Philippines
  • Best quality-to-price ratio in Europe
  • Excellent communication and stability

Budget Smart:

  • Start with MVP (save 40-60% initially)
  • Use cross-platform (save 30-35%)
  • Phase features (validate before building everything)
  • Choose right engagement model
  • Plan for 40-60% of dev cost in Year 1 post-launch

Final Recommendation: For a typical business app with medium complexity (iOS + Android), budget $60,000-90,000 for development in Poland. This gets you a professional, well-designed app with core features. Add $25,000-35,000 for Year 1 post-launch (hosting, maintenance, updates).

Ready to get an exact quote for your app? Share your detailed requirements with 3-5 Polish development companies. Most provide free estimates within 48 hours. Compare not just price but also portfolio, communication, and approach. Remember: the cheapest option isn’t always the best value—look for the optimal balance of cost, quality, and reliability.

 

Check also: Mobile App Development Poland