From Concept to Impact: How Much Does It Cost To Build an Educational App in 2025?

What is an Educational App?

An educational app is a digital tool designed to help people learn, teach, or build skills in an engaging and accessible way.

These apps cater to a wide range of users, from children and students to professionals and lifelong learners. They cover all kinds of topics—math, science, art, music, languages, and even coding.

Educational apps make learning more dynamic and enjoyable with features like interactive lessons, games, quizzes, and video tutorials. Mobile technology allows educational apps to be used anytime, anywhere, on devices like smartphones and tablets. 

Why Invest in Developing an Educational App?

Creating an educational app is an investment that benefits both your business and society as a whole. Here’s why it’s worth considering:

A wide and diverse audience

Educational apps are incredibly versatile and appealing to kids, students, and professionals.

Whether you’re helping children grasp foundational concepts, offering test prep resources, or enabling professionals to upskill, there’s a niche for every audience. Targeting specific groups, such as corporate training or creative hobbies, allows your app to stand out and address unique needs.

Reliable revenue potential

Educational apps can create steady income through subscription models, in-app purchases, and freemium plans. Users who depend on these apps for regular learning will likely invest in premium features or extended subscriptions, making this a sustainable revenue stream.

Growing demand for online education

The shift toward digital learning has taken off, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. More people than ever are looking for convenient and flexible ways to learn. The eLearning market is growing fast, with projections suggesting it will surpass $10.8 billion by 2030. This booming industry offers endless opportunities for innovative apps to thrive.

Global reach and accessibility

One of the biggest advantages of educational apps is their ability to scale. They can reach users worldwide, breaking language and geographical barriers. They’re also a more affordable alternative to traditional education, making learning accessible to a broader audience and leveling the playing field.

Keeping users engaged

Features like gamification, personalized recommendations, and interactive content keep users motivated and returning. Users who feel the app meets their needs and makes learning enjoyable are likelier to stick with it. Regular updates and new features can further improve engagement and loyalty.

Positive social impact

Educational apps don’t just make money—they make a difference. They help people improve literacy, learn new skills, and open doors to better opportunities. By contributing to global goals like UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), these apps help bridge education gaps and empower communities worldwide.

Harnessing the power of technology

With advancements like AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), educational apps can offer cutting-edge experiences that traditional learning can’t match. These tools make lessons immersive, personalized, and effective. Plus, data analytics lets you track user progress and refine the app to improve it.

Building an educational app is a smart and meaningful choice. It’s a way to tap into a growing market, create value for users, and contribute to societal progress.

Combining the latest technology with a clear understanding of learners’ needs allows your app to stand out, make a difference, and deliver lasting success.

The Growing Opportunity in Educational Apps

The market for educational apps is growing at an incredible pace, driven by the shift to digital learning and the popularity of mobile devices. Whether it’s for schools, individuals, or professional training, the demand for flexible and engaging learning tools has never been higher.

The growing opportunity in numbers:

• In 2023, the global market for education apps was valued at about $5.4 billion.
• In 2024, it’s expected to double to $10.8 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 10.2%.
• Some reports predict even faster growth, claiming the market could reach $82 billion by 2030, with a whopping 16.4% yearly growth rate.

Where’s the growth happening?

While the U.S. leads the way with a market worth $1.5 billion in 2023, China is catching up quickly. By 2030, China’s market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 14%, reaching $2.3 billion.

Countries like Japan, Canada, and Germany also see steady growth as more people embrace digital learning.

Why does this matter?

If you’re considering building an educational app, now is the time to act. The market is growing fast, and there’s plenty of room for innovative ideas. The potential is enormous, whether you focus on kids, professionals, or niche subjects like coding or test prep.

Plus, educational apps offer a great business opportunity and contribute to making education more accessible for everyone.

In short, the demand for educational apps is here to stay, and the market is primed for innovation and success.

How To Earn From Your Educational App

Building an educational app is a great way to generate income while helping people learn and grow. Depending on your target audience and the value your app provides, here are some of the best ways to earn from your app.

Offer subscriptions

A subscription model charges users a recurring fee (monthly or yearly) for access to your app. This works especially well for apps with ongoing learning, like language courses or skill-building platforms. Popular examples include Duolingo and Brilliant, which let users try basic features for free but charge for premium content.

Why it works:

• Steady, predictable income.
• Room to grow by adding new lessons or features over time.

Pro tip: Start with a free trial to let users explore the app before committing to a paid plan.

Use a freemium model

Freemium apps give users free access to basic features while offering premium upgrades for a fee. These upgrades might include advanced courses, tools, or resources. This model is effective because it lets users try your app risk-free before investing.

Why it works:

• Attracts a larger audience by lowering the entry barrier.
• Engaged users are more likely to pay for extras.

Pro tip: Make the free content valuable enough to hook users so they’re excited to upgrade.

Charge a one-time fee

Some apps charge a one-time fee for lifetime access to their content. This is a good option for niche educational apps or ones that don’t require regular updates.

Why it works:

• Simple and straightforward pricing.
• Great for users who prefer to avoid subscriptions.

Pro tip: Offer occasional discounts or bundles to encourage more purchases.

Sell to businesses (B2B licensing)

If your app focuses on professional training or workplace skills, you can sell licenses directly to companies. Businesses always look for ways to train their employees, and educational apps are cost-effective.

Why it works:

• Larger deals mean higher income.
• Long-term contracts provide stable revenue.

Pro tip: Add features like progress tracking or team collaboration to make your app more appealing to companies.

Use ads or sponsorships

Ads can bring in revenue if you have a large user base, especially for free apps. Partnering with educational brands or institutions for sponsorships is another option that aligns well with your app’s purpose.

Why it works:

• Keeps your app free for users, making it widely accessible.
• Scales as your user base grows.

Tip: Keep ads relevant and non-intrusive to avoid disrupting the user experience.

Charge for certifications

If your app offers courses that lead to certifications, you can charge for the assessments or certificates. This approach works well for apps focused on professional development or test prep.

Why it works:

• Certifications add value for users seeking credentials.
• Builds trust and credibility for your app.

Pro Tip: Partner with well-known organizations to offer recognized certifications.

Provide data insights (ethically)

Aggregated, anonymous user data can be valuable for educational institutions or researchers. Selling these insights can be a revenue stream as long as you’re transparent and follow data privacy laws.

Why it works:

• Adds income without affecting the user experience.

Pro Tip: Ensure users know their data is safe and used responsibly.

The most successful educational apps combine different earning ways, like subscriptions, in-app purchases, or freemium features with corporate licensing.

Whatever approach you take, focus on providing high-quality content and listening to user feedback. A well-designed app with real value can attract loyal users and create a steady income stream.

Types of Educational Apps and What They Cost

Educational apps come in all shapes and sizes, designed for different learners and teaching styles. If you’re thinking of building one, here’s a breakdown of the most popular types and how much they typically cost to develop.

eLearning platforms

These apps are like digital classrooms, offering courses, quizzes, and progress tracking. They’re perfect for schools, universities, or self-learners. Think of apps like Khan Academy or Coursera.

What they do: Host course catalogs, track user progress, give certifications, and deliver lessons through videos and quizzes..

Cost to develop: $40,000–$150,000, depending on how many features you want.

Language learning apps

Apps like Duolingo and Babbel make learning new languages fun and accessible with interactive lessons, gamification, and speech recognition.

What they do: Teach languages with games, track progress, and improve pronunciation with voice tools.

Cost to develop: $30,000–$120,000.

Kids’ educational apps

These apps focus on engaging young learners with colorful visuals and fun games to teach basic skills like reading, math, and problem-solving. Examples include ABCmouse and Endless Alphabet.

What they do: Use animations, games, and challenges to teach kids while keeping parents in the loop with controls.

Cost to develop: $20,000–$80,000.

Test prep and exam apps

These apps, designed for students preparing for big exams like the SAT or GRE, offer practice tests, study plans, and progress tracking. Examples include Quizlet and PrepScholar .

What they do: Provide mock exams, feedback, flashcards, and analytics to help users prepare effectively.

Cost to develop: $25,000–$100,000.

Professional training apps

These apps are made for working professionals who want to learn new skills or gain certifications. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Udemy are great examples.

What they do: Offer courses, certifications, and corporate options for employee training.

Cost to develop: $50,000–$200,000.

AR/VR educational apps

These apps take learning to the next level with immersive augmented or virtual reality experiences. Popular in fields like medicine or engineering, examples include Mondly VR and Google Expeditions .

What they do: Create realistic learning environments with 3D models and interactive scenarios.

Cost to develop: $70,000–$250,000+ (because AR/VR tech is more complex).

Niche educational apps

These apps focus on specific skills, like coding with Codecademy or art and music tutorials.

What they do: Offer tailored lessons for specialized topics with progress tracking and hands-on exercises.

Cost to develop: $20,000–$100,000, depending on the niche.

You may be wondering what impacts the costs of developing an educational app. Here are a few key factors at play:

• Features: More advanced tools like AI, AR/VR, or gamification increase the price.
• Design: High-quality visuals and user-friendly interfaces cost more to develop.
• Platform: Building for iOS, Android, or both affects your budget.
• Team Location: Developers from different regions charge different rates.
• Ongoing Support: Don’t forget the cost of updates and bug fixes after launch.

Educational apps can fit a wide range of needs, whether it’s a fun app for kids or a professional training platform. Development costs can range from $20,000 for simple apps to over $250,000 for feature-packed ones. The key is to focus on your audience's needs and build a product that delivers value without overcomplicating things.

Educational Apps for Students

Educational apps are a great way for students to learn, practice, and stay organized. From kids learning basic math to adults preparing for exams, there’s an app to fit every learning style. Let’s look at some popular types of educational apps and how they can help students.

Math apps

Math can be tough, but apps like Photomath and Khan Academy make it easier by breaking down problems step by step. These apps offer lessons, quizzes, and practice problems to help students improve their math skills.

Why they're helpful: They simplify complex problems, giving students a clearer understanding of math concepts. Photomath even lets students take pictures of math problems and provides instant solutions and explanations.

Language learning apps

Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise make learning a new language fun and easy with interactive lessons, quizzes, and games.

Why they're helpful: They offer personalized learning paths that adjust based on the student’s progress. With daily practice reminders, these apps help students stay consistent while keeping things fun with a game-like experience.

Note-taking and organization apps

Apps such as Evernote and Notion help students keep their notes, tasks, and assignments organized. These apps allow students to create to-do lists, save notes, and even collaborate with classmates.

Why they're helpful: They make it easy to stay on top of schoolwork by keeping everything in one place. Plus, they sync across devices, so students can access their notes anytime, anywhere.

Test prep apps

For students studying for exams like the SAT, GRE, or even school tests, apps like Quizlet and Magoosh offer practice questions, flashcards, and timed quizzes to help students prepare.

Why they're helpful: They allow students to practice key concepts and track their progress. Quizlet’s flashcards are customizable, so students can focus on areas where they need the most help.

Science and STEM apps

Apps like Labster and phyphox provide virtual labs and simulations for subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology, making it easier for students to understand complex science concepts.

Why they're helpful: They bring science to life with interactive experiments and simulations, which help students grasp difficult topics. Labster even lets students perform experiments in a virtual lab, offering hands-on learning without physical equipment.

Reading and writing apps

To improve reading and writing skills, apps like Grammarly, Readability, and Epic! offer tools for writing feedback and access to thousands of books for all age levels.

Why they're helpful: Grammarly helps students polish their writing by suggesting grammar improvements, while Epic! provides a vast library of books tailored to different reading levels and interests.

Mindfulness and focus apps

Apps like Headspace, Calm, and Forest help students manage stress, stay focused, and practice mindfulness.

Why they're helpful: These apps promote mental well-being by offering guided meditations and techniques to relax and focus. For example, Forest encourages students to stay off their phones while studying by rewarding them with the growth of a virtual tree.

How Much It Costs To Develop an Educational App in 2025

Creating an educational app in 2025 can cost anywhere from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars, depending on the features, complexity, and development team you choose. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors that influence cost.

App complexity and features

The more features your app has, the more it will cost to build. Here are some typical ranges based on complexity:

• Basic educational app:
  If your app includes simple features like quizzes, text, and images, expect to pay $10,000 to $30,000. These apps usually take around 2-4 months to develop.
• Intermediate app:
  Apps that include user profiles, progress tracking, multimedia content (videos, audio), and basic social features can cost between $30,000 and $80,000 and take 4-6 months to complete.
• Advanced app:
  If your app has AI-driven features, gamification, AR/VR, or other complex tools, it will cost $80,000 to $300,000+. These projects typically take 6-12 months or longer.

Platform and development costs

The cost can also vary depending on whether you’re building the app for just one platform (iOS or Android) or multiple platforms.

• Single platform (iOS or Android):
  Expect to spend $15,000 to $50,000+ if you’re developing for just one platform.
• Cross-platform (iOS, Android, web):
  Developing for multiple platforms typically costs between $30,000 and $120,000+. Using tools like React Native or Flutter can help, but it still adds complexity.

Team and labor costs

The size and expertise of your development team will influence costs. A typical team might include:

• Project manager
• UX/UI designer
• App developers (iOS, Android, and possibly web)
• QA testers.
• Backend developer (if your app needs a server or database)

Labor costs vary by region:

• North America: Developers typically cost $100 to $250 per hour.
• Europe: Costs range from $40 to $150 per hour, depending on the country.
• Asia: Developers might cost $15 to $60 per hour.

Design and user experience (UX/UI)

The design is crucial for an educational app, affecting user engagement. Basic design can cost $5,000 to $15,000, while more detailed, custom designs might range from $20,000 to $60,000+.

Backend development and server costs

You'll need backend development and hosting if your app needs user accounts, data storage, or syncing between devices. This could cost:

• Backend development: $15,000 to $50,000+
• Cloud hosting and database: Around $100 to $500+ per month, depending on traffic and storage.

Maintenance and updates

After launch, your app will need ongoing updates and maintenance to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. You can expect to spend 15-20% of the initial development cost per year on maintenance. New features and updates can cost an additional $10,000 to $50,000 annually.

Marketing and launch costs

Don’t forget about marketing. Promoting your app through digital marketing, app store optimization (ASO), or social media campaigns can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000+, depending on your target audience and the scale of your efforts.

Additional costs

• Licensing and legal: If your app uses licensed content or needs legal support, expect additional costs.
• Data privacy: If you collect sensitive user data, compliance with laws like GDPR or COPPA could add to the budget.
• Payment systems: Adding features like subscriptions or in-app purchases using platforms like Stripe or PayPal can cost $2,000 to $10,000 for basic integration, with higher costs for custom solutions.

Creating an educational app in 2025 can be expensive, ranging from $10,000 for a simple app to $300,000+ for a feature-rich, complex one.

The key factors influencing cost are the complexity of the app, the platform(s) you're targeting, the size and location of your development team, and the ongoing costs for maintenance and marketing. Setting a clear budget and goals upfront will help ensure you get the app you want without surprises.

How Giraffe Software Can Help

At Giraffe Software, we create educational apps that combine smart design with reliable functionality. With over eight years of experience and 120+ successful projects, we’ve developed a process that cuts time to market by up to 30% while keeping quality at the forefront.

Our team of 70+ specialists takes care of everything—from concept to final product—giving you full control of an app built specifically for your goals.

One of our favorite projects was with a Latvian music school. They wanted an online platform where students and teachers could connect and grow together. Our team of developers, designers, and QA experts brought their vision to life.

What we built:

• Student accounts: Dashboards for lessons, progress tracking, and direct interaction with teachers.
• Teacher tools: Scheduling, lesson plans, and communication features to simplify class management.
• Live lessons: Video streaming for real-time teaching, bringing music lessons to life online.
• Payment system: Integrated, secure payments for tuition, making transactions hassle-free.
• Simple, beautiful design: Easy-to-use interfaces that look great and work well for everyone.

The results:

• Better learning tools: Students get the resources needed to stay on track.
• Stronger connections: Teachers and students interacted more effectively using the app.
• Time saved: Scheduling and payment tasks became quicker and easier for the school.

This project delivered exactly what the school needed: a reliable, user-friendly platform that made learning music online easy and enjoyable.

Got an idea for an app? Let’s make it happen together! Contact us today.