Wondering, how much it takes to develop a fintech app?

Well, you aren’t the only one.

With the market for fintech solutions being larger than ever, so many companies want to develop their own financial application.

And the first question they have is, how much will it cost to develop? We have got you covered.

In this blog, we shall be going through a step-by-step guide for the cost to develop a fintech app and it’s breakdown, with some helpful points at the end.

Therefore, let’s get right into it:

Should You Build A Fintech App? Fintech Market Statistics

Fintech statistics show us the ever-growing market.

Let’s peak into that:

  • At the thing of writing this blog, the fintech market is valued at $194 Billion by EMR. With skyrocketing growth i.e. CAGR of 16.8%, the market will reach a sheer market size of $492 billion by 2028.
  • Even today, over a billion users use fintech apps in their day-to-day lives. And following this trend, the total user base is expected to cross 5 Billion active users by 2027.
  • The United States has the highest number of fintech unicorns globally, with the UK in second.

Fintech industry along with its various different niches is changing how we handle money, for the better.

This has attracted a lot of people who want to create a fintech app of their own and enter this lucrative market. And why not, everyone is using fintech solutions, the platforms are making billions, and the future is bright.

And this begs the question, how much does it cost to develop a financial app?

Well, let’s answer that in the next section of the blog.

How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Fintech App?

So, are you wondering how much a fintech app costs?

Well, you aren’t the only one.

“The cost to develop a fintech app ranges between $25,000 and $150,000 based on several factors including app feature, features, tech stack, and so on.”

Complexity LevelFeature ExamplesDevelopment Cost Range
Basic

• Personal finance tracking

• Budget planning

• Transaction categorization

• Basic data visualization

$25,000 – $40,000
Moderate

• Account aggregation

• Bill payments

• Loan or investment calculators

• Financial goal setting

$40,000 – $60,000
Advanced

• P2P payments

• Mobile wallets

• Investment trading

• Budgeting with AI assistance

$60,000 – $90,000
Complex

• Cryptocurrency exchange

• Robo-advisors

• Online banking features

• Advanced security protocols

$90,000 – $150,000

Due to various factors involved, it’s difficult to estimate mobile app development cost.

In layman’s terms, due to the unique nature of every fintech app project, the cost associated is also unique. Therefore, if you are looking for a unique cost estimation, we highly recommend that you consult an app development company.

Speaking of cost to develop a financial app, let’s see the different types of apps and associated cost in the next section.

Different Types of Fintech App And Their Cost

To understand fintech app development cost, one must understand its different types.

As we know, Fintech being an umbrella term, there are various different types of solutions covered within it.

Let’s see, fintech app cost estimation for different types.

App TypeCost
eWallet App$25,000 – $100,000
Crypto-Wallet Apps$50,000 – $150,000+
Mobile Banking Apps$30,000 – $75,000
Money Transfer Apps$25,000 – $200,000+
Loan Lending Apps$40,000 – $125,000

1. eWallet App | $25,000 – $100,000

Market is filled with top eWallet apps with each billions of users, making billions in revenue. Thus, making it one of the largest niches of the fintech industry.

Consequently, there are a lot of people who want to create eWallet app.

Coming to the point, if you want to take up this venture cost to build an eWallet app ranges from $25,000 and $100,000.

Depending on the specifications of your platform, the cost may go up or do.

Key Features:

  • Seamless User Onboarding
  • Multi-Currency Support
  • Secure Transactions with Encryption
  • QR Code Payments
  • Real-time Transaction Tracking
  • In-App Customer Support

2. Loan Lending Apps | $50,000 – $150,000+

Inspired by the growing popularity of loan lending apps, a lot of businesses are considering this investment.

So, how much does it cost to build a loan lending app?

Well, loan lending app development cost range between $50,000 and $150,000+.

Now, there are various different types of loan lending apps, including cash advance solutions and BNPL apps like AfterPay.

Depending on which type of solution you want to develop, total cost can be affected.

Key Features:

  • User-Friendly Loan Application
  • Instant Approval Algorithms
  • Secure Document Uploads
  • Automated Repayment Reminders
  • Integration with Payment Gateways
  • Compliance with Financial Regulations

3. Money Transfer Apps | $30,000 – $75,000

Let’s look at one of the most popular fintech app solutions.

And If you too want to create a money transfer app, it will set you back anywhere between $30,000 and $75,000

Being a popular yet simple fintech app, it is well within the average cost to develop a fintech app.

Key Features:

  • Quick and Easy Fund Transfers
  • Multi-Platform Compatibility
  • Biometric authentication
  • Transaction History Tracking
  • Notification Alerts for Transactions
  • 24/7 Customer Support Integration

4. Mobile Banking Apps | $25,000 – $200,000+

To create a mobile banking app, you have to pay anywhere from $75,000  to $200,000+.

It goes without saying mobile banking apps are the future of banking, helping traditional institutions reach billions of unbanked users.

If you are offering banking services, you may consider Neobank app development.

Key Features:

  • Account Management on-the-go
  • Bill Payments and Fund Transfers
  • Investment Portfolio Tracking
  • Customizable Alerts and Notifications
  • Two-Factor Authentication
  • Integration with Third-Party Financial Services

5. Cryto-Wallet Apps | $40,000 – $125,000+

Lastly, we have crypto wallet app development.

With the rise of blockchain technology and its increasing use in the fintech market, we get cryptocurrency-enabled digital wallets.

The cost to build a crypto-wallet app ranges from $40,000 and goes all the way up to $125,000 or beyond.

Key Features:

  • Multi-Currency Support
  • Private Key Management
  • Real-Time Market Updates
  • QR Code Transactions
  • Biometric Security Options
  • Cold Wallet Storage for Enhanced Security

Popular Fintech Apps And Their Cost

In today’s lucrative market, we have leading fintech apps that are defining digital success.

A lot of people are inspired to build fintech apps like xyz. So, let’s look at popular fintech applications and how much does it cost to clone them.

These are, as mentioned below:

1. PayPal | $150,000 – $500,000

PayPal is a widely used online payment platform that stands out due to its comprehensive set of features.

It facilitates peer-to-peer transfers, and online payments, and serves as a merchant service for businesses.

With a high level of complexity, Apps like PayPal integrate with numerous financial institutions and offer services such as credit options and currency exchange.

  • Complexity: High.
  • Estimated cost: $150,000 – $500,000+.

2. Wise | $75,000 – $200,000

The market is filled with cross-border transfer apps, but there aren’t many like this one.

Formerly known as TransferWise, Wise focuses on international money transfers with an emphasis on competitive rates and transparency.

The platform’s moderate complexity arises from strong currency exchange mechanisms and integrations with global banking systems.

Complexity: Moderate.

Estimated cost: $75,000 – $200,000.

3. Zelle | $50,000 – $150,000

Zelle is a peer-to-peer payment platform that primarily focuses on secure, bank-to-bank transfers within the United States.

While its feature set is more limited compared to other platforms, the low to moderate complexity arises from efficient fintech APIs and secure connections required for seamless integration with various US banks.

The success of the Zelle business model has attracted a lot of people to build their own solutions like this. And considering the fintech app cost involved, it’s a rather popular solution.

Complexity: Low to moderate.

Estimated cost: $50,000 – $150,000.

4. Venmo | $75,000 – $175,000

Venmo stands out with its social component, combining peer-to-peer transfers with features that allow users to split bills and add comments.

For those who don’t know, this is the platform pioneering contactless payments.

Moving on, the moderate complexity of Venmo’s development is attributed to the additional layers of user interactions and data management required for its social features.

Complexity: Moderate.

Estimated cost: $75,000 – $175,000.

5. Cash App | $50,000 – $150,000

Do you want to build an app like Cash App?

There are a lot of people who do.

Cash App, developed by Square, offers a range of features including peer-to-peer transfers, direct deposit, budgeting tools, and Bitcoin trading.

While its core functionalities are similar to Venmo, the integration of Bitcoin transactions and investment features adds some complexity.

Complexity: Moderate.

Estimated cost: $50,000 – $150,000.

Factors That Affect Cost To Create A Fintech App

Now that we are done with the general categorization of financial app development costs, it’s time to look at different factors that affect the cost to develop an app.

There are various factors we shall be discussing here and each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Fintech App Cost Affecting Factors

These are, as mentioned below:

A] App Development Platform

When you develop a fintech app, the first thing you need to choose is a platform.

Here, you get options like android app development, iOS app development, hybrid, and so on. Each of them has their own unique associated cost.

So, cost to build a fintech app across different platforms is, as mentioned below.

PlatformEstimated Cost Range
Native (iOS & Android)$50,000 – $150,000+
Cross-platform (React Native, Flutter)$30,000 – $100,000
Hybrid (WebView-based)$20,000 – $75,000
Web Apps$15,000 – $50,000

The reason why hybrid app development cost is much lower in native is, latter one require much more time and offer better performance.

Speaking of which, let’s move to the next section.

B] Fintech App Tech Stack

Once we are done with app development platform, it’s time to discuss app tech stack.

Different levels of fintech app tech stack and cost associated with them:

ComplexityBackendFrontendDatabaseAPI IntegrationSecurity ServicesAdditional FeaturesEstimated Cost ($ Range)
SimpleFlask/Django (Python)React.js/Vue.jsPostgreSQL/MySQL$25,000-$40,000
Mid-ComplexitySpring Boot (Java)/Node.js with Express.jsReact Native/FlutterMongoDB/DynamoDBPlaid/FinicityAWS Cognito/Okta$50,000 – $80,000
ComplexMicroservices (e.g., Spring Boot + Kafka)React Native + GraphQLCassandra/BigTableCloud Pak for Financial Services/FICO FalconTensorFlow/PyTorchAI features, advanced analytics$100,000 – $150,00

Much like eWallet app tech stack, the fintech one also highly depends on APIs that highly affect the cost to make a fintech app and run it.

Let’s see, what these APIs are:

Type of API IntegrationCosts
Payment APIs

Integrate payment gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal), digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay), or alternative payment methods (e.g., BNPL providers).

  • Stripe: ~$0.8/transaction, $25/month for basic plan.
  • PayPal: ~$0.3/transaction, $30/month for a business plan.
Banking APIs

Access bank account data, initiate transfers and verify financial information.

  • Plaid: Tiered pricing based on API calls and data access.
  • Finicity: $0.25/account per month for basic data access.
Investment APIs

Connect to stock exchanges, brokerage accounts, and market data providers.

  • Alpaca: Free basic plan, $29/month for advanced features.
  • IEX Cloud: Free tier with limited data, $99/month for a professional plan.
Fraud & Identity Verification APIs

Utilize fraud detection tools, credit score providers, and KYC/AML verification services.

  • Trulioo: $0.25-$1/user for basic risk assessments.
  • Socure: Tiered pricing based on volume and features.
Open Banking APIs

Leverage account data and functionalities available through PSD2/Open Banking regulations.

  • UK Open Banking APIs: Varies depending on data and functionality accessed.
  • EU PSD2 APIs: Varies depending on individual bank implementations.

Now done evaluating this part of cost of creating a fintech app, let’s move to the next section where we shall be discussing the app design.

C] App’s UI/UX Design

Does UI/UX design affect how much it cost to develop a fintech app?

Well, it certainly does. And in this section of the blog, we shall be going through the breakdown of UI/UX design cost for a fintech app.

Complexity LevelUI/UX Design Cost RangeEstimated % of Overall CostKey Design Features
Low$5,000 – $15,0005-10%Simple interface, intuitive navigation, pre-built UI elements
Moderate$10,000 – $30,00010-20%Dynamic elements, custom icons, personalized dashboards, light animations
High$20,000 – $50,000+20-30% or moreHighly customized UI, advanced data visualization, interactive charts, custom animations, micro-interactions

As a general rule of thumb, the more complex a fintech is, the more it will cost to develop a fintech app.

Speaking of which, it’s move to the next section where we shall be discussing how development partners affect custom fintech app development cost.

D] Development Partner Type and Location

It’s time to hire mobile app developers.

And as things stand, there are a few ways you can do this, these are:

Now, as one might assume, each of them has different cost associated. Now, here’s the twist, cost to hire app developers highly depends on location.

Combining these two elements, here’s a table:

LocationHourly Rate Range (USD)Project Cost Estimate (USD)Staff Augmentation Cost Range (USD)Outsourcing Cost Range (USD)
United States$50-$150$180,000-$500,000+$75-$125/hour$50-$125/hour
Canada$40-$100$120,000-$350,000$60-$90/hour$40-$80/hour
Western Europe (UK, Germany, France)$35-$90$100,000-$300,000$50-$80/hour$35-$70/hour
Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland, Romania)$20-$60$60,000-$200,000$35-$55/hour$20-$50/hour
India$15-$40$30,000-$120,000$25-$45/hour$15-$35/hour
Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico)$25-$50$75,000-$150,000$40-$60/hour$25-$45/hour

This can be a little confusing, but to get a more accurate cost estimation, you need to consider the tech stack of developers.

i.e. whether you want to hire android app developer or iOS app developer.

E] After-Launch Maintenance and Support

Lastly, we have app maintenance and support services.

This is one of the most important parts of financial app cost as well as running an app that has a chance at being successful in the market.

So, what’s the cost to maintain a mobile app?

TypeMonthly Cost RangeEstimated % of Overall Cost
Bug Fixes and Security Updates$200 – $1,0001-2%
Performance Monitoring and Optimization$300 – $1,5001-3%
Compliance Updates and Reporting$500 – $2,5002-5%
Customer Support$1,000 – $7,5005-10%
Feature Enhancements and New Releases$1,500 – $10,000+7-15% or more

For a better understanding of the same, you might as well consult dedicated developers who will be giving you a better insight on the same.

How Long Does It Take To Make A Fintech App? ( & it’s effect on cost)

A leading question following, how much does it cost to develop a financial app is: “How Long Does It Take To Build An App?”

Well, if you were wondering, about app development time, let’s break it down.

PhaseTime (Weeks)Estimated Cost ($ Range)
Discovery & Analysis4-6$25,000 – $50,000
UI/UX Design4-8$25,000 – $75,000
Development & Integration12-36$75,000 – $150,000
Testing & Quality Assurance4-8$25,000 – $50,000
Deployment & Launch2-4$10,000 – $25,000
Post-Launch Maintenance & UpdatesOngoing$5,000 – $15,000 per month

As this table shows, the time to develop an app, also highly affects the cost to create a fintech app. Now, to make it a complete guide to fintech app development cost, let’s see what are some cost effective ways to build a fintech app.

Cost-Effective Ways To Build A Fintech App

Now that we are done with a step-by-step guide to fintech app development cost, let’s look at cost-effective ways to do so.

Cost Effective Ways To Build A Fintech App

1) Focus on a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

One of the ways to lower fintech application development costs is considering MVP development.

Here, what you do is, start with a limited set of core features that solve a specific problem for your target audience. This allows you to launch faster, gather user feedback, and iterate based on real-world usage.

One thing to keep in mind here is, to avoid feature creep. In simple words, just resist the urge to add unnecessary bells and whistles that add complexity and fintech app cost.

2) Optimize Your Development Process

To optimize the app development process, there are a few things you can do:

Firstly, you can start by considering cross-platform development tools

Consider cross-platform development tools like Flutter or react native to build both iOS and Android versions with a single codebase.

To take it to the next level, you should Choose the right tech stack. And leverage pre-built fintech APIs and integrations for functionalities like payments, security, and data analysis.

3) Prioritize Security and Compliance

When it comes to fintech solutions, app security takes an important place.

Therefore, consider embedding security practices throughout the development process. Don’t cut corners on things like data encryption and user authentication.

Furthermore, you should understand and comply with relevant financial regulations and data privacy laws in your target market.

This can involve additional costs, but avoiding penalties and security breaches is far more expensive.

So, these are the ways to minimize the cost of building a fintech app.

How Nimble AppGenie, A Top Fintech App Development Company Can Help You?

Do you want to develop a fintech app (cost-effectively)?

Nurturing an app idea and converting it into a successful fintech app is a lot of work. You can let go of all of that, by partnering with the best development partner.

Nimble AppGenie is a vetted fintech app development company with years’ worth of experience in the market, working on 700+ projects, and delivering 95% client satisfaction.

For our contribution to the fintech industry, we are recognized by top platforms like Clutch.com, GoodFirms, and DesignRush.

Some of our top solutions are, as mentioned below:

  • Pay By Check– Pay by Check is a popular eWallet mobile app in the United States of America. It allows users to transfer, pay, or even exchange currency.
  • DafriBank– Digital Bank of Africa is a leading banking portal that also allows users to trade cryptocurrencies and provides e-wallet advantages.
  • SatPay– An eWallet platform, it’s a Versatile eWallet Solution that allows users to request, receive, and send payment without hassle.
  • CUT– an E-wallet Mobile App, CUT is available in China and Myanmar. It works well with both RMB and MMK currencies.
  • SatBorsa– a Currency Exchange Fintech app, SatBorsa is one of the platforms that is available on both platforms, iOS, and Android.

If you have an idea for a fintech app, we have the right tools to bring it to reality. Contact us today and we will assign you a team of top fintech app developers within 24 hours.

Conclusion

With the market projected to reach $492 billion by 2028 and a user base expected to surpass 5.5 billion, the potential rewards are substantial. The cost to develop a fintech app, ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 or more, hinges on factors like complexity, features, and development platform.

Exploring cost-effective strategies such as focusing on a Minimum Viable Product, optimizing the development process, and prioritizing security can enhance the chances of success. Ultimately, navigating the intricate landscape of fintech app development demands a strategic and well-informed approach.

FAQs

Basic FinTech apps with functionalities like personal finance tracking, budgeting, and transaction categorization can range from $25,000 to $40,000. However, the cost can increase significantly depending on added features and complexity.

Focus on an MVP (Minimum Viable Product): Launch a basic version with core features first, gather user feedback, and iterate based on their needs.

Choose the right tech stack: Utilize cross-platform development tools and pre-built APIs for cost-efficient development.

Prioritize security and compliance: Implementing robust security measures upfront saves potential costs from breaches and penalties later.

Follow these considering to hire fintech app developers.

  • Clearly define your project needs and technical requirements.
  • Research and compare developers with experience in FinTech app development.
  • Evaluate their portfolio, case studies, and client testimonials.
  • Assess their communication style, project management approach, and transparency.
  • Compare cost estimates and pricing models to find a partner within your budget.

The on-going costs associated with fintech app are, as mentioned below:

  • Bug fixes and security updates: Ensuring app stability and user data protection.
  • Performance monitoring and optimization: Improving app speed and user experience.
  • Customer support: Providing user assistance and resolving issues.
  • Feature enhancements and new releases: Keeping the app competitive and engaging.

Some of the key legal and regulatory considerations for fintech solution are, as mentioned below:

  • Data privacy laws
  • Anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations
  • Financial sector regulations
  • Tax regulations

  • Entering a high-growth and lucrative market.
  • Providing innovative financial solutions and improving user experience.
  • Reaching a wider audience and building brand loyalty.
  • Generating revenue through user fees, subscriptions, or partnerships.

The cost to develop a fintech app ranges between $25,000 and $150,000 based on several factors including app feature, features, tech stack, and so on.

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