White label app development cost: A Straightforward Guide

Breakdown of White Label App Development Costs

When you set out to build a digital app, sellers will typically give you a price range upfront. This could vary widely—anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the complexity and features you need. 

For example, a white-label solution might start between $2,000 and $10,000, but for more complex applications, costs can rise up to $70,000. However, developing the same app from scratch could be four to five times more, with custom app development often starting around $10,000 for a modern, feature-rich app.

1. Customization Costs

Once you have your white-label app, you can customize everything from colors and logos to design elements and features, if you’re technically savvy. For advanced settings, you might need to collaborate with the seller. However, many companies even offer a few customization adjustments post-sale, which is worth discussing in your agreement. 

2. Maintenance Costs

For many businesses, outsourcing technical maintenance makes sense, allowing the provider to handle the tech while the client focuses on growth and sales. Service providers might charge for this ongoing support, and many companies find it beneficial to ensure smooth, worry-free operations.

3. Licensing Fees

It is worth noting, white-label apps can come with different levels of flexibility. Some allow full customization, while others may have certain restrictions. Specialized or niche apps can also have licensing fees. Many white-label providers charge recurring license fees that cover essential support and maintenance. We can better understand this with these examples. 

You might have heard of Bubble, a popular white-label app builder; it enables companies to develop high-end applications without getting into technical nuances. With its premium plans, you can have advanced control of your app.

4. Third-Party Integrations

Integrating third-party APIs or services may add extra costs. Although the specific pricing will depend on various factors, these integrations can affect the overall budget in white-label app development.

Factors Influencing the Cost

When we talk about app complexity, we're looking at various factors like the size of the app, how intricate it is, the technology stack used, and how well it can scale or integrate with other systems. 

1. Types of App

Complex apps usually have advanced features and sophisticated architectures. They often require the highest security, scalability, and integration with different third-party (or external) services. Here are some examples of apps that are typically considered complex. 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: Apps like SAP or Oracle that help manage everything from HR to finance across various departments in a company.

Social Media Platforms: Apps like Facebook or Instagram need to handle real-time updates. They store tons of data and different mechanisms to function.

E-Commerce Marketplaces: Apps like Amazon or eBay. They store so much data and a complex mechanism for efficient inventory management, secure transactions, and advanced search and recommendation systems.

Fintech Solutions: These apps deal with sensitive financial data. Therefore, they must comply with strict regulations, and need high-level security and real-time updates.

AI and ML-Based Applications: AI development is complex for small business. Applications using machine learning or AI, such as recommendation systems or predictive analytics platforms, are complex because of the advanced algorithms and data processing involved.

2. Platform 

Developing a native app for iOS or Android can be much more expensive than creating a cross-platform solution. Cross-platform apps are usually more cost-effective because you get a single solution that works on multiple platforms. Conversely, going for a platform-specific app can add thousands of dollars to your budget.

3. Features 

Next up are features and customizations. Certain functionalities can drive up the cost of app development. Here are some key features that typically increase your budget:

• Secure logins and multi-factor authentication can get pricey.

• Connecting your app to external APIs (like payment gateways or social media logins) adds complexity. 

• If your app deals with sensitive data, such as financial or health information, you’ll need advanced security protocols and compliance checks.

• Features like chat or push notifications need constant data syncing, which can raise development costs.

• Making your app work offline involves more development work for data storage and syncing, plus a smooth user experience when connectivity drops.

• High-quality graphics and animations take time and skill to create, adding to both development and testing costs.

• Apps that rely on GPS and mapping services can incur additional costs for usage and require precise data management. 

• Features like recommendation engines involve creating or integrating complex models. 

• If you’re aiming for an international audience, you’ll need to support multiple languages, which adds costs for translation, testing, and localized user experiences.

• Apps expecting a lot of traffic need cloud infrastructure that can automatically scale, which requires expertise in services like AWS or Google Cloud.

4. Development Company or Region 

Lastly, the development company you choose plays a big role in pricing. Hiring a developer in the USA might cost significantly more than working with one in Asia or another region. Their hourly rates can impact your overall development budget, whether you go for a fixed-price model or pay per hour.

Custom vs White Label Apps: Development Cost & Timeline 

1. Custom App Development Cost

Custom applications are made from scratch. These apps are highly customized, and special UI. Development includes design, coding for the front-end and backend, testing, and deployment. 

A basic custom application development costs range from $30,000 to $50,000 circa.  These basic apps are well-suited for a basic core application with a few basic integrations, all built around its primary function with minimal customizations. 

You may need to spend between $50k and $100k to build a medium-complex app. The cost of building a complex app is estimated at $100,000 plus. 

Time frame: Generally, 3 to 12 months. This depends on the levels of complexity and the features accumulated in an app.

Advantages: Many adjustability, distinct to your brand, expandable, and fully fit the needs of the organization. 

Disadvantages: Higher upfront cost, extended time to launch, and additional costs for upkeep and upgrades. 

2. White-Label Apps Pricing

White-label or no-code solutions are ready-made and take a short time to deploy an application with basic functions and some tailoring. A basic white-label app may cost between $5k and 10k, while the cost of advanced apps can go beyond $50k. 

How much does a white-label app cost in 2024?

Benefits of White Label Apps

White-label apps are cost-effective for small to medium businesses, as they can build apps at a cost that may cost them a fortune.  

White-label app providers have already invested in developing a core platform and features. You're essentially buying a pre-existing solution. Since the foundation is already in place, the development time for your app can be significantly shorter. 

You can customize the app's branding elements, such as colors, logos, and fonts, to align with your brand identity. Many white-label providers offer a range of features and modules that you can customize as per your needs.

You can often customize the user interface and user experience for your users. You can add your content, such as product listings, blog posts, or customer testimonials, to the app. Furthermore, you can integrate the app with other systems, such as your CRM, payment gateway, or marketing automation tools.

Disadvantages of White Label Development

One significant concern is vendor lock-in, where businesses become overly reliant on the white-label provider. This dependency can limit flexibility and control over the app's development and future updates. 

Another potential drawback is the scalability and upgradeability of white-label apps. Upgrading features or expanding functionalities in a white-label app can be complex if you don’t have a team with technical expertise. 

ROI (Return on Investment) of White Label Apps

White-label apps present a compelling opportunity for businesses to achieve a strong return on investment (ROI). While acquiring a white-label app requires an initial investment, it is often a cost-effective solution in the long run. 

Businesses can bypass the substantial development costs of building a custom app from scratch by opting for a white-label app. 

Industry-Specific Examples

1. E-commerce

White-label e-commerce solutions have revolutionized the online retail industry. These pre-built platforms offer many features, including product catalogs, shopping carts, payment gateways, and shipping integrations. 

2. Fitness & Wellness

White-label fitness and wellness apps have gained significant popularity, empowering businesses to provide personalized fitness experiences to their clients. These apps offer features like workout tracking, nutrition plans, and community forums. 

Fitness businesses can enhance customer engagement and loyalty by customizing a white-label fitnesss app with their branding and specific content. The cost of a white-label fitness app depends on factors such as the app's features, customization level, and ongoing maintenance costs.

3. On-Demand Services

White-label solutions have become essential for on-demand services like food delivery, ride-sharing, and home services. These platforms provide the core functionalities needed for these services, including order management, payment processing, and driver/delivery partner management. 

By using a white-label solution, businesses can quickly launch their on-demand service and scale operations efficiently. The cost of a white-label on-demand solution can vary based on factors like the platform's complexity, the number of features, and the ongoing licensing fees.

4. Healthcare

White-label healthcare apps can provide telemedicine services, patient portals, and health-tracking features. These apps can help healthcare providers improve patient engagement and streamline operations. 

5. Fitness

White-label apps are top-rated in this industry because they don’t require regular updates, allowing businesses to purchase and customize them to fit their brand's needs. Are you curious about the cost of building a white-label fitness app? Explore our White-Label App Development Guide for fitness coaches and trainers.

6. Education

White-label education apps are used to deliver online courses, conduct virtual classrooms, and provide educational resources. These apps can help educational institutions expand their reach and offer flexible learning options.

6. Real Estate

White-label real estate apps can be used to showcase property listings, virtual tours, and property management tools. These apps can help real estate agents and brokers attract more clients and streamline their operations.

7. Financial Services

White-label financial apps can be used to offer banking services, investment advice, and insurance products. These apps can help financial institutions reach a wider audience and provide convenient digital services.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned about white-label app development. We discussed the cost of developing white-label solutions in 2024 and highlighted the potential savings you can achieve by choosing this approach. Additionally, we compared the expenses of custom app development with those of white-label solutions.

One of the standout advantages of white-label development is its cost-effectiveness. If budget is your primary concern, this development model is highly recommended. As a white-label app development company, we offer innovative pre-built solutions designed from scratch, utilizing no-code and low-code tools.

If you're looking to launch a market-ready app quickly, don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.