Practical guides for
UK businesses
No fluff. Honest answers on app development costs, technology decisions, and what to build first — from the team that builds it.
Every week, UK founders, CTOs and product managers ask us the same questions: How much should this cost? Who should I hire? Should I build on iOS or Android first? These guides exist to answer those questions directly — with real UK numbers, honest trade-offs, and no upsell agenda.
Mantar Tech is a software development company based in London. We build web apps, mobile apps and custom platforms for UK businesses across fintech, logistics, healthcare and retail. These guides are drawn from that hands-on experience — not from SEO-optimised filler or US price estimates that don't apply in the UK market.
Each guide is written to help you make a confident decision, not to impress you with jargon. If you're evaluating vendors, planning a budget, or preparing for a stakeholder meeting on technology investment — you'll find what you need here.
UK Market Rates
All pricing and estimates use current UK market data — not US or offshore figures that don't reflect actual London and regional agency day rates. We quote real projects with real numbers.
Written by Builders
Our guides are written by the engineers and project leads who quote and deliver the work — not marketers. If we say a good MVP takes 8–12 weeks, it's because we've delivered MVPs in 8–12 weeks.
No Affiliate Agenda
We don't recommend tools or platforms because they pay us to. Every comparison and recommendation is based on project fit and what actually delivers the best outcome for the client.
Technology comparisons
If you're at the start of a project, these guides help you make the right architectural decision before you spend a penny. Use them when you're deciding what to build — not which feature to add next. Each guide covers the full decision: costs, constraints, trade-offs and the scenarios where each option wins.
Web App vs Mobile App
Which should you build first? Costs, use cases and when you need both — decided by your use case, not a sales pitch.
March 2026 · 8 min read
Read guide →React Native vs Flutter
An honest comparison for 2026 — performance, cost, hiring, ecosystem. Which cross-platform framework wins for UK projects?
March 2026 · 7 min read
Read guide →Custom Software vs SaaS
Should you build bespoke or buy off-the-shelf? TCO analysis and use-case fit guide for UK businesses considering both paths.
March 2026 · 9 min read
Read guide →How to hire, plan and decide
Choosing how and who to hire has as much impact on your project outcome as the technology stack. These guides walk you through the hiring decision from both angles: how to vet agencies and freelancers before signing a contract, and how to understand the offshore versus UK cost debate honestly — including the hidden costs both sides tend to omit.
Hire a Freelancer vs Agency UK
Freelancer or agency? Real cost analysis, risk comparison and a decision framework for UK businesses choosing how to hire their development team.
March 2026 · 7 min read
Read guide →Offshore vs UK Development
What offshore really costs after coordination overhead, rework and hidden delays — and when UK nearshore is the smarter bet for your project.
March 2026 · 8 min read
Read guide →How to Choose an App Developer UK
Six-step process, 10 interview questions and six red flags for vetting app developers and agencies in the UK. Don't sign until you've read this.
March 2026 · 9 min read
Read guide →iOS vs Android First — UK 2026
UK iPhone market share is 52%. Which platform to build first, when to go cross-platform, and where your budget is better spent — based on UK app data.
March 2026 · 6 min read
Read guide →Costs, timelines and planning
Once you've decided what to build and who to work with, these guides help you budget and plan it properly. From detailed UK app development cost breakdowns to MVP scoping frameworks and phase-by-phase build timelines — everything here is based on live project data from our London engineering team. Use them before your first vendor conversation.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an App in the UK? (2026)
Complete pricing guide: simple apps, complex platforms, MVPs. Includes detailed cost tables for web apps and mobile apps with real UK market rates.
March 2026 · 10 min read
Read guide →MVP Development Guide: How to Launch Fast and Spend Less
What an MVP is, what it isn't, what it should cost in the UK, and how to scope one that actually validates your product idea.
March 2026 · 8 min read
Read guide →How Long Does It Take to Build an App in the UK? (2026 Guide)
Phase-by-phase timeline from discovery to launch. Simple MVPs: 6–12 weeks. Complex platforms: 6–12 months. Plus the five real causes of delays.
March 2026 · 10 min read
Read guide →All the guides in one place
These guides cover the full spectrum of software development decisions UK businesses face in 2026: web app development in London and across the UK, mobile app development on iOS and Android, cross-platform frameworks (React Native vs Flutter), MVP scoping and budgeting, how to evaluate offshore versus UK teams, and how to structure contracts with agencies or freelancers.
New guides are added regularly. If there's a question you need answered that we haven't covered yet, get in touch — we're happy to give you a direct answer.