The verdict in three sentences
A mobile MVP with a back office built by a Casablanca team takes 12 to 20 weeks and MAD 250,000 to 600,000 excl. VAT (roughly GBP 20,000 to 48,000), depending on user roles and integrations. React Native covers iOS and Android from one codebase, saving 30 to 40 % compared with two native apps. The real risk is not price but code ownership and an app that struggles on the budget Android phones many of your users carry.
Cost per module in 2026
A delivery app, a booking app or a field-service app nearly always shares the same architecture: a customer app, a back office for the team, sometimes a courier or technician app. Figures below are 2026 ballpark estimates for an experienced Casablanca team, same time zone as London (GMT+1 most of the year).
| Module | Estimated cost (MAD excl. VAT) | Timeline | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping, journeys and UX/UI mockups | 25,000 to 60,000 | 2 to 3 weeks | Mockups tested with 5 real users |
| React Native customer app (iOS + Android) | 90,000 to 220,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | OTP sign-up, catalogue, ordering, tracking |
| Web back office (React / Next.js) | 60,000 to 150,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Orders, customers, stats, roles |
| API and database | 40,000 to 90,000 | In parallel | Node.js or Laravel, PostgreSQL |
| Online payment (Stripe, card, cash on delivery) | 15,000 to 40,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Stripe UK onboarding in days |
| SMS and push notifications | 8,000 to 20,000 | 1 week | UK SMS about GBP 0.03 to 0.05 each |
| App Store and Google Play release | 5,000 to 12,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Apple USD 99/year, Google USD 25 once |
| Testing, acceptance and go-live | 15,000 to 35,000 | 2 weeks | Include 3 low-end Android devices |
Adding a second app (couriers, technicians) adds MAD 60,000 to 140,000 and 4 to 6 weeks.
Team, day rates and hosting
A senior developer's day rate in Morocco is MAD 2,500 to 4,500 in 2026 (about GBP 200 to 360), versus GBP 550 to 800 for a London contractor. A typical MVP team has a half-time project lead, a designer for 3 weeks, mobile and web developers, and a tester at the end.
| Role | 2026 day rate (MAD excl. VAT) | Days on a 16-week MVP | Indicative cost (MAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project lead | 3,000 to 4,500 | 35 to 40 | 105,000 to 180,000 |
| UX/UI designer | 2,500 to 3,800 | 15 to 20 | 37,500 to 76,000 |
| Senior mobile developer | 2,800 to 4,500 | 60 to 70 | 168,000 to 315,000 |
| Back-end / back-office developer | 2,500 to 4,000 | 55 to 65 | 137,500 to 260,000 |
| QA tester | 1,800 to 2,800 | 10 to 15 | 18,000 to 42,000 |
| Hosting and cloud services | 2,000 to 6,000 / month | 12 months | 24,000 to 72,000 per year |
A fixed-price agency pools these profiles and often lands at the lower end of the total range because it reuses components (authentication, payments, notifications).
The traps that cost the most
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Code ownership: the contract must assign IP rights, give you Git repository access, and have App Store, Google Play and cloud accounts opened in your UK company's name. Recovering a developer account held by a supplier can take months. Low-end devices: test on Android phones with 2 to 3 GB of RAM and on slow networks; an 80 MB app or a screen that takes 6 seconds to load loses half of sign-ups. UK GDPR: sign a data processing agreement with the Moroccan supplier and keep production data in a UK or EU region.
Mini case study
Tom, COO of a London corporate-catering delivery startup, handles 400 orders a day by phone and WhatsApp with 3 operators. He orders an MVP from a Casablanca team: customer app, back office and courier app for MAD 430,000 (about GBP 34,500) in 16 weeks, plus MAD 3,500 per month of hosting. A London agency quoted GBP 95,000 for the same scope. Savings: about GBP 60,000, enough to fund 9 months of paid acquisition. Once 70 % of orders go through the app, he redeploys 2 operators to sales, and order errors, estimated at 4 %, fall sharply. Estimated payback: under 8 months.
FAQ
How much does a mobile app with a back office cost from a Moroccan team? Between MAD 250,000 and 600,000 excl. VAT for an MVP in 2026, about GBP 20,000 to 48,000. Price rises with the number of apps, integrations and user roles.
React Native or native? React Native covers iOS and Android with one codebase, saving 30 to 40 %. Native is justified for heavy camera, Bluetooth or augmented-reality use.
How long does store publication take? Google Play approves in 1 to 3 days, Apple in 1 to 7 days, sometimes after a rejection to fix. Plan 2 weeks in the schedule.
What monthly budget after launch? Expect MAD 2,000 to 6,000 for hosting and MAD 5,000 to 15,000 for corrective and evolutive maintenance. OTP SMS costs come on top depending on volume.
How do I secure code ownership? Require an IP assignment clause, a Git repository in your name from week one, and store accounts opened by your company. Without these three, switching supplier becomes expensive.
Let's scope your project. We price the essential modules of your MVP with you, with an indicative budget in MAD and GBP and a 12 to 20 week schedule up to store release. 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.
