How Much Does It Cost To Make A Dating App? A Breakdown

Dating app development is both challenging as well as a rewarding, but the real challenge is understanding the cost. The cost to build one varies widely depending on several factors. 

Even if you are just in the process of planning to implement an MVP or to move beyond, having a good understanding of the price helps you in making the correct decision.

From selecting the appropriate technical stack to accounting for different stages of development and unforeseen expenses, this guide will take care of one of the most popular queries about app creation: How much does it cost to develop a dating app? 

Prepare for a close-up examination of the main aspects affecting the cost of developing an app, as well as ways to control your budget adequately.

How to calculate dating app development cost?

The amount of money you will need to launch a dating app can be determined according to multiple aspects, ranging from the app’s features to the app’s design. 

It’s not just about what features you want but about how they are implemented, tested, and maintained. The best way to know is to figure out the features and functionality that you want the app to have. Here are some key considerations:

• Platform: Is it an Android app, or iOS app, or both will have a lot of impact on the final app cost.
• Features: Chat features, location-based matching, video calls, etc., also contribute to the cost.
• UI/UX design: If you go for custom designs, costs can rise.
• Backend infrastructure: Scaling and security are much more resource-consuming.
• Location of development team: Offshore app development is more affordable, but management may be needed.

The cost to develop a dating app is based on a simple formula. Here’s how to calculate it:

Development Cost = (Hourly Rate × Estimated Hour) + Additional Expenses

Explanation of the formula:

• Hourly Rate: This is the amount that developers charge per hour. It depends on the skill and experience of the developer.
• Estimated Hours:  Hours of work it might take to build the App 
• Additional Expenses: Anything that falls outside of the development time (third-party services, server hosting, and infrastructure).

This simple formula will let you know how much does it cost to develop software, an app, or even a web app.

Cost breakdown by development stages

To really understand the cost, we can break down where costs are allocated across all the phases of software development lifecycle. This is an explanation of how expenses pile up when developing a dating app:

1. Planning and research (5–10% of the total cost): The initial stage will require market research, analyzing target audiences, and planning the type of features needed. You can distribute resources to the appropriate parts with the help of a solid plan.
2. Design (15–20% of the total cost): The Interface (UI) and Experience (UX) are key. If you care about a sleek, intuitive design, that’s going to eat up a lot of the budget.
3. Development (50%–60% of the overall cost): The development of the app’s essential features would account for the majority of the expenditure. Here’s where front-end and back-end development come in.
4. Testing (10–15% of overall costs): Mobile app testing and quality assurance guarantee that the app works efficiently. There are several testing phases, from functional testing to usability and performance testing.
5. Launch and maintenance (5–10% of the total cost): The work that goes into an app after it’s launched (bug-fixing, patching, maintenance) contributes to long-term cost.

Main factors influencing dating app development cost

The price of making a dating app may vary, and there are factors that can influence the estimate. Following is an overview of the critical ones:

• UI/UX/Design: Standard interface costs less, whereas complex design (3D/AR/VR) takes more time and budget.
• Feature set: Basic features, such as profiles and chat, are less expensive. High-end features like AI matchmaker and video calls greatly inflate development costs as well.
• App type & size: An MVP is less expensive than a complete app. Larger user bases require more server capacity, which also increases the server hosting and infrastructure costs.
• Development platform: Native iOS and Android apps cost on average 15–25% more than cross-platform apps (Flutter, React Native, etc).
• Team structure: Project managers, testers, UI/UX designers, and skilled developers drive up costs. You will be able to lower the cost by choosing to outsource the development rather than doing it in-house.
• Technology stack: Well-established off-the-shelf solutions can save development time, for higher-load apps with complex tech, you might need more expensive stack and cloud services. There are also scalability and long-term maintenance costs to consider with regard to which stack you choose.
• Third-party integrations: The use of APIs (e.g., Stripe, Twilio, Google Maps) is a great way to boost functionality, but comes with the cost of licensing and integration issues. The total price will depend on the amount and complexity of integrations.
• App testing: Rigorous testing for quality performance on various devices and platforms, and all kinds of QA processes (unit, integration, manual, automated) take dedicated time and added cost.

Cost based on technology stack and platforms

The development cost can be very sensitive to the technology stack and platform you select.

• Developing a Native mobile app (Android or iOS): Native applications are made specifically for a single platform. So the cost will double for both iOS and Android development.
• Cross-platform development (Flutter, React Native): An app that works on both platforms may be easier, quicker to develop, since two teams don’t have to be formed, and hence saves money.
• Backend technologies: Selecting an appropriate backend stack (like Node.js, Ruby on Rails, Python) impacts the development time and costs.
• Database: Cloud services such as AWS or Firebase come with additional recurring costs, but ensure scaling and security.

Dating app development cost by region

The region where your developers work is also important for pricing. Here’s a breakdown of costs across a range of areas:

• US: Starts from $35
• Western Europe: Starts from $35
• Eastern Europe: Starts from $25
• Latin America: Starts from $35
• India/Asia: Starts from $15
• Ukraine: Starts from $15
• Poland: Starts from $25
• Philippines: Starts from $15
• Vietnam: Starts from $15

Opting for offshore outsourcing can cut costs, but it demands close project management.

Cost breakdown by app complexity

How much your dating app will cost to develop is directly determined by its complexity. Here are the differences between types of apps:

Simple app or MVP:

With profiles, swiping, and the ability to connect through chat. The cost starts from $20,000

Medium complexity app:

Includes geolocation, push notifications, social login, or subscription models. Here the cost starts from $50,000

High complexity app:

Features like AI-powered matchmaking, in-app purchases, video chatting, advanced filters, and much more. The average cost starts from $80,000

Unexpected costs in dating app development

During the budgeting process, there are sometimes surprises or unexpected costs that come up in development. These include:

• Advertising and launch expenses: You’ll additionally need to invest some budget post-development in the promotion of the app. Here are some of the launch or advertisement methods, such as paid advertisement, influencer partnering, SEO, etc. 
• Post-launch bugs and updates: Bugs and defects always come up after deployment; continuous app support is a key requirement of your app’s future success.
• Legal & Licensing Fees: API licenses, content moderation policies, and GDPR compliance are all pretty critical to avoid legal and regulatory risks.
• Server Scaling: The higher the number of users, the more budget is needed to be invested in server capacity, optimization, and technical upgrades to accommodate future growth.
• Localization & International Expansion: It is a lot of additional development and operations costs to tailor the UI, language, legal, and marketing content to each region.
• Security Audits: Regular vulnerability assessment, data security enhancement, and ethical hacking services are vital to maintain trust and compliance.
• Customer Support: The recruitment/training of the support team, setting up of a helpdesk infrastructure, and dealing with queries are all ongoing operational costs.

How long does it take to build a dating app?

Building a dating app takes different amounts of time depending on a number of variables. Below is a summary of the main influences:

• App complexity & Feature set: Basic apps require less time to build than feature-rich, AI-driven apps.
• Platform: Developing native apps (Android/iOS) adds more time to the overall task.
• Experience of development team: Experienced teams can deliver projects quicker and with less number of revisions.
• 3rd party integrations: If you add payment systems, chat, geolocation, etc, it can require more time.
• Testing and bug fixing: Testing more is likely to take longer, but ensures quality.
• Complexity of design: An animated and custom design is more time-consuming to build than a static template.

The time and expense cannot be precisely estimated. Everything is based on your requirements. But if you have a clear idea of what you need, request a consultation with experts to know more about the time and cost.

Cost optimization tips

You don’t have to spend a huge amount of money to create a dating app. Here are a few ways to lower your expenses:

• Outsource to offshore regions: Outsource developers in offshore regions like South Asia or Eastern Europe, where hiring will cost you less, and get your task done on a tight budget.
• Leverage pre-built templates & frameworks: It saves money, time, and effort on designs; however, they are less flexible when compared to customized solutions.
• Begin with an MVP: Custom MVP development is always an ideal starting point. It is a lean product with basic features like profiles and chat, and you can add more advanced features as the app scales.
• Take advantage of cross-platform development tools: With tools such as Flutter or React Native, you can develop for Android and iOS simultaneously, cutting down on time and cost.
• Integrate third-party services: To save time and cost, implement third-party payment, chat, and video call APIs.
• Prepare for scale: Create a backend that is scalable, and you won’t incur a lot of expensive maintenance costs or higher infrastructure costs post-launch.

Want to build a dating app that fits your budget?

If you are still wondering how to make a dating app within your budget, you are not alone.

The good news is, it’s possible to create a dating app that’s friendly to your budget. If you focus on the core features and leverage the proper tech stack, you can make a solid app at a fraction of the cost. 

Also, planning and project management are crucial for the ability to combine functionality and budget.

If you want a reliable hand to guide you through your dating application but on your budget, then Soft Suave is your best choice. 

Thanks to their specialization in offshore software development, you can afford to develop your own high-quality app fast and under budget.

Conclusion

Making a successful dating app is undoubtedly more challenging than simply making one.

The price of creating a dating app depends on a number of variables. However, if you make a well-thought-out strategy and make wise choices in terms of saving, like MVP development or offshore app development, then you can cope with any budget.

The success of your app depends on how well you are informed about the characteristics regarding establishment and costs of development, whether it is a basic service or a complete-featured dating app.

FAQs