The on-demand delivery market is growing rapidly, there’s hardly an industry left that has not invested in a delivery app. In the US, consumers rely massively on on-demand delivery apps for their everyday essential needs. As per reports, $57.6 billion is spent annually by US users on such apps, and this revenue is projected to grow to an amazing $500 billion by 2025.
With such growth, many businesses are exploring opportunities in this space and are curious about the cost to build a delivery app. The rising numbers suggest that the industry is going to expand greatly. As convenience is what users demand and want to receive daily. Life has become so hectic that there is no time for daily chores such as grocery shopping, etc. On-Demand delivery apps are in high demand as they save precious time and reduce the effort, enabling people to focus on more important things. From grocery shopping to food requirements, every consumer-based product need has shifted drastically.
Businesses are striving for new methods and ideas to meet the swiftly growing demand of delivery Apps. In such a scenario, large businesses move to such mobile apps due to the cost and outcome. There are certain specific and crucial factors that one needs to understand and keep in mind while planning to build a delivery app.
This blog focuses on on-demand delivery types, features, and cost.
But first, let’s learn-
What is an On-Demand Delivery App?
On-demand delivery apps work as a bridge between a customer and a business. They permit users to request and receive goods or services instantly, without scheduling. We, as consumers, have been using delivery apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash for years now. These on-demand delivery mobile apps solve everyday inconveniences, from having groceries to freshly-cooked meals delivered at home.
Four Types of On-Demand Delivery Apps
1. Food Delivery Apps
A food delivery app is designed to initiate the ordering and delivery of food from restaurants to consumers. The app contains a food menu, personalized recommendations, order placement, real-time food tracking, secure payment integration, and more.
Examples of Food Delivery Apps:
- Uber Eats: Uber Eats is a food delivery app created by Uber in 2014. Customers can order their favourite food from the app and have it within minutes.
- DoorDash: DoorDash is a food delivery service that facilitates food and grocery delivery from local eateries, stores, convenience stores, and restaurants to a user’s doorstep.
- Grubhub: Grubhub is another popular food delivery app. With the help of Grubhub, you can order food from wherever you are and get it delivered to your doorstep.
2. Grocery Delivery Apps
A grocery app is a mobile or web app that permits users to order groceries online from their local vendors. These apps are created to make grocery shopping more convenient, especially for people who have busy schedules or for senior citizens.
Examples of Grocery Delivery Apps:
- Instacart: Instacart is super easy to use. It’s an app where you can place your order, the app connects you to a personal shopper in your local area, and delivers your order. A user can track the order’s progress via the app, select contactless delivery (if desired), etc.
- GoPuff: GoPuff delivers groceries, snacks, and more in just 15 minutes. The only major difference is that there is no middleman; GoPuff has its own stores and delivery persons.
- Shipt: Shipt is a delivery service mobile platform, similar to Instacart. The app connects customers with their local stores, including grocery and retail shops, and has them delivered to homes, often on the same day.
3. Pharmacy Delivery Apps
Pharmacy delivery apps work the same as food delivery apps, but instead of food, people order over-the-counter medications and other healthcare products delivered to their doorstep. The app includes user registration, medical search, profile management, uploading prescriptions, and others.
Examples of Pharmacy Delivery Apps:
- Capsule: Capsule app is a leading pharmacy mobile application that delivers medications often on the same day. On this app, you can find every essential medicine and get it delivered to your doorstep.
- PillPack: PillPack is an online pharmacy app. A subsidiary of Amazon, the app was founded in 2013. It is a full-service pharmacy that sorts your medications on your behalf by dose and delivers them to your doorstep.
4. Pickup and Delivery Apps
A pickup and delivery app is a smart mobile or web-based app that offers a platform to users and order goods or services. Consumers can order any goods or services and have them delivered to their doorstep from a designated point. These apps are extremely useful for people as they save time and offer convenience to users.
Examples of Pickup Delivery Apps:
- Postmates: Postmates is an on-demand delivery app that permits consumers to order goods and services like food, groceries, and other items, and have them delivered to their doorstep.
- Zapiet: Zapiet is a suite of Shopify apps developed and designed to provide pickup, delivery, and shipping options. These tools are beneficial for merchants with local physical stores, local delivery services, or complex logistics needs.
- Delivery: Delivery is a US online platform that enables users to order from local restaurants and stores for on-demand delivery.
Core Factors Influencing the Cost to Build a Delivery App in 2025
If you are planning to build a delivery app in 2025, you must know the key factors that affect the overall cost. We have gathered a few key factors that you must know about;
1. Platform Choice
When it comes to app development, platform choice matters a lot! What kind of platform you choose impacts the overall cost. Each platform approach has its own set of pros and cons.
iOS vs Android vs Cross-platform
You get three choices – iOS, Android, and Cross-platform. If you plan to develop an app for both platforms, the cost will increase. Developing an iOS app with basic features can cost you somewhere around $10,000 to $50,000. When it comes to Android, you can expect the price range to be between $10,000 to $20,000 (with basic features). In contrast, cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter allow you to build a delivery app for both platforms.
2. Set of Features
The feature selection significantly impacts the cost of on-demand delivery app development. To allocate your budget wisely, it’s essential to understand both the core functionalities and advanced features your app will need.
Advanced AI Features that Impact Delivery App Development Cost
Beyond the essentials, certain AI features are rising in demand for delivery app development. These are;
- AI-powered route optimization
- AI-driven predictive delivery
- AR Integrated Features
- Voice-Activated Purchase
3. Geographic Breakdown of the Cost to Build a Delivery App
Delivery app development costs vary by region. For example, the United States is one of the most expensive, where you can expect the cost to be between $100K–$300K, followed by Western Europe, where the cost can range between $80K–$ 250 K.
Southeast Asia offers the services of delivery app development at the lowest rates. The hourly rates method is used in Southeast Asia, for instance, the development rates start from $25 to $250/per hour.
When it comes to Eastern European nations such as Romania, Ukraine, and Poland, the delivery app development cost varies between $50 and $100 per hour. These nations have become a hub for top-notch development services. The total app development expense can sometimes go as high as $150,000.
4. Cost Breakdown on UI/UX Development
User experience and user interface impact the development cost profoundly. For delivery apps such as food delivery and grocery delivery, the design and interface are significant as they directly influence a user’s app usage experience. Moreover, the focus should be on creating an intuitive user interface for the app.
Here is a breakdown of UI/UX key factors:
- UX Research and Strategy
The designing process begins with an in-depth research phase that can cost you between $5,000 – $15,000, but is crucial as it saves time and money in the long run.
- User Interface (UI) Design and Prototyping
Comprehensive UI design can cost you between $10,000 – $31,000, depending on the process of creating unique screens and the elegance of visual app elements. Interactive prototyping is also necessary as it offers an app usage experience to stakeholders before the actual development starts. This step cannot be missed as it helps identify frequent errors and usability issues early on.
- Component Libraries and Accessibility
Creation of comprehensive libraries can raise the overall cost to build a delivery app by 10 to 15%. On the other hand, app accessibility features heighten the rate of development by a whopping 20 – 30%.
Additional Cost Factors You Should Know About
- Maintenance and Updates
- Marketing and User Acquisition
- Infrastructure Scaling
Ready to Build a Delivery App? Codknox can Help
The delivery app development industry will continue to evolve due to users’ rising demand and requirements. Businesses that offer seamless services to their consumers will be favoured and grow their establishment. Whether you are a startup, an SMB, or a large enterprise, we can assist you in developing a reliable app. As a delivery app development company, our team of developers is proficient in building and designing apps that meet consumers’ highest expectations. If you have a delivery app development idea, we can build it for you. To schedule an appointment, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What are the essential features of a delivery app?
Key features for a successful delivery app include:
- Customer App & Driver App
- Real-time GPS Tracking
- Order Placement & Management
- Integrated Payment Gateway
- Order Assignment & Delivery Management
- Admin Dashboard for analytics and reporting
- Rating & Review System
Q2. How long does it take to build a delivery app?
To build a delivery app, it usually takes 3 to 6 months to build a basic delivery app with simple features. If you want more features and a more advanced app, it can take 8 to 12 months or longer.
Q3. Can I start small and add more features later?
Yes, you can start with a basic version of the app, called Minimum Viable Product, and add more features later as your business grows. This is a good way to save money and test your business delivery app idea first.
