# Software maintenance cost calculator: yearly support budget for apps and websites

> A common rule of thumb is that software maintenance costs 15–25% of the original build cost every year, covering bug fixes, security patches, operating-system and framework updates, monitoring and small improvements. Hosting, third-party licences and API fees come on top. A higher support level, such as 24×7 response with an SLA, raises the budget. Enter your numbers below for a yearly and multi-year estimate.

- Interactive version: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator
- Type: free instant calculator
- Category: Development cost
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-05
- Publisher: Infikey Technologies (https://infikeytechnologies.com)

## Example result (default inputs)

| Input | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Currency | USD ($) |
| Original build cost | 50,000 |
| Yearly maintenance rate | 20% |
| Support level | Standard — updates, monitoring, small changes |
| Hosting & infrastructure per month | 300 |
| Licences, APIs & SaaS tools per month | 150 |
| Years to plan for | 3 |

**Yearly maintenance budget: $15,400.** Maintaining software that cost $50,000 to build costs about $15,400 a year ($1,283 a month), or $46,200 over 3 years.

Maintenance is about 30.8% of the build cost per year, including hosting and licences.

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Maintenance & support per year | $10,000 |
| Hosting, licences & APIs per year | $5,400 |
| Monthly budget | $1,283 |
| Total over 3 years | $46,200 |
| Total cost of ownership (build + 3 years) | $96,200 |

### Total cost of ownership over 3 years

| Item | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Original build | $50,000 |  |
| Maintenance & support | $30,000 |  |
| Hosting, licences & APIs | $16,200 |  |
| Total cost of ownership (selected) | $96,200 |  |

- Support level multiplies the maintenance rate: basic ×0.75, standard ×1, premium 24×7 ×1.5.

Open this result on the website: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator?currency=USD&build_cost=50000&rate=20&level=standard&hosting=300&licences=150&years=3

## Use from a link or API

Add these query parameters to https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator (pre-filled page), https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator.md (this plain-text page) or https://infikeytechnologies.com/api/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator (JSON).

| Parameter | Meaning | Accepted values |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `currency` | Currency | one of USD, INR, AED, GBP, EUR |
| `build_cost` | Original build cost | number from 0 to 1000000000 (in the chosen currency), default 50000 |
| `rate` | Yearly maintenance rate | number from 1 to 100 (%), default 20 |
| `level` | Support level | one of basic, standard, premium |
| `hosting` | Hosting & infrastructure per month | number from 0 to 100000000 (in the chosen currency), default 300 |
| `licences` | Licences, APIs & SaaS tools per month | number from 0 to 100000000 (in the chosen currency), default 150 |
| `years` | Years to plan for | number from 1 to 10, default 3 |

- Business website: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator?currency=USD&build_cost=8000&rate=15&level=basic&hosting=40&licences=20&years=3
- Mobile app: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator?currency=USD&build_cost=60000&rate=20&level=standard&hosting=400&licences=150&years=3
- Business-critical SaaS: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator?currency=USD&build_cost=250000&rate=20&level=premium&hosting=3000&licences=800&years=5

## How it is calculated

- **Maintenance per year**: build cost × maintenance rate × support-level factor
- **Running costs per year**: (hosting + licences per month) × 12
- **Total cost of ownership**: build cost + years × (maintenance + running costs)

## What software maintenance covers

| Type | Examples |
| --- | --- |
| Corrective | Fixing bugs reported by users or found by monitoring |
| Adaptive | New iOS and Android versions, browser changes, framework and library upgrades |
| Preventive | Security patches, dependency updates, backups and restore tests, performance tuning |
| Perfective | Small improvements and changes requested by users |

## Why maintenance is not optional

Apps that are not updated stop working as operating systems change, and the app stores eventually remove them. Websites and servers with outdated software are one of the most common ways attackers get in.

Small, regular updates are far cheaper than an emergency rebuild after years of neglect — the technical debt calculator shows how that cost builds up.

## Ways to keep maintenance costs down

- Automated tests, so updates can be shipped with confidence.
- Monitoring and error tracking, so issues are fixed before users report them.
- Managed cloud services instead of self-managed servers.
- A clear support plan with agreed response times and a monthly allowance for changes.

## FAQ

### How much does software maintenance cost per year?

A widely used rule of thumb is 15–25% of the original build cost per year, plus hosting and licences. An app that cost $50,000 to build would need roughly $7,500–$12,500 a year for maintenance alone.

### How much does it cost to maintain a mobile app?

The same rule applies, but apps also need updates for every major iOS and Android release, plus store accounts and push-notification services.

### How much does website maintenance cost?

Simple sites need little beyond hosting, backups and updates; e-commerce and custom sites need more because payments, integrations and security matter more.

### What is included in an annual maintenance contract (AMC)?

Typically bug fixes, security and framework updates, monitoring, backups, a monthly allowance for small changes and an agreed response time.

### Does Infikey offer maintenance for software built by others?

Yes. We start with a code and infrastructure review, then agree a support plan.

## Get expert help

Send these results to an Infikey Technologies specialist from the form on https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/software-maintenance-cost-calculator#estimate or via https://infikeytechnologies.com/contact.

More free calculators: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools.md

## Disclaimer

This calculator is provided free for general information and planning only. Results are estimates based on the inputs you enter and the assumptions described on this page, reference data such as published prices may change, and actual costs and outcomes will differ. Nothing on this page is financial, legal, tax, investment or other professional advice. Infikey Technologies Private Limited, Infikey Technologies LLC and their directors, employees and affiliates make no warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this tool or its results, and accept no liability for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, arising from its use or from reliance on its results. Verify all figures independently and seek professional advice before making any decision. Use of this tool is at your own risk.