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Templates / Contract

Free Mobile App Development Contract Template

A mobile app development contract covers scope, payment terms, change requests, ownership, portfolio use, warranties and limits, termination, and signatures.

Mobile App Development Contract template preview

Language:

en

Last updated:

October 2026

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The scope gets agreed, the prototype looks right, and then everyone starts worrying about the parts that only show up in real use: logins that fail, payments that don’t complete, offline behaviour that breaks, and crashes across the Android phones people actually carry. This mobile app development contract puts the expectations in writing before build momentum takes over, so the work ships and keeps working.

The contract opens with Thanks for asking us to help, then What we will build ties delivery to the screens and integration notes you agree up front, with a clear source of truth once development starts. Payment spells out the split, due dates, and what pauses if an invoice goes overdue, while Changes separates included revision rounds from a change request that needs written approval so critical flows stay stable.

  • Thanks for asking us to help Sets the contract in context with the accepted proposal and states the approach to agreeing scope, testing on real devices, and planning handover.
  • What we will build Lists the agreed deliverables and anchors development to the approved screens, prototype, and integration notes as the source of truth.
  • Payment Defines the 50% upfront and 50% on handover structure, 14-day invoice terms, and what work pauses if payment goes overdue.
  • Changes Defines revision rounds and the change request process for anything beyond the included rounds or anything that alters an approved workflow.
  • Ending the project Explains how either side can end the project with written notice, what gets paid for, and what gets handed over, then captures acceptance with a signature.

Once the details match your deal, you send the contract, the client signs online, and both sides have the same reference point for delivery, testing expectations, ownership at handover, and what happens if the project ends early.

We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.

Yazan & Mawaheb
Yazan & MawahebAgency Owners

What to include in a mobile app development contract

PartWhat it covers

Thanks for asking us to help

Introduces the agreement’s relationship to the accepted proposal and sets expectations for how scope, testing, and handover get handled.

What we will build

Defines what gets delivered and treats the agreed screens, prototype, and integration notes as the baseline once development begins.

Payment

Covers the deposit and final payment timing, invoice due dates, and what pauses if an invoice goes unpaid past the due date.

Changes

Explains what counts as a revision round versus a change request, and when pricing or timeline updates need written approval.

Who owns what

States what ownership transfers after final payment, what handover materials get provided, and what stays under third-party licences.

Portfolio use

Explains how the finished app may be shown after launch, and how to opt out or request a delay in writing.

Problems and limits

Sets expectations for bug fixes after handover, and draws limits around third-party outages, app store review decisions, and post-handover operation.

Ending the project

Explains termination by written notice, what gets paid for on exit, what gets handed over, and includes a Signature block for acceptance.

Who it is for

Mobile app studios, freelance app developers, and product teams doing iOS development, android development, or cross-platform apps for a client who needs delivery, payment terms, and ownership in writing.

The contract in full

Thanks for asking us to help. It works alongside the proposal you accepted. If anything is unclear, we will talk it through and write down what we agree before we move forward.

We build apps the way they behave in real hands, not just in screenshots. That means we agree the scope first, we test on real devices as we go, and we plan the handover from day one so you can run the app after launch.

What we will build

We will deliver mobile app development as a project, based on the screens, prototype, and integration notes we agree with you at the start. The list of deliverables for this project sits under this section.

To keep the build stable, we treat the agreed Figma screens and prototype as the source of truth once development starts. If you need changes because something is missing or a workflow breaks in testing, we will handle that through the changes process rather than squeezing it in informally. That protects performance, offline behaviour, logins, payments, and release readiness.

* Figma screens and prototype * Android app build * iOS app build * Backend API and database * Release submissions package * Handover documentation

Payment

To book mobile app development, we invoice 50% of the total price when you sign the proposal. We schedule work and reserve the team once that invoice is paid.

We invoice the remaining 50% when we hand over the finished work. Every invoice is payable within 14 days of its date.

If an invoice goes past its due date, we will pause new development and store-release steps until payment is back up to date. We will tell you what is paused and what is at risk on the timeline. We will also still protect your code and project access while things are on hold.

Changes

A revision round is a set of changes you send us together, after you have reviewed a clear checkpoint deliverable. For this project we include two revision rounds on the Figma screens and clickable prototype, and one revision round on the app builds once the main flows are implemented.

Anything beyond those rounds, or any change that alters an approved screen, a data model, an integration, or a core workflow, is a change request. We will write down what changes, give you a price or timeline impact, and get your written approval before we build it. That avoids surprise work and last-minute instability.

Who owns what

Once the final invoice is paid, you own the code we wrote specifically for your mobile app development project. At handover we give you the source code repository, final builds, API documentation, and setup notes so another team can take over if needed.

We keep ownership of our pre-existing tools, templates, internal libraries, and ways of working, even if we used them to build your project. Third-party services and libraries stay under their own licences and terms. If you want us to add a paid SDK or service, you pay that vendor directly and the account stays in your name.

Portfolio use

After launch, we may show the finished work as part of our portfolio. Usually this is a short case study and a few screenshots, and we focus on what we built: the platform, the key flows, and the technical approach.

If you do not want us to share the app, your name, or any screenshots, tell us in writing. We will follow that request, including if you want a time delay before we post anything. If the app is private to staff, in pilot, or under an NDA with a partner, we will treat it as private once you flag it and we will not post it.

Problems and limits

We stand behind our work, and we will fix bugs that are caused by our code and that are reported within a reasonable period after handover. We will agree the fix plan with you, and we will prioritise issues that affect login, payments, data loss, crashes, or store compliance.

There are also limits. We cannot be responsible for outages or failures in third-party services you use (payment providers, SMS gateways, hosting, analytics, or SDKs), or for delays and rejections controlled by Apple or Google during review. We also cannot cover losses that come from how the app is operated after handover, such as changes made by other teams or credentials shared insecurely.

Ending the project

Either of us can end the project by giving notice in writing. We will agree the notice period with you in writing, based on what is in flight and what would be risky to stop abruptly.

If the project ends, you pay for the work completed up to the end date, including any non-cancellable costs you asked us to take on (for example paid services or test devices). We will then hand over what we have completed and that you have paid for: the current source code, builds, and documentation in a usable state, plus a short handover call so your team knows what is where. If payments are behind, we will still provide a basic export of your project materials once the account is settled.

Signature

Legal Notice: Please consult legal advice and carefully review the content of this contract template before implementing this template in your business.

Questions about this contract template

What should a mobile app development contract include?

A mobile app development contract usually covers scope and deliverables, payment timing, how changes get approved, who owns the code, portfolio permissions, warranties and limits, and how termination works. This one also describes expectations around real-device testing and handover materials.

How do change requests work in a mobile app contract?

The contract defines revision rounds and treats anything beyond them, or anything that alters an approved screen, workflow, integration, or data model, as a change request. The change gets written down, priced or given a timeline impact, and approved in writing before work continues.

Who owns the app source code after the project ends?

The contract states that ownership of code written specifically for the project transfers after the final invoice is paid. The handover includes the repository, builds, API documentation, and setup notes, while pre-existing internal tools and third-party libraries keep their own terms.

When do app developers usually ask for payment?

The payment section uses a split structure: 50% when the proposal is signed and 50% at handover of the finished work. Invoices are due within 14 days, and overdue payment can pause new development and store-release steps.

Can an app developer show the app in a portfolio?

The portfolio section allows showing the finished work after launch, usually as a short case study and screenshots. The client can opt out, request a delay, or flag NDAs and private pilots in writing.

What happens if a mobile app project ends early?

The termination section allows either side to end the project with written notice, with a notice period agreed in writing based on what’s in flight. The client pays for completed work and any non-cancellable costs requested, then receives a handover of paid-for materials in a usable state.

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