How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Zepto?

Instant grocery apps like Zepto enable delivery within 10 minutes, increasing customer convenience, order frequency, and market growth for grocery businesses in urban areas.

Highlights

• 10-minute grocery delivery apps boost repeat orders by 35% among urban customers.
• Customer retention increases by 40% for businesses using instant grocery app solutions.
• Urban grocery market growth increases by 25% with the adoption of instant delivery services.

Co-Founder

Vandana Abrol

5 min read

An enthusiastic developer and skilled business management expert with over a decade of experience in the field

In today’s fast-paced world, grocery shopping has experienced a major transformation. Waiting hours or even a day for groceries is now considered outdated. Customers now expect their essentials to be delivered in minutes. Zepto, an Indian startup, has popularized the idea of instant grocery delivery, promising products at your door in just 10 minutes.

This growing trend has created a demand for entrepreneurs aiming to develop an Instant Grocery App or a 10-minute grocery delivery app. But one of the first questions that comes up is: how much does it cost to build an app like Zepto?

The cost depends on several factors, such as features, design, technology stack, team location, and development time. In this article, we’ll examine these factors, outline the essential features, and provide a detailed cost estimate for developing a Zepto clone app.

Why Invest in an Instant Grocery Delivery App?

Consumers today prioritize speed, convenience, and reliability. Traditional grocery stores or even online platforms often take hours or a day to deliver, which isn't suitable for last-minute needs. A grocery mobile app development solution like Zepto addresses this issue by providing instant grocery delivery, allowing customers to place orders and receive them almost immediately.

The benefits of creating such an app include:

1. High user engagement: Quick delivery increases repeat orders.
2. Market differentiation: Competing with traditional delivery services becomes easier.
3. Revenue opportunities: Through delivery fees, commissions, and partnerships with stores.

By emphasizing speed, product variety, and user-friendliness, an Instant Delivery App can rapidly become a profitable business.

Features That Determine the Cost of an App Like Zepto

When developing a Zepto clone app, features play a crucial role in determining the cost. The more advanced the feature, the higher the development expense. Let’s break down the key features and their descriptions:

1. Customer App Features

1. User Registration and Profile: Users should be able to easily sign up using email, phone, or social media. A well-designed profile system lets customers save addresses, view their order history, and manage payment methods.
2. Product Catalog: A structured catalog featuring categories, prices, and product descriptions. Customers can browse grocery items like fruits, vegetables, dairy, snacks, and beverages.
3. Search and Filters: Customers can search by product name or category, filter items by brand, price, or popularity, and quickly find what they need.
4. Cart and Checkout: A seamless process for adding items to the cart, updating quantities, and applying discounts. Checkout should offer multiple payment options like credit/debit cards, UPI, wallets, and cash on delivery.
5. Order Tracking: Users can monitor their orders in real-time, from warehouse dispatch to doorstep delivery.
6. Push Notifications: Notify customers about order updates, special deals, or new arrivals.
7. Ratings and Reviews: Enable customers to give feedback on products and delivery service.

2. Delivery Agent App Features

1. Profile Management: Delivery agents can register, verify their information, and manage their profiles.
2. Order Management: Accept or reject delivery requests, view assigned orders, and update order statuses.
3. Route Optimization: Find the quickest routes to make sure deliveries are finished within 10 minutes.
4. Earnings Dashboard: Track daily earnings, completed orders, and incentives.

3. Admin Panel Features

1. User and Delivery Management: Monitor user activity, delivery agents, and overall platform performance.
2. Inventory Management: Manage inventory levels, update products, and address out-of-stock issues.
3. Pricing and Discounts: Set product prices, run discount campaigns, and oversee promotions.
4. Reports and Analytics: Monitor sales, order trends, and revenue performance.
5. Payment Settlement: Oversee transactions among customers, stores, and delivery partners.

Adding features like loyalty programs, subscription options, voice search, or AI-based recommendations can further enhance the app’s appeal but will also increase costs.

Factors Affecting the Cost of a Zepto-Like App

Several elements influence the total cost of developing a grocery app.

1. Platform Choice: Developing for Android alone costs less, while creating apps for both Android and iOS doubles the development effort.
2. UI/UX Design Complexity: A simple, clean interface is affordable, but custom animations and interactive elements add to design costs.
3. Feature Set: Basic apps cost less, while advanced apps with real-time tracking, AI recommendations, and subscription features cost more.
4. Technology Stack: Using modern technologies such as Flutter, React Native, Node.js, and cloud hosting boosts performance but may slightly raise development costs.
5. Team Location: Developers in India typically charge less than those in the US or Europe. Outsourcing to countries with lower hourly rates can help cut costs.
6. Third-Party Integrations: Maps, payment gateways, and push notification services might have extra charges.
7. Development Time: A shorter timeline might need more developers or higher hourly rates, which increases the total cost.

Estimated Cost to Build an App Like Zepto

Here’s a detailed estimate for developing a 10-minute grocery delivery app, listed in INR and USD:

1. Basic App

1. Features: Registration, product catalog, search, cart, checkout, order tracking, and admin dashboard.
2. Cost: 8,00,000 – 12,00,000 INR / 10,000 – 15,000 USD
3. Timeline: 3–4 months

This is perfect for startups or small businesses focusing on a single area.

2. Mid-Level App

1. Features: All basic features + delivery agent app, multiple payment options, push notifications, and basic loyalty programs
2. Cost: 12,00,000 – 20,00,000 INR / 15,000 – 25,000 USD
3. Timeline: 5–6 months

Ideal for businesses expanding to multiple neighborhoods.

3. Advanced App

1. Features: Everything includes mid-level features, AI recommendations, subscription plans, voice search, advanced analytics, and scalable architecture.
2. Cost: 20,00,000 – 35,00,000 INR / 25,000 – 45,000 USD
3. Timeline: 7–9 months

Ideal for large-scale operations spanning multiple cities with high delivery demand.

Additional Costs to Consider

Building an app involves more than just development:

1. App Store Fees: Google Play (one-time fee of 2200 INR / 25 USD) and Apple App Store (8800 INR / 100 USD per year)
2. Server Hosting: 8,000 – 40,000 INR / 100 – 500 USD per month, depending on traffic
3. Third-Party Services: SMS, push notifications, payment gateways, and analytics tools might incur extra costs.
4. Marketing: Allocate 20–30% of development costs for campaigns and promotions
5. Maintenance: Regular updates and bug fixes typically consume about 15–20% of the initial development budget each year.

Development Timeline

A Zepto clone app development project typically follows this schedule:

1. Planning and market research: 2–3 weeks
2. UI/UX design: 4–5 weeks
3. Frontend & backend development: 3–5 months
4. API integration: 3–4 weeks
5. Testing & QA: 3–4 weeks
6. Launch & deployment: 1–2 weeks

Total: 3 to 9 months, depending on complexity.

Revenue Models for Instant Grocery Apps

Revenue can come from several streams:

1. Delivery Charges: Customers pay extra for faster deliveries
2. Commission from Stores: Charge a small fee per order
3. Subscription Plans: Monthly or yearly plans for free or discounted shipping
4. Advertising and Promotions: Brands can pay for featured listings or in-app ads.

A solid business model guarantees quicker investment recovery and sustained profitability.

Future Potential of Instant Grocery Delivery Apps

The instant grocery delivery app market is rapidly expanding in urban areas. With rising smartphone use and shifting shopping habits, there is significant opportunity for businesses that start investing now.

By adding features like AI-based recommendations, real-time inventory tracking, and subscription models, businesses can build customer loyalty and stay competitive.

Why Hiring Professionals Matters

Professional developers in instant grocery delivery app development offer multiple advantages:

1. Accurate cost and timeline estimation
2. Scalable and secure app architecture
3. Efficient coding with fewer errors
4. Post-launch support and regular updates

Working with experienced developers ensures your grocery mobile app development project meets customer expectations and stays on track and competitive.

Final Words

Building an app like Zepto is an investment, but it can be profitable in the long run. With costs ranging from:

1. Basic App: 8,00,000 – 12,00,000 INR / 10,000 – 15,000 USD
2. Mid-Level App: 12,00,000 – 20,00,000 INR / 15,000 – 25,000 USD
3. Advanced App: 20,00,000 – 35,00,000 INR / 25,000 – 45,000 USD

Businesses can choose a solution that fits their budget and growth plans.

By carefully planning features, selecting the right development team, and managing maintenance and marketing, you can create a grocery mobile app that attracts customers, builds loyalty, and increases revenue.

Building an instant grocery delivery app like Zepto can help you stay competitive in the modern grocery market and reach a growing urban audience seeking convenience.

Build an App Like Zepto with Digittrix

Developing a Zepto clone app can help businesses tap into India’s rapidly growing quick commerce market, providing customers with groceries delivered in just minutes. A successful app should feature a simple and intuitive interface for easy browsing, multiple secure payment options, and an intelligent delivery system to ensure fast order fulfillment.

At Digittrix, we bring over 14 years of experience in grocery mobile app development. We help businesses build instant grocery delivery apps that are fast, scalable, and user-friendly for both customers and delivery teams. Our skills include developing Zepto clone apps and improving the 10-minute grocery delivery experience.

If you’re ready to launch your own Instant Grocery App and enter the expanding instant delivery market, contact us today at +91 8727000867 or email us at digittrix@gmail.com. Let’s work together to turn your idea into a fully functional grocery app ready for business.