How Much Does It Cost to Build a Super App?

We are living in a digital age and have ultimately become increasingly dependent on various applications to assist us with our day-to-day tasks and activities. From social media and messaging applications to shopping and payment applications, there are mobile apps available for almost every aspect of our lives.

Now enters the major potentate of this digital ecosystem, Super apps, capable of offering every single service to the users over a single platform. It is a relatively new model of applications, which instead of being limited to a single purpose, offers a variety of solutions for a variety of problems. This single application is capable of meeting most of our needs, making it an efficient and convenient choice.

From video streaming and ticket bookings to grocery shopping and food delivery services, super apps have become a one-stop solution for providing convenience at your fingertips. Gojek, Rappi, Alipay, Omni, and even Amazon are a few examples of super apps that have made it big in the market, all thanks to their compelling value propositions and ability to act as hassle-free servicing platforms.

It has directly revolutionized the growth of the global app industry, making entrepreneurs think about how much it costs to build a super app and take a tenacious step to thoroughly embrace the all-in-one app development trend that presents a surefire way to cement overall digital revenue.

This article will help you comprehend the super app development cost, its process, features, and much more.

So, let’s get started.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Super App?

The cost of building a super app can vary significantly depending on several factors, such as the type of the project, the features and functionalities to be included, the development team location and rates, and the app platform on which the application will run. Moreover, ongoing super app maintenance and updates can also add to the overall cost.

In straight terms, the average hourly cost to build a super app in India is typically between $25 and $45, while in Europe and the United States, the cost can go up to $100-$150 per hour. It means that the total super app development cost can range from $40,000 to $250,000, depending on the project’s complexity.

Super App Development Cost Breakdown

It is vital to get an estimate on the overall development cost of a super app to plan your budget effectively while handling multiple resources and other business constraints.

Since the current app development market is a rough terrain to navigate, getting an MVP developed at the initial stages is typically recommended. Once the app gains traction in the market, you can analyze the initial customer feedback and then switch to a fully-fledged custom app with an extensive feature list. Typically, building an MVP costs between $30,000 and $60,000, and depending on the features included, a custom-made solution can cost $60,000 to $250,000.

It is crucial to work with a reputable super app development company that can provide a detailed project plan and exact cost to build a super app based on your specific requirements.

Factors Affecting the Super App Development Cost

There are multiple factors that affect the cost of developing a super app such as the location of the app development agency, the UI/UX design of the app, its underlying platform, etc. Let us look at the various factors in detail below:

UI/UX Design

The UI/UX design of the app directly impacts its overall budget for development. A seamless UI/UX design can increase the app retention rate and enhance user engagement. Since the design prototype is to be tested multiple times before it’s finalized and goes on to the development stage, the total cost of the app’s design varies per the organization’s multiple testing techniques.

Factors that affect the budget of designing a super app includes:

• Visual elements
• Typography
• Color psychology
• Content writing
• Button placements
• Branding
• UI optimization
• Portrait or landscape mode

Location of the app development agency

The location of the app development agency also directly affects the total cost of developing a super app. For instance, the hourly rate of development in regions like Asia or Africa is comparatively less compared to the hourly rate of development in the regions like the US or the UK. Here is the estimated development rate per hour across multiple locations of the world:

Team size

The hired team size for your development project will also directly impact your app development budget. For example, you can either hire freelancers, get an in-house development team or simply outsource your project to a dedicated app development team.

Hiring a freelancer can help you reduce your development budget. Still, it will significantly impact your app’s quality considering freelancers don’t have adequate expertise and modern tools to offer a seamless experience. On the other hand, hiring an in-house team can unintentionally cost you a lot of money. You would have to hire the right talent by organizing interviews and managing multiple resources simultaneously.

Outsourcing your project to a dedicated mobile apps development service provider is the ultimate right choice since you can leverage the organization’s years of expertise in the domain and its modern tech stack at an optimized cost.

Here is the required team size for a successful super app development:

• 1-2 project managers
• 1-2 business analysts
• 2-3 frontend developers
• 2-3 backend developers
• 1-2 designers
• 1-2 quality assurance analyst

Underlying platform

The underlying app platform is one of the most vital factors affecting the overall development cost. For instance, you can choose between getting an Android or an iOS app for your business. Even though there isn’t much difference between the development cost among these platforms, the time frame and testing required to ensure optimum app performance vary across both, thus altering the budgets with a minimum margin.

App maintenance

After the app has been deployed and launched on the app store, it is necessary to update it as per the changing business requirements as well as the market statistics. Since the maintenance of an app is a never-ending process, the overall budget for development is affected by the same. It is further vital to understand that proper maintenance of the app is necessary to keep it running successfully in this competitive ecosystem. Know how much it costs to maintain an app.

Feature list

The most vital factor affecting your app development budget is the feature list to be integrated into the app. For instance, a highly complex app with an extensive feature set can cost you more than a simple app with minimum features. For the app to gain traction in the market, ensuring its feature list resonates with your brand’s essence while offering a seamless user experience is important.

Must Have Features for a Successful Super App

Features are one of the most influential factors affecting the total cost to build a super app. There are many super app development features you can consider as per the specific needs of your target audience and the nature of your business. However, here are some standard features you must add to your super app irrespective of your business niche and target audience persona.

1. User Profiles and Registration

Make sure your app allows users to easily create a profile, customize their preferences, and manage their account information. Providing a personalized experience to the users is one of the best ways to make users feel connected with the platform.

2. Secure Payment Options

Your app should integrate with a secure payment gateway to allow users to make transactions safely and conveniently. Creating a safe payment gateway will help build trust and increase conversions.

3. Real-Time Tracking and Notifications

Provide real-time tracking of orders, deliveries, and other services and send notifications to users to keep them informed. It will not only increase a sense of transparency but also improve the user experience and reduce anxiety.

4. Messaging and Communication

Adding video calling and messaging features to allow users to communicate with customer service, vendors, or other users is another significant feature your app should have. It will help improve customer support and engagement, keeping them engaged with your platform.

5. Loyalty Program

Offer a loyalty program to reward frequent users and encourage repeat business. You can introduce offers like discounts, freebies, gift vouchers, etc., to attract new users and retain the existing ones. It will help reinforce customer relations and lifetime value.

6. Personalization

Offer personalized recommendations based on user preferences, past purchases, or other data. If you gain ground by providing relevant recommendations to the users, you will experience increased engagement and satisfaction.

7. eCommerce

Adding eCommerce functionality is one of the most popular digital trends you can leverage to trigger your in-app revenue generation. So, if your business model allows, consider providing online shopping service to the users from your super app.

8. Social Media Integration

Allowing users to share their experiences and purchases on social media platforms can be an effective way to boost your app’s visibility and reach. This feature not only promotes brand awareness but also drives user acquisition. By leveraging the power of social media, you can tap into a vast network of potential customers and build a loyal following.

9. In-App Analytics

Provide analytics and insights to help businesses understand user behavior, track app performance and identify areas for improvement. It can help businesses make data-driven decisions and optimize their app’s performance.

10. Ratings and Reviews

Ask users to rate and review products or services, providing social proof or testimonials of their purchases. The reviews can be in the form of text, images, or videos. So, make sure your super app features support the attachments of photos and videos posted by customers as proof of their purchase. It will help other users make informed decisions while improving their trust and credibility in your offerings.

11. Multilingual Support

Support multiple language models to cater to users from different regions and cultures. It will help improve accessibility and user experience.

The super app features listed above are just a starting point. You should customize your app’s features to meet the specific needs of your target audience and business goals.

How to Develop a Super App?

The first and foremost approach to developing a super app that can meet your specific requirements is to hire a top-notch software development company. They will help you with the step-by-step mobile app development process to ensure a smooth and successful project. With their expertise and experience, they can provide the best solution to meet your project’s needs and expectations.

Let’s get to know the essential steps involved in the on-demand super app development process:

1. Identify the Core Services

A super app is designed to offer multiple services under a single platform. Hence, the first step to developing a super app is to identify the core services that you want to offer. It could include services such as payments, food delivery, ride-hailing, eCommerce, etc.

2. Analyze the Market

Before developing a super app, it is essential to analyze the market and identify the gaps your app can fill. Look for market trends, consumer behavior, and potential competitors to make informed decisions.

3. Design a User-Friendly Interface

The success of a super app depends largely on its user interface. You should design an interface that is intuitive, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Overall, it should offer a seamless user experience across multiple devices.
[Also Read: Proven Tips to Enhance Mobile App Design by Improving Its UI]

4. Develop

The next step is to carry out the development process. This stage includes writing the code in order to develop the final version of the app. Make sure to use the user feedback gathered during the analysis phase and implement it in your development methodology.

Integrate Multiple Services

A super app should integrate multiple services to provide a comprehensive experience to the users. You can integrate payment gateways, delivery services, booking systems, and other third-party services to provide a holistic experience to the users. It can help you attract more users and provide them a more holistic experience.

Use Advanced Technology

To provide a competitive edge, a super app should leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. These technologies can help you provide personalized and customized services to the users, making your app more attractive to them.

For example, one of the most famous online service provider super apps, Gojek, uses AI and ML to mitigate fictional orders. Since these technologies can analyze and store user patterns, they are also used by the app to detect fraud orders that are placed using illegal applications. To combat these challenges, the app now uses AI-integrated biometric-based security features.

Ensure Scalability and Security

Another critical consideration when developing a super app is scalability and security. Your app should be scalable and capable of handling large volumes of traffic. It should also be secure and protect user data from potential threats. Users expect their data to be protected; if they don’t trust your app, they won’t use it. Here are some mobile app security best practices to ensure a hack-proof app!

7. Testing

Before launching the app to the market, it is vital to test it thoroughly to ensure it is free of bugs and glitches. It will help you provide a seamless experience to your users and increase the chances of app success. Testing your app involves several steps, including functional testing, performance testing, and user acceptance testing.

8. Launch

After testing your app, you can launch it on different platforms to reach a wider audience. During the launch phase, monitoring your app’s performance and users’ feedback is important. You can use analytics tools not only to track user behavior, engagement, and retention but also to comprehend how your customers use your app and identify areas for improvement.

Don’t forget to promote your app through various channels, such as online advertising, influencer marketing, and social media. It will help you attract more users and increase the visibility of your app.

Developing a super app is a complex process that involves various steps, considerations, and careful planning. With the right strategy, execution, and promotion plan, a super app can become a popular platform offering a comprehensive range of services.

Now that you know how to create a super app and how much it costs to build the same, it’s time to look into various ways with which you can monetize your super app.

How to Make Money with a Super App?

Now that you have read the full guide to build a feature-rich super app like Amazon, Paytm, Gojek, Rappi, Uber, etc., you might ask how do these apps make money. To understand the different ways super apps can help you generate high revenue, it is imperative to look at the following points:

1. App Subscription

Businesses are increasingly looking to acquire on-demand super app development solutions that are integrated with an in-app subscription. It means that users must purchase a subscription in order to use the app, with prices starting at a minimum and increasing for higher tiers of service. Some apps even offer their users a free one-month trial period before they must buy the subscription in order to continue using the app. It is becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to monetize their apps and generate revenue.

2. Credit System

Super apps like Gojek, Rappi, etc. comprise in-app credit systems including EMIs/loans, rewards, and more for customers, service providers, and other business partners. Businesses offer in-app loans to customers for their shopping and other tasks and charge interest accordingly. These make the businesses earn profits from super apps.

3. Transaction Fees

When a user tries to make an international or cross-border transaction, super apps charge a certain amount of fee from them. It provides great revenue to businesses, and in exchange, businesses ensure secure payment transactions, providing super app benefits to both companies and customers.

4. In-App Advertisements

After successful app development, you can approach third-party businesses to advertise their offerings through your app. If any of your customers buy the advertised product, your business will earn a commission for that specific purchase. You can also charge money from the businesses for running their advertisements on your application.

Partner with Appinventiv for Custom Super App Development

Super apps have revolutionized the global app industry. Since super applications are one-stop solutions to multiple on-demand services, you must collaborate with an experienced mobile app development company (like Appinventiv) to build an application that can deliver a seamless experience to the users.

At Appinventiv, we are proud to have worked with some of the most respected brands across various industries. Our experience with KFC, IKEA, Mudra, and other notable names has allowed us to develop a deep understanding of what it takes to build successful multi-functional app platforms. We have the expertise to create a custom marketplace app that meets the unique needs of your business and engages your target audience. You can trust us to be your reliable partner throughout the app development process, from ideation to launch and beyond.

Also, on-demand super app development with Appinventiv is not the typical outsourced service experience you get with any other multi-functional AI app development company. It’s an end-to-end collaboration between our skilled team and clients to plan, design, develop, and release the highest quality custom app within the set timeline.

Here’s how on-demand super app development process goes on at Appinventiv:

• Our team will connect with you at your preferred time to discuss your project requirements.
• Having gained a clear understanding of your app development project, we will send you a detailed proposal of the deliverables, including the timeline and cost to build a super app.
• Once you approve our proposal, our dedicated team will start working to give a technical realization of your app vision.
• We will keep you in the loop at every step, sharing daily and weekly updates until your app is developed.
• We are here at every step, from designing and development to ongoing maintenance, upgrade, and iteration.

Excited to develop your super app? Kickstart your dream project with us, and we will stand by you at every step of app development, right from quoting the cost to build a super app to developing one for your business and ongoing maintenance.

Initiate a partnership

FAQs

Q. How does a super app work?

A. A Super App is designed to make life easier by providing users with a range of features and services. The app allows users to access a variety of services, such as ordering food, booking tickets, shopping online, watching movies, etc. You can also use the app to track your spending, manage your finances, set up reminders, and do a lot more.

Q. How much does it cost to build a super app?

A. Typically, building a super app involves a considerable investment in terms of time, effort, and resources. A basic super app with limited features and functionalities can cost around $10,000 to $50,000. However, a more advanced super app with a wide range of features and capabilities, such as e-commerce, payments, messaging, and social networking, can cost higher than the quoted amount. On average, the total super app development cost can range from $10K to $150K+, depending on the project’s complexity.

Q. How long does it take to create a super app?

A. Building a super app can be a complex and lengthy process. The amount of time it takes to build a super app will depend on the scope of the project and the resources available. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to develop a super app. It includes the design, development, testing, and deployment phases. Additionally, the complexity of the app and the number of features it has will also affect the timeline. Ultimately, the time it takes to build a super app will vary depending on the individual project.

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director