On Demand App Development Cost In 2021 

In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the on demand app development cost in 2021.

What Are On Demand Apps?

As the name implies, on demand apps are those apps that provide you with services as and when you demand them. So, whether you need to get your home appliances repaired, or need to book a cab, or perhaps simply get salon services done at home, your favorite on demand apps will always have your back! 

You can consider on demand apps to be like an e-marketplace. It connects people who are looking for services to those who provide services, all in real time. Thus, customers can get convenience delivered and their work done, while the service providers can earn a handsome additional income by taking up these on demand gigs. 

Basic Workflow Of On Demand Apps

• The customer opens the app and books a service
• The nearest or available service provider receives a notification about the booking
• They check the request details and accept it
• Both the parties can chat through the app in case of queries 
• Once the booking is confirmed, the customer can pay via the app itself
• The customer can provide rating and feedback once the service provider delivers the work

Types of On Demand Apps 

• Cab booking – Lyft, Uber, Flywheel.
• Grocery and food delivery – DoorDash, GrubHub, Instacart
• Handyman services – Jiffy On Demand, TaskRabbit, Thumbtack
• Gifts and flower delivery – UrbanStems, Gyft, Giftagram
• Medicine delivery – NowRx, Capsule, CVS

On Demand App Development Cost

As we have already discussed everything related to the on demand service apps, it’s time to move on to the main deal – their cost. All the on demand apps have a total of three variants, namely: the customer app, the service-provider app, and the admin panel. Although the core features of each variant are somewhat similar, they differ in the overall usage and have their own set of unique functions. In this section, we will be covering the overall and feature-wise on demand app development cost while keeping in mind all three variants. 

On Demand App Development Cost For The Customer App 

The customer app of the on demand services app is used by the customer or end-user. These are the applications that you see on app markets such as Google Play and App Store. If these apps don’t have a demand from the customers’ end, your business can be drastically affected. 

Therefore, it is the most important variant of your on demand application. Needless to say, their features should be top-notch so that you can stand out from your competitors and hook your customers. Keeping the core features in mind, a rough estimate for your on demand app development for the customer app would be $25,000. 

However, this price tag can have variations depending upon your requirements. Let’s look at the quick break-down of the feature-wise on demand app development cost for the customer app. 

• User Profile 

After a user registers on your platform, they see the option of creating a profile. Here, they can put all the information about themselves, such as their name, pictures, and a brief bio. They can also add other information like their gender, age, and service preferences. 

Although it may seem like a generic and unexciting feature, it is one of the most crucial parts of your on demand app. Without this feature, the customer will not be able to make use of the other features, such as booking a service, or seeing services history, and so on. 

Features included:

• • Registration via Email
  • Social login
  • Create customer profile
  • Alerts and notifications 
  • Referrals and invites 

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $3,000. 

• Listings

Imagine using Instacart and not seeing the option of the available list of groceries, or  perhaps trying out DoorDash and not being able to see the nearby restaurants and delicacies. Wouldn’t it be frustrating? Well, this is where the listings feature comes in.

Whatever you offer to your customers is displayed under the listings option. The customers can view all of them from one space and refine the results by adding filters for location, price, etc. Therefore, whenever your app user clicks on this feature, they will be able to see the available products services, their cost, and the reviews, if any. 

For instance, when Talabat users wish to order food from their platform, they’d select the listings option and would be able to view all the restaurants nearby their location, along with the average cost of meal, reviews, and estimated time of delivery. 

Features included:

• • Product/Service listings
  • Product/Service details (example: profile, product description, etc.)
  • Search option and filters

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $7,000.

• Map Integration

The map feature doesn’t only make your application appealing and way more advanced, it also helps your customer get details and keep track of the services. You just cannot afford to miss out on this feature as an informed and updated customer = happy customer! 

Let’s take Uber into consideration. Imagine their application without a map. Do you think they would’ve been as successful as they are right now had they not shown an interactive and dynamic map on their platform? Well, you already know the answer. 

Therefore, you need to have a map integration to give your customers all the information they need while getting the ultimate business advantage. 

Features included:

• • Show the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA)
  • View the location of the services (example: present location of cab, proximity of restaurant, etc.)

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $5,000. 

Wish to create an on demand service app for your business? Get in touch with us and get started with your dream project today!

• In-app Chat 

The key to a successful application is providing a chat feature. It ensures hassle-free communication between the customer and service provider and ultimately leads to the smooth working of the business. 

In case of any doubt, cancellations, or some urgency, both customers and service providers can contact each other. Therefore, this feature removes any ambiguity in both parties. You can include a readily available SDK for chatting in your app. 

Features included:

• • Simple chat feature
  • Attachments feature (Images, videos, documents, etc.)
  • Block feature 

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $2,000. 

• Cart and Checkout Process

Once your customers choose their preferred product or service, they can review it and choose to confirm or cancel the order. If they wish to proceed with their order, they can add it to the cart. The cart feature allows the customers to check out with their order and provide their billing address.

Once the customers give all the required information, they will be asked to opt for their preferred payment method, such as debit card, credit card, etc. Soon after, they will be redirected to a payment gateway,  where they can easily pay the required amount. 

Thus, your customers won’t be able to finalize the products and services they want,  select their mode of payment, and ultimately purchase from you if you don’t have the cart and checkout feature. 

Features included:

• • “Add to cart” option and order summary
  • Select, add, or edit address 
  • An option to add additional information, if required
  • Option to choose the preferred mode of payment
  • The ability to redirect to a payment gateway

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $3,000.

• Order History

The option of viewing order details and history allows users to view their previous orders whenever they want. This feature ensures complete transparency and lets the user know what and when they ordered and how they paid for it. Moreover, this feature can come in handy if they wish to reorder the same product/service or provide feedback. 

Features included: 

• • List of past and ongoing orders
  • Order details
  • Feedback and rating
  • Re-order 

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $3,000.

• Settings and Other Miscellaneous Features

Other miscellaneous features include giving users the option to reset their password, change their contact details, set up their e-wallets, change to light or dark theme, and so on. These settings features can cost you $2,000. 

Thus, this makes the on demand app development cost for the customer app $25,000. However, these prices can vary customer-to-customer as features and requirements differ. 

On Demand App Development Cost For The Service Provider App 

The service provider app is used by the service providers of your company. For instance, delivery partners of DoorDash, handyman of Jiffy On Demand, and drivers in the case of Uber. This variant makes it easier for the service providers to work efficiently as it allows them to communicate with your customers, get every information in one place, and plan their work accordingly. 

Many people assume that this variant is not as vital as the customer app. Well, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Let’s take a look at Uber. The driver variant of their on demand cab application is packed with features. This is because they understand that one needs to pay attention to both the app users – customers and service providers. Similarly, while you’re making your service provider variant, you should ensure that it includes all the core and exclusive features so that your service providers have a pleasant experience. 

Keeping the core features in mind, a rough estimate for your on demand app development for the service provider app would be $10,000. 

However, this price tag can have variations depending upon your requirements. Let’s look at the quick break-down of the feature-wise on demand app development cost for the service provider app. 

• Profile 

Just like your customers can register and add their details, similarly, the service providers of your on-demand application also have the option of creating their profile. They can add their name, age, and a brief bio.

This feature is also beneficial to your customers. When they go through your service listings, they can click on the service provider’s profile to view their ratings and get a brief overview. They can also see how many years the particular service provider has been in the company. 

Features included: 

• • Email registration and login
  • Social media registration and login
  • Referrals and invites
  • Complete profile access

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $2,000.

• Accept or Decline Request 

Once the customers choose their preferred product or service, they can send a request to your service providers. When they receive the request, they can see the option of accepting or declining it. 

For instance, if a service provider is currently busy or the customer’s location is far from their proximity, they can choose to decline the request. Similarly, they can accept it if they’re available at the moment. 

This feature is crucial for your on demand application as it gives your service providers the option to receive and accept gigs.

Features included:

• • Accept request
  • Decline request
  • Push notifications

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $2,000.

• In-app Chat

As discussed earlier, the chat feature in your on-demand application ensures smooth communication between both the customers and service providers. As the customer variant of your app has the chat feature, your service provider app is also bound to have this feature. However, you don’t have to make it too complex. A simple in-app chat option that allows the users to send text, images, and files will suffice. 

Features included: 

• • Same as the chat feature for the customer app 
  • Customizations, if any

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $2,000. 

• Order history 

The service providers can view all their previous, ongoing, and upcoming service bookings from one space. This feature keeps them aware of their services at all times and helps them manage everything more efficiently. Apart from this, this feature can come in handy if they wish to view a particular service’s details such as customer name, date, time, and so on. 

Features included: 

• • Past bookings
  • Current or ongoing bookings
  • Upcoming bookings
  • Smooth navigation 
  • View service details 

On demand app development cost for this feature would be $2,000. 

• Settings and Other Miscellaneous Features

Just like the customer app, the service app also includes other miscellaneous features such as resetting passwords, changing contact details, and so on. These settings features can cost you $2,000. 

Thus, this makes the on demand app development cost for the service provider app $10,000. However, these prices can vary customer-to-customer as features and requirements differ. 

On Demand App Development Cost For The Admin Panel

The administration panel, admin panel for short, is primarily used to manage your application and make the necessary changes. For instance, if you want to display an ongoing offer, you can strike off the prices on your app listings via the admin panel feature. You can also get a quick overview of your customers’ profiles and interact with them if required. Thus, the admin panel is used to edit and supervise everything on your on demand app. 

Features Included:

• Dashboard
• Managing service providers
• Managing customers
• Manage pricing and commissions
• Analytics and sales reports
• Efficient performance monitoring

On demand app development cost for the admin panel would be $10,000.

Summing Up

Therefore, the total cost for the three variant is as follows:

Customer app: $25,000

Service provider app: 10,000

Admin panel: $10,000

Total cost for your on demand app: $45,000.

FAQs – On Demand Apps 

• Is building an on demand app a profitable business?

Yes, having your own on demand app is a lucrative start-up idea. According to Burson-Marsteller’s on demand economy survey, 42% of the adult U.S population (86.5 million Americans) has used an on demand service.

All you need to do is conduct market research and understand what are the gaps between the customers and their approach to solve their problems. For instance, Uber realized that people are facing an issue in finding a cab in the traditional manner. Thus, they decided to launch on demand cab services and reached new heights. 

• What is the future of on demand apps?

The demand for on demand apps is surging, and there’s no sign for it to stop. Let’s take on demand food delivery into consideration. A study by Adroit Market Research states that the online food delivery market will reach $161.74 billion by 2023. The U.S is the second most favorable market for online food delivery services and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.7 % over the forecast period.

• How much time will it take to create an on demand app?

Each feature takes a set amount of time to be integrated into your app. For instance, the feature to create a profile may take upto 24 hours to be incorporated. Similarly, adding the option of search filters, and messaging can take anywhere between 24 to 48 hours. Thus, it depends on the features you want your app to have. Creating a basic app with the core features can take up to 1,200 hours. 

• How should I get started with my on demand app? 

We would suggest that you should first study the industry giants in the on demand space to get an idea of their working. Once you’ve worked your way around what you want and how you want it to be, you can connect with the right team of developers. Make a plan and elaborate your idea to them to seek a feasible solution.

Choose Idea Usher 

Idea Usher has built over 1000+ successful projects. As each customer is different, we strive to offer solutions that are as unique as them and their ideas. Get in touch with us today and build a world-class food delivery app to be the next market leader. 

Don’t forget to check out our portfolio of mobile applications.