Cost to Develop a Flutter App: Comprehensive Outlay for 2025
What is flutter app development cost, and why should you consider using Flutter for your app in general? The answer is swift project delivery, cost-effectiveness and native-like app proximity – as simple as that. Flutter development enables you to spread your business reach among the majority of platforms, including iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and even Linux.
In this guide, you’ll learn about how much does it costs to create a flutter app, what aspects have to be included in the estimate, steps to calculate the price, and valuable real-world tips to cut on investments for a flutter-based project.
Why Is Flutter App Development Profitable?
Let’s see how exactly you can cut development costs by choosing Flutter app development.
Swift development
Flutter is a programmer-friendly platform that significantly helps to make Flutter app development faster and more efficient. With its hot reload feature, developers can instantly see changes without restarting the app, reducing overall cost and time and cost spent on debugging. A single codebase allows you to create both mobile and web app versions of your app - no need for separate teams.
If you're looking to hire a Flutter developer, you’ll benefit from Flutter’s efficiency and flexibility. Since Flutter is an excellent choice for cross-platform development, businesses can save on the cost of Flutter app development while ensuring a seamless experience for app users. Whether you need to build a new version of your app or enhance an existing one, choosing to hire Flutter developers ensures high-quality, scalable solutions.
Native-like performance and smooth UI
Flutter delivers an experience that feels just as seamless and responsive as native apps. Its Dart-based framework compiles directly to native code, ensuring fast execution, minimal lag, and smooth animations. Plus, with rich, customizable widgets, developers can craft a visually stunning UI that adapts perfectly across devices. The result? Users get a high-performance, immersive app experience – without the hefty native development price tag.
Reasonable investments
It’s a common belief that building a high-quality app will cost you a fortune and may potentially drain your budget. At the same time, flutter reduces costs by eliminating the need for separate iOS and Android teams due to its cross-platform nature. Flutter app price allows you to get maximum value for your investment while keeping future maintenance affordable.
Apart from boosting cost-effectiveness, using Flutter may enable you to use one of the most popular and convenient platforms for digital solution development. Below, you can examine the graph that represents the popularity of Flutter vs. React Native:
Flutter vs. React Native popularity comparison. Source: Appfigures
How Much Does It Cost to Create a Flutter App?
How much does Flutter app development cost based on the app size? The prices typically falls between $40,000 and $200,000+.
We will explore the varying sizes of applications, from small and simple app to large, and the associated costs of building them.
The average development time for a small Flutter application is typically around 2 months. This timeframe also applies to Minimum Viable Products (MVP) that are planned for development after the initial release. It is recommended to test your idea in the market and evaluate the necessary steps to progress, even if the application only has basic features and design.
The average construction time for a medium-sized cross-platform app on the basis of Flutter is typically 3 to 4 months. The number of hours and cost of a project remains consistent, even if multiple developers are hired to accelerate development.
The timeline for developing a large-scale Flutter app depends on the amount and complexity of the features, typically taking anywhere from 4 to 6 months or potentially more. The accurate length of time needed to build a Flutter application is influenced by how quickly decisions are made.
Now, we’ll make a conclusion on how the app size influences the average Flutter cost and timelines.
Flutter app size | Average cost ($) | Development time (hours) |
---|---|---|
Small Flutter app | $40,000-$60,000 | 300-600 h |
Medium Flutter app | $60,000-$120,000 | 600-1200 h |
Large-scale Flutter app | $120,000-$200,000 | 1200-3000 h |
The accurate prices and timelines for Flutter apps of any complexity and size depend on various factors (e.g., app functionality, design complexity, number of integrations, etc.). It’s better for you to cooperate with a skilled mobile app development company able to give you consultations as to Flutter app development cost factors and make a detailed estimate for your cross-platform app idea.
Key Factors Affecting Flutter App Development Cost on The Whole
To clarify all the components of the cost of developing a Flutter app, we will single out each factor and analyze its impact on the price.
App complexity
The cross-platform apps based on Flutter can be categorized into three sub-categories - basic, medium, and complex - based on its complexity level, taking into account its features, functionalities, and integrations.
- Creating a basic Flutter app with simple features would cost around $50,000 to $60,000.
- The cost to create a Flutter app with medium complexity ranges from $60,000 to $80,000.
- The cost of developing a complex app on the basis of Flutter can vary based on features, functionalities, and technology integration, with prices starting at $80,000.
It's recommended for you to start Flutter app creation with Minimum Viable Product development. It will help you test your cross-platform app concept viability by creating an app with the primary functionality, enough for early customers to use it and make their feedback.
To provide a comprehensive understanding of the Flutter app cost by feature complexity and development timelines, refer to the following concise table.
Flutter app complexity | App aspects defining complexity | Flutter app development timeline | Average prices ($) |
---|---|---|---|
Simple Flutter-based app | Basic user interface, MVP features | 2-3 months | $40,000-$60,000+ |
Medium Flutter app | Custom interface, advanced functionality | 3-6 months | $60,000-$120,000+ |
Complex Flutter app | Bespoke interface, advanced features of high complexity | 6-14 months | $120,000-$200,000+ |
UI/UX design
Mobile app navigation, typography, and color schemes are the main issues that UI/UX designers should pay attention to. They should also provide you with a prototype of your app. Depending on the complexity of your app, design may take from 40 to 90+ hours. This line of expenses will raise the Flutter cost for $2000-$4500.
What are the constituents of the Flutter app design cost?
Pre-design activities include market research, analysis of trends, as well as finding ideal criteria for future Flutter solution design. The time required for it depends on the particular business niche and resources available to conduct research. The price of pre-design activities is about $500-$700.
UI design preparation at the beginning consists of making rough sketches and wireframes. The time spent on that is based on design complexity. Sketches and wireframes creation may need about $200-$1000 of your app development budget.
UX design creation includes UI mockup samples, mood board development and final mockup creation. The accurate creation time there also depends on app complexity. It may require a rough budget from $5,000 to $10,000 and more.
Brand identity design stage means the UI/UX designers create logos, icons, and other design elements according to your brand colors. The rough budget it requires is $5,000 - $10,000+.
Animation preparation implies that the UI/UX designers work on screen and customer content visualization. The development cost for this part of the activities reaches to $10,000+, depending on the level of animated images that the UI/UX designers prepared for your Flutter app.
Let’s sum up all the necessary data as to the Flutter costs for design in the following table.
Workflow stages | Development price on average ($) |
---|---|
Pre-design activities and research | $500-$700 |
UI preparation | $200-$1000 |
UX creation | $5,000-$10,000 |
Brand identity design | $5,000-$10,000 |
Images/animations | $1,000-$10,000 |
App categories
Application development using Flutter can be classified into different categories, with each having its own features, target audiences, security requirements, etc., influencing Flutter app price.
Variations in features are often observed when shifting between different application categories. Certain cross-platform apps employ multi-factor authentication, while others do not require login while developing an app based on Flutter. The cost to of a Flutter app with limited features like a currency converter is lower than more intricate apps (e.g., an IoT-based solution or ride-booking app).
Cooperation models
We analyze the following cooperation models for creating the cross-platform business solution that influence the cost to develop a Flutter app.
Freelancers. This option is widely applied due to the opportunity to decrease development expenses. Yet, in the case of Flutter app development, you have no guarantee of freelancers' competence and quality. In addition, such specialists are also not advantageous within the support, maintenance, and updating services, as they may switch to another project and make long-term partnerships impossible.
In-house teams. In this case, you are responsible for project development management, searching and checking the experience and knowledge of potential employers. Moreover, when you choose Flutter in-house team, such a choice requires a row of extra expenses, like purchasing hardware, renting the office, sick leaves, salaries, and many more. Consequently, such conditions significantly raise the total cost for creating a mobile app.
Outsourcing companies. Outsourcing top flutter app development companies the project refers to the already assembled team of experts with a proven in-depth Flutter development qualification taking over the creation process. This option is a great way to save development investments and avoid affecting product quality.
Apart from this fact, here are some more benefits you'll receive with outsourcing:
- Vast talent pools. Programming outsourcing comprises an immense range of tech-savvy specialists with great expertise and experience. Outsourcing vendors offer businesses flexible hiring opportunities. You are allowed to select among lots of software architects worldwide.
- Cost flexibility. The global market offers a lot of outsourcing IT companies ready to help you with Flutter app creation and provide custom software development services at reasonable prices. Particularly, Central Europe has become the top region for this goal, and many businesses have benefited from the top-class performance of talented developers coming from this location.
- Scalability. Adjust the flow to your requirements: the team of such companies comprises all types of developers who will take part in the process when their competence is needed.
- Faster product delivery. With outsourcing, there's no need to spend time on recruiting. You can adapt the speed of your project creation (e.g., involving more experts). Thus, time to market is cut down, as well as outgoings: you pay only for work done.
- A great diversity of technologies to apply. Depending on your project requirements, you can choose a specialist from such companies with relevant expertise.
Learn about how to outsource app development, avoid common challenges and establish successful cooperation in our guide
Location of development team
Apart from the cooperation models, the location of your development team may influence the Flutter app development cost a lot. In different regions, developers have different rates. The average developer’s rate in North America is $75-$250/hour, while in Estonia, it’s only $50-$60/hour.
In the table below, you can find developers’ hourly rates and compare them with each other.
Location | Hourly rates of Flutter developers ($/h) |
---|---|
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE region) | $50-$60/h |
Western Europe | $50-$200/h |
North America | $75-$250/h |
Latin America | $30-$50/h |
Australia | $100-$150/h |
Africa | $20-$45/h |
India | $25-$40/h |
If you’re thinking of outsourcing your Flutter-based app project, we recommend you take a closer look at the CEE region, particularly Estonia. This country is a popular outsourcing destination because of its affordable rates and high level of customer service. Estonia has a vast talent pool, so the quality of the final product on the basis of Flutter will fulfill your expectations.
Cleveroad is an outsourcing development company located in the CEE region, Estonia. Learn more about the Flutter app development services we provide
Qualifications of Flutter engineers
The qualification of Flutter engineers play a crucial role in determining the cost to develop an app.
Junior Flutter engineers, who are relatively new to the field, have lower rates and it impacts development cost accordingly. These specialists may have limited practical experience but are often enthusiastic and willing to learn. While this option is more budget-friendly, it's essential to account for potential learning curves and a longer development timeline.
Middle-level Flutter engineers bring a balanced mix of experience and cost-effectiveness to the development flow. With a moderate level of expertise, they can contribute efficiently to app development tasks. The cost associated with the services of the middle-level engineers is typically a middle ground, making them an attractive choice for projects that require a combination of skills.
Senior Flutter engineers have the extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the Flutter framework, commanding higher hourly rates. They can navigate complex challenges, optimize performance, and ensure a robust app architecture. That's why, the investment in senior Flutter engineers can lead to a quicker and more reliable development process.
Nevertheless, in order to develop your Flutter-based cross-platform software, you may need not only Flutter developers, but also other members of the project team. The below table will give you an understanding of how to compose your cross-platform creation team and how on average it will cost.
5 Steps to Calculate Flutter App Development Cost
We’ve prepared a list of 5 key steps you’ll need to follow to accurately estimate the cost to develop a Flutter app.
Step 1. Find a trusted IT vendor
The right IT partner makes all the difference. Look for a team with proven experience, solid reviews, and a strong portfolio. A good vendor doesn’t just build your Flutter app they help you optimize costs, refine your vision, and avoid common development and budget pitfalls. Take time to research, ask questions, and compare options. The goal? Find a team that understands your business needs and can turn your idea into a high-quality Flutter app without breaking the bank.
We at Cleveroad have extensive experience in providing software development services for businesses of various domains and scales. Here’s what our client, Georgia Beattie, Director at Australian Rowing Association, says about our collaboration on Flutter-based solution Row Nation and utilization of dedicated team services at Cleveroad:
Step 2. Define your Flutter app requirements
A clear roadmap keeps costs under control. What features does your app need? Who’s your target audience? Do you want to launch on both platforms from the start, or would you prefer to begin with one and expand to the other later? The more details you provide, the easier it is to get an accurate cost estimate. Work closely with your vendor to prioritize must-have features and trim unnecessary extras. This way, you’ll avoid surprise expenses and keep your project within budget.
Step 3. Assess Flutter app functionality and design
The complexity of your app directly affects development costs. Do you need basic features or advanced ones like AI, real-time data, or third-party integrations? What about the UI – simple and clean or highly customized? The more complex the functionality and design, the higher the Flutter development cost. Finding the right balance between a great user experience and budget-friendly solutions helps you get the best value without overspending.
Step 4. Get development time & team estimation
Now, it’s time to see how much work your app actually needs. Your vendor will estimate the number of development hours and the size of the team required, including developers, designers, testers, and project managers. A simple Flutter app might take a few hundred hours, while a complex one could stretch into the thousands. Knowing this upfront helps you plan better and allocate your budget wisely.
Step 5. Finalize Flutter app budget and timeline
Once everything is mapped out, it’s time to lock in the numbers. Your IT vendor will give you a detailed breakdown of costs, development phases, and deadlines so you know exactly what to expect. A reliable IT vendor guarantees no hidden fees within Flutter app cost as well as no timeline surprises, providing you with a clear plan to get your Flutter app built efficiently.
Additional Factors Impacting Flutter App Development
Like any other product, your Flutter app may need to be maintained and updated to stay successful on the market. This leads to additional expenses that influence the Flutter development cost. It’s time to talk about these expenses.
App maintenance and updates
Applications from the top charts of app stores hold their positions for a reason. They engage clients with constant upgrades and brand-new features. Even if your app is perfect, the absence of updates will lead to stagnation and users abandoning your app.
Mind that the app maintenance costs rise over the app’s lifetime. Companies usually include 15-20% of the Flutter software development costs in the budget for app maintenance. However, the longer your app has a stable audience, the more money you have to invest in updates. It’s not surprising that you’ll spend more money on updating within a certain time than on the actual development. Still, while your app generates more revenue than losses, it’s a worthy investment.
Here at Cleveroad, we have expertise in both post-release support and working with projects developed by other companies. From our experience, it’s much easier to work on a project you made on your own than to search for bugs in someone else’s code. Besides, cooperation with the same team lowers the Flutter app development cost.
Here’s what steps we take while providing quality assurance services. Check out our service page to learn more!
Third-party API integrations
Depending on the complexity of the apps, Flutter developers may need to apply third-party APIs. Their implementation facilitates data interchange between two solutions using protocols. Initially, you may opt for the least expensive APIs; however, increasing usage will necessitate migrating to more advanced APIs. Hence, the more integrations you want to add, the higher will be the Flutter app cost.
Release to app stores
When you already have a finished product, you have to launch it somewhere. Google Play and the App Store are major players among the app distributing platforms. That’s why you definitely should place your app there. However, these platforms charge fees before the app release:
- Google Play charges a one-time fee of $25
- Apple Store charges $99, annually
On top of that, both platforms have a 30% fee for every in-app purchase. If you’re distributing your app via a subscription model, you’ll get only 70% of the initial price. However, recently Google Play and the App Store have softened their policies. For now, they charge only 15% for every subscription from an account that purchased a subscription for twelve months.
We’ve released hundreds of applications, and according to our estimates, the release stage depends on the amount of platforms and takes 190-270 hours. With the average rate of $50, that’s $9,500-$13,500 for a release, which is a substantial sum in terms of the whole Flutter app cost.
Server space
If you’re going to process and store the user-generated data, you have to take care of server concerns. Weak servers lead to low performance and high response time on the user side. Besides, unreliable servers with a vulnerable protection system can cause personal data leaks of your users.
To minimize risks, our team trusts only reliable providers, like Amazon EC2. According to the AWS Price Calculator, a 24/7 working server with an 8-core CPU and 32 GiBs of RAM will cost you around $1650/year. Keep this expense in mind when calculating the overall Flutter development cost.
Cleveroad has AWS select partner status that enables us to deliver scalable solutions within AWS environment. Check our our article to learn more
Tips to Cut Flutter App Development Cost
Flutter app price can rapidly increase and exceed your budget if not managed appropriately. What methods can be used to obtain a high-quality flutter app without exceeding the budget? Begin by following these tips to reduce flutter development costs.
Outsource your software project
Applying to outsourced services for Flutter app development is an effective way of controlling Flutter app price and time. Engaging to work with outsourced Flutter app coders is faster and more cost-efficient than recruiting specialists yourself.
You may also consider outsourcing certain projects to an external vendor to lighten the workload for your in-house coders and engineers. The provider's specialists can offer valuable insight and innovations which could be beneficial if the app is intended to have an international presence.
Outsourcing software development can also help you unlock long-term savings with the help of an experienced Flutter app partner - from idea validation to support and maintenance.
Moreover, working with an outsourcing vendor, you are able to optimize your expenditures due to an opportunity to employ IT experts from all over the world, choosing a region which hourly rates will perfectly fit your budget.
How to outsource software development in 2025? Examine our guide to discover a detailed pipeline of hiring outsourced experts for your Flutter project
Start with MVP development
When making a Flutter app, keeping it simple helps optimize the overall development cost. Every feature should contribute to a seamless user experience, ensuring that your Flutter mobile app development cost remains reasonable. Decision to build MVP doesn’t mean limiting functionality but rather aligning features with target audience expectations. Conducting market research helps understand user needs and refine Flutter for app development strategies.
To streamline the Flutter app development process, it's best to start with MVP features. This approach allows businesses to test app viability, gather early user feedback, and adjust features throughout the development without exceeding the budget. The demand for Flutter continues to rise, making it a smart choice for cost-effective, high-performance applications.
With Flutter app development in 2025, businesses can build cross-platform solutions efficiently while keeping costs under control. Knowing how much it costs to develop a Flutter app upfront helps manage expenses and ensures a solid return on investment throughout the development cycle.
Focus on the Agile approach to cut expenses
Consider that it gets more expensive to make bug fixing the further along the Flutter app goes in the development process. So, you can use an Agile development methodology, which is test-driven, and make adjustments as you go.
For example, Cleveroad software development team works with Agile methodology SDLC to remain flexible and easily make changes to the project. We are always ready to provide you with in-depth consultation on optimizing your project budget expenditures for Flutter app cost.
Choose suitable collaboration option
We are committed to providing practical solutions, offering the following partnership models to ensure seamless collaboration, convenience and ability to reduce Flutter app development cost:
- serves as an effective partnership model for building Flutter apps, providing businesses with the flexibility to scale their development teams according to project requirements. By seamlessly integrating additional skilled Flutter developers into the existing team or only hiring several experts for the Flutter-based project, companies can efficiently meet tight deadlines and navigate complex coding challenges.
- Dedicated Team allows extending your opportunities by hiring developers with experience in the domain of your business. Scale up your in-house team structure with additional team members, assemble an agile-oriented team for a project created from scratch, or support the current one.
How We Estimate Flutter App Development in Cleveroad
We at Cleveroad prepare two project costs evaluations: Rough and Detailed estimates. Let’s learn more about each of them.
Rough estimate
A rough estimate is typically the most approximate figure. The client is being provided with the development stages’ rough flutter app cost data for informational purposes.
We generate two approximate estimates to refine the costs accuracy incrementally.
- The first rough estimate is prepared following the Solution Design stage. We establish goals, outline the scope of work, identify complexity levels, assign roles and limitations, anticipate risks, and plan accordingly. We utilize this information to make an estimate and proposal.
- The second rough estimate is formed during Discovery Phase. We assess business process intricacies, define a detailed feature set, identify key development nuances, and develop non-functional requirements and architectural solutions.
Detailed estimate
A detailed estimate is the best way to get an accurate Flutter cost estimation in project management. The product creation process includes the participation of the developers who will be directly responsible for your flutter application delivery.
Detailed estimates are compiled after the Discovery Phase and used during the development process. The business analyst prepares a detailed user story for each sprint or two-sprint period as part of an iterative process. After the evaluation of each user story, a detailed estimate can be determined by taking into account the following points:
- Maintaining thorough records of the upcoming software solution, including wireframes, specs, and other written material
- Integrations, recommendations, and other non-developmental activities
- All you need to know about quantities, prices, and rates: for instance, cost-calculating rates
When customers submit a documentation package, we generate a detailed estimate more quickly.
Why Reach to Cleveroad for Flutter App Development?
Cleveroad is an outsourcing software development company with over 13 years of expertise in helping various businesses create high-performance, scalable, and reliable cross-platform apps. Our team specializes in custom mobile and web solutions, ensuring seamless functionality across iOS and Android while optimizing costs. We also assist with legacy software modernization, managed IT services, and AI-driven solutions building.
Here’s what benefits you’ll receive by cooperating with us on Flutter app development:
- Free solution design workshop to define goals, assess feasibility, and explore tailored strategies—completely risk-free, with no upfront commitment.
- 280+ in-house engineers (75% senior and middle level) with extensive expertise in Flutter development, ensuring efficient, high-quality app solutions.
- Custom Flutter app development tailored to your business needs, delivering high-performance, cross-platform applications with a single codebase for iOS and Android.
- Project Management Office (PMO) to keep development streamlined, mitigate risks, optimize resources, and ensure on-time delivery.
- ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications guarantee a structured approach to secure and high-quality software development.
- Strict compliance with global security and legal standards, including HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, PIPEDA, FDA, and KYC, ensuring data protection and regulatory adherence.
- Flexible cooperation models for you to choose from, based on your timeline and budget considerations, including IT staff augmentation and dedicated development team model.
To represent our expertise in Flutter-based solutions delivery, we’d like to disclose our recent case – a Software System for Creators and Spectators of Sports Activities
A US-based company aimed to unite sports teams, spectators, and enthusiasts in a single digital space but lacked the software to make it happen. To bring their vision to life, they needed a reliable Flutter development partner capable of creating a cross-platform solution that seamlessly connected users, facilitated event participation, and enhanced engagement.
Cleveroad stepped in to develop a Flutter-based mobile app where users could align by skills and interests, join events, and interact with teams. Additionally, we built a web-based admin panel that allowed administrators to manage users, oversee activities, and ensure smooth platform operation. We focused on creating a scalable ecosystem with an intuitive UX to maximize user satisfaction.
As a result, our client received the cross-platform app which is now available in stores, attracting new users and improving retention rates. The web-based admin panel enables seamless management of events and activities, including STEM competitions and challenges. With a well-structured digital ecosystem, the company has expanded its audience and monetization opportunities by facilitating team sponsorships, fundraising, and event participation.
Here’s what John Salmon, owner of Deltasport, says about our mutual collaboration on this project:
The Flutter app development cost typically fall between $40,000 and $200,000+. Below, explore the varying sizes of applications, from small and simple app to large, and the associated costs of building them.
- A basic Flutter app with simple features would typically cost around $50,000 to $60,000.
- The estimated cost of a Flutter app with medium complexity ranges from $60,000 to $80,000.
- The cost of developing a complex app on the basis of Flutter can vary based on features, functionalities, and technology integration, with prices starting at $80,000.
UI/UX design for a Flutter app development project typically costs $5,000–$20,000+, depending on complexity, custom animations, and branding requirements. When developing a Flutter application for Android and iOS, investing in high-quality design enhances user experience and engagement. Since Flutter allows for smooth and consistent UI across platforms, it’s a cost-effective choice for cross-platform app development.
The cost of a Flutter app varies based on functionality, UI complexity, and integrations. Since Flutter is an open-source framework, it helps streamline your development process and cut expenses. A team of Flutter developers can efficiently build cross-platform apps, significantly lowering the mobile app development cost compared to native solutions. On average, Flutter offers a 30–40% cost reduction, making it one of the most cost-effective app development frameworks. To further optimize Flutter app development, businesses should consider the cost of hiring a Flutter expert, ensuring they get the best balance between affordability and expertise.
The cost to hire a Flutter developer ranges from $25–$100 per hour, depending on their app development skills, experience level, and location. Rates are typically higher in North America and Western Europe. If you need a dedicated Flutter expert to build a Flutter app, costs may vary based on project complexity. Factors like the basic version of your app, required features, and integrations can impact the Flutter app development process. Choosing the right Flutter app developer ensures efficiency when you make a Flutter solution.
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