The Real Cost to Build an Education App: A Complete Guide
Quick Summary: If you’re planning to build an EdTech product, one of the first questions on your mind is likely, “How much will the EdTech app development cost?” And the truthful reply is—it varies. The cost can be extremely variable depending on how elaborate your concept is, the functionality you need, which platforms you are looking to cater to, and even where your development team is located.
Within this in-depth guide, we will break down the primary cost influencers, give practical examples like Duolingo and BYJU’S, and give you a rough idea of what to anticipate at every phase of your EdTech app journey.
The education industry has also experienced an enormous digital transition. As per reports, the education app market is expected to more than double over the next decade, growing from $203.2 billion in 2025 to an estimated $410.3 billion by 2034. From virtual classrooms to dynamic quizzes, mobile learning has gone mainstream. You are a startup entrepreneur, an educational organization, or a training company—developing an education app has the power to scale your impact. But before you start, there is always one question that comes to mind:
How expensive is it to create an education app?
I’ve worked with a number of founders and decision-makers attempting to solve this very same question. And what I’ve observed is this: if you don’t make plans for the complete picture—features, tech, people, and post-launch—you’ll wind up overspending or, worse still, building the incorrect thing.
Let’s go through it all—clearly and in practice.
What is an Education App?
An education app is any software designed to deliver learning content, manage educational processes, or support training. This could range from:
- Language learning apps like Duolingo
- Online tutoring platforms like BYJU’S
- Skill-based courses like Coursera or Udemy
- Custom learning management systems (LMS) for schools or enterprises
Some are the product of mobile app development only. Some run across the web and tablet. Some are as simple as quiz generators, while others are fully immersive platforms with AI-based recommendations.
The variety is huge—which is exactly why the cost to build an education app can range widely.
Wondering what it takes to build a full virtual classroom platform? Read our exclusive guide
Key Factors Affecting the Cost to Build an Education App
Before you get an exact number, you need to consider the moving parts. Here are the main things that influence education app development cost:
-
Type of App
- E-learning course app
- Quiz & test app
- School management app
- Student tracking system
- Video-based tutoring platform
-
Platform
- iOS, Android, or cross-platform (like Flutter or React Native)
- Web-based vs mobile-only
More platforms = more cost (unless you use cross-platform tools wisely). -
Feature Set
-
UI/UX Design
-
Third-Party Integrations
-
Development Location
- USA/UK: $100–$200/hr
- Eastern Europe: $40–$70/hr
- India/Asia: $20–$50/hr
-
Team Type
Each has different complexity and technical requirements.
The deeper your app, the more you’ll spend. More on this in the next section.
Interactive learning needs intuitive, engaging interfaces especially for kids and teens.
Payment gateways, video conferencing (Zoom/Agora), analytics tools, CRM, etc.
Rates vary drastically.
Freelancers? In-house? Outsourced company? Each has different pricing, risk, and quality implications.
Cost Breakdown for Education App Features Wise
Let’s look at what specific features cost (approximate ranges using a mid-range dev team):
| Feature | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| User Login & Profile | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Course Catalog | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Video Streaming Integration | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| In-app Messaging | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Live Class Scheduling | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Payment Gateway | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Admin Panel & Reporting | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Gamification (badges, levels) | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Push Notifications | $800 – $1,500 |
| AI Recommendations (basic) | $4,000 –$10,000 |
Average Cost to Build Different Types of Education Apps
Here’s what we’ve seen based on past work and industry reports for the average price of educational app:
| App Type | Basic Version | Advanced Version |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz/Test App | $10,000 – $20,000 | $30,000 – $50,000 |
| Online Course App | $20,000 – $35,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 |
| Language Learning App | $25,000 – $40,000 | $60,000 – $100,000 |
| LMS for Schools/Enterprise | $30,000 – $60,000 | $80,000 – $150,000+ |
| Virtual Tutoring Platform | $35,000 – $70,000 | $100,000 – $200,000 |
Estimated Development Cost by Region
Where your developers are located affects your cost dramatically.
| Region | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| USA & Canada | $100 – $200/hr |
| Western Europe | $70 – $120/hr |
| Eastern Europe | $40 – $70/hr |
| India & Southeast Asia | $20 – $50/hr |
Outsourcing to regions like India can significantly reduce your education app development cost while maintaining quality and if you work with experienced teams.
Curious what goes into building a successful EdTech app beyond just cost?
Check these 7 key insights into educational app development
Hidden and Ongoing Costs
Don’t make the mistake of analyzing app development budget for education only for launch. Here’s what you also need to consider:
- Maintenance & Updates: 15–25% of dev cost annually.
- Server & Hosting Fees: Depends on traffic, content type (video-heavy = more cost)
- Support & Bug Fixes
- Licensing Fees (for tools like Zoom, AWS, or payment systems)
- Marketing & App Store Fees
Plan for sustainability not just launch.
Did you know? In 2023, the educational app market was worth $146 billion, and it’s expected to grow to $549.6 billion by 2033 a near fourfold increase within ten years and counting.
How to Reduce the Cost of Developing an Education App
Not all cost-saving methods are smart. But here are ones that actually work:
- Start with an MVP
- Choose the Right Tech Stack
- Reuse Components
- Work With an Experienced Team
Don’t just rush for everything on the initial day. It will be better to prioritize core features, test, and then expand.
Cross-platform tools (like Flutter or React Native) reduce the cost to develop an education app for Android and iOS codebases.
Login systems, payment modules, and notifications don’t need to be built from scratch.
It might cost more upfront but avoids costly rewrites later. Technource offers dedicated teams with EdTech experience.
Custom vs Ready-Made Education Apps: Cost Comparison
Sometimes clients ask: “Should we just use Moodle or a WordPress plugin?”
Ready-Made Pros:
- Cheap or even free
- Fast to launch
- Good for early validation
Cons:
- Hard to customize
- Limited design flexibility
- Often clunky or bloated
- Licensing headaches
Custom Apps:
- Higher initial cost
- Built exactly how you need
- Scales as your user base grows
- Adds long-term brand value
If you’re building a product that’s part of your core offering or plan to scale—custom is worth it.
In 2024, the global education app market was valued at $6.2 billion, and according to reports, it’s set to grow rapidly reaching $41.6 billion by 2033 with an expected CAGR of 21.5% between 2025 and 2033.
Conclusion
There’s no single answer to how much it will cost to create an education app. But with proper planning, tech selection, and a commitment to core value, you can sidestep overspending and create something that actually benefits your learners.
Whether you’re creating a humble chatbot or just estimating an average cost to develop an education app like BYJU’S, plan beyond features. It’s worth teaming up with an experienced education development company, one that really gets how to build EdTech apps that can grow and evolve with your users.
FAQs
What is the average cost to build an education app? What affects education app development cost the most? How do I decrease the development cost? Should one use an LMS off-the-shelf or have a custom LMS developed? How many hours does it take to make an education app?
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