Founders often ask for a "simple app" that includes payments, chat, maps, AI, and an admin dashboard. Each feature alone is manageable. Together they multiply complexity — and cost. Understanding which features are expensive helps you prioritise version one.
User accounts and auth ($1,500 – $3,000+)
Email login is straightforward. Social login (Apple, Google) adds platform compliance — Sign in with Apple is mandatory if you offer other social logins on iOS. Phone OTP needs SMS costs and fraud considerations. Role-based access (admin vs user) doubles auth complexity.
Payments and subscriptions ($2,500 – $6,000+)
Stripe integration for physical services differs from digital goods requiring Apple/Google IAP. Subscriptions need receipt validation, renewal handling, failed payment states, and restore purchases flows. Marketplace split payments (Stripe Connect) add KYC and payout logic.
Real-time chat ($3,000 – $8,000+)
Chat is never "just messages." You need delivery states, media uploads, push when backgrounded, moderation hooks, and often encryption expectations. Building on Sendbird or Stream speeds delivery but adds SaaS cost. Custom Firebase chat still needs weeks.
Maps and location ($1,200 – $3,500+)
Showing a pin is cheap. Route optimisation, geofencing, background location tracking, and driver tracking dashboards are not. Background location triggers extra App Store scrutiny — justify permissions clearly.
Offline mode and sync ($1,000 – $5,000+)
Read-only offline caches are moderate. Read-write offline with conflict resolution across devices is genuinely difficult — only add if core users lack reliable connectivity.
AI features ($3,500 – $10,000+)
Wrapping OpenAI API calls is fast. Production AI needs prompt safety, rate limits, cost controls, streaming UX, error fallbacks, and privacy review. "AI-powered" marketing often hides open-ended scope.
Admin dashboards ($4,000 – $12,000+)
Every operator-facing tool — user management, content moderation, analytics, refunds — is a second product. Either scope a minimal admin for v1 or plan a web dashboard phase two.
How to prioritise
Rank features by "learning value per dollar." For most MVPs, auth + core action + analytics beats chat + AI + admin. Use the calculator toggling features on and off to see budget impact instantly.