How to Choose the Most Cost-Effective Mobile App Development Approach

Building a mobile app used to mean:

• Hire developers
• Spend six figures on your project
• Wait about a year just to see if it actually works

As you can imagine, that priced a lot of businesses out.

Today, there are multiple paths to a mobile app - from no-code builders you can set up yourself, to agencies that build custom solutions, to services that convert your existing website into an app.

And the bottom line is, it’s a lot more cost-effective to develop a mobile app than it was 10 years ago.

But "cost-effective" doesn't just mean "cheapest upfront." The real question is: what will this cost you over time, including maintenance, updates, and the hours your team spends managing it?

This guide breaks down the three main approaches to mobile app development, with honest analysis of when each makes sense (and when it doesn't).

The Three Approaches to Mobile App Development

Before diving into specifics, here's the birds-eye view:

Each approach has trade-offs. The right choice depends on what you're building, what you already have, and how much time you can invest.

Why “Cost-Effective” is Not Just About Sticker Price

If you’re looking for cost-effectiveness, it’s easy to look at app development options and focus on one number: the upfront cost. 

But that’s only part of the picture. A truly cost-effective approach considers all the resources you’ll invest to build, maintain, and grow your app. And the revenue you might lose if you choose a cheap but limiting solution.

Here are four cost drivers to keep in mind:

• Setup cost: The price you pay to get your app built and published. This can range from a one-time setup fee to a large custom development bill.
• Ongoing cost: Apps aren’t one-and-done. They need updates, bug fixes, and platform maintenance to keep them running smoothly as iOS and Android evolve.
• Labor cost: Even no-code tools take time (your time or your team’s). An app you can “build for $49” could cost you hundreds more in time investment.
• Opportunity cost: The revenue you miss out on when an app can’t scale, deliver the right user experience, or offer growth-driving features like push notifications.

When you view app development through this lens, the “cheapest” option often turns out to be the most expensive in the long run. 

A slightly higher monthly fee, or a done-for-you service, can save you dozens of hours and unlock significantly more revenue potential.

Key term: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). This is the core of what makes something cost-effective. It includes not just the upfront cost of a tool or service, but also the operating costs, cost of maintenance & support, indirect costs (like training, downtime, lost productivity, or integration overhead) and much more. It gives the full picture of what it costs for your business to have an app.

Approach 1: DIY App Builders

DIY app builders are platforms that let you build a mobile app yourself, either from scratch or by connecting to your existing website.

These include Shopify app builders (Tapcart, Vajro, Plobal), no-code platforms (FlutterFlow, Adalo, Glide), web-to-app converters (AppMySite, Median)

The Appeal

DIY builders have low upfront costs. Many start under $100/month, and some have free tiers. For someone with a simple use case and time to invest, this can work.

The Shopify ecosystem has several options specifically for ecommerce stores. You connect your store, customize the design, and publish to the app stores. Setup can take a few hours to a few days.

No-code platforms like FlutterFlow and Adalo let you build more custom apps without writing code. These are more flexible but require more time to learn and build.

The Reality

DIY builders save money upfront but cost time ongoing. Here's what the pricing doesn't tell you:

You're responsible for everything:

• App store submissions and compliance
• Handling rejections and resubmissions
• iOS and Android updates that break things
• Bug fixes and troubleshooting
• Design changes and feature additions

The hidden time cost: A "simple" app store submission can take hours if you hit issues. Apple's review process is notoriously unpredictable; rejections happen, and resolving them requires understanding App Store guidelines.

When iOS or Android releases a major update, your app may need changes. DIY builders handle some of this, but not all. You'll spend time testing, reporting issues, and waiting for fixes.

Limitations compound: Most DIY builders work from templates. That's fine until you need something the template doesn't support. At that point, you're either stuck, paying for custom development anyway, or switching platforms entirely.

When DIY Makes Sense

• You have a technical team member who can own the app
• Your requirements are simple and unlikely to change
• You're testing whether an app makes sense before investing more
• Budget is the primary constraint and time is available

When DIY Doesn't Make Sense

• You don't have someone to manage ongoing maintenance
• You need the app to "just work" without regular attention
• Your website or store is complex (custom checkout, integrations, etc.)
• App quality and performance are important to your brand

Real Cost Example

A Shopify store using a mid-tier app builder ($499/mo):

The platform cost is ~$6K/year. The real cost (including your team's time) is closer to $9.5-10.5K/year.

That's not to mention the potential opportunity cost, and the indirect cost of splitting your team's time on a new project.

Approach 2: Custom Development (Agency or In-House)

The traditional approach means building a mobile app from scratch with developers, either through an agency or an internal team.

This used to mean native iOS/Android development only. Today, there are more cost-effective options, like cross-platform frameworks (React Native, Flutter) or hybrid development (Ionic, Capacitor).

These, however, are still rather costly. And while you might think you can pay once, get an app, and save by not having to pay a SaaS subscription fee, the reality works out a little differently.

The Appeal

Custom development gives you complete control. You can build exactly what you want, with no template limitations.

For apps with unique functionality; think Uber, Airbnb, or a custom internal tool; this is often the only option.

React Native and Flutter have made cross-platform development more efficient. Instead of building two separate apps, you build one codebase that runs on both iOS and Android. This reduces (but doesn't eliminate) the cost and complexity.

The Reality

Custom development is expensive. Not just upfront, but forever.

Upfront costs: A basic custom app from an agency typically starts around $50,000. A more complex app with backend development, integrations, and custom features can run $150,000-$300,000 or more.

That's not an exaggeration. Quality development is expensive, and cutting corners leads to technical debt you'll pay for later.

Ongoing costs: The app doesn't maintain itself. You'll need:

• Bug fixes and updates (ongoing)
• iOS and Android compatibility updates (annual, at minimum)
• App store compliance changes (Apple and Google change requirements regularly)
• Security patches
• Feature additions

Many brands budget $20,000-$50,000/year for maintenance on a custom app. Some spend more.

When Custom Development Makes Sense

• You're building something that doesn't exist as a template
• You have unique functionality that requires custom code
• You have budget for both initial development AND ongoing maintenance
• You have technical leadership to manage the project and vendor relationships

When Custom Development Doesn't Make Sense

• You already have a website that does what you need
• You're primarily trying to improve mobile engagement, not build new features
• You don't have budget for ongoing maintenance (which you will need)
• You're an ecommerce brand with a standard Shopify/WooCommerce/Magento store

Real Cost Example

An ecommerce brand building a custom React Native app:

Three-year total: $255,000. And that assumes no major rebuilds or pivots.

Approach 3: Website-to-App Conversion

This approach is to take your existing website and convert it into a native app, giving you a real iOS and Android app without rebuilding anything.

It's like the no-code option, except for a couple of key differences:

• It's a managed approach, requiring minimal time from you or your team
• The app is powered by your website, and fully synced with your website. It's not a separate platform that needs to be updated separately.

Of course, it's only a realistic option for businesses that already operate on the web, and want to extend that experience to a mobile app.

Examples include ecommerce, web apps or digital publishers.

If you're starting a business with an app, and you don't have a website, it doesn't work.

But for web-first businesses like ecommerce, this ends up being the most cost-effective approach.

The Appeal

If you already have a website that works well on mobile, why rebuild it as an app? Website-to-app conversion takes what you've already built and packages it as a native app.

The result: a real app in the App Store and Google Play, with push notifications, native navigation, and the performance users expect, without the cost or timeline of custom development.

For ecommerce brands, this is particularly compelling. Your website already has mobile-optimized product pages, collections, checkout, account management, and integrations. An app that mirrors this experience leverages all that existing work.

The Reality

Website-to-app conversion isn't magic. The quality depends heavily on two things:

1. ‍Your website's mobile experience: If your website is slow, clunky, or broken on mobile, your app will be too. Conversion works best when your mobile web experience is already solid.‍
2. The service provider: Not all conversion services are equal. Some produce apps that feel like "websites in a wrapper": slow, with web-like navigation and no native feel. Others produce apps that are indistinguishable from custom-built native apps.

MobiLoud is the gold standard for converting websites into apps. We've done it over 2,000 times, and know exactly what it takes to create a native experience, without any unnecessary work or expense.

The difference comes down to implementation: native navigation, performance optimization, deep linking, push notification strategy, and ongoing maintenance.

What to Look For

When evaluating website-to-app conversion services:

• ‍Native feel: Does the app feel like a native app or a website? Test the navigation, transitions, and responsiveness. Good conversion produces apps that users can't distinguish from custom builds.‍
• Full functionality: Does everything from your website work in the app? Custom checkout flows, third-party integrations, logged-in experiences? Some converters break on complex sites.‍
• Push notifications: This is often the main reason to have an app. Can you send targeted push notifications? Automated flows? How easy is setup?‍
• Ongoing maintenance: Who handles iOS and Android updates? App store compliance? Bug fixes? If the answer is "you," factor that time into your cost analysis.‍
• Track record: How long has the service been operating? How many apps have they launched? What do reviews say about support and reliability?

When Website-to-App Conversion Makes Sense

• You have a website that works well on mobile
• You want push notifications and App Store presence
• You don't need app-only features that don't exist on your website
• You want an app without the cost and timeline of custom development
• You don't have a team to manage ongoing app maintenance

When It Doesn't Make Sense

• Your website's mobile experience is poor
• You need significant functionality that doesn't exist on your website
• You're building something completely new (no existing website)

Real Cost Example

An ecommerce brand using a managed website-to-app service like MobiLoud:

Three-year total: $16,400. And you're not managing anything - updates, app store compliance, and maintenance are handled for you.

Learn more: Check out our pricing options to get an idea of how much it will cost to launch your brand's app

A Framework to Decide the Right Mobile App Development Approach

The right approach could be different from one business to the next.

Here's a decision framework you can use to decide:

Start with what you have

Do you have an existing website?

• Yes, and it works well on mobile → Website-to-app conversion is likely your best path
• Yes, but mobile experience is poor → Fix the website first, then consider conversion
• No → You'll need to build something (DIY or custom)

Consider your requirements

Do you need app-exclusive features that don't exist on your website?

• Yes, significant new functionality → Custom development may be necessary
• Yes, but minor additions → Many conversion services can add native features
• No, the app should mirror the website → Conversion is ideal

Your resources

Do you have someone to manage ongoing maintenance?

• Yes, technical team member available → DIY could work
• No, or you'd rather not → Managed services (conversion or agency retainer) make sense

What's your budget?

• Under $5K/year → DIY or basic conversion
• $5-25K/year → Managed conversion service
• $50K+ upfront, $20K+/year ongoing → Custom development is an option

Factor in opportunity cost

The cheapest option isn't always the most cost-effective. If a DIY app takes 10 hours/month to manage, that's time your team isn't spending on growth, marketing, or product.

A managed service that costs more but requires no ongoing attention may be cheaper in total cost of ownership, especially if your team's time is valuable.

The Case for MobiLoud

We're obviously biased, but here's why we built MobiLoud the way we did:

Most brands don't need custom apps.

They need their website (which already works), available as an app with push notifications and App Store presence.

DIY sounds good until it isn't. The first app store rejection, the first iOS update that breaks something, the first time a customer reports a bug; that's when "self-service" becomes a liability.

We handle everything:

• App store submissions and compliance
• iOS and Android updates
• Bug fixes and performance optimization
• Push notification setup and strategy
• Ongoing maintenance and support

Your team's involvement is minimal. We send you the apps to review, you approve, we handle the rest.

If you have an existing website - especially an ecommerce store on Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or Magento - this is the most cost-effective path to a mobile app.

We specialize in helping high-growth ecommerce brands launch mobile apps that grow their business; not adding another headache.

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Ready to see what's possible? Get a free preview of your app now.

Not sure if your website is a good fit? We'll tell you honestly. Book a consultation and we'll walk through your site and let you know if MobiLoud makes sense, or if another approach would serve you better.