Ask five companies to quote for the same app and you may hear five numbers between ₹30,000 and ₹30 lakh. That range isn't random. Each quote describes a very different product, even when the brief is the same.
This guide explains what a custom website, web app or mobile app really costs in India in 2026, what moves the number, and how to plan an investment you won't regret.
Typical ranges in 2026
These are realistic ranges for custom work by an experienced team: designed for your business, built to production quality, and handed over so you own it. They're not template sites or white-labelled apps.
| What you're building | Typical investment | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Custom business website (design, content structure, CMS, SEO basics) | ₹1 to 3 lakh | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Web application or client portal (sign-in, roles, dashboards) | ₹3 to 10 lakh | 2 to 4 months |
| Mobile app for Android and iOS (an MVP with the core journeys) | ₹4 to 12 lakh | 3 to 5 months |
| Platform with several user types, payments and integrations | ₹12 to 40 lakh+ | 5 months and up |
If a quote is far below these ranges, ask what's missing. Usually it's design, testing, security, or your ownership of the code.
What actually drives the price
1. The number of user roles. An app used only by your clients is one product. An app for clients, staff, managers and an admin is four products sharing a database. Each role adds screens, permissions and testing.
2. Integrations. Payments, WhatsApp, SMS, accounting software, maps, a government API or your existing ERP. Each one is a small project of its own, with its own failure cases to handle.
3. Platforms. A responsive web app works everywhere. Native Android and iOS apps add app store releases, device testing and push notifications. Building both from one codebase saves a lot, but not half.
4. How much is designed from scratch. A product designed around how your clients decide converts better than a template. Research, wireframes and a design system are typically 15 to 25% of the budget, and the part that most affects results.
5. Data, privacy and compliance. Health records, financial data and children's information need encryption, audit trails and careful access rules. That is work you must not skip, and it takes time.
6. Content and launch. Copy, product photos, migration from an old system and staff training are often forgotten in quotes, then added later.
Why very low quotes often cost more
A ₹30,000 app is usually a template with your logo, or a first draft that needs rebuilding within a year. The common concerns we see afterwards:
- The code isn't yours, or nobody can maintain it, so every change goes back to the same vendor at their price.
- No testing, so bugs reach your clients first.
- No design thinking, so people download it, get lost and never come back.
- Security is an afterthought, which is expensive when it fails in public.
The cheapest build is rarely the lowest total cost. A rebuild in year two usually costs more than doing it properly once.
The cost after launch
Software is a living asset. Budget for:
- Maintenance and updates: usually 15 to 20% of the build cost each year, covering operating system updates, security fixes and small improvements.
- Hosting and services: servers, email, SMS and app store accounts. Modest for most businesses, and it grows with usage.
- Improvements: the features your clients ask for once they're using it. This is where much of the value is added.
How to invest wisely
- Start with the smallest version that proves the idea. Ship the core journey first, learn from real users, then add the rest. A focused first phase can often cost half of the full wish list.
- Ask for a written scope, not just a number: screens, roles, integrations, what's included and what isn't.
- Make sure you own the code and the accounts: the domain, app store listings, hosting and source code should be in your business's name.
- Ask who will work on it. A senior team that has shipped similar products will spot risks a junior team will discover the expensive way.
- Agree how changes are priced before you start, so the agreement protects both sides.
So what should you budget?
For most growing businesses, a serious first version of a custom product sits between ₹1 lakh for a website and ₹4 to 12 lakh for an app or portal, with larger platforms above that. The right number depends on the decisions above, and a good partner will help you make them before you sign anything.
Planning a website, app or internal tool? Book a strategy call and we'll help you shape the scope, the phases and a realistic budget, with no sales pitch.
- A custom business website typically starts around ₹1 lakh; apps and portals start around ₹3 to 4 lakh.
- Price follows scope: user roles, integrations, platforms and how much is designed from scratch.
- Plan for ownership after launch: maintenance is usually 15 to 20% of the build each year.