React Native app maintenance cost in 2026
React Native app maintenance after launch is typically EUR 2,500 - 6,000/month (20-60h retainer) at GMI from Gdansk - covers iOS/Android updates, security patches, Sentry/Firebase monitoring and small features. Without a retainer, emergency cost is 2-3x higher.
What is included in RN maintenance cost?
Expo SDK and store target updates (every 6-12 months Apple and Google enforce new iOS/Android minimums). npm dependency patches, React Native upgrades, regression tests on key flows (login, checkout, payments).
Production monitoring: Sentry for JS and native crashes, Firebase Crashlytics, alerts on error rate spikes. App Store and Google Play rejection support - common after payment or privacy policy changes.
Small features within retainer: copy change, new banner, UI fix, analytics event. Larger epics (new loyalty module, ERP integration) are quoted separately via DDT.
Retainer ranges and cost drivers
GMI standard: EUR 2,500 - 6,000/month for 20-60h, depending on integration count, environments (staging/prod), SLA requirements and seasonality (e.g. Black Friday in commerce).
Cost rises when: app has custom native modules (BLE, IoT, offline payments), many white-label builds, compliance (PCI, HIPAA, banking) or legacy code without automated tests.
Cost drops when: Expo managed workflow, solid E2E coverage (Detox/Maestro), delivery team documentation and one headless backend without frequent API breaking changes.
Retainer vs pay-as-you-go vs in-house team
Agency retainer (GMI): predictable cost, team knows code from delivery, fast response on store rejections and critical bugs. Recommended 6-12 months after commerce app launch.
Pay-as-you-go: cheaper quiet months, but pre-season outage costs 2-3x more and waits in queue. Risky for apps with checkout.
In-house dev: makes sense after 12-18 months with continuous mobile backlog and HR for RN hiring. Transition needs knowledge transfer from agency - plan 2-4 weeks overlap.
SLA, seasonality and upgrade planning
Typical GMI SLA: critical (app down, checkout broken) - 4-8h response on business days; normal - 24-48h. Before peak season (Black Friday, B2B season) we freeze features and run load tests.
Upgrade cadence: Expo SDK every 2-3 releases (not every minor), React Native major once a year with full regression. Proactive upgrade is cheaper than emergency after Apple enforcement.
More on MVP build and first-year costs in our React Native app development cost 2026 article - maintenance is the natural phase after that.
Post-launch maintenance checklist
1) Crash monitoring and alerts configured? 2) 6-12 month retainer signed before first season? 3) Expo/RN upgrade plan on calendar? 4) App Store demo account current? 5) Backend API versioning agreed with mobile?
Without this, maintenance becomes firefighting. SFD case: post-launch retainer kept 4.9★ through iOS/Android updates and commerce traffic peaks.
Sources and references
Expo support policy: https://docs.expo.dev
React Native upgrade helper: https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper
GMI mobile apps service: https://gmi.software/services/mobile-apps
React Native MVP cost 2026: https://gmi.software/blog/react-native-app-development-cost-2026
Frequently asked questions
- Does maintenance include new features?
- Retainer covers small changes (copy, UI, analytics events) within hours. Larger features (new module, integration) are quoted separately via DDT with fixed price.
- How much does React Native maintenance cost?
- At GMI: EUR 2,500 - 6,000/month (20-60h retainer). Apps with custom native, compliance or many integrations may need a higher plan. Emergency work without retainer: project rate + premium.
- How often must an RN app be updated?
- Minimum: iOS/Android targets every 6-12 months (store enforcement). Expo SDK: every 2-3 releases. React Native major: about once a year. Proactive schedule is cheaper than emergency patch before season.
- When to move from retainer to in-house team?
- When you have continuous mobile backlog (min. 1 FTE work) for 12+ months and RN hiring capacity. Plan 2-4 weeks knowledge transfer from agency - without it, costly regressions after handover.
Content updated: July 2, 2026