You shipped the app. Cool. Now what?
Now you keep it running. Fix bugs, sure — but also: update SDKs, deal with Apple and Google changing the rules, patch server issues, respond when something breaks at 2AM.
This post breaks down what “maintenance” really means in year 1, 2, and 3 — what it costs, what changes, and where teams usually mess up.
What does “maintenance” actually mean?
Not just bugs.
Real app maintenance includes:
- Corrective – stuff’s broken, fix it.
- Adaptive – Apple drops iOS 18, your app crashes, fix that too.
- Preventive – catching crashes before they hit users.
- Perfective – making things faster, smoother, nicer, not because they’re broken — because they could be better.
It’s ongoing work. Some of it’s invisible (like updating backend packages before they explode). Some you’ll feel immediately (like a push notification service going down mid-campaign).
Year-by-year: what breaks when
Year 1 — Damage control
You fix what you missed.
Fast patches. Hotfixes. Crashes you didn’t see coming.
If it’s a public launch, expect a mess.
📌 Typical spend: 15–25% of initial dev cost
👨🔧 Needed: dev time, QA, monitoring, maybe someone on-call
Year 2 — Clean up and optimize
Now you’ve got real data.
You start fixing what’s not broken but annoying: loading times, UX gaps, memory leaks, API bottlenecks.
Also, your tech stack starts aging. It’s time to refactor or get stuck.
📌 Typical spend: 10–20% of initial dev cost
🛠 Focus: performance, infra cleanup, reducing tech debt
Year 3 — Grow or stall
Time to add features or fall behind.
Your app needs to support new OS versions, new devices, maybe new markets. That means localization, new integrations, security updates — and yeah, new bugs too.
📌 Typical spend: 15–30%, especially if you’re scaling
🚀 Focus: feature roadmap, scalability, platform updates
Where the money goes
You’re not just paying for bugs. Here’s what maintenance actually includes:
- Infrastructure – servers, databases, CDNs, backups, uptime monitoring
- Security – patching libs, rotating keys, handling CVEs, complying with GDPR/HIPAA
- 3rd-party services – payment gateways, map SDKs, analytics tools (and their surprise price hikes)
- OS & Store updates – Apple and Google keep changing rules. You update or get kicked out.
- Monitoring & logging – Crashlytics, Sentry, custom logs. You need eyes on what’s failing.
- Support & hotfix time – someone has to be ready when things go sideways
- Compliance & policies – privacy screens, version requirements, user data exports, etc.
Most of it isn’t sexy, but it’s what keeps your app alive — and users happy enough not to uninstall.
How to keep costs low (without making your devs hate you)
You can save on maintenance — but not by ignoring it.
Here’s what actually works:
- Go cross-platform — Flutter lets you maintain one codebase for iOS, Android, and even web. That’s not just cheaper — it’s faster to update.
- Modular architecture — Split your app into isolated parts. Easier to test, update, and debug without touching the whole thing.
- Automated testing — Spend once, save every release. Good test coverage catches regressions early — before they hit users.
- Clear release strategy — Don’t update “just because.” Plan updates around value, not vanity.
- Monitor proactively — Set alerts. Track crashes. Fix issues before users leave angry reviews.
- Kill unused features — If no one uses it, don’t maintain it. Rip it out.
Most teams overspend not because things are hard — but because they’re messy.
FAQ: stuff clients actually ask
How much does app maintenance cost per year?
~15–25% of your original dev budget is a good rule of thumb. More in Year 1, less in Year 2 if you planned well.
Can we fix the cost?
Yes — with a retainer or SLA. But if you keep changing the scope, it won’t stay fixed for long.
How often should we update the app?
At least every 6 months — or Apple/Google might flag you. More often if you care about UX or you’re B2C.
What’s the most expensive thing in maintenance?
Neglect. Not fixing tech debt early. Not patching broken stuff.
Second place: third-party services (they always get you on pricing tiers).
How can we keep it under control?
Cross-platform tech, modular code, good testing, and not chasing every shiny feature.
Need a clear plan for year 2, 3, and beyond?
We’ve seen what happens when maintenance is an afterthought — late patches, broken builds, user churn.
Let’s fix that.
Book a call
We’ll walk you through what your app actually needs — and what it doesn’t.
