10 August 2026
How much does it really cost to build an app in 2026?
The honest breakdown nobody gives you: what drives cost, where founders overspend, and how AI-assisted development changed the math.
Every founder's first question is the same: "kitna lagega?" — how much will it cost?
The honest answer: it depends on three things, and only three things.
1. Scope, not features
A feature list tells you almost nothing. "Login" can be a weekend or a month (SSO? OTP? biometrics? fraud checks?). What matters is scope depth. We always start by cutting the v1 to the bone — the version that proves people want it.
2. The build approach
In 2026, AI-assisted development has genuinely changed the economics. What took a 5-person team 4 months in 2022, a senior engineer with modern tooling ships in 4–6 weeks. That's why studios like ours can quote a fraction of big-agency prices without cutting corners.
3. Who maintains it
The app you launch is maybe 60% of lifetime cost. Ask any agency: "what happens after launch?" If they don't have a clear answer, walk away.
Ballpark ranges we quote
- Landing page / business site: ₹25K–₹80K
- MVP web app / SaaS: ₹1.5L–₹6L
- Mobile app (iOS + Android): ₹2L–₹8L
- Live streaming / social platform: ₹5L–₹20L
- AI agent / automation: ₹80K–₹4L
Want an exact number for your idea? Message us on WhatsApp — we'll give you a real quote in 24 hours, free.
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