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January 15, 2025
How Much Does It Cost To Develop An App Like Alibaba – Alibaba is an online platform that acts as a bridge between manufacturers and wholesalers in China. If you want to develop an app like Alibaba but are wondering about its development cost, don’t worry—you have reached the right place.
This blog will provide you with a brief guide on how to develop an app like Alibaba. In the digital age world of digital product engineering, developing a wholesale app is enticing. But with this, you should also understand the complexities and costs of developing an application.
Online shopping has revolutionized the way people approach different types of products and services. In this article, we will discuss the complications of custom app development, examine the factors that influence the cost, and more.
What is the Alibaba App?
Alibaba application is the leading wholesale mobile marketplace for global trade. This app offers different services to customers worldwide. Alibaba, along with AliExpress, connects various businesses in China with buyers globally.
The primary goal of the Alibaba app is to connect buyers all over the world to Chinese suppliers. It is the world’s fastest-growing eCommerce marketplace for online shopping. The Alibaba application also helps buyers and grants different types of services.
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Scope of Online Shopping on Apps Like Alibaba
✅ Economic growth of the ecommerce industry in the USA will reach $509.4 billion between 2023- 2027.
✅ In the ecommerce industry, the revenue is estimated to reach $1.4 trillion before the end of 2027.
✅ Over 2.3 billion consumers have made almost one purchase from an online retailer in 2022.
Cost to Develop an App Like Alibaba
The overall development cost of an app like Alibaba ranges between $30,000 and $1,20,000. However, it can be less or more depending on various factors, such as the project’s complexity, development team size, features, design requirements, etc. Below is the developer’s hourly cost according to different regions.
| Regions | Hourly Cost |
|---|---|
| US | $140 |
| Western Europe | $80 |
| Eastern Europe | $50 |
| Australia | $90 |
| Southeast Asia | $25 |
| India | $45 |
App Development Cost Depending on Complexity
The complexity level of the project also influences the development cost. The table below helps you determine the development cost of an app like Alibaba according to its complexity.
The cost of app development varies by complexity. A basic app typically costs $9K to $20K, a moderate app ranges from $25K to $40K, and an advanced app can cost between $60K and $75K.
| Complexity Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic Level | $9,000 to $20,000 |
| Moderate Level | $25,000 to $40,000 |
| Advanced Level | $60,000 to $75,000 |
Development Cost of an App like Alibaba Depending on Company Size
Another factor that affects the development cost of an application is the size of the company you hire. The following table will help you understand the development cost according to the company’s size.
The development cost of an app like Alibaba varies by company size. For a small company, it ranges from $2K to $25K, for a mid-sized company, it’s $30K to $45K, and for a large company, the cost can range from $50K to $95K or more.
| Company’s Size | Development Cost |
|---|---|
| Small Size Company | $2,000 to $ 25,000 |
| Mid Size Company | $30,000 – $45,000 |
| Large Size Company | $50,000 – $95,000 or more |
According to Operating System: Development Cost of an App Like Alibaba
The type of mobile application you are developing is another factor that affects the building cost of an app. This is because some apps are generally more difficult to create than others. Below is the development cost table, which depends on the operating platform.
The development cost of an app like Alibaba varies by operating system: $25K for Android, $30K for iOS, and $45K for a cross-platform solution.
| Operating Platform | Development Cost |
|---|---|
| Android | $25,000 |
| iOS | $30,000 |
| Cross Platform | $45,000 |
How to Develop an App Like Alibaba?
You need proper planning, market strategies, and experienced staff to develop an app like Alibaba. Before building an app like Alibaba, you should follow some key elements.
Here, we have listed a step-by-step guide to developing a wholesale app.
1. Market Analysis
Before proceeding further, it is good to do a market analysis of the target industry first. You can follow the 4P rule, i.e., product, price, place, and promotion. This will help you find your competitors and examine their market strategy. You can also check for any marketing gap, identify barriers, and create a settlement. Also, be familiar with the target audience and their interest in creating a marketing strategy for the business success.
2. Design
Design is the critical element that helps to attract and engage users. The design part determines the UI/UX, color gradient, logo, and content in the application. It should be planned so that more users interact with the app. The design stage also decides the working of every screen, icon, button, and visual. Ensure the design is unique, straight to the point, and attractive, which helps engage users.
3. Development
The next stage is development. In this phase, the development team uses their technical abilities and integrates APIs to add more functionalities. The development phase falls into two parts. First is front-end development, which includes where the button, navigation, pages, content, and images are implemented. The second phase is the back-end development phase, which includes the payment gateway, servers, and app security.
4. Testing
Once done with the development phase, it is time to test the application. Testing an app is important to ensure its performance, detect bugs, and eliminate errors before launching it. A dedicated QA team is assigned to complete the testing phase of the application.
5. Deployment
Now is the time to deploy the application after testing the completion of the development and testing phase. After that, the app will be launched on global servers like Google Play Store, App Store, or many other platforms.
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Business Benefits of Developing an App Like Alibaba
Building an application like Alibaba has many benefits, especially for businesses. Alibaba has leaned on technology to determine itself and build a competitive edge in the market.
Below is a list of the advantages of building an app like Alibaba.
1. Brand Awareness
Having an app that resembles Alibaba can benefit the reliability already associated with the platform. This application will help to demonstrate credibility and belief among potential customers. A dedicated application for the business lets you create an outstanding brand experience, showcasing products or services in a professional and user-friendly manner.
2. Boost Sales
An application like Alibaba offers a convenient platform for customers to browse and purchase products or services. It lets you showcase your services, provide detailed product information, and offer numerous payment options. This accessibility and convenience will significantly boost sales, as customers can easily purchase anytime and anywhere. Alibaba’s application will lead to a higher conversion rate and increased sales.
3. Increase Reach and Accessibility
Breaking geographical barriers will allow users to reach a global audience in the digital world. By offering the service globally, you can increase your reach and accessibility. Ensure you make the application more user-friendly on mobile devices than traditional websites. Accessibility is a significant factor in the global dominance of e-commerce.
4. Improve Conversion Rate
E-commerce applications have a higher conversion rate as compared to websites. Ensure the application is easily accessible on any iOS or Android phone. Offering a fast shopping experience, easy navigation, and secure payment methods will help to improve the conversion rate. In-app offers and promotions also drive sales.
How to Generate Revenue From an App Like Alibaba?
There are numerous ways to make money from applications like Alibaba. This can help you build loyal users who remain invested in the application.
Here is a list of common ways to generate revenue from an app.
1. Subscription
Businesses with subscription models have more stable and predictable revenue sources. A subscription will be extremely beneficial, enabling sellers to provide better storefronts. Merchants who join the gold subscription will get an improved storefront and access to various management and analytics resources.
2. Value-Added Services
Added services are additional features, benefits, and solutions provided to customers that can offer extra fees and revenue. This will help you to increase revenue and differentiate yourself from other competitors. You can offer value-added services integrated with advanced technologies. These technologies include data analytics, logistics, refunds, products, showcasing, and more.
3. Storefront Fees
When you build an app like Alibaba, ensure it consists of tools to help sellers advance their storefront and management. The most straightforward way to get workflow is to implement some reporting system that calculates commission from sales. You can offer a service that develops software and sells it to merchants.
4. Online Marketing Service
Offering excellent online marketing services will provide flexibility and enable the business to generate leads. Helping merchants display their services will help you generate extra revenue. Sellers can propose the spot they desire to display regarding the search keywords.
Must-Have Features of an App Like Alibaba
An application like Alibaba should have a strong framework. Its structure should be based on must-have features.
A list of forever-standing features is the way to progress and business success. Here are some must-have features that an online shopping app must have.
1. Registration and Profile
Simple registration features help users sign up with a mobile number or email ID. The Alibaba application does not charge sellers any fees. Users must verify their phone number, business information, and other essential details.
2. Filtering and Sorting Feature
The app should have filtering and sorting features so that users can analyze the data and product better. A customer can easily find the required product by reducing the number of steps. This will also help to increase sales and deliver a positive user experience.
3. Product and Order Management
Allowing sellers to manage their product and order status will make it easily accessible for users. With this feature, sellers can keep track of the number of orders, shipping status, and other details. You can also provide an anytime facility and any other necessary action.
4. Messaging
The next must-have feature is messaging. Messaging features provide communication functionality where users can get in touch with sellers to discuss product details. Allow users to download and upload any files.
5. Secure In-App Payment
An app like Alibaba should have a secure in-app payment feature. This allows users to make secure payments without any hurdles or inconvenience. A secure payment method helps streamline the purchase process and deliver a great user experience.
6. Customer Support
Customer support is the feature that every app should have to get assistance. This functionality should always be available for their users to help them out. The customer support page should contain FAQs for the convenience of buyers and sellers.
Conclusion
Alibaba has gained a notable reputation in the e-commerce industry. This guide will help you familiarize yourself with the development cost of an app like Alibaba.
If you want to build an app like Alibaba, this is the right place. RichestSoft provides app-building services using cutting-edge technology. You can easily build an app like Alibaba with a mobile application development company.
