How Much Does It Cost to Build an App in 2026? Hire vs. Build It Yourself
· 2 min read · by FlowState AI
In 2026, a custom app from an agency commonly costs $40,000 to $400,000+, and North American freelancers charge about $100 to $180 an hour. Building it yourself with AI tools usually costs $25 to $50 a month plus your time.
The three ways to get an app built
You can hire an agency, hire a freelance developer, or build it yourself with an AI app builder. Each one trades money for time differently.
Typical 2026 costs
| Route | Typical cost | Time to first version |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | $40,000 to $400,000+ | 2 to 6 months |
| Freelancer (North America) | $40,000 to $72,000 for about 400 hours | 2 to 4 months |
| You, with AI | About $25 to $50 a month for the builder | Days to a few weeks |
Agency and freelancer ranges from Newly's 2026 US cost comparison. Real quotes vary by scope.
The hidden costs of hiring out
- Every change after launch is a new invoice
- You wait on someone else's schedule
- You may not own or understand the code
- Monthly maintenance retainers
When building it yourself makes sense
For websites, CRMs, booking apps, customer portals and internal tools, building it yourself is now realistic for non-programmers. The key is building in small, tested steps instead of one giant prompt.
When you should still hire
- Strict compliance, such as medical records or payments data you store yourself
- Huge traffic from day one
- No time at all to learn
Questions people ask
What's the cheapest way to get a custom app?
Building it yourself with an AI app builder. You pay a monthly tool subscription instead of a project fee.
Is an AI-built app good enough for a real business?
For most small business tools, yes, when you build in checked steps and finish with a security and launch checklist.
Are costs different in Canada?
Developer rates in Canada are close to US rates. AI tools and VibeCoder U cost the same in both countries and bill in US dollars.
Keep going
Build it step by step, with the exact prompts.
Free account. 25 AI credits a month. No card needed.
