Last Updated | July 15, 2025
Since the world went digital in 2020, we have come to rely more on online platforms in our daily lives. It was the COVID-19 pandemic that truly showed us how essential digital solutions in healthcare can modernize medical services. One of the biggest outcomes of this shift is telemedicine apps. They connect patients with doctors from wherever convenient, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving access to care. The telemedicine market is still showing much potential. In this blog, we’ll break down what the telemedicine app development cost is and the factors that influence its overall price.
What is the Latest Telemedicine App Development Cost?
To give a straightforward estimation, a telehealth platform cost can lie between $40,000 to $300,000+ on average. However, the actual price depends on various factors like the type and features selected.
Telemedicine app development cost according to type:
- The cost of a store-and-forward app can be $40,000 – $50,000
- For a remote monitoring app, the development costs $55,000 – $200,000+
- A real-time interactive can cost $75,000 – $150,000+
To give you a better idea of the overall telehealth platform cost, let’s break down the development aspects:
1. Development Cost Breakdown
If you are developing a basic solution, it may cost you somewhere between $25,000 to $50,000. The variation in this range is subject to factors like:
- Size of the development team
- Number of integrations you add
- Features and Functionality
- The platform (iOS, Android, Web)
- Design and user experience
The more intuitive the interface, the better the user experience, which means an increased telehealth software cost.
2. Timeframe for Development
Expect to spend, on average, 4 to 8 months on development, which may increase in case of complexities, requirements evaluation, project planning, UI and UX design, and MVP development and launch, eventually increasing the telemedicine platform cost.
The timeframe can increase or decrease depending on whether you hire medical app developers or partner with a telemedicine software development company. A company with years of experience in the development space can take less time than a team of freelance developers.
3. App Marketing and Promotion Costs
Today, the app store landscape is ruled by the well-known duopoly- Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. Although these stores have numerous options, people only use a smattering of apps regularly.
Regardless of the type of app, here’s a glimpse of what the costs of marketing a telehealth app look like:
- Market research $5K to $15K
- Beta testing $5K or less
- ASO tool $25 to $1,500/month
- Marketing agency fee up to $25k /app
- App PR outreach $100 to $300 /hour
- Influencer marketing $10 to $18k /month
These numbers are only estimates. Your marketing budget will vary based on the size of your business and the audience you want to target, which will affect the telemedicine platform cost.
4. Maintenance and Support Costs
Developing a telemedicine app is rarely a one-time activity since it requires updates occasionally to support the app and prevent uninstallations. Therefore, adding maintenance costs to the mix is necessary.
The rule of thumb is to allocate up to 15-20% of the initial development cost to app maintenance. However, your application upkeep expenses may be more or less than this, depending on the different steps and factors your maintenance process involves.
Factors Affecting Telemedicine App Development Cost
The total cost of developing a telemedicine app depends on technical aspects and business choices that shape the long-term ROI. Some of the major parameters include:
Platform (iOS, Android, Web, or Cross-Platform)
Platform choice directly impacts the cost of developing a telehealth app, timelines, and support costs. Native apps (iOS and Android) require separate codebases and teams, increasing expense. On the other hand, cross-platform frameworks like React Native reduce duplication, while web portals (often needed for providers or admin panels) add to the overall scope.
App Complexity
Basic solutions, which offer video consultations and appointment booking, are significantly cheaper than platforms with AI diagnostics, custom healthcare analytics, or doctor-patient matching. Starting with a lean MVP helps control initial spending and validates the business model before scaling.
UX/UI Design
A good user experience has an exponential impact on adoption and engagement rates. Healthcare organizations and care providers should prioritize intuitive, accessible interfaces that work well for both patients and clinicians. Investing in professional design improves usability and ultimately drives high ROI.
Backend Infrastructure
A strong backend assures platform stability and performance. Building infrastructure from scratch with security prioritized is expensive. However, integrating proven tools (e.g., Twilio for communication, Stripe for payments, Firebase for authentication) significantly reduces time-to-market and lowers maintenance complexity.
Compliance Requirements
Adhering to regulatory standards like HIPAA, HITRUST, GDPR, and ISO is mandatory. It defines the system architecture, data storage practices, and security regulations followed. Early investment in compliance avoids penalties, reduces legal exposure, and accelerates approvals in enterprise healthcare environments.
Team Structure
How you structure your development team affects both cost and execution speed. While freelancers may appear cost-effective, they often introduce coordination challenges and quality inconsistencies. A full-cycle product team aligns expertise across design, development, QA, and compliance, reducing risks and delivery time.
United States Telemedicine Users’ 2021-2025
Get a Bespoke Telemedicine Platform by Folio3 Digital Health
Folio3 Digital Health specializes in developing custom telemedicine apps that help healthcare providers expand services no matter the geographical limitations. Whether you’re targeting urban clinics or rural populations, we make sure our solution is accessible, scalable, and secure.
Our full-cycle development team includes experienced designers, developers, and marketers who handle everything from concept to launch and beyond. With deep expertise in healthcare compliance, we deliver HIPAA-compliant telemedicine solutions that also meet HL7 and FHIR interoperability standards. That means your app will integrate seamlessly with existing EHR/EMR systems and meet the strictest regulatory requirements.
Closing Note
Now you know how much does a telemedicine app cost, and its potential to increase patient outreach and improve care outcomes. Telemedicine applications can provide clinical support to any remote area by reducing geographic barriers. As a healthcare organization or a medical software startup, your primary goal should be to address user pain points by developing a solution that specifically targets their needs. Custom healthcare app development services can give you the liberty to choose the features and functions you want. If you want to build a custom app, contact us for a free consultation. We can help you develop a reliable telemedicine app in your target niche for your target users.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to develop a telemedicine app like the “Doctor-on-demand”?
The doctor-on-demand app is very broad in terms of features and functions. It is a blend of two applications: a doctor and patient app with a strong admin panel that links them.
The cost of developing a doctor-on-demand app depends on the services you take while hiring software developers:
- UX/ UI Design
- iOS and Android native app development
- Web development
- Backend development
- Project management
- Quality assurance
The cost of the services can be estimated on hourly charges, which can be $20/hr – $50/hr. Based on these estimates, if you plan to get a simple on-demand doctor app, the total cost can start from $25,000-$40,000 and go up to $40,000-$70,000.
What is the average timeline for telemedicine app development?
The development timeline also varies based on complexity:
- Basic MVP: 3-6 months.
- Medium Complexity App: 6-9 months.
- Highly Complex/Feature-Rich App: 9-18 months or more.
What are the ongoing costs of telemedicine app development after its launch?
- Maintenance and Support: Bug fixes, performance optimization, security updates, OS compatibility updates, and customer support (typically 10-20% of initial development cost annually).
- Server and Infrastructure Costs: Hosting the app and its data on cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud).
- Third-Party API Subscriptions: Costs for using external services like video conferencing APIs (Twilio), payment gateways, and EHR integrations.
- Marketing and User Acquisition: Promoting the app to reach target users.
- Regulatory Compliance Updates: Staying compliant with evolving healthcare regulations.
About the Author
Ahmed Sufyan Samee
Ahmed Sufyan Samee is a seasoned digital marketer with 4+ years of experience. Specializing in SEO, he excels in optimizing online content and managing display campaigns. His expertise extends to YouTube SEO, enhancing brand visibility and engagement. Sufyan is known for his strategic approach, leveraging PPC and SEO to drive measurable results. Committed to staying ahead in the dynamic digital landscape.