How Much Does It Cost to Build App Like Calm

About The Author

Tracy-GardnerTracy Gardner Global Chief Marketing Officer
LinkedIn|22 Nov 2023

If you plan to grow your online health business, investing in meditation app development is the best opportunity.  

But why? Here are the figures: 

In 2022, the global meditation and mental wellness app market was valued at over 533 million U.S. dollars. Projections indicate that by 2028, revenues from worldwide users of meditation apps are expected to exceed 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. 

revenues from worldwide users of meditation apps are expected to exceed 2.6 billion U.S. dollars

The market is available with many meditation apps such as Headspace, Calm, InsightTimer, etc. CALM is the world's largest health and fitness app, with over 6 million U.S. dollars in revenues as of September, as shown in the below figure: 

 over 6 million U.S. dollars in revenues as of September

Before investing in a development project, you must consider the cost of building a Calm-Like meditation app. In this blog, you will explore the cost factors of meditation app development costs. 

Why Should You Invest in Calm-Like Meditation App Development? 

Here are a few statistics from reliable resources that will prove why investing in Calm-like meditation app development is a great opportunity: 

  • Calm made an estimated $355 million in 2022, a 7.5% increase on the year prior. 
  • Calm, a meditation and mental health app, has surpassed 2.33 million worldwide downloads in the fourth quarter of 2022. 
  • Calm has been downloaded over 120 million times. 
  • The U.S. accounted for over 60% of all web traffic, followed by the U.K. with 10%. 
  • 60% of Calm users are women. 
  • Calm, a leading free meditation apps, command a significant 70% share of the market

Calm-like Meditation App Development Costs 

If your app requires 800 hours in the entire development process with a $25 per hour rate, the final cost would be $20,000.  

The final or exact expense depends on many factors. The overall cost may vary depending on your app requirements. On average, developing a meditation app like Calm costs around $30,000-$35,000.  

Factors Influencing the Cost of Building Calm-like Meditation App 

Factors_Influencing_the_Cost_of_Building_Calm_like_Meditation_App

Here are several factors that influence the cost of developing a Calm-like meditation app:  

Factor #1 - Complexity of the App

Mobile app complexity hinges on the number of features incorporated and the intricacy of the layout, including UI/UX design, for the meditation app.  

When dealing with more advanced features and intricate design, developers for the meditation mobile app must allocate a substantial amount of time to construct the entire app architecture. As development time extends, the associated costs naturally escalate. 

As a leading mobile app development firm in the United State, our team of Calm app-like meditation app developers in the United State is poised to recommend optimal app development models. These models are designed to streamline costs without compromising the app's quality, ensuring that user-friendly features and functionalities remain intact.  

Factor #2 - Mobile O.S. Platform

In the current mobile market, two primary operating systems prevail: Android and iOS. Each platform comes with distinct app development prerequisites. The crucial decision of selecting the mobile O.S. platform for your app development is pivotal, as the cost of building a mobile app varies significantly between Android and iOS.  

So, if you emphasize cross-platform app development, the choice between Android and iOS becomes less impactful on overall costs.  

Factor #3 - Development Company Location

Whether you opt for a freelance developer or a reputable meditation app development company, the location of the chosen professional or organization significantly influences your budget. This scenario is due to the varying rates for mobile app development across different countries. 

For instance, a company based in the USA might quote hourly rates ranging from $80 to $150 for developing an app similar to Calm. On the other hand, if you decide to hire an app development company from India, the hourly rate could be as low as $25.  

Consequently, the total cost of building an app like Calm is directly impacted by the geographic location of the developer or mobile app development company you choose. 

cost-to-build-app-like-calm-cta

Factor #4 - Development Stage

The estimated cost of a meditation app like Headspace or Calm is from $57,000 to $65,000 for a complete development cycle — UI/UX design, development, and Q.A. testing.  

Here is a cost breakdown of the Calm-like meditation app development stage: 

Development Stage 

Estimated Costs 

Estimated Time Period 

UI/UX Design 

$5,265  

1.5 Months 

Frontend Development 

$18 495 

3 Months 

Backend Development 

$15 210 

3 Months 

Admin App 

$8 640 

2 Months 

QA Testing 

$5 400 

Parallerly 

Project Management 

$3 750 

Throughout the Entire Development  

Factor #5 - Development Team Size

The size of the development team directly influences the cost of mobile app development. A larger group of developers and engineers becomes necessary for applications demanding advanced features and functionalities. Here are the required professionals that an app development team consists of- 

  • Project manager  
  • Business analyst 
  • UI/UX designer                 
  • Front end developers  
  • Back end developers 
  • QA engineers 

Factor #6 - Features Level

Calm, a mobile application centered around meditation and mindfulness, offers an extensive range of mental health app development services and guidance, encompassing breathing exercises, soothing music, sleep stories, and more. Developing these features for the app demands considerable time and effort.  

The development process involves standard functionalities and advanced features, each potentially requiring different technologies that can impact the overall budget.  

The following is a compilation of the most prevalent and sophisticated features essential for your meditation app, providing insights into the time and cost considerations associated with their implementation. 

User Panel Features  

  • Sign up and Sign in 
  • Breathing Exercise Sessions 
  • Audio/Video Guide 
  • Introductory course 
  • Gamification 
  • In-App Purchases 
  • Select the Level of Meditation sessions 
  • Sleep Stories 
  • Content search 

Admin Panel features 

  • Sign in 
  • Management of mediation programs 
  • Users and meditation sessions management 
  • Manage Audio and videos for meditation programs 
  • App analytics and report 
  • Manage ratings and reviews 
  • manage subscriptions, discounts, and offers 

Advanced Features 

  • AI Trainer or Instructor 
  • Deep analysis dashboard 
  • Integration with external wearable devices and smartwatches 
  • In-App Recommendations 
  • IoT Integrations 
  • Community Chats 
  • Social Media Integration 

cost-to-build-app-like-calm-cta1

Hire VLink's Experts for Calm-like Meditation App Development! 

If you have a unique idea to build a meditation app, VLink can help you turn that idea into reality. We have a fantastic team of mobile app developers who have worked on several app ideas related to the health industry. They will deliver world-class healthcare apps and Calm-like meditation app development services to enable the best medical care solution.  

Our healthcare mobile app development services drive transformative changes in current administrative processes, enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs. We enable innovative advancements in preventive, predictive, and protective healthcare. 

For more information about our dedicated development team, contact us! 

FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How to develop a Calm-like meditation app?

To develop a Calm-like meditation app, follow these key steps: 

  • Define your app's unique features. 
  • Choose between Android and iOS platforms. 
  • Decide on in-house or outsourced development. 
  • Prioritize a user-friendly interface. 
  • Incorporate meditation content. 
  • Include features like music and sleep stories. 
  • Test extensively for a seamless user experience. 
What are the biggest challenges of calm-like meditation app development?

The main challenges in developing a Calm-like meditation app include: 

  • Designing a captivating user experience. 
  • Curating high-quality meditation content. 
  • Ensuring platform compatibility (Android and iOS). 
  • Addressing diverse user preferences. 
  • Implementing robust security measures for user data. 

Maintaining app performance, handling potential technical glitches, and staying updated with evolving meditation trends pose ongoing challenges in this competitive space. 

How to make money through a Calm-like meditation app?

Generate revenue with a Calm-like meditation app by offering a free, freemium model with essential content and a premium subscription for exclusive features. Integrate in-app purchases for additional meditation programs or collaborate with meditation experts for excellent content. Consider ads for the free version or explore partnerships, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. 

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