How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App Like Expedia?

Do you want to develop an app like Expedia? Well, you are not alone!

As per stats, Expedia has generated $104 billion in bookings revenue in 2023. This surely gives an idea of how famous Expedia is.

Consequently, this inspires investors to develop an app like Expedia.

But before diving in, one thing you need to know is how much does it cost to develop an app like Expedia.

The truth is, a top-notch app like Expedia isn’t cheap. On average, the cost to develop an app like Expedia ranges from $30,000 to $110,000 or more.

But this is merely a rough estimate.

Rest assured, try connecting with the right development partner who can ensure that your Expedia-like app can be built to perfection, ensuring a strong return on investment.

Expedia Unveiled: The Key to Your Next Adventure

Expedia is not just another online travel booking website: it is your travel buddy, connecting you to flights, hotels, and unforgettable adventures in one place.

The app offers vast options, an efficient interface, and seamless trip planning that makes it a preferred booking site for millions of travelers around the globe.

Users have appreciated its capacity to offer easy trip planning, exclusive deals, and personalized recommendations as per their preferences.

Expedia is successful because it emphasizes improving travel experience by simply making it easier for a person to compare different prices, book one-of-a-kind accommodations, or explore new places.

This way, every trip is enjoyable and stress-free. With millions of subscribers and users, no wonder why businesses are eager to develop an app like Expedia.

Game-Changing Features for Your Expedia-Like App

To build an app like Expedia that really makes waves, you need to focus on features that make users keep coming back for more.

It will help you find the app’s success in the long term, so let’s check out some must-have features that can strengthen your place in the competitive market.

1. User Profile

The user profile is the most important feature of an Expedia-like application because it can improve personalization as well as engage users more.

Simply put, a user profile allows a user to personalize his or her experience and even save travel preferences, past trips, as well as favorite destinations, which makes bookings easier for future adventures.

2. User-Friendly Search Feature

Trying flights, hotels, and activities with the assistance of a customizable filter is very simple. Users can filter by price, location, and rating. This feature companies also incorporate while creating an app like Booking.Com.

With merely one or two taps on the mobile phone, the users can get whatever they are looking for.

3. Personalized Recommendations

Expedia-like app uses AI to come up with travel options that are well suited for the user.

It does this in terms of the analysis of past behavior and interests of each user and creates unique experiences around them.

In such a manner, users are likely to get options they might not have considered otherwise. You can go for such a feature as well, this will enhance the booking experience of your users.

4. Easy Booking Process

To create an app like Expedia, you need to have an easy booking process. The smoother booking experience comes from streamlined navigation.

This is only possible if you have a user-friendly interface reducing friction and making it easy for the users to wrap up their plans.

5. User Reviews and Ratings

Whether you are developing an app like Airbnb or Expedia, this feature is a must to include.

Through this feature, users can go through and add reviews to create a community-driven platform for informed decisions.

It develops the trust of travelers, and there is more transparency as well as honest feedback, which helps others to pick the right options according to their needs.

6. Interactive Maps

The integrated map presents users with opportunities to discover interesting places and explore destinations visually; they can also look at what else is happening around them.

Interactive maps provide a dynamic way to discover local gems and plan your travel itinerary.

7. Real-Time Alerts

The real-time alerts feature allows users to receive information about flight statuses, confirmation of bookings, and many more exclusive offers.

It keeps the users informed and interested in their journey throughout; real-time updates also help adjust travel plans according to changes as they occur.

8. Loyalty Programs and Discounts

Rewards and Discounts can keep users engaged.

The customer, seeing amazing discounts will come back since they can save money, which creates customer loyalty and develops long-term relationships.

9. Travel Itinerary Management

Users can create, organize, and manage their travel itineraries all in one place, this feature allows them to do that. Such a feature can be seen in the hotel booking app development as well.

It helps simplify planning and ensures everything is easily accessible to the user. It keeps the traveler on top of the schedule.

10. Customer Support Chatbot

Indeed, a 24/7 working chatbot in place could ensure straight answers to users’ questions and problems in real time so that help is only a tap away, thereby increasing user satisfaction.

Peace of mind is appreciated in the travel process through response whizzes.

These features are something users look for in a travel app. Make sure to consider while creating a travel app like Expedia to give your user an irresistible and engaging experience with your app.

If you want to create a travel app that stands out and attracts users, be sure to offer these features that travelers crave.

Why Develop a Travel App Like Expedia?

Now, the question is why you should create a travel app like Expedia.

Well, there are many reasons to do so. For instance, if you build an app like Expedia you can be at the forefront of this revolution.

Besides that, here are some major reasons that will motivate you even more:

♦ Explosive Market Growth

The numbers have it: According to Expedia’s 2023 report, a whopping 68% prefer one app for all things travel. Of course, such a high kinship for one-stop buying underlines tremendous potential in the travel app market.

You can take advantage of this demand and develop an app like Expedia & offer a convenient and time-saving solution for travelers.

♦ Competitive Advantage

54% + of all online bookings are through mobile devices, implying that a strong mobile app is important for any business in the following years.

In such time, by combining the right features with a smart marketing strategy, you can develop an app like Expedia that can help your brand shine like a diamond in the rough.

You could see potential gaps in the already existing service, so you get the chance to attract not only users but also a loyal community returning for more.

♦ Community Building

As per Epsilon, 80% of consumers will interact with the brand which gives a user a personalized experience when offered by the brand.

By designing and developing an app like Expedia, you can boost loyalty in users.

Moreover, an application can build a community of travelers because of user-generated content, reviews, and the opportunity to share something through social media. Thus, such an application can be as interactive and engaging as possible.

♦ Different Monetization Models

Imagine tapping into a $1 trillion travel market—now that’s an opportunity you can’t ignore!

The business ideas to develop an app like Expedia would prove worthwhile due to the different monetization models it offers for making money.

You can integrate Advertising, In-app purchases, Affiliate marketing, or data monetization models.

Each of these methods adds more money to your wallet; it also increases the user experience of your app, making it a one-stop shop for travelers.

With the proper strategy, your app could revolutionize how individuals will explore and book their adventures, creating a thriving business in a booming industry!

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s dive into the key components of the app that led you to this blog.

Average Cost to Develop an App Like Expedia

Now, let’s answer the big question here.

How much does it cost to build an app like Expedia?

Well, the cost is a dynamic factor; it can vary depending on different factors including features, on average the cost to develop an app like Expedia ranges from $30,000 to $110,000 or more.

This includes everything from design and development and post-launch support as well.

Just take a look at the simplified development cost of a travel app to understand better:

This on-demand app development cost table includes all the components of a process that you need to create an app like Expedia.

Now, with that, you also need to know that if you add some extra features such as advanced features, customization, or third-party integrations, then the overall cost to develop an app like Expedia will surely increase.

You can get a complete estimate from your on-demand app development company with all your requirements.

With that, it’s time to check out other factors that we keep on repeating about affect the overall app development cost.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Create an App Like Expedia

When planning to create an app like Expedia, there are several factors present that can directly affect the overall cost.

If you are wondering how much does it cost to build an app like Expedia, then knowing about these factors is really important for you.

This breakdown offers a clear insight into how different factors affect the total cost of app development, helping to ensure that project budgets stay in line with particular needs.

► App Features

The features of your app will significantly impact your Expedia-like app development cost.

Such as Basic features including user registration, hotel search, and basic search filters are cheap.

However, advanced features such as advanced search algorithms, real-time pricing updates, and personalized recommendations require more development cost and resources.

As a general rule of thumb, the higher the development effort, the more will be the cost. So, as a key stakeholder make sure to carefully consider the desired level of complexity to avoid unnecessary costs.

► Complexity of the App

Another common factor that affects Expedia like app development cost is “Complexity”

If your app idea is complex to build, it will take a lot of time for developers to build meaning more effort and resources.

Whereas, if the app idea is simple, then it will not only reduce the overall cost to build an app like Expedia but will also decrease the time to market the app.

Make sure to keep your app idea minimalistic and simple to enhance user experience and develop it without breaking the bank.

► Testing of Your App

One of the most important things in the app development process is app testing. Neglecting this might lead to a pitfall in your app.

This generally includes rigorous testing, functional testing, performance testing, and user acceptance testing. And, this can overall lead to increasing costs to develop an app like Expedia.

Investors should have a budget to get through testing and ensure their app is up to market standards. Otherwise, avoiding this could lead to higher costs to build an app like Expedia to fix those issues and improve the app’s reputation.

► Development Team Location/Expertise

The location and expertise of your development team can lead to increasing costs to create an app like Expedia.

Wondering how? You see, without any doubt, if your team is experienced their charges will be high. After all, they are charging you for their experience.

Whereas, developers with less expertise or beginners will have lower hourly rates but they might not have much knowledge to work on complex projects.

Similarly, development team location also affects your overall Expedia-like app development cost. If you hire mobile app developers from the USA or the UK, their charges might be more compared to countries like Asia.

► Design and User Experience

UI/UX design is really important to attract new customers and retain old ones.

Now, everything can be considered as design, be it a simple layout or animation, the decision is yours.

If you go for basic design such as fonts, Shape & more, this might be cheaper.

Whereas, advanced designs like interactive or responsive design can enhance your app but will also increase the design cost, leading to affecting the overall cost to create an app like Expedia.

A well-designed app can lead to higher user satisfaction and long-term success.

► Maintenance and Updates

Once your app is launched, ongoing maintenance and updates are important to keep the app relevant and functional.

It’s important to take note without maintenance and updates, your app will not survive for much longer. Factors like bug fixing, security patches, and new security updates will contribute to the cost to build an app like Expedia.

As an investor, you should plan for ongoing maintenance and update costs, and consider budgeting for potential major updates.

► Third-Party Integrations

No doubt integrating third-party integrations like payment gateways, mapping APIs, or social media platforms can make your app more attractive.

However, several factors in the cost associated with these integrations can impact your overall development cost to make an app like Expedia.

So, investors should carefully evaluate the need for third-party integrations, consider the potential costs involved, and prepare beforehand for that.

Knowing about these cost-affecting factors will help you to prepare and communicate better. As we are done with this, let’s get to know about the time taken to develop an app like Expedia.

Time Taken To Develop An App Like Expedia

If you are wondering how long does it take to develop an app like Expedia?

Well, the factors that affect the overall cost can affect the overall development time. But, on average the time to develop an app like Expedia can be from 6 to 9 months.

This depends on your app requirements and whether the time is sufficient or if developers need more than that.

Let’s take a quick look at the development time to understand it better:

Monetization Models for Your Expedia-Like App

Revenue is a huge motivator for any investor to invest in app development. For that, knowing monetization models is really important.

Let’s know about those models that can open new revenue streams & make your app a huge hit.

1] Commissions

Apps like Airbnb and Expedia thrive on commission.

Once a user books their platform for stay, flight booking, or any other, they charge a particular percentage of commission per transaction. You can also leverage this model to open a new revenue stream.

2] In-App Advertising

One of the most used ways of making money is through In-app advertising.

It’s a tried and tested method through which you can show different ads to your users including banner ads, video ads, and more, and enjoy revenue on ad impressions or sales made through the ad.

Just make sure your ads are not affecting user experience.

3] Premium Model

The premium model is adopted by many hotel booking apps like Expedia.

This model allows users to pay for advanced features like ad-free experiences or deals and discounts. Through this, you can attract a variety of users and users who want some extra options.

4] In-App Purchase

You might wonder what in-app purchase is doing here; well it can be a great app monetization strategy for your app.

Through this, you can provide offerings like city guides, language packs, etc. that make users feel it’s worth the investment. This is great for those users, especially those who don’t want to pay for premium.

With that, you have an idea about the best monetization models. But, to integrate this and develop an app like Expedia, you need to take the help of an experienced partner; our next section will guide you to it.

How Can Nimble AppGenie Help You Build an App Like Expedia?

Expedia-like apps are thriving in the market, and the demand is never-ending.

To leverage this trend and capitalize on it, make sure to take help from Nimble AppGenie, the best travel app development company.

We have what it takes to bring your idea to reality. Our designers and developers are always ready to make sure that your app not only enhances the user experience but exceeds expectations.

Let’s collaborate to make a ground-breaking app like Expedia.

Conclusion

Developing an app like Expedia offers a lucrative opportunity in the booming travel industry.

With features like user profiles, personalized recommendations, easy booking processes, and real-time alerts, such an app can significantly enhance user experience and loyalty.

The cost to develop an app like Expedia ranges from $30,000 to $110,000, influenced by factors like app complexity, design, and third-party integrations.

Additionally, ongoing maintenance and updates are crucial for long-term success. Monetization models such as commissions, in-app advertising, and premium features can generate substantial revenue.

Partnering with an experienced development team like Nimble AppGenie, can ensure your app stands out in the competitive market, offering a seamless and engaging experience for travelers.

By focusing on user-centric features and strategic monetization, your app can thrive and capture a significant share of the travel market.

Let’s connect to make your idea a reality!

FAQs

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.