What Non-Developers Think Apps Cost (And Why They're Usually Wrong)

I had a meeting last month. The client wanted a social media app with messaging, photo sharing, user profiles, and a feed algorithm.

'How much will this cost?' they asked.

I gave them a rough estimate: £15,000 to £25,000, depending on features.

They laughed. 'That's ridiculous. I can get someone on Fiverr to do it for £500.'

I didn't argue. I just asked: 'What happens when that £500 app breaks? When it needs updates? When you want to add features?'

Silence.

Here's the thing: you can get an app built for £500. But it'll be built once, never updated, and abandoned when it breaks. It'll look like it was built for £500.

A proper app? That's months of work. Design, development, testing, bug fixes, updates, maintenance. That costs real money.

Think of it like buying a car. You can get a £500 car, but you'll spend more fixing it than you paid for it. Or you can invest in something that actually works.

Your app is the same. Cheap now, expensive later. Or invest properly from the start.