The cost of building a web application can range from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand Polish zloty, and even more for complex business systems. The differences are primarily driven by the scope of functionality, the number of integrations, the way data is processed, the level of security, and whether the application is intended as a simple tool for a few employees or as a core system supporting the company’s customers and sales.

This is why there is no single answer to the question, “How much does a web application cost?” However, it is possible to define realistic price ranges and identify the factors that have the greatest impact on a project estimate.

In this article, we explain what makes up the cost of a business web application in 2026 and how to prepare a project without spending money on features the business does not actually need.

What exactly is a web application?

A web application is a system that runs in a web browser. Unlike a standard website, however, it enables users to perform specific actions.

It can be, for example:

• a customer service system,
• an employee portal,
• an online calculator,
• a sales platform,
• a booking system,
• a portal for business partners,
• a CRM,
• a reporting system,
• a product configurator,
• a document management platform,
• an order placement system,
• an application that works with an AI agent,
• a system integrated with external databases and APIs.

For example, a customer may complete a form, receive a quote, make a payment, download a document, check an order status, or talk to an AI agent.

A company employee, in turn, can have their own administrative panel for managing customers, documents, payments, products and reports.

We also describe when it is worth building this type of system in the article Web Application for a Business — When Is It Worth Building Your Own System?.

How much does it cost to build a web application in 2026?

The simplest approach is to consider several basic project levels.

Simple web application – approximately PLN 20,000–60,000

This range may include a relatively simple system that handles one specific process.

Examples include:

• a form with data capture,
• an administration panel,
• a simple calculator,
• a customer database,
• a document generator,
• a basic booking system,
• a simple internal application for employees.

Such a project can be a good solution for a business that currently performs certain tasks manually or uses Excel spreadsheets and wants to move the process into one system.

Business application or MVP – approximately PLN 60,000–150,000

This is one of the most common project levels for custom applications for small and medium-sized businesses.

The system may already include, among other things:

• different user levels,
• customer login,
• an administrator panel,
• a database,
• automated email messages,
• PDF document generation,
• online payments,
• CRM integration,
• external API integration,
• reporting,
• operation history,
• automation of selected processes.

This category can also include first versions of new digital products, known as MVPs.

The company does not have to build an entire complex system from the start. First, a version with the most important features is created, allowing the business to begin operating and validate its business model.

Advanced custom system – approximately PLN 150,000–400,000 and more

For more advanced projects, the number of features and integrations increases.

The system may support the company’s entire business process: from customer acquisition, through calculation and sales, to payment, documentation and ongoing service.

Examples of elements in this type of solution include:

• an advanced CRM,
• multiple types of users,
• advanced permissions,
• integrations with multiple systems,
• external APIs,
• automated payments,
• an advanced database,
• a reporting system,
• a mobile application,
• support for partners or intermediaries,
• automated document generation,
• notifications,
• AI integration,
• advanced security mechanisms.

The cost may be even higher if the application needs to support a very large number of users, complex financial processes, or systems with increased security requirements.

What determines the cost of a web application?

The price of an application is not determined solely by the number of screens.

The logic behind those screens is far more important.

A simple contact form may have a dozen fields and be very easy to build. An insurance form may also have a dozen fields, but if it needs to calculate a premium based on dozens of rules, compare offers, generate documents and save the transaction, building it is much more complex.

1. Number of features

Every additional feature increases the scope of work.

For example, adding a login function alone may require:

• account creation,
• email address verification,
• password resets,
• access security,
• user session management,
• different permission levels.

This is why, when estimating a project, the number of processes the application needs to handle is more important than the number of pages.

2. Integrations with other systems

Integrations have a major impact on cost.

An application may communicate with, among other things:

• a CRM system,
• an accounting system,
• a bank,
• a payment provider,
• a courier system,
• an email marketing platform,
• an external database,
• an ERP system,
• business partners’ systems,
• AI services.

With APIs, data can be exchanged automatically without the need for manual re-entry.

Read more about these solutions in the article API Integrations — How to Connect a Website, CRM, Database and Sales System?.

3. Database

In many projects, the database is one of the most important elements of the application.

It is necessary to design:

• what information is stored,
• how the data is related,
• who can read it,
• who can modify it,
• how long it should be retained,
• how to create reports,
• how to perform backups.

A well-designed database makes it possible to expand the system later without having to rebuild the entire application.

See also: Database for a Business — How to Organize Data and Automate Reporting?.

Frontend and backend – what is the client actually paying for?

A web application usually consists of two main parts.

Frontend

The frontend is the part visible to the user.

It includes, among other things:

• forms,
• buttons,
• menus,
• tables,
• charts,
• mobile views,
• a customer portal.

Backend

The backend performs operations that the user does not see directly.

It may be responsible for:

• calculations,
• saving information,
• communication with the database,
• integrations,
• document generation,
• sending messages,
• user authorization,
• payment processing.

In a business application, the backend is often much more extensive than the part visible on the screen.

Does AI increase the cost of building an application?

Not always.

In many cases, using existing AI models through an API is significantly less expensive than building a proprietary artificial intelligence model.

An application can include, among other things:

• an AI agent serving customers,
• document analysis,
• information retrieval from a knowledge base,
• message classification,
• automated response preparation,
• data analysis,
• employee support.

However, defining the task correctly is the most important factor.

Adding AI simply because it is currently popular does not always benefit the business. The best results come when the technology solves a specific business problem.

How much does web application maintenance cost?

Building the system is not the only cost to consider.

After launch, costs may arise in connection with:

• hosting,
• servers,
• domain names,
• backups,
• updates,
• integration maintenance,
• system monitoring,
• development of new features.

For simple applications, infrastructure costs may be relatively low.

For large systems serving thousands of users, infrastructure becomes a significant part of the overall project.

How can you reduce the cost of building an application?

The best approach is not to choose the cheapest provider.

Much greater savings can be achieved through proper project planning.

Start with the most important features

Not every feature needs to be included in the first version of the system.

It is worth dividing functionality into three groups:

1. essential for launch, 2. needed at the next stage, 3. optional features.

This makes it possible to launch the application faster and reduce the initial investment cost.

Automate the process, not a single task

An application should be designed from the perspective of the entire process.

If a customer completes a form, it is worth considering what happens next.

Does an employee need to manually re-enter the data?

Do they need to create a document?

Does a message need to be sent?

Is the information transferred to the CRM?

Often, it is only by connecting these operations that a company achieves the greatest savings.

Off-the-shelf SaaS system or custom application?

Not every business needs proprietary software.

If a system available on the market handles most of the required processes, purchasing it may be considerably less expensive.

A custom application starts to have an advantage when:

• the company has an unusual process,
• available systems require many manual operations,
• custom integrations are needed,
• the business wants to develop its own digital product,
• the system is part of its competitive advantage,
• the company does not want to adapt its processes to the limitations of an off-the-shelf solution.

Proprietary software can grow alongside the business.

What does application estimation look like at EINTELLIX?

A reliable estimate should not start with a question about the number of screens.

First, the business process needs to be understood.

We analyze:

1. what problem the system is intended to solve, 2. who will use it, 3. what data will be processed, 4. which systems the application needs to work with, 5. which activities can be automated, 6. which features are essential in the first version.

On this basis, it is possible to prepare a solution architecture and a realistic estimate.

EINTELLIX designs and develops web applications, mobile applications, sales systems, databases, API integrations and solutions that use artificial intelligence.

We can also analyze an existing process and identify which elements are worth automating.

Is it worth investing in a custom web application?

The most important question should not be “How much does an application cost?”, but rather, “How much can the company save or earn with it?”

If the system:

• reduces manual work,
• decreases the number of errors,
• makes it possible to serve more customers,
• enables online sales,
• operates around the clock,
• automates documents,
• speeds up customer service,

its cost should be treated as an investment in improving the business.

A well-designed application should not merely be another program used within the company.

It should perform specific work.

How much does a web application cost? Summary

As a general guide:

• simple application or portal: PLN 20,000–60,000,
• business application or MVP: PLN 60,000–150,000,
• advanced custom system: PLN 150,000–400,000 and more.

However, these are only approximate ranges.

The same system may appear similar at first glance but cost PLN 50,000 or PLN 200,000, depending on the number of business rules, integrations, users and security requirements.

That is why the best first step is to describe the process the company wants to move into an application.

Do you need a web application estimate?

If you are planning to build a web application, sales system, customer portal, database or a solution that automates processes in your business, contact EINTELLIX.

Based on a brief process description, we can identify the possible solution architecture, the scope of the first version and an approximate project budget.

Contact EINTELLIX and describe your project.

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Read also

• Web Application for Business — When Should You Build a Custom System?
• How Much Does It Cost to Implement an AI Agent in a Company?
• Financial Software Development Company: How to Choose an IT Partner?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a simple web application cost?

A simple business application can cost approximately PLN 20,000–60,000. The price depends primarily on the functionality, database, administration panel and required integrations.

How much does a web application with a database cost?

The cost depends on the complexity of the database and the system’s features. For custom business applications, the budget often starts at tens of thousands of Polish zloty.

Can an application be built in stages?

Yes. In many projects, this is the best approach. First, a basic MVP version is created, followed by additional modules and integrations.

What increases application costs the most?

The biggest factors are advanced business logic, integrations with other systems, different user levels, security and custom functionality.

Can AI be added to a web application later?

Yes. A well-designed system can be expanded with an AI agent, document analysis, a knowledge base or other features that use artificial intelligence.