App launch cost calculator
Sources checked
Pick what you're launching and answer two questions. The calculator adds up the fees Apple, Google and the other platforms charge, and lists how long each wait takes. Every figure comes from the vendor's own page, linked beside it.
Pick at least one thing you're launching.
- Before you launch
$124
Apple and Google charge these fees to every developer.
- Fees that repeat
$99 a year
- Waiting time
at least 14 days
Google's closed test with 12 testers sets the minimum.
Fees
-
Apple Developer ProgramTestFlight, the App Store and notarized Mac appsSource: developer.apple.com
$99 a year -
Google Play ConsoleYour public listing on the Play StoreSource: support.google.com
$25 once -
VercelOnce the app takes moneySource: vercel.com
$20 a month per seat
Billed by use
-
StripeStripe charges no monthly fee: 2.9% + 30¢ per US card payment (+1.5% for international cards), and 0.7% of subscription revenue for Stripe Billing.Source: stripe.com
-
RevenueCatFree until $2.5k of monthly tracked revenue, then 1% of it, counted before Apple or Google take their share.Source: revenuecat.com
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Lemon SqueezyLemon Squeezy charges no monthly fee: 5% + 50¢ a sale, as merchant of record (it files the sales tax and VAT).Source: lemonsqueezy.com
-
FirebaseBilled by use for Firestore reads and writes, storage, functions and bandwidth, on the Blaze plan (the free Spark plan cannot bill)Source: firebase.google.com
-
VercelBilled by use for function invocations, bandwidth and build minutes beyond Pro's included usageSource: vercel.com
-
Cloudflare WorkersBilled by use for requests and CPU time beyond the plan, on the Workers Paid planSource: developers.cloudflare.com
Only if your app uses them
-
SupabaseBilled by use for database size, egress and monthly active users beyond the plan, on a paid planSource: supabase.com
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OpenAI APIBilled by use for tokens your app sends and receivesSource: developers.openai.com
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Anthropic APIBilled by use for tokens your app sends and receivesSource: platform.claude.com
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AWSBilled by use for whatever the account runsSource: aws.amazon.com
Waits
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Apple Developer ProgramApple usually confirms an individual membership within a day of paying; a company is verified firstSource: developer.apple.com
-
App ReviewApple reviews at least half of submissions within 24 hours and 90% within 48 hoursSource: developer.apple.com
-
D-U-N-S numberUp to 5 business days for Dun & Bradstreet to issue it, then up to 2 more before Apple can see itSource: developer.apple.com
-
Google Play ConsoleGoogle verifies your identity before you can publish; it publishes no fixed time for thatSource: support.google.com
-
Closed test with 12 testers12 testers for 14 days in a row, then Google reviews your application for production, usually seven days or lessSource: support.google.com
14 days
Common questions
How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?
Apple charges $99 a year for the Apple Developer Program. You need it for TestFlight, the App Store and notarized Mac apps. Apple reviews at least half of submissions within 24 hours and 90% within 48 hours.
How much does it cost to publish an app on Google Play?
Google charges $25 once for the Google Play Console. A personal account created after 13 November 2023 must first run a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days in a row. Organization accounts are exempt.
Do you have to pay to put an app on the App Store?
Yes. Apple charges $99 a year for the Apple Developer Program, and an app cannot reach TestFlight or the App Store without it. A free Apple account can run a build on your own phone for seven days and no further.
How much does it cost to publish an app on iOS and Android?
You pay $124 before your first release: Apple's $99 a year and Google's $25 once. After that, Apple's $99 comes back every year.