A question that comes up every day: how much does a mobile app cost in Oman, or in the Gulf? Any number stated without knowing what you want is a guess. But you can learn the factors that move the price, so you understand the quote that reaches you and avoid surprises.
What raises an app's cost
- Number of user groups. An app for customers only costs less than one for customers, staff and owner with an admin panel.
- Number of screens and flows. Every flow (order, booking, payment, tracking) needs design and testing.
- Payment and integrations. A payment gateway, WhatsApp notifications, accounting, maps. Each connection adds work.
- Platforms. iPhone and Android together, or one first.
- The admin panel. An app needs a back end that controls content, orders and users, and it is often bigger than the app itself.
- Design. A ready template or an identity designed for you.
- Arabic and English. If both are native to the design, that is extra, useful work.
Costs that usually do not appear
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Store accounts | Apple 99 dollars a year, Google a one-time fee, and both should be registered in your company's name |
| Hosting and back end | A monthly or yearly fee |
| Notifications and messages | Some services are paid by volume |
| Maintenance and updates | iPhone and Android systems change every year |
| Support | Who fixes a fault on a holiday? |
How to compare two quotes
Ask each company to write down: the number of screens and flows, the platforms, the admin panel, the integrations included, the free-changes period after launch, and who owns the accounts and the code. The cheapest quote that leaves these out is the most expensive in the end.
How we work
We give you one fixed price after we understand what you need, covering the working version and changes after launch, paid in stages. The full Ecosystem package gives you a customer app on iPhone and Android, a staff app and an owner app, and the current price and details are on the prices page. Store fees are registered in your name, so the app stays yours.
Start in a way that saves money
- Do not build every idea at once; start with the flow that brings in money.
- Try a sample in your business name before deciding.
- Think about whether a website is enough first: read mobile app or website.
For an exact price, build your spec in the Studio and see what we build.
Three levels of app (no figures)
Level 1, a showcase and ordering app: screens for menu, ordering and account, with a simple panel for content and orders. The fastest to build, and it suits a restaurant or small shop.
Level 2, multi-user apps: a customer app and another for staff or drivers with an admin panel, permissions, notifications and tracking. It suits delivery, maintenance and field services.
Level 3, a full ecosystem: customer, staff and owner with accounting, reports and integration with payment, WhatsApp and maps. That is what the full Ecosystem package covers.
Each level adds work in design, back end and testing, which is why the price varies, and a serious provider writes these levels into the quote.
What can be saved without loss
- Start with one platform if most of your customers are on it, then add the other.
- Use an installable web app to test demand before the stores.
- Postpone rare features (in-app chat, complex points games) to version two.
- Reuse the same back end for the website and the app.
What you should not economise on
Security and customer data protection, backups, payment testing and the Arabic experience. These cost far more when wrong than when right.
Common questions
What do the app stores charge to publish?
According to the official store pages, Apple's developer programme has a yearly fee (99 US dollars when this article was written) and Google Play charges a one-time registration fee. Check both official pages because fees can change.