1. Builds
  2. Mobile MVP (iOS + Android)

Mobile MVP (iOS + Android)

One codebase (Expo) for both app stores, plus Supabase for data and sign-in.

Priced from vendor pages
Prices checked
16 Oct 2026
Updated
18 Oct 2026
Exchange rate
1 USD = £0.7489
Sources
3
How we check

At a glance

  • You build: a first iOS + Android app for testers, with sign-in and a hosted backend.
  • Cost: £0/mo on free tiers · £32.95/mo on paid tiers (store fees not included)
  • Time: not yet measured (no hands-on test). Free Expo builds can queue 90+ min.
  • Stack: Expo + Supabase

The stack

BUILDExpo (EAS)One codebase, cloud buildsFree / £14.23
Layer
App + builds
Plan
Free (15 iOS + 15 Android builds/mo) or Starter $19
What it does here
One codebase, cloud builds
Note
Free queue can exceed 90 min
DATAAUTHSupabaseDatabase, auth, storageFree / £18.72
Layer
Backend + auth
Plan
Free or Pro $25
What it does here
Database, auth, storage
Note
Free pauses when idle
—Apple / GoogleNeeded to publishNot yet priced
Layer
Store accounts
Plan
—
What it does here
Needed to publish
Note
Excluded from totals
OPSGitHubDependabot + secret scanningFree
Layer
Monitoring and security
Plan
Free
What it does here
Dependabot + secret scanning
Note
Secret scanning + push protection free on public repos; private Secret Protection price not found

Steps

  1. Create the app

    run npx create-expo-app.

    Done when it opens in Expo Go on your phone.

  2. Add the backend

    create a Supabase project and add its URL + anon key.

    Done when the app reads a test row.

  3. Add sign-in

    use Supabase email auth.

    Done when you can sign up, log out and log back in.

  4. Build one core screen.

    Done when a tester can finish the main task.

  5. Ship to testers

    run an EAS build per platform.

    Done when a tester installs via TestFlight / internal testing.

Watch out for

  • Build queues: free Expo builds can take hours on launch day. Starter skips the wait.
  • Store accounts first: testers beyond your own phone need Apple/Google developer accounts.
  • Idle pause: Supabase Free pauses inactive projects. Upgrade before real users rely on it.
  • Keys: never ship the service-role key. Use the anon key with row-level security.
Sources and changelog

What it costs each month

Stage Platform (no Lovable) Stripe fees Total + Lovable Pro
(a) Lean free (Expo Free + Supabase Free) £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £22.00
(b) Paid tiers (Expo Starter + Supabase Pro) £32.95 £0.00 £32.95 £54.95
  • Store developer fees not included (not yet checked).
  • Lovable Pro (£22/mo) is optional, for a web companion or admin page only; it doesn't build native apps.

Sources

Change log

Date Change Source
2026-10-16 Draft placeholder replaced with desk-costed build Stackguide desk research
2026-10-18 Restructured as scannable template (summary, Steps first, short bullets); figures unchanged Editorial update
2026-10-23 USD prices re-converted at the Bank of England reference rate, 1 USD = 0.7489 GBP (16 Oct 2026), the one rate used site-wide (was 0.7535, exchangerates.org.uk 15 Oct 2026 close); £ figures and totals re-derived Bank of England series XUDLUSS, checked 2026-10-23