How Much an App Costs in the UK and the Netherlands

If you search for app prices, you find numbers from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand. Both can be right, because "an app" can mean very different things. This guide gives typical market ranges for two markets: the UK, in pounds, and the Netherlands, in euros. All the numbers are estimates based on common market rates in 2026. They help you plan a budget, but they are not quotes. For the general logic of what an MVP (the first real version of a product) costs and why, read how much it costs to build an MVP. This article looks at the country, the type of app and the builder.

Simple, medium or complex: what each one means

Builders price the work, not the idea. So the first step is to place your app in one of three groups.

• Simple. One type of user, one main task, a login and a few screens. Few or no payments. For example: a booking request form with a small admin page.
• Medium. Two or three types of user, payments or subscriptions, an admin area, emails, and one or two links to outside services, such as accounting software or a calendar.
• Complex. Many user roles, real-time features (data that updates on the screen without reloading), many links to other software, large amounts of data, or strict rules, for example in health or finance.

Most first versions should be simple or medium. If your idea looks complex, it is often worth cutting it down before you ask for prices. We explain how in what to put in an MVP.

Web app prices in the UK and the Netherlands

A web app runs in the browser, on a computer or on a phone. It is usually the cheapest way to start, because there is one version to build and no app store review.

• Simple web app. UK: about £2,500 to £12,500. Netherlands: about €3,000 to €15,000.
• Medium web app. UK: about £12,500 to £40,000. Netherlands: about €15,000 to €50,000.
• Complex web app. UK: from about £40,000, and often much more. Netherlands: from about €50,000, and often much more.

Once you convert the currency, the two markets are close. Inside each country, prices are often higher in and around London and Amsterdam than in other cities, because rents and salaries are higher there.

Mobile app prices in the UK and the Netherlands

A mobile app is installed from the App Store or Google Play. It usually costs more than a web app, for three reasons. There are two platforms to build and test, iOS and Android. Each new version goes through a store review. And phones bring their own work, such as notifications and use without a connection.

• Simple mobile app. UK: about £7,000 to £20,000. Netherlands: about €8,000 to €25,000.
• Medium mobile app. UK: about £20,000 to £65,000. Netherlands: about €25,000 to €75,000.
• Complex mobile app. UK: from about £65,000, and often much more. Netherlands: from about €75,000, and often much more.

These ranges assume both apps come from one shared codebase, which many builders use today. Two fully separate apps, one for iOS and one for Android, cost more. A common way to save is to start with a web app, check that people use it, and then add mobile apps built on the same code.

Freelancer, studio or agency: how the price changes

In both countries, who builds the app moves the price more than anything else. For a first version, typical market ranges are:

• Freelancer. In the Netherlands often a zzp'er (a self-employed person), in the UK often a contractor or sole trader. About €3,000 to €15,000, or £2,500 to £12,500. Best for a small, clear project. You depend on one person.
• Studio. About €15,000 to €50,000, or £12,500 to £40,000. A small team for design, building and launch.
• Larger agency. Usually at the top of that range or above it. You pay for more people and more layers of management, which can make sense for large projects with many decision makers.

Where we sit. Swipe Up is a small studio, not a large agency. Our prices are closer to the freelancer range than to the agency range, and you still get design, build and upkeep from one team.

The cheapest quote is not always the cheapest app. A low price often leaves out parts you will need later, such as security, testing or the admin pages to run the product. We compare the three options in more depth in studio, freelancer or agency for your MVP.

What changes the price

• Platform. Web only, or iOS and Android too.
• Number of user types. Each role, such as customer, staff or admin, needs its own screens and rules.
• Payments. A one-time payment is simpler than subscriptions, refunds and invoices.
• Links to other software. Each outside service adds building and testing time.
• Design. A custom design costs more than a ready-made template, and often earns more trust from users.
• AI features. Useful, but they add work, and often a cost each time they are used.
• Rules about personal data. Both markets follow GDPR rules (UK GDPR in the UK). Health or finance data needs extra care, and extra time.
• A clear scope. A vague brief leads to a higher price, because the builder adds a margin for the unknown.

The price of an app is mostly the price of its scope. Cut the scope, and the price follows.

Running costs after launch

The build is not the last cost. Plan for these as well:

• Hosting and database. Often a small monthly amount at the start, which grows with the number of users.
• App store fees. Apple charges about $99 a year for a developer account, and Google charges a one-time fee of about $25. Both stores also take a share of sales made inside the app.
• Outside services. Email sending, maps, AI features and payment fees on each sale.
• Upkeep. Software needs updates, security fixes and small changes. A common rough rule is to plan 15% to 20% of the build price per year.
• VAT. Quotes to businesses usually show prices without VAT. The standard rate is 20% in the UK and 21% in the Netherlands.

When you compare quotes, ask each builder what the app will cost to run each month, and what their upkeep includes. Two quotes with the same build price can be far apart after one year.

How to use these numbers

Start with the group your app belongs to: simple, medium or complex. Then pick the type of builder that fits your project, and look at the matching range. If you need mobile apps at launch, use the mobile ranges instead of the web ones. Keep a reserve of about 10% to 20% on top for changes you will want once you see the product working.

Then write a short, clear scope and send the same text to two or three builders. Ask each one for a fixed price. If a quote is far below or far above the ranges in this guide, ask what is included and what is not. The answer often tells you more than the number itself.

The bottom line

In the UK and the Netherlands, a first web app usually costs from a few thousand to a few tens of thousands, in pounds or in euros, and a mobile app costs more. The type of app and who builds it matter more than the country. Start small, on the web if you can, with a clear scope and a fixed price. For the steps from idea to signed project, read hiring someone to build your app. If your idea is ready, see how we build MVPs and tell us where you are.