What is the cost of building an MVP?

Here’s a general benchmark for 2025:

These are ballpark figures, not fixed price tags. But more importantly, your MVP development cost doesn’t just depend on “how much app you want to build.” It depends on how well you define the problem, who you work with, what tools you use, and what your end goal is.

Let’s get into the details.

What factors influence MVP cost in 2025?

1. The feature scope

You can have a long list of features, but what really matters is how complex each one is. A login page sounds simple until you add email verification, password reset, and social login. A payment feature might need invoicing, subscriptions, and currency handling.

Simple MVPs usually stick to one main user goal like booking a service, submitting a form, or uploading content. The moment you add admin dashboards, notifications, integrations, or chat, development time increases sharply. So decide which one is more important before you start going for an MVP.

2. The platform

Web-only is cheaper because mobile takes longer. Supporting both iOS and Android with native apps will stretch your budget. Cross-platform tools like React Native or Flutter are a good middle ground for many early-stage products.

Also, if your product needs a backend (to store user data, manage accounts, etc.), that’s an added layer which is often a hidden one in people’s early estimates.

3. The team and their location

A senior developer in California might charge $150/hour. A skilled team in India or Eastern Europe could deliver the same quality at a fraction of the rate. So the pricing also depends on the team’s experience in building MVPs. It’s in your hands to choose them wisely.

Founders often underestimate how much communication and product thinking matter in early builds. Anyone can write code, but asking the right questions and avoiding costly missteps is what matters.

4. The design

Good design is about guiding users clearly, reducing friction, and making sure people understand your product in seconds. Skipping design to “save time” often ends up slowing you down because users can’t figure out how to use what you’ve built.

Expect 15–30% of your budget to go into design if you want something that’s clean, functional, and easy to test with real users.

5. The tools and stack you choose

Want to save time? Don’t start from scratch. Use Firebase for auth and backend, Stripe for payments, and pre-built UI kits. These tools speed things up and reduce bugs.

In some cases, no-code platforms like Bubble or Webflow are good enough for your MVP, especially if you’re testing workflows and not building a tech-heavy product. You’ll still need someone to set things up properly, but it can save thousands off your budget.

Hidden MVP costs most founders overlook

Here’s what’s often left out of early planning:

• Hosting and cloud infrastructure
  Even small apps need somewhere to run. AWS, Vercel, and Firebase are cheap at first but scale with usage.
  
  
  

• Domains, SSL, and third-party tools
  Add small monthly costs for basic things like your domain name, analytics, email tools, etc.
  
  
  

• Testing and bug fixing
  You don’t want to ship something that crashes on half of your users’ phones. QA is part of the process, even for MVPs.
  
  
  

• Maintenance and updates
  Bug fixes, security patches, and quick UI changes after you launch are all real costs.
  
  
  

• Legal and compliance
  If you handle personal data, you’ll need basic privacy policies. Depending on your industry, compliance can be more than a legal formality.
  
  

How to reduce MVP cost in 2025 without compromising on quality

Here are five things that help:

1. Start with one user type and one goal. You don’t need admin dashboards, notifications, and reports in v1. You need proof that people want what you're building.
   
   
   

2. Use off-the-shelf tools wherever possible. Don’t spend two weeks building a custom calendar if Google Calendar or Calendly works.
   
   
   

3. Validate with clickable prototypes. Before writing a line of code, test your idea with wireframes or mockups. You’ll catch usability issues early.
   
   
   

4. Work with a small team that understands MVPs. Not just developers people who know how to make decisions fast and cut features that aren’t critical.
   
   
   

5. Avoid overbuilding. Many products fail not because they didn’t work but because they worked too hard on the wrong things.
   
   
   

Final thoughts

Building an MVP isn’t about creating a cheap version of your product. It’s about learning fast, with a clear hypothesis and a lean, testable build. 

The cost building an MVP in 2025 depends on how well you define the scope, who you choose to work with, and how efficiently you move. You might get it done for $15K. You might need $70K. But the smarter move is not to ask “what’s the cheapest way to build this?” It’s to ask “what’s the smartest way to learn if this product is worth building?”

If you’re at that stage and want help mapping out your MVP, technical, strategic, or budget-wise, reach out to us at Greyfeathers Studios. We are that small, budget-friendly team you are looking for. Happy to walk you through it.