Freelance App Developer

How Much Does It Cost To Become A Freelance App Developer? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Looking to start a freelance app developer?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a freelance app developer?
what are the typical freelance app developer startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting freelance app developers?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real freelance app developers and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a freelance app developer?

Based on our data reported by actual freelance app developer founders, the average cost of starting a freelance app developer is between $200 and $5,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a freelance app developer are around $750.

Remember, though, not all freelance app developers are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of freelance app developers

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a freelance app developer?

We asked real freelance app developer founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Cam Upson

Founder of Appsitude ($50K/month)

"I used up a lot of the money I had from real estate doing marketing for the company and man is it not easy if you don't know what your doing. I have zero experience marketing and lost a decent amount of money trying to figure it out."

Cameron Upson is the founder of Appsitude, an app development business that was relaunched after a period of stagnation.

Read this case study

Read by 3,592 founders

Andrew Askins

Founder of Krit ($91K/month)

"They gave us $16,000 and 3 months of mentorship to help us get the business off the ground."

Andrew Askins is the founder of Krit, a software agency that partners with non-technical founders to design and build Minimum Lovable Products.

Read this case study

Read by 26,024 founders

Jesus Vargas

Founder of LowCode Agency ($10K/month)

"I quickly rebranded from Legal Cloud to LowCode Agency, built a quick landing page using Carrd, set up my Stripe account, and opened the digital doors… a few days before COVID lockdown."

Jesus Vargas is the founder of LowCode Agency, an app building agency that leverages no/low code tools to create custom apps quickly and affordably.

Read this case study

Read by 21,023 founders

Mahamud Hasan

Founder of Zovo Team Ltd. ($20K/month)

"Our startup cost was $200 USD for a domain, hosting, web development, etc."

Mahamud Hasan is the founder of Zovo Team Ltd, a digital marketing solutions provider that started in 2019 and makes over $150,000 per year.

Read this case study

Read by 4,548 founders

Md. Yousuf Ali

Founder of Rank Trends ($6K/month)

"At the initial stage, we did not do a massive investment to start our project. Just developed a simple website by myself, wrote content, and optimized it."

Md. Yousuf Ali is the founder of Rank Trends, a digital marketing agency, and Khan, a grocery business that provides various digital marketing services and quality grocery items.

Read this case study

Read by 12,557 founders

Seth Kramer

Founder of No Code MBA ($6K/month)

"The initial costs were very low (just the cost of the domain and Webflow hosting)."

Seth Kramer is the founder of No Code MBA, an educational business teaching people how to launch businesses and build apps using no-code tools.

Read this case study

Read by 8,654 founders

Sasa Janicijevic

Founder of Codemap ($7K/month)

"We spent almost 2 years of our lives trying to get the MVP out and spent around $110,000 total on that project."

Sasa Janicijevic is the founder of Codemap.io, a freelance & agency marketplace for no-code, low-code, and automation, that matches founders, startups, scaleups, and organizations with pre-vetted no-code talent.

Read this case study

Read by 10,796 founders

Pavel Stepanov

Founder of Virtudesk ($500K/month)

"The process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing our service was not difficult or time-consuming. All it took was 2-3 days and $2,000 to start serving our first clients."

Pavel Stepanov is the founder of Virtudesk, a virtual assistant services business that helps entrepreneurs scale and automate their businesses.

Read this case study

Read by 7,977 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful freelance app developers that you can learn from.

Starting a freelance app developer - what you should know:

Starting a freelance app developer comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, and understanding cost factors is critical.

Initial Setup Costs

Before you dive into coding, expect initial setup costs to range widely. Essential hardware, such as a robust laptop or desktop, can set you back between $1,000 to $3,000. Software licenses for integrated development environments (IDEs) like JetBrains or Visual Studio can cost $100 to $500 annually. Don't forget to factor in a reliable, high-speed internet connection, which can range from $50 to $100 per month.

Development Tools and Platforms

You'll need to invest in development tools and platforms. Apple and Google charge $99 and $25, respectively, for their annual developer programs. Subscriptions to design tools like Adobe XD or Sketch can cost around $10 to $50 monthly. Cloud services for app hosting and storage, such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Firebase, often operate on a pay-per-use model, which can be as affordable as $10 per month at the start but may increase substantially as user base grows.

Marketing and Client Acquisition

Marketing yourself and acquiring clients can also be a significant expense. Social media advertising or Google Ads might cost between $100 to $500 monthly, depending on your strategy. Creating a professional website with a domain might cost about $12 to $40 annually, plus $3 to $20 monthly for hosting services. Networking events, memberships in professional organizations, or freelance platforms like Upwork or Freelancer, which take a commission of 10% to 20% on your earnings, also constitute ongoing costs.

Legal and Administrative Costs

Don't overlook legal and administrative expenses. These include business registration fees, which can range from $50 to $500, depending on your location. If you opt to form an LLC, legal fees and filing costs can add another $500 to $1,000. Accountant or bookkeeping services may cost around $200 to $500 annually or a monthly service fee.

Continuous Learning and Upgrading Skills

The tech world evolves rapidly, so continuous learning is crucial. Courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or Pluralsight might range from $10 to $50 per course. Attending conferences or workshops can cost between $100 to $1,000, but these can be invaluable for staying up-to-date and networking with peers.

Understanding these cost factors can help you budget wisely and make informed decisions as you embark on your freelance app development journey.

Potential Costs of Starting a Freelance App Developer

Starting a freelance app developer involves various expenses, from initial setup costs to recurring fees for tools and services needed to deliver quality work to clients.

Category	Item	Cost Estimate	Details
Hardware	Computer	$1,000 - $2,500	A reliable laptop or desktop with sufficient processing power and memory.
Hardware	Smartphone	$300 - $1,200	A mid to high-end smartphone for testing apps on iOS or Android.
Software	Integrated Development Environment (IDE)	Free - $100/month	Examples include Xcode (free for macOS users), Android Studio (free), or JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA ($14.90/month).
Software	Design Tools	$0 - $50/month	Adobe XD, Sketch ($9/month), Figma (free to $12/month for additional features).
Hosting Fees	Web Hosting	$5 - $20/month	For hosting web apps or backend services; options include Bluehost, SiteGround, or DigitalOcean.
Domain Registration	Domain Name	$10 - $15/year	For a professional website domain; providers include GoDaddy, Namecheap.
Business Registration	Business License/LLC	$50 - $500 (one-time)	Depends on local laws and the structure of your business (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.).
Project Management	Software	Free - $25/month	Options include Trello (free for basic), Asana (free to $25/month for premium).
Version Control	GitHub/GitLab Subscription	Free - $9/month	For code repositories; GitHub Pro costs $4/month, GitLab offers free and premium plans.
Marketing	Website Development	$100 - $500 (one-time)	Costs of building a professional website; could be higher if hiring a developer.
Marketing	SEO/Advertising	$50 - $500+/month	Online advertising and search engine optimization to attract clients.
Insurance	Liability Insurance	$25 - $50/month	To protect against potential legal claims.
Internet Costs	High-Speed Internet	$50 - $100/month	Reliable internet connection for seamless work and communication.
Miscellaneous	Learning and Courses	$0 - $500/year	For continuous learning via courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or Pluralsight.
Specialized Services	Software Licenses	$10 - $100/month	Additional tools specific to tasks, like App Store licenses for iOS ($99/year) and Google Play ($25 one-time).
Client Communication	Communication Tools	Free - $30/month	Tools like Zoom, Slack (free to $7/month), Microsoft Teams (free with Office 365).
Workspace	Coworking Space/Office	$100 - $500+/month	Optional; could be higher depending on location and facilities. Look into WeWork, Regus, etc.

These are general estimates and costs can fluctuate based on specific choices and regional differences. Starting a freelance app development venture requires careful planning of these expenses to optimize your budget effectively.

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Becoming A Freelance App Developer: Everything You Need To Know

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