Educational App Development Cost [Real Project Calculations]

In our recent blog post, we shared pro tips for simplifying the development of educational apps, covering functionalities for different types, and offering insights that can truly streamline the process. 

 

Now, let's talk numbers – it's time to dive into educational mobile app development cost.

 

Without a clear understanding of the real costs involved, even the best-planned projects can stumble, causing missed opportunities and financial setbacks.

 

Leveraging our background in developing educational mobile apps, we'll examine our own project to give you a clear picture of the cost of educational app development.

 

In this article, we:

 

• Break down the costs of developing an educational app
• Shed light on additional expenses to consider when starting an educational mobile app project
• Reveal our real project cost calculations

 

Keep going to uncover more!

 

Educational App Development Cost Breakdown

Developing any project involves various stages, each with its own associated costs. 

 

Below, our experts prepared a simplified breakdown of the basic cost of developing an education app:

 

Note: Please remember that the costs mentioned are approximate and may vary depending on your project's complexity, specific needs, chosen vendors or service providers, location, and current market rates.

 

Planning and research ($1000-$7000)

The initial phase often involves thorough planning and research before diving into development. This includes defining the app's goals, pinpointing target users, and mapping out features and functionalities.

 

At Onix, we offer two options to kickstart your project: Lean Inception and Discovery phase, each with its unique outcomes and associated costs.

 

Here's what we mean:

 

• Lean Inception involves collaborative workshops aimed at aligning stakeholders and defining project scope. It's priced at $100 per hour, typically spanning 6-10 sessions. 

 

The result? A set of requirements, schemes, and high-level estimates.

 

 

• The discovery phase, priced at $7000, delves deeper into your project's specifics. During this stage, our specialists bridge the gap between your software project's business concept and its technical realization.

 

As a result, in just 2-4 weeks, we'll finalize your product vision, build a clickable prototype, work out the product architecture, and provide a cost proposal with time estimates.

 

Factors affecting cost: The complexity of the app idea, the extent of market research required, and the need for specialized expertise.

 

 

Educational mobile app design ($5000-$15,000)

The educational mobile app design ensures a smooth, engaging, and intuitive user experience.

 

This stage includes such vital activities:

 

Concept development

 

• Brainstorming. Generating ideas for the app’s look and feel, user flow, and overall design concept.
• Sketching. Creating initial sketches and rough layouts to visualize the app’s structure.

 

Wireframing

 

• Wireframes. Developing basic, low-fidelity wireframes that outline the app's layout and navigation without focusing on design details.
• User flow diagrams. Mapping out how users navigate the app, ensuring a logical and intuitive flow.

 

Mockups

 

• High-fidelity mockups. Designing detailed mockups that incorporate branding elements, color schemes, typography, and other visual details.
• Feedback loop. Gathering feedback from stakeholders and users to refine the mockups.

 

Prototyping

 

• Interactive prototypes. Creating clickable prototypes to simulate the app’s user experience and test functionality.
• User testing. Conducting usability tests with real users to identify any issues and gather insights for further improvements.

 

UI/UX design

 

• UI design. Finalizing the app’s visual elements, including buttons, icons, images, and animations.
• UX design. Ensuring the app is user-friendly, accessible, and provides a seamless experience.

 

Learn more: How Onix’s experts offer UX audit serviceshttps://onix-systems.com/ux-audit-services to elevate your brand’s look and user experience with tailored, actionable insights.

 

Iteration and refinement

 

• Continuous feedback. Incorporating feedback from usability tests and stakeholder reviews to refine the design.
• Final adjustments. Making final adjustments to the design to ensure it meets all user needs and business objectives.

 

Design handoff

 

• Documentation. Preparing design specifications and guidelines for developers, including all necessary assets and instructions.
• Collaboration. Working closely with the development team to ensure the design is implemented accurately.

 

Factors affecting cost: The complexity of the app's design, the number of roles (teacher, student, admin) the number of screens and interactions, and the need for customization or branding.

Mobile education app for kids made by Onix

 

App development ($40,000+)

The development stage is where your educational mobile app is actually built. This phase involves several crucial activities to ensure the app is functional, reliable, and scalable.

 

Here's a detailed look at what this stage includes:

 

Setting up the development environment

 

• Tool selection. Choosing the appropriate development tools, frameworks, and libraries.
• Environment configuration. Setting up development environments, including integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems, and testing tools.

 

Backend development

 

• Database design. Designing and implementing the database schema to store and manage app data.
• Server-side logic. Writing the backend code that handles business logic, data processing, and server communication.
• API development. Creating APIs for communication between the app's frontend and backend.

 

Frontend development

 

• UI implementation. Translating the app's design into code, ensuring the user interface is responsive and interactive.
• Client-side logic. Writing code to handle user interactions, form validations, and other client-side processes.
• Integration with backend. Connecting the frontend with the backend to enable data flow and functionality.

 

Platform-specific development

 

• iOS development. Using Swift or Objective-C to build the iOS version of the app, adhering to Apple’s guidelines and standards.
• Android development. Using Java or Kotlin to develop the Android version, following Google’s Material Design principles.
• Cross-platform development. Utilizing frameworks like React Native or Flutter to build apps for both iOS and Android simultaneously.

 

Feature implementation

 

• Core features. Implementing essential features such as user registration, login, course content delivery, quizzes, and progress tracking.
• Advanced features. Adding functionalities like gamification, social sharing, push notifications, and offline access.

 

Integration

 

• Third-party services. Integrating third-party services such as payment gateways, analytics tools, and social media logins.
• External APIs. Connecting with external APIs for additional functionalities like language translation, AI-based recommendations, or video streaming.

 

Factors affecting cost: The complexity of the app's features, the choice of development platform (e.g., iOS, Android, web), and the need for integration with external systems or APIs.

Peer-to-peer learning app for Android made by Onix

 

Testing and quality assurance ($12,000+)

Testing the app for bugs, errors, and usability issues is essential for ensuring the app functions smoothly, is free of bugs, and delivers a seamless user experience. 

 

This stage involves several key activities:

 

• planning and designing detailed test cases
• conducting unit tests on individual components
• performing integration tests to ensure modules work together and system testing for overall functionality
• user acceptance testing with real users to gather feedback
• performance testing to assess the app's behavior under various loads and stress conditions
• security testing to identify and address vulnerabilities
• usability testing to evaluate ease of use
• regression testing to ensure updates don’t disrupt existing features

 

Factors affecting cost:  The scope of testing, the number of devices and platforms supported, and the need for automated testing or regression testing.

 

Below, we share prices based on different educational mobile app types. These figures provide a sample estimate of costs.

Educational mobile app development cost

 

It's important to note that these figures provide a sample estimate of costs. After reviewing the estimated cost, reach out for a proposal, which will enable us to align on the best strategy and provide you with an accurate quote.

 

 

Hidden Costs in Educational Mobile App Development

When budgeting for an educational mobile app, it's easy to overlook certain expenses that can significantly impact your overall cost. 

 

Based on our experience, we outline some hidden costs you should keep in mind to avoid surprises:

 

Unexpected costs

Even with careful planning, unexpected costs can arise during development. It's wise to set aside a contingency budget of approximately 10-20% of the total project cost. This cushion can cover unforeseen expenses like extra development needs, technology upgrades, or shifts in project scope.

 

Scalability requirements

As user demand grows, your app may need to scale its infrastructure and resources to accommodate increased traffic and usage, leading to additional hosting and maintenance expenses.

 

Extra features to stand out

Implementing unique features or functionalities to differentiate your app from competitors can incur development and testing costs beyond the initial project scope.

 

Content creation and licensing

Developing high-quality educational content, including videos, quizzes, and interactive modules, requires investment in content creation tools, subject matter experts, and licensing fees for third-party content.

 

Integration with external systems

Integrating with external services such as learning management systems (LMS), payment gateways, or analytics platforms may require additional development effort and ongoing maintenance.

 

Security and compliance

The level of data sensitivity and privacy risks, the complexity of security requirements (e.g., encryption, authentication), and the need for ongoing compliance monitoring.

 

 

Onix’s Educational Mobile App Development Experience: Costs Included

The Onix team built a custom mobile app for paddle tennis fans to improve their playing skills, track progress, and share common interests with the community. 

 

The Onix developers worked on the website and mobile app to transfer the playing experience of the founders and their pro community to people who want to learn from the paddle tennis professionals.

 

You may also be interested: eLearning Software Development: Success Story

 

To build an educational mobile app, we provided the following solutions:

 

• Conducted in-depth project discovery as a part of our project discovery services to investigate the market, competitors, and target users
• Created wireframes, design, and all technical documentation
• Developed a website and a mobile app for iOS and Android platforms
• Designed easy navigation and streamlined app usability

 

Below, our experts provide a breakdown of the mid-range educational mobile app development cost based on MiPaddle.

Educational mobile app development cost

 

MiPaddle is more than just a tennis teaching app with educational videos to improve paddle tennis skills. It’s a vibrant community of like-minded people who share common interests and track their playing progress together.

 

With MiPaddle, users can follow the latest community news, chat with others on the forum, and learn from professional coaches—all in one place. This makes MiPaddle not just an ordinary app but a thriving community of paddle tennis pros and amateurs.

 

 

Summing Up

In this article, we've covered everything you need to know about educational mobile app development costs. With this knowledge, you're fully equipped to start your educational mobile app project without making costly mistakes.

 

And just a friendly reminder—you're not alone in this development process! Our team is here to have your back every step of the way. With our wealth of experience and trusty methodologies, we're all set to guide you toward success, saving you precious time and resources.

 

So, if you need help with your project or expert advice, don't hesitate to contact us.

 

FAQ

 

What factors influence the price when building an educational app?

 

• Development team: Size of the team, expertise and hourly rates, location of the development team (onshore/offshore)
• App complexity: Number of features, user interactions, backend complexity
• Design requirements: custom UI/UX design, number of screens, visual elements and animations
• Development platform: iOS, Android, or both; web app integration
• Technology stack: programming languages, frameworks and libraries, third-party services
• Integration needs: APIs and external systems, payment gateways, social media integration
• Scalability requirements: user load expectations, cloud services, and hosting
• Data storage and management: database setup, data synchronization
• Maintenance and updates: regular updates and bug fixes, customer support
• Compliance and security: GDPR and other regulations, data encryption, and user privacy

 

How can I get an accurate cost estimate for my educational app development?

To get an accurate cost estimate, it's advisable to consult with experienced developers or development agencies. Providing detailed project specifications and discussing specific features and functionalities desired for the educational mobile app will help obtain a more precise estimate.

 

Share your app idea with us, and our experts will calculate your app development costs.

 

How long does it take to develop an educational mobile app?

Here's a general breakdown of the stages and estimated timelines:

 

• Planning and research (2-4 weeks)
• Design (3-6 weeks)
• Development (8-24 weeks)
• Testing and quality assurance (4-8 weeks)
• Launch and deployment (1-2 weeks)
• Post-launch support and maintenance (Ongoing)

 

Example scenarios:

 

• Simple educational app

Basic features, simple design, single platform

Estimated time: 4-6 months

 

• Moderately complex educational app

More features, custom design, cross-platform

Estimated time: 6-9 months

 

• Highly complex educational app

Advanced features, custom design and animations, cross-platform with multiple integrations

Estimated time: 9-12 months

 

These timelines are general estimates and can vary based on specific project requirements and circumstances.

 

How much does it cost to build an educational app?

Here are some general cost estimates for different levels of app complexity:

 

Simple educational app

Features:

 

• Basic user interface
• Simple educational content
• Limited interactivity
• Single platform (iOS or Android)

 

Estimated cost: $10,000 - $25,000

 

Moderately complex educational app

Features:

 

• Custom UI/UX design
• User authentication and profiles
• Interactive content (quizzes, videos, etc.)
• Basic analytics and reporting
• Cross-platform (iOS and Android)

 

Estimated cost: $25,000 - $60,000

 

Highly complex educational app

Features:

 

• Advanced UI/UX design with animations
• Gamification elements
• AI-powered features (e.g., personalized learning paths)
• Extensive content management system
• Integration with third-party services (e.g., payment gateways, social media)
• Comprehensive analytics and reporting
• Multi-language support
• Cross-platform with web integration

 

Estimated cost: $60,000 - $150,000+