Companies that choose cross-platform mobile app development can save up to 40% on their total project costs compared to building separate native apps. That's a massive chunk of change that could make the difference between launching your app idea or shelving it indefinitely. Yet many business owners still don't fully understand what these development savings actually mean for their budget benefits.
I've been working in mobile app development for years now, and I can tell you that the cost conversation comes up in almost every initial client meeting. People walk in with big dreams and small budgets—which isn't necessarily a bad thing! The problem is they often don't know where their money will go or how different development approaches can dramatically affect their bottom line.
The biggest mistake I see businesses make is assuming that cheaper always means lower quality, when in reality it often just means smarter development choices.
This guide will break down exactly how much money you can realistically save with cross-platform development. We'll look at the real numbers, not the marketing fluff. You'll discover where the savings come from, what hidden costs you might face, and most importantly, whether cross-platform development is right for your specific project. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of your options and the confidence to make an informed decision about your mobile app budget.
What Is Cross-Platform Development
Cross-platform development is a way of building mobile apps that work on both iPhone and Android devices using one shared codebase. Instead of writing separate code for each platform—which is what we call native development—you write the code once and it runs everywhere.
Think of it like writing a book that can be read in multiple languages without having to translate each page individually. The same story, just presented in different formats for different audiences.
How Does It Actually Work?
Popular cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin act as translators between your code and each mobile operating system. You write your app using these tools, and they handle the technical bits that make it work properly on both iOS and Android devices. The end result? Users can't tell the difference between a cross-platform app and a native one—at least not when it's done properly.
The Trade-offs You Need to Know
Cross-platform development isn't magic, though it sometimes feels like it! There are some compromises involved. You might not have access to every single feature that each platform offers, and sometimes performance can be slightly different compared to native apps. But for most business apps—and I mean the vast majority—these limitations won't affect your users' experience.
The real question isn't whether cross-platform development is perfect; it's whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for your specific project. For most businesses looking to launch an app without breaking the bank, cross-platform development offers a smart middle ground between cost savings and quality.
Understanding Development Costs
Building a mobile app isn't cheap—that much I can tell you from experience. When clients come to us at Glance asking about app development, the first question is almost always about money. They want to know what they're getting into before they commit, and rightfully so.
The cost of developing an app depends on several factors, but the biggest ones are complexity, features, and the development approach you choose. A simple app with basic functionality might cost anywhere from £15,000 to £40,000, whilst a complex app with advanced features could easily reach £100,000 or more. These numbers can be scary, but understanding what drives app development costs helps you make better decisions.
What Makes Apps Expensive
Development costs break down into several key areas that all add up quickly:
- Developer salaries and contractor rates
- Design and user experience work
- Testing across different devices and operating systems
- Project management and quality assurance
- Third-party tools and services
- App store fees and submission costs
Always budget for at least 20% more than your initial estimate. Development projects have a habit of uncovering unexpected challenges that weren't obvious at the start.
Time Equals Money
The longer your project takes, the more it costs. This might seem obvious, but it's worth remembering that development time isn't just about writing code. There's planning, designing, testing, refining, and fixing things that break. Each platform you want to support—whether that's iOS, Android, or web—traditionally meant starting from scratch with separate teams and separate timelines.
That's where cross-platform development starts to look interesting from a budget perspective, but we'll explore those savings in detail throughout this guide.
Cross-Platform vs Native Development Expenses
When you're trying to decide between cross-platform and native development, the money side of things can get a bit complicated. Native development means building separate apps for each platform—one for iOS and another for Android. Cross-platform development lets you create one app that works on both systems.
The numbers tell quite a story. Native development typically costs between £30,000 to £150,000 per platform for a medium-complexity app. That means if you want your app on both iOS and Android, you're looking at potentially doubling your budget. Cross-platform development, on the other hand, usually runs between £40,000 to £120,000 for both platforms combined.
Where the Savings Really Add Up
The biggest expense difference comes from the development time and team requirements. Native apps need separate teams or developers who know different programming languages—Swift for iOS and Kotlin or Java for Android. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter use one codebase, which means one team can handle both platforms.
| Development Type |
Average Cost Range |
Development Time |
Team Size Required |
| Native (Both Platforms) |
£60,000 - £300,000 |
8-16 months |
4-8 developers |
| Cross-Platform |
£40,000 - £120,000 |
4-10 months |
2-4 developers |
But here's what many people don't realise—native apps sometimes perform better and can access platform-specific features more easily. This might mean fewer revisions and technical headaches down the line. The choice isn't just about upfront costs; it's about balancing your budget with your app's specific needs and performance requirements.
Team Size and Time Savings
When you're building a mobile app, one of the biggest expenses is paying your development team. With traditional native development, you need separate teams for iOS and Android—that means double the developers, double the salaries, and double the project management headaches. Cross-platform development changes this equation completely.
Instead of hiring two full teams, you can work with a single cross-platform team that builds for both platforms simultaneously. We're talking about cutting your team size in half whilst still getting apps for iPhone and Android users. The maths is pretty straightforward here—fewer people means lower costs, and that saving goes straight back into your pocket.
Time Benefits That Translate to Real Money
Time is money in app development, and cross-platform frameworks can shave months off your project timeline. Rather than building two separate applications from scratch, your developers write one codebase that works on both platforms. This approach can reduce development time by 30-50% depending on your app's complexity.
The beauty of cross-platform development isn't just the upfront savings—it's how those savings compound over time through faster iterations and shared resources
Resource Allocation Made Simple
Managing one team is infinitely easier than coordinating two separate native development groups. You don't need duplicate project managers, separate testing phases, or staggered release schedules. Everything happens in parallel, which means your app reaches the market faster and starts generating revenue sooner. The time saved here often pays for the entire development cost within the first few months of launch.
Maintenance and Update Cost Benefits
Here's where cross-platform development really starts to shine—maintaining your app after launch. When you build native apps, you need separate teams working on iOS and Android versions every time you want to add features or fix bugs. That means double the work, double the time, and yes, double the cost.
With cross-platform apps, you write your updates once and they work across both platforms. Need to add a new payment method? Fix a security issue? Update your user interface? You do it once, not twice. The time savings here can be massive—we're talking about reducing update cycles from weeks to days in many cases.
The Numbers Behind Ongoing Costs
Most businesses don't think about ongoing costs when planning their app budget, but they should. App maintenance typically costs 15-20% of the original development budget each year. For cross-platform apps, this percentage often drops because you're maintaining one codebase instead of two.
- Bug fixes get rolled out to both platforms simultaneously
- Feature updates require half the development time
- Security patches can be deployed faster across all devices
- Quality assurance testing becomes more streamlined
- App store submissions happen in parallel rather than sequentially
Long-Term Strategic Benefits
The real cost savings become apparent over time. After two or three years of regular updates, the difference between maintaining cross-platform versus native apps becomes substantial. You're not just saving money—you're also getting features to market faster, which can mean the difference between staying competitive and falling behind.
Remember though, these savings only apply if your cross-platform app performs well from the start. A poorly built cross-platform app that needs constant fixes will eat into these benefits quickly.
Hidden Costs You Should Know About
Cross-platform development might look like a money-saving dream on paper, but there are some sneaky costs that can creep up when you're not looking. I've seen plenty of projects where clients thought they'd cracked the budget code, only to discover extra expenses they hadn't planned for.
The biggest surprise? Platform-specific tweaks. Even though you're building one app, you'll still need to make adjustments for different operating systems. iOS users expect certain behaviours, Android users expect others—and these small changes add up quickly. Your development team will spend time fine-tuning the user experience for each platform, which means more hours on the clock.
Testing Complications
Testing becomes more complex with cross-platform apps. You're not just checking if the app works; you're making sure it works perfectly on dozens of different devices, screen sizes, and operating system versions. This means more testing time and potentially more bugs to fix.
Always budget an extra 15-20% on top of your quoted development cost for unexpected platform-specific adjustments and extended testing periods.
Performance Optimisation
Sometimes cross-platform apps need performance tweaks to run as smoothly as native apps. This might involve rewriting certain sections of code or adding platform-specific optimisations—costs that weren't obvious at the start.
- Third-party plugin licensing fees
- Additional testing device rentals
- Platform-specific design adjustments
- Performance optimisation work
- Extended quality assurance periods
The key is being aware these costs exist. When you budget for them upfront, cross-platform development still saves money—you're just being realistic about the true total cost.
Making the Right Choice for Your Budget
Right, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. You've read through all the costs, benefits, and potential pitfalls—now it's time to make a decision that won't leave you regretting your choice six months down the line.
The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer here. I wish there was! Your budget constraints will largely dictate which path makes sense, but there are a few key factors that should influence your decision beyond just the initial cost.
When Cross-Platform Makes Perfect Sense
Cross-platform development is your best bet when you're working with a limited budget and need to reach both iOS and Android users quickly. If your app concept is relatively straightforward—think productivity tools, content apps, or basic e-commerce—you'll likely save 30-50% on development costs whilst still delivering a solid user experience.
Small businesses and startups particularly benefit from this approach because it allows you to validate your idea across multiple platforms without breaking the bank.
When Native Might Be Worth the Extra Investment
Some apps simply perform better when built natively. Gaming apps, camera-heavy applications, or anything requiring intensive device integration will often justify the higher upfront costs through better performance and user satisfaction.
Here's what you should consider when weighing your options:
- Your total available budget (not just development costs)
- How quickly you need to launch
- Whether your app requires platform-specific features
- Your long-term maintenance budget
- The complexity of your app's functionality
The smart approach? Start with a clear understanding of what you can realistically afford—not just for development, but for the entire first year including marketing, updates, and unexpected costs. That'll guide you to the right choice.
Conclusion
After years of building mobile apps and seeing countless budgets stretched thin, I can tell you that cross-platform development offers genuine savings—but it's not a magic solution that works for everyone. The numbers we've covered throughout this guide show that most businesses save between 30-50% on development costs when they choose cross-platform over native development.
The biggest savings come from having one development team instead of two, which cuts your initial build costs significantly. You'll also spend less time managing the project and getting your app to market. When it comes to updates and maintenance, you're looking at roughly half the ongoing costs since you're maintaining one codebase rather than separate iOS and Android versions.
But—and this is important—those savings only make sense if cross-platform development meets your app's needs. If you're building something that requires heavy device integration, complex animations, or top-tier performance, native development might be worth the extra cost. The key is being honest about what your app actually needs to do, not what you think it might need to do someday.
The hidden costs we discussed can eat into your savings if you're not careful. Performance optimisation, platform-specific tweaks, and potential rewrites down the line all add up. Factor these into your budget from the start.
My advice? Look at your budget, timeline, and app requirements together. Cross-platform development can save you serious money, but only if it aligns with your project goals. Don't choose it just because it's cheaper—choose it because it makes sense for your specific situation.
