# How Much Does a Web App Cost in the UK?

Source: https://dijituldevelopments.co.uk/guides/how-much-does-a-web-app-cost-uk/
Updated: 2026-10-10

> A UK web application typically costs from the low tens of thousands for a focused internal tool to several hundred thousand pounds for a SaaS platform, depending on users, integrations and data. dijitul builds web apps on a fixed-price quote: a free chat, a short scoping stage, then one price for a written scope.

## Key facts

- One UK agency's published 2026 cost guide lists internal tools at £15,000 to £30,000 and customer portals at £30,000 to £80,000
- The same guide puts SaaS and enterprise platforms at £100,000 to £500,000+
- It also estimates post-launch costs at 60 to 70 per cent of five-year spend
- Multi-tenant SaaS, payments and real-time features raise cost sharply
- A web app runs in the browser, so one build covers desktop, tablet and phone
- dijitul quotes a fixed price for a defined scope after a free chat

## Published UK price ranges by type of web app

One UK development agency publishes a 2026 web application cost guide (updated 1 October 2026). Its ranges by type are:

| Type of web app | Published range |

| MVP or proof of concept | £15,000 to £35,000 |
| Internal tool or workflow app | £15,000 to £30,000 |
| Customer portal | £30,000 to £80,000 |
| Bespoke CRM | £35,000 to £100,000 |
| Custom ecommerce platform | £50,000 to £150,000 |
| SaaS or enterprise platform | £100,000 to £500,000+ |

These are one agency's figures, so use them to judge whether a quote is in the right territory, not as a benchmark to haggle against. Rates vary across the UK: IT Jobs Watch shows a median Software Developer contract rate of £525 a day for the six months to 10 October 2026.

## Why a web app costs what it does

A web app is software that runs on a server and is used through a browser. Unlike a brochure website, it holds data, enforces rules and usually has logins. The parts that cost the most are:

- **Authentication and roles.** Secure login, password resets, two-factor authentication, perhaps single sign-on, and different permissions for staff, customers and admins.
- **The data model.** Getting the database right (MySQL, MariaDB or PostgreSQL) so reports, search and future features work.
- **Integrations.** Payments through Stripe Payment Intents and webhooks, accounts through the Xero or QuickBooks Online API, emails, postcode lookup.
- **Multi-tenancy.** If you are selling the app to other businesses, each customer's data must be kept separate, with subscriptions and billing on top.
- **Real-time and offline features.** Live updates, notifications and progressive web app offline modes add complexity.
- **Testing and deployment.** Automated tests, staging environments and a repeatable deployment (often Docker) protect you every time the app changes.

## Don't forget the running costs

The same agency guide estimates that hosting, maintenance, support and iteration make up 60 to 70 per cent of total spend over five years. Whatever the exact figure for your app, budget for:

- Hosting, backups and monitoring
- Security patches and framework upgrades (for example, moving between Laravel or Node.js versions before support ends)
- Third-party API changes, which arrive on the supplier's timetable, not yours
- New features as your users ask for them

Our software maintenance budget guide explains how to plan this.

## Ways to get more app for your budget

- Launch with the workflows people use every day, and leave nice-to-haves for phase two.
- Use proven building blocks: Laravel or Next.js, Stripe for payments, an existing UI component library.
- Agree the scope in writing. A short requirements spec makes quotes comparable.
- Ask whether a progressive web app can replace separate iOS and Android apps.

## Questions that change the price most

Before asking for quotes, answer these. Each one can move the cost of a web app significantly, and suppliers will ask them anyway.

- **Who logs in?** Staff only, customers too, or other businesses as well? Each audience means different screens, permissions and security expectations.
- **How many users and records?** Twenty staff and a few thousand records is a different design problem from fifty thousand customers and millions of transactions.
- **Which systems must it talk to?** List every one by name: accounts, payments, ecommerce, CRM, email, couriers. Each integration needs mapping, error handling and testing.
- **Is there existing data to move?** Spreadsheets, an Access database or an old system all need cleaning and importing.
- **Does it take money?** Card payments, subscriptions, refunds and invoices add Stripe or GoCardless work, plus extra care over accuracy.
- **Does it need to work offline or on phones in the field?** Offline sync is one of the more demanding features to build well.
- **What does "done" look like for launch?** A first release with the core workflow can cost a fraction of the full wish list.
- **Any regulatory or security requirements?** Health data, financial data, or customer security questionnaires all need extra work.

If you can answer these in a page, you will get tighter, more comparable quotes, and you will spot early where a cheaper design would still meet the need. The same questions underpin a good scoping stage.

## When to talk to dijitul

dijitul builds web applications for UK businesses: portals, booking systems, internal tools and SaaS products, usually in PHP 8 and Laravel or Node.js and TypeScript with React or Vue. We do not publish prices. We start with a free chat, scope the work, then give a fixed-price quote, or a phased plan for bigger builds. You own the code. Get in touch with a rough description and we will tell you what is realistic.

## FAQs

### How much does a simple web app cost in the UK?

One UK agency's published 2026 cost guide puts internal tools and workflow apps at £15,000 to £30,000 and MVPs at £15,000 to £35,000. The real figure depends on users, integrations and data. dijitul gives a fixed-price quote after a free chat.

### Is a web app cheaper than a mobile app?

Usually, because one web app works on desktop, tablet and phone browsers, whereas native apps need separate iOS and Android builds plus app store releases. A progressive web app can add installability and some offline use without a native build.

### What makes a SaaS app so much more expensive?

SaaS needs multi-tenancy (keeping each customer's data apart), subscription billing, onboarding, admin tools, higher security and scalability, and usually more polish. Those features apply across every screen, so they add more than their size suggests.

### How do I compare web app quotes?

Send every supplier the same written requirements, then compare what each includes: testing, hosting setup, documentation, a defect warranty, ownership of the code, and what happens when the scope changes. A low quote with vague inclusions often costs more by the end.

### Does dijitul charge a day rate for web apps?

No. dijitul quotes a fixed price for a defined scope after a free chat and a short scoping stage. Larger builds are split into phases, each with its own fixed price, so you always know what the next step costs.

## Pricing and contact

Every project gets a fixed-price quote after a free initial chat and a short scoping stage. You own the code and the data. Book a free chat: https://dijituldevelopments.co.uk/contact/ · 01623 650333 · info@dijitul.uk