Building a mobile application has a cost, even when it relies on an existing WordPress website.
These costs are often underestimated because they go beyond initial development.
Visible costs
They include app creation, store fees (99$ for Apple each year and 25$ one time for Google) and sometimes third-party tools like WPMobile.
These elements are usually easy to anticipate and budget.
Less visible costs
Maintenance, updates and support represent a significant long-term cost.
Website quality plays a key role here, as mentioned in the article about WebView app limitations:
see the limitations overview.
Why WordPress remains an affordable option
By reusing existing assets, WordPress-based apps significantly reduce development costs.
For many small businesses, this is a realistic balance between budget, usage and maintenance 🙂