Social Media App Development Cost in India
Price a community or social app: profiles, a feed, posts, real-time chat, notifications and the moderation tools behind them.
- Free
- No signup
- Every line explained
Rates as of 9 November 2026, for Android and iPhone from one cross-platform codebase unless you change it.
What kind of app?
Picking one fills in typical screens and features. Change anything after.
Which platforms?
Pick all that apply.
Screens and design
Count each distinct screen: login, home, list, detail, cart, orders, profile. Partner and admin app screens count too.
Backend
The server, database and APIs behind the app.
Features
Each one shows what it adds on the platforms you picked.
Your estimate
Estimated cost ₹5.7–14.5 lakh, timeline 11–22 weeks.
Estimated cost
₹5.7–14.5 lakh
One-time build, typical rates in India
Timeline
11–22 weeks
About 3–5 months, with a team of 2–4
Yearly upkeep
₹57,000–₹2.9 lakh
10–20% of the build for updates, fixes and OS changes
| Item | Adds | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Design, 30 screensCustom design: ₹3,000–₹6,000 per screen+2–3 wk | ₹90,000–₹1.8 lakh | +2–3 wk |
| Android and iOS app (one codebase)Flutter or React Native: ₹4,000–₹9,000 per screen, plus 15% for work and testing on both platforms+3.5–6.5 wk | ₹1.38–3.11 lakh | +3.5–6.5 wk |
| Backend: advancedReal-time services, several user roles and room to scale+2–4 wk | ₹1.5–3.5 lakh | +2–4 wk |
| LoginOTP, email or Google sign-in+1–4 days | ₹13,800–₹33,800 | +1–4 days |
| Push notificationsThrough Firebase Cloud Messaging and Apple's push service+1 day | ₹9,600–₹23,500 | +1 day |
| In-app chatReal-time messages, read status and photos+1–2 wk | ₹47,300–₹1.26 lakh | +1–2 wk |
| Admin dashboardA web panel for your team+0.5–1.5 wk | ₹40,000–₹1.2 lakh | +0.5–1.5 wk |
| Store publishingPlay Store listing and release; App Store listing, review and release+0.5–1 wk | ₹13,000–₹25,000 | +0.5–1 wk |
| Testing and project management15–20% of the above: testing on real phones, fixes, weekly demos and coordination+1–2 wk | ₹75,200–₹2.34 lakh | +1–2 wk |
| Estimate11–22 weeks | ₹5.7–14.5 lakh | 11–22 weeks |
Store accounts are yours, in your name. Apple charges US$99 a year for the Apple Developer Program. Google Play charges a one-time US$25 registration fee. Fees as listed by Apple and Google in November 2026.
MOMT's listed plans start at ₹1.5 lakh for custom builds and ₹2 lakh for e-commerce; you get a fixed quote after a short call.
Not in this estimate
- Hosting and server bills
- Apple Developer Program: US$99 a year
- Google Play account: US$25 once
- OTP SMS charges
- Content, photos and marketing
How to use it
The calculator opens on a typical social media app: 30 screens on Android and iPhone.
Change the platforms, screens, design and features to match your plan.
Copy or email the estimate, with every line explained.
What drives the cost of a social media app
Social apps are mostly backend. Feeds, follows, chat and notifications all run in real time, photos and videos need storage, and someone has to moderate what people post. That is why this estimate counts an advanced backend from the start.
The estimate starts from 30 screens: sign-up, profile, edit profile, feed, post, create post, comments, followers, search, chat list, chat, notifications and settings screens. It comes to ₹5.7–14.5 lakh over about 11–22 weeks.
Line by line
| Item | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Design, 30 screens | ₹90,000–₹1.8 lakh | 2–3 wk |
| Android and iOS app (one codebase) | ₹1.38–3.11 lakh | 3.5–6.5 wk |
| Backend: advanced | ₹1.5–3.5 lakh | 2–4 wk |
| Login | ₹13,800–₹33,800 | 1–4 days |
| Push notifications | ₹9,600–₹23,500 | 1 day |
| In-app chat | ₹47,300–₹1.26 lakh | 1–2 wk |
| Admin dashboard | ₹40,000–₹1.2 lakh | 0.5–1.5 wk |
| Store publishing | ₹13,000–₹25,000 | 0.5–1 wk |
| Testing and project management | ₹75,200–₹2.34 lakh | 1–2 wk |
| Estimate | ₹5.7–14.5 lakh | 11–22 weeks |
The same app, built other ways
| Built as | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Android and iPhone, one cross-platform codebase | ₹5.7–14.5 lakh |
| Android only | ₹5.4–13.5 lakh |
| Two native apps (Kotlin and Swift) | ₹7.1–17.5 lakh |
| Web app only | ₹5.1–13 lakh |
Going native adds about ₹1.4–3.4 lakh, because the app-side work is done twice. Upkeep after launch is usually 10–20% of the build a year, about ₹57,000–₹2.9 lakh here.
Other apps, priced the same way
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- The full app development cost calculator
When you are ready to build, our app development team scopes it with you and gives a fixed quote. MOMT's listed plans start at ₹1.5 lakh for custom builds and ₹2 lakh for e-commerce.
FAQ
Questions
How much does a social media app cost in India?
About ₹5.7–14.5 lakh for a 30-screen community app on Android and iPhone with login, a feed, real-time chat, push notifications, an admin panel for moderation and an advanced backend.
How long does it take to build a social app?
About 11–22 weeks, which is about 3–5 months, with a team of 2–4 people. Feeds and chat need careful testing with many users before launch.
Why does chat add so much to the cost?
Real-time chat needs a messaging service, delivery and read status, photo sharing and spam controls. In this estimate it adds ₹47,300–₹1.26 lakh for Android and iPhone from one codebase.
Can I launch a smaller first version?
Yes. Without chat, the same app comes to about ₹5.2–13 lakh. Many communities launch with profiles, a feed and notifications, then add chat once people are using it.
What does a social app cost to run?
Server and storage bills grow with users, photos and videos, so plan hosting that can scale. Upkeep for updates, fixes and moderation tools is about ₹57,000–₹2.9 lakh a year.
App development
From first version to the app stores, with weekly demos.
Mind Over Matter builds it for Surat businesses and clients across India. Reply within 24 hours.
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