🛒 Full E-Commerce Application for iOS & Android: Tools & Minimum Cost Guide
Creating a full-featured e-commerce mobile application for both iOS and Android doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With the right tools and smart planning, even startups and small businesses can build powerful shopping apps at a fraction of traditional development costs.
What Features Should a Basic E-commerce App Have?
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User registration/login (email, OTP, social)
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Product catalog with categories
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Shopping cart and checkout
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Payment gateway (UPI, cards, wallets)
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Order tracking
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Notifications (push/SMS/email)
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Admin panel (web-based)
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Basic analytics (sales, users, etc.)
🔧 Tools & Technologies to Use (Low-Cost + Scalable)
Component | Recommended Tool/Stack | Free/Paid |
---|---|---|
Frontend (Mobile) | Flutter or React Native | Free |
Backend (API) | Node.js, Express.js, or Firebase | Free (with limits) |
Database | Firebase Firestore, MongoDB Atlas, or MySQL | Free (for small scale) |
Admin Panel | React.js with Firebase or Strapi | Free |
Hosting | Vercel, Render, Firebase Hosting, or Heroku | Free (basic) |
Payments | Razorpay, Stripe, PayPal | Free SDKs (transaction fee applies) |
Authentication | Firebase Auth / Auth0 | Free |
Push Notifications | Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) | Free |
UI Kit | FlutterFlow (low code) / Free UI kits | Free/Paid |
Domain & SSL | Namecheap + Cloudflare | $10–15/year |
Cost Item | Estimated Cost |
---|---|
Developer (Freelancer/Agency) | $300 – $1,000 (basic app) |
Domain Name + Hosting | $15 – $30/year |
Payment Gateway Charges | ~2% per transaction |
Miscellaneous Tools | $0 – $50 (UI kits, icons, etc.) |
🧑💻 Recommended Free Resources to Learn
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GitHub free e-commerce templates
Conclusion
If you want to build a basic e-commerce app with login, product display, cart, and payments, using Flutter or React Native with Firebase is the best and most budget-friendly choice in 2025. The minimum budget can be as low as ₹5,000–₹20,000 ($60–$250) if you handle development or use open-source templates.