How Much Does It Cost to Make a Beauty App? A Breakdown of the Factors

The beauty industry is in the midst of a digital transformation. Today, users can book a haircut, schedule a spa session, or try on the latest lipstick shades—all from their phones. This shift is changing how beauty brands, salons, and entrepreneurs engage with their customers. But it also raises an important question: what is the cost to make a beauty app that delivers a seamless and engaging experience?

The answer depends on many factors. App type, features, design complexity, and technology choices all affect the budget. For instance, a simple salon booking app is much cheaper than an AR-powered virtual try-on app. With the global beauty app market valued at USD 3.2 billion in 2024 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.9% through 2033, the potential for brands is massive. This growth shows the immense opportunity for businesses that invest wisely in mobile experiences. In this guide, we’ll break down the costs behind different types of beauty apps. From basic booking tools to advanced AR features, we cover everything you need to know. You’ll learn how to plan your budget, prioritize features, and create an app that not only launches—but captivates and grows your business.

What is a Beauty App?

The term “beauty app” is a broad category, encompassing a wide range of functionalities and business models. Understanding the type of app you want to build is the first step in estimating your costs. Here are the three most common categories:

Salon Booking Apps:

These apps are designed to streamline the appointment booking process for hair, nail, spa, and wellness services. Key features include appointment scheduling, staff and service management, and digital payments. For a deeper look, you can explore our blog on how to build a salon booking app. An example of this is a branded app for a specific salon, like the popular Booksy app.

AR-Powered Beauty Apps:

These are highly interactive applications that leverage augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to create virtual experiences. Users can virtually try on makeup, experiment with different hairstyles, or get a real-time skin analysis. This type of app is often a key differentiator for e-commerce brands, as it helps reduce returns and boost customer confidence. A real-world example is Sephora’s Virtual Artist, which allows users to try on products from their extensive catalog.

E-commerce Beauty Apps:

These platforms function as a mobile storefront for cosmetics, skincare, and other beauty products. They include features like product catalogs, shopping carts, secure payment gateways, and order tracking. A good example is the Nykaa app, which provides a comprehensive shopping experience. The process of beauty app development for e-commerce can be complex, as it requires a robust back-end and seamless user experience.

Why Cost to Make a Beauty App Varies: Key Factors in Development

The cost of a beauty app isn’t fixed—it depends on several moving parts. Here’s what shapes the budget:

Platform Choice (iOS, Android, or Cross-Platform):

Building native apps for iOS and Android separately gives great performance, but doubles development effort. Cross-platform options like Flutter or React Native cut costs by using one codebase for both. For instance, the second-hand marketplace Xianyu from Alibaba Group uses Flutter to reach both iOS and Android users from a single codebase. To learn more about this, check out our pages on iOS app development and Android development, as well as cross-platform app development and Flutter app development.

Design Complexity:

A simple, template-based design is cheaper than a custom, high-end UI/UX that requires intricate animations and a unique brand identity. For more information, you can read about our UI/UX design services.

Feature Set:

The more features you add, the higher the cost. A basic booking app requires fewer development hours than an advanced AR try-on app.

Technology Stack:

The technologies used (e.g., ARKit for iOS, ARCore for Android, various APIs) have different licensing and implementation costs.

Team Size & Location:

Development costs vary significantly depending on where the team is located and the size of the team. For more on this, visit our page on hiring mobile app developers.

Beauty App Features & Cost Breakdown

Feature	Description	Cost Range
User Profile & Registration	Basic profile creation, social media login, and user management.	$1,500 – $3,000
Search & Filters	Allows users to find salons or products by location, service, or price.	$2,500 – $5,000
Appointment Booking	Core functionality for a salon app. Includes calendar integration and real-time availability.	$5,000 – $10,000
Virtual Try-on (AR/AI)	A complex feature allowing users to see products on themselves. Requires advanced technology.	$20,000 – $50,000+
E-commerce Module	Product catalog, shopping cart, and payment gateway integration.	$8,000 – $25,000
Ratings & Reviews	A common social feature that builds trust and helps users make informed decisions.	$2,000 – $4,000
Push Notifications	Sends alerts for appointment reminders, new products, or special offers.	$1,500 – $3,500
CRM Integration	Connects the app to a customer relationship management system.	$3,000 – $7,000
Loyalty Programs	In-app rewards, points, or discounts for frequent customers.	$4,000 – $8,000

MVP vs. Full-Featured Beauty App

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the most efficient way to get your app to market. An MVP includes only the core, essential features needed to solve a key problem for your target audience. For a salon app, this might be limited to just appointment booking and payments.

A full-featured app, on the other hand, includes all the bells and whistles—from AR try-on and personalized product recommendations to in-app social features and advanced loyalty programs.

Pro Tip: Start small, scale fast. Developing an MVP allows you to test your idea, gather user feedback, and secure funding before committing to a larger investment. For more information on this approach, visit our page on MVP development.

Cost by App Type

App Type	Cost Range	Key Features
Basic Salon Booking App	$15,000 – $35,000	Booking, payments, user profiles, and staff management.
Advanced Salon & Spa App	$35,000 – $75,000+	Adds CRM integration, loyalty programs, push notifications, and analytics.
Basic E-commerce App	$20,000 – $50,000	Product catalog, shopping cart, payments, and order tracking.
Advanced E-commerce App	$50,000 – $120,000+	Includes AR/AI features, user reviews, personalized recommendations, and influencer integrations.

Hidden/Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond the initial development, there are other costs to factor into your budget:

Maintenance & Updates: Apps require ongoing support, including bug fixes, security updates, and new feature releases. This can cost up to 20% of the initial development cost per year.

Hosting & Server Costs: Storing user data, images, and other app content requires a reliable server, with costs varying based on usage.

Marketing & Promotion: App Store Optimization (ASO), paid ads, and social media marketing are crucial for a successful launch.

Compliance & Data Security: Handling sensitive user data and payment information requires adhering to regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, which adds to development and legal costs.

Third-Party APIs: Costs for integrating external services like payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), push notification services (Firebase), or advanced analytics tools.

How Much Does an E-commerce App Cost vs. a Beauty App?

While there is some overlap, the core difference lies in the feature set. A standard e-commerce app focuses on product display, checkout, and order management. A beauty app often includes more niche, industry-specific features like AR virtual try-ons, salon bookings, or skin analysis tools. Therefore, a beauty app with these advanced features will typically cost more than a basic e-commerce app. For more information, you can also explore our general mobile application development services.

How to Optimise Your Beauty App Development Budget

Start with an MVP: Validate your idea with a lean version of the app before investing in a full-featured product.

Go Cross-Platform: Use frameworks like Flutter or React Native to build for both iOS and Android simultaneously, significantly reducing costs and time.

Prioritize Features: Categorize features as “must-have,” “nice-to-have,” and “future additions.” This keeps the initial budget focused.

Consider White-Label Solutions: For a simple salon app, a white-label solution can provide a ready-made framework that you can brand and customize, saving significant development time and money. You can learn more about this on our white-label mobile app development page.

Choose the Right Partner: Partner with an experienced development company that understands the beauty industry and can guide you through the process, from concept to launch.

Conclusion: Transforming Your Beauty App Vision into Reality

Building a beauty app is more than just development—it’s an investment in your brand, your customers, and your business growth. Costs vary depending on app type, features, design, technology, and maintenance. From basic salon booking tools to advanced AR-powered virtual try-ons, every choice affects both your budget and user experience.

The key is careful planning. Start with an MVP to validate your idea and gather feedback, then scale with premium features. By prioritizing essential elements and understanding cost drivers, you can create an app that delights users and drives revenue.

Ready to bring your beauty app vision to life? Get a free consultation and custom quote from iCoderz today.

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