How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App in Kenya? (2026)

The cost to build a mobile app in Kenya in 2026 ranges from about KES 50,000 to 150,000 for a simple app, KES 150,000 to 500,000 for an app with accounts and M-Pesa, and KES 500,000 to 2 million or more for a complex platform. Store fees and yearly maintenance come on top.

However, the right number for you depends on a few decisions you can control. This guide explains them, so you can budget with confidence and compare quotes fairly.

How much does each type of app cost?

Kenyan developers group apps into three levels. These are typical 2026 market prices:

• Simple app: 3 to 5 screens, such as a catalogue, information or booking request app with little or no backend. About KES 50,000 to 150,000 (Gurucrafts).

• Medium app: user accounts, a database, M-Pesa payments, push notifications and an admin panel. About KES 150,000 to 500,000.

• Complex app: real-time features, maps and tracking, multiple user types or a marketplace. About KES 500,000 to 2,000,000 or more, and 5 to 8 months of work (Quest Designers).

At Bluvig, a companion app for Android and iOS starts from KES 120,000, and we confirm the final price after a short call. You can see it alongside website features on our quotation page.

What drives the cost of an app up or down?

The biggest drivers of the cost to build a mobile app in Kenya are:

1. Number of screens and user types. A customer app is one product. Adding a driver app and an admin dashboard roughly triples the work.

2. The backend. Accounts, orders, stock and reports live on a server, and that server is often half the project.

3. Integrations. M-Pesa, SMS, maps, eTIMS invoices or your existing system each add build and testing time. For instance, M-Pesa integration in an app typically adds KES 20,000 to 80,000 (see our M-Pesa integration guide).

4. Design. Custom illustration and animation cost more than a clean, standard design.

5. Who builds it. Kenyan freelance developers charge roughly KES 1,500 to 8,000 an hour (McTaba). Agencies cost more but add design, testing and project management.

Do you need Android, iOS or both?

Start with Android if your users are in Kenya. In September 2026, Android ran on 95% of mobile devices in Kenya, and iOS on under 5% (StatCounter). With 52.3 million smartphones now connected in Kenya, according to Communications Authority figures for the quarter to June 2026, the Android audience is large (TechTrends KE).

However, if you sell to corporate clients, tourists or customers abroad, iOS users matter more. That is why we build with React Native: one codebase produces both an Android and an iOS app. Cross-platform development typically saves around 30 to 40% compared with building two separate native apps, although the saving shrinks for apps that rely heavily on platform-specific features (RaftLabs).

What does it cost to publish an app on Google Play and the App Store?

Fortunately, the store fees themselves are small:

• Google Play: a one-time US$25 registration fee (Google).

• Apple App Store: US$99 a year for the Apple Developer Program (Apple).

• Store commission: if you sell digital goods inside the app, both stores take 15% for most small businesses. Physical goods and services, paid through M-Pesa, are not subject to this fee.

One rule often delays launches. New personal Google Play accounts must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before they can publish (Google). Therefore, plan two extra weeks, or register as an organisation.

What does an app cost after launch?

Budget for these ongoing costs:

• Maintenance: about 15 to 20% of the build cost per year, for updates, OS changes and bug fixes. In other words, a KES 300,000 app needs roughly KES 45,000 to 60,000 a year.

• Hosting and backend: from a few thousand shillings a month for small apps, rising with users and data.

• Push notifications: free through Firebase Cloud Messaging (Firebase).

• SMS: about KES 1 or less per message for one-time codes and alerts, depending on volume.

• M-Pesa fees: charged per transaction by Safaricom.

How long does it take to build an app?

Time also affects the cost to build a mobile app in Kenya. A simple app takes about 4 to 8 weeks. A medium app with accounts and payments usually takes 2 to 4 months. Complex platforms take 5 months or more.

You can shorten that by launching a first version with only the features that prove the idea. Then add the rest based on what real users do.

How do you keep your app budget under control?

• Write down the 5 things the app must do. Everything else is version two.

• Ask for a clickable prototype first. At Bluvig, a free prototype is available before you pay a deposit, so you see the app before you commit.

• Get a fixed quote with milestones. Pay as working software is delivered, not all up front. Our guide to choosing a software development company lists the questions to ask.

• Own your accounts. Store listings, code and servers should be in your name.

So, ready to price your idea? Read about our mobile app development service, or tell us about your app and we will send a fixed quote.