Overview
Did you know that the online learning platforms market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.26% from 2024–2029, reaching $75.52 billion by 2029?
This trend signals a massive technological change from within the education domain that has exceeded far beyond what anyone expected. This is especially accelerated by the transition from physical classrooms to online learning during COVID-19.
Given the growing personalization of these education applications, it's important (and perhaps necessary) to understand how this could drive costs and development. An application with a simple interface and concept can cost $25K on average, while a highly complex-featured educational app can cost around $75K.
This article will take you through the question of “How much does an education app cost?” and various factors that affect it.
Education App Cost
What is the Typical Cost to Build an Education App?
Determining the exact cost of developing an educational app can be challenging. Generally, developing the minimum viable product (MVP) stage costs between $15,000 and $50,000, but the cost of developing an education app can reach as high as $8M.
Below is the basic breakdown of primary elements that impact the education app pricing:
Costs Based on Application Complexity
| Complexity Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| Simple Education App | $25,500 |
| Moderately Complex Education App | $50,000 |
| Complex Education App | $75,000 |
Development Team Costs by Location
| Team Location | Rate per Hour | MVP (3 months) | Scaled MVP (6 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $150 | $200,000 | $400,000 |
| Ukraine | $40 | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| India | $20 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Application Type Cost Estimates
| Type | Cost | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Language Learning App | $45,000 | Duolingo |
| Math Learning App | $55,000 | Rocket Math |
| Mobile Learning Management System | $70,000 | TalentLMS |
| App for Organizing the Learning Process | $65,000 | Formative |
Platform Type Cost Estimates
| Platform | Cost |
|---|---|
| Native App on iOS | $60,000 |
| Native App on Android | $55,000 |
| Hybird App for iOS and Android | $40,000 |
Factors Influencing Education App Development Costs
Concept Complexity
The complexity of an app's concept significantly impacts development costs. More intricate ideas require higher investments due to several factors:
Business Logic
The number of user roles, features, and integrations increases complexity. An app with distinct roles (e.g., students, teachers, administrators) and multiple features require a more sophisticated development approach.
Design and Planning
Complex applications need advanced design considerations, such as user experience (UX) optimization, responsive design, and intuitive navigation.
Infrastructure Needs
Applications with a higher degree of complexity will in many cases mean more infrastructure needs as well (e.g., improved security concerns, scale).
Development Team Type
The cost of developing an education application also depends on the geographical location of the team of experts who are developing the app. For instance, hiring developers based in the United States typically incurs higher expenses than teams in countries like Ukraine or India.
Application Type
The cost of developing an educational app also depends on the type of app shape. Single-platform app development is generally cheaper compared to multi-platform solutions. This can add to the complete solution's time (and cost), given that multi-platform applications will inevitably require more frameworks like React Native or Flutter to support cross-compatibility and performance across various operating systems.
Platform Type
An additional consideration is the operating system for which the app is designed. Hybrid apps work on both iOS and Android platforms, whereas native apps are tailored for just one OS. Because they employ a single codebase to support various platforms, hybrid apps typically have lower development costs.
Hidden Development Costs
Hidden developmental elements can significantly impact the overall success of your educational app:
Maintenance
This can also range from $4,000 to $8,000 annually or 15–20% of the overall budget spent towards development.
Marketing
Your marketing spend has to be 2x or 3x your development cost if you want to reach the right audience. Say, if you are getting an MVP developed which costs $25,000, then you might have to spare $75,000-$150,000 per annum on marketing efforts, and that does not include the miscellaneous expenses that will be incurred at a later stage.
Third-Party Integrations
If you need to integrate third-party tools or services into your app, that will also drive-up costs, anywhere from $5k-$20k. While these integrations might increase your application's functionality, you still need to account for them in your overall cost estimation.
Development Stages and Cost Estimation
Building an education app will require you to know everything there is about developing in different stages and how much it's going to cost you. Here’s a breakdown:
| Development Stage | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Discovery Phase | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| UI/UX Design | $5,000 - $15,000 |
| Development (Frontend & Backend) | $25,000 - $100,000 |
| Testing and QA | $5,000 - $15,000 |
| Launch & Post-Launch Support | $4,000 - $8,000/year |
Discovery Phase
Defining goals, establishing the target audience, and planning features & functionality respectively constitute the discovery phase. This phase usually takes 1–3 months and is between $5,000 and $10,000. That groundwork is essential to give the project as a whole its direction.
UI/UX Design Costs
UI design is where designers provide a new form and character to the app, defining colors, creating layouts, and designing visual elements that promote interaction. Normally, this process takes 1 to 2 months and costs around $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the level of design detail.
Development Phase (Frontend and Backend)
The development includes both front-end and back-end development. The duration of this stage can vary, completing in 3–6 months, while the costs—between $25k and $100k—depend on how complex the app is. Developers work on building the functionality and adding various features to the app.
Testing and QA Costs
Quality assurance ensures the app works perfectly. This part runs 1 to 2 months and costs between $5k-$15k depending on the overhead of testing and how many devices you support.
Launch & Post-Launch Support
Once the app is tested successfully, it is launched. The launch phase might involve marketing & advertising costs. Meanwhile, regular maintenance typically varies and averages $4,000 to $8,000 per year. Maintenance and fixing features ensure that everything functions correctly.
Knowing these stages and the associated costs can help you choose among the education app development packages.
Budgeting for Your Education App Development Project
The question, "How much does an education app cost?” lingers, but with this guide, you have the essential know-how to make an app that will find a home without going over your budget.
If you want to make an educational app, it’s always a great idea to collaborate with some of the brilliant minds at a leading education app development company like CodeDTX, who can take this entire intricate process on their shoulders and add all those features that fit right into your project.
