Pricing in 2026
The short answer
Self-serve Shopify mobile app builders run from $99 a month (Shopney, Vajro entry tiers) to $1,499 a month (Tapcart Plus, Appbrew enterprise), with several charging a percentage of app GMV on top. Custom development with a UK or US agency runs £15,000 to £200,000 upfront, plus 15 to 20 percent of the build cost in annual maintenance. Talmee Flagship is £1,999 a month flat, no revenue share, no setup fee.
The real cost question is not this month. It is what does this cost the year you grow.
Self-serve builders
Shopney starts at $99. Vajro starts at $99 with success fees once app GMV crosses $100,000 a month. Plobal Apps starts at $199. Tapcart spans $300 to $1,350 with revenue share on the Plus tier. Appbrew runs $249 to $1,499. The headline number is rarely the real number once a brand starts to scale.
Custom development
A mid-tier UK or US agency typically charges £15,000 to £60,000 for a basic Shopify mobile app and £75,000 to £200,000 plus for a Shopify Plus build with subscriptions, loyalty and deep integrations. Annual maintenance after launch is 15 to 20 percent of the build cost. The 24-month total lands between £30,000 and £400,000 depending on scope.
Talmee Flagship
One number. It covers strategy, UX, React Native build, App Store and Google Play launch, monthly releases, and senior support. There is no setup fee. There is no percentage of app revenue. Apple Developer Program ($99 a year) and Google Play Console ($25 one time) are paid by the brand directly and remain in the brand's name. The fee is the same whether app GMV is £20,000 or £2 million a month.
Picking the model
Pick a self-serve builder if speed beats design, the catalogue is shallow, and the brand is comfortable with template constraints. Pick custom development if budget supports £75,000 plus upfront, timeline supports 4 to 9 months, and the team has the appetite to run the maintenance contract afterwards. Pick Talmee if the brand wants custom design and managed delivery without the upfront cheque or the revenue-share tax.
Frequently asked
No. The Flagship plan is a flat monthly fee at every revenue level. There is no transaction fee, no growth-tier surcharge, and no success-fee floor that kicks in once app GMV crosses some threshold.
Shopney or Vajro at $99 a month entry tiers. Both are templated. There is no zero-cost route because Apple charges $99 a year for the Developer Program and Google charges $25 once for the Play Console, and any production app needs both.
Usually yes. Premium-tier integrations, push beyond a free volume cap, white-label fees, and revenue-share or success-fee economics activate as the channel grows. The published entry-tier price is a floor, not a ceiling.
Over 24 months, £1,999 a month equals £47,976. A £50,000 custom build needs maintenance after launch, which typically pushes the 24-month total to £55,000 to £65,000. The two are roughly comparable on cost. The difference is launch time: Talmee is two weeks, custom development is four to nine months.
$99 a year for Apple Developer Program. $25 one time for Google Play Console. Both paid directly by the brand to Apple and Google. Both remain in the brand's name regardless of which builder or developer the brand uses.
Last reviewed 5 May 2026 · Manchester
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