These days, everyone is using e-commerce mobile applications on their phones! It’s just so much easier to buy stuff online. Young people especially love it for their clothes, from trendy Western styles to traditional wear and stylish footwear. But it’s not just about clothes anymore. You can get groceries delivered, order takeout, and all sorts of things – it’s changed the way we shop completely.
Likewise, having a strong online presence is no longer luxurious to buy stuff on an e-commerce platform but has become important for businesses nowadays. Because of the growing attraction of online shopping, there is a higher demand for strong and user-friendly e-commerce mobile apps.
Businesses recognize the value of contacting customers directly on their phones, providing a simple and personalized buying experience. However, before going deeply into app creation, one most important factor must be considered: How much will it cost to develop an e-commerce mobile app?
This article is your one-stop guide to navigating the world of e-commerce mobile app development costs We will break down the key factors that affect the price tag, compare popular development platforms, and offer some insider tips to keep your app budget-friendly. So, whether you are a seasoned owner or a budding entrepreneur with a brilliant idea, this article will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and build a thriving e-commerce app.
What is an e-commerce app?
An e-commerce app short for electronic commerce application, basically is a mini-mall that lets you browse products, add them virtual shopping cart, and pay for them electronically- all from your phone! They are like online stores that fit right in your pocket
It makes shopping super convenient; you can browse and buy anything you need, from anywhere and anytime. Many e-commerce apps even offer personalized recommendations and exclusive deals, making them a great way to find the perfect item at the best price even on their personal budget.
Though, they are not just handy for shoppers, businesses use them to reach a wider audience, boost sales, and keep customers happy. So next time you plan to shop, ditch the crowded stores and fire up your favorite e-commerce app, it’s a whole new way to shop.
Factors Influencing E-commerce App Development Cost
Before you go down to know about the cost comparison of popular platforms. It’s important to understand the key factors that influence the overall ecommerce app pricing.
App Complexity and features: The more features and functionalities you add such as basic apps with essential features like product listings, shopping carts, and checkout will naturally cost less than feature-rich apps with functionalities like Wishlist, personalized recommendations and integrated social m media logins, the higher the developments cost it will be.
App Developments Platform Choice: The online shopping app development cost may vary depending on the development platform where you build it! But developing an app for multiple platforms like IOS, and Android doubled the price Luckily, there is a way to cut those costs in half. Cross-platform tools like Flutter and React Native help you build one app that works on both IOS and Android.
Third-Party Integrations: Integrating your app with payment gateways, delivery providers, or third-party services may increase the development cost.
UI and App Design: A user-friendly and visually appealing UI can greatly enhance the user experience. However, creating a custom design will cost more than using pre-built templates.
App maintenance and update on time: To achieve long-term profitability in e-commerce maintenance must be done on time. Regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly and securely. The complexity of your app, how many updates it needs, and the level of ongoing support all affect this cost. Factoring in maintenance from the start helps ensure the app stays up to date and keeps those customers happy.
The e-commerce application Development Cost
The cost of developing an e-commerce app very depends on its complexity and features. The price tag is usually between $10,000 to $250,000 or possibly more, according to the specific requirements of the application.
Native App (iOS and Android): Most expensive option, costs ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 + offers the best performance and user experience.
Cross Platform App: more cost-effective, with development costs ranging from $40,000 to $100,000. It reaches a wider audience but may have limitations.
E-commerce app Developments: Most Affordable option, costing ranging from $0,000 to $30,000 with ongoing fees. Limited customization and functionalities.
Remember, these are just estimates! The actual cost will depend on what your app specifically needs to do. Do your research and pick the platform that best suits your budget and business goals.
Popular e-commerce App Development Platforms
Building an e-commerce app is exciting, but picking the right platform can feel like choosing a new phone – it has many options! So, let’s compare and see how to build e-commerce applications with these platforms.
1. Shopify
Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that provides a mobile application builder, which lets you develop a native app for your online business. The e-commerce Android app development cost with Shopify may vary from $2,000 to $50,000 or more, based on the level of complexity of your app and the features you demand.
Development of Shopify:
· Shopify Basic Plan: $39 per month
· Shopify Advance plan: $399 per month
· Shopify Plus Plan: $2000 per month
· Shopify Development Time: 2 or 4 weeks for a basic setup
2. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an e-commerce plugin for WordPress, lacks a dedicated app builder. To have a custom mobile application for your WooCommerce store, you will need to hire a developer, which can cost from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the app complexity and the developer’s expertise.
WooCommerce Development Cost:
· Hosting: $5 to $25 per month
· Domain; $10 to $20 per year
· Theme: $0 to $100 (one-time cost)
· Plugins: $0 to $300 (one-time cost or monthly subscription)
· Development Time: 4 to 8 weeks for basic store, depending on the customization needs.
3. Magento
Magento is a flexible and scalable e-commerce platform. itself doesn’t provide a built-in app builder tool; you can hire a developer to create a customized mobile app for your Magento store but to make an app you must know how to develop an e-commerce app with this platform.
Magento Development Cost:
· Magento open source: Free to download, but it requires hosting ($10 to $50) per month.
· Magento Commerce: Starts from $22,000 per year.
· Customization and Maintenance: $5,000 to $50,000 based on complexity.
· Development Time: 3 to 6 months to complete customized solutions.
4. Custom eCommerce
Custom eCommerce includes developing a customized online shopping platform from scratch to satisfy unique business requirements. It gives the highest level of flexibility and uniqueness, but it is more expensive and takes longer time to develop.
Custom eCommerce Development Cost:
· Design and Development: $20,000 to $100,000 plus, based on the complexity and features.
· Maintenance and Updates: $1,000 to $10,000 per year.
· Development Time: 6 to 12 months or can be more, but depend on project scope
In the end
So finally, you can build your own e-commerce mobile application! But mark this, building an e-commerce app can get expensive, especially if you want customized features and functionalities. The smart way to do this is to decide what features you require before you start and not make things too complicated.
Working with a good e-commerce app development company which can assist you in creating a good app and checking must-have an experience that can guide you on the right path based on your business needs and budget. They work closely with you from the initial stage all the way to launching your app. Their goal is to create a high-quality e-commerce app that is easy to use and helps you make more conversions, sales and revenue.
Do your research, carefully plan your app’s functionalities, and choose the right development partner to bring your e-commerce vision to life.
