Everything You Need To Know About Food Delivery App Development Cost

Mobile apps have revolutionized the way people eat. Just open a mobile application on your smartphone. Choose your favorite food and within minutes your order is delivered to your doorsteps.

Today, the culture of on-demand food delivery has become an indispensable part of daily life. The online food delivery industry continues to flourish with the growing consumer demand and market innovation.

According to reports, the global online food delivery services market size is projected to reach 483.9 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 12%. In the USA alone, the total revenue of the online food delivery market is estimated to reach $353.30 Billion in 2024.

So, if you are planning to launch your own food delivery app for this growing industry, certainly your decision is wise. However, when it comes to developing a food delivery app, cost becomes a big challenge for startups and businesses as they initially have a limited budget for food delivery app development.

Since the on-demand food delivery market is getting competitive day by day, launching a mobile app with innovative features that help the app stand out in the industry requires significant investment. Therefore, it is critical to understand everything that affects the cost of food delivery app development.

Being an experienced food delivery app development company we know what factors play an influential role in the cost and what important things you should consider to build your food delivery app on a limited budget.

In this blog, we will be discussing everything that would help you estimate the cost of your food delivery app development project and useful tips to reduce the cost.

So let’s get started

Why the Demand for Food Delivery Apps is increasing?

The online or on-demand food ordering & delivery business has been flourishing for many years. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the demand for online food delivery services got a huge surge. People use various mobile apps to search for foods and order them online. At present, customers prefer using food delivery apps to order food online.

Restaurants also now use their own dedicated restaurant apps due to the advantages of online food ordering system. However, today, food delivery service is not limited to just eatable foods. People now order groceries, tea, raw food items, and other food varieties. Many food delivery businesses are now investing in cloud kitchen models for food delivery services.

Food tech start-ups today look to build multiple types of apps for on-demand food ordering services. Therefore, the number of food delivery apps has increased significantly in the past few years.

(Source: Business of Apps)

At present, people look for a variety of food ordering & delivery apps to avail of this service more conveniently and cost-efficiently.  Here are some recent statistics that show the increasing demand for food delivery app solutions.

• The global food delivery market revenue is projected to attain $1.45 Trillion by 2027 at a CAGR of 12.33%. Source
• The user penetration in the meal delivery market to reach at 63.1% in 2024. Source
• In terms of business model, the order-focused food delivery app segment is projected to dominate the global online food delivery market. Source
• In 2022, the Asia Pacific dominated the global food delivery industry with a 37% market share. Source

It may sound interesting to know that as of 2022, the number of users of food delivery apps has reached 2.5 Billion globally.

(Source: Business of Apps)

Behind this impressive growth of the food delivery app market, there are many contributing factors such as:

• Ease of convenience
• Increased adoption of apps by restaurants
• Technology advancement
• Growth in on-demand services
• Increased usage of mobile apps

Factors that Influence the Food Delivery App Development Cost

On demand Food delivery app development cost can vary depending on various factors. There are many factors that influence the cost of food delivery app development. If you want to estimate the cost of your app project then you must consider the below factors. By considering these factors and carefully planning the development process, you can estimate and budget for the cost of developing a food delivery app effectively.

1. Complexity of App

The more features you want in your app, the higher the cost. A food delivery app can offer a broad range of services. Your app can focus on providing only food ordering & delivery services. It can also provide restaurant management or table reservation services alongside food ordering. Based on your services, your app will need such features. Consequently, developing these features will impact the overall food delivery app development cost.

App Size	Per Hour Rate	Cost to build a food delivery app	Time Duration
Simple app	$25/hour	$17000 – $30000	4 to 5months
Medium app	$50/hour	$35000 – $60000	5 to 8 months
Advanced app	$150/hour	$60000 – $80000	9+ months

2. Design Complexity

The complexity and uniqueness of the app’s design influence the cost. A simple and minimalist design will be more cost-effective compared to a custom app with complex graphics, animations, and branding elements. Custom designs often require more time and effort from UI/UX designers, which ultimately contributes to higher costs.

3. Platform Compatibility

Developing the app for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web) will increase the cost compared to building it for a single platform. Each platform has its development requirements, design guidelines, and testing procedures, which add to the development time and cost. Moreover, optimizing the app for different screen sizes and resolutions further adds to the complexity and cost.

4. Integration of Third-Party Services

Integrating third-party services such as payment gateways, mapping and geolocation services, analytics tools, and customer support platforms will impact the on demand food delivery app development cost. Some third-party services may require licensing fees or API usage charges. As a result, it can affect the overall development cost.

5. Security Measures

Implementing robust security measures to protect user data, transactions, and sensitive information is essential for food delivery platforms. This includes implementing encryption protocols, secure authentication mechanisms, and compliance with data protection regulations (such as GDPR, HIPAA). Therefore, ensuring the security of the app adds additional expense to the food delivery mobile app development time and cost.

6. Development Team Expenses

It is one of the most dominating factors in food delivery app development cost. To build a full-fledged mobile app for food delivery services you will need to hire dedicated app developers or work with a professional on demand delivery app development company. You have to spend your resources in hiring developers, designers, testers, project managers, and other professionals involved in app development. So, it can substantially increase your food delivery app development cost.

7. Technology Stack

The choice of technology stack for food delivery mobile app development also influences the cost. Some technologies may require licensing fees or have higher development and maintenance costs compared to others. Besides this, using advanced or specialized technologies may require hiring developers with specific skills. This impacts the overall food delivery app development cost.

How to Estimate the Cost of Food Delivery App Development?

Estimating the cost of food delivery app development involves a systematic approach. You need to consider various factors and follow a certain rule to get the right cost estimation for food delivery app development project. Below we have shared some proven methods that could help you estimate the accurate cost to build a food delivery app:

1. Create a Detailed Scope Document

Prepare a detailed scope document that outlines all the features, functionalities, and technical requirements of your app. It includes wireframes, mockups, and user stories to provide a clear understanding of the app’s design and functionality. This document will serve as a reference for developers and help in obtaining accurate cost estimation.

2. Research Similar Apps

Research existing food delivery apps in the market to understand their features, design, and functionality. There are many famous apps such as Doordash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Postmates, and so on that are generating impressive business revenue in the food delivery industry.

So you should analyze their strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities for differentiation and improvement in your app. This research will help you better define your app requirements and estimate the cost more accurately. Here is the recent data about the market share of popular food delivery apps in 2024:

(Source: Statista)

3. Breakdown Features

Break down the features of your app into smaller components or modules. You can categorize them based on user interface (UI), backend development, OS platform (iOS, Android),  third-party integrations, security measures, and maintenance/support. Here we have shown an average cost estimation for key features of a successful food delivery app:

Food Deliver App Features	Cost in ($)
Cuisine listings, sub-menus, and products	2500-3500
Search filters for pricing, delivery costs, and diverse cuisine options	800-1000
Add to cart and order history	1000-2000
In-app messaging and chat support	4000-5000
Signup with 2FA	1500-2000
Sign in or order as guest options	1000-2500
Delivery tracking via live location	2500-3500
Online payment	800-1500
Push notifications	1000-2000
Reviews & ratings	1500-2000

4. Consult Development Experts

Consult with experienced developers or companies that provide dedicated food delivery app development services. They will provide you with better insights into the cost factors specific to your project requirements. You can discuss your app requirements, features, and design preferences with them to receive professional guidance and cost estimation for food delivery app development cost.

5. Use Online Cost Estimation Tools

There are several online tools and calculators available that can help you estimate the cost of food delivery app development based on predefined parameters such as features, platforms, and complexity. While these tools provide rough estimates, they can still give you a starting point for budgeting your project.

Cost of Food Delivery App Development

So what is the cost of developing a food delivery app? On average, the cost to build a food delivery app can range between $15,000-$30,000 for a small-scale app. If your app requires advanced features, the final cost can exceed this range and go up to $150,000 as well.

As we said the final cost depends on your specific project requirements. However, if you are planning to develop food delivery apps like Doordash, Uber Eats, GrubHub, or other popular brands, then the cost of food delivery app development can go as per the following table

• Cost to build an app like Doordash

Doordash is the leading food delivery company in USA and Europe. It provides an extensive range of features for availing various food delivery services. So the cost of food delivery app development like Doordash can vary between $100,000-$180,000.

• Cost to build an app like UberEats

UberEats is also among the leading food delivery platforms. The cost to develop an app similar to UberEats might range between $90,000-$130,000.

• Cost to build an app like GrubHub

It is one of the most famous food delivery apps in USA. Startups and businesses widely prefer this food app idea as their food delivery business model. The cost to develop an app like GrubHub can go up to $190,000

• Cost to build an app like Deliveroo

The leading food delivery app in UK, Deliveroo also stands as the top choice for businesses entering the food delivery industry. The cost to develop a similar app like Deliveroo can range between $60,000-$80,000.

App	Complexity	Cost Range
Doordash	Complex	$100,000-$180,000
UberEats	Complex	$90,000-$130,000
GrubHub	Complex	$80,000 – $150,000
Postmates	Moderate	$50,000 – $120,000
Instacart	Complex	$90,000 – $120,000
Deliveroo	Moderate-Complex	$60,000-$80,000
Zomato	Moderate-Complex	$40,000 – $70,000

Tips to Reduce the Cost of Food Delivery App Development

We know the food delivery app development cost might sound high. Especially for food tech ventures or start-ups, it is quite challenging for them build a full-fledged food delivery application under a limited budget. Being an expert food delivery app development company we know the best practices that could help you save significant cost of food delivery app development.

Prioritize features:  Focus on the core functionalities users need to get started, like browsing menus, ordering food, and tracking deliveries. Try to build a minimum viable product in the first phase. Then fancy features can come later based on user feedback. This development approach will help yo u build your app at a minimal cost.

Utilize open-source tools: There are many free and reliable open-source libraries and development frameworks available for food delivery app development. These can save you money on licensing fees compared to proprietary software.

Target one platform (initially): Developing for both iOS and Android can be expensive. Consider launching on just one platform to begin with, then expand to the other later if needed. Choosing cross-platform can be also helpful if you want to build for both platforms,

Consider developer location: Developer rates can vary depending on location. A mobile app development company in Australia can charge differently from USA. So, you should explore outsourcing to regions with lower hourly rates. However, you shouldn’t compromise quality and communication.

Embrace cloud solutions: Cloud-based services and serverless architecture can help scale your app efficiently without huge upfront infrastructure costs. Try to integrate cloud-based solutions into your food delivery application.

Design for future growth:  Build your food delivery app with scalability in mind. This approach will allow you to easily add features and accommodate more users later without a complete overhaul.

Conclusion

Hope this guide has helped you estimate the cost of your food delivery app project. There are several elements that play significant roles in food delivery app development cost. So, when you are developing your first food delivery app you must consider all the above-mentioned things.

However, since it requires deep research and great industry knowledge, It would be wise to consult an experienced food delivery app development company for developing and estimating your project cost.