You might be surprised to know that 7.2 million downloads have been recorded for stock trading apps in India alone in early 2024. This statistic is a 47% increase from 2023.
These numbers display that stock trading app development holds utter significance when it comes to acknowledging the transformation in the way people are investing these days.
However, what makes stock trading apps so popular?
Well. These apps offer the ability to invest not only in stocks, cryptocurrency, and forex exchange but also in user-friendly interfaces and real-time market data.
But your bigger question right now might be: how much does it cost to build a stock trading application?
Let us answer all your questions. Just join us through this blog. Let’s tread further!
Table of Contents
- Stock Trading App Market Overview
- Types of Stock Trading Applications
- Features to Create a Stock Trading App
- Stock Trading App Development Process: Step-by-Step Guide
- Cost of a Basic Trading Application Development
- Development Cost of Mid-Level and Advanced Trading Apps
- Cost Breakdown of Stock Market App Development
- Additional Costs to Consider for Stock Trading App Development
- Factors Affecting the Cost of Stock Trading App Development
- How to Earn Money From Stock Trading Apps?
- Hourly Rates of Stock Trading App Development Based On Different Regions
- How to Reduce the Stock Trading App Development Costs
- Tech Stack for Stock Trading App Development
- 5 Benefits of Hiring Stock Trading App Development Company Like Arramton Infotech
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Stock Trading App Market Overview
A stock trading application is a cloud-based development solution widely utilized to purchase, sell, and hold stocks.
All one needs is a smartphone and a high-speed internet connection to begin trading instantly with the click of a few buttons.
Statista estimates that the global online trading market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% to an estimated value of $13.3 billion by 2026.
These estimates point to why entrepreneurs need to think of investing in stock trading app development.
With the changing market trends, this is a good time to join the market and utilize the great benefits of creating a stock trading app.
Types of Stock Trading Applications
Stock trading mobile apps are divided into two broad categories. They are described below:
1. Traditional-Oriented
Considered a top choice kind of stock trading app, the classic kind of stock exchange app trades in such things as stocks, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), gold, currencies, and others.
The prime cause of its high demand is the fact that market participants prefer trading in those things that are known to them.
2. Cryptocurrency-Oriented
Under this category, users can transact solely with cryptocurrencies. Members can execute transactions with the assistance of cryptocurrencies like Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin.
In addition, under this category, there are two alternatives to cryptocurrency exchange:
🔘Centralised
Under this alternative, the exchange is performed with the aid of the brokers.
🔘Decentralised
Functionality based on the p2p cryptocurrency exchange model enables the execution of decentralized exchanges without any third-party intervention.
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Features to Create a Stock Trading App
Here are the general, admin panel, user panel, and advanced features:
1. Commission-Free Trading
Share market websites and investment apps on the share market today entice traders with features like commission-free trading. In this feature, the income source behind the broker-dealer is the interest of the client money that wasn't invested.
2. Giving free shares
Another manner in which a mobile app for stock trading compensates its users is by providing them with free shares for inviting their friends and other acquaintances to use the app.
3. Sending Helpful Alerts
The most critical functionality of a share market investment app is to send regular alerts about the stock market scenario. Users will be aware of which shares to purchase and sell through these alerts.
Admin Features for Stock Trading App Development
4. Registration form
Right upon opening a share market investment app, users can find the button labeled login/sign-in. If the user is new, another button will be labeled.
5. Sign-up/ register
The only thing that mobile app developers should keep in mind is that they should maintain the user interface to be simple for the user.
Additionally, this page will also have not just the terms and conditions of usage of the stock trading mobile app but also the promise that users' data will be encrypted.
User Panel Features for Share Market Investment App
6. Personal Profile
This profile interface holds everything. All of the data, from the name of the user to language preference and photos, can be accessed here.
7. Graphs
Also known as the trading feature, it is one of the significant aspects of the share market investment application in connection to the users.
It is this page that has current information about the market presented in the form of graphs and charts. It guides users on where they can assist them in increasing their financial stature.
8. Reports
Analytic reports assist users in monitoring their progress within a stock exchange mobile application.
Certain share market investment applications are also famous for updating their users with automatically created reports on a regular basis.
9. Payment Options
One of the salient features in Stock Trading and Investment App Development is payment options. Users require this option to buy and sell shares and stocks.
One of the significant aspects that stock exchange app developers must remember is that they must create a payment gateway that secures users' transactions and personal information.
Advanced Features for Stock Trading and Investment App
- Push-notifications when there are sudden fluctuations in the stock market.
- Constant update of the share market investment app's newsfeed so that users remain abreast of what is going on in the stock market.
- A search engine is used so that users can get information or even search the company in which they wish to purchase the stocks and shares.
- It should be equipped with filters and sorters of information.
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Stock Trading App Development Process: Step-by-Step Guide
Stock market app development is a complicated process. Take a look at how to build a stock trading app
1. Set Goals & Validate The Idea
Your initial step is to solve a problem and fix it with your app because there are already hundreds of stock trading apps in the market.
Here, you must differentiate yourself from the rest and provide a fresh experience to your potential customers.
For this, you can carry out a market analysis that can assist in formulating clear objectives and implementing a strategy.
2. Secure The Application
Before going forward with the next development steps, you must take care of the security issues.
Because unlike any other app, a stock trading app revolves around transactions and other sensitive data.
Thus, it needs to be secured. So, if you are failing on the most crucial part of your app, then there are possibilities that, in the future, you may regret it.
3. UI/UX Development
Users indeed spurn a feature-rich application for another due to complicated navigation alone.
Now, you can make the most of this knowledge to create an app with the most intuitive navigation and a highly simple yet creative interface.
You can begin by learning the needs of your business and then designing mock-ups for your online stock trading platform.
Using the best UX and UI design principles will give you many advantages, such as boosting user engagement, expanding usability, and achieving a better brand image.
4. Design Major Features
As you'll be releasing an MVP, attempt to concentrate on the most critical features that your application should have. Conveniently, you can include non-critical features to attract users' attention.
5. Technology Selection & API Integration
The second step is choosing the appropriate technology stack. The ideal suggestion would be to take input from a stock market trading application developer who knows the ins and outs of the features and functionality of an online trading platform.
In addition, the incorporation of the application programming interface (API) has to be taken into consideration so that a full-fledged application with all the inclusions is developed.
6. Develop an MVP
Finally, it is time to develop the MVP. This is your initial version of the final product and, therefore, has to be developed with the bare minimum but the most crucial features.
Creating an MVP initially instead of creating a full-fledged product will allow you to validate the relevancy of features among the target market and validate your business ideas.
7. Test & Release Application
By this point, a selected team of quality assurance (QA) testers thoroughly checks the developed MVP. To ensure the application operates perfectly, every feature of the app is tested. If any problem is identified upon testing, it can be refined further.
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Cost of a Basic Trading Application Development
The specific order of all aspects of trading applications is registration, portfolios, and trade.
All of these need around $30K to $60K in development in their standard apps. They get basic trendy UI/UX features. Basic ones address startups or low-scale trading organizations.
Development Cost of Mid-Level and Advanced Trading Apps
Intermediately, professional applications will have functionalities such as deep analysis, charts, and live data. The app-making charges of a mid-level app will take anywhere from $60K to $120K
More sophisticated trading applications, ones that use AI and ML development, and automatic trading technology, can be a lot more expensive.
Backend development is important here, but it is also complicated. Sophisticated app development typically costs anything between $130K-$200K, and some may even be more.
Cost Breakdown of Stock Market App Development
Several interdependent steps make up a stock trading app development. The following is a detailed description of the major cost factors:
1. App Design
A well-designed app will provide easy navigation with a minimal learning curve for users. Such services can be customarily expected to bill for $5K-$15K in real-life scenarios.
Custom Android or iOS app designs for specific branding demands further add to the cost.
2. Development
Frontend development involves creating user-facing elements such as trading screens and dashboards.
Backend development makes app functionality, including data processing and storage, possible.
App development prices can vary from $7K to $35K. This is according to app complexity. Advanced features like AI-powered recommendations further increase backend prices.
3. Integration of Third-Party Services
Third-party services increase functionality but contribute to total development costs. Integrities are payment gateways, live market data feeds, and trading platform API development or integration.
Integrating live exchange data, for example, needs high-priced APIs, which raises costs. Third-party integrations, on average, range between $5K and $10K.
4. Testing and Quality Assurance
Testing is necessary to know the app is running smoothly on all devices and platforms.
User experience is covered by manual testing. This detects bugs or navigation problems. Automated testing facilitates the process for mass-scale apps to minimize repetitive activities. Developers mostly choose one out of the unit testing vs integration testing.
The cost of testing is between $6K and $50K, depending on how complex the app is. Continuous testing is necessary to ensure high performance and satisfy user requirements.
5. Deployment and Hosting
Deployment puts the app on the App Store or Google Play. Hosting involves cloud services such as AWS or Microsoft Azure for storing data.
Cloud services provide scalability at a recurring cost based on usage. Deployment charges are between $2K and $60K per year per platform.
6. Ongoing Maintenance and Updates
Maintenance keeps the app running and competitive in the long term. Maintenance involves bug fixes, OS upgrades, and additional features to improve user experience.
Updates also handle security loopholes and compliance updates. These add to the cost of mobile app maintenance.
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Additional Costs to Consider for Stock Trading App Development
Besides the main development, some other costs need to be included in the budget. These are:
1. Licensing and Compliance Fees
Trading apps have to comply with financial rules, and that adds licensing expenses. Compliance charges differ geographically.
2. Marketing and User Acquisition
Marketing consists of Google Ads and social media marketing. These aid post-launch success.
3. Scalability and Feature Expansion
Preparing ahead for the sake of scalability could include future investment in scaling infrastructure at the back end as well as the development of new features.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Stock Trading App Development
The following stock app development service factors determine the cost of creating a new stock trading app, providing a better insight into what is involved in calculating the total app development cost.
So, develop a trading app while knowing the factors that could affect the cost:
1. UI /UX Design
A stock trading app can gain from a simple and clean design. However, adding micro-interaction elements, which are not typically seen in other information-intensive apps, can add to the user experience.
An efficient UI/UX designer roadmap can drive up the cost of development. Push notifications, icons, and customization are also necessary for leaving a lasting impression on users.
A well-designed app will make users use it more and prevent them from losing interest after some time.
2. Platform Selection
You should probably go with both Android and iOS app development. However, developing your app on several platforms will make it more expensive.
It's cheaper to release initially on a single platform and later on others. Doing this enables you to keep costs low in the initial stages, and when the app is successful, you can port it to other platforms.
3. Coding Process
The frontend and backend of the app will have the most significant impact on the expense of creating a stock trading app. The expenses will be most dependent on the technologies and the cross-platform app development frameworks used.
For the backend, there are two popular strategies: Monolithic and Microservice.
Although the Monolithic method is economical, the Microservice backend provides the possibility for long-term growth and scalability, so it is a preferred method for a very scalable application.
4. Testing
Testing an app that deals with real-time financial transactions generally involves high costs.
Various factors and approaches have to be taken into consideration during testing, such as making sure the app is running properly when the market is open, ensuring that all APIs are working correctly, and making sure synchronization is seamless and efficient.
5. Team Size
Your app development cost for stock trading will also be affected by the size of the team you hire.
If you let a professional stock trading app development company with skills in multiple fields handle the job, they will offer experienced resources and high-quality services.
It is more costly to hire freelancers or to build an internal team compared to outsourcing to a professional firm. Outsourcing guarantees that the quality of the services is maintained while speeding up the development process.
6. Company Location
The app development company's location can have a big impact on the price of developing a stock trading app.
As an example, development prices in areas such as Asia are generally lower compared to the UK or US.
Thus, knowing regional pricing patterns is vital for making an educated decision regarding your development cost.
7. Technology Stack
The tech stack you choose for creating stock trading apps significantly affects the total development cost.
A well-designed app with a strong tech stack, including the programming language for app development, based on advanced technologies will differentiate your app and create a buzz in this highly competitive space.
With the proper technology, you can enhance the app's performance, scalability, and security to succeed in the long run.
8. Feature List
The cost of developing a stock trading app relies greatly on its features. Although advanced features will push the cost higher, they can greatly increase the appeal and user-friendliness of the app.
A balanced set of features not only adds functionality but also provides the app with a competitive advantage in the saturated market.
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How to Earn Money From Stock Trading Apps?
Mobile apps have various benefits for businesses, one of which is that many mobile apps can generate revenues.
Using a monetization model, generate revenue after the stock trading app development process is concluded efficiently.
A stock trading mobile application is able to generate revenue through the following means:
1. In-App Ads
Amongst the most widely used examples of in-app ads are the advertisements, which are viewed at the bottom of the app's UI (user interface).
Thus, through this approach, stock exchange app developers can show ads for insurance companies.
2. Paid Membership
Under the terms of this model, users, after downloading, can only avail of some basic features.
However, subsequently, users can avail of some special features only after subscribing to the premium membership. It is one of the best methods to generate revenue instantly.
Additionally, after paying, users can also invest in the stock market.
3. Selling Products
Share market investment apps, at times, can even opt to sell products to generate revenue. Products offered through the app are mutual funds, insurance, and various other items.
4. Transaction Fee
Transactions executed by the users through the app will be payable. Therefore, with every transaction, the backend developers of the stock trading apps will determine a specific amount as a transaction fee.
5. Early Alerts to Users
With early notifications, stock exchange mobile applications can hold onto their users. In addition to being a powerful mode of communication, push notifications are a powerful source of generating revenue.
Therefore, if a user has paid for the service, they will be given early notices of the market ahead of the other users of the application.
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Hourly Rates of Stock Trading App Development Based On Different Regions
India hourly app development prices fluctuate substantially based on areas due to manpower expenses.
Rates are determined based on developers' experience, market rates, and currency exchange fluctuations.
How to Reduce the Stock Trading App Development Costs
Minimizing trading app development costs needs some strategic thinking and choices.
With the proper allocation of resources and employing new technology trends in the IT sector, it becomes feasible for organizations to save without compromising on quality.
1. Define Clear Requirements
Begin by defining key features and functionalities for the trading app. Refrain from including unnecessary features during the initial development stage. A well-defined roadmap avoids wasted resources and saves costs.
2. Choose the Right Development Team
Pick a professional app development firm in India, such as Arramton Infotech, based on experience and affordability. Offshore software development teams in Asia or Eastern Europe tend to provide competitive pricing. Freelancers or smaller agencies can also offer affordable solutions.
3. Use Pre-Built Components and APIs
Using pre-built components or APIs for payment gateway integration and data feeds is time-saving. Stable APIs for market data avoid the need for manual development.
4. Focus on Essential Design Elements
Spend on a functional, intuitive design rather than overly complex aesthetics. Prioritize navigation and usability for a good user experience without inflated design expenses.
5. Conduct Thorough Testing
Catch bugs early by performing intensive testing, both automated and manual. Detection at an early system development life cycle (SDLC) stage avoids expensive repair in downstream development phases.
6. Monitor and Adjust Regularly
timeline. Refrain from scope creep by staying close to the original plan and maintaining cost control.
7. Plan for Long-Term Maintenance
Choose a maintenance plan with periodic updates and bug fixes. Spending on effective maintenance measures avoids major problems and saves costs in the future.
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Tech Stack for Stock Trading App Development
The following are the steps the share market investment app undertook prior to its launch on iOS and Android:
1. Front-end
The Front end development process focuses on the client side of the development. A front-end developer of an application is in charge of the appearance and, in the end, the design of the application.
The languages used in front-end development include CSS, jQuery, JavaScript, and HTML.
2. Backend
Surrounding the server side of the development, the stock market software developers are interested in tracking the performance of the app.
The backend developers must deal with programming languages such as .NET, Python vs Java, PHP, and Ruby on Rails.
3. Database
The database is the central part of a smartphone application. Wherever the platform is, whether iOS or Android, the database is the heart of an app.
Whether it is for improving functionality or to design a new app, having a proper database is a matter of utmost importance. Some of the highly recommended mobile app databases list are:
- PostgreSQL
- MongoDB
- Memcached
- Cassandra
- MariaDB
- SQLite
- Redis
- InfluxDB
- Riak DB
4. Other Tools
The following are some other apps that can be installed on the phone:
🔘Stash
Also known as Stash Financial, Inc., Stash is operational on both smartphones and the web platform. The New York-based FinTech Company is famous for allowing its users to invest in small portions in installments. With over 5 million users, Stash was valued at $2 billion in 2020.
🔘Stocktwits
Established in 2008, Stocktwits was created as a site where investors, traders, and entrepreneurs communicate and exchange ideas.
With around 5 million members, StockTwits provides its clients an opportunity to chat with ticker streams without much hassle. It can be done using the @ symbol and then entering the username.
The material available in Stocktwits is also redistributable on other websites like CNN Money and Yahoo Finance. Besides that, users can also post on other social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
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5 Benefits of Hiring Stock Trading App Development Company Like Arramton Infotech
Joining hands with Arramton Infotech can help you get the following benefits:
1. Offers Experience Developers
App developers who specialize in financial software development for fintech businesses possess the technical expertise and proficiency to create high-quality, dependable apps.
They can ensure that the app is created with the precise requirements and needs of the user in mind.
2. Customized Services
A stock app development company that specializes in custom apps can create a stock trading app that is customized to your unique needs and requirements.
This can be done with features like real-time market data, sophisticated charting capabilities, trade execution, risk management capabilities, and integration with other financial accounts.
3. Scalable Applications
As your company expands, you will possibly need to introduce new features or scale the application to serve your users' demands.
Collaboration with developers or a custom mobile app development firm can make sure the application is developed with scalability in mind and will grow with your business.
4. Ongoing Support
When you employ developers or a custom app development firm, you are able to receive regular support and maintenance.
This may be useful in case you are facing any kind of issues or bugs in the app or if you need to update it or include new features later.
5. Time and Cost-efficiency
It may be a lengthy and complicated process to build a stock trading app from the ground up.
It can save you time and make sure that the app is developed cost-effectively and efficiently by hiring developers or a custom app development firm.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed the significant information relating to developing a stock trading app. You have learned about the development process, the unique features, and the stock trading app development cost.
Are you looking to develop a mobile stock trading platform for trading stocks? We are a leading iOS and Android mobile app development company. Connect with us to discuss your project today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it safe to use share market investment apps?
Ans: Yes. The firewalls in the apps are encrypted for the users' security.
Q. How do stock trading apps generate revenue?
Ans: Stock trading apps can make money through transaction charges, subscriptions, premium features, margin lending, and selling market data or other services to customers.
Q. How long does it take to develop a stock trading app?
Ans: The timeline would vary based on the app's complexity. A simple version may take 4 to 6 months, while a feature-rich app with high-end tools, real-time data, and integrations may take 6 to 12 months.
Q. What is a stock trading application?
Ans: A stock trading app is an online software used to purchase, sell, and manage stocks. You need only a smartphone and a stable internet connection, and you are ready to start your trading journey in your hands.
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