The cost of an e-commerce mobile app ranges from a few hundred dollars to more than €20,000 up front. The gap comes from the model you choose (a module bought once, a subscription or a custom build) and from items people forget when they compare purchase prices: publishing to the stores, yearly upkeep and marketing.
The amounts below are public prices excluding VAT, recorded between 27 October and 1 November 2026.
| Item | What it covers | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Build | The app itself, connected to your store | About $200 to $400 for a module, €40 to €400 a month for a subscription, €20,000 to €200,000 for a custom build |
| Store accounts | Required to publish, in your name | $99 a year with Apple, $25 once with Google |
| Publishing | Compiling, signing and submitting to the stores | Included or charged separately, depending on the tool |
| Yearly upkeep | Updates required by Apple and Google, new PrestaShop versions, security | Included in a subscription; otherwise €140 to €630 per developer day, or 15 to 20% of the initial cost each year for a custom build |
| Marketing | Notifications, campaigns, cart reminders | Included in some plans; otherwise a separate tool, from €499 a month |
E-commerce mobile app cost depends first on the model
The model sets your starting budget and, above all, who maintains the app once it is live.
- A module bought once costs about $200 to $400, the lowest entry price. The vendor's support lasts three months to a year; after that, upkeep is up to you.
- A subscription costs about €40 to €400 a month. You build the app in an online editor, and the vendor keeps it up to date for as long as you subscribe. This is the Prestafy model.
- A custom build costs €20,000 to €200,000 for an e-commerce app, according to HubSpot and Le Blog du Dirigeant. It makes sense when no ready-made solution meets your needs.
There are also done-for-you services, where a team builds, publishes and runs the app for you, from $799 a month. Our comparison of PrestaShop mobile app solutions covers these models vendor by vendor.
What goes into a mobile app budget
Building the app
This is the item everyone compares, and often the only one. With a subscription it can start at zero: on Prestafy, the Découverte plan gives you Studio and a preview of your app with your products, with no card and no time limit. You pay when you publish, from €99 excl. VAT a month on the Basic plan, and every paid plan starts with 30 days free. Our guide to creating a PrestaShop mobile app walks through the whole process.
Apple and Google accounts
Whatever the tool, the app is published under your store's name, with your own developer accounts: $99 a year with Apple and $25 once with Google. Our guides explain how to open an Apple Developer account and a Google Play Developer account.
Publishing to the stores
Compiling the app, signing it and submitting it to Apple and Google takes work with every version. Among the vendors we checked, this service is free, included or charged from $75 to almost $600. With Prestafy, publishing is included in every paid plan.
Upkeep, every year
This is the cost people forget when they compare purchase prices. Every year, Apple and Google require apps to be recompiled with their latest tools, and an app that falls behind can no longer be updated. Your store changes too: a new version of PrestaShop or PHP can break the module that feeds the app.
- With a module, once support ends, upkeep falls to a developer. Allow €140 to €630 a day, according to Codeur.com and LeFreelance.fr.
- For a custom build, upkeep runs at 15 to 20% of the initial cost each year according to Techsy, or €3,000 to €40,000.
- With a subscription, it is included for as long as you subscribe. On Prestafy, every paid plan includes updates for new versions of iOS, Android and PrestaShop, new features added to your plan at no extra cost, and support.
Marketing: bringing customers back
An app earns its keep through the messages it sends: order tracking, a campaign for a new collection, a reminder about an abandoned cart. If the app does not handle them, you need a separate mobile marketing tool with its own subscription: Brevo offers push campaigns and reminders on its Professional plan, from €499 a month. On Prestafy, order tracking notifications are included from the Basic plan. Segmented and scheduled campaigns, abandoned cart reminders and back-in-stock alerts come with the Advanced plan, at €199 excl. VAT a month, with no sending quota.
To go further, read our PrestaShop push notifications guide and our tips to reduce mobile cart abandonment.
Five questions to estimate your budget
- Will a developer be able to maintain the app after the first year? If not, rule out the models where upkeep is up to you.
- Do you want to send campaigns and reminders? Check that they are included, or add the price of a separate tool.
- Who will update the app day to day? An online editor lets you change the home screen, menus and colours yourself; a done-for-you service does it for you.
- Will your store move to a new PrestaShop version soon? Check that the solution keeps up. Prestafy supports PrestaShop 1.7.8 to 9.x.
- Compare the first year and each year after, not only the purchase price.
Frequently asked questions about mobile app cost
Can an e-commerce mobile app be free?
Building and previewing it, yes: Prestafy's Découverte plan is free, with no card. Publishing it always costs something: the Apple Developer account ($99 a year), the Google Play account ($25 once), then the tool or developer that keeps the app running.
Should I buy once or subscribe?
Buying once costs less in the first year, but the yearly upkeep the stores require still has to be done, by the vendor for a fee or by a developer. A subscription includes it. The right choice depends on who in your team can maintain the app.
How much does an app cost with Prestafy?
The Découverte plan is free for building and previewing. Publishing starts at €99 excl. VAT a month on Basic; Advanced, at €199 excl. VAT a month, adds campaigns and reminders; Business, at €399 excl. VAT a month, adds the full dashboard and up to three apps. Every paid plan starts with 30 days free, with publishing and upkeep included. See the Pricing page for details.
Choosing your app to fit your budget
A module suits a small budget if a developer looks after the app. A custom build is for needs no ready-made solution covers. For a PrestaShop store that wants its app to be a sales channel, a subscription brings building, publishing, upkeep and marketing together in one monthly price. To compare vendors one by one, see our comparison of PrestaShop mobile app solutions.
