The cheapest way to develop an app is often to build it yourself, especially if you have programming skills or are willing to learn. This approach eliminates development costs but requires a significant investment of time and effort.
Another cost-effective option is to use app-building platforms or templates, which provide pre-built components and features that can be customized for your app. While this can save time and money, it may limit your app's functionality and uniqueness.
If hiring a developer or agency is necessary, consider outsourcing to countries with lower development costs or hiring a freelance developer with competitive rates. Additionally, prioritize essential features for the initial release to minimize development time and costs, and plan to add more advanced features in subsequent updates.