The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a mid-level Flutter or React Native developer bills €480-650/day, a senior native iOS/Android €600-850. A mobile MVP costs €35,000-70,000, and cross-platform runs 15-30% cheaper than two separate native apps. Add €500-1,000/year in store accounts and publishing: the line most quotes forget.
2026 mobile day-rate grid (€ excl. VAT/day)
Ranges observed on the freelance and IT-services market in early 2026, excluding agency margin. Order of magnitude.
| Profile | Junior | Mid-level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flutter | €350-430 | €480-620 | €600-780 |
| React Native | €360-440 | €490-650 | €620-800 |
| Native iOS (Swift) | €400-480 | €550-700 | €680-850 |
| Native Android (Kotlin) | €390-470 | €540-690 | €660-830 |
| Mobile lead / architect | — | €700-820 | €820-1,050 |
In Paris, add 10-20% per line; in francophone nearshore, 40-50% less.
Native vs cross-platform: rate, timeline, maintenance
The technical choice drives the total budget, not just the day rate. Cross-platform shares one codebase across iOS and Android; native maximises performance and system API access at the cost of two builds.
| Criterion | Cross-platform (Flutter/RN) | Native (2 apps) |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-level rate | €480-650 | €550-850 |
| MVP cost | €35,000-55,000 | €55,000-90,000 |
| MVP timeline | 2.5-4 months | 4-6 months |
| Codebase | 1 shared | 2 separate |
| Annual maintenance | 15-20% of build | 25-35% of build |
| Performance / native access | Very good | Optimal |
The real cost of a published app
Beyond development, an app lives in stores and on servers. These recurring lines weigh on the second-year budget and must appear in the initial quote.
| Line item | 2026 cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer account | ~€90/year | Annual |
| Google Play account | ~€22 | One-off |
| Backend / API hosting | €100-500/month | Monthly |
| Corrective + OS maintenance | 15-35% of build | Annual |
| Store updates (SDK, guidelines) | 3-8 days/year | Annual |
Mini case study
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Léa, product owner at a health startup in Toulouse, costs a mobile appointment-booking MVP. Native option (2 apps, senior €700/day, ~90 days × 2 partially shared builds = 130 days): €91,000. Flutter option (mid-level €580/day, ~75 days): €43,500, a 52% saving and time-to-market cut from 6 to 3.5 months. She reinvests the gap (€47,500) into user acquisition over the first 6 months — a decisive call for an early-stage startup.
FAQ
Flutter or React Native in 2026?
Both are mature. React Native leverages the JS/React ecosystem; Flutter offers very consistent UI and solid performance. Day rates are comparable (€480-650 mid-level); choose based on skills already in the team.
How much does a serious mobile MVP cost?
Budget €35,000-70,000 depending on screen count, integrations (payment, maps, notifications) and backend. Below €30,000, the scope is usually unrealistic for a publishable app.
Does cross-platform hold up on performance?
Yes for 90% of business and consumer apps. Native stays preferable for 3D gaming, heavy augmented reality or deep hardware access.
What maintenance budget should I plan?
Between 15% and 35% of build cost per year depending on native/cross-platform, to track iOS/Android updates, fix bugs and stay compliant with store guidelines.
Can we start with a single platform?
Yes: launching first on iOS or Android natively halves the initial cost. But if both OSes are targeted long-term, cross-platform is almost always cheaper from the start.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target platforms, screen count and integrations: we price native and cross-platform side by side, day rate and fixed-price. 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.
