What a branded booking app costs in its first year.
A branded booking app costs a platform subscription, any setup fee, Apple's developer fee of $99 a year and Google Play's one-time $25, plus card processing on every client payment. With MeetScarlet, the first year comes to $5,311 on monthly billing or $3,614 on yearly billing, before card fees. We make MeetScarlet, so it is our worked example; the line items apply to any provider.
The line items
| Cost | How much | Who you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Platform subscription | Varies by provider; MeetScarlet is $349 a month or $3,490 a year | Your app provider |
| Setup | Varies; MeetScarlet is $999 on monthly billing and free on yearly | Your app provider |
| Apple Developer Program | $99 a year | Apple |
| Google Play developer account | $25 once | |
| D-U-N-S number | Free | Nobody; you request it from Dun & Bradstreet |
| Card processing | Stripe: 2.9% + 30 cents per successful US card payment; more for international cards | Your payment provider |
Apple, Google and Stripe prices from their own pages, checked October 31, 2026. MeetScarlet's prices are in US dollars.
A worked example: MeetScarlet's first year
| Monthly billing | Yearly billing | |
|---|---|---|
| MeetScarlet plan | $4,188 | $3,490 |
| Setup | $999 | $0 |
| Apple and Google | $124 | $124 |
| First year | $5,311 | $3,614 |
That year covers an iPhone, Android and web app with your name, set up by our team and published under your own Apple and Google accounts. Card fees depend on how much your clients pay through the app. On a $100 class pack paid with a US card, Stripe's standard rate is $3.20. MeetScarlet keeps 1% of each card payment on top of that, $1.00 on the same pack, and nothing on a tip left after a visit.
If you build your own app instead
A custom-built app has no subscription, but you pay a developer to build the booking, payments and memberships parts, and then to keep the app working as Apple and Google release new versions of their systems each year. You still pay Apple's $99 a year, Google's $25 and card processing. Ask any developer for a quote that includes that yearly upkeep, not only the first build.
When a cheaper option makes sense
- You only need clients to book from a link or your website: a booking tool without a branded app costs less, and our buyer guide lists options with and without one.
- You get most new clients from a marketplace app: your own app shows only your business, so it does not bring new clients by itself.
Questions
Straight answers. Anything else, ask us on a demo.
How much does a branded booking app cost? #
Expect a platform subscription and setup fee, Apple's $99 a year, Google's one-time $25 and card fees. With MeetScarlet the first year is $3,614 on yearly billing, before card fees.
Do I pay for the Apple developer account myself? #
Yes. The app is published under your business's own Apple account, which costs $99 a year and is paid to Apple, not to your app provider.
What are the card fees on a booking app? #
They depend on your payment provider. Stripe's standard US rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful card payment, with more for international cards. With MeetScarlet, MeetScarlet also keeps 1% of each card payment.
Is a custom-built app cheaper than a white-label app? #
There is no subscription, but you pay a developer for the build and for yearly upkeep as Apple and Google update their systems. Ask for a quote that includes both, and set it against MeetScarlet's first year: $3,614 on yearly billing, before card fees, with the app built and published for you.
Is this guide independent? #
No. We make MeetScarlet and use it as the worked example. Apple, Google and Stripe prices come from their own pages, with the date we checked them.
Keep reading
- Best branded booking apps (2026)Seven booking platforms that give clients an app with your name, compared on price, plan and store account, with MeetScarlet as our pick at a published price.
- Publish under your own Apple accountWhy Apple asks businesses to publish template-built apps themselves, and the steps: a free D-U-N-S number, Apple ($99 a year) and Google Play ($25 once).
- White-label booking appA white-label booking app puts your own name on the App Store and Google Play. MeetScarlet builds and brands yours, with booking and memberships, from $349 a month.