How Much Does Software Development Cost in 2026?
Having a custom software idea, tentative date to launch, and pre-defined features to prioritize might sound great in the beginning.
But ask yourself!
What if you’re not planned and the software development project goes over budget? Would you be able to handle those unexpected costs down the road?
Well, that’s why you should know the approximate custom software development cost beforehand.
Why approximate? Because there’s no fixed answer to the cost, it may vary from one software development project to another.
The moment you search for a custom software development price, you’ll find the market flooded with affordable options starting as low as $5,000. But it’s really not wise to compromise on quality to save a few bucks at the expense of your business reputation.
However, before you even think of going cheap, let’s look at these stats.
- The global custom software development market size is projected to reach USD 146.18 billion by 2030. (Source: Grand View Research).
- Businesses investing in software development have reported an average 20% revenue growth.
- Custom software development can help businesses save on recurring licensing renewal fees, resulting in up to 50% in cost savings.
Now, would you still settle for cheap? You’ve got the answer!
But here’s the catch!
Since the term “software development” is broad, its cost estimate is based on multiple factors!
We at The NineHertz are a custom software development company that understands how important the cost factor is to a business. With 15+ years of experience, we have been helping startups, SMEs, and enterprises set prices, build software, and establish a dominant market presence.
In this blog post, our industry-led software experts will guide you from scratch to provide you with the answer to the question: How much does custom software development cost?
Let’s dive in!
Why Custom Software Development Costs Vary Significantly?
How much does custom software development cost? – This is the question that almost every other business asks while pitching their idea!
And it depends on what type of software you want to build and how you want to build it.
For example, if you want to build a healthcare software app, the starting cost may be USD 75,000 and may go up to USD 250,000. For logistics and fintech apps, the price may range from USD 50,000 to USD 90,000, and can easily go up to USD 200,000 or more, respectively.
Note: These numbers are rough estimates, and the actual cost may vary.
If we categorize further, the custom software development price may vary by complexity level.
- Simple Application: Building a simple software app may require 500 hours, which ultimately lowers the cost. The hourly rate of a software developer may range from $50 to $80, depending on the developer’s experience. A junior developer, on the other hand, may charge as little as $30 an hour.
- Medium Complexity App: If you want to build a medium-complexity software app, it can take anywhere from 700 hours to more. Medium-complexity app development work for software engineers starts at around $ 80/hour and can exceed $100/hour.
- Large-Enterprise App: The cost of building large-enterprise software can range from $100 to $150 or more per hour.
Note: Certain hidden costs are determined during the consultation session about the project.
Key Factors That Influence Custom Software Development Cost
Here is a complete list of the significant factors that may affect your custom software development cost.
1. Project Scope & Feature Complexity
The size and complexity of your software project depend on the time, effort, and resources required.
| Type of Feature | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic Features | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Medium Complexity | $15,000 – $50,000 |
| Advanced Features | $50,000 – $250,000+ |
2. Type of Software & Technology Stack
The choice of state-of-the-art stacks, tools, and frameworks may affect the cost of custom software development project.
| Software type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Web App | $10,000 – $50,000 |
| Mobile App | $15,000 – $80,000 |
| Enterprise Software | $50,000 – $200,000+ |
3. UI/UX Design & Customization
No business would like to use a cluttered software app that looks inferior and performs sluggishly? That’s why our dedicated team of UI/UX designers uses the latest design tools and tech efficiently to create beautiful, engaging, and conversion-optimised designs for the software app.
| Type of Design | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Template-based | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Semi-Custom | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Fully Custom | $20,000+ |
4. Development Team Size & Expertise
Always ask for the number of developers and their respective experience who will be working on your project. If you hire senior software developers (8-10 years of experience), then they would generally cost more.
| Team Factor | Cost Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Team Size (Small, Medium, or Large) | $10,000 – $100,000+ |
| Expertise Level (Junior, Mid-Level, Senior, Specialist) | $20 – $150/hr per developer |
Note: These are rough estimates and may change depending on what type of software you want to build.
What’s Included in the Total Cost? (Design, Development, QA, Deployment & Support)
Here are the essential components of the development project that determine the cost.
1. Design (UI/UX & Product Strategy)
- Basic: $2,000 to $4,000
- Semi-Custom: $5,000 to $10,000
- Fully Custom: $20,000 to $50,000
2. Development
- Small: $10,000 – $35,000
- Medium-scale- $35,000 – $90,000
- Large-scale- $35,000 – $200,000
3. Quality Assurance (QA) & Testing
- Basic: $2,000- $5,000
- Advanced: $5,000 – $15,000
- Enterprise: $15,000 – $50,000+
4. Deployment
- Basic- $1,000 – $3,000
- Medium- $3,000 – $10,000
- Advanced- $10,000 – $25,000+
5. Post-Launch Support & Maintenance
- Basic- $500 – $1,500/month
- Standard- $1,500 – $3,000/month
- Premium- $3,000 – $5,000+/month
Hidden Costs You Should Consider Before Starting the Project
Have you ever wondered- Why businesses end up shutting down their operations even after outsourcing their software development project?
Well, the answer lies in “neglecting hidden cost”! The moment you outsource your project, you may have a fixed amount in mind. But as your project progresses, additional factors arise, ultimately increasing the cost of custom software development.
If you don’t want to be part of the queue and stay within your budget, knowing the hidden costs beforehand may help you save time, effort, and money.
- Don’t Overlook Code Refactoring
- Post-Launch Maintenance & Support
Nobody wants an underperforming software tool? Do you? That’s why we prefer code refactoring, which helps boost the quality and performance of your solution over time. Though adding new features to address customers’ demands is crucial, it may increase the cost of your software development later. Thus, our developers rigorously conduct market research to stay up to date with the latest trends and incorporate them into your software, helping your business stand out from competitors.
You built your software, great! But if you’re not letting your audience know about it, you may probably lose in the long run. This is where marketing comes in! At The NineHertz, we efficiently harness state-of-the-art marketing strategies across Meta, Google, and LinkedIn advertising to deliver optimized ROI and drive measurable results.
Real Examples: Cost to Build Apps Like Uber, Zomato, Netflix, or CRM Software
If your goal is to build an app like Netflix, Uber, Zomato, or CRM software, you should know the approximate cost to avoid running into hassles later.
Cost to Build an App Like Uber (Ride-Hailing App)
- $40,000 – $100,000+ for an MVP
- $50,000 – $200,000+ for a full-scale solution
- $30,000 – $90,000 for a basic version
- $50,000 – $200,000+ for a feature-rich platform
- $50,000 – $110,000 for an MVP streaming platform
- $100,000 – $250,000+ for an enterprise-level solution
- $25,000 – $50,000 for a basic CRM
- $60,000 – $150,000+ for an advanced enterprise CRM
Cost to Build an App Like Zomato/Swiggy (Food Delivery App)
Cost to Build a Streaming App Like Netflix
Cost to Build a Custom CRM Software
How to Estimate Your Custom Software Development Cost Accurately?
Ask yourself a simple question: Would you be willing to pay even $2000 extra just because you didn’t know about the estimate beforehand?
Well, that’s why having an estimate for your software development project is essential. But now the question arises-
How to estimate your custom software development cost?
Here’s how!
Free Consultation Call
At The NineHertz, we provide a free consultation call to our clients to discuss their project idea and understand the fundamentals of what they really want. Furthermore, our team understand all the necessary details and proceeds to the next step, where we analyze their project.
Tip: Just having a quick call gives a rough estimate of their software development cost.
Analysing Your Project
Here comes the analysis phase, where our team asks a few more questions to calculate your custom software development price. Furthermore, our software development team will understand your business objectives, target audience, competitors, technical specifications, feature lists, and more.
Preparing the Quote
We prepare a quote based on your business requirements, industry gaps, and data collected during the consultation. Providing the correct project details helps us make more accurate cost and time estimates.
Closing the Deal
Now, you’ve got the answer to the question- How much does a custom software development cost? It’s time to move ahead and start with your software development project.
Cost Optimization: How to Reduce Custom Software Development Cost Without Losing Quality
Here’s how to reduce the custom software development cost.
Begin with a minimum viable product (MVP)
If you’re building software for the first time and worried about cost, start with an MVP to launch your app on a budget. It helps to test your concept, learn from user feedback and prioritize valuable features to minimize upfront cost.
Select the Appropriate Tech Stack
The choice of technologies, frameworks, and platforms significantly affects development time and maintenance costs. As long as developers use stable, well-known technologies, open-source libraries, and cross-platform frameworks, they can help speed time-to-market and reduce future costs.
Outsourcing is Key
You can get quality work for a fraction of the cost by hiring offshore or nearshore teams, or by asking us to work with both senior and mid-level developers. We have a team of 250+ software developers, ranging from top-level to mid-level, who are available to work on your project individually, based on your time zone.
Hire the best software development services to outsource your project today.
Tip: Curate a balanced team comprising both mid-level and senior-level developers to gain better cost advantages.
Expert Tips to Avoid Budget Overruns in Software Projects
Cost overruns are a problem found in software development. But if these factors are planned, communicated about, and controlled, then companies can pull projects back on timelines and budgets.
Here are some tips from the pros.
Clearly Define and Document Requirements
Unclear or incomplete project requirements are a common cause of cost overruns as well. If you don’t have a prior plan, you may see features in your software app that you don’t need. Thus, having your priorities set and partnering with a professional hand is crucial to save effort. Furthermore, when you provide your requirements, the type of app, the features to include, the target audience, and a modern design, you will lay a strong foundation for your project.
Open Communication is Key
Budget overruns are a worst nightmare for any business planning custom software development. Openness in communication is key to avoiding misunderstandings. No matter the size of your software project, always be open to communicating.
Prioritise Regular Tracking and Adjusting
Receiving project updates in real time enables the project manager to identify delays, bottlenecks or scope changes. Tracking regular progress and working in sprints, as in Agile, allows for course correction before it is too late and budgets are blown. Furthermore, tracking the necessary metrics, timelines, and milestones ensures that the project is on schedule and on budget.
Summary: What You Should Expect to Spend in 2026
That’s all you should know about custom software development cost in 2026! It is no secret that software development isn’t a cakewalk, and you need a proper understanding of your project idea, competitors, audience, the right technologies, business goals and more.
But, as companies start budgeting for 2026, there are some sensible cost estimates, scalability, new technologies, and maintenance costs to consider. According to the latest 2026 market trends, you can expect your custom software development costs to be in the range of $50,000 to $200,000.
Ready to build your custom software? If so, look no further than The Nine Hertz!
From your app’s idea and design to development, testing and post-deployment support, there is a passionate team of 250+ expert app developers at your service to offer you comprehensive software app development services to convert your ideas into a scalable, efficient and reliable digital product.
Contact NineHertz today to get a free consultation and cost estimate for your custom software project.
Faqs
Q1. How Much Does Custom Software Development Cost?
The custom app development cost usually ranges between $50,000 and $200,000, depending on feature costs and complexity, platform, design, custom integrations, and expertise of the developing team.
Q2. How to Estimate the Software Development Cost?
The software development cost estimation requires a complete understanding of your project definition, including features, platforms, integrations, and design.
Q3. What is The Tool Used for Development Cost Estimation?
If you want a cost estimate, fill out our contact form, and our team will contact you to calculate your custom software development cost.
Q4. Is it Cheaper to Buy or Build Software?
While custom software development will have a higher initial cost, the software will be customized for you, which makes it scalable and will be cheaper in the long run.
Great Together!
