A focused mobile app MVP takes 10 to 16 weeks to build. That covers discovery, design, development and testing, up to an app that is ready for the App Store and Google Play. We build iOS and Android from one codebase, so both platforms fit inside that range. Where your project lands depends on three things: scope, integrations and how quickly decisions get made.
Below is how that time usually splits. We also cover what speeds a project up, what slows it down, and how to plan the store release so your launch date holds.
What counts as an MVP?
An MVP (minimum viable product) is the smallest version of your app that real users can rely on for one core job. It is not a demo or a clickable prototype. It has real accounts, real data and a real release in the stores.
A good MVP does one thing well. A patient app lets people book an appointment and get a reminder. A restaurant app lets regulars reorder in a few taps. Everything else goes on a "later" list.
That list matters more than it looks. Timelines usually slip when the MVP quietly grows into the full product.
The 10 to 16 week timeline, phase by phase
Here is a typical split for a focused MVP. Phases overlap a little, and your exact weeks depend on your scope.
1. Discovery and scope: 1 to 2 weeks
We agree on the core user journey, the must-have features and what waits for later. We also map every integration: payments, maps, notifications and your existing systems. The result is a written scope that both sides sign off.
2. UX and interface design: 2 to 3 weeks
We design the key screens and link them into a clickable prototype. You try the flow on your own phone before any production code exists. Changing a screen at this stage takes hours. Changing it after it is built takes much longer.
3. Build in short cycles: 6 to 9 weeks
We build the app and its backend in one- or two-week cycles. Each cycle ends with a working build on real phones, so you see progress instead of reading status reports. We use Flutter, so iOS and Android share one codebase and ship together.
4. Testing, beta and release prep: 1 to 2 weeks
We test on a range of devices and fix what testers find. We prepare store listings, screenshots and privacy details. Crash reporting and analytics go live before the first real user arrives.
Plan the store release from week one
Store approval is not a formality, and it is easy to leave too late. Both stores publish clear rules, so you can plan for them.
Apple says its App Review team typically reviews at least half of submissions in under 24 hours, and 90% in under 48 hours. Under the App Store Review Guidelines, every app needs a privacy policy link. Any app that lets people create an account must also let them delete it from inside the app.
Google Play has its own rule for newer accounts. Personal developer accounts created after 13 November 2023 must run a closed test first. It needs at least 12 testers, opted in for 14 days in a row. Only then can you apply for production access, and Google says that review usually takes seven days or less.
Three habits keep the stores off your critical path:
- Open developer accounts early, in your company's name. Apple asks organisations for a D-U-N-S Number, a public website and a work email on the company domain. Arranging these can take time.
- Publish under an organisation account. The app then belongs to the business, not to one person. Google's testing rule above applies to personal accounts.
- Start a closed beta while the last features are being built. Real testers find real issues, and the store clock starts sooner.
What speeds a project up
- One decision-maker. A named person who can approve scope and designs within a day or two.
- A firm "later" list. New ideas are welcome. They go into version two unless something of equal size comes out.
- Content and access on day one. Brand assets, copy, test accounts and API documentation are ready before the build starts.
- Weekly demos. Short feedback loops catch misunderstandings while they are still small.
- One codebase. Building iOS and Android together avoids running two projects in parallel.
What slows a project down
- Scope creep. Small additions add up. Each one needs design, build and testing.
- Hard integrations. Payment gateways, older internal systems and third-party APIs with thin documentation or slow access approvals.
- Slow approvals. A week spent waiting for feedback is a week the team cannot use.
- Late legal and store details. Privacy policy, terms, account deletion and store screenshots left to the final week.
- Special hardware. Bluetooth devices, custom camera features and similar work need extra research and testing, so we scope them separately.
- Bilingual copy arriving late. If your app is in Arabic and English, both should arrive together. Right-to-left layouts need testing with real text, not placeholders.
What about budget?
Time and budget both follow scope, so the honest answer starts with your feature list. We don't publish price lists. After a short discovery call, you get an itemised proposal based on your actual scope.
How to get a timeline for your own app
Start with our free Project Estimator. Answer a few questions and get an indicative read on scope, effort, timeline and complexity in minutes. It does not quote prices. You can also browse all our free tools, including the Concept Generator, which turns an idea into first app screens.
To see how we handle apps end to end, from UX to store release and support, read about our mobile app development service.
Ready to plan your MVP?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll go through your idea, agree on what belongs in version one, and follow up with an itemised proposal.