Base rate by app type, plus AI features, complexity tier, integrations, and engagement model — the same formula behind our free cost estimator.
Founders usually ask for a number before they ask about our process. Fair enough — here is exactly how we get to one.
1. Start with the app type
Every estimate starts from a base rate and a rough timeline for the kind of product you're building: a backend/API service, a web app, a mobile app, web + mobile together, or an event app. Each has its own realistic starting cost and weeks, because a backend service and a full mobile app touch very different amounts of surface area.
2. Add AI features, if any
Chatbot/RAG, voice, vision/OCR, recommendation engines, agentic workflows, or a custom LLM integration each add their own cost and timeline on top of the base — because each is genuinely a separate build, not a checkbox.
3. Apply a complexity multiplier
We scope every project into one of four tiers — Starter, MVP, Standard, or Enterprise — and multiply the base cost accordingly. A Starter scope validates an idea with a minimal, focused feature set; an Enterprise scope carries compliance and integration weight a Starter build never touches.
4. Add integrations
Payment gateways, SSO, analytics, third-party APIs, and multi-language support are each priced as their own line item, because they each carry their own setup and testing cost regardless of the base build.
5. Pick an engagement model
Fixed-price quotes carry a tighter band because the scope is locked. Dedicated-team engagements carry a wider band because the scope is expected to evolve — you're paying for capacity, not a fixed deliverable.
Want a number for your own project instead of a formula? Use the free cost estimator or see indicative pricing by project type.