Prothes Barai
Founder & Engineer, PSBM Labs
If you've asked three different agencies for a Flutter app quote, you've probably gotten three very different numbers. That's not because anyone is lying to you — app pricing genuinely depends on variables that are invisible until you write down requirements. This guide breaks down what actually moves the price, based on projects we've scoped and built out of our studio in Barisal.
What drives the cost
Five factors account for almost all of the price difference between a simple app and an expensive one:
- Number of unique screens — not just how many tabs, but how many distinct layouts, forms, and states each screen needs.
- Backend complexity — a static content app is cheap; an app with real-time sync, user roles, and a custom API is not.
- Third-party integrations — payment gateways (bKash, Nagad, Stripe), SMS gateways, maps, and push notifications each add scoped, testable work.
- Design depth — a template-based UI costs far less than a fully custom brand-driven design system.
- Platform target — Flutter's main advantage is one codebase for Android and iOS, but App Store review and iOS-specific polish still add time.
Rough cost ranges by app type
These are directional ranges for a first shippable version (an MVP), not a fixed quote — every project gets a written estimate after a scoping call.
| App type | Typical scope | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Simple utility app | 5-8 screens, local storage, no backend | Lowest |
| Marketplace / listing app | Auth, listings, chat, backend API | Medium |
| Fintech / ledger app | Secure storage, SMS, offline sync, reporting | Medium-high |
| Enterprise / multi-role platform | Admin panel, role-based access, integrations | Highest |
Fixed price vs. hourly
We quote fixed prices after requirements are written down, rather than open-ended hourly billing. This protects you from scope creep turning into a runaway bill, and it forces both sides to agree on exactly what "done" looks like before any code is written.
How to get an accurate quote
- Write down the core user flow — what does someone do in the app, start to finish?
- List any must-have integrations (payments, SMS, maps).
- Decide if you need one platform first (Android only) or both from day one.
- Share this with 2-3 studios and compare what's included, not just the number.
Why Flutter specifically
For most business apps — not games, not apps leaning heavily on device-specific hardware — Flutter lets us build one codebase that ships to both Android and iOS, which usually brings the total cost down compared to building two native apps separately. We also work in native Kotlin when a project specifically calls for it; see our services page for the full breakdown of what we build.