How Much Does It Cost to Build a Booking App Like Booking.com in 2025?

The number of people planning their own trips is increasing daily since they don't want to overpay travel firms and operators. Consequently, there is an increasing need for applications that allow users to book hotels and apartments. Online travel booking will account for 65% of the global market by 2026 and surpass 1 trillion euros by 2032, according to a recent Research&Markets study.

These days, websites like Booking.com, Expedia, and Agoda have completely changed how tourists look for lodging by making it more flexible, economical, and user-friendly. However, what is required to develop such an app?

This question is pretty difficult to answer, because asking about the cost of developing a booking platform is like asking about the price of building a house. What kind of house do you want? Are you looking for a simple wooden hut or a luxurious mansion with marble floors? The budget depends on the functions, complexity, and chosen technology stack. 

In this blog, we'll take a look at the main features that define a high-quality hotel booking app and the pricing policy on the market for its creation. Let's take a closer look.

Main Booking app features that affect the price

There appears to be no limit to what may be accomplished in the quest for app development perfection. The user experience can be enhanced by adding new features that make it more engaging and useful. However, it canʼt be argued that some fundamental elements are necessary when developing a top-notch and user-friendly trip booking app. These features ensure smooth navigation, efficient booking management, and convenience for travelers. Below, we've outlined the features that most travel apps include.

Core features for booking app:

1. User profile and registration

Registration and profile creation are core functionalities that allow users to register and access personalized experiences. During registration, users provide key information, interests, and data that will identify them as users within the app ecosystem. Based on a user's interest and behavior understanding, the app can provide personalized recommendations, promotions, and content that enriches the travel experience.

2. Comprehensive search function

An accommodation booking app needs a premium search engine through which users can not only look for accommodations by name, but also sort them based on location, availability on a particular date, price range, and type of property. Further, filters for particular amenities (Wi-Fi, parking, breakfast, etc.) and guest reviews make it more convenient for users to find their ideal accommodation.

3. Property listings with high-quality visuals

First impressions are lasting ones. It has to hit the right note at first sight, since good-quality photographs, virtual tours, and detailed descriptions allow users to make informed decisions. An organized layout that presents room details, amenities, and reviews from guests instills a sense of trust and increases booking conversions, although it significantly impacts the app development cost. Alternatively, use of sophisticated features such as virtual tours, AI-powered image optimization, and interactive maps can add considerably to the development expense.

4. Secure payment system

A safe, seamless, and versatile payment mechanism is a requirement. The customer doesn't want to make payment to the unidentified recipients; therefore, compatibility with credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay is convenient and secure. Encryption technology and fraud protection mechanisms safeguard users' personal data and build trust on the website.

5. Booking management

The users should be able to book, modify, or cancel reservations easily. Instant confirmations of bookings, reminders, and a well-structured booking dashboard add value to the booking experience by engaging and keeping the users interested and informed.

Additional features that improve user experience:

6.Reviews and ratings

Reviews and ratings in a travel app are very important to enhance user engagement and aid in making decisions. Users offer valuable information through their own experience so that other travelers can make smart decisions. User-generated content assists in establishing trust by offering genuine reviews of the past users, and thus it's simpler to decide if a hotel corresponds to what is claimed. Including this feature makes the app more transparent, as individuals view actual reviews from actual individuals, rather than a pretty commercial picture. 

7. Location-based services

Using GPS technology, the app can provide travelers with recommendations for nearby restaurants, attractions, and transportation options. This feature enhances the overall travel experience by adding an extra layer of convenience.

8. Loyalty programs and discounts

To encourage repeat bookings,  a well-working loyalty program with discounts, early check-in, and special perks will be a valuable feature in the booking app. Rewarding loyal customers creates a long-term user base and increases retention rates. Accumulated bonuses in the app will motivate the customer to return to the app and choose it over competitors.

9. In-app chat and notifications

The built-in chat feature allows tourists to directly communicate with owners of the properties, inquire or ask for extra requests. Customer support in real time via AI-powered chatbots or managers makes the users feel satisfied. Push alerts and notifications also play a vital role in informing the tourists in real time, enhancing user engagement and experience.

10. Social media integration

Users will value the possibility to share their bookings, reviews, and experiences on social media. Social features not only enhance brand visibility, but also bring in new users via word of mouth and organic marketing.

11. Personalized user experience

Personalized recommendations using AI and machine learning can be used to improve the user experience through customized offers based on previous bookings, travel desires, and preferences. Personalized experience enables the platform to be more intuitive in use, and tailoring recommendations to individual customers' needs and interests will definitely win users' hearts.

12. Multilingual and multi-currency support

For a global audience, an app should support multiple languages and currencies. Providing localized content makes the booking process easier and more accessible for international travelers.

13. Offline access

The majority of the leading apps, such as Booking.com, have offline access to major content, such as maps and travel guides. In most cases, there is no internet when traveling on the road, hence allowing users to access vital information even in the absence of an internet connection. Through the possibility of travelers pre-downloading vital information, the app provides users with continuous access to their itineraries, bookings, and navigation, making mobile data less dependent and eradicating connectivity issues in areas with poor internet connectivity.

14. Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality positively adds to the travel experience through navigation guidance, landmark identification, and interactive destination information. This feature boosts user interaction by enabling visitors to see places prior to reaching their destination with information. It is not a cheap feature to implement, but the capability that it possesses to enhance the user experience and navigation makes it a worthwhile addition to an app.

15. Integration of travel services

Seamless integration with third-party travel services broadens the app's utilization by providing users with a one-stop shop for accommodation booking, car rental, tour and other travel services reservation. By providing a one-stop solution, the app simplifies travel planning, and partnerships with high-quality service providers guarantee high-quality services, which improve user satisfaction and engagement.

At this stage, prioritizing key features while maintaining budgetary considerations is key to creating an effective and user-friendly travel app.

Breakdown of costs and factors that influence the price

When it comes to developing a travel booking app or website, the price range can vary greatly depending on your specific needs, the features you want, the development approach, and platforms selected. Below, we provide a rough estimate based on the development approach, development platform, and complexity of the app to help guide your decision-making process and plan your budget effectively:  

Team and development approach

Your expenses can be greatly impacted by the development strategy you select. Here are typical methods to hire developers and how each option impacts your budget:

• Freelancers: Since freelancers usually charge between $45 and $95 per hour, hiring them can frequently be more cost-effective. For large-scale initiatives, the trade-off may be less accountability, even though they may be more flexible and affordable.

• Outsourcing to an app development agency: With all essential services like design, project management, and quality control all in one place, agencies provide a more comprehensive solution. The agency's hourly charge might vary from $20 to $150 per hour, depending on its location.

• In-house team: Developing an app with an in-house team gives you full control over the development process, but it also comes with higher costs (e.g., salaries, office space, and overhead). The cost can be uncertain, depending on the size and experience of the team. 

The cost of your project will depend on the specialists you choose, their location and level of competence, as well as the complexity of the project and the number of hours that will be spent on its development. It can be calculated using a simple formula:

Estimated cost = Number of hours required to create the app * Cost per hour of app development

Usually, a 20% markup is added to this amount for hours that were not originally agreed upon or force majeure. Now, the approximate estimate for creating a minimum viable product (MVP) for an app similar to Booking.com (in hours):

• Project management - 220

• Business analysis - 170

• UI/UX design - 280

• Quality assurance - 280

• Frontend development - 200

• Backend development - 350

Thus, creating an MVP for booking can take about 1,500+ hours. Here we have already explored the estimated hourly rates for software development in different regions in 2025: 

• North America (USA, Canada): $75 to $125 per hour

• Western Europe (Poland): $45 to $100 per hour

• Eastern Europe (Ukraine): $25 to $55 per hour

• Asia (India, China): $20 to $60 per hour

• Latin America (Argentina, Brazil): $20 to $60 per hour

Platform type

The cost of development is directly impacted by the platform (Web, iOS, Android, or cross-platform development) and devices supported. You can opt for creating web or mobile apps, or both which is more common for hotel booking apps. Testing on many devices adds to the complexity, and each platform calls for unique technologies and knowledge. The development process gets more complicated and costly the more platforms and devices you support. While each platform has its own unique interface, web and mobile platforms typically share a common backend.

Therefore, development of the basic  web or mobile app may cost between $30,000 and $50,000. The cost of developing a similar basic app for both web and mobile platforms with a shared backend might range from $40,000 to $70,000. 

Сomplexity

The more features and functions you want to include, the more development time and cost will be involved. For example, a basic travel app that focuses solely on search and booking functions using user accounts will be much cheaper than one that includes advanced features such as real-time availability, price comparison, and communication tools for both owners and users. 

Here is a breakdown of the cost depending on the complexity:

1. Simple travel app 

Cost range: $25,000 - $50,000 

A simple app usually has basic features like search, property listings, booking, user accounts and basic payment integration. It will likely have fewer integrations and limited functionality, making it more budget-friendly.

2. Medium travel app 

Cost range: $50,000 - $150,000 

A mid-range app typically includes advanced features such as real-time booking,advanced filtering, price comparison, user reviews and ratings, push notifications, interactive maps and tools for communicating with users. Such an app requires more time and resources for development, which leads to an increase in cost.

3. Comprehensive travel app 

Cost range: $150,000 - $350,000+

A highly sophisticated app will have state-of-the-art features such as personalized itineraries, AI-powered personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing, virtual room tours, in-app live chat, offline access, and localized booking options. Such apps require extensive back-end development, integration of various APIs, and rigorous testing, which results in a higher price.

Here is the breakdown of approximate possible costs based on functionality: 

• Basic functionality 

Cost range: $25,000 - $50,000 

Includes basic features such as search, filtering, booking, user accounts, and secure payments. It is the backbone of any travel app that focuses on providing a seamless search and booking experience for users.

• Website design 

Cost range: Basic design is estimated at $1,000 - $5,000, custom design - from $5,000 to $20,000. 

The design of your website or app makes up a significant portion of the total cost. Basic design focuses on functionality and usability, while custom design provides a unique, branded user experience. 

• Advanced features 

Cost range: $5,000 - $10,000 per feature 

Examples of advanced features include real-time price tracking, in-app chat, itinerary management, offline access, and localized booking options. These features greatly enhance the app's functionality, but also increase development time and cost.

• Backend development 

Cost range: $10,000 - $50,000+

The $10,000–$20,000 range is usual for a basic backend with standard features. For a more robust, enterprise-level backend, you could easily be looking at $20,000 to $50,000 or more.

Backend development covers server-side infrastructure for managing data, user accounts, integration with APIs, databases and other platforms. A well-designed backend ensures uninterrupted functionality and security of your application.

• Additional mobile app development 

Cost range: $10,000 - $20,000 

Native development (iOS or Android) offers better performance and user experience, but is more expensive. Hybrid or cross-platform development, on the other hand, is more cost-effective but may have some performance and user experience limitations.

• SEO & Marketing

Cost range: $500 - $2,000

Marketing and SEO promotion is crucial for your travel app or website to rank well in search results, helping users find your platform. Ongoing SEO services are essential to maintain and improve your visibility. Marketing costs depend on the strategy you use, such as paid advertising or influencer marketing.

• Domain & Hosting

Cost range: Domain $10 - $50/year, Hosting $50 - $500/year (depending on traffic expectations and server requirements)

Your domain is the unique address where your website will live on the internet. Hosting is the server space required to store your app’s files and data. High-traffic apps or those with demanding functionality may require more robust hosting solutions.

• Maintenance & Support

Cost range: $1,200 - $12,000+ yearly

Ongoing maintenance is necessary to ensure that your app remains up-to-date, secure, and free of bugs. Regular support is also essential to help users with issues or questions.

Conclusion

Developing a travel booking app can be a costly endeavor, with prices typically ranging from $25,000 to $350,000. The more sophisticated and feature-rich your app is (e.g., advanced search filters, numerous API integrations, user reviews), the higher the development costs. Competing with industry giants like Booking.com or Expedia requires a significant investment, but there are plenty of opportunities to find your niche, whether it’s luxury hotels, boutique resorts, or budget-friendly hostels and vacation rentals. Whether you’re aiming for a basic platform or a complex, feature-rich application, it’s crucial to have clearly defined requirements, a solid budget, and a detailed plan before diving into development.