Scrums.com logomark
SovTech is now Scrums.com! Same company, new name.
Read more here

How much does it cost to build an app like

How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Adobe Lightroom?

Scrums.com is revolutionizing the way growth companies scale their engineering teams. Our platform offers access to top-notch remote software engineering teams at an affordable subscription price.

Get started
Tick box
World-class development teams
Cube icon
Flexible subscriptions
How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Adobe Lightroom?
SovTech UK software development
SovTech UK icon clock
statistics

Don't take our word for it

The stats are in our favour. Scrums.com doesn't just help you with your software development teams, we get you results that last.
95%
Sprint completion
82
Net promoter Score
1,200+
Projects delivered
13
Years of software specialistion
SovTech UK software development
SovTech-UK-Leading-Software-Development
SovTech graphic leaf
pricing

How much does it cost to build an app?

How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Adobe Lightroom?

App Feature 01
App Feature 02
App Feature 03
App Feature 04
App Feature 05
App Feature 06
Get in touch
Arrow
App development

Develop Credibility and Trust

World-class app development that allows you to start, run and grow your business.

Building a custom app can boost your brand's trust and credibility, ultimately benefiting your business in the long run. We will discuss the following topics:

1. Reputation Management
2. Customer Support and Engagement
3. Data-Driven Decision Making
4. Demonstrating Social Responsibility

A well-made custom app can dramatically improve your brand's marketability and reputation. A trustworthy app will show that you are dedicated to providing top-notch goods and services. As a result of knowing they can rely on you, your clients and business partners will have more faith in you.

A custom app also strengthens your brand identification by demonstrating your professionalism and attention to detail.

Customer Support and Engagement
Blue plus sign

A custom app enables you to offer personalized customer support and engagement, helping you address the unique needs and pain points of your African target market. 

By incorporating in-app support features, such as chatbots, help centres, or direct communication channels, you can provide timely assistance to your users, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty. 

This level of support also encourages users to share their positive experiences with others, further boosting your brand's credibility.

Data-Driven Decision Making
Blue plus sign

You may get useful user data through custom app creation, giving you insights into user behavior and preferences. You may improve your app and broader business strategy by studying this data and making wise decisions.

Delivering a more individualized experience for your users is made possible by a data-driven strategy. This helps to increase their faith in your brand and ultimately ensures that they will stay visiting.

Demonstrating Social Responsibility
Blue plus sign

Putting money into a customized app that caters to your target market's needs demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility.

You can showcase your brand's dedication to having a beneficial influence by developing an app that takes into account regional difficulties, environmental issues, or social issues that are pertinent to your audience.

This thoughtful approach to app creation not only strengthens the integrity of your brand, but it also appeals to customers who value companies with a clear sense of mission.

Custom App development

Benefits of Custom App Development

World-class app development that allows you to start, run and grow your business.

Imagine custom app development as an expert chef crafting a personalised menu for their restaurant. Just as a meticulously planned and executed meal can leave diners with a memorable culinary experience, a custom app is specifically designed to cater to your business's distinct needs and objectives, leaving a lasting impression on your users. 

Investing in custom app development offers several advantages, including:

  1. Improved user experience
  2. Increased efficiency
  3. Competitive advantage
  4. Higher profitability
  5. Seamless Integration with Existing Systems
  6. Enhanced Flexibility and Adaptability
Improved user experience
Blue plus sign

A custom app allows you to create an interface that is tailored to your target audience, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience. By focusing on the preferences and expectations of your users, you can craft an app that not only meets their needs but also delights them with personalized features and intuitive navigation.The best part? If you develop an app that your users love, you ensure that they keep coming back for more and turn them into lifelong customers.

Custom apps can be designed to streamline business processes and boost productivity. By automating repetitive tasks, integrating with existing systems, and providing real-time data access, custom apps empower your team to work more efficiently and make informed decisions quickly, just like a well-tailored suit that enables effortless movement and comfort.

A unique app helps you stand out from the competition and attract more customers. In a world where off-the-shelf solutions are abundant, a custom mobile app acts as a distinctive and exclusive suit that sets you apart in the crowd, showcasing your brand's personality and commitment to providing a superior experience.

A well-designed app can generate increased revenue and improve customer retention. By offering a memorable and engaging user experience, your custom app encourages users to continue using your services and make purchases. It's akin to wearing a sharp, tailored suit that not only grabs attention but also instils trust and confidence in your brand, ultimately resulting in increased profitability.

Custom app development enables seamless integration with your existing systems and third-party applications. This ensures a smooth flow of data between various platforms, enhancing communication and collaboration within your organization. The ability to integrate effortlessly is like having a versatile tool that easily connects and works in harmony with other components in your business ecosystem.

As your business evolves, a custom app can be easily modified or expanded to accommodate changing requirements and market trends. This adaptability is like having a dynamic strategy that can be adjusted and fine-tuned to suit your business's changing needs, ensuring continued relevance and success in an ever-changing environment.The benefits don’t just stop there though. If you want to build trust and credibility with your customers, a custom app is a great way to do so.

App development

Pivoting and Iterating

Investing in custom app development can be expensive, but being open to pivoting and iterating based on market feedback is crucial to ensure long-term success. By adapting your app to the ever-changing needs and preferences of your target market, you can stay ahead of the competition, increase user satisfaction, and maximize your return on investment.

Encourage users to provide feedback and reviews, which will help you identify pain points and areas for improvement. By addressing these concerns, you demonstrate your commitment to serving the unique needs of your users, enhancing your app's credibility and increasing user satisfaction. Tools like in-app surveys, app store reviews, or social media can be used to gather feedback and gauge user sentiment.

Iterate Based on User Data
Blue plus sign

Analyze user behaviour and engagement data to understand how your app is being used and identify potential bottlenecks or areas of friction. By making data-driven decisions, you can prioritize improvements and new features that will resonate with your audience, maximizing the impact of your development budget and efforts.

As you adapt your app based on market feedback, be prepared to allocate resources for ongoing updates and improvements. While this may increase your app's overall cost, the benefits include increased user satisfaction, reduced churn, and ultimately, higher long-term profitability. Regular updates also demonstrate your commitment to delivering a high-quality app experience tailored to your users' needs.

Adopt a flexible, agile development methodology that enables prompt iteration and change in response to market feedback.

Your app will stay relevant and helpful to your target market if you are receptive to user needs and can swiftly pivot and make adjustments.

By prioritizing products and enhancements that have the greatest impact, an agile methodology can also assist you in managing development expenses more successfully.

While it's essential to iterate and adapt your app based on user feedback, it's also crucial to balance this with innovation and forward-thinking. Continuously explore new technologies, trends, and market opportunities to ensure your app stays ahead of the curve and caters to the evolving needs of your user base. By striking the right balance between adaptation and innovation, you can maintain a competitive edge and secure long-term success for your app.

App development

The Importance of UX and UI

Creating an outstanding user experience and design is crucial for a successful app. A well-designed app should be visually appealing, intuitive, and user-friendly.

  1. Consistency: Consistent design elements throughout the app, such as typography, colours, and button styles, create a unified look and feel. This consistency reduces the cognitive load on users, helping them navigate your app with ease and understand its functionality more quickly.
  2. Simplicity: A simple and uncluttered interface reduces distractions and makes it easier for users to focus on the tasks at hand. Strive for a minimalistic design by eliminating unnecessary elements, using whitespace effectively, and prioritizing essential features.
  3. Feedback: Providing feedback, such as visual cues and confirmation messages, helps users understand the results of their actions. This can include animations for button clicks, success messages for completed tasks, or error messages when something goes wrong. Clear feedback enhances user satisfaction and encourages continued use of your app.
  1. Understand your target audience: Research your users' demographics, needs, preferences, and behaviours to tailor your app to their expectations. Conduct surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gather insights that help shape your app's features and design.
  2. Use clear navigation: Intuitive navigation is essential for a positive user experience. Implement well-organized menus, easily accessible search functions, and recognizable icons to help users find their way around your app effortlessly.
  3. Optimize for performance: Fast loading times and smooth performance are critical for user engagement. Optimize your app's code, reduce file sizes, and use efficient algorithms to ensure your app runs quickly and seamlessly on various devices.
The Impact of Good Design on App Adoption and Retention
Blue plus sign

Higher app adoption rates and greater client retention result from spending money on excellent design and user experience. A well-designed app has a higher likelihood of being passed along by users and being used again, which leads to better ratings, word-of-mouth advertising, and long-term success.

App development

Security Considerations for App Development

In today's interconnected digital world, app security is paramount. We take a look at some vital security considerations.

The Privacy Act of 1974 is the primary privacy regulation in America that regulates the sharing of data. The Privacy Act governs how federal agencies may gather, utilize, and disclose personal information. Individuals are given specific rights under it, including the ability to access and update their personal information, and federal agencies are required to protect such data from illegal disclosure.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for health information, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) for financial information, and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) for children's online data are just a few federal laws that deal with privacy and data sharing in addition to the Privacy Act. Additionally, each state has its own privacy laws that could offer additional protections.

Keep up with the latest security threats and best practices, such as incorporating multi-factor authentication, securing APIs, and using secure coding practices. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can help identify potential weaknesses and protect your app from emerging threats.

Working with Trusted Vendors
Blue plus sign

Select a reputable development partner with a proven track record in security best practices, like Scrums. A reliable vendor will prioritize security throughout the development process and help you build a secure app that meets industry standards and best practices.

Scrums.com provides high quality engineering teams to scaling enterprises at lower costs. Scrums.com designs, builds, deploys and maintains custom software that gives scale-ups the opportunity to grow world-class businesses.

Scrums.com provides high quality engineering teams to scaling enterprises at lower costs. Scrums.com designs, builds, deploys and maintains custom software that gives scale-ups the opportunity to grow world-class businesses.

How much does it cost to build an app?
Blue plus sign
testimonials

Don't take our word for it

Hear it from global businesses like yours
Officebox
"Scrums.com is the best solution for any business who does not have the capacity to scale engineering internally."
Fincheck
FinCheck
"I have found the teams to be extremely obliging when taking on projects. Would highly recommend."
Repobot
"My experience with Scrums.com has been a delight. I look forward to the many more projects together."
MACS Software
“The engineering team I worked with was extremely experienced. They knew exactly how to solve my problems, and did so effortlessly.”
Officebox
"Scrums.com is the best solution for any business who does not have the capacity to scale engineering internally."
Fincheck
FinCheck
"I have found the teams to be extremely obliging when taking on projects. Would highly recommend."
Repobot
"My experience with Scrums.com has been a delight. I look forward to the many more projects together."
MACS Software
“The engineering team I worked with was extremely experienced. They knew exactly how to solve my problems, and did so effortlessly.”
Officebox
"Scrums.com is the best solution for any business who does not have the capacity to scale engineering internally."
Fincheck
FinCheck
"I have found the teams to be extremely obliging when taking on projects. Would highly recommend."
Repobot
"My experience with Scrums.com has been a delight. I look forward to the many more projects together."
MACS Software
“The engineering team I worked with was extremely experienced. They knew exactly how to solve my problems, and did so effortlessly.”
Scale Your Development Team
Faster With Scrums.com
Get in touch and let's get started
Book a Demo
Tick
Cost-effective
Tick
Reliable
Tick
Scalable
Scrums.com logomark
SovTech is now Scrums.com! Same company, new name.
Read more here
Adobe Lightroom

How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Adobe Lightroom?

Learn the factors affecting the development cost of a photo editor app like Adobe Lightroom for the U.S.
How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like... Hero Image
Reliability

95%

Quality user stories into production rate

Happy customers

82

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Consistent delivery

1,200+

Successful projects delivered

Work with experts

13

Years of software specialisation

Building a custom photo editing app that competes with industry giants like Adobe Lightroom requires deep thought and resources. On the technical side, the app needs to support seamless editing processes, high-resolution image handling, and a host of real-time editing features. At the same time, delivering a responsive and intuitive user experience is critical for engaging the U.S. audience—a market that expects both power and simplicity in photo editing apps. Users of Adobe Lightroom are drawn to its professional-grade editing tools, intuitive workflows, and mobile-to-PC synchronization capabilities.

However, there are considerable challenges involved in developing a photo editor app with such advanced capabilities, particularly when aiming to serve the U.S. market. Users expect seamless performance, regardless of the device, and features that cater to both casual and professional photographers. To compete in this market, the app needs to integrate various cutting-edge technologies, including AI, cloud storage, and advanced image-processing algorithms—all of which impact the overall app development cost.

In this article, we’ll dive into the key factors that can influence how much it costs to build an app like Adobe Lightroom. Whether it’s platform choices, feature complexity, or the need for ongoing maintenance, you’ll get a comprehensive view of where resources go and why they’re necessary.

Platform and Device Compatibility: Finding the Right Fit for U.S. Users

Choosing the right platform—iOS, Android, or cross-platform options—is often one of the first steps in calculating how much it costs to build an app. Photo editor apps like Adobe Lightroom need to function flawlessly across multiple devices and platforms to cater to U.S. users who are often on the go and use both mobile and desktop environments for editing.

iOS vs Android

In the U.S., iOS users are known for spending more on in-app purchases and premium software. Targeting this affluent audience first makes sense if you're considering launching a paid app like Lightroom. On the other hand, if you want to reach a broader audience, Android comprehensive compatibility is a must. Crafting native apps for both iOS and Android is likely to offer the best user experience but increases costs as the app is developed separately for each platform.

Cross-Platform App Development

One more cost-effective approach could be opting for cross-platform development using frameworks like Flutter or React Native. These allow for building a single codebase that works across both Android and iOS. However, performance might not match that of native development, especially for tech-heavy photo editor apps where optimization and responsiveness are crucial during image editing.

Desktop Integration and Cloud Synchronization

Apps like Adobe Lightroom don’t just live on mobile devices—they are also integrated with desktop environments. If you’re planning to create seamless cross-platform support, integrating with PCs, Macs, and cloud platforms like Adobe Creative Cloud can significantly raise the overall development cost but will provide essential support for professional creatives who need a robust desktop editing experience in addition to mobile.

In the U.S., where both mobile and desktop editing tools are essential for different segments of users, platform compatibility affects your costs directly based on the target audience you're aiming to capture.

Basic Features
Plus icon
Intermediate Features
Plus icon
Advanced Features
Plus icon
Looking for the most value for money app development?
Join over 400+ companies already growing with Scrums.com.

Design and User Experience (UX/UI): Meeting U.S. User Expectations

Design isn’t just about aesthetics—especially for a photo editor app—it's integral to how intuitive the app is, how clean the user flow feels, and whether users are engaged enough to return for consistent use. For a tool as powerful as Adobe Lightroom, balancing function and simplicity in design is critical.

Seamless User Journey for Photo Editing

The U.S. mobile editing app market is highly competitive, meaning your photo editor app needs to provide a top-notch, seamless user journey from one step to the next. The key feature is minimal friction—simple taps and slides—that ensure users can quickly move from opening images to final edits and exports while maneuvering through complex tools without feeling overwhelmed.

Professional Yet Approachable Design

For professional users, architecture matters a great deal. Advanced apps like Adobe Lightroom rely heavily on precision-based tool placements, allowing the user to edit without clutter. At the same time, everyday users must not be daunted by overly complicated interfaces. Finding the right balance between professional-level tools and everyday usability in terms of design can be challenging and drive development costs significantly.

Incorporating U.S. User Preferences

U.S. audiences favor two key aspects of a photo editing app’s design—speed and ease of use. Every element of your UX/UI should enable users to achieve their goals quickly. Incorporating innovative designs like customizable workspaces or AI-driven interface layout adjustments specific to user behavior patterns could enhance your standing in the market but will add to initial development costs.

Careful investment in functionality-driven design can improve customer satisfaction and retention, lowering long-term costs connected to acquiring new users.

Integrations with Third-Party Services or External Systems

Third-party integrations play a major role in photo editor apps like Adobe Lightroom, especially when it comes to incorporating additional functionalities such as cloud storage, real-time collaboration, or social media sharing.

Cloud Storage Solutions: An essential integration for an app like Lightroom is cloud storage. Synchronizing edits across various platforms and different devices requires powerful, scalable cloud solutions like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or AWS. Developing a custom app that handles gigabyte-sized photo libraries requires meticulous planning for both storage and syncing capabilities, substantially raising your infrastructure costs.

Social Media and Sharing APIs: As photo editing has become intrinsically tied to social sharing, APIs are necessary to facilitate seamless sharing to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Incorporating these APIs into your app allows US users to move from editing to sharing with minimal effort.

Payment Gateways: Apps offering freemium or subscription models (like Adobe Lightroom) will also need seamless integration with payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or Apple Pay. Reliable and secure payment systems are critical in the U.S. market to ensure trust and smooth transactions.

Integrating these external systems is essential for crafting a comprehensive product, but each setup brings its own costs for external services, testing, and continual updates.

Database & Back-End Infrastructure: Supporting Image Processing and Data Management

Backend infrastructure is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of an app like Adobe Lightroom. To support the magnitude of image uploads, edits, and storage requirements, the backend must be top-tier.

High-Volume Image File Storage: Whether handling raw or JPEG files, users will expect your app to store large, high-quality images. The storage requirements for thousands—or even millions—of photos will demand scalable servers capable of managing heavy traffic. Cloud providers like AWS or Google Cloud can offer the necessary functions, but it’ll come at a cost.

Real-Time Rendering and Non-Destructive Editing: Non-destructive editing (where changes can be undone and original photos retained) requires storing every single adjustment made by the user in parallel with the image files. The backend must support real-time computation for rendering these edits instantaneously, adding to the need for advanced architecture.

Data Security and U.S. Laws: In the U.S., securing user data is crucial to avoid data breaches. Photo editor apps must ensure that sensitive data, especially private photos, are stored securely in compliance with U.S. laws (such as CCPA ). Robust encryption methods and secure database architecture bump up the development complexity and subsequent costs.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates: Ensuring Long-Term Success

After launch, continuous maintenance and updates are crucial to ensure the app remains relevant, functional, and secure.

Regular Feature Expansion: To stay competitive against giants like Adobe Lightroom, your app will need regular updates introducing new features or refining existing ones. Introducing new filters, editing techniques, or even AI-powered tools can keep users engaged and willing to pay for premium versions, but ongoing feature development adds to your long-term costs.

User Feedback and Bug Fixes: Frequent updates to address bugs and user feedback are necessary. Reliable customer support and bug fixes help maintain strong retention rates, and that requires constant attention from the development team.

Compliance and Security Updates: In the U.S., compliance and data security laws are subject to change, and your app needs proactive updates to handle evolving privacy policies or platform regulations. Non-compliance could result in fines or account suspensions, making security updates an ongoing concern that’s crucial to factor into your maintenance budget.

Team Expertise and Location: Finding the Right Developers

When building a photo editor app like Adobe Lightroom, choosing the right development team is critical.

Expertise in Image Processing & Cloud Systems

Your team will need expertise across both front-end and back-end development, particularly in high-performance image processing. Cloud engineers will also be required to handle data flow between the app and cloud storage, ensuring images sync seamlessly across devices.

U.S.-Based Developers vs Offshore Teams

Choosing whether to work with U.S.-based developers or offshore teams can highly influence app costs. While U.S.-based teams may have higher hourly rates, they’re often better attuned to U.S. user preferences and in real-time communication. Alternatively, offshore developers in countries like India or Ukraine may offer lower rates, but time zone differences and communication delays can increase time-to-market.

A hybrid approach—combining a U.S.-based frontend team with an offshore backend team—can offer cost savings without sacrificing quality.

Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

QA & Testing: When dealing with a photo editor app, the app must undergo rigorous QA testing to ensure its image-processing features work seamlessly and quickly. Testing for bugs, glitches, or system overloads, especially with high-res photos, will be a major concern.

App Store Fees and Guidelines: There's a price for uploading and maintaining apps in U.S. app stores. On Apple’s App Store and Google Play, fees usually include one-time developer registration as well as commissions on future in-app purchases or subscriptions.

Legal and Compliance Costs: Ensure that your app meets local laws concerning data and privacy, especially since photo editor apps often store personal data. U.S. apps dealing with consumer data must comply with acts like CCPA, which comes with legal and compliance costs.

What Makes Photo Editing Apps Unique in Terms of Development?

Apps like Adobe Lightroom offer a unique set of challenges because the app must cater to professionals while being accessible enough for novices. On the technical side, real-time, non-destructive editing systems and cloud storage require seamless backend integration, while front-end interfaces need to ensure intuitive use for a large user base.

Photo editors like Adobe Photo Editor or Lightroom also have distinct needs such as high-performance rendering, support for RAW and JPEG file formats, and the requirement for device synchronization across mobile, tablet, and desktop platforms. Developing these features requires a solid infrastructure, complex algorithms for color management, and real-time adjustments—all wrapped in a user-friendly interface.

Want to see your app idea brought to life? 

At Scrums.com, our expert team of U.S.-focused developers can customize your project, advising you on the most efficient ways to build your app. Whether it’s a photo editor app like Adobe Lightroom, a social media platform, or a fintech tool, we're here to create something exceptional. Reach out for a custom development estimate today, and let's turn your vision into reality!