Costs & pricing

Upgrading AuctionWorx and Your Mobile App

June 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Your AuctionWorx mobile app is tied to the version you purchase. When a new AuctionWorx version releases, your app doesn’t update automatically. You decide when to upgrade, and you need to budget for it. Here’s what upgrades actually cost, so you can plan without surprises.

How app versions work

When you buy AuctionWorx Mobile, you get the app built on the latest AuctionWorx version available at that time. The app and the platform version are locked together. Buy on AuctionWorx 5.5.0, and your app is built on 5.5.0. Stay on 5.5.0 for two years, and your app stays on 5.5.0.

That’s different from web-based platforms that push updates to everyone at once. Your app doesn’t change unless you tell it to. You get stability and predictability, and you control when (or if) you upgrade.

Minor releases: around $300

A minor release is a small update to the current version, say 5.5.0 to 5.5.1, or 5.5.0 to 5.6.0. These add small features or fix bugs rather than overhaul anything. The estimated cost is around $300, covering both the website and mobile app migration so they keep working together.

Minor updates are optional. Skip them if the new features don’t matter to your business. Upgrade if a bug fix solves something you’re actually dealing with.

That $300 estimate covers testing and deployment, not just a version bump. The developer rebuilds the app on the new version, tests it against your configuration, submits it to Apple and Google, and handles compatibility issues that come up along the way.

Major releases: larger costs

A major release is a different animal, version 5.x to 6.x, with new features, architectural changes, and often changes to how data is structured. These come less often but represent a real step forward for the platform.

Costs vary widely and depend on what changed, what customizations you’ve made, and whether data migration is involved. There’s no fixed number here. You’d need a custom quote for your specific situation, something our team at systenics.com/auctionworx/development-and-customization can put together once we know what you’re on and where you’re headed.

Major releases are still optional. If your auctions run smoothly and the new features don’t add value for your business, staying on your current version is a reasonable call. Plenty of platforms run on versions released years ago because the upgrade cost outweighs the benefit.

Mandatory OS updates: $500 to $1,000 every 1 to 2 years

Here’s the part that isn’t optional. Apple and Google update their operating systems every year, sometimes with breaking changes, and the app stores require apps to support the latest OS within a certain window. Miss that window and your app gets delisted.

These OS compatibility updates typically cost between $500 and $1,000 each, roughly every 1 to 2 years depending on how aggressive Apple and Google are that cycle. Sometimes it’s a small patch. Sometimes it takes more work to keep the app functioning.

You have to do these. If you publish an app, you’re accepting that OS compatibility updates happen on a schedule you don’t control.

The developer account renewal requirement

Both Apple and Google require an active developer account to keep your app published. Apple charges $99 a year for a Developer Program membership. Google charges a one-time $25 to create an account and nothing annually after that. You pay these fees directly to Apple and Google, not through us.

Stop paying the Apple fee, and your app comes down from the App Store. Don’t maintain your Google Play account, and the same happens on Android. These are your accounts: you own the listing and control the app. That’s a good thing, but it also means you’re responsible for keeping them active.

Planning your upgrade strategy

Here’s how to think about it practically.

Clarify what you actually need. Does the new version add a feature that helps you sell more, or fix a bug that’s bothering you or your bidders? If not, skip it. Compare what you have against what’s on the features page before deciding.

Budget for OS updates regardless. Even if you never touch a new AuctionWorx version, plan on $500 to $1,000 every 1 to 2 years for OS compatibility. That one isn’t optional, so put it in the budget now.

Minor updates are the easy call. A $300 update is low-risk and low-cost if the new features appeal to you. They happen more often but cost less each time.

Major upgrades are investment decisions. If a major version genuinely improves how you run auctions, the cost is worth weighing against that. If it doesn’t move the needle, staying put is fine.

Version lock cuts both ways. Wait three years to jump to a major version, and the migration is bigger because the gap is bigger. That’s a real cost of waiting, so factor it in rather than ignoring it.

The Force Mobile App Update setting

AuctionWorx Mobile includes a “Force Mobile App Update” setting in your app configuration. It’s useful once you’ve upgraded and need bidders on the new version. When enabled, the app checks whether it’s current against your platform. If an old version tries to connect to an upgraded platform, the app tells the bidder to update from their app store.

That setting manages the transition when you do upgrade, so bidders running an outdated version aren’t hitting bugs against your new platform. You can adjust this and other settings when you configure your app.

No annual maintenance fees

Here’s what isn’t happening: no annual subscription fees for your app. You buy once, you own the app listing on your own App Store accounts, and you control when (or if) you upgrade. You pay for updates when you choose to make them.

Some platforms charge annual maintenance. We don’t. It’s a one-time purchase, then you pay for updates on your own schedule. See our pricing page for the full breakdown, including how upgrade paths compare across the Buyer, Buyer + Seller, and Pro plans.

Getting started with planning

If you’re buying a mobile app for the first time, get clarity on three things.

First, what version of AuctionWorx are you on today. That’s your starting point. Second, does a newer AuctionWorx version have features that actually matter to your business. Third, budget $500 to $1,000 every 1 to 2 years for OS compatibility updates, since those aren’t avoidable.

From there, you can make an informed call about when, or if, to upgrade.

Want to see how a mobile app runs against a current AuctionWorx platform? Check out the demo.