Marketing
May 22, 2025
This guide details NativeScript costs when developing a mobile app. Talk to a MetaCTO expert about leveraging NativeScript for your mobile app project.
Chris Fitkin
Founding Partner
NativeScript has emerged as a compelling open-source framework for building truly native mobile applications for both iOS and Android from a single codebase. Leveraging familiar web technologies like JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, and Vue.js, it promises efficiency and native performance. However, understanding the full cost spectrum—from the framework itself to integration, development, and long-term maintenance—is crucial for any organization considering it. This comprehensive guide will delve into these costs, explore the complexities of NativeScript integration, and discuss how partnering with an experienced agency like us, MetaCTO, can optimize your investment and ensure project success.
NativeScript is an open-sourced developmental ecosystem designed to empower developers to create truly native mobile applications. Unlike solutions that rely on WebViews, NativeScript apps provide direct access to 100% of native platform APIs and UI components. This means applications built with NativeScript not only look and feel native on any device but also deliver outstanding performance, tapping into the full capabilities of the underlying hardware and operating system.
Key benefits that make NativeScript a strong contender in the mobile app development landscape include:
NativeScript’s ability to repurpose website codes (especially when combined with Angular 2) for mobile and even desktop apps, along with its declarative style for building mobile components, makes it a versatile choice for modern web developers aiming to expand into the mobile sphere.
One of the most attractive aspects of NativeScript is its core affordability. Understanding the different components and their associated costs is key.
The NativeScript framework and its Command Line Interface (CLI) are completely free and open source. This means you can download, install, and start building applications without any upfront licensing fees. This open-source nature fosters a community-driven approach to development, bug fixes, and feature enhancements.
To enhance developer productivity, Progress (the original creators of NativeScript, though it’s now community-driven) offered NativeScript Sidekick. While the core framework remains free, Sidekick was designed as a free download with optional paid tiers for power users, offering features like cloud builds and streamlined workflows.
Here’s a breakdown of the known Sidekick pricing tiers (pricing information was last updated on October 09, 2024, and is supplied by the software provider or retrieved from publicly accessible pricing materials):
| Feature Tier | Cost | Cloud Builds/User/Month |
|---|---|---|
| NativeScript Sidekick Free | Free Download | 100 |
| NativeScript Sidekick Pro | $19 | 400 |
| NativeScript Sidekick Business | $249 | Unlimited |
| NativeScript Sidekick Enterprise | ""Let’s Talk"" | Custom |
It’s important to note that the landscape around Sidekick and official paid tooling has evolved since NativeScript became fully community-driven. While these were the last known prices, developers should verify the current status and availability of such paid services. The core value proposition of NativeScript—its free and open-source framework—remains intact.
In essence, you can start developing with NativeScript without incurring direct costs for the framework itself. Costs may arise if you opt for specialized paid tooling (if available and chosen) or integrate commercial third-party services.
While NativeScript offers powerful capabilities for cross-platform development, integrating it, especially into existing projects or for complex applications, is not always a straightforward path. Developers and organizations should be aware of potential hurdles that can impact timelines and, consequently, costs.
Based on developer experiences and community discussions, some of the touted ease-of-use can meet practical challenges:
Despite these challenges, successful integration is achievable, particularly with expertise. A well-executed NativeScript integration involves:
Integrating NativeScript effectively means navigating its nuances, from its unique UI paradigms to its evolving tooling. It’s less about a simple plug-and-play solution and more about skilled engineering to harness its cross-platform power without succumbing to common pitfalls.
The cost of hiring a development team for your NativeScript project is a significant factor and can vary widely. While the core NativeScript framework is free, the expertise needed to wield it effectively, especially given the integration challenges discussed, comes at a price.
Several variables determine the cost of hiring NativeScript developers:
To provide a concrete, albeit illustrative, example, ScalaCode, a company that offers NativeScript developers for hire, lists the following hourly rates for developers engaged through them. It’s important to note these are specific to one provider and serve as a general indicator:
Senior Developers (5+ years experience):
| Hours | Hourly Rate | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 40 Hours | $20/h | 30 days |
| 80 Hours | $19/h | 30 days |
| 120 Hours | $18/h | 30 days |
Lead Engineers (8+ years experience):
| Hours | Hourly Rate | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 40 Hours | $25/h | 60 days |
| 80 Hours | $25/h | 60 days |
| 120 Hours | $23/h | 60 days |
ScalaCode also notes that they offer competitive, no-hidden-cost pricing and a hassle-free replacement policy if a hired developer doesn’t meet expectations. They can provide qualified NativeScript professionals from junior to senior levels.
While hourly rates provide a baseline, the true cost is a function of these rates multiplied by the total hours required. If a less experienced team (or one unfamiliar with NativeScript’s specific challenges) struggles with integration, spends excessive time on debugging undocumented features, or has to re-architect due to tooling changes, the total hours can skyrocket. This is where the value of an experienced team becomes apparent—they may have a higher hourly rate but can complete the project more efficiently, potentially leading to a lower overall cost and a faster time-to-market.
Investing in a team that already possesses deep NativeScript expertise can mitigate the risks associated with the learning curve and integration complexities, ultimately providing better value.
The journey of developing a NativeScript application, while promising, is laden with potential complexities that can derail timelines and inflate budgets. As we’ve discussed, integrating NativeScript effectively, especially to achieve truly native performance and maximize code sharing, requires a nuanced understanding that goes beyond basic familiarity with web technologies. This is where partnering with a specialized mobile app development agency like us at MetaCTO can make a significant difference.
The challenges highlighted earlier—such as the difficulties in adding NativeScript to existing Angular projects, the steep learning curve for advanced UI/API usage, dependency conflicts, and the abrupt shifts in tooling like the move from schematics to Nx—are very real. These aren’t just theoretical problems; they are practical hurdles that can consume development hours and frustrate teams.
At MetaCTO, our approach is built on over 20 years of app development experience, successfully delivering 120+ projects. Our team possesses extensive expertise not only in JavaScript frameworks like Angular, Vue.js, and React but also in the intricacies of native mobile development for both iOS and Android. This dual expertise is crucial for NativeScript development.
Here’s how we address common NativeScript integration challenges:
We provide end-to-end services for high-performance native applications using NativeScript, developing cross-platform solutions for iOS and Android that meet consumer-facing and enterprise mobility needs. Our offerings include:
This structured approach, prioritizing native performance and cross-platform code efficiency with ongoing optimization, ensures we deliver exceptional NativeScript applications.
For those looking to get to market quickly, we offer a 90-day NativeScript App Launch program designed to accelerate your development process and reduce your time-to-market. This rapid MVP development service takes your app from concept to market in just 90 days, focusing on validating your idea and attracting users fast. The program includes:
Michael Keenan, CTO of HealthTech Solutions, stated, ""MetaCTO’s expertise with NativeScript allowed them to launch their app on both iOS and Android simultaneously while maintaining the native performance their users expect."" This is the kind of outcome we strive for with all our clients. We have built successful apps like G-Sight, Mamazen, and Parrot Club using NativeScript, demonstrating our capability to deliver high-quality, performant applications.
By partnering with us, you’re not just hiring developers; you’re gaining a strategic partner with a 5-star Clutch rating, extensive experience, and a commitment to your project’s success, potentially leveraging our expertise as fractional CTOs to guide your technical strategy.
NativeScript stands out as a powerful, open-source framework for building truly native cross-platform mobile applications, offering the allure of development efficiency by leveraging web technologies. The core framework itself is free, with potential costs associated only with optional, specialized tooling like the previously offered NativeScript Sidekick tiers.
However, the true ""cost"" of NativeScript extends beyond these direct expenses. The integration process can present significant challenges, from difficulties in incorporating it into existing web projects and a notable learning curve for its unique UI elements and APIs, to managing dependencies and adapting to evolving toolsets. These complexities mean that development timelines can be longer, and thus more expensive, if not managed by an experienced team.
Hiring a development team involves costs influenced by developer seniority, skill sets, location, and the engagement model. While example rates from providers like ScalaCode offer a glimpse into potential hourly costs, the overall expenditure is heavily tied to the efficiency and expertise of the team in navigating NativeScript’s intricacies.
This is where a specialized agency like MetaCTO provides immense value. Our deep expertise in NativeScript, coupled with extensive experience in JavaScript frameworks and native mobile development, allows us to mitigate integration risks, optimize development processes, and deliver high-quality, performant NativeScript applications efficiently. We offer comprehensive services, from initial strategy and design through to development, testing, and ongoing support, including our accelerated 90-day app launch program. As demonstrated by our work on apps like G-Sight and Mamazen, and attested by clients like Michael Keenan of HealthTech Solutions, we prioritize native performance and cross-platform code efficiency.
If you’re considering NativeScript for your next mobile application and want to ensure a smooth, cost-effective development journey that results in a high-performing native app, we encourage you to leverage our expertise.
Ready to explore how NativeScript can power your product? Talk with a NativeScript expert at MetaCTO today to discuss your project and learn how we can help you integrate NativeScript effectively and bring your vision to life.
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