App Design Cost: Plan Your Budget Right

App design cost can make or break your 2025 app budget. A simple MVP can cost $3K–$7K, mid-level apps typically range $7K–$15K, and enterprise apps with advanced features can exceed $100K.

That’s where Design Monks helps you make smart choices. We offer transparent app design cost packages that fit every stage of growth, from affordable $2,800 mobile app designs to premium $58K+ enterprise solutions. 

Each package includes UX research, Figma prototypes, design systems, and unlimited revisions. So you get a design that’s beautiful, user-friendly, and ready to scale. 

Want to break down every factor that drives app design cost and learn how to save without sacrificing quality? Keep reading.

Factors That Influence App Design Cost

Before we dive into platform or region-specific costs, it’s important to understand what actually drives the price of app design up or down. These factors often work together, meaning a small change in one area can have a big effect on your final bill. Here’s how each one impacts your budget:

Complexity & Features

The complexity of the app is the biggest cost driver. A simple app with just a few screens and a clean, basic UI might cost between $3K–$7K. Add interactive dashboards, animations, or more detailed user flows, and the price can quickly rise to $7K–$15K. 

Really complex apps like those with AI, AR/VR experiences, or multiple user roles (admin, customer, vendor) often reach $15K–$30K+. Enterprise apps with deeply customized user experiences, data security, and internal workflows can go even higher, landing in the $50K–$100K+ range.

Number of Screens

The more screens your app has, the more design work is needed. Each screen needs its own layout, interactions, and visual elements. Designers usually charge $50–$500 per screen, depending on complexity. 

For example, a 15-screen app could range between $1.5K–$7.5K+ just for screen design. This is why mapping your app flow early helps control costs.

Design Process & Stages

App design usually follows a step-by-step process:

• Research & Discovery: Understanding user needs, competitors, and market trends: $2K–$8K.
• Wireframing & User Flows: Creating a blueprint of screens and navigation: $3K–$15K.
• Visual Design & Animations: Crafting polished, interactive designs: $10K–$50K.
• Testing & Iteration: Reviewing designs with users and making improvements: cost varies based on the number of revisions.

Each stage adds value but also contributes to the overall price.

Designer / Team Type

Who you hire matters as much as what you build. Freelancers are affordable but may have limited bandwidth. Agencies cost more, but they provide structure, project management, and a full design team.

In-house teams give you control but add ongoing payroll costs. Outsourcing to skilled teams in other regions can be cost-effective, especially for startups on a budget.

Location & Hourly Rates

Designers charge very different rates based on where they are located:

• US: $100–170/hr
• UK/Western Europe: $70–120/hr
• Australia: $100–150/hr
• Eastern Europe: $30–50/hr
• India & Southeast Asia: $20–50/hr

Hiring globally lets you find a balance between price and quality.

Additional Elements & Visuals

Extra visual elements can make your app stand out, but add to the budget. Custom icons, illustrations, or branding might cost $500–$5K.

Interactive prototypes that simulate the app experience usually add $1K–$5K. If you need a logo or full brand identity, that can cost another $1K–$5K.

Features & Integrations

Adding special features like real-time chat, in-app payments, GPS tracking, or AI integrations increases both design complexity and cost. These elements require extra planning to ensure they are smooth and user-friendly.

Prototyping & User Testing

Investing in prototypes and user testing might look like an extra expense at first, but it often saves money in the long run. Testing early helps catch usability problems before development begins. This reduces expensive redesigns later.

App Design Cost Breakdown Table

Here’s a quick look at how much different types of apps usually cost to design. This table makes it easier to compare budgets based on complexity and features.

Hidden & Overlooked App Design Costs

Even with a solid budget plan, some costs catch teams by surprise. These hidden expenses can quietly add up and impact your timeline if you don’t plan for them. Here are the most common ones to watch out for:

Revisions & Iterations

Most design projects go through multiple feedback rounds. Each round may require redesigning screens, tweaking layouts, or adjusting user flows. A few small changes are usually included in your quote. But major revisions can add extra hours and extra cost.

Branding Consistency Across Platforms

If your app will launch on Android, iOS, and web, your design team will need extra time to make sure your branding, colors, and style look consistent everywhere. This often involves adjusting typography, spacing, and icons to meet each platform’s design guidelines.

App Store Compliance & Guidelines

Both Apple and Google have strict rules for app design and usability. If your app doesn’t meet these guidelines, it can be rejected. That means you’ll pay for redesign work and delay your launch. Including compliance checks early in the process saves money later.

App Design Cost by Platform

When planning your app design budget, the platform you choose plays a big role. Different platforms have unique requirements, screen sizes, and user expectations, all of which can affect the cost. Let’s break down what you can expect for Android, iOS, web, and cross-platform apps:

Android App Design Cost

Android apps have a large variety of devices and screen sizes, which means designers need to create flexible layouts that look good on all of them. This extra effort often makes Android app design cost slightly higher than iOS.

On average, you can expect to pay $7K–$20K+, depending on the complexity of your app and the number of screens.

iOS App Design Cost

iOS apps are easier to design because there are fewer device sizes. Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) help designers maintain consistency and follow best practices.  Despite fewer variations, a well-designed iOS app typically costs $5K–$15K+, depending on features and app complexity.‍

Web App Design Cost

Web apps need to work on multiple browsers and devices, so responsive design is crucial. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) add extra complexity because they behave like native apps but run in a browser. 

Depending on scope and design complexity, web app design cost typically ranges from $8K–$30K+.

Cross-Platform / Hybrid App Design

Hybrid apps using frameworks like Flutter, React Native, or Xamarin allow a single design to be used across multiple platforms. This reduces design work compared to creating separate native designs for iOS and Android. 

Choosing cross-platform design can save 20–40% compared to native app design, typically costing between $20,000 and $80,000 in 2025. This makes it a cost-effective option for many businesses.

App Design Cost by App Type

Different types of apps have very different design needs. A simple e-commerce app doesn’t require the same design work as a social media platform with real-time chat and notifications. Here’s what you can expect based on the kind of app you want to build:

E-Commerce 

Designing an online shopping app means creating product catalogs, filters, cart flows, and payment screens. Costs usually range from $10K–$30K+. This depends on the number of products and the level of customization.

Fintech 

Fintech apps require secure dashboards, transaction histories, and compliance with banking regulations. This extra complexity makes them pricier, typically $15K–$40K+.

Healthcare 

Healthcare apps need HIPAA-compliant workflows, patient-friendly interfaces, and secure data handling. Expect a design cost of $12K–$35K+.

Food Delivery

Food delivery apps often have multiple user roles (customer, restaurant, delivery partner) with separate flows for each. Designing these flows usually costs $15K–$30K.

Social Media

Social apps are among the most design-heavy projects. They need news feeds, chat features, user profiles, notifications, and media uploads. This costs around $20K–$50K.

Education / E-Learning 

E-learning apps include course lists, video players, progress tracking, and gamification features. These typically cost $8K–$25K to design.

Marketplace 

Marketplaces connect buyers and sellers, requiring separate user journeys, dashboards, and secure payment flows. Their design cost ranges from $20K–$60K, depending on complexity.

App Design Cost by Region

Where your design team is located also plays a big role in how much you’ll pay. Here’s how regional pricing typically compares:

• North America (USA & Canada): $100–$170/hr, the highest rates. But premium design quality, great communication, and access to top-tier designers.
• Western Europe (UK, Germany, France): $70–$120/hr, mid-to-high cost. You get design with excellent quality, attention to detail, and a strong design culture
• Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Romania): $30–$50/hr, very cost-effective. They have skilled designers, often striking a great balance between quality and price.
• India & Southeast Asia: $20–$50/hr, lowest hourly rates. Large talent pool, and a popular choice for startups looking for budget-friendly yet solid design work.

Choosing a region depends on your budget, desired level of involvement, and communication preferences.

App Re-Design Cost 

Sometimes your app needs a fresh makeover, maybe users aren’t engaging as much, or competitors have launched apps with better designs. That's when an app redesign changes the game for you. Now, the cost of redesigning an app depends on how big the changes are.

A small refresh focuses on updating colors, fonts, or a few key screens to match modern trends. This is the most affordable option and usually costs around $2K–$7K.

A partial redesign goes deeper, improving user flows, navigation, and redesigning major screens to make the app easier and more enjoyable to use. This level of work can cost between $8K–$20K.

A full redesign starts from scratch with new research, wireframes, and visuals. It’s the most expensive option, ranging from $20K–$50K+. But it can completely transform how users experience your product.

A well-planned redesign not only makes your app look fresh but also improves usability, boosts user satisfaction, and helps your product stay competitive. All of the redesign can be done without overspending if done strategically.

How to Reduce App Design Costs 

Good design doesn’t always have to break the bank. Here are practical ways to save money while still getting a high-quality app design:

• Start with an MVP: Focus on the most important features first, then add extras later.
• Use Templates or UI Kits: Pre-made design components can cut costs by 30–40% and speed up delivery.
• Outsource Smartly: Work with skilled designers in cost-effective regions for a better price-quality balance.
• Prototype & Test Early: Catching usability problems early prevents expensive rework later.
• Define Scope Clearly: A clear plan avoids scope creep and keeps costs predictable.

Following these tips helps you reduce app design cost while keeping the final product user-friendly and visually appealing.

Most Affordable App Design and Redesign Agency: Design Monks 

Finding a great design agency doesn’t have to mean overspending. Design Monks is well-known for offering high-quality, transparent, and flexible pricing packages that work for startups, growing businesses, and even enterprise projects. 

Whether you’re designing a web app, mobile app, or going through a complete redesign, their plans are structured to deliver maximum value while keeping costs predictable.

Web App Design Packages

For web apps, Design Monks provides three clear packages to suit different stages of business growth.

The Launch Package starts at $4,500 and goes up to $21,000, depending on the number of screens (1–60+) and complexity. It’s ideal for MVPs or small projects that need fast, professional results. This package covers everything you need to get started.

You’ll get UX research to understand your users, high-fidelity responsive designs, a complete Figma prototype, a design system for consistency, developer handoff, and unlimited revisions until you’re happy.

If you’re ready to scale, the Growth Package ranges from $5,600 to $26,500 and builds on everything in the Launch Package. You also get design documentation, development support in Framer, Webflow, or WordPress, hosting and domain setup, analytics setup, and two months of post-launch maintenance to keep your product running smoothly.

For enterprise-level projects or complex custom apps, the Signature Package ranges from $12,600 to $58,800. This is a full-service solution that includes all Growth Package features plus SEO setup, three months of ongoing maintenance, complete logo and branding design, AI-powered brand photoshoots, color theme, and style guide support. You also have multilingual support, which is perfect for businesses targeting a global audience.

Mobile App Design Packages

Design Monks also brings the same clarity and value to mobile app design.

The Launch Package for mobile apps starts at $2,800 and goes up to $11,500. It includes UX research, Figma prototypes, pixel-perfect UI designs for iOS and Android, a design system, developer handoff, and unlimited revisions.

The Growth Package is priced between $3,500 and $14,250 and is designed for businesses scaling their mobile presence. It includes everything in Launch plus detailed design documentation, basic development support, analytics setup, and two months of maintenance after launch.

Finally, the Signature Package ranges from $7,800 to $31,900 and is designed for larger-scale projects or full redesigns. It includes everything in Growth plus logo and branding design, SEO setup, three months of maintenance, AI brand photoshoots, and multilingual support to prepare your app for a global audience.

Ready to get started? Book a consultation with Design Monks today and get a custom quote for your next app project.

FAQs About App Design Cost

1. What’s the average hourly rate for app designers?

In the US, the average hourly rate for an app designer is between $100–$170/hr, while in the UK/Europe, it averages $70–$120/hr. Eastern Europe and Asia are more affordable, with rates starting from $20–$50/hr.

2. Is app design more expensive than app development?

No, app design is not more expensive than app development. However, for apps with complex features, animations, or custom design systems, design costs can be high. 

3. Do startups need to spend as much on design as big companies?

No, Startups don't need to spend as much on design as big companies. Most startups can begin with an MVP design for $3K–$7K. Later, when they get traction or funding, they can invest in a full redesign to improve the user experience and scale.

4. Can I get a good app design for under $5K?

Yes, you can get a good app design for under $5k if your app is simple and has fewer screens. The key is keeping features minimal and working with a team that offers clear deliverables, like Figma prototypes and developer handoff.

5. How long does app design usually take?

A simple app can be designed in 3–5 weeks, while complex apps can take 8–12+ weeks. This depends on research, revisions, and testing. Planning your timeline early helps avoid rushed work and ensures a smooth development process later.

Conclusion

Understanding app design cost is key to planning a successful app launch. In 2025, designing a simple MVP can cost around $3K, medium apps range from $7K–$15K, complex apps $15K–$30K+, and enterprise-level apps may exceed $100K. 

Costs vary based on features, number of screens, platforms, and team type. By knowing what influences pricing, you can plan your budget wisely and balance quality with cost. So that your app delivers a smooth, user-friendly experience that stands out.

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