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How much does an app cost in 2027 (agency, freelancer, no-code)
From nothing to tens of thousands of euros: the price of an app depends mostly on how it is built. Here are sourced ballpark figures for an agency, a freelancer and a no-code tool, the costs nobody mentions in a quote, and a worked example for a sports club.
How much does an app cost, in short?
There isn't one price, but three ways of doing it, with three very different cost models. An agency sells a project based on a quote. A freelancer sells their time. A no-code tool sells a subscription. The table below gives ballpark figures for the first year.
| Option | Upfront cost | After that | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency (France) | €7,000 to €50,000 (median €30,000) | Maintenance and changes, quoted separately | Several weeks to several months |
| Freelance developer | Varies with experience and scope, often below agency prices | Fixes and updates billed by the day | Several weeks |
| No-code tool (Adalo, GoodBarber, Glide) | €0 to try | €430 to €720 a year for a plan that publishes | A few days |
| Yatsury | €0 (web link, up to 50 members) | €240 a year or €24 a month, if you need it | A few minutes for a first version |
Whichever route you take, if the app is published on the official stores, add $99 a year for the App Store and a one-time $25 for Google Play, paid directly to Apple and Google.
Why agency quotes vary so much
According to La Fabrique du Net, which analysed 283 projects in 2026, an app built by an agency in France costs between €7,000 and €50,000, with a median of around €30,000. The study covers the French market only, but the factors behind the gap are the same everywhere:
- The number of screens and features: a menu and a contact form are nothing like bookings, payments and messaging.
- Custom design: mockups, brand guidelines, animations, user testing.
- The admin area: the interface where you manage your customers, orders or members is a second product in its own right.
- Connections to other tools: point of sale, booking software, accounting.
- Two platforms: iPhone and Android, sometimes developed separately.
An agency brings real expertise: advice, design, project management, code tailored to very specific needs. For an app at the heart of a business, with unique requirements, it is often the right choice. For a neighbourhood shop or a nonprofit, it is usually overkill.
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
Often, yes, because there is no company overhead to cover. But the price depends entirely on the person's profile, experience and the scope: there is no reliable benchmark rate we can give you. Two things to check before you sign:
- Who maintains the app two years from now? Apple's and Google's systems change every year, and an app that isn't updated eventually stops working properly.
- Who owns the code? Make sure the contract states that the code, the developer accounts and the data are in your name.
How much does an app cost with a no-code app builder?
No-code tools replace the quote with a subscription. Based on their public pricing checked in September 2026, excluding Apple and Google fees:
- Adalo: from $36 a month to publish on the stores.
- GoodBarber: from €40 a month, billed annually.
- Glide: $60 a month, with no native app (the app remains a web app).
That works out to €430 to €720 a year. Each of these tools has its strengths: Adalo and GoodBarber already publish on the stores, and Glide is very comfortable with data coming from a spreadsheet. For a detailed comparison, read our Glide vs Adalo vs GoodBarber vs Yatsury comparison.
The hidden costs in an app budget
The build price is only part of the bill. Here is what people often find out later:
- Developer accounts: $99 a year with Apple, a one-time $25 with Google.
- Updates: every new version of iOS or Android can require fixes.
- Data hosting: servers, database, backups, often billed separately by an agency.
- Payment fees: the payment provider takes a fee on every transaction, and some platforms add their own commission.
- Your time: writing the copy, taking the photos, getting your customers to know about the app. This is the most underestimated item.
- Store timelines: Apple reviews every version (often one or two days, no guarantee). On Google, a new personal account must run a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days before going live.
How much does an app cost with Yatsury?
On Yatsury, you describe your idea in one sentence and the AI builds the app: screens, features, a space to manage your customers or members. You adjust it in plain words, then share it by web link and QR code.
| What you want | Cost on Yatsury |
|---|---|
| Build, test and share the app by link, up to 50 members | €0 |
| Unlimited members, online payments, AI inside the app, no "Made with Yatsury" badge | €24 a month (about $26), cancel anytime, or €240 a year |
| The same with your own AI key | €20 a month, or €200 a year |
| Commission on your sales | None (payments through your own Stripe account) |
| App Store and Google Play publishing | Coming soon, with no publishing fee from us; Apple and Google fees are yours to pay |
Important: today, Yatsury publishes by web link. Publishing on the App Store and Google Play is in the works. If you absolutely need to be on the stores this month, a tool that already offers it will suit you better. To see what the free plan really covers, read How to build an app for free in 2027.
Before you ask for a quote, see what your app would look like: a few minutes is all it takes, no credit card needed.
See my app in minutesWorked example: an app for a padel club
A six-court padel club wants an app to book courts, sign players up for tournaments, show a leaderboard and let members know when a slot frees up. It has around 300 members and wants to take payment for bookings online. Here is what the first year would cost with each option:
| Option | First year (ballpark) |
|---|---|
| Agency (median from the French study) | About €30,000, plus maintenance and developer accounts |
| No-code tool that publishes | €430 to €720, plus $99 (Apple) and $25 (Google) |
| Yatsury, annual subscription | €240, plus Apple and Google fees once store publishing is available |
With more than 50 members and online payments, the club needs the subscription. A local nonprofit that only wants to share its calendar with 40 volunteers, on the other hand, can stay on the free plan. Same reasoning for a personal trainer starting out with a handful of clients.
Which option is right for your project?
- You have a unique need, a five-figure budget and time: an agency or an experienced freelancer.
- You need to be on the App Store right now: a no-code tool that already publishes on the stores.
- You want to test an idea with your customers or members, risk-free: start for free, by web link, and only pay if the app gets used.
- You want to take payments online with no platform commission: a tool that goes through your own payment account.
When in doubt, start small. A first version shared with twenty customers will teach you more than a thirty-page spec, and afterwards you will know exactly what is worth paying for.
The prices of the tools mentioned come from their public pages, checked in September 2026, and may have changed. Check them before deciding. Yatsury is in beta.
A word from the founder
I never asked an agency for a quote: I built my first app myself. That's why I know where the money and the time go, and why so many people with an idea stop before they've even started.
Eyal Ouaknine
Frequently asked questions
What does an agency charge for a mobile app on average?
In France, between €7,000 and €50,000, with a median of around €30,000, according to a La Fabrique du Net study of 283 projects (2026).
How much does it cost to publish on the App Store and Google Play?
$99 a year for Apple's developer program and a one-time $25 for Google Play, paid directly by the app owner.
Can you get an app for less than €300 a year?
Yes. On Yatsury, the app is free by web link up to 50 members, and the subscription costs €240 a year. Add Apple and Google fees for the stores.
Do I need a maintenance budget?
With an agency or a freelancer, yes: iOS and Android updates require fixes. With a no-code tool, they are normally included in the subscription.
Apps for your business
Read next
- Glide vs Adalo vs GoodBarber: an honest comparison
- Publish an app on the App Store without a developer
- App or website for my small business: which one?
- Replace Your Club's WhatsApp Group With an App
Sources
- La Fabrique du Net: study of the price of 283 mobile app projects in France (2026)
- Apple Developer Program
- Google Play Console: registration fee and testing requirements for personal accounts
- Adalo, GoodBarber and Glide public pricing pages, checked in September 2026