Cost Breakdown Of Building An App With Ionic

By Author: Amit
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“The future of mobile is the future of online. It is how people access online content now.”
Building a mobile app today is a big decision—both in terms of time and money. If you’re thinking about using Ionic, you’re probably looking for a way to get your app on both iOS and Android without doubling your workload or budget. I’ve spent years chatting with founders, product managers, and developers about this very topic, and I want to break down the real costs for you, step by step.
But before we get into the numbers, let’s talk about why Ionic is even on the table. Ionic is a well-known tool for creating apps that work on different platforms. It uses web-based languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
This means you can write your app once and run it on both iOS and Android, which is a huge time and cost saver compared to building two separate native apps.
And it’s not just a niche tool. According to Statista, as of 2025, the global mobile app market is projected to generate over $935 billion in revenue, with cross-platform frameworks like Ionic playing a key role in helping businesses ...
... reach users on multiple devices without breaking the bank. Ionic itself is ranked third among cross-platform frameworks, with an 11% developer adoption rate in 2024.
So, if you’re considering hiring an Ionic app development company, you’re in good company. But how much should you actually expect to spend? Let’s dive in.
The Big Picture: How Much Does an Ionic App Cost?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a general range based on recent industry data:
Basic Ionic apps: $8,000 to $40,000

Mid-level complexity: $40,000 to $100,000

Advanced apps: $100,000 to $150,000 or more

These numbers are averages for 2025. Your final cost depends on a bunch of factors, which I’ll break down below.
What Drives the Cost of an Ionic App?
Let’s look at the main ingredients that go into your app’s price tag.
1. Project Complexity
This is the biggest factor by far. Here’s how it usually breaks down:
Simple apps: Think of a basic news reader, a calculator, or a simple directory. Minimal screens, basic navigation, and little to no backend integration. These are on the lower end of the cost range—$8,000 to $30,000.

Medium complexity apps: These might include user authentication, payment gateways, push notifications, custom UI, or social media integration. Expect to pay $30,000 to $70,000.

Complex apps: If you’re building something like a real-time chat app, a marketplace, or anything with advanced security and lots of third-party integrations, you’re looking at $70,000 to $150,000 or more.

Tip: The more custom features you want, the more you’ll pay. Ready-made Ionic components can save you money, but if you want something unique, it’ll take more time and expertise.
2. Development Team
Who you hire and where they’re based has a big impact on your budget.
In-house team: More control, but higher costs (salaries, benefits, office space).

Outsourcing/freelancers: Often cheaper, especially if you look in Eastern Europe, Asia, or South America.Hourly pay can vary between $30 and $150. However, experienced Ionic developers typically make about $50 to $100 each hour.

Developer experience: More experienced developers charge more, but they may work faster and deliver higher quality.

Team Structure Example:
Project Manager

UI/UX Designer

Frontend Developer (Ionic)

Backend Developer (if needed)

QA Tester

You may not need all these roles for a simple app, but for anything medium or complex, you probably will.
3. Design and Prototyping
Design is more than just making your app look nice. It involves making things easy and natural for people to use.
Basic design: Using standard Ionic components, minimal customization. Lower cost.

Custom design: Special brand design, unique motion graphics, and personalized user interface and experience. This adds to the cost, but can set your app apart.

Creating designs and prototypes might cost between $5,000 and $30,000. The exact price depends on how much you want to change or personalize things.
4. Backend Development
Not all apps need a backend, but if yours does (for things like user accounts, data storage, or real-time features), you’ll need to budget for it.
Simple backend: $5,000 to $15,000

Complex backend: $20,000 to $50,000 or more

Backend costs depend on the tech stack, scale, and whether you use cloud services like AWS or Firebase (which also have ongoing monthly fees).
5. Third-Party Integrations
Adding payment gateways, analytics, maps, chat, or other APIs? Each integration can add $1,000 to $5,000 or more, plus any ongoing usage fees.
6. Quality Assurance (QA) and Testing
Testing is critical. You want your app to work smoothly on all devices and platforms.
Manual and automated testing: $5,000 to $18,000 for most projects

Specialized testing: If your app needs to meet strict security or compliance standards, expect higher costs.

7. Deployment and Launch
Publishing your app isn’t free. Here’s what to expect:
Apple App Store: $99/year

Google Play Store: $25 one-time fee

Deployment support: $2,000 to $4,000 for help with final checks and launch

8. Maintenance and Updates
The work doesn’t stop after launch. You’ll need to fix bugs, update features, and keep up with OS changes.
Annual maintenance: 15-20% of your original development cost per year is a good rule of thumb. If making your app cost $50,000 to build, budget $7,500 to $10,000 per year for maintenance.

Cost Breakdown Table
Here’s a table to give you a snapshot of where your money goes:
Cost Component
Typical Range
Notes
Design & Prototyping
$5,000 – $30,000
More custom = higher cost
Development
$8,000 – $100,000+
Depends on complexity, features, team rates
Backend
$5,000 – $50,000+
Only if needed
Third-Party APIs
$1,000 – $10,000+
Each integration adds cost
QA & Testing
$8,000 – $18,000
Manual + automated testing
Deployment
$2,000 – $4,000
App store fees extra
Maintenance
15-20% of dev cost/year
Ongoing updates, bug fixes

Real-World Scenarios: What Do Actual Projects Cost?
Let’s look at three hypothetical projects, so you can see how these numbers play out.
Scenario 1: Simple Event App
Features: Event listings, basic search, contact form

Design: Standard Ionic components

Backend: Simple Firebase integration

Team: Small agency or freelance team

Estimated Cost: $12,000 – $25,000
Development Time: 1-3 months
Scenario 2: Fitness Tracker
Features: User authentication, activity tracking, push notifications, social sharing

Design: Custom branding and UI

Backend: Real-time data sync, analytics

Team: Mid-sized agency or dedicated remote team

Estimated Cost: $40,000 – $80,000
Development Time: 3-6 months
Scenario 3: Marketplace App
Features: User accounts, payment gateway, messaging, reviews, admin dashboard

Design: Fully custom, animations, advanced UX

Backend: Complex, with multiple integrations

Team: Full-service agency or large in-house team

Estimated Cost: $100,000 – $200,000
Development Time: 6-12 months
Hidden and Ongoing Costs
I’ve seen people get caught off guard by these, so pay attention:
App store fees: Apple ($99/year), Google ($25 one-time)

Cloud hosting: $20 to $500+ per month depending on usage

Third-party API fees: Can add up, especially for payment processors or analytics

Marketing: Depending on what you want to achieve, getting the word out about your app might cost the same as, or even more than, creating it.

Legal/compliance: If you’re dealing with sensitive data (like health or finance), budget for extra security and compliance work

How Does Ionic Compare to Other Frameworks?
Here’s a quick comparison of Ionic with other popular frameworks, based on average development costs:
Framework
Basic App Cost
Complex App Cost
Notes
Ionic
$8k – $40k
$100k – $150k+
Cross-platform, web tech
React Native
$20k – $150k
$150k+
Cross-platform, JS-based
Flutter
$8k – $60k
$140k – $200k
Cross-platform, Dart-based
Native (iOS/Android)
$10k – $250k
$250k+
Separate codebases, higher cost

Ionic is often more affordable, especially for simpler apps, because you can use web developers you already have on your team.
How to Save Money on Your Ionic App
A few tips I’ve picked up over the years:
Start with an MVP: Build the smallest version of your app that solves your users’ main problem. You can always add features later.

Use ready-made components: Ionic’s library is huge. Don’t reinvent the wheel unless you have to.

Outsource smartly: Consider hiring developers from regions with lower rates, but make sure they have good reviews and a solid portfolio.

Plan for maintenance:Keep some money available in your budget for updates and fixing problems. You will always need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I build an app with Ionic myself to save money?
A: If you know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can definitely try. But for anything beyond a basic app, you’ll probably want help from experienced developers, especially for backend and integrations.
Q: How long does it take to build an Ionic app?
A: Simple apps can be done in 1-3 months. More complex apps can take 6-12 months or more, especially if you’re adding lots of features or custom design.
Q: What about updates and new features?
A: Budget 15-20% of your original development cost per year for maintenance, updates, and bug fixes.
Q: Are there any licensing fees for using Ionic?
A: The core Ionic framework is open-source and free. However, if you use Ionic’s enterprise tools or cloud services, there may be extra fees.
Final Thoughts
Building an app with Ionic is a smart way to reach both iOS and Android users without doubling your development time or costs. The price tag depends on what you want your app to do, who you hire, and how you plan for ongoing updates. For most businesses, Ionic sits in the sweet spot between affordability and flexibility, especially if you’re working with an experienced Ionic development company.
If you’re just starting out, focus on your core features, use as many ready-made components as you can, and don’t forget to budget for maintenance. The more you plan upfront, the fewer surprises you’ll have down the road.
And remember, building an app isn’t just about writing code. It’s about creating something people want to use—and that’s always worth investing in.
“Any app that can be written in JavaScript, will eventually be written in JavaScript.” — Jeff Atwood
If you have questions about your own project, or want a more detailed estimate, don’t hesitate to reach out to developers or agencies with your requirements. A good team will help you break down costs and find the best approach for your budget and goals.

Source: https://www.zenesys.com/ionic-mobile-app-development-services