How much does eCommerce mobile app development cost? Well, there can be no straightforward answer to this question, as there are many factors that need to be considered while calculating the exact cost of building an eCommerce mobile app.
To determine the exact cost of building an eCommerce mobile app, you need to know the answers to these questions -
- What features do you require in your eCommerce app?
- Which tech stack are you planning to use for your eCommerce application?
- How many products are you planning to sell on your eCommerce app?
- Are you planning to hire in-house eCommerce developers in-house or outsource the entire project to a professional app development company/freelancer?
- What is the geographical location of your eCommerce app developer?
- What is the complexity level of your eCommerce app?
This eCommerce app development pricing guide aims to make the process of calculating the cost of an eCommerce app simple, empowering businesses to make the right decisions and save costs throughout their online store development journey. So, let's quickly delve into the details, starting with the basics first.
What is an eCommerce Mobile App?
eCommerce mobile app is widely known as a shopping app. It is a platform that allows users to sell and purchase products and services using their smartphones and tablets.
As per a recent survey, 78% of respondents said that they prefer using mobile apps over mobile sites to shop for products and services online.
But why do so many people prefer to purchase using mobile apps?
The same survey also revealed the reasons why people prefer using eCommerce mobile apps as given below:
Why Do Shoppers Use eCommerce Mobile Apps?
2023 global mobile eCommerce sales amounted to 2.2 U.S. dollars, which is 60% of total online sales. So, if you own a retail business but have not launched your eCommerce app, you might be missing out on considerable sales opportunities.
Besides this business advantage, there are other benefits of having an eCommerce app for your online retail business. Let's take a look at some of the most prominent reasons that have encouraged modern retailers to launch their eCommerce apps.
Why Do Retail Businesses Need an eCommerce App?
Let's know these reasons in-depth.
Improved Marketing Communication
Through an eCommerce mobile app, you can use the power of push notifications. Push notifications can help you promote your products and keep your customers informed about your daily offers. This ultimately leads to improved marketing communication, resulting in accelerated sales.
Provides Personalized Experience
When a user visits your eCommerce website, they need to log in to get a personalized experience. However, in an eCommerce app, personalized notifications and recommendations are available as soon as the user opens the app. Personalized experience plays an important role in engaging customers and improving sales.
Reduces Cart Abandonment
Mobile apps have only a 20% cart abandonment rate compared to 68% on desktop sites and 97% on mobile sites. As cart abandonment is the biggest issue eCommerce companies are facing these days, it becomes important to launch a mobile app to minimize the instances of customers leaving products in the cart without purchasing.
Boosts Customer Loyalty & Retention
In the case of an eCommerce website, there are hardly any chances that customers will reopen your website and make purchases. However, when they have your eCommerce app installed on their mobile phones, they are likely to make repetitive purchases as notifications constantly remind them about lucrative offers.
Improves Customer Service
eCommerce apps facilitate customer service at their fingertips. Many apps allow customers to chat or make phone calls using the app itself. They don't need to email their problems. They can directly chat with the customer service representative using the app, which makes it convenient and, therefore, improves customer service.
Thus, the right decision here would be to develop an eCommerce mobile app for your brand and gain a competitive advantage.
So, now if you have decided to get an eCommerce app built for your retail business, the first question that comes to mind is how much does eCommerce mobile app development cost? Before we jump to eCommerce mobile app development cost breakdown, let's have a look at the factors impacting its cost.
Factors Impacting eCommerce Mobile App Development Cost
There are different costs associated with building and maintaining an eCommerce application, as given below -
eCommerce App Design
The number of screens on your eCommerce mobile app and the design theme you have chosen can impact the cost of app development. An originally created app design can cost you more than a readymade template design. At the same time, a professionally designed app with an excellent UI would attract more conversions and thus prove to be more profitable for your online store. So, it would be better to make cost-effective decisions when you hire a UI UX designer for your eCommerce app development.
eCommerce App Platform
There are many app platforms available that are specifically used for developing iOS and Android apps. However, it is always better to use cross platform mobile application development platforms like React Native or Flutter, which can reduce the development cost. Also, low code/no-code mobile app development platforms can help you build apps without coding skills saving time and money both. The final cost of your eCommerce app development project depends on the framework you choose.
eCommerce App Features
An eCommerce app with basic features can cost more than an eCommerce app with advanced features. An eCommerce app that is rich in features requires more time to develop. Advanced features like including AI for personal recommendations and chatbots can cost more as compared to an eCommerce app with minimal features like product catalog, user registration/login, payment gateway integration, push notifications, etc.
Payment Gateway Integration
Integrating a payment gateway system with an eCommerce platform is essential. The payment gateway integration cost depends on how much the payment gateway service providers charge. If you are planning to use an API for the same, then the cost will depend on API owners or time consumed by developers in building that API.
eCommerce App Maintenance
To stay competitive, it becomes important to update the app regularly. If you are getting an eCommerce app maintained by a professional app development company, then it can cost more than your in-house development team's salaries or freelancer's hourly charges. The cost of eCommerce app maintenance also depends on the complexity of the app and how frequently you require it to be updated. Let’s now move on to eCommerce mobile app development cost breakdown based on various factors.
Location and Size of the Team
eCommerce app developers in Australia can charge more than eCommerce app developers in China or other Asian countries. The reason behind that is the standard of living. Moreover, eCommerce app projects with higher complexity and more features may require a bigger team of developers and thus the development cost can increase in that case.
eCommerce Mobile App Development Cost Breakdown
This eCommerce app development cost breakdown can vary throughout the world due to differences in standard of living, and currency value. Let's have a look at the approximate cost estimate of eCommerce app development services in some countries like the USA, India, UK, UAE, and Pakistan.
eCommerce App Development Cost in the USA
| Cost Segment | Approximate Cost |
| Design | $1,000 - $15,000+ |
| Techstack | $20,000 - $70,000+ |
| Payment Gateway Integration | $1,000 - $10,000+ |
| Maintenance & Upgrades | $2,500 - $15,000+ / Year |
eCommerce App Development Cost in India
| Cost Segment | Approximate Cost |
| Design | Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 50,000+ |
| Techstack | Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 500,000+ |
| Payment Gateway Integration | Rs. 5,000 - Rs. 50,000+ |
| Maintenance & Upgrades | Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 100,000+ / Year |
eCommerce App Development Cost in UK
| Cost Segment | Approximate Cost |
| Design | £1,000 – £7,000+ |
| Techstack | £10,000 – £50,000+ |
| Payment Gateway Integration | £250 – £2,000+ |
| Maintenance & Upgrades | £2,000 – £7,000+ / Year |
eCommerce App Development Cost in UK
| Cost Segment | Approximate Cost |
| Design | £1,000 – £7,000+ |
| Techstack | £10,000 – £50,000+ |
| Payment Gateway Integration | £250 – £2,000+ |
| Maintenance & Upgrades | £2,000 – £7,000+ / Year |
eCommerce App Development Cost in UAE
| Cost Segment | Approximate Cost |
| Design | AED 5,500 – AED 20,000+ |
| Techstack | AED 55,000 – AED 250,000+ |
| Payment Gateway Integration | AED 2,000 – AED 10,000+ |
| Maintenance & Upgrades | AED 10,000 – AED 50,000+ / Year |
eCommerce App Development Cost in UK
| Cost Segment | Approximate Cost |
| Design | PKR 5,000 – PKR 70,000+ |
| Techstack | PKR 25,000 – AED 500,000+ |
| Payment Gateway Integration | PKR 5,000 – PKR 100,000+ |
| Maintenance & Upgrades | PKR 4,000 – PKR 60,000+ / Year |
These costs can vary depending on your eCommerce business size and type, the features required for your eCommerce app, the level of expertise of your eCommerce app developers, and the frequency of maintenance and updates you need for your eCommerce app.
Let's now delve into the details of the cost of an eCommerce app based on platform compatibility and the hiring model you are following.
eCommerce App Development Cost Based on Platform Compatibility
The cost of an eCommerce app can vary depending on the platforms it can run on. When it comes to platform compatibility, Native, Hybrid, and cross-platform are the three types of mobile apps in usage these days.
| Platform | Description | Cost |
| Native App | Apps that run on Android or iOS | $50,000 - $100,000 |
| Cross-Platform App | Apps that run similarly on Android and iOS | $25,000 - $60,000 |
| Hybrid App | Apps that run similarly on the Web, Android, and iOS | $10,000 - $150,000 |
eCommerce App Development Cost Based on Hiring Model
The cost of your eCommerce mobile application depends on whether you are outsourcing your project or hiring an in-house team of eCommerce developers. If you are outsourcing eCommerce app development services, then the cost of your project depends on the experience, expertise, and geographic location of your mobile app development company or freelancer you hire.
There are three options when it comes to selecting a hiring model for your eCommerce app development project - outsourcing or in-house hiring.
Let's start with knowing how much would outsourcing eCommerce app development services cost?
How Much Does Outsourcing eCommerce App Development Services Cost?
Usually, eCommerce app development companies follow two different pricing models - Fixed price model and hourly cost.
Fixed Pricing Model
In the fixed pricing model, the companies charge based on app complexity and features required.
As per the latest report, the estimated fixed cost of building an eCommerce app in the USA is between $10000 to $500000, which can be segmented based on functionality as given below:
The companies with their clients mutually decide on a fixed price of an eCommerce app development project based on the features required. After that, they sign an agreement for the same and payment is done by the client on every milestone achieved.
eCommerce app features define its functionality which is the most important aspect to be considered while estimating the cost of its development. Complex functionality in an eCommerce app would take more time for developers to build it and thus accelerate its cost. Simple eCommerce apps with basic features like product listings and search options can cost less than advanced eCommerce apps with AI recommendations, chatbots, and AR functionalities.
As functionality of your eCommerce app impacts user experience and that ultimately can measure the success and failure of your online business, it becomes imperative to choose the required features in your eCommerce app carefully and at the same time ensure that its cost doesn't exceed your budget.
The comparison table below can help you decide the features you require in your online store, and accordingly, you can estimate the final cost of your eCommerce app development.
Fixed Price Based on eCommerce App Features
| eCommerce App Features | Basic eCommerce App | Mid-Level eCommerce App | Advanced eCommerce App |
| Product Catalog |  |
|
|
| Shopping Cart | |
|
|
| Search Filter | |
|
|
| Payment Gateway Integration | |
|
|
| User Personalization |  |
|
|
| Push Notifications | |
|
|
| Social Media Integration | |
|
|
| Chatbot Integration | |
|
|
| Personalized Recommendations | |
|
|
| Omni-Channel Support | |
|
|
| Inventory Management | |
|
|
| AR/VR | |
|
|
| ERP/CRM Integration | |
|
|
| Multi-Lingual Support | |
|
|
| Example | Wish | eBay | Amazon |
| Approximate Cost | $10,000 - $50,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | $150,000 - $500,000 |
Now, let's move further on this topic and have a look at the eCommerce app development cost based on hourly pricing model.
eCommerce App Development Hourly Pricing Model
The Hourly pricing model is considered to be a cost-effective option for eCommerce app owners as they pay for what they get. That's it. No hidden costs.
Let's have a look at the hourly cost of the different eCommerce app development team members.
eCommerce App Development Team Hourly Cost
| Junior Level eCommerce App Developers | $20+/hour |
| Intermediate Level eCommerce App Developers | $25+/hour |
| Experienced eCommerce App Developers | $30+/hour |
| Team Lead | $50+/hour |
| Project Manager | $100+/hour |
| UI/UX Designers | $20+/hour |
| Quality Analysts | $20+/hour |
The hourly cost of hiring an eCommerce developer depends on the type of mobile app platform you choose. Below-mentioned are the hourly rates of different types of app developers.
Hourly Rates of Different Types of App Developers
| Type of Developer | Average Hourly Rate |
| Basic/Intermediate iOS Developer | $45-$75+ |
| Basic/Intermediate Android Developer | $35-$60+ |
| XAMARIN Developer | $20-$50+ |
| PhoneGap Developer | $16-$55+ |
Besides knowledge level, and forte of eCommerce app developers, their hourly costs also depend on the regions they reside in. For example, an eCommerce app developer in the USA can have a higher hourly charge than an eCommerce app developer in India with the same level of experience and expertise because of the difference in standard of living and other geographical and political factors. So, here are the hourly rates of eCommerce app developers in different countries.
eCommerce App Developers' Hourly Rates in Different Countries
| Countries | Cost Per Hour |
| USA | $140-$160 |
| UK | $120-$150 |
| Australia | $100-$140 |
| Europe | $30-$100 |
| India | $20-$40 |
| Pakistan | $10-$40 |
| Bangladesh | $20-$45 |
To calculate the exact cost of your eCommerce app development project, you need to estimate the number of hours required to build the app. The number of hours can differ based on the complexity of the project. Let's have a look at how long it takes to complete an eCommerce app development project based on its complexity level.
How Many Hours Does It Take To Complete an eCommerce App Development Project?
| eCommerce App Complexity Level | Features | Approximate Months |
Approximate Hours |
| Basic eCommerce App |
|
3-6 Months | 480-960 |
| Mid-Level eCommerce App |
|
6-9 Months | 960-1440 |
| Highly Complex eCommerce App |
|
9-18 Months | 1440-2880 |
*Approximate hours have been calculated based on 20 working days in a month, having 8 working hours in a day.
So, now how do we calculate the final approximate cost of an eCommerce app development project based on the hourly pricing model?
eCommerce App Developer hourly rate X Number of Hours Required to Complete the eCommerce App Development Project = Total Cost of Development
For example, if you need to hire an intermediate-level eCommerce app developer in India charging $25/hour for 1200 hours, one UI/UX designer for 100 hours at a rate of $20/hour, and one Quality Analysts costing $20/hour for 50 hours for your eCommerce app development project, what would its cost be?
Let's calculate the cost of an eCommerce app development project based on this example.
Calculating the Cost of an eCommerce App Development Project (Hourly Basis)
| Skills Required | Number of Hours Required | Rate Per Hour | Approximate Cost |
| eCommerce App Developer | 1200 | $25 | $300,000 |
| UI/UX Designer | 100 | $20 | $2000 |
| Quality Analysts | 50 | $20 | $1000 |
| Total | 1350 | $65 | $303,000 |
So, which option is best? A fixed price model or hourly pricing model? Well, it depends on your project requirements. If you need high-end flexibility, then the hourly pricing model would be a preferable choice and if your project requirements are limited, then the fixed pricing model would be the right choice for you.
The below statement by Tommy Le Founder @Poshwatch can help you make the right decision in selecting the pricing model for your eCommerce app project.
Hourly rates offer flexibility for changes and ongoing updates but can lead to unpredictable costs. Fixed-price models provide a clear budget and timeline but might limit flexibility for changes during development. Choosing between them depends on project scope, budget, and need for flexibility. For well-defined projects, fixed-price is beneficial, while hourly rates suit evolving requirements and long-term collaborations. - Tommy Le Founder @Poshwatch
Precisely, selecting an hourly or fixed pricing model is critical when it comes to outsourcing an eCommerce app development project either to freelancers or a professional app development company which can be done keeping project requirements in mind.
But what would be the cost of an eCommerce app development project if you are planning to hire eCommerce app developers in-house?
How Much Does Hiring In-House eCommerce App Developers Cost?
If you are facing the challenge of handling too many eCommerce app projects with different tech stack knowledge and skills required, hiring in-house eCommerce app developers becomes essential. In that case, the cost of an eCommerce app development project can be calculated based on the salary of the team you hire. Let's have a look at the annual salaries of eCommerce app developers in different countries.
eCommerce App Developer Salaries Worldwide
| Country | Annual Salary |
| USA | $79,188 to $102,659 |
| UK | £28,000 to £46,000 |
| Australia | $111,665 to $158,335 |
| India | ₹500,00 to ₹1,630,000 |
| Pakistan | PKR 2,172,454 to PKR 3,841,151 |
| Bangladesh | BDT 300,000 to 2,000,000 |
| China | CNY 120,000 to 1,200,000 |
Hiring an in-house team of eCommerce developers can prove to be more expensive than outsourcing eCommerce app development projects to freelancers or professional eCommerce app development companies. There are some hidden costs pertaining to hiring an in-house eCommerce app development team. Let's have a look at those hidden costs.
Onboarding Expenses
Onboarding eCommerce app developers involves training costs. Also, it requires time for new eCommerce developers to get an understanding of the project and align the speed with other team members working on the same project. This loss of productivity for a certain time can be considered as a hidden cost.
Computer Systems and Software Licenses
You need to provide computer systems with high configuration and required software licenses to build your online store app to your eCommerce developers. The cost incurred in buying computer systems and software licenses can be considered as hidden costs.
Team Collaboration Tools
Effective collaboration within eCommerce app development projects is extremely important. So, the business organization needs to invest in team collaboration tools to ensure projects get completed on time without any flaws.
Therefore, calculating the total cost of eCommerce app development when you have hired in-house app developers can be critical as every company varies when it comes to these hidden costs and overheads which depend on their infrastructure, and geographical location.
So, whether to outsource eCommerce app projects or hire in-house eCommerce app developers? Which option would be the best?
Outsourcing V/S. In-House eCommerce App Development
When we compare the approximate costs of an eCommerce app development project based on these two hiring models, in-house hiring has proven to be more expensive on an initial basis but in the long term it becomes beneficial in terms of collaboration, communication, and teamwork. On the contrary, outsourcing eCommerce app development projects has been cheaper than in-house hiring but it has less control over deadlines and quality.
Whether you need to outsource or hire an in-house team of eCommerce developers, it all depends on your infrastructure & resources availability and budget.
However, there are pros and cons to both hiring models - outsourcing and in-house hiring. Let's compare these hiring models for better decision-making, which ultimately leads to cost-effective eCommerce app development.
| Point of Difference | Outsourcing | In-House Hiring |
| Upfront Cost | Lower upfront costs | Higher upfront costs |
| Command | Less command over project and team members | High command over project and team members |
| Specific Skills | Easy access to specific skills required for the project because of no geographical restrictions | Difficult to hire people with specific skills for the project because of geographical restrictions |
| Scalability | The team can be scaled easily without spending much | Team scalability becomes expensive |
| Communication | Higher communication challenges due to language and time zone differences | Easy to communicate within the team due to shared space and culture |
| Speed | Quick development process as it doesn’t require searching and recruiting the right talent | Hiring and onboarding in-house takes time, and that may delay starting the development process |
| IP Security | Requires proper documentation to ensure eCommerce app’s IP security | High-end security as IP rights are retained by the company |
After going through all these details, you would be perplexed about how to go about it. There are various questions that may come to your mind about whether I should hire freelancers or a professional eCommerce app development company or hire in-house eCommerce app developers. This decision of yours would entirely depend on your project needs and budget. We know that decision would not be easy, and so we have come up with some tips that can help you get your eCommerce app developed at a low cost without compromising on quality.
How to Reduce eCommerce App Development Costs Without Compromising Quality?
Balancing the eCommerce app development cost with quality can be the biggest challenge for many online businesses. Below-mentioned tips can help you avail cost-effective eCommerce solutions without sacrificing quality.
Know your App Users
Understanding your app users' preferences during the initiation of your eCommerce app development project is important to gain successful outcomes. Having a clear idea about the needs and expectations of your target audience would help you to get an eCommerce app that generates profit.
Plan Budget
To keep eCommerce app development cost under control, it is important to prepare a budget and cost breakdown of each service starting from designing to testing, and app store optimization. Clear budget planning can be extremely useful for following a systematic approach towards hiring eCommerce developers and choosing techstack and app features.
Choose Techstack Carefully
Technology stack refers to frameworks, languages, and tools required to develop a mobile application. The right combination for techstack use can give great results in terms of user cost, quality, and performance. Following are the inclusions of the tech stack with some examples
Frontend - React Native, Flutter
Backend - Node.js, Ruby on Rails, RESTFUL APIs
Database - MySQL, MangoDB
Frameworks - Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento
So, while choosing a tech stack for your eCommerce apps, below are some suggestions that you can consider for controlling costs -
- Prefer cross-platform app development over native app development
- Follow MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approach
- Use pre-built templates and frameworks
Hire Reliable eCommerce App Developers
This is the most important aspect that you need to consider before you start your eCommerce app development process. Hiring professional eCommerce app developers would get a scalable eCommerce app that will not require you to spend more on its maintenance and updates.
The below quote by Vikrant Bhalodia - Head - Marketing & People ops @WeblineIndia adds to the fact that hiring reliable eCommerce app developers is significant.
More intricate e-commerce apps with advanced features and customizations can be much more expensive, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. Be wary though, if the app is too cheap - it can mean that the security features are too weak and perhaps there are many issues in the app that may cause failure in the future. Usually, these prices include maintenance and troubleshooting, so you must ONLY deal with reliable app developers who can fix issues for you, should they arise. Vikrant Bhalodia Head - Marketing & People Ops @WeblineIndia
But, the question arising is how to select the best eCommerce app developers who align well with your business objectives, work methodologies, and culture? Let's look at some factors to consider when hiring eCommerce app developers.
Factors to be Considered While Hiring eCommerce App Developers
Whether you are hiring in-house or remote eCommerce app developers, below-mentioned are some must haves that you need to consider to get a low cost eCommerce app built without compromising quality.
Technical Skills
The technical skills of eCommerce developers to look for depends on your online store requirements. Below are some technical skills that you should consider matching to your eCommerce project requirements.
| Technical Skills | eCommerce Project Requirements |
| Swift and XCode | iOS App Development |
| Java and Android Studio | Android App Development |
| React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, Ionic | Cross-Platform App Development |
| HTML, CSS, Javascript, React.js, Vue.js, jQuery | Hybrid Mobile App Development |
| Node.js, Laravel, Symfony, Ruby on Rails, .Net | Back-End Development |
| Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Axure | UI/UX Design |
Experience
Besides technical skills, experience is a must-have for eCommerce app developers you hire. For example, if you are planning to build a huge online store using Magento, you need to make sure that you choose one of the top Magento development companies. The same can be said for other eCommerce app frameworks like Shopify, WooCommerce, Prestashop, BigCommerce, etc. You can check the technical portfolios of eCommerce app development agencies or developers you hire and make the right hiring and outsourcing decisions.
Knowledge
Knowledgeable eCommerce developers are likely to deliver quality eCommerce apps in less time. They have out-of-the-box thinking abilities which motivates them to include fresh ideas in eCommerce app development projects. After brainstorming different concepts and exploring new features and trends, they come up with innovative apps that can help your business in staying ahead of your competitors.
Location
We have already discussed that the price of an eCommerce app highly depends on the location of your eCommerce app developer. The hourly cost or salary of an eCommerce developer in the USA would be higher than that of an eCommerce developer of the same expertise level in India and other Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Therefore, you need to ensure that you choose an eCommerce app development company that not only costs less but also is compatible in terms of time zone and language.
Harshita Mahbubani, from Mailmodo also agrees with the fact that hiring freelance developers from countries with lower living costs might not be the best decision always.
Hiring freelance developers from countries with lower living costs might seem cheaper initially, but communication challenges and potential quality issues can arise. Harshita Mahbubani, SEO Executive, Mailmodo.
Customer Reviews
Last but not least, check customer reviews about eCommerce app developers you have shortlisted based on your preferences. Make sure you select eCommerce app developers with positive reviews about the quality of their project delivered, customer services, communication skills, and problem-solving capabilities. You can take help from GoodFirms - a reliable B2B platform that can provide authentic customer reviews for eCommerce app developers around the globe.
Conclusion
A user-friendly eCommerce app that helps you skyrocket your business profits must be built at an optimum price. If you are aware of all the intricacies of where your budget should be utilized to get lucrative results, it becomes easy to get a high-quality eCommerce app developed at a low cost.
Moreover, to ensure success in getting a cost-effective eCommerce app built, you need to carefully evaluate the skills, experience, knowledge, work portfolio, and communication skills of eCommerce app developers before making hiring or outsourcing decisions.
Furthermore, you need to make sure that the features and functionality you have decided for your eCommerce app is as per the current trends in the industry.
Considering all these aspects, you will be in a perfect position to hire the best eCommerce app developers in the industry and launch an eCommerce app that can help your business grow and take it to the next level.
