Software Development Cost in the UK: 2026 Pricing Guide
UK software development costs vary widely — from £4,000 for a defined MVP to £160,000+ for enterprise platforms. Fixed-scope pricing caps your cost; hourly billing does not.
2026 cost ranges (GBP)
| Project type | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery (1–3 weeks) | £950 | £2,200 |
| Starter web presence | £950 | £2,000 |
| Business website | £2,000 | £4,800 |
| Web app / MVP | £4,000 | £14,500 |
| Web platform / SaaS | £6,000 | £20,000 |
| Internal CRM / ERP tool | £6,800 | £17,500 |
| Mobile app (iOS & Android) | £7,200 | £20,000 |
| Ecommerce build | £5,600 | £16,000 |
| AI pilot | £4,000 | £12,000 |
| Dedicated developer | £4,000 | £7,200 / mo |
Indicative planning bands, not quotes. A fixed price arrives with the written scope after discovery.
What drives the cost
| Driver | Typical effect on cost |
|---|---|
| Integrations | Each third-party API (payments, ERP, 3PL, CRM) adds 1–3 weeks and £800–£4,000 |
| Compliance | UK GDPR, PCI DSS or sector-specific requirements add architecture and audit work — typically £2,500–£9,500 |
| Design complexity | Custom UX with unique flows adds 2–4 weeks vs a structured template approach |
| Data migration | Moving data from legacy systems adds 1–4 weeks depending on volume and quality |
| Team seniority | Senior-led pods cost more per hour but ship faster with fewer rework cycles |
Common questions
How much does software development cost in the UK?
For a defined project, UK businesses typically spend £4,000–£20,000 on a first release through a fixed-scope agency, or £80,000+ per year for an in-house team. The range depends on complexity, integrations and compliance requirements — discovery produces a fixed price before any build work starts.
Is it cheaper to build software in India than the UK?
Yes — a senior Indian pod at a fixed price typically costs 40–60% less than a UK agency for the same scope. The savings come from lower labour costs plus fixed-scope pricing that avoids hourly overruns. AnyPlace operates as a distributed team, so you get the cost efficiency with Western-facing communication.
What is the cheapest way to build software in the UK?
Start with a paid discovery (£950–£2,200) to get a written scope and fixed price, then build the smallest shippable release. Fixed-scope agencies let you stop after any working release, so you never commit to a full build before seeing value.
Do UK software agencies charge hourly or fixed?
Most UK agencies bill hourly or on time-and-materials, which means cost grows with every additional hour. AnyPlace prices per milestone — finance approves a known number before work starts, and you can stop after any working release.
How long does a typical software project take?
A defined web app or MVP takes 5–10 weeks from discovery to first release. Larger platforms take 3–6 months across multiple milestones. Each milestone delivers working software, so you see value before the full budget is committed.
Looking for local delivery? We serve Manchester and Birmingham — see our UK location pages for timezone overlap, local industries and FAQs, including the Manchester and Birmingham city pages.
Content last reviewed October 2026.
Related services
Where This Decision Lands
If the answer is we still need the work done, these are the service pages that state scope, price and fit.
- Custom Software DevelopmentScope doc + tested releasesDiscovery typically 1–3 weeks; first usable release in weekly sprints after that
- Business Website DevelopmentLive site + editing guideBrochure-to-lead-gen site typically 2–5 weeks after content is ready
- Custom Mobile App DevelopmentLive app + update guidePilot app typically 4–8 weeks after scope; store review times vary by platform
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