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App Development Cost Calculator South Africa
Use our free app development cost calculator South Africa to choose your features, platforms and integrations. See an estimated price range in rand, a delivery timeline and a five-year ownership budget, then request an official quote for your selected scope.
What does your app need?
Browse all the options below. Tap Info if you need an explanation, or jump straight to a section.
Five-year app ownership cost calculator
Project your hosting tier as monthly active users grow. Year 1 starts at launch and includes the build and any selected website. Prices are held constant for this planning scenario, with no inflation.
| Year | App + website | Hosting | Domain | Apple | Base support | Known subtotal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | R 125 000 – R 175 000 | R 6 000 | R 99 | R 2 000 | R 500 | R 0 | R 133 599 – R 183 599 |
| Year 2 | R 0 | R 6 000 | R 99 | R 2 000 | R 0 | R 0 | R 8 099 |
| Year 3 | R 0 | R 6 000 | R 99 | R 2 000 | R 0 | R 0 | R 8 099 |
| Year 4 | R 0 | R 6 000 | R 99 | R 2 000 | R 0 | R 0 | R 8 099 |
| Year 5 | R 0 | R 6 000 | R 99 | R 2 000 | R 0 | R 0 | R 8 099 |
Five-year known subtotal: R 165 995 – R 215 995
Additional costs: maintenance is quoted separately. These are not treated as free. Future feature work, variable provider usage, transaction commissions and existing domain renewals you manage yourself are excluded.
Apple Year 1 is assumed already paid when you select an existing account; renewals remain in Years 2–5. Google’s once-off registration is added only when needed for Android. Support packs are a budget scenario, not an automatic subscription. All hosting tiers remain subject to the app type, workload and business model.
Mobile app development cost estimate in rand
A feature list is a starting point for a budget. This tool shows how each choice changes the estimated delivery effort and price, using Exceed IT’s planning model. Core delivery includes planning, one core workflow, the system behind the app, testing and release preparation. Design is selected separately: R0 if you have suitable designs, R15,000 for mobile app design or R20,000 for web and mobile app design. Selected features and connections add work to that foundation.
Review what each option covers. A basic booking flow differs from a marketplace with providers, refunds and disputes. Complex rules, data migration and undocumented integrations need individual assessment. Read our app development cost guide for the questions that help turn an estimate into a useful scope.
iOS and Android app development costs
Select Android, iOS, both platforms or a web app. The iOS + Android option assumes a shared codebase where appropriate, with device testing and release work for each platform. Mobile + web adds a customer-facing browser application. An admin dashboard is a separate feature, rather than a substitute for a full web app.
Apple and Google accounts are budgeted only for the relevant mobile platforms. Existing account choices affect the launch allowance, while Apple renewal remains a recurring cost. Compare our iOS and Android development services when planning the release.
MVP app development cost calculator
Use the Basic MVP preset, then select the smallest complete journey you can put in front of real users. The booking, shopping and field-service presets are starting scopes you can change. Keep the core outcome and remove features that can wait; changing the scope immediately updates the estimate and timeline.
The calculator does not measure product-market fit or replace discovery. MVP development starts with the assumption you need to test and the journey required to test it.
App feature pricing and integration costs
Accounts, profiles, bookings, messaging, maps, offline access, reports and AI each have defined planning ranges. Read the descriptions before comparing costs. For example, foreground location differs from continuous tracking, and adding a payment provider is separate from building subscription rules.
The final quote checks shared work, dependencies, access to external systems, provider limits and exception handling. A selected integration assumes one supported provider or documented API. Explore API integrations for connections to existing business software.
App hosting costs in South Africa
For a basic app with light data and processing needs, the indicative tiers are R500/month up to 1,000 monthly active users and R1,000/month for 1,001–10,000. User count is only one input: storage, requests, heavy calculations, background jobs, media and your business model can change the hosting plan.
Select the expected tier for each of the five years to see how growth affects the budget. More than 10,000 monthly active users is marked for a custom quote instead of inventing a higher tariff. Hosting for the basic launch website is included in the selected plan.
Website and app store launch costs
Your app needs a suitable public website for the Exceed IT launch process. If you need one, the R10,000 basic website includes initial SEO and keyword research, with hosting included in the selected hosting plan. A minimum .co.za domain allowance of R99/year is shown separately when selected.
We allow around R2,000/year for Apple and R500 once-off for Google Play. These are planning figures: check Apple’s membership pricing and website requirements and Google’s registration guidance before payment. Store review and account approval can affect calendar dates. You retain the relevant account responsibilities agreed for your project.
App maintenance, support and SLA pricing
A support pack provides 10 hours at a base R3,000. Choose an annual pack allowance and request the SLA your business needs. The SLA determines availability, response priority and escalation. Priority or 24/7 coverage may require additional pricing; selecting a preference does not create a support agreement.
Maintenance keeps the app compatible as Apple and Android change operating systems, tools and store requirements. Some changes need a small update; others take more time. Exceed IT reviews the required work and provides a quote. Maintenance and any SLA adjustment remain clearly additional to the calculator’s known subtotal.
How long does it take to build an app?
The timeline adds the delivery-effort range for your selections. Four weeks per month is used as a planning convention, not a promise about calendar months. Dependencies, approvals, feedback, shared work and parallel delivery can change the schedule. We agree milestones and acceptance criteria before committing to an official project plan.
App cost calculator questions
What does “Android app” include?
One mobile platform, including device testing and release preparation.
What does “iPhone / iOS app” include?
One mobile platform, including device testing and release preparation.
What does “iOS + Android” include?
A shared React Native codebase, with testing and release work for both platforms.
What does “Web app” include?
A responsive browser app. This is separate from a marketing website.
What does “Mobile + web app” include?
iOS, Android and a customer-facing browser app sharing a backend where suitable.
What does “I have a design” include?
You provide the completed app designs. We review whether they cover the required screens before development. No new design cost is added; missing screens or changes are discussed separately.
What does “I need a mobile app design” include?
We design the screens and user journey for your mobile app. The design allowance is R15,000 once-off. The draft timeline adds 1.5 planning weeks, subject to the agreed scope and feedback.
What does “I need web + mobile app design” include?
We design both the mobile app and a customer-facing web app. The design allowance is R20,000 once-off. This is different from the basic launch website. The draft timeline adds two planning weeks.
What does “User accounts and login” include?
Email login, password reset and account management.
What does “User profiles” include?
Editable contact details, avatar and preferences.
What does “Admin dashboard” include?
A private website where your team can manage the app's users and records, such as bookings or orders, without changing the app's code.
What does “Search and filters” include?
Search, filter and sort structured content.
What does “Bookings and scheduling” include?
Availability, booking confirmation and cancellation rules.
What does “Push notifications” include?
Alerts that appear on a user's device, such as a booking reminder or order update. Users choose whether to allow them. Availability depends on the platform.
What does “In-app messaging” include?
One-to-one text chat, unread state and conversation history.
What does “Maps and location” include?
Map views, addresses and foreground location; excludes live fleet routing.
What does “Offline access and sync” include?
People can view or capture selected information without internet. When they reconnect, the app sends their changes to the main system and handles records that were changed in more than one place.
What does “Photo and file uploads” include?
Capture or select files, upload them and manage access.
What does “Subscription workflows” include?
Manage paid membership plans, renewals and which features a customer can use. This covers the app's membership rules; select a payment gateway separately for the payment connection.
What does “AI-assisted feature” include?
One focused feature using AI, such as summarising a document. We check its answers and provide a way for a person to handle mistakes. AI service usage is charged separately.
What does “Multiple user roles” include?
Different people can see and do different things. For example, a customer books a job, a worker completes it and a manager approves it.
What does “Product catalogue and orders” include?
Products, a basket, checkout flow and order management; payments selected separately.
What does “Ratings and reviews” include?
Submit, display and moderate customer ratings and reviews.
What does “Reports and data exports” include?
Defined business reports, filters and CSV exports beyond basic record management.
What does “Content management” include?
Publish and update structured articles or learning content from an admin workflow.
What does “Vouchers and promotions” include?
Discount codes, redemption rules and usage limits.
What does “Live location tracking” include?
Show a moving person's or vehicle's latest location, including updates while the app is in the background where permitted. Requires location permission. Planning the best delivery route is separate work.
What does “Video playback” include?
Video content access and playback using a supported hosting provider; streaming fees excluded.
What does “Payment gateway” include?
One supported checkout provider, payment status and webhook handling.
What does “CRM integration” include?
Connect the app to your customer relationship management system, so agreed customer or lead details move between them. The system needs a supported way to exchange data.
What does “Accounting integration” include?
One accounting API for agreed invoice or payment records.
What does “WhatsApp integration” include?
One defined notification or conversation workflow on the official API.
What does “Other documented API” include?
Connect one other service using its API: a supported way for software systems to exchange information. We need its instructions and access. Older systems without documentation need a separate assessment.
Is this app development cost calculator free?
Yes. Choose platforms, features and integrations to view an indicative rand estimate and timeline without registering or providing contact details. Only submit your name, email and app brief if you want Exceed IT to prepare an official quote.
How is my app development estimate calculated?
The model adds estimated delivery weeks for core delivery and your selected options, using R10,000 per planning week. It is anchored to Exceed IT's typical R120,000 for around three months of work. Four weeks are used per planning month. This is a scope-planning model, not a binding quote or guaranteed launch date.
What are the app hosting costs?
Indicative basic-app hosting is R500 per month up to 1,000 monthly active users, or R1,000 per month for 1,001 to 10,000 monthly active users. Larger deployments need a quote. These tiers are subject to the app's workload and business model; heavy data, storage, calculations or background tasks can require a different plan.
Do I need a website to launch my mobile app?
For an Exceed IT launch, you need a suitable public website for app information, privacy and support. Use an existing suitable site or select a basic launch website at R10,000 once-off, including initial SEO and keyword research. Its hosting is included in the selected hosting plan. A new .co.za domain has a minimum planning allowance of R99 per year; renewal prices may differ.
How much do Apple and Google developer accounts cost?
The calculator allows about R2,000 per year for Apple and R500 once-off for Google Play. These are approximate rand budgets; Apple lists US$99 per year and Google lists US$25 once-off. Actual payment amounts can differ. An existing paid Apple account skips Year 1 in this model, but renewal is budgeted in Years 2 to 5. An existing Google account avoids a new registration fee.
What is the difference between app support and maintenance?
Support provides assistance under an agreed SLA. A base support pack is R3,000 for 10 hours; coverage, priority and additional pricing are agreed in the SLA. Maintenance updates the app for operating-system changes, development tools and store requirements. The time depends on the required changes, so Exceed IT assesses and quotes maintenance separately.
Can I request 24/7 app support?
You can request 24/7 coverage in the calculator. This may cost more than the base support allowance. The SLA agrees contact availability, developer priority, response targets, escalation and what is included. Assistance is provided as soon as possible under those agreed terms; selecting the option does not itself activate support.
Does the five-year estimate include every future cost?
It includes the modelled build, selected website, domain allowance, developer accounts, chosen hosting tiers and base support packs. Maintenance, any custom hosting or SLA adjustment, future development, variable provider usage, transaction commissions and applicable VAT are additional. The known subtotal is labelled accordingly. Prices are held constant and no inflation is applied.
Can I request an official quote using my selected features?
Yes. Submit the quote form after reviewing your selections. Exceed IT receives your platform, design, features, integrations, timeline, hosting growth, launch requirements, support and SLA choices, and five-year budget. The selections and recalculated estimate are saved to the enquiry database and an email notification is attempted. An official quote follows a scope review.