How much does it cost to publish an app on Google Play and the App Store?
Having the app ready is not enough: you have to publish it. Here is what you pay on Google Play and the App Store, each store's requirements, and the mistakes that delay approval.
Building the app is half the journey; the other half is publishing it to the stores, and that is where costs and requirements appear that are worth knowing in advance. The good news is that publishing is cheaper than people think. The less good news is that each store has its own rules, and not following them can delay approval by weeks. Here it is, clearly. It is one part of the total cost; the rest (development, hosting, maintenance) is in how much a mobile app costs.
Google Play: a one-time fee
To publish on Android you need a Google Play Developer account, which is paid only once (not annual); Google sets the fee, so confirm it on their official site when you open the account. With that account you can publish as many apps as you want. Google review process is usually fast, from a few hours to a couple of days. It is the most accessible store to start with.
App Store: an account that renews every year
For iPhone and iPad you need the Apple Developer Program, an account paid every year; if it is not renewed, the app stops being available. Apple sets the fee, so confirm it on their official site. Apple review is stricter than Google: they check that the app follows their design, privacy, and functionality guidelines, and they can reject it and ask for changes. It is nothing to fear, but you have to prepare the app with those rules in mind from the start, not after.
What the stores ask for beyond the fee
Beyond the account cost, both stores require a complete listing: icon, screenshots, description, category, and an accessible privacy policy (mandatory if the app collects any data). Apple also asks you to detail what data the app collects. Having all of this ready before uploading the app avoids rejections. Many delays are not about the app itself, but about an incomplete listing or a missing privacy policy.
Mistakes that delay approval
The most common rejections are avoidable: apps that crash or show visible bugs during review, a missing privacy policy, permissions requested without explaining why, and content or features that do not match the description. Apple is especially careful about this. Testing the app thoroughly before submitting and preparing the listing well makes the difference between getting approved on the first try or fighting the review for weeks.
If you have an app or want to build one, I also handle preparing and publishing it on both stores meeting all the requirements. Tell me about your project on WhatsApp or by email and within 48 hours I will send you a fixed quote.