Ecommerce app development cost in India turns mostly on one decision: does the app get its own admin panel and backend, or does it plug into the Shopify or WooCommerce store you already run? In the module table below, a full build comes to about 435 to 890 hours of work. Plugging into an existing store removes up to 340 of those hours, because the store already holds your products and orders.
The hours are typical planning ranges, not a WebUncles quote. WebUncles mobile apps start from ₹1,00,000 (US$1,200 overseas), and an ecommerce app with its own admin panel usually sits above that starting point. Our mobile app development service page shows what we build.
This post looks at shopping apps only. For framework choices and app costs in general, see our app development cost in India guide.
First: do you need an app yet?
Plenty of stores sell well on a fast mobile website and add an app later. An app starts to pay for itself when customers buy again and again, when push notifications would bring them back, or when you need something only a phone does well, such as scanning a barcode.
If you do not have a store yet, start there: see our ecommerce solutions. For a small budget, buywpwebsite.com sells a ready WooCommerce store from ₹25,000.
Ecommerce app development cost by module
A shopping app has three layers: the customer app, an admin side where you manage products and orders, and a backend that connects them.
| Module | What it covers | Typical hours (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding, login and profile | Sign-up, OTP or email login, address book | 20 to 40 |
| Catalogue, search and filters | Categories, product pages, search, sort | 40 to 80 |
| Cart and checkout | Cart, coupons at checkout, address and order summary | 40 to 80 |
| Payment integration | One or two payment gateways, refunds | 20 to 40 |
| Order tracking and notifications | Order status, push and email alerts | 25 to 50 |
| Wishlist, reviews and offers | Saved items, ratings, coupons | 30 to 60 |
| Admin panel | Products, orders, users and reports | 80 to 160 |
| Backend and APIs | Database, logic, connections between app and admin | 80 to 180 |
| UI and UX design | Screens and flows for Android and iOS | 60 to 120 |
| Testing and store release | QA, fixes, Play Store and App Store submission | 40 to 80 |
| Total | 435 to 890 |
The low column adds to 435 (20 + 40 + 40 + 20 + 25 + 30 + 80 + 80 + 60 + 40) and the high column to 890. If the app reads from an existing store, the admin panel and backend rows (160 to 340 hours) mostly fall away. Some of that time comes back as work to connect the app to the store’s API, so expect a little more than the 275 to 550 hours that remain.
Reading a quote against this table
Cost = total hours × the hourly rate in your quote. We leave the rate out on purpose, because it depends on the team and you will be quoted your own. What you can check is the scope behind the number:
- Ask for hours per module and lay them next to the table above.
- If a quote is a fixed price, divide it by its total hours. Compare that rate across quotes on the same scope.
- A row with zero hours means that module is not in the quote. Admin panels and testing are the ones most often missing.
Want the same breakdown for your store? Get a quote and we will reply with hours per module in this format.
Features that look small and are not
- Search that copes with spelling mistakes and ranks results well.
- Coupons with rules, such as first order only or a minimum cart value.
- Returns and refunds, which touch payments, stock and notifications at once.
- Guest checkout alongside customer accounts.
- Cash on delivery limited by pincode.
- Order status that updates from the courier, not by hand.
Each of these takes hours that rarely show up in a first estimate. Ask which of them the quote covers.
What moves the cost up
- Marketplace features, where several sellers manage their own products.
- Product variants, bundles, subscriptions or pre-orders.
- Several payment methods and wallets.
- Delivery partner integration and live tracking.
- Loyalty points and referral schemes.
- More than one language or currency.
- Stock sync with an ERP or accounting tool.
Android, iOS or both?
Look at your store analytics before you decide. They show which phones your customers use. If nearly all are on Android, launching there first is a common way to spend less, with iOS in a later release. If you want both on day one, a cross-platform framework builds both from one codebase. Our hybrid app development page covers that route.
Costs outside the build
- Apple Developer Program: US$99 per membership year, or in local currency where available (Apple, checked 14 Nov 2026).
- Google Play developer account: US$25, one time (Google Play Console Help, checked 14 Nov 2026).
- Payment gateway fees on every order. Read your provider’s fee page.
- Hosting for the backend and product images.
- SMS, OTP and push notification services.
- Updates and fixes after launch.
How to cut cost without cutting quality
- Launch with browse, cart and checkout. Add loyalty and reviews in version 2.
- Use your existing store as the backend instead of building a new admin.
- Start with one payment gateway.
- Build both platforms from one codebase, or start with the one your buyers use.
- Write the feature list before asking for quotes, so every firm prices the same thing.
Get a quote for your ecommerce app. Tell us your product count, the platforms you need and the store you run today, and we will answer with hours by module.
FAQ
How much does an ecommerce app cost in India?
Total hours times the rate you are quoted. A full app with its own admin and backend is about 435 to 890 hours in our table, and less if it connects to an existing store. WebUncles mobile apps start from ₹1,00,000, and the final quote depends on scope.
Is an app better than a mobile website for my store?
Not always. A good mobile site is enough for many stores. An app helps when customers buy often and you want push notifications and faster repeat orders.
Can the app connect to my Shopify or WooCommerce store?
Usually yes, through the store’s API. That removes most of the admin and backend hours. Tell us which platform you use when you ask for a quote.
Do Apple and Google take a cut of the products I sell in the app?
Not for physical goods. Apple’s App Review Guidelines (rule 3.1.3(e)) say apps selling physical goods must use payment methods other than in-app purchase, and Google Play’s payments policy says its billing system must not be used for physical goods. You pay your own payment gateway’s fees instead. Both checked 14 Nov 2026.
What do Apple and Google charge to publish my app?
Apple charges US$99 per membership year and Google Play a US$25 one-time fee, checked 14 Nov 2026.
Should I launch on Android only first?
If your store analytics show most buyers on Android, it is a sensible way to save money at launch. Plan the iOS release in the same scope document so the backend is built for both.
