jecreemonapp.com
·
Run the calculator
№ 01 — The honest calculator

How much will your app
really cost?

A reasoned estimate in 5 minutes, based on ten years of real production.
No bait pricing. No offshore agency. No mandatory sales call.

Run the calculator →See an example
— no signup, honest range, PDF estimate included
A worked example

A straightforward mobile MVP, with no hidden complexity.

Here is what the calculator returns for a deliberately simple configuration. The range and timeline shown here use the very same rules as your estimate.

Calculated configuration

  • Built from scratch
  • Serious MVP
  • iOS + Android
  • Simple design
  • Basic ASO
Indicative range
€35 — 68k ex VAT
Estimated timeline
11 — 15 weeks

Assumptions

  • No additional technical modules
  • No in-app purchases or advertising
  • One language and a light theme

Indicative, non-binding estimate. The actual scope still needs to be defined.

Calculate my project
How it works

Three steps. Five minutes. No commitment.

No endless wizard, no sign-up. You see your price move in real time with every choice.

№ 01

Choose your starting point

Seven functional families guide you — social, marketplace, business SaaS… — or explicitly start from a blank slate.

№ 02

Adjust your scope

Platforms, commitment level (prototype / MVP / scalable), technical modules, monetization, design. The total updates with every click.

№ 03

Get your estimate

An indicative range in €k excluding VAT, an estimated timeline and the detailed assumptions. Book 30 minutes with the team if you want to go further.

Where you stand

Three levels of ambition for scoping your app.

Reference points taken from the calculator's model, to be adjusted to your actual scope.

€12 — 25k
Scoped prototype
Test an assumption with a limited scope and a usable demonstration.
€35 — 70k
Production MVP
Ship a first product for real users with the foundations needed to operate it.
€80 — 160k+
Evolvable product
Plan for more platforms, quality, operations and business complexity.
Our angle

A senior product studio. Augmented by AI.

AI saves time. Process makes sure that saved time doesn't turn into technical debt six months later.

We use AI like any senior dev in 2026 — seriously, reviewing every line, testing every assumption. What justifies studio pricing over freelance pricing is not the hours saved: it's the rigor of the process around it. Tests, architecture docs, code transferability, written warranty.

We do not seek the largest scope. We seek the scope the team can genuinely ship, operate and evolve.

Discover Black Tide Studio →
Frequently asked

What clients ask before they sign.

Plain English. The answers we give in discovery calls.

How much does a mobile app cost in 2026?

In the calculator's model: scoped prototype €12-25k, MVP €35-70k and evolvable product €80-160k+. Your result then depends on the selected platforms, modules, monetisation and design level.

What's the difference between a prototype and an MVP?

A prototype is for testing an idea or impressing investors: 3-5 screens, working demo, minimal docs, no systematic testing. An MVP is a real product in production with its first users: 8-15 screens, basic tests, 1-month post-launch warranty. A scalable product is designed to hold 3 years and handle load.

Native (Swift/Kotlin) or cross-platform (Flutter), which to choose?

Flutter is relevant when iOS and Android share most journeys and business rules. Native regains the advantage when the product relies heavily on platform-specific APIs, advanced hardware integration, or highly specific rendering and latency constraints. The choice follows the constraints, not a universal percentage.

Why a studio rather than a freelancer on Malt?

The right model depends on scope and the autonomy required. A freelancer can suit a focused assignment; a studio team brings several responsibilities around delivery — product, design, development, cloud, testing, follow-up and handover. In either case, ask who owns each deliverable.

How long does it take to build an app?

From 8 weeks for a scoped prototype to 24 weeks for a complex scalable product. The simulator displays the estimated timeline in the black sidebar, based on your configuration.

What happens after the estimate?

Free 30-minute discovery call to scope together. If we're the right team, we turn the agreed scope into a detailed quote. If we're not, we point you to someone better suited. No commitment before signature.

Are your prices negotiable?

Our ranges are what they are. But the scope is negotiable: we can reduce it to fit your budget, or expand it for more ambitious needs. The assumptions behind it remain explicit.

What about AI in all this?

We use it seriously, like any senior dev in 2026. But what justifies studio pricing over freelance pricing is not AI itself — it's the process around it: tests, docs, thoughtful architecture, code review, written warranty. AI accelerates; process protects.

Which platforms do you cover?

iOS and Android (Flutter or native), Web (Flutter Web or Next.js with SEO), Desktop Windows/macOS/Linux (Flutter Desktop). In most cases, a single Flutter codebase covers everything.

What happens after delivery?

One month warranty included: any bug introduced before delivery is fixed at no extra cost for 30 days. Beyond that, we offer maintenance contracts (€600 to €2,500/month) that secure your app long-term.