This is the most Googled question in the Nigerian tech space — and most answers are either vague or wildly inaccurate. Here are real numbers, broken down by what you are actually building.
The Short Answer
A basic business app: ₦300,000 – ₦800,000. A custom web application with a backend: ₦800,000 – ₦2.5M. A full SaaS platform or marketplace: ₦2.5M – ₦8M+. A ride-hailing or real-time logistics system: ₦1.5M – ₦6M.
App cost is determined by three things: the number of features, whether you need a backend database, and whether you need real-time functionality (like live maps or chat). A booking form costs a fraction of a real-time driver-tracking system — they are different engineering problems.
Category 1: Simple Business App (₦300K – ₦800K)
This gets you a professional web application with a frontend, basic forms, contact system, and possibly a simple admin dashboard. Good for service businesses, portfolio sites with enquiry systems, or landing pages with a booking form. No complex backend, no real-time features, no payment processing.
- Professional responsive design
- Contact or booking forms
- Basic admin panel to view submissions
- WhatsApp integration
- Simple database if needed
Category 2: Custom Web Application with Backend (₦800K – ₦2.5M)
This is where most serious businesses sit. You get a custom-built system — a booking engine, an inventory manager, a client portal, a logistics tracker — with a proper database, user authentication, and business-specific logic. This is the category where WordPress collapses and custom code earns its cost.
- Custom database and business logic
- User registration and login (JWT authentication)
- Payment gateway integration (Paystack / Flutterwave)
- Admin dashboard for managing data
- Mobile-responsive across all devices
- API integrations (Google Maps, SMS, email)
Category 3: SaaS Platform or Marketplace (₦2.5M – ₦8M+)
A multi-tenant platform that other businesses subscribe to and use. The additional cost over a custom app comes from multi-tenancy (keeping each customer's data separate), subscription billing with automated renewals, self-service onboarding, customer analytics dashboards, and the support infrastructure.
Founders often budget for a 'Category 2' custom app when they actually need a 'Category 3' SaaS product. The difference in engineering scope is substantial. If other businesses are paying to use your software, you are building a SaaS — budget accordingly.
Category 4: Real-Time Platform (Ride-Hailing / Logistics) (₦1.5M – ₦6M)
These sit in their own category because of real-time infrastructure requirements. Live GPS tracking requires WebSocket connections, location polling, map API calls (₦200K–₦800K/month at scale on Google Maps Platform), and a backend that handles concurrent state for dozens or hundreds of drivers simultaneously.
What Actually Drives the Cost Up
- Real-time features (live location, live chat, live notifications)
- Payment processing and automated splits or payouts
- Multiple user roles (admin, driver, rider, customer — each is a separate UI)
- Third-party API integrations (Google Maps, SMS, KYC verification)
- Security requirements (healthcare, fintech, or enterprise data)
- Scale requirements (building for 10 users vs. 10,000 users requires different architecture)
How to Get an Accurate Quote
Write down every screen a user will see and every action they can take. That list — called a scope document — is what any serious developer prices from. Vague briefs get vague quotes. The more specific your requirements, the more accurate and honest the number you receive.