How Much Does It Cost to Maintain an App: 2024 Outlay

How much does it cost to maintain an app? Besides investments within app infrastructure creation, you’ll need to deeply consider how your app will function afterward. Spending regarding app maintenance and support during the post-release stage has to be thoroughly assessed and included in the whole app development roadmap as it remains one of the most tricky parts of your app’s success.

Now, we’ll help you dive deeper into the crucial aspects of the app maintenance cost, what it includes, and why it’s so important, and we will disclose valuable cost-saving tips.

Before diving into specific figures, it's crucial to clarify what falls under app maintenance. This term encompasses various activities such as bug fixes, performance enhancements, feature updates, and implementing user feedback. Understanding this will help you better grasp the subject and navigate the maintenance cost of a mobile app. By breaking down the components of maintenance, you'll see how each element contributes to the overall budget, making it easier to estimate ongoing expenses.

So, application maintenance is a continuous process of updating, analyzing, changing, and re-evaluating existing software to continuously improve the software's state. This approach is strictly obligatory since constantly changing market situations, new trends, and audience requirements dictate competition rules. Therefore, if you want your business to maintain a competitive edge, you must constantly improve your software product, and this is possible with the help of app maintenance.

The standard package of this service includes fixing bugs, modifying the codebase to improve performance, adding new features based on the development plan and user feedback, and much more. In total, there are five types of app maintenance cost categories that cover different aspects of ensuring your app's long-term functionality and performance.

Most of the projects that undergo the above forms of maintenance are developed according to the MVP scheme, which helps to save money and avoid redundancy in the number of features. After the release, new features and improvements are added to the main functionality, making it possible to use the available financial and human resources more efficiently and more competently to predict the strategy for the development of the software product.

To summarize all of the above, app maintenance cost is spent on adhering to four basic practices:

• Adding new features. Thus, your users always understand that they are using a fresh application, and they will expect new functionality that will help make their life a little easier.
• Interface update. New trends in interface design appear at an enviable frequency, and to avoid being outdated at the first launch, you should update the UI/UX of your application.
• Monitoring performance. The speed of the app’s operation and its drawdowns are unacceptable in any software product. Monitor the speed of your application, download times, and other operations within the software product and always strive to reduce these indicators.
• Maintenance schedule. Chaotic updates without any planning are a path to nowhere. Clear update deadlines allow you to properly allocate available resources, and a maintenance schedule will help you not to miss out on issues or bugs.

If the maintenance services for various applications did not benefit their owners, such services would clearly not exist. However, this is not our case, and we have collected the most basic aspect of why app maintenance costs is usually paying off.

A large indicator of the number of application uninstallations is something that all owners of digital business solutions are trying to fight. And this is not surprising, as if the app is not relevant or simply don’t align with user’s need, there is no need to keep it on the personal device.

An application with some flaws, bugs, or simple inconveniences pushes users to click the "Delete" button. In addition, if the app no longer provides useful features to the user, it also increases your chances of losing your audience.

App maintenance helps you keep your application in good shape by solving emerging problems, fixing bugs, and introducing new functionality that will meet the changing needs of users. Thus, you can not only pause but also reduce the churn of users from the application.

The main task of any entrepreneur is to create an application that makes users fall in love with it. It makes you constantly analyze the successes of the digital and monitor the feedback from your customers. A successful app delivers a unique experience to the user. By combining reviews and current trends, you can implement new functionality that will perk up your users’ lives.

This is the main factor that constructs the cost of app maintenance because it is an ongoing process that goes hand in hand with analysis and allows you to introduce fresh ideas throughout the entire life cycle of your digital product.

Competition in the mobile application market is as strong as nowhere else, as there are over 4 million different mobile applications, and each one is fighting for the user's attention. And the refusal of long-term support is what your competitors are waiting for and what they will definitely take advantage of.

Regular updates and the addition of new functionality help in constant competition, which is possible only when using app maintenance services. They will allow your digital solution to always amaze its users and not be inferior to competitors in the race for attention.

There is nothing more damaging to a brand and its reputation than an abandoned mobile app. Avoiding the contribution of app maintenance costs will cause a wave of negativity, as users will see in this decision a disregard for their experience. This will result in low ratings and negative reviews for your digital product, as well as significant user churn. This scenario is not needed by any entrepreneur, and long-term support of your app is the only way to keep your reputation flawless.

Abstract benefits are good, but real-life examples are always better. There are many successful cases of various software products that were a simple MVP version with the most basic functionality at the beginning of their journey. Thanks to app maintenance, they have blossomed and become giants in their industries. And here are a few of them:

• Meta. Meta began as Facebook, a social network within Harvard University, where students could create profiles using their university emails. Initially, it allowed users to list basic information like gender, birthday, and interests, with the ability to add friends. Over time, it evolved into a global platform offering advanced features such as messaging, notifications, and content sharing.
• Uber. When it was first launched in 2011 and worked only in New York and Paris, it was simpler than now. The map looked less detailed, and there were no additional functions like picking a cab class or scheduling a ride. Nevertheless, due to positive customer feedback and overall popularity, we have the top-notch on-demand taxi app on the market.
• X. X started as Twitter in 2006, offering a microblogging service where users could post short messages, or "tweets," limited to 140 characters (later increased to 280). After being acquired by Elon Musk in 2022, the platform was rebranded as "X" and has since been evolving into a broader service focused on social media, payments, etc.

So, let's now talk about what exactly is meant when the application is on the maintenance path. After all, as soon as your app is released, you immediately begin to notice its parts that can be improved (or your users indicate this to you). As a result, support can take different forms.

This is most likely the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to the cost of maintaining an app. Development maintenance can be attributed to many types of mobile app maintenance, including fixes and improvements that impact the overall state of the application. Whether you're working with an app developer or handling updates yourself, it's essential to regularly update your app to ensure smooth functionality.

Regular updates not only help keep the app running efficiently but also enhance the experience for app users. For example, you may need to keep your app updated for security or bug fixes, which can cost around $320 per month. Maintaining and improving performance is essential to ensure users continue to use your app. Here’s the key components of app development maintenance:

• Bug fixing. The first thing developers do during maintenance is fixing bugs. When an app goes global, even tested digital solution may have minor bugs, and their fixes should come first.
• Optimization of the code. An extremely important process aimed at reworking the structure of the written code to improve the application’s performance.
• Working with compatibility. The number of mobile devices is amazing, and it is almost impossible to take them all into account during the development process. This maintenance phase is aimed at extending the supported devices by the application based on user feedback.
• Functionality implementation. Last but not least, new features will be added that expand the capabilities of the application and add a sense of novelty for users.

In general, maintenance of an app with occasional bugs and code optimization procedures ranges around $5,000 - $15,000 per year.

Application design can both attract users and scare them away. Nobody wants to use a digital product that looks like Hello from the 2010s. Every year, there are new design trends that you should follow to maintain a competitive edge. As a result, you will need to regularly update your application’s UI/UX aspect as it evolves and features are added.

In addition, no one guarantees that your brand won’t need a rebranding, which will also affect your application’s appearance. And app maintenance will help you with this stage of your business path.

You might count on $3,000 - $10,000 UI/UX mobile app maintenance cost per year, which usually includes regular improvements in design or user experience based on feedback or trends.

Ensuring security is one of the most important aspects in the development of any digital product and with its release, the responsibility to keep user data safe does not disappear anywhere. If we talk about application maintenance in this aspect, then these services can take two forms:

• Continuous security improvements. These include updates with vulnerability patches and preventive methods for hacking and security breaches.
• Improving security due to legislative changes. Additional work on security that is associated with new legislation can be classified into this category (for example, your application is released in a new region with its own special digital security laws).

To ensure maximum security, the development team must constantly monitor any changes to privacy, updates to third-party integrations connected to your digital product, and changes in global legislation.

Maintenance of your app security barrier usually ranges from $4,000 to $12,000 per year, regarding vulnerability patching, or updating security protocols for apps handling sensitive user data.

The maintenance cost of mobile app may be heavily impacted by multiple factors, from easy-to-fix bugs to more profound issues like compatibility issues within new operating systems, high user expectations, scaling drawbacks, or even critical security vulnerabilities. Let’s define 4 main factors you’ll need to be aware of:

The more features and functionalities an Android, iOS app or cross-platform app has, the more challenges you may encounter with regular maintenance in mobile app development. Apps with complex backends, integrations with third-party services, or advanced algorithms need ongoing support for bug fixes, updates, and enhancements. These factors can significantly drive up mobile app maintenance services costs, as developers must continuously monitor, refine, and optimize performance to keep the app running smoothly. Complex apps also generate more user feedback, requiring continuous adjustments during both the app development process and app development and maintenance phases to keep your app up-to-date.

Furthermore, the larger the app data, the more attention is needed to ensure security and functionality. The need to maintain your app is crucial for long-term success. If you're wondering how much it costs or how much it costs to maintain, it's important to understand that the complexity of the app plays a large role in this.

The choice of programming languages, frameworks, and tools used in building the app affects maintenance costs. Apps built on newer, evolving technologies may need frequent updates to stay compatible with updates from technology providers. Conversely, older or niche tech stacks might require specialized developers, who are often more expensive and harder to find, further increasing maintenance expenses.

At Cleveroad, we provide top-notch legacy software modernization services to help you cut costs on ongoing maintenance by transferring your software solution to run on modern technologies.

A larger user base typically demands more frequent updates to ensure the app functions smoothly across a wider variety of devices, operating systems, and network environments. Additionally, more users often mean more feedback, bug reports, and support requests, which requires a dedicated team to manage efficiently. Scaling issues may also arise, which necessitates optimization and infrastructure upgrades, driving up mobile app maintenance costs.

Apps that handle sensitive data, such as personal information or financial transactions, must meet stringent security standards. This includes regular audits, vulnerability scans, encryption updates, and compliance with local regulations, for example GDPR rules or HIPAA requirements. Any breach or vulnerability can lead to serious financial and reputational damages, making security maintenance a priority and a significant cost factor in app upkeep.

In addition to the main parts that affect the cost to maintain an app, additional aspects can change the final price of services, which are also no less important and which you should be aware of.

Storing application data on servers is not free, and you should definitely include app hosting expenses in your app maintenance cost outlay. The payment for the servers and the final price tag depend on the specific service you choose and the servers needed to keep your app running. The larger your app, the more server power required to maintain smooth app performance. Additionally, as the app grows, the data storage requirements will increase, especially for regular app updates and to keep the app up-to-date on platforms like the Apple App Store and other app stores. It's important for the app owner to consider these factors alongside the original development cost to ensure smooth operations.

On average, you can expect that renting a server for your application will cost you from $70 to $300 per month, and it is far from the limit.

The analysis is the key to thoughtful planning of the further development of the application and its maintenance. Analytics provides the key to the information that underlies any decision-making process, and you will have to pay for it too. You will need to know the application's metrics such as the number of downloads, the average time spent, bounce rate, user behavior parameters, and much more. This data will help you get a picture of how ordinary users see your app and what aspects of it can be improved. As a result, you will have to fork out various monitoring services for these metrics.

The price of such apps varies greatly. Some solutions may be completely free, while others will request a subscription costing $80 or more. The more features you want, the higher the price of the product.

All additional services connected to your application will also make up a significant part of your monthly app maintenance cost. For example, for the full functioning of your commercial product, you need to connect a payment gateway, and your choice falls on the rather popular Braintree solution. As a result, be prepared that this integration will charge 2.59% + $.49 per transaction. Or another example: your app urgently needs integration with maps, and the most popular solution is implementing the Google Maps API. And it will also go to final costs as this service bills $0.50 per 1000 additional requests.

Solving problems and questions of the clients directly affects their experience of using the application, so do not forget about organizing good user support. This will also contribute to the final app maintenance price tag, but at the same time, you will get a huge benefit in the form of satisfied customers who know that they have a place to turn for help if they have any questions. Support costs vary greatly since your custom team can be either one chatbot written by the developer (which can be equated to a one-time expense), or staff of specialists, where everyone receives a salary, sick leaves, and much more. Also, do not forget to purchase equipment for your support team.

So, now is the time to talk about what worries many entrepreneurs who want to organize thoughtful app maintenance - the price of these services.

First, it should be said that in order to organize support through the outsourcing of the developer, your application will go through a general analysis carried out by DevOps specialists. This is a necessary step in order to study in more detail what is under the hood of your app and how it behaves at a given time. These services will include:

• Checking system logs for application-level failure entries
• Checking server subsystems usage (CPU, RAM, I/O, network)
• Analyzing performance spikes if any
• Checking out backup process
• Checking security logs and current firewall settings
• Searching for OS patches or software updates
• Applying OS patches (optional)

These operations are also recurring and, as a result, may not be a one-time cost. They often take 10 hours a month and, like any services, are calculated according to the formula - the time spent is multiplied by the hourly rate. As a result, we have the following figures in different regions:

Next comes the most difficult part: support with constant bug fixes, updates, patches, and new features. And this part of the calculations causes difficulties since there are a lot of variables in it, and you will never know the exact figure before the experts estimate your specific scope of work.

According to our experience, this level of support is about 15 to 20 percent of the total development cost. For example, if you spent $150,000 to build an app, then the average cost of maintaining the app annually could be $30,000 (if taken by the upper bar). Ensuring proper maintenance is important to guarantee that your app is performing at its best, providing an excellent app experience. Reliable mobile app development companies will help you ensure that your app remains up-to-date and secure. In fact, maintenance cost in 2024 could vary depending on the complexity and the long-term success of your app.

All in all, the app maintenance cost per month can range from $500 to $4,000, depending on the app’s complexity, required updates, and server costs. Simple apps with minimal features generally cost less, while apps with complex functionalities, heavy traffic, or frequent updates may demand higher monthly investments. On average, maintenance costs account for about 15-20% of the initial development cost, helping ensure long-term app stability and performance.

However, we repeat that this estimate is approximate and is influenced by many variables. If you want to know how much maintenance will cost in your case, contact us, our specialists will take into account all the factors and calculate an individual estimate for you.

Reducing app maintenance cost and maximizing profits is what all entrepreneurs strive for in all aspects of their business. And application maintenance is no exception. So we decided to collect some useful tips to help you optimize your app support costs.

Monolithic applications are extremely reluctant to improve, which greatly complicates the process and, as a result, significantly increases the cost to maintain an app and introduce new features. As a result, from the very moment you develop your digital product, you must lay the foundation for scalability. It will provide your system with the necessary maintenance flexibility and allow you to freely implement your new ideas as the application develops and its audience grows.

When developing your digital product, you will be faced with the choice of which platform to join. You can choose a native or progressive web application. These two options have both pros and cons that will affect the cost of supporting these solutions.

We’ve made a full comparison between PWA vs native app so you can make the right pick.

For example, a native application often has a wider range of capabilities due to access to the native capabilities of a mobile device. In addition, they have better performance. However, you have to keep two versions of the application (iOS and Android), and app maintenance costs are also multiplied by 2.

Meanwhile, the progressive web application has more modest functionality due to technical limitations. However, it is more accessible, and you only need to maintain one application, which significantly reduces the overall maintenance cost of a mobile app.

Also, you should pay attention to cross-platform applications. You can create a Flutter-based app that will work on both iOS and Android from the very beginning. This will allow you to maintain only one version of the application and significantly cut app maintenance costs in the future.

Despite all of the above, it’s up to you what platform to choose. Lean on your business development plans, ideas, and financial capabilities.

The most profitable option is outsourcing to Europe, namely Estonia, which is one of the most popular tech hubs in the region. This country has one of the largest number of technicians in the region. In addition, software development companies from Estonia charge $50 - $80 per working hour, which is highly beneficial for long-term app maintenance. Finally, do not forget about a convenient location and a visa-free regime, which makes this country extremely convenient for visiting and personal control over the development process.

If you are looking for a reliable app maintenance partner, contact us! Cleveroad engineers are ready to help you keep mobile application up-to-date and high-performant.

In our last advice, we recommend maintaining a balance between your personal desires to implement everything and their appropriateness. According to analysts, 45% of application features are never used, which suggests that attempts to implement absolutely every functionality will not bring much return, or you will completely waste your financial resources.

Instead, think carefully about your app maintenance plan and prioritize improvements based on user feedback and data. Focus on features that address genuine needs. This will save you resources that you could have spent on features with low adoption or a deliberately unsuccessful feature that no one asks for. Additionally, factoring in website maintenance pricing during the planning stages can help you establish a realistic budget for both development and ongoing upkeep.

In total, how much does it cost to maintain an app? As you can see, maintaining your app after release is an extremely important measure when trying to maintain consistent quality, meet users' expectations, and provide a reliable and trustworthy digital offer. This is a pretty complex matter, and the final pricing may be significantly influenced by factors such as the app’s complexity, frequency of updates, third-party service integrations, scalability needs, and evolving security requirements. These factors contribute to both the predictability and unpredictability of ongoing maintenance costs.

Anyway, we’ve prepared a concise mobile app maintenance cost breakdown that you can find below:

Cleveroad is a top-tier custom software development and maintenance company based in Estonia. Since 2011, we have been helping businesses create and maintain unique digital solutions for their businesses of various domains, including Logistics, Healthcare, and FinTech. Cleveroad in numbers is:

• 12+ years on the market
• 280+ in-house engineers
• 200+ successful projects
• 8+ expertise industries

Cleveroad is a trusted development partner, offering end-to-end solutions that cover the entire software development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. We provide a full spectrum of development services, ensuring your app stays reliable, updated, and aligned with user needs.

Additionally, through our staff augmentation, we can allocate skilled professionals to support your app’s ongoing maintenance, ensuring scalability and consistent performance. Our turnkey approach guarantees comprehensive support for your digital product, tailored to your specific requirements.

Feel free to check out our portfolio to examine the outcomes our clients received collaborating with us and our Clutch page to explore our customers' feedback on their cooperation with Cleveroad.