The cost of developing a full-stack app depends on its complexity, features, technology stack, and the location of your development team. A simple MVP with basic authentication, CRUD operations, and a clean UI may cost around $15,000–$40,000. A mid-level application with real-time features, third-party integrations, payment gateways, and role-based access can range between $40,000–$100,000. Enterprise-grade platforms with advanced security, AI capabilities, microservices architecture, and high scalability can exceed $100,000–$300,000+.
Frontend requirements (UI/UX design, responsiveness, performance optimization) and backend needs (APIs, databases, cloud infrastructure, security layers) both significantly influence pricing. Developer rates also vary by region, with North America generally being more expensive than Eastern Europe or Asia.
Beyond development, you should budget for testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. Investing early in structured QA processes and test automation can reduce long-term costs by minimizing production bugs and accelerating release cycles. In most cases, annual maintenance costs amount to 15–25% of the initial development budget.
Ultimately, a clearly defined scope and phased development approach are key to managing costs effectively while building a scalable, reliable full-stack application.
