How Much Does It Cost To Develop An Ecommerce App?

Mobile Commerce is the new cool.

ECommerce is one of the largest industries in the world right now. And it is expected that by 2025, online sales will cross the $7 TRILLION mark.

In 2022 alone, 2.3 billion users bought goods and services online. In fact, 56.6% of people prefer online stores over conventional stores, who would have thought? This is why eCommerce companies are pushing towards personalization.

And at the center of it, all is mobile commerce or eCommerce Apps.

E-commerce apps are a source of more than 67% of online sales. This means apps like Amazon are generating billions of dollars in revenue for these companies.

This is one of the big reasons why a lot of companies across the world and aspiring start-ups moving towards eCommerce App Development.

Now, everyone knows what this is, and finding eCommerce app development services isn’t hard. But one big question that goes unanswered is, “How Much Does it Cost to create an eCommerce App?”

E-commerce app development cost is the first question most clients ask when considering developing an app. But what’s the answer? Well, we shall be discussing all that in this blog.

Therefore, let’s get right into it:

How Mobile Commerce is Changing The Market?

ECommerce is a vetted concept now. It has been around for some time and we are all used to it.

Most of the things we have are bought through Amazon or some other popular eCommerce site. And in 2023, there is an eCommerce platform for everything, want to buy pet food? There’s a platform for that. Want to order stuff for gardening, there’s an eCommerce store for that too.

But what’s new is, this time around eCommerce market is being driven by mobile apps or mobile commerce to be exact.

In recent years, mobile phones have become an integral part of our life. From watching movies to calling loved ones across the world, phones, and mobile apps make everything possible.

Plus, the ease of acquiring one has led to more than 6.92 billion smartphone users. Amounting to more than 3/4^th of the world population.

This means, almost everyone has a smartphone. And users spend most of their time on phones spending an average of 3 hours and 15 min a day (we have all been there and done that).

Not to mention, most of the time is spent on mobile applications. This is the main reason for the recent growth in business-oriented app development.

Let us explain.

Mobile applications are simple technology and developing one is quite easy. But the best they offer is unparalleled.

In layman’s terms, a mobile app has a potential audience base of almost 7 billion people. There is no other medium or platform, where you can get this much exposure.

Even if businesses are able to convert 1% of this into leads or their customers, they put millions or even billions in their pockets.

And what better field to take to mobile apps than eCommerce?

It’s not a secret that everyone shops. And with recent advancements in the supply chain as well as delivery systems, people prefer online shopping over physical one, especially after Covid.

This is where eCommerce apps come in. Mobile commerce allows users to buy products and get them delivered to their houses within a day at the fastest or within a week at most.

In fact, there are some platforms that offer even faster delivery like On-demand apps. Combine this with the fact that you can shop anything online and you have a TRILLION DOLLAR MARKET.

This is how mobile commerce and eCommerce App Development have become the center of attention.

But how much does eCommerce app development cost? Well, don’t worry, we shall be answering this question in the section below.

How Much Does It Cost To Build An eCommerce App?

It’s time to answer the big question.

How much does it cost to build an e-commerce app?

E-commerce app development costs may range between $25,000 and $380,000.

What’s the exact cost?

The answer is, it’s not that simple. App development costs can be very difficult to determine. And there’s a good reason behind it.

You see, there are a number of factors that comes into play when you speak of creating an eCommerce app. These are the complexity of the platform, type of eCommerce app, feature list, location, mode of hiring developers, and so on.

Consequently, it’s highly recommended that you consult an eCommerce App Development Company. They can give you better cost estimations based on your preferences and project specifications.

Moving on, now, we shall be discussing several different elements that affect the cost of building an eCommerce app in the next few sections. Therefore, with this said, let’s get right into it.

E-Commerce App Development Cost – Example

Most of the clients come to the idea of building an eCommerce app by looking at the likes of Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and so on.

So, the question they ask is, how much does it cost to build an app like Amazon, or an app like Walmart? If you are one of these, consider the question answered.

Here, we shall be discussing the cost to build eCommerce apps like __ for some of the top platforms. These are, as mentioned below:

• Cost To Build App like Etsy | $45,000 – $120,000

Every eCommerce company wants to create an app like Etsy, it’s just that good.

The platform itself is known for handmade, vintage, custom, and unique gifts. And it is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the market.

So, if you want to build an app like Etsy, it will cost you around $45,000 to $120,000.

• Cost To Build App like Craigslist| $55,000 – $220,000

Who doesn’t know craigslist? This is one of the most popular platforms based on the C2C business model.

Anyone can sell anything here and it is up for grabs for anyone who is willing to log on to the site. And if you want to build an app like Craigslist, you should be willing to pay between $55,000 and $220,000.

• Cost To Build App like eBay| $35,000 – $190,000

EBay, let us tell you, this platform has been around for a long time. And this is one of the go-to places for many people to buy second-hand items or even new ones from other sellers.

Much like Craigslist, it is based on the customer-to-customer business model. Overall this is a simple but strong and the cost to build eBay-like platforms are anywhere between $35,000 and $190,000

• Cost To Build App like Wish| $20,000 – $200,000

Wish, makes your wishlist comes true.

Well, this is one of the eCommerce platforms that every customer loves. Because in addition to the shopping, it also allows them to save a lot, it really does.

Want to create a wish-like app? Well, it would cost you around $20,000 – $200,000.

• Cost To Build App like Amazon | $50,000 – $290,000

Who doesn’t know the world’s largest eCommerce platform amazon? With millions of users and billions in revenue, Amazon alone is worth over a Trillion Dollars.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that a lot of businesses want to develop sites or apps like Amazon. But how much does it cost?

On average, eCommerce app development costs for a platform like Amazon would range between $50,000 and $290,000.

Now, if you are someone who is more inclined towards custom app development and want to bring a unique idea to reality, don’t worry we got you covered too.

In the sections below we shall be discussing cost estimation for online shopping project that doesn’t fit into the categories above.

ECommerce App Development Cost Based On Complexity

If you are developing a custom eCommerce application for your business, one of the biggest factors that determine cost is complexity.

it’s as simple as this: the more complex an application is the more resources hence funds it requires. Thus, the overall e-commerce mobile app development cost goes up.

Essential Features for Mobile Commerce Apps (And their effect on cost)

Well, features are a big part of any application, not just eCommerce ones. Features and functionality drives mobile application towards the right path, attracting users and retaining them.

Let’s look at some of the basic factors that you should include in

• Secure Payment Options: To ensure customers feel secure when making payments, eCommerce apps should provide a range of secure payment options such as credit/debit card, PayPal and eWallet Integration.
• Search Functionality: A search function should be included to help customers quickly find the products they want.
• Product Filtering: Product filtering should be available to help customers narrow down their choices quickly.
• Multiple Shipping Options: To give customers more choice, eCommerce apps should provide multiple shipping options including standard, express and international.
• User Accounts: Customers should be able to create user accounts to store their details and track their orders.
• Push Notifications: Push notifications should be used to remind customers of special offers and new products.
• Responsive Design: eCommerce apps should be designed responsively so they can be used on a range of devices including mobile, tablet and desktop.
• Product Reviews: Customers should be able to leave product reviews to help others make informed decisions.
• Customer Loyalty Programs: Loyalty programs should be used to encourage customers to return to the eCommerce app.
• Automated Email Marketing: Automated email marketing should be used to send out newsletters, special offers and promotions.
• Fraud Detection Tools: Fraud detection tools should be used to protect customers and the business from fraud.
• Inventory Management System: An inventory management system should be used to keep track of stock levels and alert when items need reordering.
• Social Media Integration: Social media integration should be used to promote products and engage with customers.

Feature’s Effect on eCommerce App Development Cost

Just like any other part of eCommerce website and app, features are just codes. Thus, on a basic level, they can either be complex or they can be simple.

As the general rule of thumb goes, basic mobile applications with basic features are cheaper to develop while complex ones are more expensive.

However, the effect of eCommerce app development cost is hard to pin down as most of the apps have a combination of basic and advanced features.
This is where a Mobile App Development Company can help you.

Cost To Build eCommerce App on iOS, Android, & Hybrid Platform

If you want to develop an app, you need to choose a platform. There are two major types of platforms, namely:  Native and Hybrid.

Putting it simply, the hybrid app development cost is much below its native counterpart. It ranges from $15,000 to $120,000.

On the other hand, when it comes to native, it branches into two platforms, that we all know of.

The most loved and most used – android. And the premium, aesthetic, iOS from Apple. So, how much do they cost? Let’s look at the sections below.

What is the cost of iPhone app development?IPhone App Development Cost for eCommerce applications ranges from $35,000 and $280,000.

Contrary to popular belief, iOS applications are actually cheaper to create than android ones. let’s see why:

What is the cost of Android app development?

Android App Development Cost for eCommerce solution ranges between $45,000 and $300,000.

So, why is creating an android app more expensive than creating an iOS one? The answer is fragmentation.

Android is the most used mobile platform in the world. This works to its advantage and disadvantage as most of the users aren’t on the contemporary version of android. Consequently, developers have to make the app compatible with different platforms.

Cost To Hire eCommerce App Developers  & Factors Affecting Cost

One of the biggest contributors to eCommerce app development is, the cost to hire developers.

It goes without saying that if you want to create an eCommerce app, you need to hire mobile app developers. But how you do it, actually matters a lot.

There are different ways to find an app developer in 2023. And each method has different costs associated with it.

Let’s look at that and then we shall be discussing the different factors that affect the same.

• Hire Freelancers – $15/Per Hour – $95/Per Hour
• Outsource to E-commerce app development company – $35/Per Hour – $85/Per Hour
• Assemble In-house team – varying cost
• IT Staff Augmentation – depends on availed service

So, what are the factors that affect the cost of hiring developers? These are, as mentioned below:

How Much Does It Cost To Maintain An E-commerce App?

To create a successful platform, innovative development isn’t enough. After the app is deployed you need to maintain it. And well, you guessed it, this too adds to the total cost of running the platform.

In fact, the leading question after “how much does it cost to build an app” is what’s eCommerce app maintenance cost?

Well, on average, one can say that mobile app maintenance cost takes up 20% to 50% of the total project budget.

And with this, we have come to the end of our blog.

Conclusion

ECommerce apps or mobile commerce are a big part of the industry as a whole, contributing trillions of dollars to total revenue.

Now, there are a lot of companies that want to create their own app and enter the industry. And the first question they ask is, “How much does it cost to build eCommerce app?”.

In this blog, we learned all you need to know regarding eCommerce app development cost. Though if you still have doubt, it’s highly recommended that you consult an IT Firm as they will be able to provide you with better insight on the same.

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.