How much does it cost to build an app in Poland? Real budgets for 2026
To build an app in Poland in 2026, budget by scope. A proof of concept on your real data costs PLN 10,000–25,000 net (about €2,300–5,700) and takes 2–4 weeks. Meanwhile, a Polish price guide puts a simple app at PLN 40,000–100,000 and a mid-range one at PLN 100,000–350,000. Below are my own bands, dated hourly rates and what it took to build an app like Turlo.
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How much should you budget to build an app?
Budget by scope, not by the number of platforms. A proof of concept tests one flow on real data. An MVP then puts the core product in front of real users, and a full product covers every channel they use. In the table below, my own bands come first, followed by market quotes for a mobile app.
| Scope | Net PLN | ≈ EUR | Time | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My bands · RS Mobile invoices | ||||
| Proof of concept | 10,000–25,000 | €2,300–5,700 | 2–4 weeks | One core flow on your real data |
| Internal web system | 40,000–120,000 | €9,100–27,400 | 2–3 months | Backend, web app and admin panel, no store apps |
| Maintenance, per month | 1,000–2,000 | €230–460 | Ongoing | Backups, updates, monitoring, small fixes |
| Market quotes for an app · CenaUslug.pl, May 2026 | ||||
| Simple app or MVP | 40,000–100,000 | €9,100–22,800 | — | 3–5 screens, no complex server database |
| Mid-range app | 100,000–350,000 | €22,800–80,000 | — | Database, login, payments, push notifications |
| Advanced app | 350,000–1,000,000+ | €80,000–228,400+ | — | Own backend, live location, chat, encryption |
What do Polish developers charge per hour in 2026?
Just Join IT’s 2026 salary report puts a senior self-employed (B2B) IT specialist at a median of PLN 24,260 a month. That is about PLN 144 net an hour. Devstock (August 2026) quotes PLN 180–280 for an experienced freelancer and PLN 150–400 for an hour of software house time. The three numbers measure different things: a contractor’s income, a freelancer’s rate and an agency’s price.
| What it measures | Net PLN | ≈ EUR | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior IT specialist on B2B: survey median, 4,400 respondents | ≈ 144 an hour | ≈ €33 | Just Join IT, salary report 2026 (2025 data) |
| Experienced freelance developer | 180–280 an hour | €41–64 | Devstock, 13 August 2026 |
| Software house hour, depending on role and experience | 150–400 an hour | €34–91 | Devstock, 13 August 2026 |
To turn the monthly Just Join IT figure into an hourly one, I assumed 168 working hours a month; all rates exclude VAT. A software house hour also pays for project management, testing and margin, not only for the developer. If you are comparing countries as well, my guide to the best countries for app development sets these rates against other markets.
Why the hourly rate is only half the answer
Your budget is the rate times the hours, so the hours matter just as much. For example, 300 hours at PLN 150 cost PLN 45,000, while 300 hours at PLN 280 cost PLN 84,000. A senior who needs half the hours can still be the cheaper choice. Before you build an app, ask every bidder for an hour estimate per feature.
MVP development cost in Poland: what the first release needs
When you build an app, the MVP is the smallest product real users can rely on. In practice, that means accounts, the core flow, an admin panel and a live backend, with one client: a web app or one native app.
Market figures for an MVP vary widely. CenaUslug.pl puts a simple MVP of 3–5 screens at PLN 40,000–100,000. In a guide updated in August 2026, Netguru, a large Polish software house, says a one-platform MVP “generally lands in the $25,000–$60,000 range”. At the NBP rate of 9 October 2026 (1 USD = 3.9022 PLN), that is about PLN 98,000–234,000.
I don’t publish a fixed MVP price, because scope decides where you land. Instead, I name a range after one call about scope, and a proof of concept then narrows it. That is also why I build in stages: proof of concept, then MVP, then the other platforms. If you build an app for a new market, this order shows early whether people want it.
What the Turlo build actually involved
Turlo is a commission-free trip search engine for the web, iOS and Android, in 16 languages. I built it for a travel-tech client as its only engineer, from September 2025 to September 2026. What the client paid stays between us, so this section shows the scope instead.
One backend, three apps
The backend runs on Java 21 and Spring Boot 3.5, with MySQL for data and Elasticsearch for search. Three clients use one API: an Angular web app, a SwiftUI iOS app and a Jetpack Compose Android app. Apps already installed from the stores talk to a frozen first version of that API, so old installs keep working. The web app also holds the panels for tour organizers and for the operator.
16 languages and AI import from a link
Every offer appears in 16 languages, and travellers can see indicative prices in 11 currencies, converted at daily NBP rates. Organizers add an offer by pasting a link to their own offer page. A headless browser opens that page, and an OpenAI model turns it into a structured offer: itinerary, prices, inclusions and photos. The system then translates it into the other 15 languages and sends it for approval. Search works on plain sentences too, such as “Italy in October under $3000”.
The codebase holds about 43,600 lines of Java and 52,200 lines of Java tests. In addition, it has 19,000 lines of Angular TypeScript, 17,000 of Kotlin and 16,700 of Swift. The repository also has 26 Playwright end-to-end specs. Contract tests fail the build if a response from the frozen v1 API changes. That is what it takes to build an app for three platforms on one backend. For screens and the full story, read the Turlo case study.
Cost drivers when you build an app
Five things move the price more than the hourly rate:
- Platforms: each client (web, iOS, Android) needs its own screens, tests and releases.
- Integrations: payments, an ERP, maps or email each add work and a supplier.
- Languages: every extra language touches URLs, layouts, store listings and tests.
- AI features: every model call has a running cost, and the output needs limits and tests.
- Old app versions: installed apps stay on phones, so the API must stay compatible.
None of these is a reason to drop a feature. However, each one deserves its own line in any quote to build an app. I cover AI features and launching in many languages in my post on mobile app development trends. To decide who should build it, read my guide to the best mobile app development in Poland, which compares agencies, freelancers and one-person studios. For iOS specifics, see the separate guide to iOS app development in Poland.
How to build an app for less without cutting corners
You can cut the budget without cutting quality: move work later instead of skipping it.
- Start with a proof of concept on your real data. For PLN 10,000–25,000, it shows early whether the idea holds.
- Launch on one platform first. For example, ship the web app, then add iOS and Android when users ask.
- Use proven services for email, file storage and payments, as Turlo does for email and photos.
- Write tests from day one, so they check every change before release.
- Work directly with the engineer who writes the code, with fewer hand-offs and meetings.
In short, pay for scope in the order your users need it.
What does an app cost after launch?
Whatever you pay to build an app, plan for monthly running costs as well. My maintenance band is PLN 1,000–2,000 net a month (€230–460) for backups, updates, monitoring and small fixes. By comparison, Netguru’s rule of thumb is 15–20% of the build cost every year.
The stores also charge their own fees. Apple asks $99 a year for its Developer Program, and Google Play charges a one-time $25 registration fee. Cloud hosting and AI features add usage-based costs on top. Every iOS or Android release also needs testing and a store review, so budget time for each update, not only for the launch.
FAQ — cost to build an app in Poland
Is it cheaper to build an app in Poland than in Western Europe? Usually, yes, because labour costs less. Eurostat data for 2025, published in March 2026, puts Poland’s average hourly labour cost at €19.1. The EU average is €34.9, and Germany’s is €45.0. That average covers the whole economy, though, so compare full quotes rather than rates.
How long does it take to build an app? In my projects, a proof of concept takes 2–4 weeks and an internal web system 2–3 months. Turlo’s repository spans September 2025 to September 2026. However, it grew in stages, so that is calendar time, not build time.
Do I need native iOS and Android apps? Not always, because a web app often covers the first release. When you add native apps later, keep them on the same backend. Turlo’s SwiftUI and Compose apps share one API and one set of translations with the web app. As a result, there are no separate texts to maintain for each platform.
Can one engineer build a full product? Yes, if the scope comes in stages and the code has tests, as Turlo shows. Still, ask about continuity before you sign: who holds the code, what documentation you get and how a handover works. I agree these terms in the contract before work starts.
What should a quote to build an app include? Hours per feature, the platforms, integrations, testing and store releases, plus what maintenance covers. By comparison, a single flat price with no specification is a warning sign.
Conclusion: what to budget to build an app in Poland
To build an app in Poland, budget for scope first and the hourly rate second. A proof of concept costs PLN 10,000–25,000 (€2,300–5,700), and a Polish price guide puts a simple app at PLN 40,000–100,000. At RS Mobile, one engineer built Turlo’s backend, web app and both native apps, in 16 languages. If you want to build an app and need a budget first, send a short description through the quote form, or read about me first.
