How Much Does It Cost to Build an App in Gibraltar?

Updated: 13 October, 2026

How much does it cost to build an app? It depends on what the app has to do. A clickable prototype can cost a few thousand pounds; a working app for iPhone and Android starts in the low tens of thousands; a platform with payments, accounts and links to your other systems costs more again. This guide explains where the money goes, shows our own prices for Gibraltar and Spain, and covers the costs that continue after launch, so you can plan a realistic budget.

Our app prices

• Design and prototype: £2,500 (€2,950). A tappable mock-up of the main screens you can try and show to customers or investors, ready in about a month.

• Starter app: from £12,000 (€14,000). An app that does one thing well, such as ordering or bookings, on both phone platforms, with a basic back office. Around three to four months.

• Business app: from £25,000 (€29,000). Logins, payments and a complete back office for your team. Around four to six months.

• Bespoke platform: from £45,000 (€52,500). Larger systems that connect to your existing software and serve many users, timed once the scope is clear.

• App care: £195 (€225) a month. Keeps the app running and up to date after launch, with a little time each month for small changes.

Euro prices include IVA.

What drives the cost

What the app has to do

Every feature means screens to design, code to write and cases to test. An app that shows a menu and takes an order is much smaller than one that handles accounts, payments, live tracking and notifications.

iPhone, Android or both

Most businesses need both. Cross-platform tools such as React Native or Flutter build both from one codebase, which usually saves time and money. Native apps, written separately for each platform, make sense when performance or deep use of the phone's features matters most.

The back end

Most apps need a server behind them: somewhere to store accounts, orders or bookings, and an admin area for your team. This is often as much work as the app itself.

Connections to other systems

Linking to your till, booking system, CRM or payment provider varies a lot in effort, depending on how well the other system is documented. We price this after looking at it properly.

Design and testing

A polished app needs careful design and testing on many devices. Cutting corners here is the most common reason apps get poor reviews.

Costs after launch

An app isn't finished when it reaches the store:

• Store accounts. Apple's developer programme costs US$99 a year; Google Play charges a one-off US$25 registration. Both are set up in your name.

• Hosting. The server and database behind the app.

• Updates. Apple and Google release new versions every year, and the libraries an app uses need security updates.

• Improvements. Users will ask for changes; plan a small monthly budget for them.

Our care plan bundles the hosting, the updates and a small allowance for changes into one monthly fee.

How to keep the cost down

1. Start with a prototype. Test the idea with real users before paying for the full build.

2. Build the first version around one job. Launch with the feature that matters most and add the rest once you know how people use it.

3. Consider a web app or website first. If customers will use it occasionally, a good mobile website may do the job for far less.

4. Use existing services. Payments, maps and messaging are better bought than built.

5. Own the code and accounts. Make sure both are in your name, so you can change developer later.

Do you need an app at all?

Apps suit businesses whose customers come back often: ordering, bookings, loyalty schemes, members' areas and tools for your own staff. For many small businesses, a fast website with online booking delivers the same result for a fraction of the cost. We'll tell you honestly which fits.

Planning an app?

See our app development page for how we work, or get in touch to talk through your idea. For comparison with websites, read how much a website costs in Gibraltar.

Frequently asked questions

Why are apps more expensive than websites?

An app usually needs two versions (iPhone and Android), a server and admin area behind it, app store approval and ongoing updates for new phone software, so there's more to build and maintain.

How long does it take to build an app?

Roughly a month for a prototype, three to four months for a starter app and four to six months for a business app. Those timings already allow for testing and the app store review.

Can I build an app for just iPhone first?

Yes, but most businesses need both. Cross-platform tools make building both at once much cheaper than two separate apps.

Who owns the app?

You do. We set up the code and the app store accounts in your name.

What does it cost to keep an app running?

Store fees, hosting and updates. Our app care plan is £195 a month, plus Apple's annual developer fee.