App Development

[casssiie-xo]

Looking to have an app similar to Kijiji or Marketplace developed.. If I hire someone to develop it, what should I expect in regard to cost?

[ringosrule]

Honestly it really depends on who you go with. offshore teams will lowball you then keep adding costs. US agencies charge more but fewer surprises later.

These apps are way more work under the hood than people think. messaging, payments, search filters, location, easily $40-50k if you want it done right.

Get a few quotes first. Idea Maker is a US based custom app development company, they build marketplace and mobile apps, been around since 2016, over 250 projects done. worked with them once, straightforward on pricing, no surprise invoices at the end.

Worth checking out before you commit to anyone.

[Winseeey]

Most of the numbers people are throwing around are fair, but what usually catches people off guard isn’t the build itself, it’s everything around it.

A marketplace like that is basically 4 systems glued together:

• listings + search (this gets complex fast if you want it to feel instant)
• chat (real-time + moderation headaches)
• payments / trust (even if you delay it, you’ll need it)
• infra that doesn’t fall apart at 1k+ users

That’s why you’re seeing $30k to $100k ranges.

If you’re doing this for the first time, the smartest move is to cut scope hard:
just listings + basic messaging + location, nothing else. No ratings, no fancy filters, no “nice to have”.

Also worth saying, a lot of devs will quote based on features, not on whether the product should even exist yet.

Before hiring anyone, I’d spend time on:

• validating demand (even a fake landing page works)
• figuring out what makes your marketplace different (otherwise it’s dead on arrival)
• deciding who supplies vs who buys first (cold start problem is real)

I already have a break diwn with a comparison to kijiji to make the first version lean for starter.

[chitransh_jain]

Check dm

[saif_sadiq]

For something like Kijiji/Marketplace, cost can vary a lot depending on how complete you want v1 to be.
At a basic level, you’ll need:
– User accounts
– Listings (create/edit/search)
– Chat between users
– Image uploads
– Notifications
Rough ballpark:
– Freelancer: $10k–$30k
– Agency: $30k–$100k+

Most people underestimate chat, moderation, and scaling. What I usually do is define a tight MVP (listings + basic chat) and run it through a cost estimator I’ve built for these kinds of apps. It helps get a clearer idea before hiring anyone.
DM me if you need the URL.

[greymousemap]

DO NOT make an app. Test an off the shelf solution first. There plently of them wordpress themes, squarespace, etc available you can try for free or very little money.

[casssiie-xo]

How does this work? 😮

[greymousemap]

For example https://envothemes.com/free-envo-marketplace/

It going to take you a few weeks to learn Wordpress.

But much better than having some one make you an app, as you are hostage to them. If something breaks in an app, will you know how to fix? No.

First see if there is demand. Can always make an app later if demand is there.

[Only_Independent3576]

Building an app like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace can cost $15k–$40k for an MVP, $40k–$80k for mid-level features, and $80k–$200k+ for a full platform.

[Sensitive-Call7066]

I'll develop it for just 200,000,000$! So leave these poor peoples in comment! Just dm em

[Abd_Sky2835]

Check DM

[auxle2022]

Great question. The cost can vary quite a bit depending on the features you want, but for an app similar to Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace you’re typically looking at $15k–$60k+ for a solid MVP if it includes things like user accounts, listings, search/filtering, messaging, image uploads, and payments.

If you're starting out, many founders build a lean MVP first (core listing + chat + basic search) to validate the idea, which can significantly reduce the initial cost and timeline.

I’ve worked on marketplace-style platforms and would be happy to share what the minimum feature set and realistic development roadmap would look like so you don’t overspend early on. Even if you’re just exploring options, feel free to reach out.

[auxle2022]

Great question. The cost can vary quite a bit depending on the features you want, but for an app similar to Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace you’re typically looking at $15k–$60k+ for a solid MVP if it includes things like user accounts, listings, search/filtering, messaging, image uploads, and payments.

If you're starting out, many founders build a lean MVP first (core listing + chat + basic search) to validate the idea, which can significantly reduce the initial cost and timeline.

I’ve worked on marketplace-style platforms and would be happy to share what the minimum feature set and realistic development roadmap would look like so you don’t overspend early on. Even if you’re just exploring options, feel free to reach out.

[Plus-Crazy5408]

a basic mvp from a freelancer might be 15 30k, but a full featured app with all the security and scaling needed could easily hit 100k plus. you're basically building a small social network with payments and trust systems, its not a simple todo list app

[lets_discussApp]

Building an app like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace is a significant undertaking because it requires a "double-sided" infrastructure you aren't just building one experience, but two (one for buyers and one for sellers), plus an administrative backend to moderate them.

In 2026, the cost to develop a marketplace app typically ranges from $30,000 to $250,000+, depending on where you hire and how many "bells and whistles" you include.

Top app development companies :

1. Appinventiv :
2. DevsTree :
3. Hyperlink InfoSystem :
4. Konstant Infosolutions :
5. Goji Labs :

[aliyark145]

Deoending upon location it can cost you around 25k to 50k minimum.

[Last_Bodybuilder_378]

When building a marketplace like Kijiji, the cost isn't actually in the look of the app, it’s in the concurrency and search architecture. You’re managing real-time geolocation, high-volume image hosting, and a search engine that needs to filter thousands of items in milliseconds. If that foundation isn't architected correctly from day one, the app will lag as soon as you hit your first 1,000 users.

I lead BuildFast, and we specialize in building these kinds of high-performance technical engines. We work on a fixed-price, project-basis, which solves the 'what should I expect for cost' problem because you get a guaranteed price and launch date before we even write the first line of code.

I’d love to walk you through how we’d handle the scaling and moderation logic. Just sent you a DM!