How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mobile App for E-Commerce in 2021

The mobile revolution is creating the latest buzz in the e-commerce domain. The Ecommerce app builder companies are experiencing a sudden increase in demand from businesses that want to enhance their customers’ mobile experience. One cannot deny the fact that e-commerce apps are changing how online shopping is done.

Thus, many established businesses and startups are looking to optimize their business operations with mobile apps. 

So, how much does it cost to build a mobile app for e-commerce in 2021? As an e-commerce business, whether new or seasoned, you must be concerned about the pricing process for the app. It can be overwhelming to think about what the final cost may look like. It is true that e-commerce application development can be costly if you don’t know what you are getting into. To give you a rough sum, a mobile e-commerce app builder may charge you anywhere from $15,000 to $230,000 and more for a single app. 

Every e-commerce app development project varies based on the client requirements. Hence, the price will vary as well. 

To help you make an informed decision, this guide gives a detailed explanation of the pricing model.

What are the Factors that Affect the Cost of E-commerce Application Development? 

Please note that there is no accurate answer to the question “how much does it cost to build a mobile app for e-commerce in 2021?” The is because the cost depends on a number of factors. They include: 

The type of e-commerce project:

• Business to Consumer 
• Business to Business 
• On-Demand delivery 
• Dropshipping 
• And more…

• Design complexity – custom, basic, use of animations, etc. 
• Number of platforms – Android, iOS, web 
• Complexity and number of custom features 
• Type of mobile e-commerce app builder you choose – agency or freelancer 
• Ecommerce app builder’s location – country/state 
• Ecommerce app builder’s rate 

These are some vital factors that influence the rate of building a mobile app for e-commerce in 2021. Nevertheless, the actual cost is calculated by the hours spent in the making of your app. 

To make it simple for you, we will be making the cost estimation based on: 

1. Development costs 
2. Visual design costs 
3. Testing and deployment costs 
4. App store costs 
5. Updates and maintenance 

Let’s explore each stage one by one. 

#1 Development Costs 

It is a fact that development affects the overall cost of e-commerce app development. For starters, it is the most time-consuming part of the phase. Secondly, the development is looked at and handled by a dedicated team of developers. In general, the total development time can range from  600 to 900 hours. The development phase includes the creation of basic app functions to complex ones. 

Here is a simple breakdown of the average time a development team needs to create app functions: 

• App search feature – 90 hours 
• Messenger or chat feature – 110 hours 
• Shopping cart development – 74 hours 
• Push notifications – 80 hours 
• Payment system integration – 103 hours 
• Database and infrastructure – 20 hours 
• Share capabilities – 40 hours 

These aren’t all the features that your e-commerce app may integrate, but you get the idea. So, considering these basic features into account, the development cost can range somewhere between $15,000 and $30,000. In the case of complex features, your e-commerce app development can cost upward of $50,000.   

#2 Visual Design Costs 

Visual design is the most important aspect of e-commerce app development. A mobile e-commerce app builder may spend a lot of time correcting the design as compared to other elements. Most importantly, it is divided into several different sections. They include: 

1. Wireframe Costs: The first step of app development is creating a visual architecture of the app. This consists of the arrangement of pages, physical layouts, and other aspects regarding the app’s look. Simply put, a wireframe is a blueprint for the app that helps with the overall development process. So, designing a wireframe may cost around $700 to $2000, depending on the complexity and region.
2. UI Costs: After the wireframe, the next is UI (user interface). The UI determines the overall look and feel of your e-commerce app. It is an important investment. Users love a well-designed and interactive app that is beautiful. So, this is something that you do not want to ignore. On average, a simple app may require 87 hours of UI designing. On the other hand, for complex e-commerce apps, the mobile app builder for e-commerce may easily spend an average of 210 hours. So, the total cost of UI may range from $300 to $17,500.
3. UX Costs: Finally, user experience is vital, irrespective of the app. A properly designed UX provides a meaningful experience to the user. The average time spent on UX design ranges from 30 hours to 200 hours. Hence, the cost estimate varies between $100 and $17,000. 

#3 Testing and Deployment Costs

Once the app is developed, the mobile app builder for e-commerce will test it. This is to ensure that the users get a smooth experience. Also, testing helps in determining whether the features are functioning correctly. Everything is tested, from the design details to features, UI, etc. So, the dedicated team of app testers may spend an average of 40 hours for the job, and it can get extended up to 500 hours. The cost of testing and deployment ranges from $800 to $35,000. 

#4 App Store Costs 

For publishing your app on the app store, platforms like Google Play Store will charge a nominal fee. For example, $25 is the registration fee to upload the app on Google Play Store. 

#5 Updates and Maintenance

Lastly, you will also have to pay for updates and maintenance. That is, you will have to constantly update and add new features to your app. For this, you will have to pay at least 20% of the total app development cost to the Ecommerce app builder.

Final Words 

This should give you an idea about how much does it cost to build a mobile app for e-commerce in 2021? There are some additional costs as well, like legal costs, equipment costs, etc. Therefore, it is important to choose a dedicated ecommerce app builder with years of industry experience. Always do your research and shop around for a better quote.