What affects the price of an app the most?
Features. A digital menu is simple. A loyalty card with points, personalised offers, push notifications and an admin panel is a different story. Every feature means screens, server logic, testing and, later, maintenance. So the first question isn't “how much does it cost” but “what does the app need to do on day one”.
Then come integrations. A standalone app costs less than one that pulls the menu and prices from your POS, awards points from receipts or sends orders to the kitchen. Integrations are often the hardest part, because they depend on the systems you already run.
Web app or native app in the stores?
A web app opens in the browser, from a link or a QR code on the table. There's nothing to install, no store review, and updates go live instantly. For menus, online ordering and reservations, it's often enough, and it's the lower-cost option.
A native app, published on Google Play and the App Store, lives on the customer's phone. It fits when you want a long-term relationship: loyalty card, push notifications, daily offers. In exchange, it needs developer accounts, publishing, review and regular updates. With a framework like Flutter, one codebase covers both iOS and Android.
What are ZED-ZEN's indicative prices?
Websites and web apps start from 1,500 RON, with packages from 1,500, 2,200 and 3,000 RON. The first includes a presentation site with a digital menu. The package from 2,200 RON adds online ordering with a cart, payments and an admin panel. The package from 3,000 RON adds multiple roles, ERP or aggregator integrations, loyalty and coupons.
Native iOS and Android apps also start from 1,500 RON, for a menu, locations, accounts and store publishing. With offers and push notifications they start from 2,200 RON, and a full loyalty ecosystem with QR redemption from 3,000 RON. We set the final price after a conversation about what goes into the first version and what can wait. You get a fixed price for a written feature list, so both sides know what's included.
What costs come on top of development?
For a native app, the company pays a yearly Apple Developer membership and a one-time Google Play Console registration fee. Amounts can change, so check the official pages. You'll also need a D-U-N-S number, which is free but takes time.
Then come the costs you don't see at launch: server and database hosting, push notifications, any map or SMS services, and maintenance. Apple and Google regularly require updates for new operating system versions. An app with no maintenance budget ages quickly.
Which features belong in version one?
The ones that bring customers back. For a restaurant, that usually means the full menu, a simple loyalty card and an offer that changes often, like a daily deal. Everything else can wait for version two, once you see what people actually use.
- Full menu with photos and allergens
- Loyalty card with QR points
- Daily deal and exclusive offers
- Push notifications, used sparingly
- An admin panel so you can change offers yourself
How do you get an accurate quote for an app?
Come with a short list: who uses the app, what customers need to be able to do, what you need to do from the admin panel and which systems it must talk to. You don't need a technical specification. You need to know what problem the app solves in your restaurant.
Ask for a quote that separates development, publishing, hosting and maintenance. Get it in writing who owns the code, the data and the store accounts. The store accounts and customer data should belong to your company. And ask what happens after launch, when Apple or Google changes a rule and the app needs an update.
What went into the Ciorbe și Plăcinte app?
The Ciorbe și Plăcinte app is a single Flutter app for iOS and Android. It has a loyalty card with points collected via a QR code on the receipt or at the table, a daily deal, offers, the full menu, a nutrition calculator and a game called “Prinde Ciorba”. We handled everything, from D-U-N-S and organization accounts to going live on both stores.
It also shows why an app's price starts from a minimum and grows with features. The game and the nutrition calculator are extras; another business might only need the loyalty card and the menu. The price follows the feature list, not the other way round.
Frequently asked questions
What's the starting price for a website or web app?
From 1,500 RON. Packages start from 1,500, 2,200 and 3,000 RON, depending on online ordering, payments, roles and integrations.
How much does a native app on Google Play and the App Store cost?
From 1,500 RON for a menu, locations, accounts and store publishing; from 2,200 RON with offers and push notifications; from 3,000 RON with loyalty and QR redemption. After a conversation, you get a fixed quote for a clear feature list.
Are store fees included?
The developer accounts belong to your company and are paid directly to Apple and Google. We handle opening and setting them up.
Is a web app or a native app better?
For menus and ordering, a web app is often enough. For long-term loyalty and push notifications, a native app makes sense.
Do I need to pay for maintenance?
An app needs updates, hosting and monitoring. We discuss a maintenance plan alongside the quote so there are no surprises.
Can I start with a web app and move to native later?
Yes, and it's often the safest order. The backend and data can stay the same; the mobile app is added on top.
