We built 20+ React Native apps in 2025. Here is what each feature actually costs — no agency fluff.
By David Friedman, Founder of AppBrewers
React Native is the most popular cross-platform framework in 2026. One codebase. iOS and Android. But pricing is still opaque. Agencies quote 10,000 Euro for a simple app and 100,000 Euro for a complex one. Here are the real numbers based on 20+ apps we built last year.
Cost by Feature
| Feature | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| User authentication (email/social) | 500 Euro | 1,000 Euro | 8-16 |
| Push notifications | 400 Euro | 800 Euro | 6-12 |
| In-app purchases / subscriptions | 1,000 Euro | 2,500 Euro | 16-40 |
| Real-time chat | 1,500 Euro | 3,000 Euro | 20-40 |
| GPS / maps integration | 800 Euro | 1,500 Euro | 10-20 |
| Camera / photo upload | 600 Euro | 1,200 Euro | 8-16 |
| Offline mode | 1,200 Euro | 2,500 Euro | 16-32 |
| Admin dashboard (web) | 2,000 Euro | 4,000 Euro | 24-48 |
| AI integration | 1,500 Euro | 3,500 Euro | 20-48 |
Cost by App Type
| App Type | Complexity | Timeline | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple utility app | Auth, 3-5 screens | 2-4 weeks | 3,000-6,000 Euro |
| Social app | Chat, feed, notifications | 6-10 weeks | 10,000-20,000 Euro |
| E-commerce app | Cart, payments, inventory | 6-12 weeks | 12,000-25,000 Euro |
| On-demand service | Booking, GPS, payments | 8-14 weeks | 15,000-30,000 Euro |
| AI-powered app | LLM integration, voice, vision | 8-16 weeks | 18,000-40,000 Euro |
What Drives Cost Up
Backend Complexity
A Firebase backend costs 1,000-3,000 Euro. A custom Node.js backend costs 5,000-15,000 Euro. The difference is flexibility vs. speed.
Design Customization
Off-the-shelf UI kits save 20-30%. Custom animations and micro-interactions add 30-50%.
Third-Party Integrations
Each payment processor, analytics tool, or CRM integration adds 500-2,000 Euro.
What Drives Cost Down
| Strategy | Savings | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| MVP first | 40-60% | Ship v1 fast, iterate |
| Use Expo | 20-30% | Less native control |
| Firebase backend | 50-70% vs custom | Vendor lock-in |
| Offshore design | 30-50% | Communication overhead |
Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
| Cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer Program | 99 Euro/year | Before launch |
| Google Play Console | 25 Euro one-time | Before launch |
| App Store screenshots | 200-500 Euro | Before launch |
| App review rejections | 1-2 weeks delay | After submission |
| Maintenance (bug fixes, OS updates) | 500-2,000 Euro/month | Ongoing |
| Server costs (Firebase) | 50-500 Euro/month | Ongoing |
Our Approach at AppBrewers
We build React Native apps with Next.js backends and Firebase. Fixed pricing. 4-12 week delivery.
Originally published on the AppBrewers Blog.
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