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 SpareRoom?

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 SpareRoom?
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 SpareRoom?

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 SpareRoom?

Explore key cost factors for a European SpareRoom-like app: GDPR, localization, and EU user behavior.
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

As Europe continues to be a growing, tech-savvy market for mobile applications, developing a platform like SpareRoom—which connects individuals looking for shared accommodations—presents incredible opportunities and challenges specific to the region. When considering app development costs for a room-finder application in Europe, factors such as GDPR compliance, language localization, cross-border usability, and highly regulated online payment sectors must all be considered. In addition, the user-centric design approach preferred by European users requires apps to be both intuitive and compliant with local regulations.

Europe’s diverse demographics, ranging from countries like Germany and France to smaller markets like Belgium or the Scandinavian countries, also contribute to the complexity and cost of constructing a solid product. Each market has preferences regarding technology platforms, payment methods, and app/website usability.

Why it matters:

In the European market, users expect high-quality digital experiences, and regional regulations such as GDPR govern every facet of data handling. These regulations significantly impact how apps like SpareRoom are built and maintained, and these challenges can invariably increase the overall app development cost.

Platform and Device Compatibility in Europe

Developers must consider platform and device compatibility when building an app like SpareRoom for the European market. Factors such as which platforms to target and how much it costs to build an app for specific regions play a significant role. Unlike the United States, where iPhone use dominates, European market trends differ based on location. Custom app development in Europe must cater to Android and iOS users, as platform preferences vary widely. Android has a larger market share in much of Western and Eastern Europe, while iOS also has a strong foothold in regions like the U.K. and Germany.

Device Preferences:

  • Western Europe: Countries like France, Spain, and Italy exhibit strong Android preference, while iOS also holds a respectable fraction of the market in Germany and the U.K.
  • Eastern Europe: Android tends to dominate, necessitating optimization for this platform, especially in countries like Poland and Hungary.
  • U.K./Germany: The iOS platform is highly prevalent, making it crucial to focus on both iOS and Android equally, especially if localization is central to your app’s strategy.

Additional Considerations:

Tablet Users in Europe: Some markets like Scandinavia show a higher adoption rate of tablet devices, which may affect how your app's mobile and web versions should be developed during custom app development.

Optimizing the SpareRoom App for both platforms and accounting for individual device differences across European regions will significantly impact your custom app development budget, increasing the need for platform-specific testing and optimization. These factors not only affect the overall development process but also the answer to how much it costs to build an app that works seamlessly across various platforms in Europe.

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)

Europe is known for its diverse and fragmented design expectations. Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Denmark favor minimalist, functional designs, while Southern European countries such as Spain and Italy often appreciate a more personalized, lively aesthetic. For a room-finding app like SpareRoom, you must carefully design it for usability and to create trustworthiness. A SERP study showed that Europeans value data privacy and security highly.

Localization and Aesthetics

Minimalist interfaces with clear data representation are favored in Nordic countries. Multi-language support is essential to ensure accessibility across different European languages. A poorly localized UI—in terms of language and cultural styling—can make or break user adoption.

Functionality and Ease of Use

  • Trust Elements: As an eCommerce or rental platform in Europe, you must ensure high-level data transparency, emphasizing how users' data is stored, processed, and accessed.
  • User Flow: Complexities like booking rooms across borders (another common occurrence in Europe) must be made intuitive, providing clear UX paths to avoid confusion, especially when browsing multiple languages.

Creating a customized design that adheres to preferences across multiple EU countries can be expensive, as it may require several iterations and localized adjustments.

Integrations with Third-Party Services/External Systems

In Europe, developing an app with third-party service integration requires careful attention to regional regulations and user expectations for seamless functionality. Compliance with GDPR and Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) is critical, especially for apps handling sensitive data or financial transactions, like rental or marketplace platforms. Beyond merely connecting to third-party services, the integration strategy should prioritize user data protection and align with diverse payment methods popular across Europe.

Key Integrations Essential for European Users:

SEPA Payments are essential for euro-denominated bank transfers across European countries, especially where transactions like security deposits or regular rent payments are involved. SEPA compliance allows for direct bank-to-bank transfers across the EU, an essential feature in applications dealing with cross-border financial exchanges.

Alternative payment methods vary by region, with popular options like Klarna (widely used in Northern Europe), Bancontact in Belgium, and other open banking solutions gaining traction in European markets. These localized payment options offer users in specific regions the familiarity and ease they expect, enhancing satisfaction and trust in the app’s reliability.

PSD2 Compliance: Any app offering financial services or payment options, such as secure rent payments on housing platforms like SpareRoom, must comply with PSD2. This directive mandates multi-factor authentication (MFA) for transactions, adding layers of security and complexity to the integration process. PSD2 compliance ensures secure, transparent, and authenticated transactions, addressing user concerns regarding European payment security.

These compliance measures add to third-party integration costs and are crucial for building trust and functionality tailored to European users. By providing secure, localized payment methods, apps can enhance the user experience, ensure regulatory adherence, and meet diverse market needs.

Database & Backend Infrastructure

European data privacy regulations, especially GDPR, significantly shape the design of app databases and backend infrastructure. GDPR mandates strict control over data processing, storage, and management for European citizens’ data, impacting compliance and development costs. To adhere to GDPR, developers typically use EU-based data storage solutions, such as Google Cloud, AWS, or Azure servers in European jurisdictions.

An essential GDPR requirement is data residency, which restricts data storage within EU borders. This can mean higher storage costs for applications with sizeable European user bases than non-EU storage solutions. In addition to location constraints, encryption and data anonymization are mandatory for safeguarding user data and ensuring compliance with GDPR's strict privacy protocols. These requirements add complexity and cost to backend infrastructure, as developers must implement these security measures to protect sensitive user information.

Scalability is another critical factor, as apps operating in multiple European countries must support high transaction volumes and diverse language-localized databases. This means investing in a resilient architecture capable of handling simultaneous transactions and cultural and linguistic variations. Ensuring seamless integration for each country’s data requirements can increase operational costs and technical complexity, especially for apps expanding across multiple European markets.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

GDPR compliance is a moving target; for complex apps like SpareRoom, keeping up with regular GDPR updates adds to your long-term development expenses. Likewise, app updates for new Android/iOS versions and other security patches must also be budgeted for.

Specific European Considerations:

  • Apps handling sensitive personal data (e.g., real estate or finance) must frequently be updated to comply with legal requirements and reflect EU Commission Directives.

Apps in specialized sectors like FinTech or HealthTech (common in the U.K. and German markets) may also need more frequent compliance checks and updates, which increases your long-term operating expenditure.

Team Expertise and Location

In Europe, the diversity in language, GDPR expertise, and technical platform usage make working with development teams with local market knowledge essential. Using distributed teams across Europe often ensures faster, market-adapted custom app development.

Team Expertise Focus Areas:

  • GDPR Proficiency: Certain app categories, especially those involving housing or finance (like SpareRoom ), will need teams proficient in data privacy laws who stay updated with frequent market changes.
  • Local Design Laws: Teams that understand accessibility laws, multi-language interfaces, and other EU-specific regulations make building an app far more straightforward and compliant.

Hiring such teams can increase the budget, but the result delivers an app ready for the highly regulated and diverse European market.

Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

QA & Testing: Apps targeting different European countries often require tailored quality assurance (QA) and security testing, especially for FinTech apps. This process might involve usability testing in other languages or functionality testing tailored to GDPR guidelines.

App Store Fees and Guidelines: Google Play and Apple App Store have specific fees for regions like the European Union. The regulatory requirements vary slightly between countries, adding another layer of compliance you must adhere to throughout the process.

Legal and Compliance Costs: GDPR laws mean you must allocate a budget to ongoing legal costs for data privacy lawyers or experts who can ensure compliance, mainly when user data flows across multiple European borders.

What Makes a Room-Finding App Like SpareRoom Unique in Europe?

Developing a room-finding app such as SpareRoom for the European market presents distinct challenges, particularly regarding cross-border usability, localization, and strict adherence to GDPR.

Key European-Specific Challenges:

  • GDPR: Handling user data across European jurisdictions presents one of the most significant regulatory hurdles.
  • Multi-language Preferences: To ensure pan-European success, apps must be localized for various languages, each with its own UI/UX considerations.
  • Cross-border Payment Systems: Living arrangements often extend across borders, necessitating seamless integration with payment systems that support currencies such as the Euro and payment methods common in each country (e.g., SEPA, Klarna ).

Summary of Key Cost Drivers:

  • GDPR Compliance
  • Multi-language Interface & Localization
  • Cross-Border Payment System Integration

The SpareRoom App falls into a category where privacy, data management, and localization can dramatically affect the development timeline and budget—forecasts you must build into your app development cost considerations.

Are you looking for a custom app built to succeed in Europe?

At Scrums.com, we specialize in developing compliant, localized software that meets the needs of a diverse European market. Whether it's GDPR readiness or multi-language interfaces, we know what it takes to make your app a success. Contact us today to get a custom-fit estimate for your European app project!