Mobile App Development Services

The investment depends on scope and complexity. A focused MVP with 1–2 core use cases typically runs $35K–$50K over about 4 weeks. A more full-featured product with multiple user types and integrations falls in the $75K–$125K range over 8 weeks. Enterprise-grade apps with high complexity start around $200K+. If you want to validate an idea before committing to a full build, our Experiment delivers a functional prototype in 5 days for a fixed $20,000 — so you invest with evidence, not assumptions.

A focused MVP typically takes 4–8 weeks. A full-featured production app with multiple integrations usually takes 12–16 weeks. We ship in two-week sprints, so you see working software from week two — not at the end. Some clients launch iOS first and add Android after validating demand. Others need both platforms on day one. We start most engagements with a Working Session to align on scope, timeline, and the highest-ROI starting point.

We've shipped both, and most of our clients choose React Native — it covers iOS and Android from one codebase, ships faster, costs less, and delivers near-native performance for the vast majority of use cases. That's how we built Star Leasing and Tempo. When you need the deepest hardware access — like Guardian, where we stream real-time vitals from OR monitors — native (Swift or Kotlin) is the right call. The decision comes down to hardware integration needs, performance requirements, and budget.

Look for three things: relevant experience, an integrated team, and a portfolio of shipped products — not just designs. Ask to see apps that are live in the App Store with real users. A strong partner handles product strategy, UX design, engineering, and QA as one team rather than a handoff chain. They should be able to show you case studies in your industry, explain their process clearly, and give you references from long-term clients. At Digital Scientists, most of our client relationships span years — starting with an Experiment or Working Session, then growing into full product partnerships.

A mobile app is installed from the App Store or Google Play and runs natively on a phone or tablet. It can access device hardware like cameras, GPS, Bluetooth, and push notifications — and it works offline. A web app runs in a browser and is accessed via a URL. Web apps are easier to update and don't require app store approval, but they have limited access to device features and typically deliver a less polished user experience. Many products need both: a mobile app for the end user and a web app for admin or back-office workflows. We build both and can help you decide which to start with based on your users and goals.