What does retail app development include?

Retail app development covers the full cycle: discovery and consulting, UX/UI design, custom development, QA testing, release preparation, launch, and ongoing support. Services range from building a new MVP to redesigning or supporting an existing retail application.

How long does it take to develop a retail app?

A retail app MVP typically takes 3–5 months from kick-off to release. Timeline depends on the number of features, integrations with payment systems and inventory tools, and platform coverage (iOS, Android, or web).

How much does retail app development cost?

Retail app development cost starts from $45,000 for an MVP and varies based on feature complexity, number of platforms, third-party integrations, and design requirements. Contact us for a custom estimate based on your scope.

Can you redesign or improve my existing retail app?

Yes. We offer retail app redesign and support services for existing applications — UX audit, interface refresh, performance optimization, and feature development — without rebuilding the entire product from scratch.

What types of retail apps do you build?

We build B2C shopping apps, B2B retail platforms, loyalty and rewards apps, inventory management tools, POS integrations, and omnichannel retail solutions for mobile (iOS, Android) and web.

Retail app development company

We build functional retail apps that convert visitors into buyers. Contact us if you want an app with user-centric design, intuitive navigation, secure payments, and powerful analytics to drive sales and foster loyalty.

Get in touch

Our retail app development services

Custom MVP development

We’ll create a retail app from scratch without breaking the bank. Instead of investing heavily in a full-fledged app, we’ll help you build a streamlined version with core features.

Before actual retail mobile app development begins, our team will conduct a thorough product discovery phase to flesh out your business idea. Once that’s done, we’ll create UX design, develop tangible software, test it for bugs, and help release it on Google Play and the App Store.

Consulting

Our help goes beyond just coding. We can analyze your UX strategy and advise you on how to design the app for maximum customer engagement. The same goes for collecting customer data and figuring out how to connect a retail app to physical stores and inventory management systems.

No matter if you’re working on retail management software or a loyalty platform, we can guide you to create an app with great product-market fit. Our extensive experience in retail mobile app development allows us to provide advice that gives you a genuine competitive advantage.

Redesign

We can help if your retail app is due for a refresh: e.g. it looks dated, doesn't follow current trends, or customer feedback indicates they find it unappealing.

Let our team transform your app with a stylish user interface that captivates your audience and draws them into your service.

We can create designs that are both beautiful and functional. Our specialists apply key UX principles during the design process, which ensures your app not only engages users but also converts them into buyers and loyal followers.

Supporting an existing retail app

Maintaining an app demands meticulous attention to detail. Our team identifies and resolves bugs that disrupt the shopping experience, so users can browse and purchase without frustration. We also analyze user behavior data to optimize checkout user flows. This decreases cart abandonment rates and increases conversions.

Featured high-tech projects

RASSVETLASH — a marketplace that specializes in eye makeup tutorials

Retail

Beauty industry

Catalog

Rassvetlash is an app with eye makeup tutorials. It includes eyelash extension and curl charts that help users achieve various looks and effects.

Our clients sold these materials in print across multiple marketplaces, which limited how often they could update content. That’s why they decided to approach us: they wanted to create a mobile app that would digitize their lash tutorial collection.

After a year of development, we’ve successfully launched the app. Instead of purchasing entire print guides, lash professionals can buy individual charts for a small fee.

>1000 users joined a month after release

Mobile app now live on the App Store and Google Play Market

Full case study coming soon

We're all winners — an app with discount coupons and lotteries

Retail

Maps, GPS

Coupons

This is an app with discount coupons and lotteries for the Egyptian market. By the time we finished redesigning the app, our client had already started a marketing campaign, so we had to speed up the development process.

To meet deadlines, we had to split the app into different versions and prioritize key features. This approach helped us save 3 months on development: what was supposed to take us 7 months to create took 4 months instead.

130,000 active users

>100,000 downloads

Read the full case

Look4pro — a B2B-marketplace based in Europe

B2B

Account dashboard

For you page

Filters

We recently partnered with a Swiss entrepreneur who wanted to create a classified ads platform for the European market. Think of it as an eBay-style marketplace, but with a twist: instead of listing products, users connect with service providers and suppliers.

We had budget constraints, so we sat down with the client to prioritize essential features. After pinning down exactly what would deliver the most value, we dove into design and development.

In 5 months, we delivered a fully functional platform and even managed to squeeze in extra features without additional costs.

5 months spent on MVP development

The project received a prize in a Swiss startup competition

Read the full case

Buy my brains — an MVP platform for online psychologist consultations

Business marketplace

UI/UX design

Landing page

Flters

It’s a marketplace where creative professionals can make money from their intellectual work. Our client initially wanted to go all-in with a complete app, but after seeing the cost breakdown, they pivoted to a different approach: create an intricate website, show it to investors, and secure funding.

Our designers got to work creating a website prototype with bold design. To make it more eye-catching, we added animations that capture the creative energy of the target audience.

Met the client’s expectations and captured their vision

The client is seeking investment with our prototype

Read the full case

RASSVETLASH — a marketplace that specializes in eye makeup tutorials

Retail

Beauty industry

Catalog

>1000 users joined a month after release

Mobile app now live on the App Store and Google Play Market

Full case study coming soon

We're all winners — an app with discount coupons and lotteries

Retail

Maps, GPS

Coupons

130,000 active users

>100,000 downloads

Read the full case

Look4pro — a B2B-marketplace based in Europe

B2B

Account dashboard

For you page

Filters

5 months spent on MVP development

The project received a prize in a Swiss startup competition

Read the full case

Buy my brains — an MVP platform for online psychologist consultations

Business marketplace

UI/UX design

Landing page

Flters

Met the client’s expectations and captured their vision

The client is seeking investment with our prototype

Read the full case

Tech stack for retail app development

JavaScript

Nest.js

React.js

Electron.js

React Native

Flutter

Redis

PostgreSQL

AWS

Jenkins

Nginx

WebRTC

PWA

Vercel

Custom retail app development is as simple as 1-2-3

Schedule a call

After you fill out the form, our manager will contact you within 24 hours and arrange a call. If necessary, we are ready to sign an NDA.

At the meeting, we will get to know each other and discuss the project. We'll also talk about the approximate budget and deadlines.

Fill out the form

Dive into project details

After the first meeting, a business analyst will contact you for a mini-audit: gathering technical requirements and creating a portrait of the project's target audience. To do that, we'll talk about your project, what your goals and restrictions are, and look at positive and negative references.

Prepare and submit
an estimate

We prepare a detailed estimate and presentation, which includes cost, timeline, team, and project roadmap.

After that, all that's left is to sign the contract,and we'll get started on your project! Now, let's talk about what happens after the estimate.

Custom retail app development process

Kick-off

What you get: Price estimation and concrete deadlines

Estimated timeline: 2 days

We begin development by scheduling a call with our client. Our specialists use it to discuss the scope of the project: that includes a price estimate, approximate deadlines, feature number, and so on. Once both parties agree to similar terms, we outline the next steps of the project.

Discovery

What you get: Project roadmap + BPMN-diagrams with feature requirements

Estimated timeline: 2–3 weeks

Our project manager contacts you to gather business requirements and assemble a team of designers and developers tailored to your project. These specialists map out the software architecture of your solution.

At the same time, system analysts draw up potential use cases of your product and lay them out in the form of BPMN diagrams. This step helps speed up custom software development later.

Design

What you get: UI-kit, app designs ready for development

Estimated timeline: 1–1,5 months

We begin by drawing wireframes, or black and white screens of your future solution. They display the positions that each UI element is going to take. Once you greenlight those, we move on to creating a design concept — i.e. we take a bunch of screens and polish their design with your branding in mind.

Then, our designers create a UI-kit. It’s a pack of icons and other elements that simplifies development and makes it easier to add new screens later.

Retail app development

What you get: Finished app

Estimated timeline: 2–5 months

We divide the entire development process into iterations, and we try to create or flesh out a single feature in each one of these iterations. This lets us change things on the fly, if need be.

QA testing

What you get: Bug-free retail app with secure user data

Estimated timeline: concurrently with development

We try to find bugs before the retail app releases. Once we identify any weak points, we remove them so that hackers won’t get access to user data.

Release prep

What you get: An app that’s ready for release

If you’re planning to release a mobile version of your retail app, we’ll make sure it complies with regulations of major app stores. This way, your app will release on time without fail.

Release

What you get: A released app with a list of potential improvements

Once we release your retail app, we’ll keep a close eye on the first user feedback. It will allow us to make your platform better later on.

Support and maintenance

What you get: Regular updates

Our specialists will help you integrate the retail app into your existing workflows. Aside from that, we’ll continue updating your app and providing bug fixes, so that it better attracts new users and keeps the old ones.

How much does it cost to develop a retail app

$50,000

For the MVP version of the app. Features include:

mapping out retail app architecture and user flow

turnkey design and development

QA-testing

implementation and adoption, retail business processes restructuring

key feature for retail app software development, like personal dashboards or checkout

$80,000

For the full-fledged retail app. Features include:

mapping out retail app architecture and user flow

turnkey design and retail application development

QA-testing

implementation and adoption, retail business processes restructuring

key feature for retail app software development, like personal dashboards or checkout

additional user scenarios and feature for retail app development

Types of solutions we deliver

Landing pages

Our landing pages are carefully crafted digital storefronts designed to convert visitors into customers. We build these pages to spotlight your products with eye-catching visuals and copy that connects with your target audience.

Each page we build is custom-built around your specific products and brand voice, with attention-grabbing headlines, persuasive product descriptions, and clear calls to action. We also make sure they load fast and look great on any device.

Loyalty & reward mobile apps

These apps offer a practical way to keep customers coming back. We design these apps to track purchases and reward repeat business through points, discounts, or exclusive offers. This eliminates the need for physical punch cards or coupons and makes it more convenient to use for both customers and businesses.

If you want to gain better insight into your customers and collect valuable user data, loyalty apps are an excellent choice. We’ll design it from scratch and include key features like personalized recommendations, purchase history tracking, and reward progress bars that encourage additional spending.

Inventory management systems

We can create an app that tracks stock levels and streamlines operations. This makes it easier to monitor product quantities, locations, and movements in real-time, and in turn, you won’t have to deal with stockouts or overordering.

Some of the features we can integrate include reminders and detailed inventory reports that help businesses maintain optimal stock levels.

Let us create an inventory management system that tracks turnover rates and improves the order accuracy, efficiency, and profitability of your retail business.

Online marketplaces

We create online marketplaces that link buyers to sellers on platforms with secure payments and inventory systems.

If you want to create a marketplace that stands out from the rest, we’ll include unorthodox features like virtual try-on, AR product displays, and voice shopping.

No matter the kind of app you’re going for, we’ll create an app that’s focused on solid growth capacity, security, and user experiences that drive sales.

CRM-platforms

The systems we build track what your customers buy and help you understand their habits. We keep all your customer details in one spot so your team can find what they need without issues.

Our CRMs send out timely emails and texts when customers leave items in their cart or when you want to tell them about a sale. Store managers can use simple dashboards to see who's selling what and which staff members need support. Everything connects to your current systems or new ones you’re looking to adopt.

Advanced integrations for retail apps

AR/VR

We can integrate augmented reality so that your customers make more informed decisions on what to buy. For example, if you’re planning to build a furniture store app, this tech will allow your potential users to see how said furniture fits in their living room. Showrooms aside, we can add a try-on feature so that your customers could see how glasses and other accessories fit from the comfort of their own homes.

Chatbots & AI

Our specialists will be happy to add a chatbot that eases the strain on your customer support team. With it, your customers can ask questions about your product line whenever they want.

These chatbots and AI-assistants help shoppers find products they want and suggest items based on what they actually like. It learns from every customer conversation to get smarter each day, and it helps you make more sales without hiring an army of support staff.

IoT for e-commerce

It’s an easy way to boost sales for your retail app. Customers get packages faster because IoT systems track inventory across all locations and ship from the closest one. Beacons can also send personalized deals through retail apps when customers walk near brick-and-mortar stores.

Integrating this feature results in retaining happier customers who buy more and return less because everything works the way it should.

Why choose us as a retail app development company

Experienced in 46+ niches

Our varied expertise lets us develop a retail app of any complexity — from simple landing pages to marketplaces with catalogs spanning over 10,000 entries. If you want to learn more about other niches we tipped our toes into, check out our projects in fintech, IoT, Smart TV, eCommerce, healthcare, real estate, and 41 other spheres.

Great at delivering results fast

We’ll provide a retail app development project manager that fills you in on everything. You’ll have scheduled calls with them on a weekly basis — this way, you can be confident that no meeting with investors will be missed.

Flexible

We’ll adapt to your needs no matter what. For instance, if you want to add a new tab to your app in the middle of development, or market fluctuations make some functionality redundant, we’ll do our best to accommodate.

Pain-free handoff

Not only will we help you adopt the retail app, we will also provide your developers with code that can be adjusted with ease. They won’t need to untangle mountains of “spaghetti code” — they can start working right away.

Some facts about our retail app development company

550+

Project released

Clients from all around the world

Working with customers from USA, UAE, Japan, and Germany

10 years

Of making apps for startups and businesses

>50К

Positive reviews collected by our customers' apps in the app stores

>7 years

Longest partnership with the client

200+

People on the team

William Angel

Personalised — wellness app design

Watch a video review

I'm the CTO of Personalised Co., an app for tracking supplement and vitamin intake. Purrweb designed the product's UI/UX with a Shopify store integration for automatic reordering, and built an interface for healthy living with personalized tracking.

Personalised — wellness app design

HealthTech, Design, Mobile app, Shopify, Wellness

Personalised Co. is an app for people who take supplements and vitamins regularly: intake tracking and automatic reordering through a Shopify integration. Purrweb designed the product's UI/UX with a supplement marketplace and a personal intake schedule.

View full case

Seth Abel-Sadeq

KEM — Payment app

Watch a video review

I'm the CEO of KEM, a P2P mobile payment service for the Kuwaiti market, where not everyone has access to online banking. Our banking partners needed an MVP for demonstrations. Purrweb delivered the design and the MVP, working around the restrictions on connecting to the banking API. On completion, they handed the project over to our in-house team with full documentation and a month of technical support.

KEM — Payment app

Fintech, Design+Development, Mobile app, Cross-platform, MENA

KEM is a P2P app for instant money transfers in the Kuwaiti market: linked bank cards, money requests from the contact list, and transaction history. The key challenge: for security reasons, Kuwaiti banks don't allow outside developers to work with their API — so Purrweb built the back end on mock data, fully simulating the final functionality for demos.

View full case

Matt Brzowski

Founder

Buzz

Watch a video review

I'm building Buzz, an app for finding and organizing events in small American towns. I came to Purrweb with almost nothing — just an idea. Purrweb helped with marketing, brand identity, and the logo, and walked the whole road to MVP with us, even when our requirements shifted a lot in the early stages. I valued the flexibility and the quality of the design.

Buzz

Lifestyle, Design+Development, Mobile app, Social app, Geolocation

Buzz is a geosocial service for residents of small American towns: a geolocation-based feed of public events, private events with friend invites, group chats, and a Ticketmaster integration. Purrweb created the brand identity from scratch, optimized the architecture, reused ready-made modules, and shipped the MVP in 12 months.

View full case

William Angel

Personalised — wellness app design

Watch a video review

Personalised — wellness app design

HealthTech, Design, Mobile app, Shopify, Wellness

View full case

Seth Abel-Sadeq

KEM — Payment app

Watch a video review

KEM — Payment app

Fintech, Design+Development, Mobile app, Cross-platform, MENA

View full case

Matt Brzowski

Founder

Buzz

Watch a video review

Buzz

Lifestyle, Design+Development, Mobile app, Social app, Geolocation

View full case

Other services we provide

Healthcare App Development Fitness App Development UI/UX design UX audit Mobile App Development Desktop App Development iOS App Development Android App Development MVP development

Retail app development company

Our retail app development services

Custom MVP development

Consulting

Redesign

Supporting an existing retail app

Featured high-tech projects

Let’s start custom retail app development today!

Tech stack for retail app development

Custom retail app development is as simple as 1-2-3

Custom retail app development process

Kick-off

Discovery

Design

Retail app development

QA testing

Release prep

Release

Support and maintenance

How much does it cost to develop a retail app

Types of solutions we deliver

Landing pages

Loyalty & reward mobile apps

Inventory management systems

Online marketplaces

CRM-platforms

Advanced integrations for retail apps

AR/VR

Chatbots & AI

IoT for e-commerce

Why choose us as a retail app development company

Experienced in 46+ niches

Great at delivering results fast

Flexible

Pain-free handoff

Some facts about our retail app development company

What our clients say

Other services we provide