"What does a Java application cost?" A lot of people brace themselves before hearing the answer, because Java still sounds big, expensive and reserved for multinationals. The truth: a working MVP often lands around €5,000. Time to clear that myth up.
Why the entry point is lower than you think
It comes down to two things:
- No platform licences. Java and Spring Boot are open-source. You don't pay a vendor for the privilege of running your own software.
- Mature tooling. Spring Initializr, Spring Boot starters, a deep open-source ecosystem, a base project stands up in a day. We don't have to reinvent the wheel.
That means a scoped MVP (one user type, one main process, a handful of screens) realistically takes one to two weeks of work. Depending on complexity that lands around €5,000 to €10,000. No rocket science.
What's in such an MVP?
Concretely:
- A working Java and Spring Boot application.
- A minimal React front-end or a simple template.
- Authentication and basic data storage (a database).
- A container you can run yourself (cloud-ready).
- Code in version control, with tests covering the most important behaviour.
- Documentation that actually matches the code.
Enough to get started. Enough to put it in front of users for feedback. Enough to decide the next step based on facts, not guesses.
What does it cost after that?
Here's the nice part: with Java there are no recurring platform-licence costs. No per-user Mendix bill, no platform subscription. The only recurring costs are:
- Hosting. For an MVP you're looking at €10 to €50 per month on a VPS or container platform. It only really scales when you do, and by then there are users (or revenue) to carry it.
- Maintenance and further development. At whatever pace and scope suits you. No mandatory upgrade cycle from a vendor.
That's a fundamental difference with low-code platforms, where the bill comes back year after year for the privilege of accessing your own software.
And what about a migration?
Same story, but in phases. We don't start with a rebuild of your whole system. We migrate one module: one concrete piece, often in the same cost range. What works stays live. What we migrate runs alongside the old until the behaviour provably matches.
So a first module lands in the same band: €5,000 to €10,000, depending on complexity. Only once that one is humming along do we look at the next. No big-bang investment up front.
When does it actually get expensive?
Being honest:
- Integrations with old systems or external parties can eat real time.
- Compliance (audit logging, ISO 27001, data protection) demands attention.
- Public-facing UX costs more than an internal tool for twenty colleagues.
- Designing for 100,000 users from day one is pricier than designing for 100.
Those are choices that depend on your situation. For most questions we get, the honest starting price is lower than people think.
Closing
The bar to start with Java in 2026 is lower than it has ever been. No multi-year up-front investment, no platform lock-in, no mandatory upgrade cycle. You pay for what you get, and you own it yourself.
Want to know what that would mean for your situation? Book a no-obligation intro call. We'll look at what you want to build or migrate and give you an honest estimate, no sales pitch.