The verdict in three sentences
In 2026 an application MVP costs between 25,000 and 60,000 EUR, a complete business app between 60,000 and 150,000 EUR, and a complex platform exceeds 150,000 EUR. Price is driven not by screen count but by the number of roles, integrations and real-time requirements. Serious scoping before quoting avoids 20-40 % overruns mid-project.
The 2026 price tiers
The ranges below reflect development by an agency or senior team on a modern stack (React/Next.js, API, relational database), excluding third-party licenses.
| Tier | Typical scope | 2026 budget (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP / v1 | 1 role, 1 core process, auth | 25,000 – 60,000 | 3 – 4 months |
| Complete app | 3-5 roles, dashboard, 2-3 integrations | 60,000 – 150,000 | 5 – 7 months |
| Complex platform | multi-tenant, real-time, mobile | 150,000 – 350,000+ | 7 – 12 months |
| Legacy rebuild | data migration, like-for-like + | 80,000 – 200,000 | 6 – 10 months |
Add annual maintenance of 12 to 18 % of build cost, and hosting of 150 to 900 EUR/month depending on load.
What really moves the quote
Two apps with the same screen count can differ threefold. The dominant 2026 cost drivers:
| Driver | Budget impact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Number of roles / permissions | +10 to +30 % | Each role multiplies test cases |
| Integrations (ERP, CRM, payroll) | +5,000 to +25,000 EUR / API | Formats, auth, error handling |
| Real-time (websockets, notifications) | +15 to +25 % | Specific architecture and infra |
| Native mobile app | +30 to +60 % | Second codebase |
| SLA / high availability | +10 to +20 % | Redundancy, monitoring, on-call |
| Data migration | +8,000 to +30,000 EUR | Cleaning and mapping |
A senior developer day rate sits between 500 and 800 EUR in Western Europe in 2026; a senior + lead pair over 5 months already represents 90,000 to 130,000 EUR of effort.
Custom build or no-code: the break-even point
Below 15-20 users and for a low-specificity process, a no-code tool (Airtable, Bubble) at 30-150 EUR/month is often enough. Custom becomes worthwhile when the process is differentiating, volumes explode, or deep integrations become blockers on no-code.
Mini case study
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Thomas, operations director of a logistics SME in Lille (85 staff), wants to replace 4 Excel files with a route-tracking app. Scope: 3 roles (planner, driver, admin), 1 integration to his TMS, real-time notifications. Accepted quote: 72,000 EUR over 5 months, maintenance 11,000 EUR/year. Estimated gain: 2 hours/day of re-keying saved across 3 planners, roughly 130,000 EUR/year of productive time. ROI in under 8 months, before counting fewer invoicing errors.
FAQ
What does an MVP really cost in 2026?
Between 25,000 and 60,000 EUR over 3 to 4 months, including auth, a core process and a simple dashboard. Below 25,000 EUR you are usually talking about a no-code prototype.
Why do quotes vary so much between agencies?
Scope is rarely identical: SLA, testing, data migration and integrations swing the price by 30 to 50 %. A precise requirements document lets you compare like for like.
Should I pay fixed-price or time-and-materials?
Fixed-price locks a budget on a frozen scope; time-and-materials (500-800 EUR/day) suits evolving projects. Many 2026 projects combine fixed-price for the MVP then T&M for iteration.
What budget should I plan after launch?
Expect 12 to 18 % of build cost per year in maintenance, plus hosting. A 90,000 EUR app therefore costs about 12,000 to 16,000 EUR/year to keep running.
Does mobile really double the budget?
A native mobile app adds 30 to 60 % because it is a second codebase. A responsive PWA often covers the need for just 10 to 20 % more.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your roles, integrations and target deadline and we will place you on a realistic budget tier from the first call. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.