Mobile app MVP development: iOS and Android from one codebase

If you are a founder who needs an app on customers’ phones, our mobile app MVP development service builds iOS and Android from one React Native codebase for $9,900 fixed price in 4 weeks. The package includes up to 8 screens, login, a backend and database, push notifications and App Store and Google Play submission support. A working preview arrives within 5 business days of the deposit, or you get the deposit back. A senior engineer verifies every build before it goes near a store.

Mobile is the most expensive route to a first product, so the gap to traditional pricing is large. Agency guides put cross-platform apps at $20,000 to $60,000, with US agencies at $30,000 to $100,000 and ten to twenty weeks of work. Our guide to what an app costs breaks down why. Before you commit, check that you need an app at all. A web product is cheaper, as we explain below.

What is included

• iOS and Android from one codebase (React Native and Expo)
• Up to 8 screens
• Login, a backend and a database
• Push notifications
• App Store and Google Play submission support
• 2 revision rounds per milestone
• Code in your private GitHub repository, with store developer accounts in your name

What is not included

• Native-only features such as complex 3D graphics, Bluetooth hardware integrations or background location tracking at scale. Tell us early and we will say whether Expo can handle them.
• More than 8 screens, or tablet-specific layouts, unless in the scope sheet.
• A guarantee of store approval. We support submission, but Apple and Google make their own decisions.
• Store developer fees ($99 per year for Apple, a one-time $25 for Google) and backend or API usage costs.
• A marketing website. See the Launch Site package.

How we compare

	Tantito	Typical agency	Freelancer marketplace
Price	$9,900 fixed	$40,000 to $150,000	$8,000 to $25,000 for cross-platform
Timeline	4 weeks	10 to 20 weeks	6 to 12 weeks
Code ownership	Yours from day one, accounts in your name	Often at final payment	Depends on the contract
Guarantee	Preview in 5 business days or deposit back, 30-day warranty	Rarely any	Platform dispute process only

How the 4 weeks run

1. Day 0: Deposit, then a scope sheet listing the 8 screens, the user flows and the data. You create the Apple and Google developer accounts, which can take days to approve, so we start this early.
2. Days 1 to 5: A preview you can install on your own phone through Expo, showing login and the first real flow.
3. Weeks 2 and 3: Remaining screens, the backend, push notifications and your first revision rounds on real devices.
4. Week 4: Test builds through TestFlight and Google’s internal testing, store listings, privacy details, screenshots and submission.

Projects of $3,000 and up pay 30% at the start, 40% at the staging demo and 30% at launch. How we work explains each milestone.

Example mobile apps this package fits

• For example, a field-service app where technicians see their jobs, update status, attach photos and receive push notifications for new assignments.
• For example, a habit or wellness tracker with login, daily check-ins, streaks and reminder notifications.
• For example, a local community marketplace where neighbors post items, message each other and get notified of replies.
• For example, a companion app for an existing web product, giving customers a quick view of their account and alerts on their phone.

These are illustrations of scope, not past client work.

Technology we typically use

Defaults are TypeScript, React Native with Expo, Expo’s build and over-the-air update tooling, and a Postgres backend (often on Supabase) with row-level security. Push notifications use Expo’s service with Apple and Google behind it. We build with standard frameworks rather than wrappers generated by AI app builders, because store review and long-term maintenance are easier on conventional code.

How “AI-built, human-verified” applies to a mobile app

Agents produce screens and navigation fast. The human step focuses on what only shows up on real devices: a senior engineer tests on physical iOS and Android hardware, checks permission prompts, offline and slow-network behavior, secure token storage and push notification handling, and reviews the backend access rules. The engineer also checks the build against store guidelines on privacy disclosures and account deletion before submission, since missed requirements are a common reason for rejection.

The main objection: do I really need a mobile app, and will the stores accept it?

You may not need one. If your users are at a desk, a responsive web app at $6,900 and 2 to 4 weeks is cheaper and avoids store review entirely (see MVP development). A mobile app earns its cost when you need push notifications, the camera, offline use or an app store presence. As for acceptance, a cross-platform app built on Expo is standard and widely accepted. We cannot control a store decision, but we design for the guidelines and support you through any feedback.

When this is not the right fit

A cross-platform MVP is not the best path for games, apps built around augmented reality, or products that depend on advanced background processing and custom hardware. It is also premature if you have not validated the idea with a simple prototype or a web version. Many founders spend $9,900 on a mobile app when a $6,900 web app would have answered the same question. If you are unsure, start with a short call and we will recommend the cheaper option when it is enough.

Next steps

Check the pricing page, read the guarantee, estimate with the software cost calculator, or request a mobile app quote.