Running a laundry business and thinking of taking things digital? A mobile app might just be your smartest investment. If you’re wondering how much does laundry app development cost, it ranges from $5,000 to $80,000.
The home and laundry care industry is a gigantic figure in the consumer goods market. It’s an industry that has been growing in terms of revenue for the seventh consecutive year. A recent report by Statista reveals that the industry will be worth $233.88 billion by 2029. The growing demand for laundry apps is a sign to find a trustworthy mobile app development agency and make your mark.
However, estimating the cost to build a laundry app can be hard because there is no fixed answer. There are several factors affecting laundry app development cost, including features, size, platform, scalability, and the development team. In this guide, you’ll gain a clear understanding of how laundry app development costs are shaped by each phase of the project, key influencing factors, and unexpected hidden costs.
Ready to launch your laundry app and grow your business
Let Trango Tech create a custom, scalable solution tailored to your needs.
Table Of Contents
Cost to Build a Laundry App: Based on Factors
Laundry app development pricing is dependent on numerous factors. Some factors slightly change the price, while others have a severe impact. Here are the following key drivers that directly impact how much you’ll spend:
1. App Complexity
The demand for digitalizing and modernizing the laundry business is growing. Hence, most laundry owners are looking to develop a laundry app to capitalize on this. When estimating the cost to build a laundry app, understanding the type of app you’re planning is the first step, and it is one of the major factors that drives the cost.
The table below provides an overview of the cost of developing a laundry app based on the app type:
App Complexity
Major Features
Price Range
Basic Laundry App
Pickup/delivery scheduling, user notifications, service selection, data management, and complaints.
$5,000 – $15,000
Mid-Tier Laundry App
Basic + Real-time tracking, Advanced inventory management, multiple languages
$20,000 – $50,000
Complex Laundry App
Complex + AI assistant, AI-powered schedule and route optimizer, dynamic pricing
$55,000 – $80,000+
2. App Features
The features and functionalities required to be coded affect the total cost of developing the app. Features like real-time tracking, AI-powered assistants, dynamic pricing, and advanced inventory management are more complicated to program and implement. Moreover, programming complex code increases the risk of bugs and glitches creeping up. More bugs increase the need for testing and further debugging.
Here are the core features commonly included in a laundry app, each playing an important role in delivering a smooth user experience:
Features
Price Range
Ordering and Payment
$2,000 – $6,000
Notifications
$1,000 – $3,000
Data Management
$1,500 – $5,000
Real-Time Order Tracking
$3,000 – $7,000
Inventory Management
$2,000 – $6,000
AI assistant
$4,000 – $10,000
AI-Powered Schedule and Route Optimizer
$5,000 – $12,000
Dynamic Pricing
$3,000 – $8,000
3. Developer Team’s Location
Laundry service app development cost is highly impacted by the developer team’s location. Developer teams located in regions with higher working populations will charge less than those with lower working populations. Moreover, local currency inflation causes the same amount of money to be worth more in some regions and less in others.
Developer Team Location
Hourly Rate
North America
$80 – $150+
Western Europe
$60 – $120
Eastern Europe
$30 – $60
South Asia
$20 – $40
South East Asia
$25 – $45
If you’re looking for detailed insights on how much does mobile app development cost, check out our recent blog that covers major factors, hidden costs, and strategies to reduce time and budget.
4. Tech Stack
The tech stack refers to the technology that powers your application. It encompasses both the back end and the front end. The back end refers to the server side of the app. It works on data storage, logic, and communication with the front end. The front end is what the user interacts with. The front end includes text, images, buttons, and a layout.
Component
Technology Options
Estimated Cost Range
Front end (Mobile)
Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android), Flutter, React Native
$5,000 – $25,000
Backend
Node.js, Django, Laravel, Ruby on Rails
$7,000 – $30,000
Database
Firebase, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL
$1,500 – $5,000
Cloud Hosting
AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure
$2,000 – $10,000/Year
Payment Gateway
Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Square
$1,000 – $3,000
Notifications
Firebase Cloud Messaging, OneSignal
$500 – $1,000
Admin Panel
Custom-Built, Firebase Console, Retool
$2,500 – $10,000
APIs and Integrations
Google Maps, Twilio, SendGrid, Logistics APIs
$1,000 – $8,000
5. App Maintenance
After the app is launched, maintenance and updates are necessary to keep the app stable and competitive in a changing market. Maintenance ensures the app remains competitive and successful. You can expect to spend approximately 15% of your initial cost each year.
Here are the following practices involved in app maintenance that drive the laundry app development cost:
Maintenance Type
Description
Price Range
Regular Bug Fixes & Updates
Bugs, Minor Improvements, Performance Tweaks
$500 – $3,000 Per Year
Major Feature Updates
Significant Changes, New Features
$5,000 – $20,000 Per Update
System Compatibility Updates
Drivers, Adaptation to OS Upgrades, and Device Support Changes
$1,000 – $3,000 Per Update
6. App Design
Making an engaging application requires a user-friendly interface and a seamless experience. Having custom animations and interactive elements increases the development cost. The design approach you choose has a major impact on the final cost.
Below are the most common design types that influence laundry app development pricing:
Design Level
Includes
Price Range
Basic Design
Simple Layout, Minimal Visuals
$1,000 – $3,000
Intermediate Design
Custom UI, Clean UX Flows, Interactivity
$3,000 – $6,000
Advanced Design
Polished Animations and Visuals, Detailed UX, and Prototypes
$6,000 – $12,000+
7. Desired Platform
Many business owners underestimate how much platform choice can impact the total cost of app development. Each option comes with its own pros, challenges, and pricing differences. Here are the following platforms that impact your development strategy and overall budget:
Just like any other application, laundry apps also come in different types, each having a different purpose. Identifying your specific needs and requirements is the first step towards developing a successful laundry app. Laundry app design and development costs will be affected by the type of laundry app you choose:
App Type
Description
Price Range
Standalone Apps
Built with a single vendor in mind, designed and curated for a specific business.
$5,000 – $25,000
Aggregator Apps
It lists several service providers for the user to choose from and provides comparisons and reviews.
$20,000 – $50,000
Pickup & Delivery Service Apps
Offers delivery and pickup services for others, focusing on product and delivery tracking, and allows users to schedule pickups or deliveries.
$15,000 – $40,000
1. Standalone Apps
These apps are built with a single vendor in mind. The app is designed and curated for a specific business. They are best for those who already have a strong laundry business and are looking to expand and streamline their process.
Examples: Presso and Hamperapp
Cost Estimate: $5,000 – $25,000
2. Aggregator Apps
These apps list several service providers and let the user choose for themselves. They provide comparisons and reviews to help users decide on their preferred laundry service. These are best suited for individuals who don’t have a laundry service but want to streamline the process for others in exchange for a commission on sales.
Examples: Laundryheap, Cleanly, and Rinse
Cost Estimate: $20,000 – $50,000
3. Pickup & Delivery Service Apps
These apps offer transport services for other laundry owners and are focused on product and delivery tracking. They allow users to schedule pickup or delivery and transport the laundry between the store and the customer. It’s best for those who have the equipment and personnel to manage deliveries but lack the laundry store, or have outsourced the laundry to others.
Examples: Mulberrys Garment Care, and Press Technologies
Cost Estimate: $15,000 – $40,000
Need help choosing the right laundry app type for your business?
Our experts can guide you to the perfect solution for your goals.
Step-by-Step Breakdown of Laundry App Development Cost
Wondering about how much does it cost to build a laundry app? The answer depends on the type of app you’re developing and what features you want to include. But instead of throwing around random numbers, it’s more helpful to see a breakdown of what goes into your total cost (design, backend setup, testing, APIs, and more).
Before moving forward, if you’re intrigued by how to develop an app, our blog highlights all the essential information related to the development process in an easy way.
Now, here’s a closer look at the development cost based on the process:
App Development Process
Cost Estimate
Market Research and Planning
$2,000 – $8,000
UI/UX Design
$2,000 – $10,000
App Development
$25,000 – $70,000
Testing and Quality Assurance
$5,000 – $10,000
Deployment and App Store Fees
$99 (iOS) and $25 (Android)
Maintenance and Updates
$10,000 – $20,000+
1. Market Research and Planning
Before you dive into design or coding, you need to understand the market you’re entering. What are your competitors doing? What gaps can your app fill? This phase helps shape your app’s core features, business model, and go-to-market strategy.
If you skip this, you might build an app no one really wants. But with good research, you build exactly what your audience needs. The overall cost of this process is between $2,000 and $8,000.
Forrester reports that every $1 invested in UX returns $100 (9,900%), validated by widespread adoption among enterprises. A great UI/UX design ensures users can book pickups, schedule deliveries, and track orders with ease. This step includes creating prototypes and wireframes, which set the tone for how users feel about your app.
The overall cost depends on the level of customization, animations, branding, and the number of screens your app has. However, remember that poor design can lose customers before you even get started. The cost of creating an app design ranges from $2,000 to $10,000.
3. App Development
Once your design is ready, the next big step is to develop the wireframe into a fully functional app. Developers build both the front end (where users interact with) and the backend (how everything behind the app works).
Here, the cost will be influenced by the platform you use, the integration of features, and the size of your team. Many experts suggest going with a simplified MVP and then scale it as user demand grows. The cost of the development process ranges from $25,000 to $70,000. If you want to learn more about the cost structure in detail, check out our blog on mobile app development cost.
4. Testing and Quality Assurance
You’ve got the design and have the code. But, is everything working the way it should? That’s where testing and quality assurance come in. No matter how talented the development team is, you may come across bugs and glitches. QA ensures your laundry app performs smoothly across different devices, operating systems, screen sizes, and network conditions.
The budget of the testing phase ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.
5. Deployment and App Store Fees
The launch step is the phase where developers publish the final version on the relevant stores (Google Play and App Store). This stage involves several technical steps and recurring fees you need to be aware of. First, you’ll need to set up developer accounts:
Once your app is live, regular maintenance and updates are essential to keep things running smoothly, fix bugs, adapt to new OS versions, and keep users engaged. Skipping app maintenance could lead to crashes, negative reviews, or even app store removal. In fact, according to data from Appbot, 79% of users uninstall an app due to bugs or crashes.
It is advised to budget 15-20% of your initial app development cost annually for updates and support. So, the general cost estimate could go anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000.
If you’re looking for top-tier app maintenance and support services, look for our dedicated team that is experienced and responsive, and can handle updates, bug fixes, and performance monitoring efficiently.
Hidden App Development Costs
Some costs can be easily overlooked during the planning process. These are some extra or “hidden” costs required to launch your app. If ignored, they can add up over time and cause problems later.
Here are some of the most common hidden costs that you may come across during your app development journey:
Features
Description
Estimated Cost
Software Licensing Fees
Libraries, SDKs, or analytics tools with licensing or subscription fees
$200 – $5,000/year
Third-Party Services
APIs for maps, chat, payment gateways, email, SMS, etc
$500 – $5,000+
Backend Infrastructure
Servers, databases, and hosting
$1,000 – $10,000/year
Testing & QA
Device testing, debugging, QA
$1,000 – $10,000/year
Security Measures
SSL, data encryption, DRM
$500 – $5,000+
Legal & Compliance
Terms of service, privacy policies, licenses, and government laws
$500 0 $3,000+
App Store Optimization (ASO)
Optimizing app titles, keywords, screenshots, and descriptions for better visibility
$300 – $2,500
Worried about hidden costs impacting your budget?
Let us provide a transparent cost breakdown for your laundry app.
Strategies to Reduce Laundry App Development Costs
There is no shame in trying to reduce costs and choosing the most cost-effective solution. If your laundry app development budget is limited, here are some tips to reduce laundry app development costs:
Utilize open-source libraries and frameworks to cut costs on licensing fees.
Develop on Android. Starting on a single platform is more cost-effective than developing for multiple platforms. Android is a better starting point because of its fewer restrictions and broader audience.
Outsource your work to regions with cheaper rates. Before hiring developers for laundry app development, make sure they are experienced by reviewing their portfolios and checking their reviews.
Utilize cloud services to reduce costs associated with purchasing physical infrastructure.
Focus on core and essential features first. Keep secondary features scheduled for later.
Benefits of a Laundry App
Customers expect fast and efficient services when it comes to laundry. A dedicated app helps automate time-consuming tasks, reduce human error, and deliver a smooth user experience. Here are the following benefits it entails:
1. Better Reach
Your physical store will remain in one place, but your app can be installed anywhere and everywhere. Submitting your application to multiple platforms allows your business to reach a wider audience. Most stores have a review and rating section that can help you polish your services and make data-driven decisions.
2. Easy Management
It simplifies the process of managing inventory and shipments. You can track the exact number of items entering and leaving your stores. Which driver is picking what order from where, and even where their current location is? Modern applications, with their efficient management, have made the old cash registers and logbooks obsolete.
3. Monetization
The cost to build a laundry app can look huge to an untrained eye, but the returns are even greater. Not only will your total number of sales increase because of the flexibility and reach, but your app can also be monetized to earn more. The ROI of laundry app development is a game-changer for the business.
4. User Satisfaction
The traditional process of doing your laundry is mundane and hectic. Developing a laundry app makes everything easier and smoother. The customer can conveniently manage their laundry by scheduling a pickup and delivery. Moreover, you can directly receive complaints, helping you smooth out the rough edges.
5. Digitalization
Technology is growing faster than ever, and it’s clear that the traditional and manual way is rapidly dying. Opportunists will embrace this mass digitalization; the rest will fade away into irrelevance. Digitalizing your business will not only make everything optimized and efficient. But also, it will ensure your business doesn’t get left behind in this world.
Monetization Model Used in Laundry App Development
Developing a laundry app isn’t just about increasing your reach, it’s also about smartly monetizing it to increase the return on investment. Depending on your requirements and preferences, there are multiple ways of monetizing your app.
1. Commission-Based
If your app isn’t a standalone app, you can implement this method of monetization. In this method, the app is entirely free for the user and the vendors. Whenever a payment transaction is completed, you get a specific percentage of the commission.
2. Freemium Model
This method can be implemented alongside or independently of the “Commission-based” method. In this method, customers and vendors can get the application for free. Although some features or rewards will be hidden behind a paywall.
Customers and vendors can purchase monthly subscriptions to access these features. These features can include a reward or cash-back system for the customers. Vendors can pay a monthly fee to be listed on a “Featured Vendors” page, letting more customers discover their business.
3. Advertisements
You can rent the dedicated screen space of your app to third parties, helping them advertise their products and services to your users. You must be careful when using this method, as it’s heavily frowned upon by people. Too much advertising can lead to people giving a bad review or even dropping the app.
Key Takeaway
The laundry service is a booming business. Combined with the advancements in app development, this business can be taken to the next level. The cost of developing this app depends on several factors, and this blog covers all the key indicators that could help you in estimating the right app cost.
If you’re looking for a top-tier mobile app development company, look no further than Trango Tech. We have a team of dedicated experts who are well-versed in modern technologies. Partner with us to make your mark!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to develop a laundry app?
Developing a laundry app can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $80,000. Several factors can impact the development cost. These factors include the app’s complexity and size, required features, chosen platform, and development rates charged by the team. A basic app with simple features can cost as little as $5,000, while an advanced app with complex features can cost as much as $80,000 and more.
Is it cheaper to build a cross-platform laundry app?
Yes, it usually is! If you’re looking to launch your laundry app on both iOS and Android without doubting your budget, cross-platform development is an easy move. Using frameworks like Flutter or React Native, developers can write one codebase that works across multiple platforms, saving both time and money.
To give you an idea, building a native app for iOS and Android separately could cost upwards of $60,000, but a cross-platform solution might bring that down by 20-40% based on the common key indicators. Additionally, updates and maintenance become more manageable since you only need to make changes once, rather than twice.
What is the average timeline for laundry app development?
The timeline to build a laundry app really depends on how complex your app is and the features you want to include. On average, the length of the project ranges from 3 to 6 months.
If you’re building a basic MVP (Minimum Viable Product) with core features, it might take around 2 to 3 months. Moreover, a full-featured app with real-time tracking, user reviews, loyalty programs, and an admin dashboard, stretches to 5 to 6 months.
Do I need a separate app for customers and delivery agents?
In most cases, it is highly recommended to build separate apps or at least separate modules for customers and delivery agents. The customer app focuses on convenience, including features like order scheduling, real-time tracking, payment options, notifications, and order history. On the other hand, the delivery agent app needs tools like route optimization, pickup/drop-off status updates, in-app navigation, and proof of delivery.
Keeping these functions in separate apps or interfaces ensures better performance, clarity, and user experience on both sides.
Can I create a laundry app for free?
You can create a basic laundry app for free using no-code platforms like Adalo, Glide, or Thunkable. These tools offer drag-and-drop functionality and templates to build simple apps without writing a single line of code. However, there are a few limitations. Free plans come with limited features, branding restrictions, and storage or usage caps. You may also lack access to advanced functionalities like payment gateways, real-time tracking, or third-party integrations, which are essential for a fully functional laundry app.
If you’re just testing an idea or creating an MVP, these free platforms can be a great place to start. But for a scalable, professional, and revenue-generating app, you’ll eventually need to invest in custom development, third-party tools, hosting, and maintenance.
Zarar is a tech enthusiast, athlete, content writer, and a self-proclaimed indie game critic. He is a person who values and appreciates quality, whether it's in the media he consumes or the content he creates. He started as a freelance ghostwriter and has since transitioned to a writing position at an app development company. When he's not at work, he's usually found watching obscure documentaries or browsing for things he can't afford.