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 Primark?

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 Primark?
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 Primark?

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 Primark?

Explore the factors affecting the development cost of the Primark app in Europe, focusing on several features.
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 an eCommerce app that mirrors the success of the Primark UK model presents an intriguing opportunity. While Primark has been primarily known for its in-store shopping experience, the need for a streamlined, simple-to-use digital app grows as European consumer habits shift toward online shopping—even for traditionally brick-and-mortar sectors. However, building an app like Primark online for the European market involves navigating a complex maze of regulations, multilingual requirements, and the fragmented digital landscape across multiple countries.

A significant aspect of this complexity stems from GDPR, Europe's stringent data privacy regulation, which governs how information is collected, stored, and processed. In addition, building an app tailored for Europe often requires planning for cross-border sales, multi-language interfaces, and region-specific UX/UI solutions to meet the differing cultural preferences across countries.

As we delve deeper into the custom app development process, from platform choice to security compliance, this article will serve as a comprehensive guide to understanding how various factors, both technical and regulatory, affect the overall app development cost for such an ambitious project targeted at the European retail market.

Platform and Device Compatibility: Adapting to Europe’s Diverse Device Landscape

Europe has a diverse technological landscape, where consumer preferences differ significantly depending on the country or region. When building an app like Primark, it's essential to consider platform compatibility to reach a wide range of users across different devices.

iOS vs. Android in Europe

While Android dominates many European regions—particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe—iOS has a stronger grip on premium users, especially in countries like the U.K., Germany, and the Netherlands. If you're building a Primark-like app for Europe, developing for both platforms is a necessity, ensuring you cater to both Android and iOS users.

  • Android gains market share significantly in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, where price-sensitive consumers opt for a broader variety of phone models.
  • iOS, on the other hand, controls significant portions of affluent consumers in the U.K. and Germany, making it essential to deliver a polished experience through Apple’s ecosystem.

Developing native apps for iOS and Android will ensure optimized performance across each platform, but having separate codebases will increase the total development cost. On the other hand, cross-platform development tools like Flutter or React Native allow you to build for both operating systems simultaneously, with some cost savings, although certain features may not run as perfectly as they would on native development.

Web and Tablet Integration for eCommerce Growth

In Europe, shoppers are increasingly engaging with brands across multiple devices. Offering a desktop version or tablet compatibility is crucial for your customer base—particularly for professional buyers or those who browse larger screens for better visual engagement before making a purchase decision. Additionally, web-based interfaces help draw in traffic from online search engines and boost SEO metrics.

Whether targeting tablets or desktop usage tied to eCommerce transactions, designing an app for multi-device continuity increases the development cost but widens your market reach, making the investment worthwhile.

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): Navigating European Tastes

User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design are key determinants of the app’s adoption and success in the European market. Since Primark has a reputation for offering high-quality products at accessible price points, its app counterpart must reflect a clear, concise design without overwhelming users.

Simplicity and Minimalism

In regions like Scandinavia, Nordic design influences drive preferences toward minimalism and functionality. European users in these areas prefer streamlined, intuitive apps with fewer distractions and a strong product focus. For Primark, this might mean promoting products upfront with visible categories and search options and omitting clutter or unnecessary animations.

Multi-Language Interfaces

In countries such as France and Germany, users expect fully localized interfaces. This not only means translating text but also adjusting the layout and communication style in the app to fit regional preferences. Proper text expansion for translations means your app design needs to be flexible enough to handle different text lengths while maintaining aesthetic balance.

High-Quality Imagery & Fast Loading Times

Over 70% of European consumers prioritize high-quality imagery when shopping online. However, this presents a challenge—balancing the need for high visual appeal without slowing down app loading speeds. Demand for fast page loads is also driven by European mobile broadband speeds, varying among urban and rural areas.

The overall app design process tailored to the U.S. and European market preferences drives costs higher since ensuring simplicity, multi-language, and high performance across devices will take iterative design and focus group testing.

Integrations with Third-Party Services or External Systems

Integrating various third-party APIs is necessary for making an eCommerce app function smoothly within the European market. Each integration will have unique development requirements and associated costs.

European Payment Services

In addition to global payment players like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, it’s essential to incorporate widely used European payment services like Klarna and SEPA. Payment options like Bancontact (popular in Belgium) or Giropay in Germany require precise API handling for charging users securely within the EU’s PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2) compliance framework.

Multinational VAT Handling

Since Primark sells across the EU and the U.K., your app will need to feature transparent pricing displays that reflect accurate VAT charges based on the user’s country of purchase. Calculating regional tax compliance can be handled using third-party tools like Avalara or TaxJar, which integrate directly with cart systems but come with additional service fees.

Shipping & Logistics Integrations

Apps offering eCommerce for Europe must integrate with various logistics providers, such as DHL, Hermes, or DPD, to fulfill cross-border shipping accurately. Delivery options, tracking APIs, and return logistics management raise the app’s complexity, as integrations will have to adhere to each logistics partner’s service requirements.

By combining European payment gateways alongside strong logistics solutions, developing an app that efficiently processes transactions and handles deliveries adds API partnership costs but elevates it to retail readiness.

Database & Backend Infrastructure: Data Storage & Processing Across the EU

The backend infrastructure responsible for powering a Primark-like app needs to account for data handling, secure storage, and cross-border compliance with geographically dispersed traffic and regulations such as GDPR.

Data Residency Compliance (GDPR)

Given that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs how personal data is handled within Europe, app developers need to ensure data is stored within EU-compliant data centers. Cloud service providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure have EU-based data regions to meet these requirements, but the GDPR's strict data laws dramatically increase operational oversight and server management needs.

Real-Time Inventory Syncing

As an eCommerce app, handling real-time inventory tracking from multiple Primark store locations—even between different countries—requires solid data infrastructure capable of processing live updates at any given time. This also involves ensuring that databases are mirrored across regions for high availability and failure resistance.

Having robust database and cloud storage setups customized for live traffic—whether users are checking stock or making online orders—adds technical depth but is vital to efficient performance.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates: Keeping the App Always Functional

Building an app like Primark isn’t just about deployment—it also involves ongoing maintenance to keep the app relevant and operational.

Security Patches and GDPR Updates

With the ever-evolving nature of GDPR privacy laws, the app will need frequent security audits and data compliance reviews to ensure it’s operating within local regulations. Similarly, staying ahead of security vulnerabilities with regular patching is critical to avoiding data breaches.

Feature Add-ons and UX Optimization

Modern consumers expect continual improvements, such as adding fresh UX elements or enhancing search functions based on artificial intelligence (AI) to predict customer preferences. As the app scales, key features or seasonal updates will need to be rolled out, making long-term engineering support contracts necessary.

Ongoing operational costs for security , maintenance , and GDPR re-certification audits are required to keep the app compliant—adding to the long-term costs of the project.

Team Expertise and Location: Sourcing the Right Development Talent Across Europe

The team responsible for building your app dramatically affects the development cost. For an app that requires strong eCommerce and data protection features, hiring skilled professionals with GDPR expertise and multi-language localization backgrounds is key.

Distributed Teams Across Europe

Given Europe’s multilingual and multinational structure, it’s often beneficial to spread your development team across various European cities. This enables you to build localized solutions for unique audiences in markets like Germany, France, or Italy who prefer tailored content.

Specialized Developers in UX/UI Design

Consider hiring experts who specialize in GDPR-friendly frameworks, multi-currency setups, and creating fast international loading times. The cost of keeping teams fully aware of Europe-specific regulations may be higher for developers based within the region but means faster compliance adjustments.

Incorporating U.S. development costs might include offshore development savings, but localization and legal complexity make focusing on European-specific talent pools worthwhile.

Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

QA & Testing: Testing your app beyond basic functionality QA is critical due to different languages, payment structures, and logistics hurdles across Europe. Full testing—covering functionality and security testing for GDPR compliance—adds time to the project.

App Store Fees and Regional Modules: For hosting the Primark app across Google Play and Apple’s App Store, the app store fees cover registration plus commissions for global or cross-national sales.

Legal and Data Costs: Building a compliance-friendly architecture for personal data under GDPR and PSD2 requires legal guidance, particularly with cross-border sales, requiring legal audits.

What Makes eCommerce App Development for Europe Unique?

Developing an eCommerce app, especially for entities like Primark targeting core European markets, offers a unique set of challenges distinct from other regions. The complexity lies in catering to a multilingual, multi-national audience with varying platform preferences, currency structures, and delivery expectations. With strict GDPR and multi-language interfaces, ensuring compliance with cross-border intricacies adds extra layers to the developmental, legal, and marketing aspects of the app.

Knowing how to properly handle European integrations—whether it’s adapting for Klarna checkout in Scandinavia or rolling tax compliance tailored to French VAT laws—separates successful apps from those treading regulatory waters. Bringing together developers skilled in European data governance laws as well as integrating functionality crucial for retail mobility ensures the app grows in the fragmented yet lucrative European eCommerce environment.

Looking for a custom app built to succeed in the European market? 

At Scrums.com, we specialize in compliant, localized software development that adapts to Europe's regulatory requirements and diverse market habits. Whether you're prioritizing GDPR readiness or building multi-language interfaces, our expert team can create a solution tailored to your success. Contact us today to get a custom-fit estimate for your next European app project!