Custom Healthcare App Development: Cost, Trends, & Features!

The healthcare industry is evolving digitally in this day and age, as is the case with many industries. Businesses are preparing to launch personalized healthcare applications in response to the continuous need for customized healthcare solutions.

What’s the driving force behind this trend? – Well, it's simple! Users want more personalized experiences in accessing healthcare services. For businesses, the healthcare sector offers significant opportunities to grow in all aspects.  

So, if you're planning to embark on a journey into custom healthcare app development, make sure you know the development process, associated costs, and other aspects. So buckle up – and let’s get started!

Healthcare App Development: An Overview

Custom medical app development is changing how we manage and access healthcare services by providing creative solutions for patients and healthcare professionals. Here's an intriguing overview with some relevant information:

• According to Statista, 8.6 billion healthcare apps are anticipated to have been downloaded globally by 2025. 
• By 2025, the global mHealth (mobile health) app market is projected to reach $111.8 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.26%. (Source: Grand View Research)
• The number of remote patient monitoring apps is projected to reach 97.3 million downloads worldwide by 2025. (Source: Allied Market Research)
• The global telemedicine market is projected to reach $559.52 billion by 2025, driven by the increasing adoption of telemedicine apps and services. (Source: Grand View Research)

Different Types of Healthcare Apps

Following, we’ve discussed different types of healthcare apps. Check the following table:

Different App Types fo Patients:

App Type	Description
Healthy Lifestyle Apps	Help users adopt better habits by tracking sleep, hydration, stress, and overall wellness goals.
Reminder Apps	Send timely notifications for taking medications, attending appointments, or completing health tasks.
Medical Education Apps	Educate patients about health conditions, treatments, and preventive care with easy-to-understand content.
Health & Fitness Apps	Encourage daily activity with workout plans, step tracking, and progress monitoring.
Dieting Apps	Assist users in managing their diet with calorie counters, meal plans, and nutrition tips.
Diagnosis Apps for Preventive Purposes	Allow users to input symptoms and receive early insights or suggestions to consult a specialist.
Mental Health Service	Provide support through mood tracking, guided meditation, therapy sessions, and emotional well-being tools.
Medication Tracking Apps	Enable patients to manage prescriptions, track intake, and receive reminders to ensure medication adherence.

Different App Types For Doctors:

App Type	Description
Database Apps	Store and organize vast amounts of medical data, such as patient records, lab results, and drug libraries, for quick and secure access.
Doctor Appointment Apps	Allow users to search for doctors, check availability, and book appointments online, improving convenience and reducing wait times.
Medical Reference Apps	Offer healthcare professionals instant access to drug information, clinical guidelines, disease descriptions, and treatment protocols.
Electronic Medical/Health Record Apps	Digitally manage patient information including medical histories, prescriptions, lab results, and treatment plans for easy sharing and updating.
Health Tracking Apps	Monitor health metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and more, often integrating with wearable devices for real-time updates.
Telemedicine Apps	Facilitate virtual consultations via video, voice, or chat, enabling remote diagnosis, treatment, and follow-ups without the need for in-person visits.
Networking Apps	Connect doctors, specialists, and other healthcare professionals for collaboration, case discussions, research sharing, and peer support.
Medical Training Apps	Provide interactive tools, simulations, video tutorials, and quizzes to help medical students and professionals enhance their clinical skills and knowledge.

Different App Types for Healthcare Facilities:

App Type	Description
Physician Timesheet Apps	Help healthcare facilities manage and track doctors’ working hours, shifts, and availability efficiently, improving workforce scheduling and payroll accuracy.
Billing Apps	Automate billing processes including invoice generation, insurance claims, and payment tracking, reducing errors and speeding up revenue cycles.
Population Health Management Apps	Analyze patient data across groups to identify health trends, improve preventive care, and optimize resource allocation for better community outcomes.
Pharmacy Management Apps	Assist healthcare facilities in managing drug inventory, prescription processing, restocking alerts, and compliance with medical regulations.

3 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Healthcare App Development

If you’re wondering, “Why should I invest in healthcare app development?”  Investing in mobile healthcare app development solutions can be a strategic decision with several potential benefits. Following, we’ve discussed some compelling reasons why you must invest in custom mHealth app development. 

1. Growing Technology

Every industry is evolving due to technological advancements, and the healthcare sector is no exception. Investing in the development of healthcare applications can keep your business abreast of these technological developments. 

Modern technologies such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) will enhance the functionality of healthcare apps. 

By keeping up with technological advancements, healthcare providers can improve the functioning of the app and apply advanced tools for patient care, diagnosis, and treatment.

Also Read: AI in Healthcare: Benefits, Applications, and Cases

2. Increase in Revenue

Investing in healthcare apps can be a smart choice to boost revenue. Telemedicine apps enable medical practitioners to serve a greater patient population by extending their services outside of physical locations. 

The premium features, subscription packages, and other services that the healthcare app provides help generate additional revenue streams. Moreover, apps that automate administrative duties like billing and appointment scheduling can enhance operational effectiveness by reducing costs and increasing overall revenue.

3. Boost Customer Satisfaction & Engagement

Healthcare applications offer a way to improve patient engagement and satisfaction. You improve the patient experience by giving users simple access to their medical records, making appointments, and communicating with healthcare professionals. 

Enhanced engagement and satisfaction levels can lead to increased patient loyalty, better adherence to treatment plans, and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Read More: How to Build a Pharmacy App: From Idea to Launch!

Must-Have Features for Healthcare App Development

Incorporating amazing must-have features in your mobile healthcare and fitness app development will help you attract a wider audience and make your business a huge success. Check the following core features for your healthcare app:

1. User Profile

Implement secure and multi-factor authentication to ensure only authorized users, including healthcare professionals and patients, can access sensitive health data. This helps to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of patient information.

2. Appointment Scheduling

Enable users to schedule appointments with healthcare providers through the app. Implement reminder notifications for upcoming appointments and allow users to reschedule or cancel appointments if needed. This feature enhances the convenience of healthcare services.

3. Real-time Chat & Video

Incorporating real-time chat and video in healthcare apps helps users connect with medical professionals or physicians. Patients can discuss their medical concerns or seek assistance from health and wellness experts. 

4. Health Data Monitoring

Incorporate a feature for monitoring and measuring health-related data. It includes blood pressure, weight, glucose, and physical activity, among other health markers. Graphs and charts allow users to examine how their health has changed.

5. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Access Integration

Provide users with a secure platform for managing and accessing their electronic health records. It should have functions for reviewing test results, prescription drugs, treatment plans, and medical histories. Check if the application complies with data protection regulations, such as the US's HIPAA.

6. Push Notifications

The push notifications feature allows users instant popups regarding health or medical information. It is a communication tool that offers real-time reminders, updates, or alerts to notify users about their health-related information or preferences. 

7. Assistance and Location Services

Include an emergency button or feature allowing users to contact emergency services quickly. Integration with location services can help emergency responders locate users needing assistance.

8. Integration with Wearable Devices

Allow users to connect their wearable devices, such as health and fitness trackers or smart wearables devices, to the app. This integration enables real-time monitoring of health and wellness metrics and enhances data accuracy.

9. Feedback & Rating System

Give users the feature to provide feedback and rate healthcare services. This could enhance both the user experience and the quality of care.

10. Health Education & Resources

Provide a section for health education resources, articles, and information to empower users with knowledge about their conditions and general well-being.

Advanced Features to Include in Healthcare App

Following, we’ve also discussed some advanced features to incorporate into healthcare apps.

Integrating the latest trends into healthcare apps can enhance their functionality and user experience. Let's delve into the discussed advanced features:

11. Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning (ML)

ML & AI in healthcare applications for personalized medicine, accurate diagnosis, improved treatment, automated routine tasks through data analysis, and decision support systems. 

12. Virtual Reality (VR)/ Augmented Reality (AR)

According to statistics, the global AR and VR in the healthcare market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27.2% from 2021 to 2028 to reach USD 9.5 billion by 2028. 

AR and VR are incorporated into healthcare apps for medical training, immersive 3D body mapping, maintenance in medical labs, patient education, assistance in complex surgeries, and more. 

13. Blockchain

Blockchain in healthcare apps helps to ensure data integrity and privacy, share medical records, secure storage, and more. It further improves and provides robust security, minimizes fraud, and offers traceable healthcare transactions. 

14. Voice-Activated System

Incorporating a voice-activated system that offers hands-free access to certain medical-related operations. It includes medical information, medication reminders, appointment scheduling, etc. 

15. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

The Healthcare IoT market worldwide is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2028) of 12.32%, leading to a market volume of US$167.70bn by 2028.

IoMT through medical devices and wearables offers remote patient care assistance, real-time monitoring, early detection of health issues, decision-making via data analysis, and more. 

Bonus Read: Build a Telehealth App Like Teladoc: A Step-by-Step Ultimate Guide!

Step-by-Step Guide for Healthcare App Development

Several steps are involved in healthcare app development process. Following, we’ve listed some crucial steps that you should know:

1. Complexity and Scope of the App

Understanding the complexity and scope of your healthcare app is essential. Define your app's functions and services, such as appointment scheduling, health record access, telehealth, and patient health monitoring. This factor helps estimate the materials, labor, and financial resources required for development.

Note:

The overall development cost of the healthcare app will depend on its complexity and scope. Adding easy-to-use and fundamental features to your app can save you money because they can be developed quickly. 

However, adding advanced features and functionalities like AI/ML or AR/VR would cost more because they require more time and resources.

2. Platform Compatibility

Decide which platforms your healthcare app will run on, such as iOS and Android or cross-platform development. Consider the preferences of your intended audience and the unique needs of healthcare providers. 

Ensure your healthcare app complies with the most recent operating system guidelines and requirements for optimal performance.

Note: 

Cross-platform development is typically less expensive than developing native mobile apps. However, hiring more developers, allocating more resources, and making greater purchases would come at a higher cost because native development necessitates two separate programs for each operating system. Therefore, if you want to build a healthcare app on a limited budget, you can opt for cross-platform development. 

3. UI/UX Design

Developing healthcare applications requires carefully considering user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. 

Considering the diverse range of users, which includes administrators, doctors, and patients, the design must be unambiguous, user-friendly, and easily accessible. Clear and easy navigation should be prioritized to increase overall usability.

Note:

The development cost increases with the time and resources needed to produce an accessible, intuitive, and user-friendly UI UX design. Partnering with the best UI UX designers will assist you in building a healthcare app at an affordable cost. Get in touch today!

4. Tech Stack

Selecting the right technology stack is essential for developing a profitable budgeting application. Make sure to choose the tech stack that fits your budget and your application's needs. 

Following, we’ve listed the tech stack to build a healthcare app. Let’s check:

• Hybrid: Flutter, React Native
• Native: Objective C, Swift, Kotlin
• Frontend: React JS, Angular
• Backend: Node JS, Java, PHP, .NET, Python, TypeScript

Be aware that a simple tech stack integration will cost less than a complex tech stack. Talk with experienced healthcare app developers to create your healthcare application. 

5. Development & Launching

During healthcare app development, programmers write front-end and back-end code and integrate all the features, functionalities, and other components. 

Experts must pay close attention to this phase since it will define how well the app functions. The length of the development phase can vary depending on the complexity of the app. 

Once everything is done, your healthcare app is ready to launch on Google App Store or Apple Store. 

Note:

The location of your healthcare web app development company might impact various aspects, such as communication, time zone differences, and development costs. 

Choose a development team that adheres to your budget and offers effective communication avenues. When creating healthcare apps, recognize potential legal and regulatory issues in various regions. Mobile app development companies in the United States are more expensive than in Asian countries. 

Additional Information:

Adhering to healthcare standards, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, is imperative. 

To safeguard sensitive patient data, ensure your healthcare app complies with all applicable regulations, requirements, and security standards. Hire legal and compliance professionals to help you navigate the complexities of healthcare laws.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Healthcare App?

The healthcare app development cost services depends on several factors. These include the project’s complexity, features and functionalities, UI/UX design, and the location of a reputable custom healthcare app development company. 

However, the estimated cost to develop a custom healthcare app with basic features is around $20,000 to $50,000. Incorporating advanced features and functionalities would cost around $150,000 or above. 

Note that the type of healthcare app development will also impact the overall cost. Therefore, discuss it with Apptunix, the top custom healthcare application development company, for an accurate development cost. 

Check the following table to know the estimated cost to build healthcare applications:

Health App Type	Estimated Cost ($)	Development Time
Telemedicine App	$50,000 – $300,000	4 – 28 weeks
Fitness and Wellness App	$25,000 – $100,000	3 – 18 weeks
Chronic Disease Management App	$70,000 – $250,000	4 – 36 weeks
Appointment Scheduling App	$40,000 – $80,000	6 – 12 weeks
Health Records & EMR App	$60,000 – $180,000	4 – 26 weeks
Mental Health App	$30,000 – $120,000	3– 20 weeks
Medication Tracker App	$30,000 – $90,000	3– 14 weeks
Medical Reference App	$40,000 – $100,000	4– 16 weeks
Medical Education/Training App	$55,000 – $150,000	10 – 24 weeks
Pharmacy Management App	$20,000 – $200,000	3 – 30 weeks
Population Health Management App	$80,000 – $220,000	4 – 34 weeks

Calculating the Cost of Developing a Healthcare App

Building a healthcare app involves multiple steps to ensure you estimate costs accurately and avoid surprises during development. Here’s a simple approach to guide you through the calculation:

1. Determine All Cost-Influencing Factors

Start by identifying key elements that impact your app’s development budget. These include the app’s complexity, required features (like video consultations, EHR integration, or AI diagnostics), platform choice (iOS, Android, or both), design requirements, compliance with healthcare regulations (HIPAA, GDPR), and integration with third-party services. Understanding these factors helps create a clear project scope and avoid hidden costs.

2. Estimate Your Team Size

The size and expertise of your development team directly affect costs. Typically, a healthcare app project requires UI/UX healthcare app designers, front-end and back-end developers, QA engineers, project managers, and sometimes specialists for compliance and security. Decide whether you’ll work with an in-house team, freelancers, or an outsourcing company, as each option has different pricing models.

Cost-Saving Tips for Building a High-Quality Healthcare App

Developing a healthcare app can be expensive, but smart planning and strategic decisions can help you control the budget without compromising quality. Here are effective ways to cut costs:

1. Prioritize Core Features for MVP

Focus on building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) first — include only essential features needed to solve the primary problem. Launching with a lean version allows you to test the market, gather user feedback, and avoid investing heavily in features that may not be necessary.

2.Choose Cross-Platform Development

Instead of building separate native apps for iOS and Android, opt for cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native. This approach reduces development time and cost by sharing most of the codebase across platforms.

3. Use Pre-Built Modules and APIs

Leverage existing APIs and third-party services for common functionalities such as payment processing, video calls, or user authentication. This saves time and effort compared to building everything from scratch.

4. Opt for Agile Development

Adopt an agile development methodology that allows incremental releases and continuous improvement. This way, you can avoid large upfront investments and make adjustments based on real user data.

5. Outsource to Cost-Effective Regions

Consider partnering with experienced offshore or nearshore development teams where hourly rates are lower but quality remains high. This can significantly reduce labor costs without sacrificing expertise.

6. Streamline Compliance and Security Planning

Integrate regulatory compliance (HIPAA, GDPR) and security protocols early in the design phase to avoid costly reworks later. Using standardized frameworks for compliance can also save time.

7. Invest in Automated Testing

Implement automated testing tools to reduce manual QA efforts and speed up the testing process. This not only cuts costs but improves app reliability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the healthcare app development industry has great potential to change medical services. However, achieving this potential requires a calculated collaboration with a reputable and experienced healthcare and fitness app development company. 

An experienced technology partner like Apptunix is crucial for negotiating the complex maze of healthcare laws, guaranteeing strong security and privacy protocols, and leading the project from conception to successful completion.

By working with an expert tech partner, entrepreneurs and healthcare and fitness organizations can create user-centric apps with essential features and flawless functionality. 

These apps can help lay the groundwork for a healthy future by improving patient outcomes and accessibility to healthcare services. Finding the ideal tech partner to unleash healthcare apps' full potential is crucial.

Why Choose Apptunix to Build Your Custom Healthcare App?

Apptunix, is among the top healthcare app development companies, is here to transform your vision into a powerful, custom-built solution — tailored to your users, your goals, and your industry needs.

With 13+ years in mobile app development and 2500+ digital products delivered (including in healthcare), we help bring your idea to life — securely, compliantly, and user-first.

From telemedicine and patient portals to fitness apps, wearable integrations, and smart health dashboards — we’ve done it.

We:

• Validate your idea with market and user research

• Design intuitive UI/UX for patients and practitioners alike

• Build HIPAA-compliant, scalable apps

• Provide rigorous testing and smooth integration with EHRs and third-party tools

What do you walk away with?

• A healthcare app built to scale and generate revenue
• A partner that speaks both tech and care
• Peace of mind on compliance and privacy
• Clarity at every step — from wireframes to app store

Partner with Apptunix and discuss your healthcare idea with our experts and witness a profitable healthcare business in just few weeks!

“We don’t just build healthcare apps. We build tools that bring care closer, faster, and smarter — for everyone.”