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 McDonalds?

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 McDonalds?
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 McDonalds?

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

How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like McDonalds?

Platform integration, engagement, and loyalty features drive U.S. McDonald’s-style app development costs.
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

Developing a custom mobile app for renowned global fast-food chains, such as the McDonald’s App, comes with distinct challenges due to its complexity in integrating features like mobile ordering, location-based services, loyalty programs, and real-time order tracking.

Fast-food apps like McDonald’s, designed to streamline customer interaction, must maintain high reliability, fast processing, and real-time order updating. Considering the United States consumer market, where convenience is paramount, a unique set of customizations is also demanded. In addition, there is a need for a seamless user experience (UX) across platforms like iOS and Android, the implementation of secure digital payment systems, and the development process becoming more expensive than standard apps.

In this article, we’ll present a roadmap for understanding the key factors that influence the cost of developing a McDonald’s-like app, dissect the features you need to consider and examine the technical complexities that arise during the development of such an app, particularly in the United States market.

Platform and Device Compatibility

Platform selection is a critical factor affecting custom app development costs for a McDonald' s-style app. In the United States, where users predominantly favor iOS and Android, ensuring compatibility across both platforms significantly impacts the scope and cost of building an app like this.

iOS Platform Development

Apple devices hold a notable market share in the United States, making iOS development crucial for such an app. Developing for iOS involves meeting strict App Store guidelines, integrating with Apple Pay, and designing a seamless interface across iPhone and iPad devices. Additionally, using Apple’s location-based services necessitates integrating the Apple Maps API. These requirements add to the app development cost by increasing the testing and design complexity.

Android Platform Development

Android development involves unique challenges. Due to the wide variety of devices and manufacturers, building a consistent and high-performing app requires more extensive device compatibility testing than iOS. Ensuring smooth functionality across Android models adds technical work, thus raising the app development cost.

Wearable and Web Extensions

Supporting additional devices like smartwatches and creating a desktop version further increases development costs. Wearable integration is essential, allowing users to check order statuses on Apple Watch or Google Wear. Extending the app to web or desktop platforms also increases the custom app development requirements, as creating a unified cross-platform experience demands additional expertise and time.

A fast-food app focused on the United States must support iOS and Android. Incorporating wearables or web features increases the cost of building an app.

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)

The UX/UI needs to emphasize simplicity, speed, and seamlessness for an app like McDonald's. In the United States, consumers expect a sleek yet intuitive design that guides them through what can often be high-stakes interactions: ordering food on the go, storing payment data, and earning rewards—all without confusion.

Critical UI/UX Components

  • Ease of Navigation: Menus must be easy to access. The user should be able to find, customize, and order items in a minimal number of taps. For example, McDonald's organizes the menu through clickable categories with intuitive placements.
  • Brand Consistency: The app must reflect McDonald’s iconic branding—app colors, fonts, and menu icons must match its in-store experience. This attention to detail enhances customer satisfaction and ensures seamless touchpoints between in-app interaction and in-store branding.
  • Localization for United States Users: The United States users expect regionalized app versions catered to their locations. Promotional imagery, menu options, and region-specific discounts might differ based on geography, adding another layer of design complexity.

While United States users expect top-notch design, more focus on aesthetics with meaningful user flow could drive up costs without adding actual business value. Well-executed UX/UI contributes to long-term user retention and escalates design investment during the development cycle.

Integrations with Third-Party Services or External Systems

Third-party services are prevalent in most modern apps, and a McDonald’s-like app requires numerous integrations to offer its full suite of functionality.

Payment Gateways

Choosing and integrating payment gateways like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, or PayPal is essential to United States app users. The more payment options your app supports, the costlier the integration process becomes—primarily because such services must meet PCI-DSS compliance to safeguard payment data.

Geolocation Services

Most mobile food ordering apps rely on third-party mapping APIs, such as Apple and Google Maps, for restaurant locations, drive-thru directions, and deliveries. Real-time integration with these systems allows consumers to quickly find McDonald’s establishments in the United States. Further extensions require that the app adhere to technical and legal complexities associated with data privacy regulations covering location broadcasting.

Order Delivery Systems

A McDonald's-like app will also need deep-reaching integrations with delivery platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash (which are very prevalent in the United States). These services move real-time data between servers and delivery partners, providing tracking information and delivery updates to the end user.

Third-party services that power these features add to backend complexity and licensing costs. Third-party support and customization also increase overall project costs.

Database & Back-End Infrastructure

A McDonald's-like app must rely on robust, scalable, and secure back-end architecture to cater to a large and varied audience across the United States. It must handle everything from real-time order tracking to managing loyalty points.

Real-time Syncing: Ensuring mobile orders sync to various McDonald’s locations, servers, or kitchens instantly requires real-time databases and notification systems. These systems must support:

  • Real-time data updating: Instantly pushing orders from mobile devices to restaurant kitchen systems.
  • Global Reliability: The broader McDonald’s ecosystem requires a solid cloud infrastructure, such as AWS or Google Cloud, which is known for providing scalable, reliable services to users across different regions of the United States.

Given the vast amount of data this architecture needs to handle—not only order numbers but also menus, preferences, and payment details—back-end complexities significantly drive up development costs.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Once launched, a McDonald’s app needs continuous updates for relevance, enhancement, and security, which drives continual investment beyond initial development.

Feature Addition and Refinement

Ongoing updates may be necessary to:

  • Enhance loyalty programs: Adapt the app to accommodate new offers, seasonal promos, or points structures.
  • Integration of New Payment Methods: As new payment options and technologies (like blockchain or crypto wallets ) become more prominent, the app infrastructure must adapt.

Security and Data Privacy

Data breaches and cybersecurity threats make app security patches a high priority. Compliance with data protection regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) adds additional responsibility for United States-based businesses. Protecting sensitive user data with up-to-date encryption impacts the extended cost of security audits and updates.

Team Expertise and Location

Creating an app at the scale of McDonald’s requires a fully integrated development team equipped with expertise in mobile apps, cloud infrastructure, AI, security, and payment systems. At the minimum, the core team should include:

  • App Developers (iOS, Android): Required for platform-specific coding.
  • UI/UX Designers: Focused on creating a seamless and brand-centric experience.
  • Backend Architects: Well-versed in replicating orders across production-ready cloud infrastructures.
  • QA Engineers: Ensures faultless functionality across all devices, including real-time errors and usability testing.

While the United States offers access to world-class developers, location factors such as developer pay rates significantly influence the cost. Expert United States-based developers command higher salaries but offer proximity to United States consumer insights and trends. Alternatively, offshore development offers a cost-saving route but introduces communication gaps and potential cultural factors that slow decision-making on UX/UI personalization needed for a United States market.

Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

Developing an app like McDonald’s involves hidden costs that shouldn't be ignored.

QA & Testing: Due to its extensive user base, you’ll need exhaustive testing for functionality, orders, notifications, and multiple payment security points. United States-focused testing might include ensuring peak-time order handling and network stress testing on both Android and iOS devices, which can accumulate tremendous hiring or third-party testing costs.

App Store Fees and Guidelines: Launching apps on United States-based app stores comes with additional fees. Apple Store and Google Play charge various fees for listing and maintaining apps, and both platforms take commissions on in-app purchases. Apple's well-known 30% in-app transaction fee can add significant costs over time, depending on the number of users and transactions.

Legal and Compliance Costs: Depending on the features, handling user data raises regulatory concerns, especially when using a data-intensive app like McDonald’s. Federal regulations in the United States, such as the COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), target children’s experiences, and regional regulations like CCPA influence legal costs. Legal consultations and custom-built compliance infrastructure add unforeseen scope to your initial cost projections.

What Makes This App Category Unique in Terms of Development

A McDonald' s-like app is a unique class of software development for many reasons. Unlike a single-purpose app, fast food systems need to cater to a variety of functionalities, from simple food ordering to advanced features like real-time delivery tracking, loyalty systems, and in-app payments—all underpinned by a large-scale database.

The United States customer engagement landscape for fast-food apps is highly competitive. Fast-food businesses must ensure their apps cater to high-order volumes, rigorous demands for instantaneous service, and user-friendly interfaces. Rising trends in the United States market show a growing focus on loyalty systems and mobile payments, ensuring these features are mandatory when developing for this sector.

Crafting an intuitive yet complex mobile experience for McDonald’s demands solid architecture, secure payment systems, and advanced user engagement methodologies. Developers with expertise in fast-food digitization, familiarity with United States-based third-party systems, and app localization for United States laws and trends give a brand the needed competitive edge.

Want to see your app idea brought to life? 

At Scrums.com, our expert United States-focused developers can customize your next project and advise on the most efficient ways to build your app. Whether you aim to create a fast-food app, fintech tool, or social media platform, we’re here to help you create something exceptional. Reach out for a custom development estimate today, and let’s turn your vision into reality!