The eLearning industry in this day and age has skyrocketed into the peak of its glory and shows no sign of stopping any time soon.
After the global pandemic COVID-19 the traditional education system has undergone a complete metamorphosis, meaning learners prefer online learning more than the traditional offline learning system.
Well, the average cost to develop an educational app is typically around $20,000 to $150,000+ which depends on various factors which we will discuss in detail below.
Educational apps are able to provide students or casual learners with all the courses and knowledge regarding different topics on the tips of their fingers.
With the help of this complete guide about the cost to develop an educational app you will valuable insight on the different aspects related to the development of an educational app, along with the factors that influence the cost to develop an educational app.
First, let us understand the major reasons to build an educational app.
Major Reasons to Build an Educational App
There are various reasons why developing an educational app can be extremely beneficial for your institution.
Some major reasons are provided below –
Growing Demand for Online Learning
The dramatic increase of online learning especially after the global COVID-19 pandemic has paved a path for the acceleration of the adoption of the digital education systems.
By the end year 2026, the global market for eLearning is shown to reach an astonishing amount of $375 billion (USD), which shows a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 14%.
The increasing acceptance rate of online education among both the students and educators, because of the flexibility online learning offers drives the growth of the educational apps.
Educational apps are able to cater to different learning sites and provide personalized learning experiences accordingly which makes them vital essential tools in the modern education system.
Enhanced Engagement through Interactive Learning
Effective education has seen a new cornerstone known as interactive learning, which has shown to significantly boost student engagement and retention.
A thorough research conducted among students has shown that interactive learning environments retain 75% of the information they learn, when compared to just 10% from traditional lectures, which alone shows that educational apps are able to cater to the new tech-savvy generation of students.
Developing an educational apps that implement gamification, quizzes, and interactive content can create immersive learning experiences which allows students to remain focused and motivated.
Expanding Private Tutoring Market
Educational apps that are able to connect students with qualified experienced tutors can profit immensely by offering on-demand access to top notch tutoring services.
The private tutoring market alone has seen significant growth, projected to reach $201.8 billion by the end of year 2026.
The rise of remote learning has made it easier for students to connect with any tutor regardless of their geographical location.
By developing an educational app which are able to facilitate these connections, startups can tap into the goldmine of the eLearning market.
These are some major reasons to develop an educational app in 2025, now let us look at the average cost to develop an educational app.
Average Cost to Develop an Educational App
Well, the average cost to develop an educational app is in-between $20,000 to $150,000+, which depends on various factors such as the location of the development team, the complexity of the app and many more.
Below is a breakdown of the average costs associated with different types of educational apps:
| Type of Educational App | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic Educational App | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| Intermediate Educational App | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Advanced Educational App | $80,000 – $150,000 |
Now, let us take a deeper dive into the various factors in detail.
Factors that Affect the Cost to Develop an Educational Application
There are various factors that influence the cost to develop an educational application.
The in-depth detail about these factors are provided below-
App Complexity
The most vital factor that impacts the cost to develop an educational app is the complexity of the app.
The educational apps can divided into three simple segments- basic, intermediate and advanced.
Basic educational apps with basic fundamental features including simple quizzes, text based content and minimal user interaction are cheaper to develop than the advanced apps which include sophisticated features such as real-time collaboration with the tutors, AI driven personalized learning paths and extensive content libraries.
The more advanced the app is the more resources it requires to manage them efficiently, hence understanding the complexity level of the educational app is essential for budgeting and planning the development process.
The table below provides a breakdown on the how the complexity of the app can influence the cost to build an educational app –
| Complexity Level | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| Intermediate | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Advanced | $80,000 – $150,000 |
Features and Functionality
The features and functionality of an educational app plays a vital role in impacting the overall educational app development cost.
Basic features like user profiles, progress tracking along with basic interactive elements are easier and less costly to implement than the implementation of advanced features such as gamification, social sharing and real-time analytics.
Each additional features requires development time and a price tag and also needs thorough testing and quality assurance to ensure a smooth user experience.
Hence, when developing an educational app it is crucial to prioritize vital features instead of nice-to-have features to match the needs of the users and the overall budget.
The table below provides a breakdown on the number of features and functionality can influence the cost to build an educational app –
| Feature Type | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic Features | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Intermediate Features | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Advanced Features | $30,000 – $60,000 |
Platform Choice
The choice of platform significantly influences the cost to develop an educational app – whether you want to develop an app for iOS, Android or both each factor has their respective impact on the overall educational app development cost.
Developing an educational app for a single platform allows the app developers to focus all their time and effort on one operating system’s requirements and user interface guidelines.
If you want to build an educational app for both platforms, it will in turn increase the cost factor significantly.
Therefore, the choice of the platform must align with the target audience and budget considerations.
The table below provides a breakdown on the choice of platform can impact the cost to build an educational app –
| Platform | Estimated Cost Range |
| Single Platform (iOS or Android) | $20,000 – $50,000 |
| Both Platforms | $40,000 – $100,000 |
Design and User Experience (UI/UX)
The design and user experience of the educational app significantly influences the overall educational development cost.
A basic designed educational app with standard templates and minimal customization are typically less expensive to develop than that of custom built educational apps with major focus on developing highly interactive and visually appealing interfaces.
Hence, allocation of a sufficient budget for the success of the app is vital, as it impacts the experience of the user and their interaction with the educational content.
The table below provides a breakdown on the choice of platform can impact the cost to build an educational app –
| Design Quality | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic Design | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Custom Design | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Premium Design | $30,000 – $50,000 |
Development team location
The geographical location of the development team is a major factor that significantly influences the cost to develop an educational app.
The varying labor costs of developers based on region is due to the difference of the living costs in their respective regions.
It is vital to consider social skills such as communication, time-zone differences and quality assurance when choosing lower labor costs from offshore developers.
When selecting a development team, it is crucial to balance cost with quality and expertise to ensure the app meets its educational objectives.
The table below provides a breakdown on how the geographical location of the team can impact the cost to build an educational app –
| Location | Estimated Cost per Hour |
| North America | $100 – $250 |
| Western Europe | $50 – $150 |
| Eastern Europe | $30 – $70 |
| Asia | $20 – $50 |
Backend Development
The backend development of an educational app influences the overall educational app development cost significantly.
A well-developed robust backend is vital for the management of the user data, authentication and delivery of content.
A simple backend includes basic user authentication and data storage and are less costly to integrate than that of complex backend which involve integration with third-party services, real-time data processing and extensive database management.
Hence, proper planning and budgeting is necessary for backend development are essential for supporting the app’s long-term success and functionality.
The table below provides a breakdown on how the backend development can impact the cost to develop an educational app –
| Backend Complexity | Estimated Cost Range |
| Simple Backend | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Intermediate Backend | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Complex Backend | $30,000 – $60,000 |
Integration with Third-Party Services
The integration with third-party services is a vital factor that impacts the cost to develop an educational app.
Basic integrations which include payment gateways or a simple analytics tool are less costly to integrate than that of advance integrations that require extensive API development and customization.
Integrating third-party services into an educational app not only enhances the functionality and user experience but also adds to the overall educational app development cost.
Hence, when developing an educational app, it is vital to consider the desired integrations and their potential impact on both functionality and budget.
The table below provides a breakdown on how integrating with third-party services can impact the cost to develop an educational app –
| Integration Type | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic Integration | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Intermediate Integration | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Advanced Integration | $15,000 – $30,000 |
Maintenance and Updates
The ongoing maintenance and updates are crucial factors that influence the cost to develop an educational app.
Basic maintenance which include minor bug fixes and performance improvements are easier and less costly to implement than that of comprehensive maintenance which include extensive feature updates, user support and performance optimization.
Allocating a massive sum of your budget in maintenance is essential to maintain a positive user experience.
The table below provides a breakdown on how the ongoing maintenance and updates can impact the cost to develop an educational app –
| Maintenance Type | Estimated Annual Cost |
| Basic Maintenance | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Regular Updates | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Comprehensive Support | $20,000 – $50,000 |
Testing and Quality Assurance
Testing and quality assurance are vital factors that affect the cost to build an educational application.
Basic testing which include functional testing and minor bug fixes are less costly to implement than that of comprehensive testing which involves extensive testing methods which include usability testing, performance testing and security assessments.
An extensive Quality Assurance (QA) is vital for finding and fixing issues before the launch of the app, which leads to higher user satisfaction and retention.
The table below provides a breakdown on how the testing and quality assurance can impact the cost to develop an educational app –
| Testing Level | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic Testing | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Comprehensive Testing | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Extensive Testing | $15,000 – $30,000 |
Marketing and Launch
The final and the most vital factor that influences the cost to develop an educational application is the marketing and launch of the app to the relevant app stores.
Basic marketing which include a social media promotion and email campaigns are less costly to implement than that of comprehensive marketing which require extensive campaigns across various channels, Public relations efforts and promotional events.
Hence, allocating a budget for marketing and launch is vital to ensure the app reaches a wide audience and can achieve their educational goals.
The table below provides a breakdown on how the marketing and launch of the application can impact the cost to develop an educational app –
| Marketing Strategy | Estimated Cost Range |
| Basic Marketing | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Intermediate Marketing | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Comprehensive Marketing | $30,000 – $100,000 |
These are the various factors that directly influence the overall educational app development cost.
Now, let us look into some popular educational apps and the cost to clone them.
Popular Educational Apps and the Cost to Clone them
There are different kinds of educational apps which are successful and are earning large amounts of revenue.
The details about the popular educational apps and the cost to clone them are provided below –
edX
edX is an online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT as a joint experiment to make education available all across the globe.
They provide a filterable and searchable catalog of various courses which makes it easier for users to navigate and find the course that suits them the best.
The average cost to develop an app like edX is around $50,000 to $500,000+, depending on the location of the development team, complexity of the features, the UI/UX design and many more factors.
Coursera
Coursera is an online learning platform developed way back in 2012 by two Stanford University computer science professors Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng.
They provide high-quality video content delivered by expert instructors from top universities and organizations.
The average cost to build an app like Coursera is around $20,000 to $150,000+, depending on the complexity of the app and features required along with the location of the development team.
Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning application which provide quick, bite-sized lessons for learning 40+ languages.
They use game-like elements such as points, levels, and rewards to make language learning engaging and fun.
The average cost to develop an app like Duolingo typically ranges from $50,000 to $250,000, depending on the features, platform, and complexity of the app.
These are the various popular educational platforms that are extremely successful and the cost to clone them along with it.
Now, let us understand the various different types of educational apps which you can build along with their cost.
Different Types of Educational Apps & Cost
Educational apps can be categorized into various types based on their functionality, target audience, and learning methodologies. Below is a table summarizing different types of educational apps along with their estimated development costs-
| Type of Educational App | Description | Estimated Cost Range |
| E-Learning Platforms | Comprehensive platforms offering courses, quizzes, and certifications. | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Language Learning Apps | Apps focused on teaching new languages through interactive lessons and exercises. | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Quiz and Test Preparation Apps | Apps designed for practice tests and quizzes in various subjects. | $20,000 – $60,000 |
| Children’s Educational Apps | Interactive apps aimed at teaching young children basic skills and concepts. | $15,000 – $50,000 |
| Gamified Learning Apps | Apps that use game mechanics to teach subjects in an engaging way. | $40,000 – $120,000 |
| Skill Development Apps | Apps focused on teaching specific skills, such as coding or art. | $25,000 – $70,000 |
| Virtual Classroom Apps | Platforms that facilitate live classes and interactive learning experiences. | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Augmented Reality (AR) Learning Apps | Apps that use AR technology to enhance learning experiences. | $50,000 – $200,000 |
Now, after understanding the different kinds of educational apps and the cost to develop them.
Let us look into the steps to develop an educational application –
Steps to Develop an Educational Application
Developing an educational application involves a detailed development process which are provided below-
Market Research
Conduct through market research to identify your target audience and analyze competitors to better understand the demand of the market and the gaps in the market to develop an educational app to solve these gaps.
Define Objectives
Make sure to outline the purpose of the app, key features and educational help you wish to provide along with the features and functionalities you want your app to integrated with.
Wireframing and Prototyping
Build wireframes to get a visual representation of the layout of the app and the user interface.
Build a prototype to test the functionality and the flow of users.
Design
Focus on creating a well-thoughtout UI/UX design to develop an engaging and intuitive interface.
Make sure the design matches with the educational principles and user preferences.
Development
Select the best approach and technology stack to begin coding the application.
This includes both the frontend and backend development.
Testing
Make sure to conduct thorough testing to identify and fix bugs.
Use different testing methods which include functional, usability and performance testing.
Launch
Launch the app on relevant app stores which include the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store and promote it through various marketing strategies.
Maintenance & Updates
Continuously monitor user feedback and app performance.
Regularly update the app to improve features and address any issues.
Now, after understanding the steps to develop an educational app, let us look at the average educational app development timeline.
Average Educational App Development Timeline
The Educational App Development timeline is around 6 to 12 months.
The timeline for developing an educational app can vary based on complexity, features, and team size. Below is a breakdown of the typical phases involved in the development process:
| Phase | Duration |
| Market Research | 2 – 4 weeks |
| Define Objectives | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Wireframing & Prototyping | 3 – 5 weeks |
| Design | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Development | 8 – 16 weeks |
| Testing | 3 – 5 weeks |
| Launch | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Maintenance & Updates | Ongoing |
Let us now look into the monetization strategies to generate revenue by developing an educational application.
Monetizing the Education app
Monetization of the educational app is necessary to ensure that the app produces revenue and provides a great return on investment (ROI).
There are various monetization methods to generate revenue, the details are provided below-
Freemium Model
Users access basic features for free, with the option to pay for premium features.
High, as it attracts a large user base and converts a percentage to paid users. Apps like Duolingo successfully utilize this model.
Subscription Models
Users pay a recurring fee for access to content and features, often with tiered pricing.
Steady income stream; apps like MasterClass thrive on this model, providing ongoing value through regular content updates.
In-App Purchases
Users can buy additional content or features, such as new courses or study materials.
Significant, especially in content-heavy apps; global revenues from in-app purchases reached $71 billion recently.
Advertisements
Integrating ads in a non-intrusive manner, such as banners or interstitials, while offering ad-free experiences for a fee.
Moderate to high, depending on user engagement and ad placement; apps like YouTube Kids effectively balance ads with user experience.
Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships
Collaborating with educational institutions or companies for sponsorships or content development.
Variable, but can provide substantial funding and credibility to the app.
Data Monetization
Selling insights from user data to third parties, ensuring ethical practices and user privacy.
High, if the app collects valuable data; however, it requires careful handling to maintain user trust
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Conclusion
The process of creating an educational application involves various steps which include market research, understanding the features, wireframing and prototyping, UI/UX design and the maintenance of the eLearning app.
Not only this there are several factors such as the complexity of the app, the choice of platform and the location of the development team which affect the cost to develop an educational app.
Take a look into the Educational App development timeline to get an insight on the amount of time required to develop such an app and understand how to monetize the Educational App to generate revenue.
Make sure to look at the different types of educational applications to gain insight on the type of educational application, you want to develop.
Lastly, look into the popular educational apps and the cost to clone them.
FAQs
The average cost typically ranges from $20,000 to $150,000+, depending on factors like complexity, features, and development team location.
The development timeline usually spans 6 to 12 months, depending on the app’s complexity and features.
Common strategies include freemium models, subscriptions, in-app purchases, advertisements, and corporate partnerships.
Key factors include app complexity, features and functionality, platform choice, design quality, and the location of the development team.
You can create various types, including e-learning platforms, language learning apps, quiz apps, gamified learning apps, and virtual classroom apps.
Naveen Khanna is the CEO of eBizneeds, a company renowned for its bespoke web and mobile app development. By delivering high-end modern solutions all over the globe, Naveen takes pleasure in sharing his rich experiences and views on emerging technological trends. He has worked in many domains, from education, entertainment, banking, manufacturing, healthcare, and real estate, sharing rich experience in delivering innovative solutions.
