If you’re wondering how much it actually cost to build an ecommerce app in 2025, you’re not alone. With ecommerce sales expected to hit $7.4 trillion globally by the end of 2025, businesses are racing to take their storefronts digital. But here’s the thing – while the market is booming, the cost of entry can vary wildly depending on what you’re trying to build.
This guide will give you a clear, honest look at what goes into ecommerce app development costs.
TL;DR
- Ecommerce app development costs in 2025 can range from $15,000 to $200,000+, depending on app complexity, features, and tech choices.
- Simple apps include basic features like product listings and payment gateways, while complex apps support multivendor setups, real-time tracking, and AI recommendations.
- Key cost drivers include the number of features, platform (native vs. cross-platform vs. PWA), design requirements, and third-party integrations.
- Platform choice matters: Native apps offer best performance but are expensive, cross-platform offers speed and savings, PWAs are budget-friendly but limited.
- Development location impacts pricing: US/Canada teams cost 2-3x more than equally skilled teams in India or Eastern Europe.
- Post-launch expenses like maintenance, server costs, and marketing can add thousands annually. Expect to spend at least 30% of your dev budget on marketing in the first year.
Appscrip offers pre-built ecommerce app solutions that help you launch faster without compromising on customization, performance, or scalability.
Overview of Cost To Build An Ecommerce App
How much are we really talking about when it comes to building an ecommerce app in 2025? Well, it depends. But here’s a general idea of what you might expect.
Typical Cost Ranges
| App Type | Estimated Cost | What It Includes |
| Simple ecommerce app | $15,000 to $40,000 | Basic online store, product listings, cart, and payment gateway |
| Medium complexity app | $40,000 to $80,000 | User accounts, filters, loyalty rewards, basic CMS |
| Complex ecommerce app | $80,000 to $200,000+ | Multivendor support, real-time tracking, AI suggestions, custom workflows |
So What Really Affects Your App’s Development Budget?
Here are a few things that can make your budget jump:
- Design: A beautiful, custom UI/UX will cost more than reusing pre-built themes.
- Features: The more things your app can do, like track orders in real time or handle multiple vendors – the longer it takes to build.
- Third-party stuff: Adding gateways like Stripe, CRMs, or shipping APIs will add cost and complexity.
- Platform choice: Whether you build natively for iOS/Android or go with a cross-platform tool also changes the pricing model.
Key Factors Influencing Development Costs
Once you know the rough figures, it’s time to look into what actually drives the cost to build an ecommerce app. These are the big factors that impact your final development invoice.
App Features and Complexity
The biggest price driver is your feature set. Here’s how that breaks down:
- Basic features: Catalog, cart, checkout, login, and search.
- Intermediate features: Push notifications, wish lists, customer reviews.
- Advanced features: AI recommendations, live chat support, AR try-ons, and multi-language support.
Every feature adds development time, which adds cost. For example, adding a real-time inventory system can increase your budget by 20% alone.
Platform Choice: Native vs. Cross-Platform
- Native apps (built separately for iOS and Android) cost more but perform better.
- Cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter are cheaper and faster to build but might have limitations for complex customizations.
Choosing the right platform depends on your audience and how fast you want to scale. Appscrip, for example, offers pre-built ecommerce app frameworks built on both native and cross-platform tech, so you’re not boxed into one option.
Development Team Location and Expertise
Where your team is located plays a big role in pricing:
| Region | Estimated Hourly Rate |
| US/Canada | $100 – $200/hour |
| Eastern Europe | $40 – $75/hour |
| India/Southeast Asia | $20 – $50/hour |
Hiring a seasoned agency in India could save you 50-60% compared to a US-based team, without necessarily compromising on quality. Teams like Appscrip combine the cost benefits of offshore development with deep domain experience in ecommerce, which can save you both time and money in the long run.
Cost Breakdown by App Complexity
Let’s talk about what really goes into the cost to build an ecommerce app, because not all apps are built the same. Depending on how feature-rich and scalable you want your app to be, the budget can shift quite a bit.
Simple Ecommerce Apps
- Estimated Cost: $15,000 to $40,000
- What’s Included:
- Product Listings: A clean, searchable catalog with all the basics like photos, descriptions, and pricing.
- User Sign-up/Login: Simple email or social logins to get customers in quickly.
- Shopping Cart: Add, remove, or edit items with ease.
- Payment Gateway: Plug in Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay to accept payments smoothly.
- Who It’s For: If you’re a boutique shop or launching your first digital storefront, this covers the essentials.
Medium Complexity Apps
- Estimated Cost: $40,000 to $80,000
- What’s Included:
- Wish Lists: Let users save their favorite products.
- Loyalty Programs: Keep customers coming back with discounts or rewards.
- Reviews: Build trust by allowing buyers to leave feedback.
- CMS: Easily manage content, banners, and product info without touching code.
- Order Tracking: Give customers real-time updates on their deliveries.
- Who It’s For: Perfect for growing D2C brands or niche platforms that need more engagement tools.
Complex Ecommerce Apps
- Estimated Cost: $80,000 to $200,000+
- What’s Included:
- Multivendor Support: Multiple sellers, each with their own login and control panel.
- Inventory Sync: Real-time stock updates across multiple sellers or warehouses.
- Advanced Search: Smart filters, voice search, or even image-based search.
- Recommendation Engine: Show users what they’re likely to love using AI.
- Seller Dashboards: Detailed analytics, product controls, and order management for vendors.
- Who It’s For: If you’re building the next Etsy or running a large multi-brand operation, this is your zone.
The more custom logic, integrations, or scalability you need, the more you’re looking at in terms of budget. The good news? Pre-built solutions like Appscrip can speed this up while still giving you a solid, scalable foundation to work with.
Platform-Specific Development Costs
When it comes to the cost to build an ecommerce app, one of the first decisions you’ll face is: “which platform should I build for?” And that choice has a big impact on both cost and time.
| Platform | Estimated Cost | What It Means | Pros | Cons |
| Native | $60,000–$150,000 | Two separate apps for iOS and Android | Best performanceDeep device integrationPolished UX | More expensiveDouble the dev & maintenance effort |
| Cross-Platform | $40,000–$100,000 | One codebase for both platforms using Flutter/React Native | Faster buildLower costEasier maintenance | May struggle with device-specific features or heavy animations |
| Progressive Web App (PWA) | $10,000–$35,000 | Web app that acts like a mobile app in browser | Fast to launchNo download requiredWorks on any device | Limited offline supportLacks full native functionalityUX may not match mobile standards |
PWAs are ideal for lean ecommerce startups or brands testing the waters before going fully mobile. If you’re looking for a cost-effective launch pad, this route makes a lot of sense.
Regional Variations in Development Expenses
Where your development team is based has a big impact on your overall app budget. With access to global talent, many founders are choosing based on cost, quality, and delivery speed, not just location.
US vs. International Development Costs
- US/Canada: Expect to pay $100,000 or more for a mid-range ecommerce app. Agencies here usually charge between $120 to $200/hour depending on their expertise.
- India or Eastern Europe: The same app may cost $30,000 to $60,000 with seasoned developers billing around $30 to $75/hour.
The rise in cost to build an ecommerce app mainly stems from labor rates, overhead costs, and even taxation differences. But lower cost doesn’t mean you’re cutting corners.
Impact of Local Economic Factors
Several economic trends also play into pricing:
- Currency exchange rates: A strong dollar or euro means you can do more with the same budget in places like India or Vietnam.
- Talent demand: Countries like Vietnam, Ukraine, and the Philippines are seeing a rise in demand, which may gradually increase costs.
- Inflation and political stability: These can affect not only pricing but also delivery timelines and long-term partnership reliability.
In 2025, India and Southeast Asia continue to dominate the offshore development market thanks to their balance of affordability, skilled labor, and fast project turnaround. That’s why many ecommerce businesses choose experienced partners like Appscrip to get to market faster without draining their budget.
Post-Development Costs and Considerations
Once the ecommerce app is live on the App Store or Google Play the real work begins, keeping it updated, stable, and in front of new users. These post-launch costs can often be underestimated but are just as critical as the development phase.
Maintenance and Support
Think of maintenance as your app’s ongoing health check. Bugs, crashes, feature updates, and user issues will pop up and you need to stay on top of them.
- Bug fixes and updates: $1,000–$5,000/month
- Server and hosting: $100–$1,000/month depending on usage
- Support tools: Live chat or ticketing systems can add $50–$500/month
- Security and compliance: Costs vary based on standards like PCI DSS or GDPR
Marketing and User Acquisition
Even the best-built app won’t succeed if nobody knows about it. That’s where marketing kicks in, and it’s not cheap. It is very important to consider marketing budget in your cost to build an ecommerce app.
- App Store Optimization: $500–$2,000/month for better app store visibility
- Performance marketing: From $5,000/month for ads across Google, Meta, TikTok
- Influencer campaigns: $500 to $15,000+, depending on reach
- Referral & loyalty tools: Starting at a few hundred dollars/month
Most apps spend at least 30% of their initial development cost on marketing within the first year, and that number only grows as you scale. Planning this early on is essential to avoid running out of steam post-launch.
Whether you’re starting small or going big like ebay from day one, the real win lies in planning wisely, spending where it counts, and thinking beyond the launch.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to get your idea off the ground. If a simple store app fits your needs, launch it, learn from customer feedback, and grow. If you’re dreaming bigger, with multivendor support, real-time tracking, and custom logic, just know that it’s doable, but it just needs the right roadmap (and the right crew).
That’s where Appscrip steps in. We have already built what most businesses need to launch faster – robust, flexible, pre-built ecommerce app solutions. You get a real head start with the freedom to customize and scale as you grow. No fluff. Just smart foundations that work.
So whether you’re brainstorming or budgeting for the ecommerce app, keep this guide handy. And when you’re ready to build something great, we’re here to help you do it right without the guesswork.
