Massive technological advancement has enhanced the popularity of custom mobile apps that gain huge momentum for many industry domains. Nowadays, having a feature-rich mobile app is a necessity for making a business successful. A proper app development service enables businesses to extend their reach and build strong connections with potential audiences. A reliable custom software development company can provide tailored solutions to meet your specific business requirements, ensuring a seamless and efficient development process.
However, before you make an app, estimating its development cost is important as it determines the success or failure of the final product. The overall mobile app development cost in India depends on the platforms you choose, and the country you look for the team in. Fortunately, making an app in India with a proper code structure, skilled resources and features are more economical as compared to other states. Continue reading to know how much it costs to build an app in India.
Most Demanding Mobile Apps In India
Well, in terms of features, functionalities, and applications, mobile applications are different. Moreover, different tech stacks, contexts, and techniques are used to make apps. When it comes to popularity, a number of apps are in great demand in India. A multitude of apps enjoy substantial popularity, emphasizing the dynamic landscape and vast opportunities within the mobile app development sector. For businesses looking to thrive in this environment, partnering with experienced custom software developers becomes crucial to navigate the intricacies of this evolving industry. Among them, 7 most demanding categories include:
1. Data-driven Apps
Maps, weather updates, stock info, and calendars are the best features of data-driven mobile apps that require a proper database for seamless functioning. The overall of these apps is slightly higher as compared to basic applications. This is because third-party integration and database management are required for such apps.
- Estimated cost: $15000 to $20000
- Time taken: 1 to 2 months
2. Authentication Apps
Google Drive and McDonald’s Loyalty App are prime examples of authentication applications. To access the app functionalities, you need to log in or sign up with a one-step method. Updated features and functionalities increase the overall cost of Authentication apps. Moreover, a custom application development company or a professional developer’s team is required to finish the entire project with login & other authentication functionalities.
- Estimated cost: $50,000 to $60,000
- Time taken: 3 to 5 months
3. Social Networking Apps
Social media or social networking apps have worldwide popularity. Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are the most prominent examples of social media apps and they come with news feeds, social interactions, chatting, and networking features. These kinds of apps usually start from MVP or a basic version with core features.
- Estimated cost: $60,000 to $300,000
- Time taken: 5 to 9 months
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4. eCommerce Apps
Amazon, Flipkart, Alibaba, and eBay are the leading eCommerce market players that can manage millions of active users seamlessly. No doubt, eCommerce apps come under a highly demanding app category. These types of apps mainly need a well-optimized backend & admin panel to handle payments, catalog pages, orders, users, complex inventory, and more.
- Estimated cost: $60,000 to $300,000
- Time taken: 5 to 9 months
5. On-demand Apps
On-demand apps like UberEATS, Postmates, and Uber are developed to fulfill the specific needs of customers. Just like eCommerce mobile apps, on-demand apps are also in high demand and they require several functionalities like chats, login, delivery, user feedback, payments, and much more.
Apart from that, these apps need a powerful backend infrastructure to control customer info, payments & other functions seamlessly. The cost of making on-demand applications increases with the estimated development timeline.
- Estimated cost: $70,000 to $100,000
- Time taken: 5 to 7 months
6. Marketplace Apps
Booking.com & TripAdvisor are the most popular examples of marketplace apps that have combined features of eCommerce and on-demand services. The central concept of these applications is supply and demand. In terms of customer experience, marketplace apps require regular interaction. Adding more features to these apps increases overall app development costs.
- Estimated cost: $100,000 to $300,000
- Time taken: 6 to 9 months
7. Hardware & IoT-based Apps
Hardware & IoT-based applications connect digital technologies with physical objects. Such applications can easily be defined as highly intelligent tech tools such as home assistance devices, medical instruments, pet collars, etc. Hardware & IoT-based apps are developed on backend platforms that ensure high functionality and reliability of the app.
- Estimated cost: $60,000 to $80,000
- Time taken: 5 to 7 months
Here is a complete list of estimated app development costs and time limits. Have a look:
App Categories |
Estimated Cost |
Required Time Limit |
Data-driven apps |
$15000 to $20000 |
1 to 2 months |
Authentication apps |
$50,000 to $60,000 |
3 to 5 months |
Social Media apps |
$60,000 to $300,000 |
1,200 hours |
eCommerce apps |
$60,000 to $300,000 |
5 to 9 months |
On-demand apps |
$70,000 to $100,000 |
5 to 7 months |
Marketplace apps |
$100,000 to $300,000 |
6 to 9 months |
Hardware & IoT-based apps |
$60,000 to $80,000 |
5 to 7 month |
Gaming apps |
$60,000 to $250,000 |
6 to 9 months |
Retail apps |
$50,000 to $150,000 |
5 to 6 months |
Augmented Reality (AR) apps |
$100,000 to $250,000 |
6 to 9 months |
Taxi service apps |
$50,000 to $400,000 |
4 to 7 months |
Business apps |
$50,000 to $200,000 |
3 to 5 months |
Video Streaming apps |
$60,000 to $225,000 |
5 to 7 months |
Learning apps |
$60,000 to $225,000 |
3 to 4 months |
Restaurant apps |
$40,000 to $150,000 |
4 to 6 months |
Dating apps |
$50,000 to $350,000 |
5 to 6 months |
Shopify apps |
$30,000 to $180,000 |
3 to 4 months |
Community apps |
$18,000 to $150,000 |
3 to 7 months |
Healthcare apps |
$55,000 to $300,000 |
5 to 8 months |
Food Delivery apps |
$40,000 to $150,000 |
4 to 6 months |
Hybrid apps |
$40,000 to $200,000 |
6 to 8 months |
Typical apps |
$40,000 to $300,000 |
5 to 7 months |
Different Mobile App Development Approaches In India
In India, different approaches are used for effective app development. Ideally, it can be highly significant when it finds all your business needs, streamlines the app development process & reduces the app-making cost. App developers usually focus on four different app development approaches including cross-platform apps, native apps, and hybrid apps. Let’s explain them.
1. Native Apps:
Native applications are developed using OS-centric programming languages, software development tools, and development environments. For example, if you’re making an Android & iOS mobile app, each application will be developed with the help of different tech stacks
Key Perks
- Better performance
- Platform-centric UI
- Improved scalability
- Improved user experience
- Advanced customization
- OS compatibility
- Easy to launch
- Full access to hardware functionalities
- Highly secure and responsive
2. Hybrid Apps:
Hybrid apps are a combination of cross-platform & native applications. They are usually built with web-standard technologies such as HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript & then executed within the native shell. In this app development approach, apps show better performance & enable improved user experiences.
Key Perks
- Multi-platform support
- Native-like user experience
- Reusable codes
- Lower cost of development
- Fast development cycle
- High performance
- Offline mode support
- Simple to update
3. Cross-platform:
Cross-platform apps are compatible with multiple platforms. In comparison to native app development, a cross-platform app is an excellent alternative for small-scale businesses & startups. With this app development approach, you don’t have to develop a separate app for every single platform. As a result, it reduces app development costs and helps to reach out to a larger audience.
Key Perks:
- Single codebase
- Lower cost of development
- Quick to implement
- Reusable source code
- Larger audience reach
- Faster time to market
- Native-like performance
Factors |
Native Apps |
Hybrid Apps |
Cross-platform Apps |
Making costs |
$20,000 to $100,000 |
$20,000 to $1,00,000 |
$20,000 to $40,000 |
Timeline |
3 to 5 Months |
3 to 7 Months |
3 to 6 months |
Codebase |
Separate codebases |
Single code with potential platform |
Single code with platform-specific abilities |
Libraries |
Not dependent on open-source libraries |
Highly dependent on libraries & frameworks |
Dependent on many libraries & frameworks |
Debugging |
Native debugging tools |
web development + native debugging tools |
Relies on the framework |
Tools |
AppCode Android Studio XCode |
Ionic Visual Studio Apache Cordova |
React Native Xamarin Flutter |
Benefits |
Better performance High scalability Improved UX OS compatibility Easy to launch Secure & responsive |
Multi platform support Reusable codes Fast development cycle High performance Simple to update Offline mode support |
Single codebase Quick to implement Reusable source code Faster time to market Larger audience reach Native-like performance |
How To Estimate Web App Development Costs In India?
One of the best ways to calculate cost of making app in india is using a dedicated app cost calculator. This is a unique tool that allows you to determine rough estimates of your overall cost of app development. This calculator gives a full cost breakdown of the entire process based on the category of application you would like to develop: a mobile application, a web application, or both.
App development cost calculator in India considers the app features you want, from simple features like registration & login to advanced features like IoT integration, artificial intelligence, and AR/VR technology.
We know that several factors play a significant role in influencing the cost of an application, from the app’s complexity levels to the app development team. Fortunately, with a dedicated app cost calculator, you can
- Make the cost differences between web app development & mobile app development
- Understand how much you have to pay for implementing some features like QR code scanners, push notifications, in-app purchases, etc.
- Have a more accurate time estimate required for launching your application
Apart from that, this cost calculator helps you determine a rough estimation depending on your personal requirements. Other benefits of using this tool include:
- Saves your time
- Covers all features
- Makes pricing more transparent
- Gives insights into consumer behavior
Final Words
Developing a custom mobile application in India is a very lucrative option for today’s business. However, since the overall cost of app development depends on multiple factors, determining a proper budget estimate is necessary to avoid budget overruns and unwanted expenses.
Moreover, as the entire app market is vastly extending to startups & small size businesses, the cost reduction measure has become more crucial than before. Want to know more about Android and iOS app development cost in India? Contact our professionals for authentic guidance.