How much does it cost to make a web app? The answer to this question is not the same for all businesses. This can differ according to the type they are selecting from a custom feature-rich web app to a simple one or any other. However, whatever the cost will be, it is going to be profitable for your organization in the long run. In this blog, we will discuss web app development costs in detail.
In this blog, we have mentioned all the factors affecting the web app cost along with the effective development approaches. So let’s get started with the blog.
Factors Affecting Web App Development?
1. Type of Web Application
The first thing that affects the cost of development is the type of web app you are considering building for your business. For example, a social media web app can cost from $40,000 to $200,000 and more; on the other hand, if you are going for an ecommerce app development cost may start from $30,000. The cost of the app depends on the features and functionality one web app will have. Mentioned below is a table showing types of apps, functionalities, and cost estimations.
| Type | Functionalities | Example | Cost Estimate |
| Ecommerce web app | Product listing, shopping cart, payment gateways, user accounts | Amazon, Shopify | $30,000 to $200,000+ |
| Social media platform | User profiles, news feed, messaging, content sharing | Facebook, Instagram | $40,000 to $250,000+ |
| Content Management System (CMS) | Content creation, publishing, user management | WordPress, Joomla | $30,000 to $100,000+ |
| Marketplace | Search, listing, user profiles, payment system | Airbnb, Etsy | $80,000 to $400,000+ |
| Static Web App | Fixed content, simple structure | Portfolio sites | $20,000 to $60,000 |
| Enterprise Web App | CRM, data management, analytics, collaboration tools | Salesforce, SAP | $100,000 to $500,000+ |
| Healthcare Web App | Patient record keeping, appointment scheduling, telemedicine | WebMD, Doctor On Demand | $50,000 to $300,00+ |
| eLearning Web App | Online courses, progress tracking, virtual classes | Coursera, Udemy | $30,000 to $200,000+ |
2. Category of Web App
When a business is going for custom web app development, it is necessary to have a clear picture of the different categories. And in which category your app going to be.
Progressive Web Apps
This is one of the best types that is combination of web and mobile applications. PWAs also offer offline access with responsive design and app-like experience. The development of the PWAs often requires extra hands and resources and that leads to a higher cost spectrum around $20,000 to $300,000 and can go higher. You can read more regarding Progressive Web Application Development Cost here.
Single Page Application
SPAs are designed to dynamically respond to user actions without reloading the entire page, providing a more seamless experience that facilitates deeper user engagement. Due to its complexity and interactivity, SPAs generally fall into a cost bracket of $25,000 to $250,000.
MultiPage Application
These are the traditional web applications. For example, talking about any eCommerce page consists of multiple pages. These pages open up individually and are interconnected. Depending upon the complexity of the web app, the cost can be between $30,000 and $300,000.
3. Required Features
So, to start with these factors, firstly, do you know that websites and web apps have a difference? Websites do not always allow or support the integration of any modern functionality, whereas web apps allow it to do so. So, the web application cost varies depending on the features you are implementing, and as the features become more advanced, the cost increases. We tried to mention some of the top features that one can include in web app development.
| Feature | Estimated Cost |
| User Authentication | $200 – $1000 |
| Payment Gateway | $1300 – $2000 |
| Database Setup and Management | $1000 – $4000 |
| Social Media Integration | $1000 – $5000 |
| Push Notifications | $900 – $3000 |
| Admin Dashboard | $1000 – $9,000 |
| Reporting and Analytics | $1500 – $10,000 |
| Geolocation | $500 – $3000 |
| Chat/Messing | $2000 – $7000 |
| Customizable Theme/UI | $4000 – $12,000 |
4. UI/UX Design
If you are going for custom web app development, it will no doubt affect the overall cost. The design does not only include the representation of the layouts. It also includes the coding part with HTML or CSS. The process requires proper time to implement everything properly. The businesses can also go for the pre-made layout template options, but the idea you are looking for will not fulfilled completely in that case. Here is the estimated cost for the UI/UX of web app development.
Wireframing – $1000 – $4000
UI/UX Design – $2000 – $12,000
Prototyping – $2000 – $8000
Custom Graphics – $1000 – $8,000
Animation – $2000 – $12,000
Navigation Design – $2000 – $10,000
5. Development Partner
The next factor determining the cost is the web app development company you choose to develop your web app. You can select the appropriate one which provides you with the best outcome covering all your requirements. Here are the three most common options mentioned if you do not know the cost of selecting each type.
In-House Team
You can prefer an in-house team that can work on the project, giving the organization full control, better communication, and the ability to reach the required project goals.
Cost: Fixed costs like salaries, benefits, infrastructure, etc., are incurred. These overheads naturally raise the cost, ranging from $60,000 to $200,000 per team member annually.
Freelancers
Freelancers are people who either work with other organizations or work on their own. They provide service to anyone who needs to hire them for a particular project. They work independently and thus can be cost-effective, have fast onboarding, and are available at appropriate times.
Cost: Freelancers charge hourly or project-based rates. Starting from $20 to $150/hour and can go higher. Project-based fees depend on the scope and complexity of the web application.
Outsourcing Company
If you are looking for someone who can provide extra touch to your project, then start looking for the top outsourced development companies. They can provide access to a skilled team with diverse expertise and different engagement models, and time and cost savings are also there.
Cost: The rate of hiring a web app development outsourcing company varies widely based on location and company reputation. On average, fees range from $50 to $250/hour and can go higher.
6. Geographical Location
The cost of creating a web application varies according to the location of the vendor or developer, just like in other sectors of the economy. To put it in perspective, it is far less expensive to hire an Indian developer than it is to hire a US developer.
In a summary, we can say,
- Although more expensive, North America and Western Europe provide proximity and experience.
- Eastern Europe provides a cost-quality balance.
- Asian nations offer a wide range of skills and reasonably priced solutions.
| Location | Hourly Rate | Benefits |
| India | $20 – $60 | Large talent pool, Cost-efficiency |
| North America | $80 – $250 | High development standards, cultural proximity |
| United Kingdom | $90 – $300 | Quality service, strong regulatory compliance |
| Canada | $90 – $100 | Proximity to the US, talented workforce |
| Australia | $100 – $250 | High-quality work, less time-zone issues |
| Germany | $100 – $150 | Strong work ethic, high expertise |
| Ukraine | $80 – $100 | Cost-quality balance, expert talent |
7. Technology Stack
The success of the web application and its development costs are significantly impacted by the tech stack selection. The top web development technology stacks that balance affordability and quality have been listed here.
LAMP – Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Pearl
It is widely accepted, adaptable, and has strong community support. The cost of developing a custom web application is extremely low because the majority of technologies are open-source.
MEAN – MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, Node.js
Considering that it is open-source, this technology stack is also incredibly cheap. For quicker development and real-time web apps, the MEAN stack is incredibly effective.
MERN – MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js
The MERN stack is nearly as expensive to use for developing web apps as the MEAN stack. Because of its popularity, React only slightly increases the price.
.NET Stack – Microsoft technologies, ASP. NET, C#, SQL Server
When looking for enterprise web app development services, this is the ideal option. Therefore, licensing costs may be higher.
How to Reduce Developing Web App Costs?
Once more, it’s a good idea to double-check everything if the price is too low. Don’t be fooled by the alluring pricing of web applications; find out who the engineers are, how many are involved, and whether everyone understands the scope. Or you could have to spend more money and effort on additional bug fixes and enhancements.
Assume that you have completed the project requirements and that the cost-related queries are far behind. What should I do now if the cost of the web application is excessive? Of course, you can begin your search for less expensive development teams. However, this does not guarantee a high-quality final product. Another red flag is a web application cost estimate that is too low.
Examine your options to lower the cost of app development if you’re interested in working with the current team or if no one else can complete the task more effectively:
Develop the MVP first.
By creating a minimum viable product (MVP), you can test the concept and release a product that has enough features for the first few customers without having to shell out a large sum of money. You make any necessary adjustments based on customer feedback before moving forward with expensive implementations.
Go through the IT provider’s Discovery phase.
At this point, as the product owner, you work with a knowledgeable team that examines your business objectives and needs, outlines the specifications for the product, and develops a clear implementation schedule. By completing the Discovery phase, you can organize all of the project’s data and obtain a precise cost estimate for the development of a web application.
Select third-party services.
Use of third-party tools is possible. Additionally, this adds more worthwhile content to your offering. Let’s say you’ve made the decision to create an app for financial operations. You can use payment gateway APIs like PayPal, Stripe, Google Pay, and others for this purpose. This method is compatible with many other features (such as a map, CMS, chat, etc.). You have the option to immediately incorporate third parties into your app or modify them to fit in with your website’s style.
Conclusion
Moving towards the end, if you are looking to develop a web app for your business, you are on the right platform; at Octal, you can get access to the top experts. Our team of experts is well-versed in the latest technologies and helps clients get the best results based on market trends. The cost definitely will depend upon the requirements of your project. However, the average cost of developing a web app can start from $20,000 and go higher as needed. Still confused about what to do next, don’t worry as a software consulting services provider our experts are available 24*7 to help you. Schedule your call with our experts and get answers to your questions.
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