How Much Does It Cost to Put an App on the App Store?

Publishing an app to the Apple App Store costs significantly more than the Google Play Store. Apple charges an annual $99 fee to keep your app published, while Google requires just a one-time $25 payment. Understanding these costs is essential for anyone planning to launch a mobile application.

Adalo, a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play, can help you build your app affordably from a single codebase. One version publishes to web, the Apple App Store, and Google Play—but you'll still need to budget for the publishing fees charged by Apple and Google themselves.

Apple App Store Publishing Costs Explained

Apple also offers a pricing tier for publishing enterprise-level apps. Large businesses with over 100 employees can opt to publish under the Apple Developer Enterprise Program. While this costs $299/year, it comes with several big-business-specific advantages:

• Internal App Distribution and Flexible Deployment: Apple lets you send enterprise-level native mobile apps directly to employee devices, bypassing the public App Store entirely.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: Apple provides top security measures for enterprise users, including high-level encryption and secure data transfer.
• Priority Support: Enterprise Level Developers get access to specialized developer tools, priority support, and resources unavailable to standard app store publishers.
• Custom Deployment: Subscribers to the Enterprise Developer Program get full control over who can download their apps.

iOS Fees for In-App Purchases, Commissions, and Subscriptions

Apple takes a 30% commission from your app's revenue from in-app purchases during the first year, then only 15% yearly thereafter.

An in-app purchase happens when your users buy a digital good or service offered in your app. Digital goods include tokens for an online game, a copy of a webbook, or an ongoing subscription to your weekly periodical.

Notably, purchasing physical goods doesn't count as in-app purchases. If you have an e-commerce app, you won't need to pay iOS any commission on physical items you sell—clothing, electronics, supplements, or any physical item that gets delivered.

How Much Does It Cost to Put an App on The Google Play Store?

Publishing to Android is considerably less expensive than iOS, requiring only a one-time $25 fee. This is the only publishing fee you'll pay Google to get your app into the Google Play Store—no annual renewals required.

Android Fees for In-App Purchases, Commissions, and Subscriptions

Android's commission rates work like a progressive tax. Google takes 15% from every dollar under $1 million in revenue your app earns. Once you exceed $1 million in annual revenue, Android takes 30% of each dollar earned above that threshold.

Like iOS, Android charges commission on in-app purchases, commissions, and subscriptions, but you keep all revenue from selling physical goods.

The Determining Factors that Influence App Publishing Costs

The platform you select (iOS or Android) and whether you'll offer in-app purchases represent just a portion of your total app-store publishing costs. Several other factors can add significant digits to your bill:

• Development Costs: If you hire a developer to make your app, they'll most likely charge a fee to handle publishing. Developers might also privately test your app on third-party platforms, which can cost in the $1,000s. Building with an AI-powered app builder like Adalo eliminates these costs entirely—you can go from idea to published app without writing code or hiring developers.

• Maintenance and Updates: Your app will require regular updates after launch to add new features, fix bugs, and comply with the latest operating system updates. If you hire a developer, they'll either charge maintenance costs upfront as part of their development package or charge per fix. Expect these fees to run $1,000s per update. With Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted editing, you can make updates yourself and push them to both app stores without additional development costs.

• Marketing and Promotion: To ensure users find your app, you'll want to execute an effective marketing strategy. This includes social media advertising, content marketing, search engine optimization, and in-app promotions. Costs for marketing and promotion can run from a few $100s to well into the $1,000s.

• Server Costs and Backend Infrastructure: Some apps require server-side logic, data storage services, or cloud infrastructure management. Depending on your app's size, these costs can start under $20/month but can run into the $100s/month for larger applications. Adalo's paid plans include unlimited database records with no data caps, eliminating surprise infrastructure costs as your app scales.

While these factors vary case by case, expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars in additional fees. If you hire a developer to build your app, budget several thousand dollars. Using an AI-powered app builder significantly reduces these costs by letting you build, update, and scale without technical expertise.

Which Platform is Right for Me?

Ideally, we recommend publishing your app to both platforms.

Having your app on both iOS and Android ecosystems gives you access to a massive audience: Over 600 million people visit the Apple App Store weekly, and over 2 billion monthly users flock to the Google Play Store.

You'd be missing out on billions of potential viewers if you don't publish to both app stores. While publishing to each platform should be your goal, you'll need a strategic approach.

Because the Apple App Store has the most rigorous review process, you'll likely spend more time navigating iOS requirements—especially if you aren't already an Apple user. Even if you've been in the Apple ecosystem for decades, consider publishing to the Google Play Store first.

Statistically, you're more likely to get your app approved quickly on Android. Once approved, you'll familiarize yourself with having an app in an app store while Apple's team reviews your iOS submission.

While Apple's team takes its time, you'll already have Google Play Store users downloading, using, and rating your app. You could build a substantial Android user base while waiting for iOS approval.

Android vs. iOS Head to Head: Pros and Cons

The Apple App Store and Google Play Store have unique features and selling points. Here's a quick comparison of their pros and cons:

Android (Google Play Store)

Pros

• Your app can be published to the Google Play Store in just a few hours.
• You can migrate your app from smaller app stores to Google Play without much friction.
• When you update your app, Android generally recognizes updates faster than iOS.

Cons

• Higher incidence of malware, which sometimes slips through due to Android's rapid approval process.
• Your app might not perform equally well across all devices due to Android's wider range of device manufacturers and screen sizes.
• The quick approval process means greater risk of app piracy or copying.

iOS (Apple App Store)

Pros

• iOS provides Fort Knox-level security.
• Because Apple App Store users have iOS devices made for the Apple ecosystem, your app will appear and function consistently with minimal errors.
• Apple's stringent review process ensures only quality apps make it to the store. Once you pass review, your app will run smoothly.

Cons

• Exhaustingly lengthy approval process.
• Apple's thorough review process also applies to updates, which may take longer than expected.
• Apple has the highest cost at $99/year, compared to Android's one-time $25 fee.

iOS vs. Android: The Differences in Publishing

Now that we've covered how iOS and Android differ in pricing, let's examine each platform's publishing procedures. They require different steps and have varying timeframes from application to publishing.

How To Publish Your App to the Google Play Store

1. Navigate to the Google Play Console page, create a developer account, and pay the $25 fee.
2. Ensure your app follows Google's Material Design requirements. Make necessary changes if it doesn't.
3. Leverage testing opportunities available through your Google Play Console account. Incorporate user feedback.
4. Create a Google Play listing by providing your app's icon, title, meta description, and screenshots. Fill out all necessary information about regions of availability, pricing, and more.
5. Generate an APK (Android Packet Kit) or AAB (Android App Bundle) file using Android Studio.
6. Upload your APK or AAB file to Google Play Console.
7. If rejected, you'll receive feedback to address before resubmitting.

Android has a reputation as a more accessible platform for publishing than iOS. Approval can sometimes take just hours, allowing you to publish your Android app quickly. Typically, however, publishing to the Google Play Store takes a few days to a couple of weeks.

How To Publish Your App to the Apple App Store

1. Head to Apple's developer page and create a developer account. This is where you'll pay the $99/year fee.
2. Follow the directions, fill out all required information, and create a Bundle ID.
3. Ensure your app follows Apple's Human Interface Guidelines. iOS may reject apps that don't comply.
4. Test your app using TestFlight, which lets thousands of iOS users try your app for free through your developer page.
5. Address any issues users identify during testing.
6. Log into App Store Connect using your Apple ID. Provide your app's title, icon, meta description, and screenshots. Complete all other required information.
7. Use Xcode to submit your app to iOS. Apple will review your app.
8. If Apple's team rejects your app, you'll receive feedback about necessary changes.
9. Make your changes and resubmit. It may take multiple attempts for Apple to accept your app.

It's not uncommon for Apple's team to reject apps. They do this to ensure every app in the iOS Store functions appropriately and provides a pleasant user experience.

If you get rejected, don't let it discourage you: Getting an app approved to the Apple App Store can sometimes take several months of iterations.

Build Your Own App and Publish To Both App Stores With Adalo

Got a one-of-a-kind idea for an app you want to publish to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, but you don't have coding or technical experience?

Adalo is your ticket to the app store. As an AI-powered app builder for native mobile apps, Adalo provides the freedom, flexibility, and power to bring any app idea to life. You won't need programming or technical knowledge—if you can create a social media account, you can make your own app with Adalo.

Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.

With Magic Start, you can generate complete app foundations from a simple description. Tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically—what used to take days of planning happens in minutes. Magic Add lets you continue building by describing features you want in natural language.

Leveraging an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that users describe as "easy as PowerPoint," Adalo lets you craft your app with simple clicks and drags. Over 3 million apps have been built on the platform, processing 20 million+ data requests daily with 99%+ uptime.

After you finish building, Adalo lets you publish to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store with just a few clicks. You won't need to deal with APKs, AABs, or figure out Xcode—Adalo handles the complex submission process for both platforms.

Unlike competitors that charge usage-based fees or limit database records, Adalo's paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges. This means no surprise bills as your app grows. The platform's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with millions of monthly active users, with no upper ceiling.

Sign up for Adalo for free and publish your own app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

FAQ

Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?

Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase—the hardest part of launching an app handled automatically. With unlimited database records on paid plans and no usage-based charges, you won't face surprise costs as your app scales.

What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?

Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building let you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process for both iOS and Android—no wrestling with certificates, provisioning profiles, or store guidelines.

How much does it cost to publish an app on the Apple App Store vs Google Play Store?

The Apple App Store requires an annual fee of $99 per year, while the Google Play Store charges a one-time fee of $25. Apple also offers an Enterprise Developer Program at $299/year for large businesses with specific internal distribution needs.

What commission fees do Apple and Google take from in-app purchases?

Apple takes a 30% commission on in-app purchase revenue during the first year, then reduces it to 15% in subsequent years. Google takes 15% on the first $1 million in revenue, then 30% on earnings above that threshold. Neither platform charges commission on physical goods sold through your app.

How long does it take to get an app approved on each app store?

Google Play Store approval can happen in as little as a few hours, though it typically takes a few days to a couple of weeks. Apple App Store approval takes considerably longer due to their stringent review process, sometimes requiring several months and multiple resubmissions.

Should I publish my app to iOS or Android first?

It's recommended to publish to the Google Play Store first because Android has a faster approval process. This allows you to gather user feedback and build an audience while waiting for Apple's lengthier review. Ideally, publish to both platforms to maximize your reach across billions of potential users.

How much does it cost to build an app with Adalo?

Adalo's web and true-native mobile builder starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and app store publishing. This includes unlimited updates to apps once published. Compare this to competitors like Bubble starting at $59/month with usage-based charges and record limits, or Appypie at $99/month for comparable iOS publishing capabilities.

Can I publish my app to both app stores from one codebase?

Yes, with Adalo you build once and publish to web, iOS App Store, and Google Play Store from a single codebase. Updates you make automatically apply across all platforms, eliminating the need to maintain separate versions for each store.

Do I need coding experience to publish an app?

No coding experience is required with Adalo. The platform's drag-and-drop interface is described as "easy as PowerPoint," and AI features like Magic Start and Magic Add let you build by describing what you want in plain language. Over 3 million apps have been created on the platform by users without technical backgrounds.

What are the hidden costs of app publishing I should budget for?

Beyond store fees, consider development costs ($1,000s if hiring developers), maintenance and updates ($1,000s per update with traditional development), marketing ($100s to $1,000s), and server infrastructure ($20-$100s/month). Using an AI-powered app builder like Adalo eliminates development and update costs, and paid plans include unlimited database storage with no usage charges.