What decides the price
Two quotes for "the same app" can differ a lot because they rarely cover the same scope. These are the factors that move the number most.
| Factor | Keeps the cost lower | Pushes the cost higher |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | One core workflow and a handful of screens | Many modules, user roles and approval flows |
| Platforms | One web app | Web plus iOS and Android apps |
| Integrations | Few or none | Payments, WhatsApp, accounting, biometric devices, third-party APIs |
| Design | Clean, standard components | A custom design system, animation, many states and screens |
| Existing data | Starting fresh | Migrating years of records from older systems |
| Security and compliance | Standard good practice | Audits, penetration testing, SOC 2 or ISO 27001 style requirements |
| Scale | A few hundred users | Heavy traffic, real-time features, many separate customers (multi-tenant) |
| Timeline | Flexible dates | A fixed, urgent deadline |
How software teams charge
Most Indian software teams, including us, offer three ways to pay. The right one depends on how well the work is defined.
- Fixed scope: an agreed list of features for an agreed price. Best when you know what you want built. Changes outside the list are quoted separately.
- Hourly (time and materials): you pay for the hours worked. Best when the work is exploratory or will change as you learn.
- Dedicated team: engineers work with you full time for a monthly fee. Best for long-running products that need steady output.
Costs beyond the build
The build is not the only cost of owning software. Plan for these from the start.
- Hosting and cloud bills, which grow with your traffic.
- Fees from third-party services, such as payment gateways, WhatsApp and SMS providers.
- Apple and Google developer accounts if you publish a mobile app.
- Licences for any paid tools or components the product uses.
- Maintenance and support: security updates, bug fixes and operating-system updates after launch.
How to get a quote you can compare
- Write a one-page brief: who the users are, what they need to do, and what success looks like.
- Split the list into must-haves and nice-to-haves, so each team prices the same thing.
- Ask exactly what is included: design, testing, deployment, documentation and handover.
- Ask who owns the code and the accounts. The answer should be you.
- Ask how work is split into milestones and when you see something working.
- Ask what support after launch looks like, and what it costs.
- Compare scope first and price second. The lowest number is rarely the cheapest outcome.
Red flags in a quote
- A price with no written scope behind it.
- No mention of testing, deployment or documentation.
- No clear statement that you own the code.
- Pressure to pay everything upfront with no milestones.
- No named people or past work you can look at.
How we quote at MOUNTSMY
We start with a free 30-minute call with an engineer, not a salesperson. Afterwards you get a written plan and quote with the scope, timeline and price, before any work starts. You can choose fixed scope, hourly or a dedicated team, and you own the code.
If you are not sure what to build first, we can start with a small, fixed-scope project and grow from there.
Frequently asked questions
Is software development cheaper in India than in the US or UK?
Usually, because local salaries are lower. But compare scope, communication and quality as well as the rate. A clear scope and a team that explains trade-offs matter more to your final cost than the hourly figure.
Is a fixed price or an hourly rate better?
Fixed scope suits work you can define up front. Hourly suits work that will change as you learn. Many projects start fixed for a first release and move to hourly or monthly for later phases.
Why do two quotes for the same app differ so much?
Usually because they cover different things: one may include design, testing and deployment and the other may not. Ask both teams to list exactly what is included before you compare the totals.
Do I have to pay for maintenance after launch?
You will have running costs: hosting, updates and fixes. Many clients keep us on monthly for monitoring, updates and support after the first project.
Can I start with a small project?
Yes. We can start with a small, fixed-scope project, such as a first working version, and expand once you have seen it work.