How Much Does It Cost to Build an App?

A practical breakdown of the basic costs of building and launching your first product.

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Getting started costs less than you think

One of the biggest reasons people never start building their first product is because they assume that it is going to cost a lot. I used to think the same thing.

But after launching four products, I realised that you can build and launch a first version with a surprisingly small budget. You do not need an office, a large team, expensive servers, or thousands of dollars in funding.

You mainly need the right tools to build the product, somewhere to publish it, and enough infrastructure to support your first few users.

The cost of launching a web app

For a basic web app, your initial cost can be around $30.

1. An AI coding subscription

A paid subscription to a tool such as ChatGPT or Claude normally costs around $20 per month. It can help you plan the product, write and understand code, fix errors, build features, and prepare for launch.

You do not need every AI tool available. Choose one, learn how to use it properly, and start building.

2. A domain

A standard domain will often cost around $10–$15 for the first year. You can launch without one, but a custom address makes the product feel more complete and credible.

3. Deployment

Vercel is one of the easiest ways to deploy a Next.js app. Its free plan can be enough for personal projects and early testing, although you should review its terms or upgrade when your product becomes commercial.

Starting cost: $0

4. Database and authentication

Supabase provides a database, authentication, file storage, and APIs. Its free plan is usually enough to build and test an early product, so you do not need to pay for a database before you have meaningful usage.

Starting cost: $0

5. Product analytics

PostHog helps you understand how people use the product: what they visit, which features they use, where they stop, and whether they return. Its free allowance is enough for many early-stage products.

Starting cost: $0

A simple web app stack

ChatGPT or Claude for building and debugging
GitHub for storing your code
Vercel for deployment
Supabase for the database and authentication
PostHog for product analytics
A custom domain for your website address

AI subscription: around $20 per month

Domain: around $10 per year

Deployment, database, and analytics: $0 to start

Approximate starting cost: $30

This does not mean the product will remain at $30 forever. Upgrade your infrastructure when real usage arrives, not before you have built the first version.

The cost of publishing a mobile app

Apple App Store

The Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year and gives you access to the tools required to test and distribute apps across Apple's platforms.

Google Play

A Google Play developer account has a one-time $25 registration fee. New personal accounts may also need to complete identity verification and testing requirements before publishing publicly.

iOS only: approximately $119 to begin

Android only: approximately $45 to begin

Both platforms: approximately $144 to begin

Your exact cost can change depending on your location, taxes, exchange rates, chosen tools, and infrastructure needs.

What you should not pay for too early

Expensive cloud infrastructure
Multiple AI subscriptions
Large database plans
Premium analytics
A large marketing software stack
A team of developers
Every feature you have imagined

Start with the smallest setup that lets you build, launch, and learn. Upgrade only when the current setup is genuinely limiting the product.

The main lesson

Getting started is not as expensive as it looks. For your first version, you only need the basic tools required to build and launch it.

Start small. Use the free plans. Put the product in front of real people. Then spend more when the product actually needs it.

The goal of the first version is not to build infrastructure for a million users. The goal is to launch something useful and find your first user.

Tools mentioned

ChatGPT · Claude · GitHub · Vercel · Supabase · PostHog · Apple Developer Program · Google Play Console

Prices and plan conditions can change. Check each platform's latest terms before making a purchase.

Next episode

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