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Launching an app is just the beginning; maintaining it is crucial to its long-term success. But how much does app maintenance cost to keep the app running smoothly, and what factors influence these costs?
After your app goes live, there’s still a lot of work to ensure its continuous operation. Many app owners are surprised by the amount of maintenance required, beyond addressing backlog issues or implementing new features. Regular maintenance involves conducting health checks and monitoring the app, much like maintaining a car. For example, you wouldn’t ignore a check engine light or the need for an oil change because neglecting these could lead to bigger problems and higher costs later. Similarly, regular app maintenance helps prevent issues and costly fixes.
The cost of app maintenance varies for each app and is an ongoing expense, not a one-time event. It’s important to include these costs in your business or startup budget. In this blog, we provide realistic estimates and discuss the key factors that influence app maintenance costs.
To clarify, app maintenance and support typically do not include developing new features. While the app may undergo modifications after release, adding entirely new functionality falls under “additional milestones” and subsequent product development.
Post-release maintenance involves continuous work to keep the app running smoothly. It generally covers the following areas:
By covering these areas, app maintenance ensures the application remains functional, secure, and efficient over time.
App maintenance might seem costly, but neglecting it can lead to significant issues. Regular maintenance ensures your app functions properly and incorporates user feedback for improvements. Here’s why app maintenance is crucial and the risks of ignoring it.
While ongoing maintenance costs may seem burdensome, they are manageable compared to the potential business losses from an unmaintained app. Regular maintenance keeps your app functional, secure, and user-friendly, ultimately benefiting your business.
Maintaining an application is a complex and ongoing process that requires constant effort to ensure it functions smoothly, remains secure, and stays up-to-date. Here are some key reasons why software application maintenance is challenging:
Maintaining an application involves a variety of tasks, each with its own set of challenges:
Maintaining an app involves various approaches and types of services to ensure it remains functional, up-to-date, and user-friendly. Here are the primary types of app maintenance services:
App maintenance costs can vary widely based on several factors. Understanding these factors can help you estimate the overall expenses for post-launch support work.
The average post-launch service costs are around 15% to 20% of the initial price of your app’s development. The exact cost will vary for each product, but this estimate provides a realistic idea of what to expect.
For example, if your app’s development cost was $150,000, you should budget around $2,000 to $2,500 per month for maintenance. Over a year, this would amount to approximately one-fifth of the development cost, highlighting the importance of including these expenses in your initial budget planning.
It’s important to note that creating extra features and developing new functionalities are generally considered separate milestones and are calculated separately. These costs are often based on a sprint basis, with specific chunks of work being released every two weeks.
Maintaining an app can be expensive, but there are several strategies you can implement to reduce these costs without compromising quality. Here are some effective tips to minimize app maintenance expenses:
To ensure your application runs smoothly and efficiently, following these best practices for app maintenance can help you stay organized and proactive:
App maintenance is essential and cannot be overlooked. Post-release support is an ongoing commitment that requires time, effort, and budget. Planning for these costs is crucial, as unexpected issues are inevitable.
Your budget should include provisions for application support and maintenance to manage these ongoing expenses effectively.
If you need a team to help develop and maintain your application, MentorSol offers extensive experience in custom mobile app development and maintenance. We’re here to assist you with both development and ongoing support to ensure your app remains functional and up-to-date. Feel free to reach out to discuss how we can meet your needs and support your product.
App maintenance costs in 2025 range from $5,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on factors like updates, server costs, security, and bug fixes. Complex apps with frequent updates or AI-driven features may require higher budgets, while simpler apps demand lower maintenance expenses.
App maintenance costs depend on hosting, security updates, bug fixes, OS updates, third-party services, and new features. The more complex the app, the higher the cost. Regular updates and compliance with new security regulations also impact overall maintenance expenses.
Minor app updates cost $1,000 to $5,000, while major feature updates can exceed $10,000. The frequency and complexity of updates significantly influence the total maintenance budget. AI-powered apps and enterprise solutions often require higher update costs.
Yes, regular app maintenance is essential to fix bugs, update security patches, improve performance, and stay compatible with the latest OS versions. Neglecting maintenance can lead to security vulnerabilities, reduced user engagement, and increased app abandonment rates.
Hidden costs include API updates, cloud hosting, customer support, legal compliance, and unexpected bug fixes. Ignoring these costs can lead to poor performance and security risks. Budgeting for unforeseen expenses ensures smooth app operation and user retention.
Simple apps cost $5,000 to $10,000 annually, while complex apps with AI, real-time data processing, or high user engagement may cost $25,000 to $50,000 or more. Advanced features require regular optimization, increasing maintenance costs.
Reduce costs by choosing scalable cloud hosting, automating updates, minimizing third-party dependencies, and performing proactive security monitoring. Efficient coding and selecting the right tech stack also help lower long-term maintenance expenses.
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