Cost guide
How much does an app cost in Malaysia?
By Pali (Wan Muhamad Fadzli), product builder, Penang.
Last updated
In Malaysia, Pali's starting prices for app development run from RM 900 for a landing page to RM 9,000 for a multi-tenant SaaS. A web app MVP starts at RM 4,500, a mobile app at RM 4,500 and a desktop app at RM 4,500. Integrations, user roles, design depth and rush timelines move the final price.
What does each type of app cost in Malaysia?
These are Pali’s published starting points in Ringgit Malaysia. Each one assumes one platform, one user role, a template-level design and a normal timeline. The weeks are the typical build time for that starting scope.
| App type | Starting price | Typical build time |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page | RM 900 | 1 week |
| Marketing website with CMS | RM 1,800 | 2 weeks |
| Web app MVP | RM 4,500 | 5 weeks |
| Desktop app (macOS, Windows) | RM 4,500 | 5 weeks |
| Mobile app (iOS, Android) | RM 4,500 | 6 weeks |
| Multi-tenant SaaS | RM 9,000 | 8 weeks |
What makes an app cost more?
Five things move the price, in roughly this order of impact:
- Integrations. Each one is a fixed add-on: payment gateway RM 450, LHDN e-invoice RM 750, WhatsApp RM 300, transactional email RM 150 and AI features RM 600.
- User roles. Two or three roles (for example admin, staff and customer) add 20%; four or more add 45%, because every role needs its own screens and permissions.
- Platforms. An installable PWA adds 10%, a native iOS, Android or desktop build adds 30%, and each extra platform adds 15% on top.
- Design depth. Custom design adds 20%; a full brand with a design system adds 40%.
- Rush timelines. Delivering faster than the normal plan adds 25%.
How long does it take to build an app?
A landing page takes about 1 week and a web app MVP about 5 weeks. A multi-tenant SaaS takes about 8 weeks. An LHDN e-invoice integration adds about 2 weeks. You see a working demo every week, so progress is visible long before launch.
Should I build a web app, a mobile app or both first?
For most first versions, start with a web app or an installable PWA. It runs on every phone and laptop, ships from one codebase and costs less than two native apps. StudyBuddy, a tuition-centre platform Pali designed and built, launched as a PWA and moved more than 1,600 accounts onto it. Add native iOS and Android apps once customers ask for them, or when you need device features a browser cannot reach.
How do I get an accurate quote for my app?
- Price your idea in minutes with the app cost calculator, which uses the same rate card as this guide.
- Book the one-week Discovery Sprint (RM 300). You get a requirements document, an architecture, a clickable prototype and a fixed quote.
- Build in milestones on that fixed quote. The Sprint fee is credited to the first invoice.
See the full rate card in RM, or read how fixed-scope app development works.
Planning a company site rather than a product? Read how much a website costs in Malaysia.