App developers send quotes after an initial call or discovery session, when the client has an idea, wireframes, or an existing app they want changed. Clients usually compare your quote against agencies, other freelancers, and offshore teams, so they look closely at what is included, what platforms are covered, and what happens after launch.
When to use estimates: Use estimates to provide project quotes and get client approval before starting work. Once approved, convert your estimate to an invoice with one click to collect payment.
Create an invoice for payment collection
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PDF will be generated with filename:
Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
iOS only, iOS and Android, tablets, and minimum OS versions all change the cost, so state exactly which are included.
A written list of features tied to designs or wireframes gives both sides something to check against if the client later says a feature was assumed.
Clarify whether the client provides finished UI designs or you create them, and how many rounds of revisions are included.
State whether you build the API and database, use a service like Firebase, or integrate with the client's existing systems, and who pays for those services.
Specify the devices you will test on, the number of beta rounds, and whether App Store and Google Play submission and review rejections are included.
List when you need assets, API access, and feedback, and note that delays on the client side move the schedule and may affect pricing.
Define the warranty period for bugs, the rate for later work, and when code ownership transfers.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app development (freelance, mid-level) | per hour | $65-130 |
| Senior or specialist developer (native, architecture, security) | per hour | $110-200 |
| Discovery and technical scoping | flat fee | $1,500-6,000 |
| MVP app build (simple, single platform) | flat fee | $15,000-50,000 |
| App Store / Google Play submission and release setup | flat fee | $300-1,200 |
| Monthly maintenance retainer (updates, monitoring, bug fixes) | per month | $500-3,000 |
| Code audit or app rescue review | flat fee | $1,000-5,000 |
| API or third-party SDK integration | per integration | $800-4,000 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
Early quotes are guesses. Give a range per phase, such as discovery, build, and release, and firm up the build price after discovery when requirements are clear.
Third-party APIs, payment flows, and App Store rejections regularly take longer than planned. Build 15 to 25 percent contingency into your hours or state that overruns are billed hourly.
Proposing a paid discovery or a minimal first release lowers the client's risk and gets you paid for the work that most improves your later estimate.
State what is not included, such as content creation, marketing, ongoing hosting, and features outside the list. Clients compare quotes line by line, and clear exclusions explain a higher price.
For small jobs a free quote is normal. For anything requiring technical research, a prototype, or detailed specs, charge for discovery. Many developers credit the fee toward the build if the client moves forward.
Fifteen to thirty days is common. Rates, availability, and platform requirements change, so put an expiry date on the quote.
For hourly work, say the estimate is not a cap and warn the client when you reach about 80 percent of the hours. For fixed-price work, absorb overruns caused by your own errors and bill approved change orders for new requirements.
Thirty to fifty percent of the first phase or of the total fixed price is typical. Larger projects often use a smaller initial deposit followed by milestone payments.
Use the App Developer invoice template to bill the client, or convert this estimate once it's approved.
App Developer invoice template