Plan the cost of your mobile app

Separate the cost of building from the cost of running your app. Adjust the example assumptions below to match your project; they are not Brainbaby prices or provider quotes.

Your planning assumptions

  • Your planning assumptions

    All inputs are in USD. Taxes, exchange rates, payment processing and store sales commissions are not included. API usage and maintenance depend on your actual app.

How the calculation works

  • How the calculation works

    Monthly cost = builder subscription + extra credits + hosting + storage + active users × API cost per user + maintenance hours × hourly rate. First-year cost adds 12 months of operating costs, one-time setup and the selected store account fees. Year two keeps Apple’s annual membership and excludes the one-time Google registration and setup.

Store fees and assumptions

  • Store fees and assumptions

    Apple lists US$99 per membership year, or local currency where available. Google Play lists a US$25 one-time registration fee. These are reference fees, not guaranteed local checkout totals; edit them if your account is already paid, eligible for a waiver, or priced differently.

Turn your budget into a smaller first release

  • Turn your budget into a smaller first release

    Begin with one useful workflow. Build a prototype, test it on real devices, and measure the API cost of representative tasks. Add login, payments and notifications only when your first users need them. Compare actual invoices with this plan before scaling.