What Does It Cost to Develop a Simple App?
A simple app typically costs SEK 250,000–600,000 to develop in Sweden in 2026. That covers login, a couple of views, lists, forms, and push notifications, with content pulled from an existing API. As soon as you add chat, maps, payment, or a custom backend, you leave the simple-app category and the price climbs fast.
A simple app is the fastest and cheapest way to get to market – provided it actually stays simple. Here’s what fits inside the SEK 250,000–600,000 range, and where the line gets drawn.
What you get for the money
A simple app is built on off-the-shelf building blocks and an existing or lightweight API. Typical contents:
- Login and simple account management
- A number of content views (lists, detail pages, forms)
- Push notifications
- Basic design based on an existing brand
That goes surprisingly far. Many successful apps start exactly here and then grow based on real user needs.
Features that sound simple but aren’t
The trap is underestimating individual features. These look small in a requirements list but are their own sub-projects:
- Chat requires real-time infrastructure and history handling.
- Maps and location involve third-party services, permissions, and field testing.
- Payment brings security requirements, receipts, and regulations along with it.
- Offline mode forces sync logic that’s often tricky.
As soon as a couple of these show up, the app is no longer simple – and at that point the full price guide is a better starting point.
When is a simple app enough?
A simple app goes further than many think – especially for testing an idea or reaching a scoped-down audience. Want to know if your idea fits inside the cheaper range? Get in touch with a short description, and we’ll give you an honest assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a simple app?
An app that mainly displays and collects information: login, a few screens, lists, and forms, with data from an existing API. It has no heavy custom backend, no real-time features, and no complex integrations.
Which features make a simple app more expensive?
Chat, maps with location, payments, offline mode, and account sync across devices sound simple but each requires its own development and testing. Add several of them and the app is no longer simple – it's medium-complexity.
Can I start simple and expand later?
Yes, and it's often wise. A well-thought-out foundation lets you add features step by step based on how users actually behave, instead of guessing everything up front and paying for features no one uses.
Is a simple app enough to test an idea?
Often, yes. If you just want to validate whether your target audience wants the solution, a simple app or an MVP is a good, cheap way to get an answer before investing in the big build.