Figuring out the mvp development cost for your startup idea can feel like navigating a maze. While a typical MVP in 2026 costs between $25,000 and $150,000, you might see quotes ranging from a few thousand dollars to six figures, and it’s tough to know what’s realistic. The truth is, the cost depends entirely on what you’re building, who is building it, and how you approach the process.
This guide breaks down every factor that influences your budget. We will cover everything from initial planning and core development expenses to post launch maintenance, giving you a clear roadmap to understanding and managing your mvp development cost.
What is the Typical MVP Development Cost Range?
Let’s start with the big question: how much should you budget? Because every project is unique, the mvp development cost is best understood as a range.
Industry analysis shows a wide spectrum, with some simple projects costing as little as $10,000 and more complex builds exceeding $150,000. For most startups, however, a typical MVP in 2026 lands somewhere between $25,000 and $150,000.
Here is a simpler way to think about it:
Simple MVP ($10,000 to $30,000): This usually covers a single core feature, a basic user interface, and is often built for one platform (like a web app).
Mid Complexity MVP ($30,000 to $80,000): This might include multiple features, user accounts, third party integrations, and a more polished design.
Complex MVP ($80,000+): This range is for products with advanced needs like AI features, multi platform support (web, iOS, Android), or strict compliance and security requirements. Some highly specialized MVPs can even approach $300,000.
Understanding this range is the first step in effective MVP budget planning.
Planning Your Finances: MVP Budget Planning
Creating a financial blueprint for your project is critical. Good MVP budget planning means accounting for every stage, not just the coding. A detailed budget prevents surprises and ensures you allocate funds where they matter most.
A common mistake is thinking the entire budget goes to developers. A more realistic allocation looks something like this:
UI/UX Design: 15%
Core Development (Frontend and Backend): 45%
Quality Assurance (Testing): 10%
Project Management: 10%
It is also smart to budget for post launch maintenance, which is often around 20% of the initial development cost per year. And don’t forget a contingency fund (usually 10% to 15%) for unexpected issues or scope changes. This structured approach to your mvp development cost ensures you’re prepared for the full journey. For a deeper look at what’s included at each step, see our MVP development services guide.
If you’re mapping out your budget for the first time, getting an expert opinion can be invaluable. You can book a free consultation with Bricks Tech to get clarity on your project’s potential costs and priorities.
The Key Levers: Understanding MVP Cost Drivers
Several key factors, or cost drivers, can significantly increase or decrease your total spending. Being aware of these levers allows you to make strategic decisions to control your budget.
Feature Scope and Complexity (The Number 1 Driver)
The single biggest factor influencing your mvp development cost is the number and complexity of the features you include. More features mean more development time and a higher price tag. Over scoping an MVP can inflate costs by 30% to 50% without adding much value for initial user validation.
A simple MVP with one or two core features might cost between $5,000 and $20,000. In contrast, a complex product with advanced workflows and AI components can easily exceed $100,000. The goal of an MVP is to learn, so focus only on the essential features that solve a core problem for your users.
Platform Choice (Web, Mobile, or Both?)
Where you launch your product has a direct impact on the budget. A web only app is typically the most cost effective starting point. Adding mobile apps, especially separate native versions for iOS and Android, can significantly increase expenses.
Choosing to support multiple platforms can raise your mvp development cost by 20% to 40%. To save money, many startups use cross platform frameworks like React Native, which can cut mobile development expenses by 30% to 40% compared to building two native apps. For decision frameworks and tradeoffs, read our founder’s guide to cross‑platform mobile development.
Team Structure and Location
Who builds your MVP and where they are located are major cost drivers.
In House Team: Hiring full time employees is often the most expensive option due to salaries, benefits, and overhead.
Freelancers: This can be the cheapest route initially, but quality can be inconsistent, and you might face hidden costs later in refactoring poor code.
Specialized Agency: An agency offers a balanced approach, providing an experienced team and a streamlined process at a cost that is usually between freelancers and a full in house team.
Location Based Rates: Developer rates vary dramatically around the world. A developer in the United States might charge $78 to $150 per hour, while an equally skilled developer in South Asia could be $20 to $60 per hour. Leveraging global talent can lead to cost savings of 40% to 70%.
Bricks Tech exemplifies this model, with leadership in Toronto and a skilled engineering team in Lahore, offering high quality development at a more accessible price point. For a real‑world example of a high‑scale marketplace built fast and affordably, see the Taraki case study.
Technology Stack and Integrations
The programming languages and frameworks you choose (your tech stack) affect development speed and cost. Using popular, well supported technologies can be more efficient. Conversely, choosing an experimental stack could add 15% to 25% in future maintenance costs due to technical debt.
Furthermore, connecting your app to third party services like Stripe for payments or Google Maps for location adds to the budget. Each integration can add $2,000 to $5,000 to the development cost. For specifics on timelines, costs, and best practices, see our API integration guide.
Compliance and Security Needs
If your MVP handles sensitive data in regulated industries like finance or healthcare, expect your budget to increase. Meeting standards like GDPR or HIPAA often adds 20% to 30% to the development cost due to the need for extra encryption, secure workflows, and thorough audits.
A Detailed MVP Development Cost Breakdown
Instead of viewing the cost as a single number, it is helpful to break it down by phase and function. This shows you exactly where your money is going.
Pre Development Costs (The Blueprint Phase)
Before any code is written, you need to invest in planning. This includes market research, wireframing, and creating a technical strategy. This pre development phase might cost between $2,000 and $5,000 and is crucial for ensuring the development team builds the right product.
UI/UX Design Cost
Good design makes your product intuitive and enjoyable to use. UI/UX design typically accounts for 15% of the total budget, or around $8,000 to $20,000 for a standard MVP. This investment is vital, as a polished user experience can significantly impact user adoption.
Frontend Development Cost
This is the cost of building the part of your app that users see and interact with. Frontend work often makes up about 20% of the total project cost. For a website, this can range from $1,000 for a simple interface to over $95,000 for a complex platform.
Backend Development Cost
The backend is the engine of your application, handling server side logic, databases, and APIs. It’s a significant portion of the budget, often accounting for roughly 25% of the total mvp development cost.
Database Setup Cost
Implementing your database, including designing the data model and configuring the server, is another key component. This typically represents a smaller slice of the budget, around 8% or roughly $5,000 to $15,000 for an average MVP.
QA Testing Cost
Quality assurance ensures your app works correctly and is free of major bugs. It is a critical step that can consume 20% to 40% of the development effort. For a lean MVP, a more realistic allocation for testing is around 10% of the total budget.
Launch and Deployment Cost
Getting your finished product into the hands of users involves final configurations and deployment to production servers. This phase can account for 5% to 7% of the budget. For mobile apps, this also includes app store submission fees, which are $99 per year for Apple and a one time $25 fee for Google Play.
The Hidden and Ongoing Expenses
Your spending doesn’t stop at launch. It is important to plan for recurring costs to keep your MVP running smoothly.
Post Launch Maintenance Cost
Software requires ongoing upkeep, including bug fixes, security updates, and minor improvements. A good rule of thumb is to budget 15% to 25% of your initial development cost annually for maintenance. If your MVP cost $50,000 to build, plan for about $10,000 per year in upkeep.
Infrastructure and Hosting Cost
This is the cost of the servers and cloud services that power your app. Thanks to cloud providers like AWS, initial hosting costs for an MVP are often very low, sometimes just tens of dollars per month. Many services even offer generous free tiers that can cover your needs in the very early stages.
Smart Strategies to Manage Your MVP Development Cost
Now that you understand the components, how can you actively reduce your spending without sacrificing quality?
General Cost Saving Strategies
The most effective strategy is ruthless feature prioritization. By focusing only on the absolute must have features, you avoid scope creep. Another powerful tactic is phased development, where you release the product in small, incremental stages. This allows you to learn from users early and avoid costly rework, potentially saving $10,000 to $20,000 in redevelopment.
The Rise of Low Code and No Code for MVPs
Low code and no code platforms have become a game changer for startups. These tools allow for rapid development using visual interfaces, which can reduce build time and resource needs by up to 70%. An MVP that might cost $40,000 to $120,000 with traditional code could be built for $20,000 to $45,000 using a low code approach. If you’re weighing the tradeoffs, read why startup founders should choose low/no‑code development.
Bricks Tech specializes in this modern, design led approach, enabling them to launch high quality MVPs in just four to eight weeks. Their process can significantly lower your initial mvp development cost. If you’re looking to build quickly and affordably, exploring a low code solution with Bricks Tech is a smart move.
Considering the AI Feature Cost Impact
Incorporating artificial intelligence can make your product stand out, but it also affects the budget. AI powered MVPs often start at around $80,000 due to the complexity of model integration and ongoing API usage fees. However, the cost of AI technology is falling rapidly. Fine tuning a machine learning model that once cost $100,000 can now be done for as little as $500. To plan your AI scope and budget, explore how smart startups use agentic AI to build MVPs faster.
Timeline, Estimates, and Project Management
Time is money. The duration of your project directly impacts its cost. A typical MVP timeline is between two and three months. Simpler projects can be completed in as little as three to six weeks, while complex ones might take six months or more.
Project management overhead, which covers coordination and planning, usually accounts for 5% to 15% of the budget. A shorter, more focused timeline with a lean team can help minimize these costs. Agencies like Bricks Tech are known for their rapid eight week timelines, which help founders validate ideas faster and more efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions about MVP Development Cost
1. What is a realistic budget for a simple MVP?
For a very simple MVP with one core feature on a single platform, a realistic budget often falls between $10,000 and $30,000.
2. How can I lower my mvp development cost?
The best ways to lower costs are to strictly limit your feature scope, choose a single platform (like web) to start, and consider working with a skilled offshore or distributed team to leverage global talent rates.
3. Does using a no code platform mean lower quality?
Not at all. Modern no code and low code platforms are robust and scalable. When used by an experienced team, they can produce high quality, secure, and scalable applications much faster than traditional coding.
4. How much should I budget for after the MVP is launched?
A safe bet is to budget around 20% of your initial development cost per year for ongoing maintenance, bug fixes, and minor updates.
5. Is it cheaper to hire freelancers or an agency?
Freelancers often have a lower upfront cost, but an agency can provide a more reliable, streamlined process that may save you money in the long run by avoiding costly mistakes and delays. An agency like Bricks Tech offers a predictable, packaged price, like their popular $10,000, eight week “Build From Scratch” offer.