What Impacts App Maintenance Costs?

App maintenance costs are an often-overlooked part of running a tech business. From security updates to integrations and feature tweaks, every app needs it… the question is, how much?

At Devika, we’ve seen this play out across 100+ products. The apps that thrive aren’t the ones left on autopilot, they’re the ones where founders treat maintenance as a lever for growth. That’s why we partner long-term with our clients, aligning maintenance not just with stability, but with product strategy and future goals.

How Maintenance Scales With Your App

The amount of maintenance needed depends on the complexity of your setup. Here’s an illustrative guide showing the range we typically see:

Scenario Example Setup Estimated Maintenance (per fortnight)

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Basic 1 web app with payments, no integrations 1 day

Growing 1 web app with 1 integration OR 1 web + 1 mobile app with payments 2 days

Advanced 2 apps (e.g. web + mobile) with 2–6 integrations 4–6 days

Enterprise 3+ apps (e.g. web end-user, admin, and mobile end-user) with multiple integrations and/or new feature allocation 10+ days

What Drives Maintenance Costs?

Several factors influence how much maintenance your app will need:

1. Number of Apps: A single web app is simpler to maintain than multiple apps (e.g. web + mobile + admin portals).
2. Integrations: Every integration (payments, logistics, CRM, etc.) requires upkeep, especially when third-party providers update their APIs.
3. New Features: Adding functionality alongside maintenance increases resource needs, but it also adds value and keeps your app competitive.
4. User Base Growth: As usage grows, you’ll need to think about scaling and performance optimisation. With Baseline, this isn’t a major concern: scalability is baked in.
5. Tech Stack: The wrong stack can create long-term cost and security headaches. Note: At Devika, every app is built on Baseline, our AWS-native framework, which takes the guesswork out of these decisions.

The Devika Approach

Maintenance isn’t just about keeping the lights on. Done well, it’s about:

• Keeping your app healthy and secure 🔒
• Evolving with user needs and feedback 🔄
• Adding new features that align with your product strategy 🚀

With Devika as your tech partner, your app remains healthy and you build momentum.

👉 Want to know where your app might sit on the spectrum? Contact our team today.