How much does it cost to develop a fantasy sports app?

This question is growing more and more common with the increasing popularity of Fantasy sports app development. The number of fantasy sports players is increasing day by day, as there are more than over 80 million active players.

From a business perspective, the industry is also growing, offering larger revenue generation opportunities. For instance, the fantasy sports market size is forecasted to reach over $6.11 Billion from 2021 to 2026.

Now, there are a lot of reasons why more and more businesses are running toward the fantasy sports app industry. Also, fantasy sports apps like ESPN Fantasy Sports, etc have a big role in attracting attention.

A lot of people take the initiative to develop their own fantasy sports app but the majority of them ask one question, how much does it cost to make an app like dream11? Well, this is quite a rational question considering everyone wants to know how much they will be spending.

However, determining the cost isn’t all that easy. And when you want to develop successful fantasy sports with advanced and amazing features, there are a lot of variables that can affect development costs.

For that reason, in this blog, we shall be discussing the features to include in a fantasy app to make it amazing as well as development costs and everything related to the same through this Fantasy Sports App Development Cost Guide. So, with this being said, let’s get right into it:

What is Fantasy Sports App Development?

Sports are a concept that has been around since time immemorial. From being a self-indulging activity to being a social gathering cum mass entertainment event, we have come a long way.

Throughout history, new games have been developed and some have lost the race to time. Nevertheless, one thing that they all had in common is that they required you to be at the venue or ground and play the game physically. But everything changed with fantasy sports app development.

This concept has been gaining a lot of popularity among users as well as businesses. And the main reason behind it is the uniqueness of the idea. Well, to understand this, you first need to understand what a fantasy sports app is.

Being a “fantasy” app, it allows users to play online sports via their mobile app. Now, the sport of choice can be anything from cricket, hockey, and basketball to more common fantasy sports app niches like football.

The platform allows players to gather a team of players and make them compete in tournaments or with other players. Meaning the player is the virtual counterpart of a sports manager.

What makes the fantasy cricket app so popular is its accurate simulation. And this is also why today, there are more fantasy players than sports players. Consequently, there are a lot of revenue generation opportunities and when done right, it can help businesses generate millions.

Moving on, if you want to learn how fantasy sports apps work, we shall be discussing the same in the next section.

How Does Fantasy Sports App Work?

Well, fantasy sports applications aren’t all that difficult to use. The popular fantasy sports app allows players to play one match per day.

What makes this that much more interesting is that it uses high-tech AI & ML technology to provide real-world results. This means that players can use their skills and knowledge to create the best possible team. Winning also brings in rewards that keep the players hooked. Mind it, if you utilize such technologies this might increase your cost to build a fantasy sports app, but it is worth the investment.

How Does Fantasy Sports App Work

With this being said, let’s see how a fantasy app works:

  1. The very first step is downloading the Fantasy app from the Play Store or App Store.
  2. Once the app has been downloaded to the device, you can start by registering yourself.
  3. While some fantasy apps are limited to one sport, others offer multiple sports options, so you can move forward by choosing any of them.
  4. After choosing a sport, it is time to create a team. This process can differ from app to app, but it is generally the same.
  5. When you have a full team, it is time to select a captain to lead your team.
  6. From here onwards you can upgrade or change the team if you like.
  7. You can join the public or create a private league through which you can compete against friends, family, and other strangers.
  8. Then, you can play & win multiple prizes in leagues & contests such as tickets, merchandise, or cash. Through eWallet you can transfer the amount to your account.

This is how a fantasy app works. And there is no end to the game as there is no storyline like seen in the majority of other games.

With this out of the way, let’s look at some of the more popular examples of fantasy apps.

Popular Fantasy Sports App

In recent years, the fantasy sports industries have grown quite a bit. This gives you some of the best fantasy sports apps.

And, if you want to build a fantasy app going through these services is a good example that will help you figure out a lot.

With this said, some of the popular fantasy sports apps are, as mentioned below:

AppsAvailable on
ESPN Fantasy SportsAndroid & iOS
NFL Fantasy FootballAndroid & iOS
Yahoo FantasyAndroid & iOS
CBS Sports FantasyAndroid & iOS
FanDuel Fantasy FootballAndroid & iOS
RealFevr – Fantasy SportsAndroid & iOS
Chalkboard Fantasy SportsiOS
Underdog Fantasy SportsAndroid & iOS
Draft Punk – Fantasy FootballAndroid
ThriveFantasyAndroid & iOS

Features to Include in Your Fantasy Sports App

It is often said that features are the soul and driving force of a fantasy sports app. That is why when you want to build a market-leading platform, you need to fill it with features that will attract users and keep them engaged.

Moreover, the feature is one of the major factors which can affect the cost of developing a fantasy sports app. All in all, in this section of the blog, we shall be discussing basic features to include in the fantasy sports app.

With this being said, let’s see what these features are:

User PanelAdmin PanelAdditional Features
Join/create tournamentsLoginIn-app Chat
Withdraw earningsProfit managementCreate new group
link bank accountManage tournamentsPush notifications
DashboardUser managementReferral bonus
My tournamentsManage rewardsPayment integration
Analytics ReportRevenue ManagementAPI integration
find friendsSupport CentreCRM integration

These are features that you should include when you develop a custom fantasy app. Nevertheless, the scope of the feature isn’t limited to this. Rather you can come up with your own unique features.

Average Fantasy Sports App Development Cost

Now that we are done with features, it is time to discuss the cost to develop a fantasy sports app.

Well, there is an issue. You see, finding the cost to develop an app isn’t all that easy. For instance, the cost to develop an Android app and an iOS one is very different. This is just one of the several factors which affect the total development cost.

We shall be discussing the factors in detail later down the line. Meanwhile, it is safe to say that there are a lot of variables here that make anything and everything affect the cost of building a Fantasy Sports App.

For that reason, it is possible to calculate the total cost to develop a fantasy sports app without learning about the specifications of the project. However, you can expect the fantasy sports app development cost to be anywhere between the range of $20,000 to $60,000

Now, if you are looking for accurate cost to build a fantasy sports app, all you need to do is reach out to a mobile app development company that will give you an insight on the same based on your project requirements.

With all of this said, it is time to move to the next section where we shall be looking at the features which can affect the total development cost. Therefore, let’s get right into it:

Factors Affecting the Cost to Develop Fantasy Sports App

Fantasy sports app development is a complex process with many steps and hundreds of elements. And among these, there are some factors that can highly affect the cost to develop fantasy sports apps.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Develop Fantasy Sports App

This includes everything from the ways you hire dedicated developers to the complexity of the project through this Guide to Fantasy Sports App Development Cost. Here, we shall be discussing these things which will give a perspective on how the factors can affect total development cost.

These are, as mentioned below:

1. App platform

The very first factors affect not just the cost to develop a fantasy sports app but also any mobile app development cost.

You see, before you start developing a mobile app, you have to decide which platform you want to use. Custom Android app development and iOS app development are two major examples of this.

It goes without saying that both Android and iPhone app development services are amazing in their own right. At the end of the day, choice depends on your preferences and project specifications.

Nevertheless, if you are planning to create an app that works on both platforms without developing two different applications, all you need to do is go for hybrid app development.

So, when you want to determine the cost to create a fantasy sports app, this is a factor that you should keep in mind.

2. Complexity

This is one of the largest factors on the list. You see, there are a lot of things that are involved in fantasy app development that can affect the cost to develop a fantasy sports app.

However, when you sort things out, you can water it down to complexity. Various factors lead to or add to the complexity of app development.

As one might assume, the more complex an app is, the more development time and effort it requires and consequently the more expensive it gets.

However, the opposite of this is also equally true, meaning, a simpler app with low complexity is easy to develop and is cheaper for customers. The average cost to develop fantasy sports apps of different complexity is, as mentioned below:

  • Simple Fantasy Sports App Development Cost – $40,000 to $60,000
  • Medium Fantasy Sports App Development Cost – $60,000 to $150,000
  • Complex Fantasy Sports App Development Cost – from $300,000

For a closer look into the same, it is advised that you contact the On Demand App Development Company. With this being said, let’s look at the next factor which is…

3. Development Time

There is a good reason why development time is a major factor that affects the cost to develop fantasy sports apps.

You’ll see the majority of companies and mobile app developers charge hourly rates. Due to that, the longer your project is the more time it’s going to take, and the more expensive it gets.

While this isn’t something you can control most of the time, this is in fact a major factor that should be kept in mind when determining total app development cost.

4. Location

Now, this is something everyone must already be familiar with. You see the cost of developing mobile apps highly depends on the location of the developers.

For instance, if you hire mobile app developers from the USA it is going to be more expensive when compared to a firm from South America.

Nevertheless, countries like the United States of America also provide better quality of development. That cost is most often justified.

Get to know about the cost to develop a fantasy sports app in different countries:

Region Hourly cost
USA$120-$200
UK$100-$150
Australia$80-$100
Europe$50-$80
India$25-40

5. Tech-stack

Mobile App Tech Stack plays an important role. From security, performance, scalability to user experience, basically it affects every crucial factor that is essential for your app’s success.

So, let’s see a breakdown of the tech stack that might affect your fantasy app development cost.

BasisTech-stack option Monthly time Estimated cost
Front-end app development React Native & Flutter2-4 months$15,000-$30,000
Back-end developmentNode.js, Python & Java2-4 months$25,000-$40,000
Database IntegrationMySQL & MongoDBIncluded in Back-endN/A
Sports Data APIBetsAPI, SportScore & FlashLive Sports1-2 months$5,000-$10,000
Push NotificationAmazonSNS, & OneSignal1 month$2,000-$5,000
Payment Gateway IntegrationStripe, PayPal & Braintree1 month$2,000-$8,000

6. App Features

Features can make or break your app’s success. Also, it affects the cost to make a fantasy sports app. Such as basic features might not be that costly, but adding features to your app can increase the effort and cost of developing a fantasy app.

Let’s see this through a breakdown:

Features DescriptionCost
1. Basic featuresUser-Description, drafting players, Setting rosters & lineups, viewing stats & more$20,000-$30,000
2. Advanced featuresIn-app chat with league members, real-time scoring updates, live game tracking & more.$30,000-$50,000
3. Custom featuresSocial media integrations, Custom design elements, In-app messaging & more.$50,000+

These are crucial aspects of how much it costs to build a fantasy sports app, which is why we cover to make sure that you get complete knowledge. After all, it is necessary to plan your budget.

As you got to know there are several factors to influence the cost of fantasy sports apps, now it’s time to know how to reduce this cost.

How to Optimize Fantasy Sports App Development Cost?

How to Optimize The Fantasy Sports App Development Cost

Here are some of the most followed and proven ways to stay ahead in the competition and reduce the cost of fantasy sports apps.

1. Thorough Market Research

Market research can be a magic wand to reduce the cost to develop fantasy sports apps in so many ways. First of all, it can help you to get a better understanding of your target audience, challenges in the market & what your competitors are offering.

Also, you can get to know about the gaps in the market that your app can fill, eliminating any obstructions or budget overruns.

2. Develop MVP

It might not be necessary to develop an MVP but can be beneficial to trim some costs to build a fantasy sports app. MVP development means adopting the approach to create your app with all necessary features at a small level to get valuable feedback.

This insight can reduce the wastage of efforts & costs that can occur after developing the complete product. We highly suggest you consider MVP to reduce your cost to build a fantasy sports app.

3. Cross-platform development

If you are tight on budget, we’d highly suggest you go for cross-platform app development. Wondering why? Seeing it offers different advantages that can make the cost to develop a fantasy sports mobile app affordable for you.

First of all, it eliminates the need for developers to write separate codebases. Also, it needs quick maintenance as changes only need to be made in one codebase leading to reduced overall development time and cost.

4. Agile development approach

To decrease your cost to build a fantasy sports app, another best way is to follow an agile development approach. This way, you can also reduce your development time because the focus is laid on more important tasks leading to meeting deadlines & budgets.

Also, these approaches are best as they create fewer errors & affordable to fix. Additionally promoting continuous enhancement and adjustments that can prevent costly redo.

5. Outsource your project

In-house vs outsourced has been a hot topic when it comes to choosing a development team.

See, app development is a costly affair. Although, both these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, we will suggest you outsource your project to reduce the cost of fantasy sports apps.

Apart from cost reduction, you can also get your hands on experts, leverage their expertise, and receive a high-quality solution that exceeds user expectations.

6. Use open-source technologies & frameworks

When it comes to reducing the cost to make a fantasy sports app, utilizing open-source technologies & frameworks would be a smart choice.

You get access to a pool of technologies, tools & that are available for free, consequently, they have huge community support too such as Node.js benefits for businesses & developers are well-known.

Overall, this also fastens your solution’s time to market, potentially lowering long-term maintenance expenses. Getting your app in the market means starting to generate revenue sooner, which is what you want.

Lastly, we have shared all the necessary steps that you can utilize to reduce your cost to develop a fantasy app and still get an amazing & high-quality app that drives growth & innovation. However, you need to take the help of a good company to do so & succeed in the market. With these factors out of the way, we will talk about the company in our next step.

CTA_Ready to give your idea a digital life

Ready to Create a Fantasy Sports App with Nimble AppGenie?

Fantasy sports apps can be a cornerstone for your business success, providing you with new opportunities to grow in the market and earn good revenue. But for that, you need the support of a top fantasy sports app development company, and for that, Nimble AppGenie is your best bet.

We have profound knowledge of the market, the latest trends, and technological advancements. If you have an idea, we are right here to make it a reality.

Whether you want to know the cost to build a fantasy sports app or the worthiness of your mobile app idea, we are here to help. Contact us.

Conclusion

In essence, to enter the profitable market of fantasy sports apps, you need to carefully consider all the elements of this blog. This way, you can approach a company with clearly defined requirements and invest your time and effort in the right way.

Fantasy sports apps can be a valuable platform to target sports app enthusiasts and fans. This engagement can provide more exposure to your app & opportunities to earn money. Without any doubt, creating a fantasy sports mobile app is a win-win situation. So don’t miss out on that.

FAQs

Key features that you should include in your fantasy sports app development process are, as mentioned below:

  • Manage tournaments
  • Push notifications
  • User management
  • Referral bonus
  • Join/create tournaments
  • Withdraw earnings

If you want to develop a market-leading fantasy sports app, all you need to do is reach out to us and we will take care of it for you.

The cost to develop a market-leading fantasy sports application with advanced features can range from $15,000 to $ 70,000.

For closer cost estimates, you can reach out to a mobile app development company.

To make your fantasy sports app, you should a thorough market research & define app features. Secondly, design a good interface, develop front & back end, do thorough testing, launch your app, and timely maintain it.