Step-by-Step Guide to Educational App Development in 2025

Educational apps have become so much more important after the pandemic. However, it is not only about the pandemic; it has become a need of the hour with everything becoming online, from shopping apps to food delivery platforms.

Today, educational apps have become essential because they allow many to learn new skills or gain knowledge of basic concepts or anything that is offered by such apps. More and more people are turning to these apps as they offer fun, flexible, and easy learning.

However, users also want something more personalised, like their lessons and want quick feedback and a way to track their progress, and this is what many apps offer. With smartphones and tablets in almost every hand, learning online has become more accessible and the new normal.

But the competition in the educational app market has increased, or you can say it has become more fierce. As so many apps are available online, how do you create one that is not the same as others and offers something unique?

That is why we are here to help you. We will cover a step-by-step guide on how to make an educational app. This guide will help you build an app that your users will love to use.

What is an Educational App?

An educational app is a web or mobile application that is built to assist the learning process of helping an individual learn something new.

Though many types of users exist, educational apps can be used by students, teachers, parents, or people of all ages who want to learn a particular subject or specific skill.

With educational apps, users can learn what they want, when they want, through several different types of devices (phones, computers, etc.).

The apps can provide learning in a specific subject based on user interests; some may be interested in subjects like mathematics and science, while others may want to learn foreign languages or computer coding. These apps make learning more interesting by:

🔘Using activities that are engaging

🔘Tracking progress

🔘Providing feedback that can be helpful for the students

What are Some Educational Apps​?

Many users, including students, parents, and teachers, use educational apps that support listening both in and out of the classroom. Here are a few educational apps that you must have also heard about in the UK.

🔘BBC Bitesize: It is a platform where you can learn different subjects for free. Students aged 5 to 16 can use this app.

🔘Duolingo: This is a new way to learn new languages using fun, short lessons. 

🔘Oak National Academy: This platform is backed by the government. It is available both as a website and an app. It offers lessons created by UK teachers and is used in many schools for online learning.

🔘Sparx Maths: This learning platform helps students improve their maths skills with homework and personalised practice tasks. It is used by many secondary schools.

🔘Tassomai: This app helps students with the revision of various subjects like science, maths, and English. This is done with the help of small daily quizzes.

🔘MyMaths: This is a maths resource that is used in primary and secondary schools. It offers lessons, tasks, and homework.

🔘Reading Eggs: It is used in many UK primary schools to help children aged 3 to 11 learn how to read through games and stories.

🔘Purple Mash: This is a creative learning platform for 5 - 11-year-old children, which has tools related to writing, coding and art.

How to Make an Educational App?

If you feel that developing an educational app is a big job, it is not true. It becomes easier to create the app and manage the whole process if you follow the proper steps. Here are the steps that will help you make an educational app that works well and helps users learn better.

1. Define Your Educational Niche

Before you jump directly into the development part, you should have a clear understanding of your niche. You can determine it if you have an answer to the question: What is my app going to teach? Your niche will be the subject or skill your app will focus on. Your niche could be:

🔘Maths for primary school students

🔘Language learning for beginners

🔘Science revision for GCSE

🔘Coding basics for teens

🔘Reading and phonics for early learners

Once you choose your subject, you can decide your audience. This will also help you create the tone, content, and design of your app.

2. Research Your Market

The most important part after deciding on your niche is to research your market. When you have picked a topic, you should study what is already out there. You should look for other apps that are doing something similar. You should look for:

🔘How many downloads do they have?

🔘What do users say in the reviews?

🔘Are the lessons fun or boring?

🔘Is the app easy to use?

It will help you find out what users like and what they are missing, which you can use to your advantage. This enables you to add features that users are looking for in an educational app. You can even talk to your audience, such as students and teachers, to get more ideas.

3. Decide the App Features

Next, it is time to plan the features of your app. Also, remember that the features you choose will decide whether your app will be used by users and whether it will become successful.

That is because these are the tools and options that you will offer to users and which will help them learn and interact. You can include the following features based on your business requirements and budget.

Basic features to include:

🔘Lessons: These can be videos, audio, or reading material

🔘Quizzes: Test what the learner has understood

🔘Progress tracking: Show learners how far they have come

🔘Login system: Users can save their progress

🔘Push notifications: To remind learners to study

Extra features you can add:

🔘Voice recognition: For language apps

🔘AI tutors: To offer smart help

🔘Gamification: With the help of this feature, you can make learning fun by offering points and badges.

🔘Offline access: Without the internet, users can still study

You need to ensure that the features you add match your audience's needs. For example, if your audience is young children. You will need big buttons, fewer steps, and more visuals.

4. Choose the Right App Development Model

There is no one way to develop your educational app. This means there are various development models, and you will have to select the one that best meets your budget and needs. Below are the three main options that are used by many businesses, including educational apps.

Native Apps

These apps are developed only for one platform, like Android or iOS. The app development framework helps make apps fast and smooth. It is best for apps with many features, but it can take more time and money.

Hybrid Apps

Don’t confuse these apps with a blend of two different apps. In this type of development model, one app can work on both Android and iOS. This means there is no need to build a separate app for each platform.

It can be built using development tools like Flutter or React Native. These apps are quicker and more affordable. However, it may have some limits in performance.

No-Code Tools

If you are new to educational app development and have no coding knowledge, you can use no-code tools. You can use drag-and-drop platforms like Adalo, Glide, or Thunkable. It is best for developing small or simple apps and may not support complex features.

So, you need to select the model that suits your goals and how much you want to spend on educational app development.

Also Read: Web vs. Native vs. Hybrid Apps: Which is Best for Your Business in 2025

5. UI/UX Design that Enhances Learning

If your app can’t be easily used by the users and they don’t find it appealing and engaging, then your app may not be able to perform well. This is where UI and UX become useful.

A good design will not only enhance the look of your app but will also enhance learning. You can follow the below design tips to design your educational application.

🔘Use clear, readable fonts

🔘Keep the layout simple and clean

🔘Use bright colours to keep learners engaged

🔘Add fun animations or icons

🔘Make big buttons and easy-to-find menus

Your app’s design should help users focus and should not make them feel distracted. Here is an example. You will need to use sounds, big images, and fun characters to make your app engaging if your app is for kids, while for adults, you will need to keep the design professional.

6. Pick the Right Tech Stack

The tech stack is all the tools and technologies you can use to build your educational app. If you aren’t selecting the right tools, there is a chance your app may not be developed properly. This will mean your money will be wasted, the amount you invested in creating an educational app.

And if you want to build it again with the right tech stack, then again, you will have to pay for the development. That is why you need to make a wise decision. You will need tools for:

🔘Frontend: Here, what your users will see and interact with is created using frontend technologies.

🔘Backend: In backend development, the data is stored and managed.

🔘Database: This is where your lessons, quiz scores, and user info will be saved.

Example tools:

🔘Frontend: Flutter, React Native, Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android)

🔘Backend: Backend frameworks and tools will include Firebase, Node.js, and Django

🔘Database: For the database, the tools you will need can include PostgreSQL, MongoDB

You can choose tools that you find easy to use and supported by developers. This becomes especially useful if you are hiring someone to build the app.

7. Build an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

MVP is a great way to start building your educational app while also saving money on the total cost of educational app development. MVP apps include only the necessary features, such as:

🔘5–10 lessons

🔘A quiz or two

🔘A simple login system

🔘Progress tracking

MVP development allows you to test your new business ideas, show them to users, and get feedback. This helps you improve your app and also add more features later.

Recommended Reads: Top 10 MVP Development Companies In the UK

8. Integrate AI and Personalisation

AI in app development is used by many businesses because it allows them to offer a far better experience than they used to.

If you are planning to integrate AI and offer a more personalised experience to the users, you should follow this step to create an educational app.

Here is how you can use AI:

🔘It can suggest lessons to users based on what they have already learned.

🔘Give instant feedback on answers

🔘Adjust the difficulty level automatically

🔘Provide smart hints when learners get stuck on certain problems

If your app offers personalisation, it may make it feel like the user is studying with an actual tutor. It helps keep users motivated and makes them learn quickly.

Explore More: How AI Will Impact the Education System?

9. Ensure the Security & Privacy of Data

If your education app doesn’t ensure the security and privacy of data, most users will avoid using it because it will not be legitimate anymore. The app should keep the data safe, like names, emails, scores, and more. Your app should include:

🔘Password protection

🔘Logins should be secure, like OTP or email verification

🔘Data encryption to protect info from hackers

🔘Should have a privacy policy that explains how data is used

🔘An option for users to delete their data

It should follow privacy laws and data protection rules, whether the app is for children or adults.

10. Develop a Monetisation Strategy

You should have a monetisation strategy, like how you will earn money from your app. You can make money using the following approach.

🔘Freemium model: You can offer some lessons for free while you charge for others.

🔘Subscription: In this model, you can offer users monthly or yearly plans.

🔘In-app purchases: When users purchase anything in-app, like extra quizzes, tests, or features, this way you can make money.

🔘School partnerships: It offers your app to schools or learning centres for a fee.

You need to ensure your app offers great value and experience, even if it is a free version.

11. Testing and Quality Assurance

You should launch your app before you test it carefully. It will help you learn if there are any bugs or broken features. This will be more convenient than later discovering that the users are leaving your app just because you didn’t test the app. You should:

🔘Try all features and fix any errors.

🔘Test the app on the devices where you have decided to launch it, like Android, iOS, or both and also on different screen sizes.

🔘Ask your users, like teachers, students, and parents, to test it.

🔘Collect feedback and make improvements based on what you gather.

Moreover, you need to check the app’s speed, whether it offers offline access, and battery usage. You should also ensure everything works perfectly and smoothly.

12. Launch and Market Your App

This step comes when you are ready to launch your app. You can launch your educational app on app stores, like the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. If you want your app to appear in front of your audience quickly, you should:

🔘Write a clear app description

🔘Use good images

🔘Put a short video showing how it works

🔘Add relevant keywords

After you have done all this, you can promote it by:

🔘Sharing on social media

🔘Contacting schools, teachers, and parents

🔘Offering free trials to get more users

🔘Working with influencers or bloggers who focus on education

Marketing your app will help more users find your app and build trust.

13. Post-Launch Maintenance

This is the last step for educational app development. It is also the most essential step because it is what will keep your app running. After your app goes live, you need to do various things, such as:

🔘Fix any new bugs or problems

🔘Reply to user reviews and messages

🔘Add new lessons, games, or features

🔘Update the app regularly to keep it fresh

Also, keep listening to your users. Their feedback will help you improve and grow your app.

How to Grow Your Educational App?

You can grow your educational app successfully by following the steps mentioned below. This comes after you have developed and launched your app.

1. Listen to User Feedback

Who are you building your educational app for? Your users, right? The feedback clearly tells you what your users like and don't like in your application. This allows you to improve it. You should allow users to provide feedback easily. You can include a quick and short survey or form within the app. You should:

🔘Pay attention to reviews on app stores

🔘Read emails and messages from users

🔘Look for patterns in what your users are saying

If many users are asking for the same thing, consider adding or fixing it.

2. Keep Updating the App

Another thing that will help grow your app is keeping it updated. You need to make sure to regularly:

🔘Add new lessons or subjects

🔘Fix bugs and improve speed

🔘Refresh the design if needed

🔘Add new features

If you update your app frequently, it will become more exciting, and there will be repeated visits to your app.

3. Use Social Media and Content to Promote Your App

Social media is an excellent way if you want to attract and engage with more users. You can set up a page on whatever social media platforms you want - Instagram, Facebook, etc.

On these platforms, you can provide study tips, revision tricks, short video explanations of concepts, features of your app, fun facts, and quiz questions to engage with your audience.

4. Offer Free Content to Attract Users

If you are offering free content, more users will download your app. You can offer the following features in a free version, like:

🔘A few sample lessons

🔘One or two full topics

🔘A short quiz or test

If they enjoy using your app, then they will be more likely to pay for premium features and recommend it to others!

5. Partner With Schools, Teachers, or Tutors

You can also work with schools, teachers, and tutors, as it will help you grab the attention of various users at once. Here is how to build partnerships:

🔘Offer a free trial version for teachers to test

🔘Provide classroom features like student progress tracking

🔘Align your app’s content with school subjects or exam boards

🔘Offer special prices or packages for schools

Many schools are looking for digital learning tools, especially ones that are easy to use and helpful for students.

6. Use App Store Optimisation  (ASO)

Your app should show up in search results on the App Store and Google Play if you want more users to download your educational app. You can use various App Store Optimisation strategies to improve it, such as:

🔘Use keywords that are more likely to rank in your app title and description

🔘Add eye-catching screenshots

🔘Include a short video that shows the working of your app

🔘Encourage happy users to leave reviews and ratings

7. Add Rewards, Progress Tracking, & Daily Goals

You can help ensure your users are coming back by providing them with small rewards for using the app regularly. Your app should also let them set learning goals and measure their progress. This makes learning more fun and encourages users to continue.

Risks & Challenges of Building an Educational App

You should also know that you can come across various risks and challenges when building the educational app. However, if you know about them before the development, you can plan better and avoid problems later. Here are some of the risks and challenges.

1. Keeping Learners Engaged

The primary challenge is to make sure users don’t lose interest. They should use it regularly and not just one or two times. However, the users don’t engage much when:

🔘Lessons feel too long or boring

🔘There are no rewards or fun elements

🔘The app is not easy to use

You can manage it by adding interactive features, short lessons, tracking progress, and giving them some points or daily goals.

2. Creating Quality Content

Your app should offer good content. If the lessons are of poor quality or there is incorrect information, users may not use your app and will leave bad reviews.

You can overcome it by working with teachers who are experienced and reviewing all the content carefully before uploading and updating lessons.

3. Technical Issues and Bugs

If your app works slowly, has errors, doesn’t load quickly, or crashes, users will instantly leave the app. That is why you need to ensure your work goes perfectly, which can be done by testing it, fixing bugs quickly, and keeping it light.

4. High Competiton

There are so many educational apps and some of them we have also marked in the beginning. So, you can see how much competition is out there in your selected niche. However, you can make it unique and different by:

🔘Finding a unique topic that no one has covered or an audience

🔘Offering something different, like offline access or fun quizzes

🔘Providing an amazing experience, design, and features

5. Privacy and Data Protection

You should follow privacy laws if your application collects user data. If you are not doing this, it could lead to legal trouble, or your app could get removed from stores.

You can deal with this by obtaining the permission of users before collecting data, explaining what data is collected and why, allowing users to delete their data, and keeping all data secure.

How Much Does it Cost to Build an Educational App?

The cost of developing an educational app can be as low as £10,000 and as high as £150,000 or more. However, the total cost also depends on various factors, and some of them are:

🔘What features do you want

🔘How simple or advanced the app is

🔘The development team or company you are hiring

For example, you want an educational app that offers basic lessons and quizzes. Then, you don’t have to invest the amount you will need to invest in an app with features like video content, progress tracking, user logins, personalised learning, or offline access.

You will also need to think about design, content creation, testing, and ongoing support. Some choose to use no-code tools to keep costs lower at the start, while others may invest more in building a custom app.

Bring Your Educational App Idea to Life with Arramton

If you also have a great idea for an educational app and want to get it developed but don’t know where to start? You are not alone — and that’s exactly where Arramton can help.

We specialise in building apps that are easy to use and allow your users to learn however they want to. Our team of experts can help you from start to finish, whether you want a simple app, a feature-rich app, or a custom platform.

We take care of everything, from designing the educational app and developing the essential features to adding AI and smart tools. Our services don’t stop here. We also help launch your app, promote it, and keep it updated.

So, if you want to turn your vision related to your educational app into something useful and engaging, we can build one for you.

Bottom Line

In this blog, we acknowledged and answered your query on how to make an educational app. It is not only about putting lessons and thinking your work is done here. It is also about making those lessons accessible and engaging for every user.

We have covered all the steps that are required to build an educational app, such as choosing your niche, understanding your audience, designing a smooth user experience, and adding smart features like personalisation and more. All these steps will help make your app successful.

There can be risks and challenges when building the app, but if you plan out earlier while considering the challenges, you can deal with them. Also, you can grow your app by following the strategies mentioned above in this guide.

And if you have the right team by your side, the journey becomes much smoother. Let Arramton help you build an engaging and more personalised educational app. Start today and reach out to us, and shape the future of learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 How much does it cost to build an educational app in 2025?

Ans The cost to build an educational app depends on your app’s complexity. The total development cost of the educational app can be £5,000 to £30,000 or more, depending on whether you want a simple app or an app with more features and better design. If you also want to add extra features or AI, it can cost you more.

Q2  What programming languages are used for educational apps?

Ans The programming languages used for educational apps include:

🔘JavaScript helps with the development of apps that work on both Android and iOS.

🔘Dart works with Flutter and is good for making apps fast.

🔘Swift is required for developing iOS apps.

🔘Kotlin is used for developing Android apps.

Developers choose the languages based on the type of app and phone.

Q3 How long does it take to make an educational app?

Ans The timeline for developing an educational app can be around 3 to 6 months, or it can be more, depending on your app type, the number of developers working on making the app, and your testing requirements. If you are building a small app with basic features, it can take 1 to 3 months. However, an app with more lessons, games, and videos can take 6 months or more.

Q4 What makes an educational app successful?

Ans An educational app can become successful when it is:

🔘Easy to use

🔘Keeps learners interested

🔘Helps them learn better

The lessons your educational app provides should be clear, feedback should be helpful, and there should be some fun ways to practice. It also helps if users can see their progress and use the app on both phones and tablets.

Q5 Do educational apps improve learning?

Ans Yes, educational apps can improve learning. It does so by making lessons for students engaging. They allow them to learn at the pace they are comfortable, get instant feedback, and use various resources anytime and anywhere.