What is the Cost and Time Required to Build a Food Delivery App?

If you too are amazed by the application model of Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto Cafe but confused about how to provide custom Restaurant Mobile App development services. Then this blog is for you. We have mentioned in detail how to build a food delivery app step-by-step. 

India is showing a rise in the food delivery business. Although our culture suggests otherwise – cook your food and have healthy home-cooked fresh meals. But, times have changed. Quick delivery of tasty meals at any time, anywhere is the new norm. 

Let me tell you, what led to the rise of the online food delivery business. DoorDash was started by a group of Stanford students in 2013. At first, they created the Palo Alto Delivery, a simple website that allowed local restaurant owners to receive orders from customers who struggled to find delivery options. However, this application had a huge market gap. 

This led to the rise of new problems like just a few drivers and a basic app could not deliver so many orders. This led to the evolution of DoorDash, which dominates the US market. This teaches us that if we identify problems, solve them with technology and continuously improve operations. It could turn a simple idea into a billion-dollar business.

Core elements of building a Food Delivery App

Any food delivery app is built using four key apps to serve the four key areas.

• The Customer App – a user-centric app to browse restaurants easily, place orders, and track deliveries. 
• The Vendor App – This is a restaurant-owner-centric application to manage menus, orders, and customer interactions effectively. 
• The Delivery Agent App – enables drivers to receive orders, navigate routes, and update delivery statuses in real time.
• The Admin App – It manages the central control panel, users, restaurants, and analytics to maintain an efficient food delivery app.

1. Customer App 

User-Friendly Interface

• Simple and intuitive UI/UX for easy navigation
• Quick sign-up and login via email, phone, or social media

Smart Search & Filters

• Advanced search for restaurants, cuisines, and dishes
• Filters for price, ratings, delivery time, and dietary preferences

Real-Time Order Tracking

• Live GPS tracking of food delivery
• Estimated time of arrival updates

Multiple Payment Options

• Secure payments via credit/debit cards, digital wallets, UPI, and cash-on-delivery

Personalized Recommendations

• AI-based suggestions based on past orders and preferences

Reviews & Ratings

• Customer feedback system for restaurants and delivery experience

Order Scheduling & Reordering

• Option to schedule future orders
• Easy reorder from order history

Push Notifications & Alerts

• Updates on order status, discounts, and personalized deals

In-App Chat & Support

• Live chat with customer support and delivery agents

Loyalty Programs & Discounts

• Reward points, promo codes, and special discounts for loyal users

2. Vendor app

Restaurant Profile Management

• Add/edit restaurant details, menu items, pricing, and availability
• Upload high-quality food images for better customer engagement

 Order Management

• Receive, accept, and process incoming orders in real time
• Track order status (pending, preparing, out for delivery, completed)

Inventory & Stock Management

• Monitor ingredient stock levels and update item availability
• Automatic alerts for low-stock ingredients

Payment & Earnings Dashboard

• Secure transactions with multiple payment options
• Track daily, weekly, and monthly earnings and settlements

Real-Time Order Tracking

• Track delivery status and estimated arrival time
• Live updates on assigned delivery agents

Customer Communication

• In-app chat or call with customers for order modifications or special requests
• Send order updates and notifications to customers

Ratings & Reviews Management

• View and respond to customer feedback
• Improve services based on ratings and suggestions

Promotions & Discounts

• Set up discounts, promo codes, and special offers
• Participate in platform-wide marketing campaigns

Multi-Branch Management (For Chain Restaurants)

• Manage multiple restaurant branches from a single app
• Assign managers for different locations

Analytics & Reports

• Track sales, customer preferences, and top-selling items
• Generate reports to optimize menu and pricing strategies

3. Delivery-agent app

Easy Registration & Profile Management

• Quick sign-up with ID verification (license, vehicle details, etc.)
• Profile management with earnings, ratings, and work history

Order Assignment & Management

• Real-time order notifications with order details
• Option to accept or reject delivery requests

GPS Navigation & Route Optimization

• Integrated Google Maps or other navigation for the fastest route
• Turn-by-turn directions for hassle-free delivery

Real-Time Order Tracking & Status Updates

• Live tracking for customers and vendors
• Status updates like “Order Picked Up,” “On the Way,” and “Delivered”

Earnings Dashboard

• Daily/weekly earnings summary with commission breakdown
• Withdrawal and payout history

In-App Chat & Support

• Chat or call feature to connect with customers and vendors
• Quick access to customer support for issue resolution

Push Notifications & Alerts

• Alerts for new orders, delivery updates, and payment confirmations

Digital Proof of Delivery

• OTP verification or customer signature upon delivery
• Photo upload option for contactless deliveries

Work Schedule & Availability Toggle

• Option to go online/offline based on availability
• Scheduling shifts for peak delivery hours

Ratings & Reviews

• Customer feedback system to maintain quality service
• Performance tracking for better incentives

4. Admin app

Dashboard & Analytics

• Real-time overview of orders, users, restaurants, and earnings
• Sales reports, customer insights, and delivery performance tracking

Restaurant Management

• Add, update, and remove restaurants
• Manage restaurant profiles, menus, pricing, and availability

Order Management

• Track all orders in real time
• Assign and reassign deliveries if needed
• Handle cancellations and refunds

Delivery Agent Management

• Register, verify, and manage delivery agents
• Monitor delivery performance and ratings
• Assign deliveries based on availability and location

Customer Management

• View and manage customer profiles
• Handle complaints, refunds, and disputes
• Send notifications and promotional offers

Payment & Commission Management

• Monitor transactions, restaurant earnings, and payouts
• Set and adjust commission rates for vendors
• Manage promotions and discount offers

Push Notifications & Alerts

• Send real-time updates to customers, vendors, and delivery agents
• Notify users about order status, offers, and system updates

Reviews & Feedback Management

• Monitor and respond to customer and vendor reviews
• Address complaints and take action on negative feedback

Security & Access Control

• Role-based access for admins, managers, and support teams
• Secure login and authentication systems

Integration with Third-Party Services

• Payment gateways, GPS tracking, marketing tools, and analytics platforms

Factors that influence the food delivery app development cost

Considering four different apps required to efficiently provide Custom Restaurant Mobile App Development Services is costly. If we narrow down our focus and calculate, we’d know that to build four different apps, you would need resources which is expensive. 

Tech Stack 

Knowing advanced frameworks, third-party integrations, and backend infrastructure increases development costs.

Features in the App 

More complex features like real-time tracking, AI recommendations, and multi-payment options lead to higher expenses.

Team Members 

The size and expertise of the development team affect pricing, with experienced developers charging more.

Types of Food Delivery Apps 

Single restaurant, aggregator, or cloud kitchen models have different scopes, impacting costs.

Platforms You Choose 

Developing for both iOS and Android separately (native) is costlier than cross-platform development.

Choose the top Food delivery app development company
Appnox Technologies is the leading food delivery app development company. It offers scalable and feature-rich solutions that are specific to your business needs. Whether you’re a startup, restaurant, or enterprise, Appnox provides custom-built apps for restaurant management application. Our dedicated software developers provide advanced features like real-time tracking, secure payments, AI-driven recommendations, and a seamless UI/UX. 

Their team of expert app developers specializes in building high-performance iOS, Android, and web apps, ensuring smooth functionality and excellent user experience. You can hire skilled app developers from Appnox to bring your food delivery app idea to life.  We use the latest technologies for a fast, secure, and engaging platform that drives customer satisfaction and business growth