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 Qustodio?

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 Qustodio?
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 Qustodio?

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 Qustodio?

Discover the key cost factors for building a Qustodio-like app: platform choice, advanced security, and more.
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 parental control app like Qustodio is no simple task. These apps are designed to protect children and provide parents with peace of mind, monitoring their children's digital lives while adhering to rigorous privacy laws. The parental control app category is particularly unique because it involves standard custom app development complexities like UI/UX and platform compatibility and requires strict compliance with child protection and data privacy laws, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States.

Applications in this category deal with sensitive data, such as browsing habits, location tracking, and even phone calls or messages. This means added complexity in ensuring bulletproof security standards and privacy mechanisms. Additionally, such apps often cater to multiple users under a single family umbrella, with different permissions for children and parents, further complicating the software architecture and data management systems.

This article is a roadmap to help you understand the critical cost-driven factors when developing a parental control app like Qustodio. Whether you're planning to launch a similar app or enhance an existing one, this guide will help you navigate the intricacies of mobile app development costs specific to this category, allowing you to make informed decisions.

Platform and Device Compatibility

When you set out to build an app like Qustodio, one of the first questions is how much it costs to build an app and which platforms it needs to support. Platform decisions significantly affect custom app development costs because iOS, Android, and both platforms require separate development frameworks and testing procedures. Here’s how platform decisions directly impact the price of a parental control app.

iOS vs. Android

iOS dominates about 57% of the market share in the United States, whereas Android holds approximately 42%. United States users, particularly families with higher incomes, favor iOS devices like iPhones. This statistic alone hints that a parental control app targeting United States users must work on iOS. However, ignoring Android would exclude a significant user base, particularly in more price-conscious families. Ideally, a parental control app like Qustodio would be built natively for both platforms to ensure optimal performance and coverage.

It’s essential to consider the differences in how iOS and Android manage permissions. For instance, iOS tends to be more stringent regarding background application activity, child-device management, and real-time location tracking, increasing development complexity on Apple's platform. This will affect the cost of building an app for iOS specifically.

Cross-Platform Development

Alternatively, you could choose a cross-platform framework like Flutter or React Native to develop the app once and deploy it on iOS and Android. This could reduce upfront custom app development costs but might limit app performance and native feature approaches like GPS accuracy and push notifications, which are highly critical in parental control apps.

Wearables and Desktop

Beyond mobile compatibility, developers must consider whether the app should be universally accessible from wearables (like the Apple Watch), tablets, or even desktops. As in the Qustodio App, a web dashboard is highly convenient for parents and mirrors Qustodio’s setup, where parents can track their child’s activities through a smartphone app and a web dashboard. Extending functionality to desktop browsers increases development complexity and costs but improves accessibility for tech-savvy parents juggling multiple devices.

To conclude, platform and device compatibility profoundly impact custom app development costs. Building for multiple platforms expands your user base but also exponentially increases post-launch maintenance and overall expenses, influencing how much it costs to build 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)

Design and user experience are crucial for a parental control app, especially in balancing functionality for parents and children. In developing the Qustodio App, particular attention was likely paid to creating a clean, simple interface for parents while building a non-intrusive experience for children.

Parent Experience:

The Qustodio App provides parents with streamlined dashboards that show critical information instantly. Custom-designed dashboards in parental control apps offer user-friendliness by showing activity breakdowns of individual children, real-time data, and quick access to alert systems—features that developers are tasked with implementing seamlessly. Such a real-time dashboard design will naturally raise your app development cost because it requires data management and user-friendly presentation.

Child Experience:

Children may be required to interact with the app, such as by requesting additional screen time or sending emergency alerts. Even though Qustodio primarily caters to parents, some consideration is needed for the child’s user experience. Ensuring this interaction is friendly—even for teenagers wary of imposed restrictions—will also impact the complexity of your UI/UX development and, thus, the overall cost.

Though more expensive, high-quality design will significantly improve app adoption rates among United States consumers, making it well worth the investment.

Integrations with Third-Party Services or External Systems

Modern parental control apps integrate several third-party services to improve functionality or cut down on custom development time.

API Integrations: Like Qustodio, most parental control apps rely on browser-based API integrations to monitor browsing history efficiently. APIs such as those from Chrome or tablet-specific browsers provide a reliable method of monitoring activity and gathering data.

Subscription Management and Payment Processing: Subscription-based payment models have become famous for apps like Qustodio. Integrations with payment processing platforms like Stripe or PayPal allow users to subscribe monthly or annually. Setting up secure payment gateways will slightly increase app development costs but provide a reliable and safe method of ongoing revenue generation.

Cloud Syncing: Parental control apps like the Qustodio App typically sync data using cloud-based storage platforms like AWS or Google Cloud. Cloud syncing allows accurate, real-time data sharing between parent dashboards and child notification systems.

Though more costly, third-party integrations streamline processes and provide advanced app functionality, making your service more attractive to United States users.

 Database and Back-End Infrastructure

Solid backend infrastructure defines the performance and scalability of an app like Qustodio. Here's how this impacts the development of your parental control app:

Real-time Processing:

Parental control apps must handle many real-time services, like location tracking. Optimal back-end infrastructure ensures minimal delays while syncing data from the child’s device to the parent’s dashboard.

Data Security Protocols:

Given that parental control apps like Qustodio track sensitive user data (including location and browser history), security is one of the most expensive development elements. United States data protection laws, including COPPA, require stringent security standards. Thus, your back-end infrastructure must include encrypted data storage at rest and in transit, adding to development costs.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Building the app is only half the battle—continuous updates and maintenance in response to user feedback, OS updates, and compliance changes will represent an ongoing cost for your app. Qustodio needs regular updates to keep up with OS changes and ensure a strong defense against security threats, making maintenance critical in this sector.

Regular maintenance ensures compatibility with iOS, Android, and desktop environments and compliance with frequently updated United States legislation, such as COPPA.

Team Expertise and Location

To develop an app as sophisticated as the Qustodio App, it is essential to hire specialized talent.

Key Expertise Areas:

  • iOS & Specialist Developers (Swift, Kotlin)
  • API Integration Experts (Google Cloud, AWS)
  • Security Engineers (Encryption, United States Data Compliance)

While United States developers provide the most relevant expertise for compliance issues specific to laws like COPPA, offshore teams may also be employed to save costs on more general app components.

Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

QA & Testing: Rigorous testing, especially security testing, is critical for safeguarding susceptible data, which is a priority for any app that monitors personal activity. In a parental control app like Qustodio, which deals with highly sensitive information such as children's location data, web history, and device usage, thorough testing is essential. Security vulnerabilities could lead to devastating privacy breaches, making robust quality assurance (QA) and testing processes non-negotiable. QA testing usually involves multiple phases—functional, usability, security, and performance testing. Given the app's sensitivity, penetration testing (for simulated hacks) and compliance testing (to meet United States child protection laws) are also required. These layers of checks and balances naturally increase the overall app development cost. Many businesses exploring custom app development for parental control apps often overlook the significant resources that must be devoted to such comprehensive testing.

App Store Fees and Guidelines: The Qustodio App must adhere to multiple platform-specific guidelines, especially those of Apple and Google Play, which regulate stringent app permissions, privacy, and security protocols. For instance, Apple’s guidelines for apps handling children’s data are precise, requiring full disclosure of how data is collected, stored, and used. Non-compliance can lead to delays—or worse, a rejection from the App Store entirely. The fees are not only monetary (around $100 annually for the Apple App Store and $25 as a one-time Google Play registration fee) but also operationally complex, as development teams must integrate unique platform permissions. They fail to adhere to such guidelines, resulting in repeated submissions, which adds further development time and delays revenue generation. 

Legal and Compliance Costs: Compliance with United States regulations, especially COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), is imperative for any app managing children's data. The legal costs for ensuring adherence are substantial. Engaging legal consultants to perform compliance reviews throughout the custom app development process ensures that the application fully complies with evolving laws. Non-compliance can expose the business to fines or lawsuits, further driving up app development costs. Apps like Qustodio must also ensure continuous adherence to international laws such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), primarily since such apps often operate in multiple countries. Maintaining compliance with global regulations requires periodic audits to confirm that no laws are being violated in the app’s handling of user data, making legal consultations an ongoing but necessary investment.

What Makes This App Category Unique in Terms of Development

Parental control apps like Qustodio occupy a unique niche, balancing service-based convenience with tightly regulated privacy and child protection laws. United States users expect seamless, user-friendly, and secure solutions, which require a deep bench of talent across various domains, such as real-time monitoring, data encryption, and compliance with local laws.

Developing such an app in the United States market means dealing with the technological hurdles, legal compliance, and user trust. Partnering with a development team skilled in parental control apps and United States compliance standards will be essential for success.

Want to see your parental control app idea brought to life?

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