A mobile app is one of the most expensive digital projects a business can take on, and prices vary several-fold. One studio quotes one and a half million tenge, another quotes ten, and both can be right: they are estimating different apps. To compare proposals and plan your budget, you need to understand what makes up the cost.

At Studio Nomad, we build mobile apps for iOS and Android together with the backend and admin panel. Our portfolio includes Payda, an accounting app for small and medium-sized businesses, a marketplace app, a messenger with audio and video calls, and a hotel search and booking service. In this article, we break down how much a mobile app costs in Kazakhstan in 2026, what affects the price, and how to save without sacrificing quality.

Prices in short

Mobile app development at Studio Nomad starts from 1,500,000 ₸. This covers an app with a limited feature set for a single audience: analysis, design, the client app, the backend with an admin panel, and publishing to the app stores.

In the Kazakhstan market, typical business apps are usually priced between one and a half and several million tenge. Complex products — marketplaces, services with multiple user roles, apps with video calling, real-time geolocation, or high load — cost more and are usually developed in stages.

App typeExample featuresComplexity and budget
Catalog or service showcaseCatalog, inquiries, push notifications, user accountBasic, close to the starting price
Customer app for a businessBooking, rewards and loyalty, order history, online paymentMedium
Mobile online storeCatalog with filters, cart, payment, delivery, accounting system integrationMedium or high
Marketplace or multi-role serviceBuyers and sellers or service providers, chats, ratings, moderation, paymentsHigh, phased launch

What goes into the cost of an app

Analysis and prototype

We define the app's goal, audience, and key scenarios: what the user should be able to do in the first few minutes. We compile a feature list, split it into must-haves for the first version and items for "later," and build a clickable prototype. This stage saves the most money: changing a screen layout is cheaper than rewriting finished code.

UX/UI design

App design follows each platform's conventions: iOS and Android users are used to different navigation elements and gestures. The cost of design depends on the number of unique screens and states — an empty list, an error, loading, and no internet connection all need to be designed too.

Client app

This is what the user installs on their phone. It can be built natively — separately for iOS and Android — or with a cross-platform framework such as Flutter, using shared code for both platforms. The approach you choose determines a significant share of the budget; more on that below.

Backend and admin panel

This is an often-overlooked cost item. Almost every app needs a server to store users and data, process orders and payments, and send notifications. And the business needs an admin panel to manage content, orders, and users without a developer. Sometimes the backend is comparable in scope to the app itself.

Integrations

Online payments through Kazakhstani payment providers, data exchange with 1C or a CRM, maps and geolocation, SMS authentication, analytics, and sign-in with Google and Apple. Each integration adds development and testing work.

Testing

The app is tested on different smartphone models, operating system versions, and screen sizes, on a poor connection, and when a flow is interrupted by an incoming call. Without testing, you will learn about bugs from app store reviews, and a low rating then holds back new installs for a long time. That is why testing happens at every stage, not just before release.

Publishing to the App Store and Google Play

This covers preparing descriptions, screenshots, and a privacy policy, and passing store review. Keep in mind the stores' own fees: an Apple developer account is billed annually ($99 per year), and Google Play charges a one-time registration fee ($25).

Which features affect the price the most

Some features look simple to the user but significantly increase the development effort:

  • chats, audio and video calls — require real-time server infrastructure and handling of poor connections;
  • real-time geolocation — tracking a courier or service provider on a map, calculating routes;
  • offline mode — the app must work without internet and sync data once it reconnects;
  • multiple roles — customer, service provider, administrator: essentially several apps in one;
  • payments, subscriptions, and refunds — integration with a payment provider and compliance with app store rules;
  • hardware integration — scanners, Bluetooth devices, camera-based recognition.

If these features are not critical for the first version, it is better to move them to the next stage.

Why estimates from different vendors vary so much

If you sent the same brief to several teams and got quotes that differ several-fold, that is normal. The difference usually comes down to different work being included in the estimate:

  • Backend. Some quote only the app, others the app together with the backend and admin panel.
  • Development approach. Two native versions cost more than one cross-platform version.
  • Depth of analysis and design. A ready-made set of screens from a template and carefully designed user flows with a prototype are very different amounts of work.
  • Testing and publishing. Some vendors include them, some charge for them separately, and some leave them out entirely.
  • Warranty and support. Whether post-launch bug fixes are included, and for how long.

So compare the scope of work, not the totals. A good estimate shows the cost of each stage and module.

Native or cross-platform development

This is one of the main factors in the price.

  • Cross-platform development (Flutter and similar frameworks) — a single codebase for iOS and Android. It is usually faster and cheaper than two separate native versions, and for most business apps — catalogs, booking services, stores — performance is more than sufficient. We built the marketplace app, the messenger, and the hotel search app with Flutter.
  • Native development (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) — two separate codebases. It costs more but provides full access to platform capabilities and maximum performance. This approach is justified for complex graphics, hardware integration, and background processes. For example, the Payda app for business accounting was built natively.

The right choice depends on the app's features, not on trends. We discuss it during the analysis stage and explain how it will affect the budget and timeline.

Maybe you don't need an app yet?

Sometimes the honest answer to "how much does an app cost" is "what you need right now isn't an app." The alternatives are cheaper and faster:

  • A responsive website or online store. It works on any device without installation and can be promoted in search. For many businesses, this is the first step, and an app comes later for repeat customers. Learn more about the options on our website development page.
  • PWA — a website that can be added to the phone's home screen and partially works offline.
  • Telegram Mini App or chatbot — suitable for bookings, orders, and simple services if your audience actively uses the messenger.

An app makes sense when customers come back regularly: they order food, book services, collect rewards, and track statuses. In that case, the icon on the home screen and push notifications genuinely drive repeat sales.

Development timeline

The first version of a business app usually takes several months to develop: analysis and design, client app and backend development, testing, and publishing. Complex services are split into stages: first an MVP with the key features, then further development based on user feedback. Set aside extra time for App Store and Google Play review: how long it takes depends on the stores, not the developer.

What you get in the end

When the project is complete, the business should be left with more than just an icon on a smartphone screen. The deliverables include:

  • the app published on the App Store and Google Play;
  • a backend and admin panel for managing content, orders, and users;
  • design mockups of all screens;
  • source code and infrastructure access as specified in the contract;
  • connected analytics so you can see how users interact with the app.

How much it costs to maintain an app after launch

  • Server. Monthly fees for hosting or cloud infrastructure. Costs grow with the number of users and the volume of stored data, such as photos and files.
  • Developer accounts. Apple's annual fee and Google Play's one-time fee.
  • Updates for new iOS and Android versions. The platforms are updated every year, and the app needs to be adapted so it doesn't stop working.
  • Third-party services. SMS authentication, maps, push notifications, analytics — some of them have paid plans.
  • Support and further development. Our clients get a warranty and technical support free of charge for 24 months. New features are estimated separately.

How to save on development

  1. Start with an MVP. Pick the two or three key features that will make users install the app, and launch with those. Add the rest once you have data on how users behave.
  2. Use cross-platform development if the app's features don't require native capabilities.
  3. Reuse your backend. If you already have a website or CRM, the app can work with the same database and the same API.
  4. Don't over-design. Complex animations and custom interface elements are expensive, and users are often more comfortable with standard platform patterns.
  5. Spread out the payments. You can pay for development in installments: we offer installment plans for up to 12 months with no banks and no extra charges; terms depend on the project.

How to prepare for an estimate

To get an accurate estimate faster, prepare:

  • a description of the task: who the users are and what problem the app solves;
  • a feature list split into "must-have" and "nice-to-have";
  • examples of apps you like and what exactly you like about them;
  • information about existing systems: website, CRM, 1C, payment provider;
  • the expected launch date and budget, if already set.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build an app for Android only or iOS only?

Yes, and that lowers the cost of the first version. But with cross-platform development, the second platform is relatively inexpensive, so it is often more cost-effective to release on both at once.

Who owns the code and the app store accounts?

We recommend registering the developer accounts in your company's name — that way, the app and its audience stay yours. Rights to the code and the procedure for transferring them are set out in the contract.

Do I need a website if I have an app?

Yes, in most cases. A website brings in new customers from search, while an app retains those who already buy from you. In addition, app stores require a page with a privacy policy and contact details, and users usually get to know a company through its website first.

Can you improve an existing app?

Yes. We start with an audit of the code and architecture, then assess which is more cost-effective: developing the current version further or rewriting specific parts.

Want to find out how much your app will cost? Describe your idea and key features on our mobile app development page — we will review it, propose an architecture, and prepare an estimate broken down by stage. Studio Nomad is an in-house design and development team in Almaty: we work under contract and offer a 24-month warranty and installment plans without banks.