How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Dating App?

People are increasingly using the internet to search for a life partner. That's why people have recently been using and enjoying chatting and dating apps more than ever. Grand View Research predicts that the market will generate over $12 billion in revenue by 2030, up from $8 billion in 2022.

Entrepreneurs and startup owners are paying attention to the dating industry.

If you're also interested and have an amazing idea for a dating app, you probably wonder how much it will cost you. Let's analyze the components involved in creating a dating app and prioritize the essential features.

No time for cost research? Don’t worry! We got you covered. Here’s the estimated cost you need to determine while spending on dating app development.

The cost of making a dating app can vary widely depending on the types and features. You can develop a basic dating app for android & iOS with just the essential features for as little as $25,000 to $35,000. However, you can develop a moderately complex dating app starting from $40,000. On the other hand, a more sophisticated and feature-rich dating app can cost upwards of $70,000. Thinking how much will it cost your pocket?

Here's a rough estimate of dating app development cost:

• Developing a simple dating app for Android or iOS can cost $30K–$45K.
• Developing a dating app with moderate or complex features compatible with iOS and Android could cost $45K-$75K.

These estimated costs include umpteen features you expect in an app. Below we have described in detail what makes up to such costings.

Dating Apps Market, Statistics, and Trends

• According to ResearchAndMarkets, the global dating app market will be worth more than $8.4 billion by 2024, with a projected growth rate of approximately 6% CAGR. 

• The most prominent companies in the global dating apps market include Badoo, eHarmony, Grindr LLC, FTW & Co (Happn), Match Group, Tinder, PlentyOfFish, and Bumble.
• By 2022, online dating app users were as many as 336 million.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Developing a Dating App

Now that you know how much it costs to create a dating app, you may be curious how to calculate it.

We will closely examine the dating app development cost drivers that matter the most for Android and iOS. The device fragmentation problem with Android and the high-quality requirements with the iOS platform cause price variations.

1. App Platform

When considering how much it will cost to create a dating app, you should first consider the app platform. Your best bets for dating apps are iOS and Android. Pick an app platform according to your specific goals and available resources, as both options have advantages and disadvantages.

iOS: Making an iOS app requires more time and money than an Android app. iOS's market share is smaller but more lucrative. iOS users are more likely to spend money on in-app purchases and subscriptions.

Android: Companies typically find Android app development more cost-effective than iOS development. More people use Android, which accommodates a wider range of devices and display sizes.

Consulting a mobile app development company to discuss your proposed dating app idea can help you make a great decision.

2. Technology Stack

There are three types of dating applications you can create: Native apps, progressive web applications, and cross-platform apps.

Native apps: Native apps are built from scratch without any limitations as per app vision. But if you want to build your dating app for both iOS and android platform, you have to get it developed separately.

Progressive web applications: Progressive web app (PWA) is a specialized web development technology that can transform any website into an app in both appearance and functionality. These options are more budget-friendly, but they process data slowly due to the constant rendering of the user interface. Users likely spend a great deal of time on dating apps, so this clearly isn't an option for you to go with for your dating app development needs.

Cross platform apps: Cross-platform technologies let you develop iOS and Android dating apps at the same time. Currently, React Native is the most popular cross-platform framework. It uses JavaScript, which has a large community and many libraries. It's recommended because you can save money and launch a dating app in four months.

Required Technologies For Dating App Development

Programming languages

• Android – Java, Kotlin
• iOS – Swift

Utilities

• Google maps, Google analytics

Payment gateways

• Stripe, Paypal

Database

• Redis, MongoDB

Cloud storage

• AWS, Google Cloud

Web server

• Caddy, Envoy, Nginx

3. Types of Dating App Development

Matching algorithm-based apps: Matching algorithm apps pair users based on their responses to a questionnaire about their personalities.

Niche-based apps: These type of dating apps cater to a specific demographic. If you do not meet the qualifications (or age requirement) to use the app, you will not be able to sign up for it.

Location-based apps: Apps that determine compatibility by using your location display potential matches in close proximity to you. In other words, it shows you a nearby possible match.

Standard dating apps: Users must specify their ideal partner in advance when using conventional dating apps, which makes them similar to traditional matchmaking services.

Dating apps with gamification: Dating app creators are currently embracing games as a popular marketing strategy in the competitive world of mobile app development. Adding game mechanics to a dating app engages and retains users effectively. Even if a potential match is not found on the first day, individuals can still have fun with the quizzes, polls, and other gamified features. They may meet someone special that way.

Also Read: Mobile App Development Companies In Dubai

4. UI/UX

User experience design greatly improves product usability. The UI designer is responsible for the aesthetics and user experience of the program. Any modern mobile app's success relies on them. Creating a dating app becomes more expensive as the design becomes more intricate. If you have tight finances, simplicity is your friend.

5. Features

The features of your dating app will significantly impact the overall cost. You may not require the more advanced features, but any dating app needs a core set of features.

Basic features:

• User registration & profile creation
• Search and matchmaking functionality
• Messaging functionality
• Social media integration
• Push notifications
• In-app purchases and subscriptions

Advanced features:

• Video and audio calls
• Multiple language support
• Geolocation and real-time tracking
• ML and AI-powered matchmaking
• Image and video editing
• Advanced security and privacy features

6. Development Team

After defining your dating app's concept, technology stack, and features, the next step is to select a team to design and develop it. A typical team comprises a manager, a tester, front- and back-end developers, and a designer. You can either hire them full-time, utilize a freelancer network or contract with an outsourcing firm. 

In-House Development Team: This method has drawbacks that rely on the full cooperation of all workers. For instance, you may need to install telecommuting tools for all your workers or arrange temporary housing. Additionally, you must determine what to do with the team once the project is complete, as the app's technical support will only require some specialists.

Freelance: Plenty of freelancers are available, and you can hire them at low or even reasonable rates to aid in the app's development. However, you will likely need to take charge of the situation and dirty your hands.

App Development Company: Hiring a full-service mobile app development company provides specialized solutions per your business requirements. 

7. App Testing

Ensuring the developed app meets the requirements and performs as expected requires thorough testing. Fully testing the dating app could take between 120 and 150 hours. Having a thorough team of testers who can identify any problems with the application and report them before releasing it to the public is crucial.

Revenue Model for Building a Dating App

Investing in a business is not good until it brings in consistent revenue.

Membership Fee: The admin can charge a small subscription fee to users for using the app. Even though many free dating apps are on the market, charging users a subscription fee can help weed out fake profiles.

Paid Fee: You can set some features to be available only after users paid for them, like video calls and text chats. The features may shift between the monthly, quarterly, and yearly membership tiers.

Third-Party Fee: By working with third parties, the dating app can deliver real-world versions of emoji gestures like gifts and flowers to users as their relationships progress. 

Premium Subscription: The free subscription offers limited access to special features and free downloads for a limited time. Since users only pay for what they find valuable, they always demand these features. Users must pay a subscription fee to continue receiving the benefits after the trial period ends.

In Ads: The businesses whose ads appear within the app compensate the developers. Admins can offer premium subscriptions to users who demand ad-free apps.

How Much Does It Cost to Make A Dating App?

Making a dating app can range from $25,000 to $80,000, depending on the project's scope.

• Simple dating app development: $25,000 and $45,000
• Moderately complex dating app development: $35,000 to $60,000
• Complex dating app development: $60,000 and $100,000

Let's look at how much creating a dating app might cost you, breaking it down by platform, feature set, and more.

Dating App Development Cost As Per Development Company’s Location