Digigen's planning band for a mobile product with a backend is R150,000 to R500,000+. It is a scope guide, not a market average or fixed quote. Device features, offline sync, data sensitivity and the number of platforms change the cost. First check whether your customers or field team need an installed app at all.
Start with the reason the product must be mobile
Frequent repeat use, camera or location access, push notifications, offline field work, Bluetooth, background activity, and store distribution can justify a mobile application. If the main job is occasional form submission, booking, content, or account access, a responsive web application or PWA may deliver more value with less distribution and maintenance overhead.
Platform strategy changes the budget
A PWA uses web distribution and one primary codebase but has platform limitations. Cross-platform frameworks share substantial implementation while still requiring platform-specific testing and release work. Separate native applications offer the deepest platform alignment but create two delivery and maintenance surfaces. The cheapest initial choice is not always the lowest lifetime cost.
The backend is part of the mobile product
Authentication, data, business rules, file handling, notifications, administration, integrations, analytics, and operational support normally live beyond the installed app. A proposal that prices screens but leaves the backend, admin workflow, migration, and support undefined is incomplete.
Offline is a product decision
Offline capability defines which data is available, what actions can be queued, how pending state is shown, how conflicts resolve, how local data is protected, and what happens when authentication expires. This must be designed and tested against real device and network conditions.
Store preparation and ownership
Plan developer accounts, certificates, privacy disclosures, screenshots, descriptions, demo access, review notes, staged release, crash reporting, and update responsibility. Apple and Google review the product under their current rules; delivery should include preparation and response ownership without promising approval.
| Option | Best fit | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Responsive web app | Occasional access and broadly available business workflows | Limited background and deeper device capability |
| Progressive Web App | Installable web workflows and selective offline support | Capability and distribution vary across platforms |
| Cross-platform app | Store distribution with substantial shared product logic | Platform testing and native exceptions still remain |
| Native iOS and Android | Deep platform, hardware, performance, or experience requirements | Two implementation and maintenance surfaces |
Sources and further reading
Cost and timing examples are Digigen planning guidance, not market averages or a fixed quote. Confirm the scope, assumptions and current provider requirements before making a project decision. About Digigen.