Having an Eula app software license drafted: costs and process

Having an EULA app software license drafted by a specialized SME lawyer typically costs between 500 and 2,000 euros, depending on the complexity of your app, your revenue model, and the data the app processes. The process runs from an intake regarding your app and distribution (App Store, Google Play, or your own channel), through a draft covering the license, prohibitions, liability, and compliance with privacy legislation, to a final version that complies with platform rules. The turnaround time is usually one to three weeks. For a simple app, it can be faster and cheaper; costs increase for payments, subscriptions, and data processing.

The short answer

• Having it drafted usually costs between 500 and 2,000 euros at an SME lawyer.
• The price depends on your revenue model, data processing, and the number of distribution channels.
• The process: intake, concept, alignment, and a final version within the platform rules.
• Expect a turnaround time of one to three weeks.
• A simple app is cheaper; payments and GDPR processing make it more expensive.

Having an EULA app software license set up: what does it cost?

The price for having an EULA app software license drawn up is determined by how much customization your app requires. A free app without accounts is ready for a limited amount; an app with subscriptions, in-app purchases, and the processing of personal data requires more work and therefore a higher rate.

• Simple app: 500 to 900 euros, mainly a license, prohibitions, and a limitation of liability.
• App with payments or subscriptions: 900 to 1,500 euros, with attention to consumer law and the platform terms and conditions.
• App with extensive data processing: 1,500 to 2,000 euros, including GDPR compliance and a privacy statement.

If you only have an existing EULA reviewed instead of drafting one, you will usually be better off financially. Ask for a fixed price or a clear price range in advance.

The process step by step

1. Intake. The legal expert maps out what your app does, how you earn money, what data the app processes, and through which channels you distribute.
2. Draft. You will receive an EULA containing the license, the prohibitions, the rules regarding purchases and updates, the liability, and a reference to the privacy statement.
3. Alignment. You discuss whether the terms fit your revenue model and whether they remain within the rules of Apple and Google.
4. Privacy check. If your app processes data, compliance with the GDPR and the privacy statement is checked.
5. Final version. You will receive an EULA that you present to the user upon installation or first use.

Where the costs will lie

Most of the work lies in two things. The first is aligning the liability and prohibition provisions with your user group and the law. A prohibition that violates the mandatory user rights under Articles 45j through 45n of the Copyright Act, such as the right to a backup copy or decompilation for interoperability, will not hold up and must be carefully formulated. A limitation of liability that is unreasonably burdensome towards consumers will also fail in a dispute.

The second is the GDPR. If your app processes personal data, the EULA must align well with a privacy statement that describes the legal basis, purpose, and user rights. This takes extra time, but without a sound privacy policy, your app will not pass the platforms' review.

A practical example

An SME launches a booking app with a free version and a paid subscription, collecting location and account data in the process. It has the EULA drafted by an SME lawyer. Due to the payments and data processing, the intake and concept fall into the higher price range, around 1,500 euros. Within two weeks, an EULA is ready that fits the subscription model, reasonably limits liability, and refers to a GDPR-compliant privacy statement. The app passes the review of both platforms without comment.

Do it yourself or have it done?

For a simple app, you can get quite far without a lawyer using platform terms and a basic privacy statement. The risk of doing it yourself lies in the details: a template from the internet containing overly broad prohibitions, a liability clause that does not hold up, or inadequate GDPR compliance. For an app involving payments or data processing, that risk weighs more heavily, and having it drafted or reviewed is advisable.

Honest recommendation

You don't need a lawyer for a simple free app without accounts, payments, or sensitive data. In that case, the platform's standard terms and conditions with a brief privacy statement suffice, and a custom EULA would be a waste of money.

Be sure to have the EULA drafted or reviewed as soon as your app charges, has subscriptions, or processes personal data. The 500 to 2,000 euros for legal work are limited compared to the damages of a rejected app, a dispute regarding abuse, or a fine related to the GDPR. A lawyer familiar with apps ensures that the EULA provides protection, holds up in a dispute, and passes the platforms' review.

If you want the basics first, read what is an EULA app software license. If you want to know exactly what needs to be included, check out setting up an EULA app software license. Ready to get started? Check out our EULA app software license.

Frequently Asked Questions