How Much Does it Cost To Make an App Like Instacart

Mahil Jasani
Mahil Jasani

Smartphones and tablets have brought a complete revolution in the way people live and shop today. The on-demand grocery delivery service is spreading its wings day by day. More people are getting comfortable with this new way of buying groceries. The main reason for it is technology which has made people get everything on their fingertips. 

According to Statista, the online grocery delivery service is expected to reach $30 billion by 2021. This shows that on-demand grocery delivery is a booming startup and more businesses are getting into it.   

But many of us always get into a question of what will be the cost to develop such an online grocery delivery app. So in this article, we will talk about a few parameters which decide the cost of your on-demand grocery delivery app like Instacart. Let us start with the business model. 

Instacart Business Model

With having knowledge about the Airbnb business model, you can get to know about the parameters required in your business. And applying the same business model as that of Instacart the success rate of your startup increases. As the Instacart business model is different and unique compared to others.

 The concept over here is to act as a mediator between the grocery stores and the customers. On your platform, the grocery stores will list their products and customers can easily buy the products. A delivery boy will go to the shop, collect the order and deliver it at the customer’s doorstep. That’s the simple business model followed by Instacart. The cost of your app development depends on what things you include in your business model.

After deciding the business model, now let us go through a few crucial parameters which highly decide the cost of your app development.               

Choice of Platform

The Majority of the cost for your Instacart clone app for grocery delivery shopping will depend on the platforms you opt for. You can build your grocery delivery business with three platforms – Andriod, IOS and Website. 

Around more than 60% of smartphones get covered under Android, henceforth I would recommend having an app developed in Android. But if you’re focusing only on iPhone users, then you can opt for iOS development. Another solution you can have here is to go for hybrid app development. 

If you opt for Android as well as the iOS platform, the cost of your app development would get higher. Henceforth, develop a hybrid app that will run across both the platforms and will reduce the cost of development. 

If you are just a startup enabler with a low budget, I would recommend just building an MVP website and UX/UI of a grocery delivery app. And then go to an investor who might get impressed looking at your website and UX/UI design of an app.   

Number of Apps in Instacart Clone

Basically you require to build three apps if exactly cloning the Instacart clone. 

  • A Customer App

Wherein the customers can shop the different products. 

  • A Shopper/Driver App

The driver will get every update on the app to deliver the products. 

  • A Vendor App

Vendors can list down their products and price with this app. 

All these three apps will be connected to the admin panel. From the admin dashboard, you as an owner of the business can keep an eye on every activity going around your business. You can verify the vendors and drivers through the admin panel. 

Basic Features of Your Instacart Clone App 

 Once you’ve decided on the platform and apps you want for your grocery delivery business. It’s time to select the features for your apps. Here I’ve mentioned a few features for all the three apps and the admin dashboard.  

Customer App Features:

  • Easy Sign up/Login
  • Social Media Login
  • Filter Search
  • Vendor Based Search
  • Support and Help
  • Order History
  • Wishlist
  • Reordering Previous Order
  • Easy Checkout
  • Online Payment

Driver/Shopper App Features:

  • Social Media Login
  • Driver Profile
  • Order Notification
  • In-app chat option
  • Vendor location tracking
  • Accept/Reject Delivery
  • Set Availability

Vendor App Features:

  • Easy Registration and Document Verification
  • Manage Product Listing
  • Promo Codes
  • Manage Customer Orders
  • Payment Tracking
  • Flexible Functioning Hours
  • Order Alerts

Admin Dashboard Features: 

  • Order Management
  • Image Library Management
  • Account overview
  • Driver & Vendor Document Verification
  • Easy Payment System
  • Multi-Level Admin Access
  • Notification Message Setting
  • Manage Vendor & Drivers
  • Multi-Level Admin Access
  • Commission Management

The Cost For Developing On-Demand Grocery Delivery App

Well, all the above-given features add to the cost of developing a grocery delivery app. There are a few costs above the all mentioned-above which add to the cost of developing an Instacart clone app. Some other points which add to the cost of app development are, 

  • The UX/UI designs you opt for your app development
  • The complexity of your app
  • Advanced features you include in your app
  • Configurations you want. 
  • Software Development company you hire
  • Number of developers you hire
  • The platform you select to build an app.
  • The marketing of the app cost

These are additional things that add up to the cost of your app development. The more complex and highly functional your app is, the more will the cost of its development. On an average cost to build an average level app like Instacart app can range from $14000 to $24000. Again I would repeat, this is a basic cost, it will highly depend on your requirements. 

One point to note here is, the cost of your on-demand grocery app development will mainly depend on the company and how experienced developers you’re hiring. 

How Much Revenue You Can Earn With Grocery Delivery App?

Mainly there are three ways that can help you earn with your grocery delivery app like Instacart. 

Delivery Charges: You can apply a delivery charge based on the delivery location. It will add to your revenue from the grocery delivery app. 

Membership Chargers: Offering users with a membership plan. Wherein they need to pay a few bucks to buy the plan and, in turn, will get some special benefits while purchasing the products. Most of the businesses have such membership plans which adds to the revenue. 

Commission Fees: You can apply a fixed percentage of commission fees from the vendors listing their products on your platform. Either you can go for commission based on the products sold or a fixed monthly commission. 

These are three ways that add up to the revenue of your business. You can earn huge just with a single platform that you can operate from anywhere and anytime. The more user engagement to your platform more will add to the revenue.

Get Ready To Build Your On-Demand Grocery Delivery App Like Instacart

I would recommend you make a list of the few top software development companies. And then select the one which matches best to your requirements. This can help you to have the cost of app development in your budget. In the initial phase, it is good to go with just the basic features and then keep updating your app with the new features. All this will help you to keep the users engaged in your business.  

So, these are the points that will decide the cost of your on-demand grocery delivery app development. Again, I would repeat a thing that is the cost of your app development is completely dependent on your requirements.

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