Today, almost any kind of business needs an application, but many details of web app development, including application development cost, still can be complicated to comprehend for people without a tech background and expertise. Even experienced IT professionals and software development companies can’t tell you the average cost of web application development. Numerous aspects can significantly affect the final budget. A clear understanding of critical factors can help you find an answer to the question "How much does it cost to build a web app?", manage your expectations, and find creative ways to save some money.
Factors that impact the cost of web application development
The web app development process is very complex and can be affected by numerous factors. Some of them are well-known even to beginners, and some are often overlooked. To fully understand how to accurately estimate web application development costs, you need to take everything into account.
Web app category
One of the most important factors that affect your web development budget is the type of app you want to build. Here are the three main options:
Multi-Page Applications (MPAs). These apps contain multiple pages. This type of web application is the most common today and is often used in eCommerce platforms, educational and healthcare products, and marketplaces. Also, it is the perfect fit for blogs, forums, and other websites with numerous pages with vast amounts of information. The most famous examples of multi-page applications are eBay, Amazon, and AliExpress. MPAs usually have longer development cycles and require extra spending on server resources, but due to the more traditional technology stack used for these, it is easier to hire skilled web app developers and find template solutions.
Single-Page Applications (SPAs). SPAs allow you to put information and all the app's features on one page. Multi-page applications load a new page after a user clicks on the button, while this type of app doesn't refresh after actions are performed by the user. This approach saves a lot of traffic and time. The most well-known examples of SPAs are Google services (Gmail, Google Drive) and social media platforms (X, Meta). Single-page applications usually rely on the user's device storage and other resources, eliminating the need for additional servers. However, this type of web app often requires the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, which significantly mitigates your hiring options and drives developers' salaries up.
Progressive Web Applications (PWAs). Progressive web apps have both functionalities of websites and native applications. The PWA model will enable your application to access the user's device's storage, go offline, and send push notifications without downloading it. Spotify, Starbucks, and Pinterest are some of the most famous examples of progressive web applications. Progressive web app development cost can vary significantly, depending on the number of features and overall complexity.
Complexity and scope of work
Among the most prominent factors that influence custom web application development cost is the level of the app's complexity and scope of work. Depending on the number of features and functionalities you want to incorporate at launch, your web development budget will grow. Basic web apps, like an informational website with no interactive pages or a simple online store, will naturally cost much less than a complex app with unique features, a lot of content, and third-party integrations.
Additionally, the architectural choice between Monolith to Microservices can significantly impact both initial and ongoing costs, affecting scalability and ease of updates. Moving to a microservices architecture can often mean higher upfront costs but might result in greater flexibility and lower long-term maintenance costs.
Tech stack
When you decide on the type of web application you need and the complexity of the future project, it will be easier to choose a tech stack. Remember that at this stage, you not only need to choose suitable programming languages, frameworks, and tools for your application but also keep in mind resources and tech talent available for every stack.
Using cutting-edge technologies can significantly improve user experience and allow you to create an app with more scalable architecture and higher performance. However, with less experienced software developers available, their salaries will be higher, and post-launch expenses, such as ongoing maintenance and employee training, can significantly increase the cost of web application development.
UI/UX design
Today, there are numerous ready-to-use templates available, which can bring your app development costs down significantly. But in the modern competitive market, it is crucial to stand out and provide exceptional user experience. Pre-made templates may look bland and generic while also providing a little room for future customization. Custom and unique design will definitely give your product a competitive advantage, but it can significantly increase web development costs.
Third-party integrations
Almost every web app development project today has at least several third-party services and tools integrated. It is extremely important for creating a seamless user experience and increasing your app's functionality. However, most of these integrations come with licensing costs, which may vary from monthly subscriptions to one-time payments. Also, third-party integrations may require software developers with specific expertise in your team and lead to additional cyber security measures (for example, data protection protocols for online payments). All of these factors impact the cost of web application.
Hiring options
Website and app development costs heavily depend on the cooperation model you choose. If you have an in-house development team, you may need some IT staff augmentation services to fill the gaps in the team's expertise, but otherwise, it should be fine. Assembling an in-house full-time team can be really heavy on your budget, especially if IT specialists work from the office. Salaries, benefits, bonuses, taxes, and infrastructure expenses make this option viable only for massive and lengthy projects or if maintaining complete control over the web development process is crucial for you.
Hiring freelancers is the most cost-effective option but is only suitable for small projects, certain app development stages, or specific tasks. Freelancers can't provide you with a strategic plan and accurate web application development cost estimation. Also, they often can be unreliable and deliver some questionable results. Finally, having a whole web app development team consisting of freelancers requires hiring a skilled project manager, although with the increasing popularity of virtual assistants, controlling the development process can be much easier.
Outsourcing software development companies are probably the most popular option today, and for a good reason. These web app development companies not only help you hire the best IT professionals according to your requirements but are also responsible for project management and product delivery. Outsourcing vendors will cost you more than freelancers but less than full-time developers, especially if you decide to hire offshore.
Hiring destination
Software developers from other regions always charged much less than their counterparts from North America and Western Europe, but many companies and individuals still decided to hire local IT professionals. The most common considerations are the lower level of experience and expertise, challenges associated with remote work, and the language barrier. But today, such regions as Latin America, Eastern Europe, and South Asia offer really impressive tech talent pools, with countless developers with experience working on international projects and a good level of English proficiency.
If you decide to hire an outsourcing web development services provider from overseas, their employees will handle all communication and project management tasks. If you choose to hire freelancers, a dedicated development team, or individual software engineers over web development companies, modern project management tools allow you to easily control an offshore development team. If your project manager already has a lot on their plate, you can always hire a remote virtual assistant to help with day-to-day tasks and still save a ton of money on developers' salaries.
Tips for reducing web app development cost
As we already established, hiring web developers offshore, choosing the right app category, and finding a perfect balance regarding UI/UX design and third-party integrations allow you to accurately predict how much it will cost to build website and app and save a lot of money. Here are other tips for reducing your development costs:
Discovery phase. During this process, you and your web development services provider go over your business goals, future app requirements, and other aspects of the development process that will allow you to create a clear blueprint for a digital product. Based on insights you gain during the discovery phase, you can make more informed decisions about team stack and hiring options and come up with accurate cost estimates. The discovery phase is an essential investment that helps you to avoid unnecessary spending in the future.
MVP development. Unless your budget is infinite, you won't be able to implement all desired features and include all functionalities in your application at launch. Building a minimum viable product (MVP) will serve as proof that your web app idea can be successful and can draw first users. Based on their feedback, you and your tech team can add new features based on real-life insights and not just predictions about your target audience's needs.
Plan for scalability. Almost any web app is expected to grow and evolve at some point, and ensuring scalability is essential for this. Make sure that your development team creates an architecture that can scale back and forth depending on the number of users without compromising performance. Scalability allows you to avoid major reworks and the associated spending down the road.
Cloud-native approach. Cloud-native app development can help you lower app development costs by providing exceptional capability and eliminating the need for expensive hardware. Consult with your software development team and decide if the cloud-native approach is best for your project.
Testing and quality assurance. Investments in continuous app testing, automated tools, and quality assurance during the web application development process will help you to identify and fix many issues early, avoiding expensive bug fixes, operational downtime, and reputational damages after the app is launched.
Communication and collaboration. Open and regular communication with your web application development team is essential. Progress reports, feedback sessions, and constant updates allow you to stay informed and quickly address any concerns or changes in cost estimates. If you experience difficulties with this aspect, invest in a project manager or virtual assistant to ensure better communication and control over the development process.
Conclusion
The cost of web app development can vary based on numerous factors, which makes accurate estimation an extremely challenging task. With a deep understanding of potential expenses and ways to cut costs without sacrificing the app's quality and performance, you can create an accurate budget for a web application. With comprehensive knowledge of key factors on which depends how much it cost to build a web application, you can easily ensure that your project stays on budget and delivers a great application as a result.
