Updated 19th January, 2026

Building a branded mobile app used to mean writing a $30k check to a development agency and waiting six months. Today, no-code platforms have collapsed that timeline to weeks and the budget to a monthly subscription. But the sticker price is only part of the story. To make an informed decision, you need to understand the Total Cost of Ownership: platform fees, app store accounts, transaction costs, and how quickly you can break even on recurring revenue.

What Are the Three Ways to Build a Creator App?

When you decide to move from scattered tools to a branded app, three paths open up. Each has a different cost structure, technical barrier, and time-to-market.

Custom Development (the Old Way)

Hire a development agency to build your app from scratch. Mobile app development costs hit a new high in 2025, with businesses now paying an average of $171,450 for custom applications. The cost to develop a mobile app typically ranges from $80,000 to $250,000, depending on factors such as app complexity, feature set, and development approach.

Ongoing maintenance adds another 15–25% of the original development cost annually. If you spent $100k upfront, budget $15,000–$25,000 per year just to keep the app running, fix bugs, and update for new iOS and Android versions.

This route gives you total control over features and design, but it bankrupts most solo creators before they see a single paying subscriber.

DIY Generic Builders (Adalo, Bubble, Zoho)

Generic no-code builders promise affordability. Adalo's Starter plan costs $45/month and includes publishing to app stores. The Professional plan runs $65/month with API access and custom integrations.

The hidden cost is time. You build the database schema, design every screen, and wire up the logic yourself. These platforms also lack one-click CRM or ecommerce integrations, requiring middleware or custom API work rather than plug-and-play connections. For creators who want to teach, not debug authentication flows, the technical barrier is steep.

Creator-First Platforms (Passion.io)

Platforms built specifically for coaches and educators eliminate the "plumbing" work. We provide pre-built templates for courses, challenges, and communities. You drag in videos, set pricing, and we handle hosting, updates, and app store submission support depending on your plan.

Our Launch plan starts at $99/month annually, Scale at $239/month, and Expand at $599/month. You get less customization than custom dev, but you launch in weeks instead of months and avoid five-figure invoices.

How Much Does a No-Code App Builder Actually cost?

No-code creator platforms charge a tiered subscription based on features and limits. You pay for access to the builder, hosting, and features that unlock as you grow.

Passion.io pricing tiers

We offer three self-serve plans and one done-for-you option:

Launch includes basic iOS, Android, and web app publishing, in-app search, 1:1 messaging, basic communities and group chat, basic drip content and automations, and email support.

Scale adds Zapier integrations, automated DMs and messages, advanced communities and group chat, advanced drip and automations, removal of Passion.io branding, team access, and chat support.

Expand unlocks App Store Listing support, Apple Pay and Google Pay support, unlimited users, products, communities, and videos, unlimited push notifications, offline mode, and video call support.

PassionPlus is a custom, done-for-you service with white-glove setup, App Store submission handling, content migration, a success manager, and coaching. Pricing is customized based on your needs.

Annual billing saves you $240/year on Launch, $720/year on Scale, and $1,200/year on Expand compared to monthly payments.

What's included vs. what costs extra

Whenever we roll out new features, your app updates automatically at no extra cost. This is included in your subscription, contrasting with custom development where maintenance typically costs 15–25% of initial development cost annually.

App store submission support varies by plan. Launch and Scale require you to handle submissions yourself using help documentation, while Expand includes direct submission assistance.

"I purchased Passion.io to build an app that was easy for me and my clients to utilize. The group onboarding training was super helpful to getting started on the right foot." - LAT CPA Firm on Trustpilot

What are the hidden fees most creators miss?

Platform subscriptions are transparent. The fees that blindside creators show up later: developer accounts, transaction processing, and the "Apple tax" on in-app purchases.

1. Developer account fees (mandatory)

To publish your app under your own brand, you must register directly with Apple and Google. These are one-time or annual fees you pay to the stores, not to us.

Apple Developer Program costs $99 per membership year. Google Play Console requires a $25 one-time registration fee.

First-year total: $124. Every year after: $99 for Apple.

You own these accounts and can transfer your app if you ever switch platforms. Think of them as the business license for your mobile storefront.

2. Transaction and processing fees (the big one)

How you collect payment determines your margin. We offer two paths, each with different economics.

Web checkout via PassionPayments

PassionPayments charges a 3.9% platform fee plus standard Stripe processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic card transactions.

On a $49 monthly membership sold via web, you pay approximately $3.63 in combined fees (7.4% total), netting $45.37.

In-app purchases (IAP) via Apple or Google

When users purchase directly inside the native app, Apple and Google collect 15–30% of the transaction, according to PAssion.io data. The standard rate is 30%, but developers earning under $1 million annually qualify for 15% through the App Store Small Business Program. Google charges 15% on the first $1M in earnings per year, then 30% on earnings above $1M.

On that same $49 membership sold via IAP at the 15% rate, you pay $7.35 in store fees, netting $41.65.

The trade-off: IAP offers higher conversion because users tap twice to subscribe without leaving the app. Web checkout preserves margin but adds friction. Most creators use web checkout for high-ticket bundles and enable IAP for mobile convenience on monthly subscriptions.

We charge 0% platform fee on external payment gateways processed outside PassionPayments, so if you route users to Stripe directly or another processor, you avoid the 3.9% platform fee entirely.

Learn how to apply for the App Store Small Business Program to reduce your IAP costs to 15%, customize IAP prices in your app, or update pricing plans in your developer accounts.

3. Maintenance and updates

With custom development, you allocate 15–25% of initial costs annually for ongoing maintenance. A $100k app costs $15k–$25k per year just to keep it running.

We include maintenance, iOS and Android updates, security patches, and new feature rollouts in your monthly subscription. There are no surprise invoices when Apple releases iOS 20 or Google changes an API.

How do I calculate my break-even point?

Most creators worry the app will be a cost center. The math shows it often pays for itself by replacing other tools and adding a small number of subscribers.

The consolidation math

Before launching an app, creators typically juggle video hosting, community platforms, and course tools across separate subscriptions. Combined, a fragmented tech stack quickly leads to high monthly costs, wasted time on manual admin, and a disjointed experience for your audience.

Compare that to Passion.io's Scale plan at $239/month annually. You consolidate multiple tools into one, eliminate integration headaches, and gain push notifications and a native mobile app your old stack couldn't deliver.

The revenue math

Let's say you sell a $49/month membership. On the Scale plan at $239/month, you need 5 paying subscribers to cover the platform cost (5 × $49 = $245).

Once you hit subscriber #6, you're profitable. Everything beyond that is margin minus transaction fees.

If you use web checkout (7.4% all-in fees), subscriber #6 generates $45.37 net. Subscriber #10 generates $182/month in pure profit above the platform cost.

If you hit 100 subscribers on Launch while generating $2,900+/month at a $29 price point, the $239/month Scale plan becomes an easy decision.

Is the investment worth it? ROI case studies

The cost of not having an app often exceeds the cost of building one. Low completion rates, high churn, and algorithm dependency erode revenue faster than subscription fees.

Engagement ROI

Real creators report 15 to 30% higher course completion rates and 10 to 20% growth in monthly recurring revenue within 90 to 180 days. Push notifications and in-app community features drive these lifts by reaching members where they already spend time: their phones.

Higher completion improves testimonials, referrals, and renewals. A 20% lift in retention compounds month over month into meaningful MRR growth.

Case study: Adam Frater's Calxthenics app

Adam Frater's Calxthenics app was downloaded over 10,000 times and generated $50k+ in monthly revenue in the first few months after launch. His previous setup fragmented across multiple tools and platforms couldn't deliver the mobile-first experience his fitness audience expected.

"Passion.io have been so supportive in helping me develop my App, the training, customer support (especially Hope) have been second to none! I highly recommend them if you are thinking of developing an App." - Karen on Trustpilot

Watch the welcome tour video to see how the app builder works.

"Our support team has been so helpful and personable from day one... We chose the Passion Plus Lite package, and feel that every penny of it was well invested from creation to launch." - Angie on Trustpilot

Ready to calculate your all-in cost?

Total Cost of Ownership for launching a creator app on Passion.io in Year 1:

• Platform subscription: $99–$599/month depending on plan ($1,188–$7,188 annually)
• Developer accounts: $124 first year, $99/year after
• Transaction fees: 7.4% (web) or 15–30% (IAP) on all sales, volume-dependent

For most creators on Scale at $239/month, Year 1 all-in is approximately $3,000–$3,500 excluding transaction fees.

Compare that to custom development at $80k–$250k upfront plus 15–25% annual maintenance, and the no-code path becomes clear.

Don't let sticker shock stall your growth. The cost of not owning your audience, staying dependent on social algorithms, and losing subscribers to poor engagement is higher than the monthly fee.

Use our App Launch Budget Calculator to model your exact TCO based on your subscriber count, pricing tier, and checkout method. Book a platform demo to see the builder in action, or start with the 30-day money-back guarantee on any self-serve plan.

Join the PassionFighters community to learn from other creators already building and scaling their apps. For more strategic guidance, explore the Creator MBA program or dive into LTV, CAC, and payback metrics to master your app and course profitability.

Frequently asked questions about app pricing

Does Passion.io take a percentage of my sales?
Only on PassionPayments web checkout (3.9% platform fee). External checkouts processed outside PassionPayments are 0% platform fee. Apple and Google take 15–30% on in-app purchases.

Can I upgrade my plan later?
Yes, you can manage your subscription and upgrade from Launch to Scale or Expand instantly as you grow.

Is there a setup fee?
No setup fee for self-serve plans (Launch, Scale, Expand). PassionPlus includes a one-time build fee customized to your scope.

How long does it take to launch?
Most creators publish their web app in 2–4 weeks. App Store submissions add 1–4 weeks depending on review timelines.

How can I lower transaction fees?
Use web checkout for high-ticket bundles to save on IAP fees. Enable IAP for monthly subscriptions where mobile convenience matters. Apply for the App Store Small Business Program to cut Apple's fee from 30% to 15%. Consider external gateways for 0% platform fees.

How long does App Store approval take?
Apple and Google typically review apps within 1–2 weeks, though clarifications can extend the timeline. Expand plan includes direct submission support to navigate this process.

Do I need to know how to code?
No. Passion.io is a no-code platform with drag-and-drop content builders and pre-built templates for courses, communities, and challenges.

What happens if I cancel?
You can cancel your subscription anytime. Your app remains live until the end of your billing period, then goes offline.

Key terms glossary

PassionPayments: Our built-in payment processor powered by Stripe, charging a 3.9% platform fee on web checkout transactions.

In-App Purchase (IAP): Purchases made directly inside the native iOS or Android app, where Apple or Google collects 15–30% of the transaction.

App Store Small Business Program: Apple's reduced-fee program for developers earning under $1M annually, lowering IAP fees from 30% to 15%.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): All costs associated with launching and operating an app, including platform subscription, developer accounts, transaction fees, and optional add-ons.

No-code platform: Software that allows non-technical users to build functional apps through visual interfaces without writing code.

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