As travelers adapt to the new normal due to COVID-19, their reliance on technology for safe and convenient travel experiences has only increased.
In this context, travel apps exist as their trusted companion.
However, behind the scenes of these innovative solutions lies a crucial consideration: travel app creation cost.
Although it costs around $10,000 to $200,000 or more, the exact estimate will depend on various factors.
For travel entrepreneurs wanting to create an all-in-one guide or agencies that aim to streamline their booking processes, look no further.
We’ll expose everything behind the travel app development costs.
This article will shed light on the factors influencing pricing and the strategies for navigating this dynamic industry.
Let’s jump right in!
What is a Travel App?
A travel app is a mobile application designed to assist users in planning, booking, and managing their travel experiences.
Each travel app may have a specific purpose with unique features, such as:
- Booking services. This app covers car rentals, accommodation, flights, and tours and activities.
- Trip planning. It lets you create and organize travel itineraries, which typically features maps, navigation, and travel guides.
- Travel communityand reviews. This app shows reviews and ratings from other travelers. It generally has social features to let the travelers connect.
- Travel assistance. This app’s features may include currency converters, language translation, and weather forecasts.
Popular Examples of Travel Apps
One of the most popular travel apps is Expedia.
It’s a one-stop-shop travel booking platform that allows users to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages.
This app lets users compare prices from multiple airlines, hotels, and car rental companies.
It also offers a reward program where users can earn points on their bookings.
If you want to build a trip planner, you can check TripAdvisor.
It’s a travel guide with detailed insights on popular destinations and travel forums where travelers can ask questions, share experiences, and offer advice.
How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Travel App?
Now that we’ve explored the concept and examples of travel apps, let’s discuss the costs of developing them at different levels of complexity.
Here’s a breakdown of the estimated travel app development cost for every version:
- Basic travel app. The features generally include simple itinerary management, sign-up and login functionality, basic search and booking, and integration with payment gateways. This tourism app cost can start at $10,000 up to $30,000.
- Medium-level travel app. It has more advanced search filters and user profiles with more sophisticated itinerary management. This version may include in-app messaging, and reviews and ratings. The estimated cost is around $30,000 to $100,000.
- Advanced travel app. This version may have AI-powered recommendations based on user behavior, dynamic pricing, augmented reality (AR) for exploring destinations, and multiple integration with third-party services. Advanced travel apps can cost around $100,000 to $300,000 or more.
To get to know the exact range of your travel app, have a list of specific requirements before contacting an app development company.
That way, the team will be able to offer an accurate estimation that reflects your expectations and budget.
Whether you need a simple trip planner or a full-fledged booking platform, our team is here to help. We use the latest technology and our expertise in the travel industry to create apps that are secure, reliable, and suit your goals.
What Factors Influence the Cost of Building a Travel App?
From the previous section, we’ve provided the estimates of different travel apps. However, the actual costs can vary due to many factors, such as:
- Goals and features. The vacation planning app cost will be at a different estimate than building a booking app due to the variations in required features and functionalities.
- Development team. Hiring a development team with different sizes, regions, and expertise will result in different overall costs.
- Platform choice. Developing for both iOS and Android will increase costs compared to a single platform unless you choose a cross-platform approach.
- Design complexity. The more intricate and user-friendly designs are, the more they’ll add to the cost.
- Backend development. This refers to backend infrastructure that supports user data, bookings, and other services. The more complex the app’s requirements, the more robust the backend needs to be, potentially increasing development costs and time.
- Third-party integrations. Integration with flight, hotel, car rental services, and multiple payment processors can add up the travel app development cost.
How Long Does It Take To Build a Travel App?
A basic travel app with fundamental features like simple search and booking functionality can take around 3 to 6 months to develop.
Meanwhile, an advanced travel app with complex features could take 9 to 18 months or more.
The development timeline can vary widely based on the app’s complexity and features as well as the development team’s size and experience.
How to Successfully Grow Your Travel App
Deliver a superior user experience through continuous improvement and innovation to successfully grow your travel apps.
You can conduct user research and usability testing to gather valuable insights into traveler preferences and behaviors.
Ensure that the app meets the needs of travelers, such as personalized recommendations based on their preferences and seamless booking processes.
Moreover, offer incentives like discounts, loyalty programs, and referral bonuses to encourage user acquisition and retention.
What Are the Risks and Challenges of Building a Travel App?
Building a travel app involves several risks and challenges, including intense competition in the travel tech market, which needs unique selling points to attract and retain users.
The travel industry is also highly susceptible to external factors such as economic downturns and geopolitical events.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced travel demand and required apps to adapt quickly to changing travel restrictions, health guidelines, and consumer preferences for contactless and flexible booking options.
Wrapping Up!
While the cost of developing a travel app may vary, it’s crucial for businesses to approach this investment strategically to make calculated decisions that align with their goals and budget.
Moreover, staying agile, unique, and adaptable is key to successfully growing your travel app in this ever-evolving landscape.
At Intelivita, we understand the importance of creating a travel app that not only meets your specific needs but also exceeds user expectations and thrives in the competitive market.
With our expertise in travel app development, we offer goal-oriented solutions that can enhance the travel experience for your users – from intuitive user interfaces to seamless booking functionalities.
