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iPhone app cost calculator.

Pick what you want to build. You get a budget range, a rough timeline and what drives the number. The ranges start from real fixed prices on our Build page, not from a lead form.

1. What kind of app?

Pick one.

Simple tool or trackerOne person, data on the phone. Like Chain or Ironbook. · est. 0 to 20 hrsContent, booking or catalog appLists, detail screens, search, maybe a booking form. · est. 20 to 60 hrsSocial, chat or marketplaceTwo kinds of users, profiles, feeds, messaging, moderation. · est. 120 to 260 hrsCasual 2D gameOne core loop, levels or scores, sound. · est. 40 to 120 hrsAdd AI to an app you already haveChat, summaries or image understanding inside your product.

2. Features

Tick everything version one needs. Hour ranges are our estimates.

3. Platforms

iPhone is always in.

iPhoneIncluded.iPad layoutAdapted screens for the bigger display. · est. 12 to 40 hrsApple Watch appA companion app on the wrist. · est. 30 to 80 hrsMac versionThe SwiftUI app adapted for macOS. · est. 20 to 60 hrsAndroidNot part of these fixed prices.

EstimateDetails ↓

How the estimate works

Every range starts from a price you can actually pay today, then adds hours for what you picked:

Starting point. A polished app live on the App Store starts at $28,000, fixed in writing (6 to 8 weeks). Adding AI to an app you already have starts at $18,000 (3 to 6 weeks). If you only need a working prototype on your phone first, that is a $9,500 two-week sprint. These are the real prices on the Build page.
Extra hours. Each feature, platform and app type adds a range of hours. Those ranges are our working estimates, from features we have shipped in our own apps (widgets, Live Activities, in-app purchases, on-device data). They are priced at the public advisory rate of $225/hr.
Timeline. The base launch takes 6 to 8 weeks. We add one week per roughly 35 extra hours.

The range is an estimate, not a quote. The fixed price is agreed in writing on a short call, before any work starts. Android is not part of these prices.

Costs after launch

Apple Developer Program: 99 USD a year to publish on the App Store (Apple, checked Oct 17, 2026).
Apple's cut of sales: 15% on paid apps and in-app purchases if you made up to 1 million USD in proceeds the year before, or you are new to the App Store (App Store Small Business Program, checked Oct 17, 2026).
Servers: an app that keeps data on the phone, like Chain or Ironbook, has no server bill. Accounts, sync and push notifications need one.
AI usage: every AI request costs tokens. Work out your monthly bill with the LLM API cost calculator.

Who made this

Matt Busel, a one-person studio with 8 iPhone apps live on the App Store, all built and shipped solo. How we build iOS apps without a Mac: Build an iOS app on Windows.

Prices checked Oct 17, 2026. Estimates are estimates. No data leaves your browser.

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