To stay healthy and fit, more and more people are using fitness apps. Apps that make it easy to fit a habit into your life are sought after by people who want to learn yoga, keep track of their food, or run 10,000 steps. As a result, more and more people want different kinds of fitness apps, which is a good reason for entrepreneurs to develop a fitness app.
Statista says that by the end of 2024, the market for fitness apps will have grown to $6.86 billion. The amount is going to rise at a rate of 9.99% per year and hit $10.04 billion by 2028. But before you get into the business, you need the cost to develop a fitness app.
We will discuss all the important aspects that affect the cost to build a fitness app, factors, monetization model, budget and so on.
So, let’s begin!
Table of Contents
What Is a Fitness App?
A fitness application is a web, mobile, or desktop app that helps users keep track of their workouts. Most fitness apps have ways to record movements and see how well you’re doing over time. Fitness apps often have some of the same features as other health and fitness apps, like apps for eating right and being aware. Nike Run Club, Nike Training Club, Google Fit, Fitbit, Strava, and MapMyRun are all well-known fitness app solutions.
Future Predictions & Projections Of Fitness Industry
Source: Statista
- By 2024, the fitness apps market is expected to generate US$6.86 billion in revenue.
- By 2029, revenue is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.96%, translating into a market volume of US$10.06 billion.
- By 2024, the percentage of users will be 11.63%, and by 2029, it is anticipated to reach 13.21%.
- It is anticipated that the average revenue per user (ARPU) will be $17.84 USD.
- When compared globally, the United States will produce the most revenue ($2,061.00 million in 2024).
Different Types of Fitness App
From the business point of view, and if you are involved with the fitness business, then developing a fitness app is such a smart idea for revenue generation. Here you need to create a strategy and consider some points in which app models are essential.
You will be surprised to know that the cost to develop a fitness app depends on the application model. These models represent the basic nature of fitness apps and for what purpose these apps will be developed.
1. Personal Training and Workout Apps
These apps work as your trainer and have a different fanbase among the universe of fitness trainer apps. These apps allow users to make their fitness plans, or they can make a list of exercises by targeting different body parts. Here the users have a virtual gym trainer on their phone that works fine for those who have busy life schedules due to their professional responsibilities.
While using the personal training app, the users will have access to the guided fitness sessions, video tutorials, and 3D videos illustrations that create the best user experience. Some of the best examples you can refer to are to develop a fitness app.
2. Activity Tracking Apps
Developing activity tracking apps are also known as fitness tracking app development. That allows users to keep track records of their fitness. These apps work like when users install them, then the smartphone’s motion sensors ask for permission to capture the data such as distance covered while walking or running or time spent in physical activity. The activity tracking app also records calorie burning while doing physical activity.
3. Diet and Nutrition Apps
As per healthcare experts, the diet has a 70% role in fitness, and a 30% role is in exercise. Due to improper diet and exercise, diseases such as heart disease, excess cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, and others are increasing.
These diseases can be avoided by following a strict diet plan and nutritious meals in daily food courses. The diet and nutrition apps work as the best fit for this objective. These apps work like a personal dietician. Here a user can find the recipes and create a customized diet plan for them.
4. Yoga and Meditation Apps
Yoga and meditation the ancient technique to keep the body and mind fit. Not only the Asian countries, but almost all countries of the world also have fan bases of yoga and meditation. If you are looking to develop a fitness app, you can think about the yoga and meditation apps.
There are ample opportunities for revenue generation via meditation and yoga apps that you can grab. You can include key features such as live tutorials, videos, and illustrations with the help of a mobile app development company.
How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Fitness App?
It all comes down to fitness tracking app development cost in the end. Of course, you want to develop a fitness app for as little money as possible without lowering the quality.
So, we can give a rough estimate on the cost to develop a fitness app. It can be around $10000-$25000 or go beyond depending on your project requirements. Let’s be more clear with the below table:
App Complexity | Cost Estimation |
Simple Fitness App | $10000-$15000 |
Medium Fitness App | $15000-$20000 |
Complex Fitness App | $25000+ |
Besides, you must calculate the cost to develop a fitness app with the below formula:
Total Fitness App Development Cost = Developer’s Hourly Rate * Development Time
Now you know the fitness mobile app development cost, you should now consult with a fitness app development company. But first let’s go through the crucial factors.
Factors Affecting the Cost To Develop A Fitness App
Here is a list of important factors that always affect the cost to develop a fitness app. More advanced features make apps more expensive, while basic features make apps cheaper.
● Platform Choice
Your cost to develop a fitness app will change a lot depending on whether you create for iOS, Android, or both. Making a native app for each platform mobile app development costs twice as much because it needs to be developed separately for each platform. You could also choose a cross-platform option or a progressive web app, which may be less expensive but may not work as well or have as many features.
Platform Type | Cost |
Android app development | $10000-$20000 |
iOS app development | $12000-$25000 |
Cross-Platform app development | $10000-$18000 |
● Features List
The basic fitness app is less expensive than more complicated health apps like Freeletics app that use the latest technology. The fitness app development cost can vary depending on the features it has. We’ll talk about the different features, how long they take to make, and how they affect the cost to develop a fitness app.
Features | Approx timeline | Cost |
Login/Registration+ Profile Creation | 10-20 hours | $120-$180 |
Push Notifications | 10-20 hours | $140-$200 |
Calorie Counter for Nutrition App | 80-100 hours | $1000-$1120 |
GPS Integration | 20-40 hours | $210-420 |
Workout Plans | 50-150 hours | $540-$2190 |
On-demand Videos | 300-450 hours | $2400-$4350 |
In-app Payments | 20-30 hours | $300-$450 |
● Design and User Experience
For an fitness app to be successful, it needs to have a layout that is well-designed and easy to use. Professional UI/UX design to build an AI personal trainer app like Aaptiv can cost more up front, but it pays off in terms of keeping users engaged and coming back. The cost to develop a fitness app depends on how complicated your app’s design is, including any unique animations or images.
Components | Approx Timeline | Cost |
Wireframing | 30-80 hours | $45-$120 |
Prototype | 30-100 hours | $45-$150 |
Visual Design | 120-140 hours | $180-210 |
● Backend Infrastructure
In the core of your fitness app development, data is stored, users are verified, and different tasks are processed. How much it costs to set up and keep up this system depends on how big your app is and how much data it needs to handle. Cloud-based options can be expanded, but they cost to develop a fitness app money over time.
● Integration with External Platforms
If your fitness app works with external or platform hardware, like gym tools or smart tech, it will make the mobile app development process harder and cost more. Making sure that different devices can work with your app and keeping these features up to date can cost a lot of money over time.
Platform | Integration Type | Example |
Social Media | Data Sync | Fetching Facebook comments to display on a website |
Payment Gateways | Transaction Processing | Integrating Stripe to accept online payments |
CRM Systems | Customer Data Exchange | Syncing Salesforce contacts with a marketing automation tool |
Analytics Tools | Data Aggregation | Combining Google Analytics and Adobe Analytics data for a comprehensive view |
● Development Team and Location
The cost to develop a fitness app depends a lot on how many people are on your fitness app development team and where they live. It will cost more to hire one of the best fitness app development companies of skilled fitness app developers, designers, and project managers in places with high labor costs, like the US or Western Europe, than to outsource to places with lower labor costs. But the quality and ease of conversation can be different, so it’s important to think carefully about these things.
Country | Developer Hourly Rates |
US | $70 |
Australia | $70 |
Asia | $25 |
Canada | $65 |
Western Europe | $63 |
Eastern Europe | $56 |
Latin America | $51 |
Africa | $50 |
● Monetization Strategy
So, how you choose to make money can affect the cost to develop a fitness app. For instance, adding in-app sales or a subscription plan might need more development work than making an app that is only paid for.
Average Cost to Develop a Fitness App: Examples of Real Applications
So, what is the cost to create a fitness app? The best approach to find out about that is to examine the market’s current apps. We are able to approximate the cost that the fitness firms pay to design, build, test, and release the applications by looking at their features, functionality, and intended use.
1. Activity Tracking App Like MyFitnessPal
These apps measure biometrics like heart rate, steps taken, and amount of food consumed. They enable users to better understand their lifestyle and modify their daily schedules accordingly. An app like MyFitnessPal tracks your activities. With the use of calorie counters and wearable technology, users may monitor physical measurements and support their diets.
- Supported Platforms: Android and iOS.
- Estimated cost: $10,000 – $15,000
2. Fitness & Workout App Like Peloton
To help users begin and stick to an exercise regimen, workout apps include video tutorials, step-by-step directions, and useful information. These applications include a wide range of exercises, such as cross-training, yoga, and cycling. Hundreds of fitness classes are available to users of the fitness app like Peloton. Based on the instructor and style of workout, users can choose classes.
- Supported platforms: Android. iOS, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV.
- Estimated cost : $10,000 – $20000.
3. Health & Wellness App Like 8fit
These applications for holistic health enable users to design unique self-care regimens for both mental and physical well-being. These apps enable users to create goals, customize a wellness regimen, and monitor their advancement over time. An app like 8fit fits in this category. It assists individuals in striking a balance in their life through healthy eating, exercise, and mental rest.
- Supported platforms: Android. iOS,
- Estimated cost: $10000-$18000.
Fitness App Development Features
Fitness trainer app Development is a trawl of multiple functions, and the architecture is complicated enough to understand. The following points represent the architecture you can follow to develop a fitness app. One of the most critical points is a fitness app is being used by millions of users of different age groups, so it must be robust, secure, and finely executable.
For implementing it, you need to develop the fitness app in the architectural segments mentioned below to ensure the fine working for trainers and users as both are essential stakeholders of fitness apps.
Let’s dig out some most crucial information to soothe the comprehension –
1. Trainer Panel
- It is the panel where the trainers register themselves with some credentials. After the registering panel, the next feature needed to add is the appointments.
- Here, every trainer can accept or reject the appointments as per their schedules.
- Trainers must be able to review the customers’ profiles to grab an idea about whom they need to serve and what will be the best suggestions.
- There must be an option of accepting or rejecting any user who has clicked for the appointments.
- Trainers must be able to share the diet charts with not only their customers but also with the public, who are already registered with the app.
- There must be a blogging section through which the trainer can publish their fitness-related articles. The nutrition concepts, trends, and many more that are published on the app by multiple trainers inject the desire to the people to move to acquire fitness.
2. User Panel
- This panel should be more attractive and friendly so that people can feel the attraction to enroll them as a user. Here let them log in with their other related accounts like social ones.
- Users will search for their trainers and select the most appropriate according to their needs. They must also have the opportunity to choose the services from the list.
- The payment option is the most crucial one where you need to play very specifically. Here the user is transferring the money; therefore, the path must be secured and smooth.
- There must be an option where the customer can ask for the diet charts from their trainer and review the others, including the blogs.
3. Admin Panel
- Here the admin is responsible for managing the users and their associated trainers to meet the best fitness.
- One additional feature which is required, the admin can also assign the trainer to a user after reviewing the requirements.
- Admin should be able to manage and track the overall fitness reports of the users. It lets the business run smoothly.
- Video sessions let people understand everything in a better comprehensive manner. Often, a user can not attend the gym session because of some urgency; hence, if you have this feature in your app, users will get attracted to it.
- Music boosts acceleration every term, and exercising is not rare. If you enable a music feature with your app, users can experience it better. Additionally, push notification is an excellent inclusion to your app. It keeps your audience entertained and engaged by offering multiple services and motions.
Who Can Find Value In Making a Fitness App?
If you love fitness and want to help other people get healthier, you might want to think about mental health app development. There are, however, a few groups of people who may be especially good at making apps:
1. Fitness Enthusiasts and Trainers
Fitness fans are very interested in getting better and are always looking for new ways to do that.
They might know more than anyone else about what other fitness fans want and need, so they could launch a fitness app that fills a need in the market.
Examples:
- An experienced athlete could make an app that gives each athlete personalized training plans based on their goals and needs.
- A fitness teacher could develop an app like Hevy that lets clients watch workout videos and keep track of their diet and progress.
2. People With Specific Fitness Goals
People with specific fitness goals, like losing weight, building muscle, or getting ready for a run, may also do well making apps.
They might have personal stories about how they overcame problems and reached their goals, which they can cost to develop a fitness app that helps other people do the same.
Examples:
- Someone who has successfully lost weight could develop a weight loss app that gives people meal plans, workout routines, and help to keep them going.
- Someone who has trained for and finished a marathon could make an app that gives users a training plan, tips on how to avoid injuries, and plans for race day.
3. Fitness Brands and Businesses
Making fitness apps can also be good for fitness brands and companies. Apps can be used to connect with users, give them more value, and make money.
Examples:
- A business that makes sportswear could develop an app like Lifesum that lets users watch exclusive workout videos, get training plans, and get deals on goods.
4. Gyms and Fitness Centers
Gyms and fitness centers can get their members more involved by making their own top workout apps. Their services can be more appealing and easy to get to if they have things like class dates, bookings, and progress tracking.
Example:
- A gym could make an app that lets users book lessons, keep track of their workouts, and see reports on their progress.
- A fitness center can build an app like Nike Training Club that gives people access to workout videos, workout plans, and tools for keeping track of their health.
5. Healthcare Professionals
Nutritionists, physical therapists, and doctors can use fitness apps to help their patients stay healthy and get better.
Example:
- A physical therapist could create a mobile app that lets people keep track of their movements and see how they’re doing between sessions.
6. Health and Tech Companies
By making fitness apps, health and tech businesses can give more products to their customers. They can use their knowledge of the field to make more money and find new ways to make money.
Example:
- A health tech business could make an app that works with the health tracking devices they already have.
- Before you start making a fitness app, you should do some study to find a niche market that you can really serve.
- You should also come up with a good value offer for your app and pick a trustworthy healthcare app development company to help you make a great product.
4 Ways to Reduce the Fitness App Development Cost
Now you are well-versed with the cost to develop a fitness app. But developing a fitness app requires a hefty amount. What now? Fret not guys! With the help of a mobile app development company, we have jotted down some factors that can reduce the cost to develop a fitness app.
● Outsource the Development
It is more financially feasible for startups, especially those situated in the US, UK, or other affluent regions to hire dedicated developers. The cost to develop a fitness app can be cheap without sacrificing quality by outsourcing to developers in nations like Asia. For example, when you hire a US developer you pay at least $100 per hour; meanwhile, outsourcing to an Asian developer only costs $25 per hour.
● Validate Your Idea
Until you are certain that there is a market for the app, don’t develop it. If not, you would have invested a large sum of money with no results to show for your work. It is advisable to validate your fitness app ideas in order to verify assumptions with the intended audience. Product-market fit is achieved with the cost to develop a fitness app by anticipating customer needs.
● Create an MVP
It’s tempting to incorporate into your app every feature that your rivals have. But doing so will make a fitness app with features you don’t really need quite expensive. Instead, it’s preferable to MVP app development and concentrate on essential features. An MVP focuses more on the problems that the user faces. Additionally, you save money, time, and effort while releasing the app onto the market.
● Use 3rd Party Resources
For your fitness app, you don’t have to start from scratch. You can use a variety of libraries, plugins, frameworks, and outside services to expedite the development process. For instance, you can use the supplied API to integrate with Paypal. In order to make the app more engaging, the yoga app development company can then focus their efforts on business logic, user experience, and other areas. This can reduce the cost to develop a fitness app.
Why Is It Important To Fix A Budget For Your Project?
We’ll talk about how important it is to set a budget during the process after knowing the cost to develop a fitness app. Setting a budget helps you understand how everything fits together and helps you take the right steps to build a fitness app. That’s why you should remember these things before you start working on the growth of your business:
● Helps Identify the Actual Needs
The price you set to develop a fitness app helps you think about what the end users want, so you can give them what they need right now. This will make it easy for you to understand what features your app needs and help you make the right choices.
● Aids in Market Research
If you want to know what the going rates are in the market, you have to do a lot of study with the help of an iPhone app development company on the market whenever you think about your budget.
● You Need the MVP
That meeting with the funders will only happen if you have a minimum viable product. To figure out how much and how long an MVP will take, you need to have a budget.
● Need to Save for Marketing
It would be silly to think that your work and costs will end when the app is finished. The production process has a few steps left. The big challenge is getting the app out there, selling it, and getting it to the right people. The costs that come up after the women fitness app development is done are what really matter for the success of an app. You can figure out the cost to develop a fitness app.
How To Monetize Your Fitness App?
While making an fitness app can be fun, it’s also important to look into good ways to make money that can help you not only cover the cost to develop a fitness app but also possibly bring in extra money.
Strategy | Description | Example |
Subscription | Users pay a recurring fee for access to premium features. | Peloton, Nike Training Club |
In-app purchases | Users buy additional content or features within the app. | Headspace, Calm |
Advertising | Displaying ads within the app. | Fitbit, MapMyRun |
Freemium | Basic features are free, while premium features require a fee. | MyFitnessPal, Strava |
1. In-app Purchases
A common way for fitness apps to make money is through in-app sales. People can download your fitness app like FitCoach or other for free this way, and then you can offer paid features, content, or virtual things inside the app. Microtransactions are a way for users to improve their experience without making a big purchase.
Here’s how in-app purchases can impact your app’s profitability:
- Pros: This approach can work really well if you have paid content that people want and value. It lets you serve a lot of people while still letting users customize their experience.
- Cons: Be careful to navigate the thin line between free and paid content so you don’t turn off people who don’t want to pay.
2. Selling Advertisements
Another popular way to make money when you build an app like Zepp or other is to add ads to them. You can work with companies to show your users ads that are useful to them. But it’s important to find a mix between making money and making the experience great for users.
There are a few things to consider:
- Pros:Advertising can be a safe way to make money, especially if a lot of people use your app. Ad agencies often charge for ad space based on how many times it is seen or clicked on.
- Cons: Ads that are too much or too aggressive can ruin the user experience and cause them to leave. Ad placement and appropriateness are very important for keeping users interested.
3. Subscription Model
A subscription plan is a common way to make money that gives users access to premium material and features on a regular basis, usually once a month or once a year. To develop a fitness app, this could mean giving users access to more advanced workout plans, personal coaching, or better tools for tracking and analyzing their progress. Subscriptions give you a steady flow of income that lets you keep giving your users value while paying the cost to develop a fitness app and upkeep.
Here’s how the subscription model affects your app’s cost and profitability:
- Pros: Subscriptions give you steady, regular income, and they match user hobbies with the long-term value of your app.
- Cons: To get people to sign up for a contract, you have to constantly provide value and quality. There may also be a starting cost to develop a fitness app to offer premium material that makes the subscription fee worth it.
4. Freemium Model
With the freemium approach, you can give away a basic form of your fitness app for free. If people want more features or content, they can pay for them. As per the top-rated fitness app development company, this method can bring in more users, and it also lets users choose whether to upgrade or not, depending on their wants and tastes.
Here’s how the freemium approach can affect how much money your app makes:
- Pros: You can get a lot of different people interested. Being able to give basic services for free can bring in a lot of users.
- Cons: There should be a mix between free and paid material. Make sure that the things you give away for free are useful, and that the paid material is worth the money.
Let’s Create a Fitness App Within Your Budget!
Users of fitness apps may benefit from weight loss, the adoption of healthy habits, achievement of personal dietary objectives, improvement of mental and physical well-being, and more.
This is the ideal moment to create your own fitness application and take market share. Initially, a mobile application MVP allows for cost savings and concept testing without expending excessive energy or resources.
Making the most out of your idea is what Dev Technosys, an Android app development company, is here to assist with. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us right away for the best fitness app development solution within your budget.
FAQs
1. How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Fitness App?
The cost to make a fitness app can be around $10000-$25000. It can fluctuate depending on your project requirement and factors app complexity, features, tech stack etc. You can consult with an Android app development services provider about the exact cost.
2. How Long Does It Take To Build A Fitness App?
The time to create a fitness app depends on various factors. It can lie between 2-8 months or go beyond for a fitness app development solution.
3. What Are the Benefits of Fitness App Development?
The gyms benefit from fitness trainer apps development are mentioned below:
- Increase user engagement
- Potential revenue stream
- Access to Professional Guidance
4. How To Make Money From Your Fitness App?
You can monetize your from fitness app with the below methods:
- In-app purchase
- In-app advertisement
- Subscription model
- Partnership
5. How To Develop A Fitness App?
You can make a fitness app just by following the below steps:
- Conduct market research
- Create a feature list
- Make a UI/UX design
- Develop the backend
- Test your app
- Final launch