If you have searched "how much does a Shopify app cost" and landed on articles full of vague ranges and non-commitments, this is not that article. Here are real numbers, broken into the three models merchants actually use, plus the hidden costs nobody talks about upfront.

The Three Cost Models

Custom Native Development

This is the full-build route: separate iOS and Android codebases written by a development agency or senior freelancers.

Upfront cost: £25,000 to £100,000+

Timeline: 6 to 12 months before you see anything in the App Store

Ongoing maintenance: £500 to £2,000 per month (covering bug fixes, OS updates, Shopify API changes)

Total year-one cost: £31,000 to £124,000+

Who this makes sense for: merchants with very high GMV where even a 0.1% improvement in conversion justifies the investment, or businesses that genuinely need functionality no off-the-shelf solution provides (think custom loyalty mechanics, AR try-on, or deep integration with bespoke warehouse software).

Hybrid or React Native…