How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Web Application?

Answering a question like this is not easy because there are multiple aspects contributing to the actual web application development cost. Plus, the number of service providers in the market make tough for you to differentiate the quotes presented by them. Thus, in order to get a comprehensive answer to this query, we evaluate different factors that directly or indirectly affect the final cost of developing a ground-breaking web application.

You must have heard people telling you that the cost of making a website depends on the requirements of the clients which is true indeed but is not complete. The cost of development is also dependent on the web application development company you’ve hired and the processes followed by the developers.

It’s never a good idea to spend on things which are irrelevant and when it is about business and developments, you have to be more prudent.

It has been observed that web development companies try to circumvent the clients by getting them indulge into unnecessary processes which make the project a quite expensive affair. Thus, it is essential to well evaluate the company’s profile and understand their business standards before hiring them for developing your website.

Apart from this, you must also gain proper knowledge of all the cost-affecting elements of the website so that you can keep a check on the same.

How to Calculate a Web Application Development Cost?

This article is focused on providing you with some basic details of the major costs which are involved in the website development that you, as the owner of the app must know.

#1. Domain and Hosting Expenses

Domain refers to the name of your website by which it’ll be recognized. Getting the most suitable domain name is the foremost step in the process of web application development. Depending on the type of domain you select for your website like .com, .net, .co and more, prices vary.

Then, you’d require a server to make your website accessible to the world. Hosting a website can cost you anywhere around $30 to $40/year. This is a very basic quote for a single website. Prices can go up with the increase in bandwidth and type of hosting (shared/dedicated or Windows/Linux) you select.

#2. Designing

This is another important element of web application development which attracts the clients and showcases the standard of the website. If design is not good or not appealing and the information is not easily readable, then you might be in for some negative points from your visitors. Visitors may even repel coming to your website ever again.

And as they say, ‘first impression is the last impression’.

From size and type of font to colour selection and picture presentation, everything has to be perfect as per the theme of the project. The web designers hold the key here. Designs should match the concept and nature of the business in first place.

The cost factors in this context are largely dependent on the type of project, client’s requirements, taste and preference and the time to be consumed for designing the website. Talking about the basic rates of designing, it may cost you $300 to $1000.

However, if you wish to get a customized website with numerous functionalities, then the cost incurred can go as high as to $5,000 to 10,000 based on the designer’s experience or the standard of web development company you have hired.

#3. Complexity of the Project

One of the most important elements which affect the web application development cost is the type of website and the related complexity. If you need a simple one-page website without any functionality, then the cost of developing the same would be very less in comparison with the one which requires a lot of functionalities and internal features.

The basic websites having five to ten pages with features like blog, gallery, social platform, integration, etc., cost around $1,500 to $3,000. On the other hand, e-commerce websites having ‘n’ number of pages and features including payment portals, email bots, catalogue, database, configuration, purchase system, etc., cost an amount ranging from $5,000 to $40,000.

Apart from this, the cost charged by web developers in India and different regions of the world varies depending upon the complexity of the project. In the Northern America, developers charge a price ranging between $ 35 to $ 210 per hour, in the western and eastern Europe the costs range from $ 30 to $ 180 and $ 20 to $ 100 per hour respectively, while in the regions like Asia, Oceania, and Latin America, the prices range between $5 to $75, $40 to $160, and $10 to $90 per hour respectively.

Moreover, some of the routine expenses involved in the web development are maintenance charging $200 to $1000; and SSL certificates which cost $50 on an annual basis.

#4. Your Choice of Developer

There are various web development companies working in a team of developers, while others who are working independently as freelancers. The expenses of having a collaborative business or a corporate firm are more than those related to working as freelancers. Accordingly, the charges of both vary.
A freelance developer cost considerably lower. On the other hand, the price quotes by web development company range from $3,000 to $ 30,000 or even higher (depending on the requirements and challenges associated).

It is advised to stay careful with offers that sound unreal or are too cheap. Conduct a comprehensive comparison between the service providers and opt for the one whose offer falls in your budget and seems realistic.

Conclusion

Apart from the above-mentioned elements, one may also take into consideration the features like payment gateway integration, third-party API integration, location tracking, inclusion of security procedures, CMS integration, inclusion of automated techniques and more that may affect the overall cost of developing the website.

It all depends on the website’s requirements, complexity, provision of scalability and customisation clients ask for. Demand more features and the quotation graph will rise- as simple as that.

Roughly, a basic website costs under $5k- including features like portfolio space, landing pages with pre-defined templates.

A professional web application would ask you to spare around $10k to $50k- including interactive features, mobile-friendly layout, space for a lot of content, media and functionalities and personalization settings.

If you are planning to get a web application developed for your business, you must research well and find a web application development company that suits your budget, has experienced professionals at work and has the ability to deliver the desired app without compromising quality.