Building an app is one cost. Keeping it working is another, and it does not stop. Phone software updates every year, services your app relies on change, and users report bugs. This guide covers what the sources we checked say about yearly running costs, and what to ask a developer before you sign.
If you are still working out the build price, start with our guide to what a mobile app costs to build in Pune. We could not find maintenance pricing specific to Pune, so the figures below are general.
What people usually budget
Sources give a range, and they do not agree.
SpaceO Technologies, in a guide last updated in August 2026, says maintenance typically costs 15% to 20% of the original development cost every year. For a $100,000 app, that is $15,000 to $20,000.
The Zartek guide we used in our app cost article gives the same 15% to 20% per year. The PerfectionGeeks guide in that article suggests planning for 30% to 40% in the first year.
For a ₹4,00,000 app, 15% to 20% is ₹60,000 to ₹80,000 a year, and 30% to 40% is ₹1,20,000 to ₹1,60,000. These are our calculations from the percentages, not quotes.
The first year may cost more because early users find bugs you did not catch before launch. That is our reading of why the numbers differ, not something the sources prove.
What maintenance covers
SpaceO lists the following as part of the figure: server hosting, bug fixes, compatibility updates for new phone software, security patches, upkeep of third-party services the app connects to, and some feature improvements.
PerfectionGeeks adds performance tuning, support for both iOS and Android, and watching how the app behaves after launch. Its monthly ranges are in US dollars, and the page’s text and table do not match, so we have not quoted them here.
Why you cannot skip it
Apps that are not updated can stop working properly after new phone software arrives. Security fixes also matter if you hold customer data. Skipping maintenance usually shifts the cost to later, as a bigger repair.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is included in the support plan, and for how long?
- Does it cover new iOS and Android versions?
- How quickly will you respond to a serious bug?
- Who pays for hosting and the services the app uses, and who holds those accounts?
- Do you own the source code, so another developer can take over?
- How are small feature changes priced?
Ask for the answers in writing. A low build price with an empty support plan can cost more over two years than a fair price with support included.
Next step
If you want maintenance priced into your quote from day one, contact the Liftup team. We will list what is covered so you can compare it with other quotes.
Sources: SpaceO Technologies, how much it costs to maintain an app (last updated August 2026), Zartek, and PerfectionGeeks, app maintenance cost guide. Prices vary by project and change over time.