TL;DR
You can build and test a full app for free and publish for as little as a one-time 25 dollars on Google. Here is how to start app building on almost no budget.
You do not need money to start building apps. You need a computer, a phone, and time. Almost the entire process, learning, building, testing, and refining, happens for free. The only unavoidable cost is a developer account to publish, and even that can start at a one-time 25 dollars. Here is how to go as far as possible on nothing.
What you can do for free
- Install Expo and run your app live on your own phone at no cost
- Build the whole app with Claude Code, steering it in plain English
- Test, redesign, and perfect the app before paying any store fee
- Read Apple's and Google's public guidelines to learn the rules free
The minimum you need to publish
To actually list an app you need a developer account. Google Play is a one-time 25 dollars, which is the cheapest way to get a real app live. Apple is 99 dollars a year. If money is tight, launch on Google Play first, prove the app, then add Apple once it is earning.
Keep other costs at zero
Skip paid backends, analytics, and subscription tools until your app truly needs them. Most first apps can be offline and account-free, which means no server costs at all. Add RevenueCat or Supabase only when you are ready to charge or need sync, both of which have free tiers to start.
Reinvest, do not overspend
Once your first app earns anything, that money can cover the Apple account, a second app's costs, or better tools. Let the app fund its own growth rather than spending ahead of it. Starting lean and reinvesting keeps your risk near zero while you learn.
Common questions
Can I start building apps with no money?
Almost. Building and testing on your own phone with Claude Code and Expo is free. The only unavoidable cost is a developer account to publish, and Google Play is a one-time 25 dollars, the cheapest way to get a real app live.
What is the cheapest way to publish an app?
Launch on Google Play first. It is a one-time 25 dollars with no annual fee, versus Apple's 99 dollars a year. Prove your app on Google, then add Apple later once it is earning enough to cover the yearly cost.
Do I need to pay for a backend?
Usually not to start. Most first apps can be offline and account-free, needing no server. When you do need accounts or sync, Supabase and similar services have free tiers. Add a backend only when the app genuinely requires it.
How do I keep costs near zero?
Build and test for free on your phone, launch on Google Play for a one-time 25 dollars, and skip paid subscription, backend, and analytics tools until the app needs them. Let the first bit of revenue fund the next step rather than spending ahead.
When should I spend money?
Once the app proves itself. Reinvest early revenue into the Apple account, better tools, or your next app. Spending ahead of results is risky; spending out of what an app earns keeps your downside near zero while you learn the pipeline.
Is a free app worth launching first?
Yes. Launching free lets you learn the entire pipeline without setting up payments, and you can add a subscription in a later version once people use it. Shipping something real teaches you more than waiting until you can monetize perfectly.
Keep going
Want to launch your first app for the price of a lunch, guided?
Get the other 5 in the app idea stack, plus the full App Store Launch Club community - $9/mo, cancel anytime.
Join the Club