The eCommerce industry has been booming for the last decade, and with the advent of smartphones, mobile apps have become a necessity for any eCommerce business. Today, there are a plethora of eCommerce apps in the market, and businesses are vying to launch their own eCommerce apps to stay ahead of the competition. However, the biggest challenge for businesses is the eCommerce app development cost.
There are a variety of factors that influence the eCommerce app development cost, and businesses need to understand these factors to budget and plan accordingly. In this article, we will discuss the various factors that influence the cost of eCommerce app development and provide an estimate of the total cost involved.
Factors Influencing eCommerce App Development Cost
- App Platform: One of the most significant factors that influence ecommerce app development cost is the platform on which the app is developed. Typically, ecommerce apps are developed on two platforms – iOS and Android. Developing an app on one platform is relatively cheaper than developing an app on both platforms. However, it’s important to develop an app on both platforms to reach a wider audience.
- Design: The design of an eCommerce app plays a crucial role in user engagement and retention. The cost of eCommerce app development increases with the complexity of the design. A simple design with basic features is relatively cheaper than a complex design with advanced features.
- Development Team: The cost of eCommerce app development is largely dependent on the development team’s expertise and experience. A team of experienced developers will typically charge higher than a team of developers with less experience.
- Features: The features of an eCommerce app can significantly impact the development cost. Basic features like product listings, cart, and checkout are relatively cheaper than advanced features like personalized recommendations, push notifications, and social media integration.
- Integration: Integration with third-party services like payment gateways, shipping providers, and social media platforms can increase the cost of eCommerce app development.
- Testing and Quality Assurance: Proper testing and quality assurance are critical to the success of an ecommerce app. The cost of testing and quality assurance depends on the complexity of the app and the number of features.
- Maintenance: Once the app is developed, it requires continuous maintenance and support. The cost of maintenance can vary depending on the complexity of the app and the frequency of updates.
Platform
One of the most significant factors that influence eCommerce app development costs is the platform you choose. There are three main platforms for eCommerce app development: iOS, Android, and web. Each platform has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice will depend on your specific business requirements.
If you choose to develop an app for iOS or Android, you will need to consider the cost of development for each platform separately. The cost of developing an iOS app is typically higher than that of developing an Android app, due to the fact that iOS development requires specialized skills and tools.
If you opt for a web app, the development costs will be lower as you will only need to develop one app that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
Features
The features you want to include in your ecommerce app will also have a significant impact on the development costs. An ecommerce app typically includes a range of features, such as product catalogs, shopping carts, payment gateways, and user profiles.
Additional features, such as social media integration, push notifications, and analytics, can significantly increase the cost of development. It’s important to carefully consider which features are essential for your business and which ones are nice to have but not critical.
Design
The design of your ecommerce app is another important factor that can affect the development costs. A well-designed app can significantly improve the user experience, increase engagement, and boost sales. However, good design comes at a price.
If you want to create a custom design for your app, you will need to hire a professional designer. The cost of hiring a designer will depend on their experience and the complexity of the design you want to create. Alternatively, you can use a pre-built design template to save on costs, but this may not be as effective as a custom design.
Development Team
The development team you choose to work with will also affect the cost of ecommerce app development. You can choose to work with a freelance developer or a development company.
Freelance developers are generally less expensive than development companies, but they may not have the same level of experience and resources. On the other hand, development companies have a team of professionals who can provide a wider range of services, including design, development, and testing.
The cost of working with a development team will depend on their location, experience, and the size of the team. It’s important to choose a team that has experience in ecommerce app development and can deliver a high-quality app within your budget.
Testing
Testing is an essential part of ecommerce app development, as it ensures that the app is free of bugs and works as intended. The cost of testing will depend on the complexity of the app and the number of features included.
To save on testing costs, you can choose to perform testing in-house, but this may not be as effective as using a professional testing service. A professional testing service will ensure that your app is thoroughly tested and free of bugs before it’s released to the public.
Estimated Cost of eCommerce App Development
The cost of eCommerce app development can vary significantly depending on the factors mentioned above. However, to provide a rough estimate, we will assume that the app is developed on both iOS and Android platforms and includes basic features like product listings, cart, and checkout.
- App Platform: Developing an eCommerce app on both iOS and Android platforms can cost anywhere between $10,000 to $20,000.
- Design: The cost of design can vary depending on the complexity of the design. A basic design can cost around $1,000 to $3,000, while a complex design can cost around $5,000 to $10,000.
- Development Team: A team of experienced developers can cost anywhere between $25 to $125 per hour. Assuming that the development team spends around 1,000 to 2,000 hours on the project, the cost can range from $25,000 to $250,000.
- Features: The cost of features can vary depending on the complexity of the features. Basic features like product listings, cart, and checkout can cost around $3,000 to $5,000, while advanced features like personalized recommendations, push notifications, and social media integration can cost around $10,000 to $20,000.
- Integration: Integration with third-party services can increase the cost of ecommerce app development. Integrating payment gateways, shipping providers, and social media platforms can cost around $3,000 to $6,000
