KurchuSoftware SolutionsBuy & sell marketplace app: features, cost and timeline.
A buy and sell marketplace app lets people list items with photos, find what they want nearby, chat with sellers and arrange the deal — with moderation to keep the community safe.
What a buy & sell marketplace app costs.
With Kurchu, a first release with 7 core features is estimated at $1,200–$3,100 for iOS and Android from one codebase with a ready-made design. The full product, adding reviews & ratings, online payments, maps & location, analytics & reports, is estimated at $1,700–$4,350. A fixed price follows a short discovery call.
- Who it's for
- Classifieds startups, niche marketplaces (fashion, electronics, vehicles) and community platforms.
- First release (MVP)
- $1,200–$3,100 · 7–10 weeks
- Full product
- $1,700–$4,350 · 10–14 weeks
- Platforms
- iOS + Android from one codebase
- Design
- Ready-made design (custom design ×1.3)
What a buy & sell marketplace app needs.
The first release covers the core job; the rest can follow once real users are on board.
First release (MVP)
- Sign-up & loginBuyers and sellers manage listings and messages.$80–$200
- Product or service listingsItem listings with price, condition and location.$120–$300
- Search & filtersSearch and filter by category, price and area.$80–$200
- Photo & video uploadsSeveral photos per listing, taken in the app.$80–$200
- In-app chatBuyers and sellers negotiate without sharing numbers.$200–$500
- Push notificationsNew messages and offers on your listings.$50–$120
- Admin dashboard (web)Moderate listings, handle reports and ban bad actors.$250–$700
Add later
- Reviews & ratingsSeller ratings build trust between strangers.$60–$150
- Online paymentsSecure in-app payment for shipped items.$120–$300
- Maps & locationBrowse listings near you on a map.$100–$250
- Analytics & reportsPopular categories and listing performance.$120–$300
See it, then fit it to your budget.
What can I get for my budget?
Slide to your budget — the plan, price and wireframes adjust instantly.
Rough wireframes of the first release — move the budget slider to see what changes.
What it really costs in year one
Building is only part of it. Here is everything you would pay in the first twelve months — most of it straight to providers, in your name.
| Cost | Estimate | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Building the app | $1,200 – $3,100 | one-off |
| Apple Developer Program | $99 | per year |
| Google Play registration | $25 | one-time |
| Hosting & backend | $0 – $10 | per month |
| Real-time chat service | $2 – $6 | per month |
| Photo & file storage | $1 – $4 | per month |
| Running cost after launch | $3 – $20 | per month |
| Total in year one | $1,360 – $3,464 | build + 12 months |
Store fees are Apple's and Google's published prices. Hosting and services are typical ranges and depend on real usage; every account is opened in your name, so you only ever pay providers directly.
How platform choice changes the price.
Ready-made design. A custom UI/UX design multiplies each figure by 1.3.
| Platform | First release (MVP) | Full product |
|---|---|---|
| iOS + Android (one codebase) | $1,200–$3,100 · 7–10 weeks | $1,700–$4,350 · 10–14 weeks |
| iOS + Android (native) | $1,750–$4,450 · 10–14 weeks | $2,450–$6,250 · 13–19 weeks |
| One platform (iOS or Android) | $960–$2,450 · 6–9 weeks | $1,350–$3,450 · 9–13 weeks |
Making a buy & sell marketplace app succeed.
How to stand out
- Make listing an item take under a minute from photo to post.
- Verify sellers with a phone check and badge.
- Suggest a fair price from similar listings.
Launch tips
- Seed listings in one niche and one city before going broad.
- Moderate quickly in the early weeks — trust is the product.
- Encourage sellers to share their listings on social media.
We'd ask you
- Will buyers and sellers meet in person, or will items be shipped?
- Is it one category or a general marketplace?
Questions, answered.
Something we haven't covered? Write to info@kurchu.com — a senior person replies within one working day. Or for a quick answer.
With Kurchu, a first release with 7 core features is estimated at $1,200–$3,100 for iOS and Android from one codebase with a ready-made design. The full product, adding reviews & ratings, online payments, maps & location, analytics & reports, is estimated at $1,700–$4,350. A fixed price follows a short discovery call.
The first release takes about 7–10 weeks from discovery to store launch; the full product about 10–14 weeks. Building natively for iOS and Android, or with a custom design, adds time — the price table on this page shows the difference.
With layers: phone-verified accounts, in-app chat that keeps numbers private, reporting tools, ratings and fast moderation from the admin dashboard. In-app payment with buyer protection can follow once volumes justify it.
Many marketplaces launch with chat and meet-in-person deals, then add in-app payments once trust and volume grow. It keeps the first version cheaper and faster to launch.
Let's build the one they keep.
Tell us where you are today — idea, prototype, or existing product — and we'll help define the smartest next step.
info@kurchu.comWhere are you today?
Currently scheduling discovery sprints · Reply within one working day