In this blog, we will delve into the world of language learning app development, exploring the costs and possibilities. The cost to develop a language learning app like Babbel depends on various factors such as features, design, and technology used and will mostly be in the range of $30,000-$200,000. By understanding the process and requirements involved, you can lay the foundation for creating an exceptional language-learning app tailored to the needs of your audience.

Why Is Babbel So Successful, and What’s the Business Potential of Apps Like Babbel?

The market for language learning apps is growing rapidly. This growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing demand for English language skills in the workplace, the growing popularity of travel and tourism, and the increasing interest in learning other languages for personal and professional enrichment.

Babbel has recorded $275 million in revenue in 2022. The success of Babbel and other language-learning apps shows that there is strong business potential for these apps.

Monetization strategies you can use for an app like Babbel

Before you start building an app like Babbel, planning how you will make money from such apps is necessary. Here are a few monetization strategies for a language-learning app like Babbel:

1. Freemium Model: One can offer free basic language lessons and features to attract a wide user base. Provide additional premium content, advanced courses, and exclusive features through a subscription-based model, enticing users to upgrade and access more comprehensive language learning resources.
2. In-App Purchases: Users can purchase additional language packs, specialized courses, or supplementary learning materials within the app. This allows learners to customize their language learning experience and access content tailored to their specific needs.
3. Enterprise Subscriptions: Establish partnerships with language institutes, universities, or corporate clients to offer enterprise subscriptions. This can include bulk licensing agreements, tailored learning solutions for organizations or partnerships with educational institutions to integrate the app into their language programs.
4. Integrated Advertising: Explore opportunities for targeted advertising within the app. Collaborate with relevant brands or language-related products and services to display contextually relevant ads to users. This can provide an additional revenue stream while maintaining a user-friendly experience.

Monetizing a language learning app like Babbel requires careful consideration of various strategies. It’s important to strike a balance between user satisfaction and financial sustainability, ensuring that your app remains accessible, engaging, and profitable in the competitive language learning market.

Key Factors Affecting Development Costs

A language learning app banks on various features and functionalities that unlock the students’ learning outcomes. These features collectively, along with the complexity of the app, determine the cost to develop a language-learning app like Babbel, which will be in the range of $30,000-$200,000.

The following are the key factors affecting the language-learning app development cost.

Platform compatibility and target devices

When developing a language learning app like Babbel, the key factors that significantly impact the development costs are platform compatibility and target devices. It is important to determine the platforms on which the app will be available, such as iOS, Android, or both. Each platform has its own development requirements, and ensuring compatibility across multiple platforms can increase the development costs of an educational app.

For example, if you aim to make a platform like Babbel available on both iOS and Android, the development team will need to allocate resources to develop and test the app separately for each platform. This involves coding and optimizing the app’s features, functionalities, and user interface to suit the specifications of each platform.

Moreover, considering the target devices is crucial to optimize the user experience. Learners from developing nations may predominantly use smartphones or tablets, so it is essential to ensure that the app is optimized for different screen sizes, resolutions, and functionalities and if functional cross-platform. This requires additional effort from the development team to adapt the app’s design and interface to suit various devices, resulting in increased development costs.

However, it is important to note that accommodating multiple platforms and devices may require more resources and time, thereby impacting the overall cost of developing a language-learning app like Babbel.

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design

Another crucial factor that affects the development costs of a language learning app like Babbel is the design of the app. The UI and UX design play a vital role in creating an engaging and intuitive learning environment for users.

For instance, to build an app like Babbel and make it successful, the UI design should be visually appealing, intuitive, and user-friendly. This involves a careful selection of colors, typography, and layout to create a visually appealing interface that resonates with the learners. The UX design can enhance user engagement and satisfaction in the language learning app development process by ensuring smooth navigation, clear instructions, and interactive elements.

Skilled designers and user experience specialists are needed to create wireframes, design mockups, and iterate on the app’s visual elements based on user feedback. This can increase the cost of developing a language-learning app like Babbel.

Considering the language learning app development process, investing in a well-designed UI and UX can significantly impact the success and adoption of your app. However, it is important to balance the level of sophistication and the associated costs, ensuring that the design aligns with the preferences and expectations of your audience while also considering the overall cost of building an app similar to Babbel.

Localization and Multilingual Support

When going for language learning app development, one must consider localization and multilingual support. Multilingual support is the ability to support multiple languages in a single product or service. This can be done by translating the content into multiple languages or by providing a user interface that allows users to select their preferred language.

Localization and multilingual support are both important factors that can affect the cost of language learning app development. The number of languages that the app will support will have a significant impact on the development costs. Additionally, the complexity of the localization process will also affect the costs. For example, apps that need to support right-to-left languages (such as Arabic or Hebrew) will be more expensive to localize than apps that only support left-to-right languages (such as English or Spanish).

However, implementing localization and multilingual support requires additional language learning app development efforts, including content translation, cultural adaptation, and user interface adjustments. While it may increase the development cost, it significantly enhances user engagement and provides a personalized experience.

Integration with External Services

Integrating external services into a language learning app can greatly expand its capabilities and user experience. For instance, incorporating payment gateways enables users to make in-app purchases for premium features or subscriptions. Integration with social media platforms allows users to share their progress and achievements with friends, fostering a sense of community.

Additionally, integrating third-party APIs for services like speech recognition or machine translation enhances the app’s functionality. However, integrating these external services requires additional language learning app development efforts, including API integration, security measures, and compatibility testing. While it may impact the cost of developing a language learning app like Babbel, it adds value and enriches the overall user experience.

Backend development and database integration

When determining the language learning app development costs, one key factor to consider is the backend development and database integration.

To develop a language learning app like Babbel, you need to build a robust backend infrastructure that can handle user data, progress tracking, and content delivery. This involves designing and implementing efficient databases and APIs to ensure smooth communication between the app’s front end and the server.

For example, if you want to create an app similar to Babbel with features such as personalized recommendations, progress tracking, and collaborative learning, you need a well-structured database to store user profiles, learning materials, and progress data. The backend should be capable of handling concurrent user requests and delivering content seamlessly to users across different devices.

Database integration plays a crucial role in language learning app development as it affects the app’s performance and scalability. Choosing the right database technology and optimizing database queries are essential for efficient data retrieval and storage. Depending on your app’s requirements and anticipated user base, you may opt for SQL or NoSQL databases.

Moreover, custom language learning apps may require additional backend functionalities, such as integration with third-party services, payment gateways, and social media platforms. Each integration adds complexity to the backend development and increases the overall cost of developing a language-learning app like Babbel.

Testing, Maintenance and update costs

Language learning app development involves several stages, and one critical factor that affects the overall development cost is testing and quality assurance. When creating an app like Babbel, it is essential to implement a robust testing process to ensure its functionality and reliability. Thorough testing helps identify and address any bugs, glitches, or usability issues, guaranteeing a smooth user experience. By conducting multiple rounds of testing during the language learning app development process, you can optimize the app’s performance and eliminate potential issues.

Another significant factor impacting the development cost of a language learning app is maintenance and updates. Once the app is launched, regular maintenance is crucial to ensure its smooth operation and user satisfaction. This includes addressing bug fixes, implementing security patches, and optimizing performance. Additionally, continuous updates are essential to introduce new features, enhance existing functionalities, and incorporate user feedback. By actively maintaining and updating the app, you can keep it relevant, competitive, and aligned with the evolving needs of your audience.

The kind of features you want in the app

The cost to develop a language learning app like Babbel is also influenced by the kind of features you want to incorporate into the app. The feature set plays a significant role in determining the complexity and development effort required.

For example, if you aim to provide interactive lessons with speech recognition capabilities, gamification elements, and virtual immersion experiences, the development team will need to invest more time and resources in integrating these features into the app. These features require advanced technologies such as natural language processing, machine learning, and augmented reality.

Additionally, features like adaptive learning algorithms, personalized recommendations, and progress-tracking systems involve sophisticated algorithms and data analysis. Implementing these features requires expertise in data science and AI, which can contribute to the development cost of a language learning app like Babbel.

Furthermore, developing a custom language learning app may require unique features tailored to specific user needs or target languages. Building custom features from scratch adds complexity and development time, which impacts the overall cost.

Conducting thorough market research and user surveys can help identify the most desired features for your target audience. Appinventiv, with its innovative education app development services, will help you develop your language learning app in the most cost-effective manner.

Must-Have Features in an App Like Babbel

When you want to make a platform like Babbel, you must understand the must-have features in your app that will make it stand out from the competition. Here are a few key features that you can think of including in your app, like Babbel.

AI-powered chatbot

Your language learning app like Babbel should include an AI-powered chatbot that provides personalized language learning assistance, allowing users to practice conversations and receive real-time feedback.

Virtual immersion

Virtual immersion using AR/VR technologies can become one of the stand-out features of your language learning app. To enhance the learning experience, an app similar to Babbel should offer virtual immersion through interactive exercises, dialogues, and simulations, enabling users to immerse themselves in a language-rich environment.

Progress tracking

With Babbel app features like progress tracking, the users can monitor their language learning journey, set goals, and track their achievements, providing a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue learning.

Adaptive learning

An essential feature of a language learning app is adaptive learning, where the app adjusts the content and difficulty level based on the user’s progress, ensuring personalized and efficient learning paths.

Speech recognition

Speech recognition technology allows users to practice pronunciation and speaking skills by comparing their speech with native speakers, promoting accurate language acquisition.

Gamification elements

To make language learning engaging and fun, incorporating gamification elements like badges, rewards, and challenges stimulates user motivation and encourages regular usage.

Multilingual interface

Providing a multilingual interface allows users to navigate and access content in their preferred language, catering to a diverse audience and enhancing user accessibility.

Offline mode

Enabling an offline mode allows users to download lessons and learn without an internet connection, which is particularly beneficial for users in regions with limited connectivity.

Personalized recommendations

A key feature in an app like Babbel is personalized recommendations, where the app suggests relevant lessons, topics, and exercises based on the user’s preferences and learning goals, creating a tailored learning experience.

These language learning app features are essential to deliver a comprehensive and effective language learning experience. While the development cost of a language learning app like Babbel may vary based on the complexity and scope of these features, they play a crucial role in attracting and retaining users, making it a worthwhile investment.

Also read: How much does it cost to develop an app like Duolingo

App Development Process for Building an App Like Babbel

Here is a brief overview of the language learning app development process.

Define target audience and user needs

Begin by defining the target audience for the language learning app, focusing on your target audience and their specific language learning requirements. Understanding their needs will help tailor the app’s features and content accordingly.

Design the user experience (UX) and create mockups

Design the UX of the app with an intuitive interface, visually appealing elements, and seamless navigation. Create mockups that showcase the app’s layout, features, and overall user flow, ensuring a user-friendly experience.

Choose the appropriate technology stack

Select the technology stack that best suits the app’s requirements, considering factors like scalability, security, and platform compatibility. Utilize the latest frameworks and programming languages to develop a robust and efficient app.

Implement key features

Incorporate essential features like lesson modules, language exercises, vocabulary builders, and progress tracking. These features ensure an interactive and comprehensive learning experience for users.

Integrate external services

Integrate external services like speech recognition APIs, translation services, or content libraries to enhance the app’s functionality and provide users with additional language learning resources.

Test and debug the app across devices and platforms

Thoroughly test the app on various devices and platforms, ensuring compatibility, performance, and bug-free functionality. Address any issues or inconsistencies that arise during testing.

Deploy the app on the app store

Prepare the app for launch by adhering to the app store guidelines and following the necessary submission process. Optimize the app’s metadata, screenshots, and descriptions to attract potential users.

Gather user feedback and make updates accordingly

Encourage users to provide feedback and reviews to gather insights into their experience. Continuously analyze user feedback and make updates to address any shortcomings, improve features, and enhance overall user satisfaction.

Considering the complexities involved in the development process and the desired language-learning app features, the development cost of a language-learning app like Babbel may vary based on the scope and scale of the project.

Why Choose Appinventiv?

When considering the development of a language learning app like Babbel, it’s crucial to choose the right development partner. Appinventiv is an award-winning education app development company and is the ideal choice for several reasons. Appinventiv has extensive experience in language learning app development, ensuring a deep understanding of the unique requirements and challenges involved in creating an app like Babbel.

Moreover, Appinventiv offers competitive pricing for app development. With a focus on delivering high-quality solutions at affordable rates, they provide transparency in language learning app development costs, enabling you to plan your budget effectively.

Also, Appinventiv’s team of skilled developers and designers is proficient in creating engaging and intuitive user experiences tailored to the unique requirements of your target audience. We research the cultural nuances and preferences of the target market, ensuring the app resonates with the users. Our team also has wide experience in developing educational apps. For instance, Appinventiv takes pride in its successful partnership with Nova, a groundbreaking blockchain-powered Learning Management System (LMS) that is revolutionizing the education sector.

By choosing Appinventiv, you gain a reliable partner that is committed to delivering a top-notch language learning app within your budget.

FAQS

Q. How to build a language-learning app like Babbel?

A. To build a language learning app like Babbel, you need to define your target audience, design engaging user interfaces, implement key features, integrate language learning resources, and ensure compatibility across devices and platforms.

Q. How much does the Babbel language learning app cost?

A. The cost of developing a language learning app like Babbel can range from $30,000 to $300,000 USD, depending on various factors such as the complexity of features, development team size, platform compatibility, and desired user experience.

Q. How long does it take to develop a language-learning app like Babbel?

A. The development timeline for a language learning app like Babbel can vary based on the project’s scope and requirements. On average, it can take approximately 4 to 15 months to develop a well-functioning and polished language-learning app.

By the end of 2022, Statista predicts that the eLearning market will be worth $243 billion. According to another study from Cision, the market will grow by $289 billion in 2024. 

Indeed, the need for educational mobile app development is growing as the Edtech sector emerges as the most attractive investment market.

Some well-known names in the Edtech sector, such as Google Classroom, Khan Academy, edX, and Duolingo, have demonstrated their potential with their digital learning offerings.

If you’re a startup or an educational institution owner looking to transform your idea into a successful educational app, you’ve come to the perfect place. 

This guide discusses the prominent e-learning app types, features, and advantages of an educational app, along with the phases of the e-learning apps development process. We will also discuss how to create an educational app and give you a general sense of how much the educational app development will cost. Let’s begin.

What is an Educational App?

An educational app is software made to assist people with any form of remote learning. It promotes and facilitates online learning, particularly self-learning. Examples range from applications that teach young children fundamental math concepts to apps that serve as adult training platforms for advanced professional skills.

Incorporating learning management systems and other technologies to provide a specialized, end-to-end learning solution is the core function of an education app platform.

Who Uses Educational Apps? 

Educational apps are used by many different individuals and organizations to meet various learning needs. For example,

• Parents engage their young children in interesting learning activities through these apps
• Students, candidates, and students who need exam preparation assistance
• Professionals seeking new certifications
• People who want to learn new things, advance their knowledge, or become experts in something
• Educational facilities to address various learning issues
• Online course platforms as a tool for enhanced market promotion
• Teachers for monitoring students’ development

[Also Read: Why Invest in Kids Educational Apps for Startups?]

The Benefits of Educational Apps

The market analysis above clearly shows that the industry is growing rapidly. Although the shift from traditional education methods to online learning started a decade ago, however, the pandemic accelerated the speed. Let us explore the benefits in detail that will help you become confident to adopt the change.

Mobile and portability

If learners can acquire the ability to learn on the move in today’s fast-paced world, that’s excellent. So, two of the most important advantages of educational mobile apps for learners are portability and mobility. With this, students may start learning anything they want, wherever they are, on their mobile phones.

Increased engagement

People are always more drawn to images than to simple text. An application for education is an outstanding example of this. As a result of the somewhat routine nature of classroom lessons, it becomes challenging for students to maintain focus. On the other hand, educational applications are engaging and enjoyable to use, drawing in a lot of students.

Time efficiency

Through educational apps, learners can save a lot of time. Travel time is reduced because there is no need to travel. It is simple to download references and class notes, which also saves time. Instant upgrades, portability, limitless learning, etc., are features that greatly reduce time.

Money-saving 

Even if an educational app is paid for by a subscription, the cost is still significantly lower than hiring a tutor. Learning applications are the simplest and least expensive way to learn something new. They are the first option people are choosing these days. Simply tap the app icon to begin studying right away; it couldn’t be easier!

A wide variety of courses

People are no longer limited to choosing only the programs available in their city or having to wait for a specific individual to provide a tour. These days, we have the option of selecting any online learning resource. Thus, the development of educational applications is now very pertinent. There are many significant rivals in several categories of apps that are currently quite popular, but there are also many issues that users require that are not sufficiently covered in the present offerings.

Constant availability

Learning educational apps are accessible all the time, unlike universities and colleges. The days of time-bound learning are long gone. Educational applications give learners 24/7 access to resources to learn new topics at their convenience. Additionally, the educational app can assist learners in resolving their doubts whenever and wherever they are.

The Development Process of an Educational App

Educational app development requires an understanding of both, the eLearning processes and mobile application development. Gathering the requirements about the target audience and curriculum requirements, it is best to partner with an expert mobile app development company like Appinventiv. Having said that, mentioned below is the step-wise process of educational app development.

Research and ideate

If you want to build a great mobile learning application, the first step is research and idea generation. Compile all the content for the courses you want to provide in the app. You must thoroughly analyze the online learning market in order to differentiate your app and keep up with it.

App design

User Interface (UI)-friendly apps are more appealing and widely used on mobile devices. The user-friendly UI of the app makes it simple to access its content. Use medium-sized elements and images in the UI for simple access.

App development

After the design process is completed, you can start the development process. This step covers everything from front-end and back-end development to app functionality. App testing and bug fixes are also included in this phase.

App deployment 

Once all the app components are ready, you can deploy the program on the operating system of your choosing. Whether Android or iOS, the app will be developed accordingly and function properly on that platform.

Now that we have seen how to build an educational app, let’s move on to the important features you must include when planning to develop such apps.

Must-have Features in Educational Apps

The market is flooded with educational apps for students, making it challenging to select the ones with the best features. So, we have investigated and identified some of the most important features an educational app should have. The cost of development rises as features become more sophisticated.

An educational app’s fundamental features typically include:

Filters and a search bar

An educational app functions like a catalog where all the available learning resources are listed. Sometimes, it could be challenging for learners to choose a course if there are too many courses available on the app. 

Therefore, offering a search bar to find a specific course can help make it easier for learners to find the right one. Include a search feature for the course categories and filters by level, pricing, and language.

One-step login and a user dashboard 

A decent education app must have a dashboard and one-step login features. Students may concentrate on their studies by saving time with a one-step login. On the other hand, the dashboard gives learners the ability to design their own educational profiles and monitor their learning process.

Push notifications

Is a new lesson on the horizon? Are there any new videos that students can watch? Have the results of the progress report been posted? You can communicate this to your app users directly through the push notification feature. This feature will also increase app usage.

Payment mechanisms

Learners would use this feature to pay for paid courses, and teachers would be able to collect their fees. It is advisable to select a secure payment option. You can provide simple payment methods such as UPIs, bank cards, smart wallets, and others.

Recording of sessions

The users will feel secure knowing they can repeat the course after a face-to-face session, thanks to session recordings. Consequently, the gaps are filled as learners can review the challenging ideas following the live session. 

The flipped classroom strategy, in which educators present essential material before a face-to-face session, is supported by session recording.

Students find that these recorded sessions are highly beneficial for studying for examinations and other assessments. Additionally, it frees the learner from having to take notes. Therefore, a perfect education app should feature session recording to increase student involvement.

File sharing

An online tutor might want to communicate something about the lesson during a crucial discussion or after the session. A file-sharing option would therefore be useful. Tutors can share a variety of multimedia content, including photographs, videos, PDFs, and more, with the aid of this feature. It also aids students in maximizing the session’s value.

Admin console

Add this feature to administer online content; edit, update, and delete lessons, notifications, etc. 

Integration of social media platforms

Make sure that the students can post the outcomes of their progress test on their social media accounts if they are pleased with them. They might use this as an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments. You benefit from free advertising among a community of people who share your interests.

Related Article: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Child Care and Day Care App like Brightwheel?

The Tech Stack Required For Educational App Development

It will be tough to create a strong and effective app with appealing features, expand it, or modify it if the wrong tech stack is chosen. Additionally, custom plugin creation will be a hassle for you because it takes a lot of time and money. And then, as a result, the app development may be delayed and have several defects. Due to this, we suggest utilizing the following technologies:

Front-end technology

React is the ideal option for front-end web development. When compared to other commonly used technologies, it is quicker, more easily reusable, and customizable. React and React Native enables the creation of cross-platform apps from a single codebase.

Back-end technologies

Node.js and the NestJs architecture are the best back-end alternatives because of their speed-to-flexibility ratio. They are smart choices for the MVP stage, particularly if you want to prioritize growth and avoid overburdening your team during implementation.

Database tech

Priorities must be decided upon the commencement of the project for any educational software. One such database with a focus on data security is PostgreSQL. Because of its speed and versatility, MongoDB, a well-known example of a non-relational database, is in high demand. Choose a database choice that best meets the goals of your project.

Cloud assistance 

Many firms benefit from AWS’s one-year bonus for novel apps. AWS is more effective while working on several projects at once.

[Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to Build an App Like Coursera?]

The Cost of Developing an Education App

It is tricky to exactly determine the cost of developing an education app. The MVP stage typically costs between $15,000 and $50,000 to create. However, the overall cost may range from $10,000 to $100,000. A minimum viable product, or MVP, is low-featured educational software that is less expensive than an app with all the desired features.

Apart from features and tech stack, the following elements also contribute to the ultimate cost:

• The idea’s complexity

The development costs are directly impacted by how complicated the application’s idea is. The complexity of the app is determined by the intricacy of the business logic, such as the number of roles, functionalities, integrations, or monetization methods. It also entails more sophisticated design, more analysis, and more preparation.

• App design

It takes a significant amount of time and money to develop an appealing and user-friendly app design.

• The app platforms that are utilized

iOS, Android, and Web are the three major sorts of app platforms, and each one needs a particular tech stack. It will cost more to develop an educational app if you want it for both iOS and Android.

• Financial deal with an organization that will develop the app

The cost varies considerably depending on your development team. If you hire an external development team, it will depend on the agreement you reach with them.

Maintenance and promotion are two hidden instances of an e-learning app development cost.

Updating your app’s features and functionalities, correcting critical issues, scaling servers, and many other tasks are all part of maintaining it. An educational app’s maintenance will cost between $4,000 and $8,000 a year based on the MVP cost. It represents between 15% and 20% of the original development costs.

In addition to maintaining it, you should market your app as well to guarantee that it reaches your target market. A new educational app will cost two to three times as much to market as it did to create. 

How to Reduce the Development Cost of an Educational App?

Given below are some ways in which you can reduce the development costs of your educational app. 

Have clear technical blueprints

The development process is sped up with the help of clear technical blueprints, which also cuts down on needless discussion time. Therefore, before you start developing a mobile app, it’s crucial to specify all of your functional needs in detail.

Prioritize

The most prominent features should take precedence over the less crucial ones to save time and money.

The number of features

The price of developing an educational app is greatly influenced by the functionality and features required in the app. So, try to keep them as minimal as possible.

Error detection

Errors should be caught and fixed as soon as possible. Correcting faults later in the development process may cost substantially more (up to 100 times or even more) than correcting errors early. Fixing issues when they appear is less stressful and more economical.

Outsourcing

Another strategy for cutting development costs is outsourcing. The owner doesn’t have to invest time and money in opening an office or hiring additional staff. It also saves a lot of money because outsourced developers are affordable.

Partner With Appinventiv for the Development of a Robust Educational App

Although lucrative, the world of digital education is far from simple. Make sure you comprehend your target audience, how unique each learner is in their own ways, and the ideal way of communicating with them. It can be challenging to do it all alone, so make sure you have a qualified team to help you plan an educational app. It makes things simpler for you and frees up time that you can use to improve the app’s development.

At Appinventiv, we have extensive experience in educational app development.

We can assist you in the development of an end-to-end educational app by working as an extended member of your team. 

We ensure that we fully understand your business objectives, target audience, and stakeholders before developing successful, scalable applications.

We recently teamed up with Vodafone to work on their Gurushala initiative and develop an education app that enables smoother interactions between students and teachers as well as more engaging learning for students. To date, 150,000 students and teachers have onboarded the platform, and $2.1 million funding has been received. 

In case you are looking to develop something similar, you can contact our experts. They will guide you through the entire process and make the app development journey smoother for you. 

Conclusion

Creating educational apps for students in today’s scenario has several advantages. 

They make education smarter and make it easier for students to learn at their convenience. The ideal educational application allows learners to actively participate, avoid being distracted, and feel comfortable while learning new things.

We hope this guide helped you comprehend the fundamentals of the e-learning mobile app development process and took you a step closer to building a powerful educational app.

FAQs

Q. How much does it cost to make an educational app?

A. The minimum viable product (MVP) stage typically costs between $15,000 and $50,000 to create. However, the overall cost may range from $10,000 to $100,000.

Q. How much does it cost to professionally develop an app? 

A. An app’s development typically costs between $50,000 and $75,000 on average. An app with a comprehensive feature set can cost upwards of $300,000 to develop.

Q. What kind of team should you assemble to create an educational app?

A. Your app development team should include:

• 1 Project manager
• 1 or 2 UX/UI specialists
• 1 or 2 team leaders
• 2 or 3 programmers
• 1 or 2 quality experts

While the education domain had been grappling with doing something different for a very long time, the pandemic forced them to transform and explore robust LMS platforms. With coronavirus mutating to its more deadly self, remote learning platforms are preparing to stay for the long haul. 

At a time like this, educators need to ask: Is the LMS I am using prepared for the changing demands in the education sector? Are the features of LMS platforms ready for the distance? 

Here, we will be discussing the remote learning enabling features that should be present in all online learning platforms as we enter 2021 and prepare to make your LMS system for online teaching to join the sector’s growth statistics.

As we enter a new year, it is important to understand what didn’t work for a majority of the online learning platforms in 2020, so that the same mistakes are not repeated in the year to come. 

What Didn’t Work for Learning Management System for Schools in 2020

One issue that I can presume to be the biggest factor behind criticisms from digital learning platforms in 2020 was the learnability curve. Both instructors and students were very new to the idea of online learning, which made the adoption of LMS distance learning a challenge for the industry as a whole. The fact that teachers and students were extremely habitual to the traditional learning structure kept them from realizing the true benefits of distance learning with LMS platforms. 

As we enter 2021, we will have to note that the best LMS systems will be the ones that are easy to operate and is scalable enough to support x number of students and study material. Educators will also have to look into a change in the way they deliver classes and course material – switching from reading material to visual or integrating immersive technologies like AR/VR in course delivery. 

Besides these, let us look into some of the top reasons why educators asked for an LMS software switch. These reasons, on many grounds, also act as the key factors why education startups fail.

These pointers, irrespective of the percentage count of people having issues with them are a good place for educators to start when designing LMS platforms. So the next time you connect with an elearning app development company, ask them their plans around handling these challenges to get an idea of how prepared they are to handle your projects surrounding learning management systems in higher education or online learning platforms for businesses. 

Now that we have peeked into the issues that made educators ask for an LMS switch, let us look into the features that would help you biome one of the Best online learning platforms in 2021. 

[Also Read: Reimagining the future of education with the metaverse]

Remote Learning Friendly Features That Would Define The Best elearning Platforms in 2021

1.  Considerate of different network conditions

The difference in network conditions is one of the biggest issues attached to the mass adoption of LMS solutions. Even amidst the pandemic world when instructors and students were forced to use an LMS, low internet connectivity issues are what is keeping them from having seamless learning and teaching experience. 

To solve the crippling issue, educational app developers will have to concentrate their efforts on native software development and other offline-friendly technologies like progressive web applications. On the other hand, the system will have to be developed with a hybrid approach in mind – some features (like document creation, modification) should be available on an offline mode while others must be online only (like test and assessment).

2.  High concurrency friendly 

One of the ways you can make your LMS solution a profitable business model is making it high concurrency friendly. By enabling all your students and teachers to be active on the platform at once while performing the usual session tasks like video conferencing, documents upload and download, report management, etc. you will be able to create a seamless experience, one which is glitch-free. 

The only way you’ll be able to do it is through the creation of a high-concurrency friendly LMS software. 

3. Presence of content development tools 

If we enlist the top functionalities of an LMS software, the one that would top the series in every educational software development services list, it’s the presence of content creation tools. 

While for the students, the content that they’ll generally have to create would be text, voice, and image-based; teachers or instructors will have to work around the creation of interactive content like videos, quizzes, assessments, etc. 

The best online learning platforms will be ones that enable the stakeholders to create the content within the application and thus save the complexity and time it takes to upload the content from another platform. 

4.  Cross-platform integration

Gone are the days when online-learning-centric students used to study on one LMS. In order to keep today’s students and instructors engaged, you will have to give them cross-platform capabilities. They will want to be reminded of when the homework is due on their Alexa device and have an immersive learning session on a VR device. 

For an education app development company, there’s no exciting time for the domain as now. Partner with an agency that holds expertise in technologies that create a seamless omni-channel learning experience. 

5.  Extension and scalability friendly 

The requirement around extensibility and scalability are two-sided. While on one hand, the LMS software must be designed to fit in extensive courses and assessment – one that would grow from class to class, on the other hand, it should be made to fit the technicality level of the system in place in schools. 

What LMS providers will have to consider in 2021 that unlike 2020, where the entire year ended with students being at home, there’s a high probability that they will return to schools. So, it’s important that the data which went into the LMS have a way to be synced with the traditional software in schools. 

While here were the features that instructors and students will be expecting as advantages of learning platforms, which a education app development company will be able to help with, there are other things YOU – the LMS brand owner will have to note. 

Here are some pointers that were noted by a Bay View Analytics survey which carried information on what faculties felt to be the most helpful functionality for them when conducting classes online – 

All the features that we covered in the article have been hand-picked by our in-house e learning app development experts. We believe that these features when integrated with other key features of a successful LMS software, can help make your product one that is best suited for scalable distance-learning LMS needs. 

In case you have another idea you wish to discuss with us, get in touch with our eLearning software development team.

Because of the frequent lockdowns globally, classroom-based education has been going through an existential crisis with the interruption becoming indefinite in scope. Online tutoring and homeschooling are being tossed as serious alternatives for face-to-face teaching. These past few years have witnessed an exponential increase in queries for developing online apps for tutoring businesses.

If there is an educational sector that stands to benefit from the resurging interest in online tutoring, then that is the K-12 cohort. In 2019, the tutoring market associated with this sector was worth $600 million. It is projected from 2019 – 2023, tutoring for this section would expand at a rate of 23% CAGR.

According to the latest forecast, it is predicted that the private tutoring market has the potential to grow by $8.37B by 2026 at a CAGR of 7.61%.

So, if you’re someone who has already started with on-demand tutors app development or are looking to get your on-demand tutor app developed, then this blog is just for you. We will be discussing some of the key on-demand tutor app features for the post-Covid era.

Must-have Features of On-demand Tutor App 

The rise of apps in the online education industry has been nudged forward by parental insecurity for their children to miss out on timely education. Community schools are far from standardizing delivery for online tutoring services, due to which the private tutoring market is blossoming. A standalone, private platform for tutors is faster to develop than an institution-centric application. 

But saying this does not take away the feature sets of either category. Whether it is a school teacher at the other end or a privately hired tutor on demand, the following features in on demand tutoring app would better the overall experience for both the master and the apprentice.

1.  Single Step Sign-in 

You want a swarm of people to visit, download and use the application. To ensure that, you need to get rid of the long-format sign-up forms as they are a thing of the past. First-time users may not entirely want to stick around for the long haul and you need to capture their attention in that limited time period by making it easier for them to get into the app with quick and easy signups. Facebook or a Google sign-up option is the thing nowadays that instantly gratifies the user and swiftly push them over to discover the app content. If you want to keep it formal, then asking for an email, name, age, and mobile number should suffice, but not more than that. It’s better not to complicate matters by making users create brain-drain usernames.

2.  Smart Search Option

Congratulations, Elvis has entered the building. The first thing a user would do is to search for relevant learning material. So how do you optimize this critical step? Implement a smart search that sniffs keywords out instantly. Run of the mill educational app developers miss out on basic functionalities that users expect. The scope of user search is limited. Hence, on demand app developers should target all the short tail/long-tail keywords an average user might type in a frenzy, part of your algorithm. Make sure to incorporate misspelled keywords in your algorithm too. Ease the usability by enabling an auto-suggest feature in the search box to make it easier for them to click and be directed to the relevant content section.

3. Best Courses Updates

Displaying the top courses on the homepage gives the student a broad idea of what the app is best suited to and the learning habits of people. Whatever you propose to educate students in, make sure you have a diversified, value adding course list. Udemy is one example. See how they boast their content repository and total users. The sheer size of the numbers would make anyone interested. 

4.  Personal Dashboard

On demand mobile app development is all about reinventing the wheel. How can you make something as basic as a personal dashboard stand out? Introduce a recommended section based on the purchase history of users. Push your IT team to introduce a widget for 3 types of recommendations during the course of an on-demand tutor app development:

• Related courses as per user browsing history 
• Related courses as per purchase history 
• Courses purchased together  

Alongside this, the dashboard should offer a progress meter sharing learning statistics for each individual. 

5.  Learn Where You Leave 

The Save Shopping Cart option where you save the stage of the order and return later to make the payment is a hit amongst the users. The same principle has been extended to education development. Learners must have the option to pick their online, recorded lecture up right where they left off. It sounds easy but requires high-level technological expertise, the kind that Appinventiv has proven time and again to possess. Also, recorded sessions should be lined up to auto-play once a video ends. 

6.  Offline Access

All the leading tutors-on-demand apps have this feature. No matter the nature of the content displayed, digital businesses are receptive to the fact that internet access is not the same in all places. To give an example, Netflix and Youtube allow you to download videos.Similarly with Hike, you can chat in offline mode. This feature in your tutoring apps empowers users access to download and carry on their lessons as they see fit.

7.  Interactive Assessments  

Quizzes are a fun way to conclude and test the retaining capacity of students. An online tutors application would be no better than an e-book if there is no 2-way interaction with consumers. The tests, at the same time, shouldn’t be boring. This is where gamification comes into play. In fact, take it a step forward and introduce a test series for each chapter. For instance, students often return to a tutorial to repeat it. Provided your app has a revision tracker, students can be encouraged to take on new questions and see if they have actually improved.

8.  Session Transcripts & Notes

Whether it is a live online class or an offline one, session transcripts are always handy. That should further be augmented with a “Notes” section that students can download for future reference. Tutor app development should focus on minimizing student efforts and help them focus intently on the lesson at hand. In-app features should encourage direct interaction between trainers and the batches which bring us to our next point.

9.  Instructor Log

The complexity of this feature is linked to the nature of tutoring services. For instance, if the app allows live instructor-student interaction, the instructor can have open discussion on a topic. They can post MCQ tests in the middle of the class to measure attentiveness and rate students who’d be automatically graded thanks to pre-feeded answers in the app. This rating can be synced with the personal dashboard of students and share pointers with guardians, just like a school report card. 

[Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to Build an App Like Coursera?]

10.  Personalized Growth Plans

The point of reaching each student via smart devices is to identify and recommend a roadmap tuned to each student’s aptitude. Continuing from the last point, instructors can create a customized learning path having developed an understanding of each student’s strengths and weaknesses from the log. With the content bank ready to support the after-class needs of a student, they would know exactly what to study and what to derail for future in turn optimizing their time and learning. 

11.  Q&A Pin-up Board  

Not everyone has the habit of jotting down doubts to confirm with online trainers. What if it’s a weekend? Would you want to be stuck with your query for so long? Most of us would appreciate it if someone would attend us sooner than later. Therefore, tutoring services planning to launch operations should make room for an in-app section where students can post their doubts and instructors can reply within a stipulated time.

12.  Notifications 

With physical space, we know when to gear up and leave for classes. But what about e-tuition? That’s why timing reminders are critical. Send alerts to get students hitched to their screens or if they left a recorded session mid-way to come back and complete it. Notifications must be relevant to the user treating them as people and not mere customers.

13.  Group Mode

Discipline is hard, isn’t it! But it becomes easier to do something hard when others are supportive of us. Similarly, studying in groups makes the experience worthwhile. If students can collaborate and learn a particular subject together, nothing like it. They could help each other understand the topic through live interaction or mutually pose questions to an instructor. Having a kaleidoscoping experience as an education app development company we know exactly how to make this feature stand out with audio/visual effects and multi-format content sharing. 

14.  Multi Device Compatibility 

You can never control which device the user would experiment with, or be forced to run your app on due to which it has to be accessible across all mainstream devices and operating systems. As an on demand app development company, another trend we see surfacing is Progressive Web Apps. 

Tutor app development cost could be a little expensive as you continue adding features to the design. Due to this concept of PWAs is picking up fast among budget-bound vendors. 

15.  Stream on TV 

The sheer exclusivity of this feature would place your app in a league of its own. Imagine learning from a tutor on demand, with the entire session being broadcast on your television. It’s like watching a sitcom with your parents. Streaming takes the unwarranted seriousness out of the picture and makes you inadvertently enjoy it. 

16. In-App Chat Function

Your on-demand tutoring app must integrate an in-app chat function that enables students to raise questions and ask them in the chatbox. The in-app chat function will increase the personalization and helps students to build a healthy relationship with the tutor. Adding on, they can clear their queries on the chat without connecting with the tutor through any other medium.

Will On-Demand Tutoring Apps be Able to Maintain their Need Post-COVID? 

You bet. Online education in general will last long modulating its structure in exciting ways, says the World Economic Forum. COVID-19 is not the cause here but an accelerator. Last year total global Edtech investments were valued at US $18.66 billion and they are expected to reach US $350 Billion by 2025. The 4 pillars giving foundational strength to this expansion are

• Language Apps 
• Virtual Tutoring 
• Video Conferencing 
• Online Learning Software 

The highest valued Edtech company as of writing, BYJU’s is worth US $10 billion. This Indian startup monetizes the same virtual tutoring market we have been drum-rolling in this article. That settles the argument once and for all.

Rounding Off 

To conclude, we can say that the on demand tutor app benefits are immense in the elearning sector. With the future being digital, elearning and tutor finder apps are becoming an essential part of schools and education institutions. If you ever had an Edtech idea that can take the world by storm, now is the time to fire the boosters and launch it. 

Appinventiv, a fastest growing on-demand app solutions development company has the end-to-end infrastructure, skilled professionals, and expertise, to get your on-tutor app designed, developed, and deployed that delivers the best returns on investment. For efficient educational software development, contact us.

FAQs

Q: Are mobile apps really the future of the education industry? 

A:  Yes, mobile apps are the future of the education industry as technological advancements have made it possible to depict and gain knowledge creatively. Moreover, the shift from traditional schooling systems to online learning has surged the education apps development percentage. In the future, it is only going to move forward with more ed-startups diving into the online education industry.

Q: How much does it cost to develop an on-demand tutor app?

A: The cost of developing an on-demand tutor app entirely depends on the app’s features, tech stack, and complexity. However, with basic features, the price goes between $25,000- $40,000. The cost will increase as you move up to higher levels with more advanced features.

Q: What is the ROI of the on-demand tutor app?

A: The education industry is one of the leading industries that has been tremendously growing over the years. The ROI of an on-demand tutor app is surprisingly amusing as thousands of new users are searching for on-demand tutor apps that deliver the best educational courses and tutoring services.

However, they are overlooking an important fact.

KNO, SharpScholar, Knack for Teachers, Tutorspree – Many startups add to the list of failed startups in the education sector every year. Thus many of these companies try to enter the market and be in the leading list of edtech companies but couldn’t last while others fail to even step into the market due to a variety of reasons. 

Assuming that you are one of those entrepreneurs who have been thinking about entering the edtech industry but are confused upon realising this fact, we will discuss the reasons why edtech startups fail. Also, we will be sharing the best of our knowledge and experience to help you with the prevention of startup failure in the edtech industry.

So, here we start by focusing on the top reasons of edtech startups failure.

7 common pitfalls faced by education startups

There are various reasons that lead to the failure of edtech startups, but in this section, we will cover about the 7 most prominent of them. So let’s understand each of them one by one.

1.  Poor market research

There’s no denying that there are various innovative possibilities in the education sector. However, not all of them are ‘must-required’. Some of those ideas are too fancy to adopt in the present time.

In such a scenario, those startups that jump into the educational industry without doing proper homework, market research and competitive analysis, find it difficult to distinguish between ‘must-required’ and ‘fancy’ app ideas and eventually fail to pick the latter. This forms one of the significant reasons startups fail to even take off.

2.  Lack of patience 

Unlike other business domains, the edtech industry growth is utterly slow. In fact, most companies see significant growth only after 5-10 years of establishment, which is quite uninspiring.

This makes it disturbing for both entrepreneurs and investors who wish to get a bigger slice of the learning app development marketplace at a tremendous pace. More importantly, investors and venture capitalists  are notorious for being impatient, and tend to bow out of their venture of choice even before the e-learning startups display any growth.

3. Unclear distinction between consumers and customers

It is often seen that a lot of users download the applications to test out the features and understand the proof of concept (due credit to mobile app promotion teams for this). However, only a small tiny fraction of these ‘trial’ users actually purchase or sign-up for the services offered by the said application.

Because of this, even after having 10,000 or more users onboard, fast-growing e-learning startups fail to get enough revenue, which becomes unsustainable in the dynamic edtech market.

4. Introduction of unnecessary technologies

Seeing the impact of technologies on the EdTech sector, many entrepreneurs have introduced AI, AR, IoT, ML, Blockchain, and other such technologies into their education apps. 

However, many of them are not looking at the benefits they bring or the pain points they address for the consumer. In other words, how they can engage the target audience, bring more sales, or contribute to the core app idea.

This has added to the ever-increasing app development cost, and also instilled confusion among the app users, and eventually, turning out to be another of the many reasons startups fail.

Let’s understand this point in detail with the help of a case study of Nova. It is a blockchain-powered digital learning system that is bringing a positive technical revolution in the education sector. 

Appinventiv has designed it as an easy-to-use and intuitive platform to make learning easy for learners and teachers. Along with that, it solves a distinct issue that LMS agencies face – fraudulent course certification. 

Thus we can say that Nova uses technology in the right manner to address the pain points and also ensures that the users don’t find it complex to use.

5. Lack of transparency and instructor collaboration

Another reason why many startups in the education sector fails in the marketplace is the lack of transparency and collaboration with teachers.

These startups work with the intent to replace teachers and other elements of the existing educational system. Hence, neither can they open up about their working module nor can they take input from teachers and others. As a result, the educational institutions and teachers show the slightest interest in adopting and employing these education apps (or software), which eventually leads to failure.

6. Too many app features

Many educational business leaders introduce so many features into their education software development plan that they end up making a highly complex application. This often leads to distraction from the core application purpose, lower user experience, and eventually, lesser chances of success.

7.  Insufficient user training

Since mobile apps are the future of the education industry, the competition in the edtech market is hitting newer heights with time. An effect of which is that some entrepreneurs are in such a hurry to invest in educational software development and launch new products (or functionalities) that they overlook entirely if the users find them useful or not. 

They do not take the initiative to introduce user manuals or other training elements that could help them use the mobile application. Therefore, they fail to retain the target audience and lose the market.

Now that you have understood the reasons that can make innovative ideas go flop, making the edtech startup not enter the list of leading companies. We are sure that you are now rethinking your education startup ideas.

Well, not exactly.

To ensure that you mark a different history for your edtech business, it is vital to learn how to prevent such failures rather than abandoning the education startups ideas.

So, here we go.

Ways to overcome edtech failure causes & grow your venture

In order to ensure that your edtech startup makes it to the market and also enters the list of leading edtech companies, you will need to follow some of the ways discussed below through which not only your edtech will achieve growth but also overcome the causes of failure.

1.  Perform market and competitor analysis

As discussed earlier, many education startups fail because business leaders are unfamiliar with market needs and competitors’ offerings. So, the foremost step towards lowering the risk of app failure is to invest your time into the app discovery process and understand the needs and desires of your target user base. 

In other words, it is essential to see what challenges your target audience is facing, what the existing edtech apps are offering, and where they are lagging. And this way, determine when and how you can make your way to success in the educational and learning environment.

2.  Focus on KPIs

As highlighted earlier, many applications win the race to get higher downloads but fail to turn them into subscribers. In such a scenario, considering download as the main parameter for determining the success level of your e-learning application is not a wise decision.

One should look forward to evaluating different mobile app KPIs to maximize the app revenue and consequently, the success ratio of their edtech startup.

3.  Collaborate with teachers/educational organizations

There’s no denying that teachers and educational organizations are a part of the traditional learning system much before you even thought of hiring an education app development company and launching your own startup. 

They are well-versed with the evolution of the market since its inception, the challenges and opportunities that changed the direction of the innovation, and more.

In such a scenario, treating them as a companion and seeking their advice on how to make your educational mobile app more useful, secure, and successful is nonetheless a great decision. 

To develop an on-demand tutor app that stands out from the competition, you must integrate unique features into your on-demand tutor app.

So, look forward to it. 

Connect with the top teachers and educational institutions to understand pedagogy, how classroom technology changes the outcomes, how students actually learn, and know what they expect. 

Likewise, you can consult with a top learning app development company or investor who has been involved in different types of learning app projects.

4. Add value to existing learning system

Considering your edtech idea as an integral part of the existing environment rather than as a replacement is yet another way to prevent edtech startup failure. So, be clear about it. 

Focus on the challenges associated with the existing learning management system and look ahead to solve them. This will encourage the people involved in the traditional ecosystem to embrace your technological innovation solution and refer to others. Something that will aid in targeting a wider audience without putting much effort into marketing.

5.  Build a concurrent business model

As stated earlier, the revenue generation process is quite slow in the case of the elearning app development market. So, it is advisable to prefer a business model that helps you to remain in the competition till you earn some money through the app.

Now, when talking about the same, there are primarily four different monetization strategies that can make your business a real success –

• Freemium – Though many people still wonder how free apps make money, this monetization strategy is the most lovable one. Under this model, the mobile application is free to use. However, one has to pay some amount of money to get a better experience and unlock some new features.
• Only Pay as You Go – As the name says, this business model works in such a way that users have to pay only for the time and services they use the edtech app.
• Subscription – This business strategy that even the top edtech startups like Coursera follows, demands a price for accessing the product/services at weekly, monthly, and yearly periods.
• Enterprise Sales – Enterprise sales is considered by education startups when the product requires more training, integration, and customer support services.

6.  Start with an MVP version

If an education application is too big and complex, it will not just add to the app development timeline but also affect the user acquisition and retention rate. It will be a bit difficult to rule the hearts of the audience, especially when there are many more competitors arising in the market every minute. 

In such a situation, the best way to relish higher benefits and cut down losses is by investing in the concept of Minimum Viable Product (MVP). That is, introducing the least functional features and technologies into your edtech mobile app such that they aid in entering the market at the earliest, save development time and cost, validate your MVP idea, and so on.

7.  Integrate the right technology

While integrating multiple technologies aimlessly into your edtech application can be the wrong act, it does not mean that you should not introduce any cutting-edge technology into your app plan. 

The right way to get the advantage of state-of-the-art technologies and tools into your edtech startups, in this case, is to contact the best educational app developers and see which technology is a perfect addition to your education app project.

How can Appinventiv help you with education app development?

We at Appinventiv have vast experience delivering education app features using the latest learning techniques like gamification, social learning, blended learning, and interactivities. We can also create tailored apps for your unique L&D needs.

Some of our most prominent solutions include:

• Flexibility of usage
• Greater push notification reach
• Higher course completion rate
• Adaptability to the latest teaching methodology
• Greater engagement & interactiveness
• Better adaptation to training needs
• Support of performance analysis tools
• Real-time interaction
• Increased cost-effectiveness

So in case you are also planning to develop an edtech platform, you can hire a trusted education software company like Appinventiv. Our experts will guide you through the entire process and make your app development journey easier. Get in touch!

But with scientific advancement in graphics, animation and multimedia user experience, AR has come to fore with real-world applications customized for mass consumption. Its utilitarian cases in the education delivery are enormous, to say the least, and promising, to be polite. 

The ground realities of K-12, college or professional certifications, are being augmented by digitized learning initiatives. It’s true that the digitalisation of education substitutes classroom training for remote learning. At the same time, it is Augmented Reality that acts as the value-added layer, covering up for the lack of quality in standalone “internet-enabled” training.    

But before we declare our pronouncement of jumping on to the AR-bandwagon, it’s important we shed light on the role Augmented Reality is playing in upending the education industry. In addition to what makes it one of the technologies that are taking the education domain to the next level. 

Table of Content

1. How Does Augmented Reality Impact Education?
2. Augmented Reality Application in the Edtech Market
3. Ways AR Can be Incorporated in the Education Sector
4. Top AR apps Pushing The Envelope in the Online Education Industry
5. Final Thoughts

How Does Augmented Reality Impact Education?

There are strong reasons to suggest that AR is as revolutionizing as we think it is. This supporting pillar of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 has grown relentlessly with the global AR landscape expected to be worth $198 billion by 2025. 

Similar research into the subject forecasts Augmented Reality gaining 1 billion worldwide users by 2020. Humans are on an ongoing, fast track course to make all aspects of life, be it professional or personal, multi-dimensional. 

That said, Augmented Reality trends will impact the education sector – more than any other technology in a similar fashion to other domains. Let see how that’ll pan out: 

Education + Entertainment = Edutainment

Student comprehension is catalyzed by using visual learning toolkits. As a matter of fact, our brains process visuals 60,000 times faster than texts. Additionally, 90% of the information broadcasted to the brain by our senses, happens to be visual in nature. 

Surmising that we are creatures of habit, and our habits involve learning through watching, therefore deploying Augmented Reality in education makes for an unfailing argument. Students would retain more of a lesson that involves immersive experiences than otherwise and this would, in turn, push the accelerator on increased participation during the classes. 

Simplified Conceptual Breakdown 

STEM subjects, especially science often proves a challenge for trainers with its hard to explain concepts. For instance, a lecture on human anatomy that relies heavily on theoretics and a cardboard sample, may not invoke curiosity in all the students. 

Yet, were you to introduce AR and let students learn for themselves, it would let all learners sulk into the experience with the added power of 3D modelling. You can have an AR application that gives each student the freedom to learn at his/her pace without the need to rush. There’s more, teachers can create personalized content based on the aptitude of student groups making education that much more effective – all this, and a lot more is possible with a partnership with an AR-skilled education app development company.  

Cost-Effective 

As per the rule of thumb, technologies go through a hyperbolic curve that starts from the age of discovery. This is the time when most fundamental breakthroughs transpire and the access to technology is limited to a select few. 

However, Augmented Reality is in its age of implementation in the educational industry which signifies there is a considerable workforce in the form of application developers that can bring any AR-idea to life. At the same time, the number of pocket-friendly smart devices has also increased. It is estimated that about 53% of US teenagers are phone-owners by the age of 11. 

It is safe to assume that this number would go up in the future in conjunction with software developers achieving economies of scale with AR-apps. The affordability factor for such student apps would further come down allowing more innovation to seep through. 

Augmented Reality Application in the Edtech Market 

There is not just one AR market forecast but plenty that suggest the domain is going through a boom. Back in 2015, the total value of the AR industry was $3.33 billion. However, with the democratization of smartphones, AR apps have multiplied in numbers and the industry is braced to grow at a common annual growth rate of 46.6% from 2019 to 2024. 

By this estimate, the industry shall be well worth $72.7 billion by 2024. And although healthcare is being propped to play the most substantial role in AR-adoption, education management will not be that far off. Come to think of it, Edtech could put Augmented Reality on steroids, as this industry is pushing the needle at an exciting pace itself. 

But if both the trajectories are to consummate, what form factor would usher the implementation of Augmented Reality in Education Management? 

If the AR trends and predictions for 2020 are anything to go by, then we can expect this industry to be a hotbed for godspeed innovation in the foreseeable future. Further, it is not a far-fetched idea to believe that short and long bursts of such innovation and technology will be contributed towards automotive education. 

But Why?  

There is researched evidence that suggests technology involvement is inclined to produce better academic results in students than otherwise. In another research, it was uncovered that more than half of college students prefer classrooms that envelope digital technology. Whereas to a neutral observer, these discoveries might make for an interesting read, field experts are hardly surprised to find such epiphanies make it to online journals.

The race to localize Augmented Reality and manufacture educational apps will be aided by the fact that by 2023, there will be an expected 68.6 million AR devices in the world. In other words, more than half the world population could begin using AR apps by that time, although think tanks are yet to determine how much of this demographic belongs to K-12 and college students. 

Nevertheless, we can be sure that it’ll be a huge number if we increase the sample size by considering spare tablets at home and other forms of Edtech delivery methods being deployed by institutions. Here’s how Augmented Reality could mobilize the digital learning movement. 

[Also Read: Reimagining the future of education with the metaverse]

Ways AR Can be Incorporated in the Education Sector

Augmented Classrooms   

AR can easily be baked into conventional classroom training by introducing Marker-based AR apps. Students can scan their textbooks subsequent to which the app will demonstrate illustrations on complicated theoretical explanations. As learners experience first-hand the principles of a subject, the entire experience could turn value addition into a fun-filled, extra-curricular exercise. The quality of training in critical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) subjects could vastly improve as a result of AR. 

Octagon Studio is one startup that has leveraged the power of Augmented Reality to good use. It uses AR-based flashcards to lend students an illustrative and engaging learning experience be it history, biology, technology or art. 

Augmenting Homework

Who said homework has to be burdensome? Teachers could assign students AR-enabled worksheets to explore educational concepts at their own pace, from the comfort of their couch. For instance, a given worksheet could contain a few questions on a particular topic. If the students are unable to crack the answer by themselves, they can scan the worksheet with the AR-based app and avail pointers towards the right answer. Edtech startups should pick and choose a curriculum and align their AR-app towards imbuing widely taught concepts to maximize their student user base.

ClassVR is one company making strides in the AR-direction. Its Augmented Reality apps are tailored towards Science, History, Design and Technology in addition to English. 

Turn Abstract Concepts into Reality

Since AR makes use of 3D modelling and object recognition, it can take students by the hand and morph hard to understand biological concepts into engaging anatomy lessons. With each student, and future doctor, able to extract the touch and feel of operating on a patient, per capita learning will be much higher. The experiment has been put to test in Portugal’s Polytechnic Institute of Leiria where AR applications are just as effective as their human counterpart teachers. The institution deployed AR-apps developed by Visible Body that makes biology lessons easier to demonstrate pailing whiteboards and charts in direct comparison. 

Uptick Student Engagement Rates

Classroom education is a humble subset of Augmented Reality in Education Management. Skilled mobile learning app development professionals can easily integrate AR applications for next-level recreational periods, wherein simulated reality allows working each muscle and tendon of an athlete’s body and contributes positively towards mental and physical growth. This AR-as-a-service model is being deeply explored by some e Learning app development companies as we see next. 

Canadian Tech Company SAGA prototyped an AR-based Interactive Gym that uses this concept. Geometric projections are cast on gym walls under synthetic lighting challenging toddlers to target and smash the shapes with rubber balls. SAGA’s computers use 3D camera vision to monitor the interplay of physical objects with the wall projections. From the looks of it, the Augmented Reality future scope is blinding, not just gleaming. 

Augmented Reality for Content on Demand

Once the teachers and the students have a hang of how Augmented Reality works the next step is content on demand. For the bulk of education mobile app development, AR apps are a pressing need that demands immediate attention. Considering the bigger picture, AR would soon be synonymous with imagination. Both the teachers and students are likely to begin demanding more content than the average AR-app would offer. What the education system would need then, is Augmented Reality As a Service (ARaaS) the practical examples of which are already before us. 

Metaverse is an AR-Platform that allows users to create virtual content on the go. They are customizable to the extent of one’s location. Teachers can create informational AR pop-ups on the spot to clarify concepts. Similarly, students can test their hypothesis by running simulations on the app. In the end, such a succinct level of personalization would ensure the level of education/understanding goes collectively up. 

Top AR apps Pushing The Envelope in the Online Education Industry 

There will always be an eLearning app development company someone to pick up the slack and build on the shortcomings of prior projects. But what these Augmented Reality Apps symbolize, is a wave of acceptance from large sets of teachers and students and credible grounds to take this journey for Edtech entrepreneurs. 

CoSpaces edu 

Build your own 3D animations and savour them in Augmented Reality. Students can project their virtual projections onto surfaces and use the MERGE Cube to literally hold your creations in your palms.

Google Translate 

Few people know that this app is AR-enabled. With its location-based tracking, Google Translate is the go-to app for travellers to fetch directions. At other times, you can use its Augmented Reality mode to scan a foreign language which will be translated to English instantly. It also comes as a chrome extension. Do we need any more proof of concept for the promising future scope of Augmented Reality, than Google mainstreaming it?

QuiverVision  

The AR app is designed to polish the recreational genius within infants by making colors come to life with 3D modelling. It has three versions. Its developers offer the app in 3 variants, namely the flagship version Quiver, second is the Quiver Education and third is the Quiver Fashion app. The reception that Quiver has generated from every academic nook, parenting guardians and children points to the fact that the future of education is digitization. 

ABC AR – Space Discovery 

The skies have always fascinated us all and the children are no different. ABC AR Space Discovery introduces interactive 3D learning, to incept the idea of space adventurism in young ones. 

Civilization AR

This is a smartphone AR app, by the BBC to prod the curiosity bug into learners of all ages. Created in association with 30 museums, users can discover history like never before. From ancient Egypt to paintings and hidden treasure troves, Civilization AR packs a punch with its multi-device compatibility and high-resolution graphics. 

Final Thoughts 

In the foremost section we promised, we’d give you enough reasons before asking you to jump on to the AR bandwagon. In the course of our discussions, we hope you found enough proof in the pudding to believe that Augmented Reality is blowing up fast and thick and that AR has the potential to boost businesses. Single-handedly, it solves the problem of interactive learning, in both classroom and remotely. AR offers Edtech entrepreneurs a model to create economies of scale digitizing learning in cost-effective ways. Last, and most important, it foments the notion of personalized learning for all and visibly augments tutoring by custom-tweaking the lessons to each individual’s IQ.

Come to think of it, even a conventional computer lab at a 90s something school qualified as an EdTech. 

Yet, few people realized back in the 90s that the Industrial revolution 4.0 would pack more gigabytes in a smartphone than computers. Therefore, if the devices of today dawn a new-age, compact, and pocket-friendly outfit, shouldn’t the same rule apply to education and its delivery methods. 

Turns out that it does and that is one of the benefits of education app for kids and organizations and why entrepreneurs are throbbing the gates of venture capitalists to fund the future, or shall we say the present, of 21st-century teaching, EduTech.

The EdTech app business models – both educational apps for kids and organizational learning – have shaped up to be one of the most lucrative (for innovators) and luring (for investors) models of businesses over the years. It’s one of the few industries that could survive this COVID-19 pandemic and honor its promising growth. What makes us say that?

• As per Grand View Research, the global education technology market size was valued at USD 89.49 billion in 2020 and is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% from 2021 to 2028.
• The global digital expenditure in the Education industry would be worth $341 billion by 2025 as per HolonIQ – a contributory factor behind the rising of education startups and kids education app startup ideas. 

• Yet, of the overall expenses that the industry would make, this amounts to a miser 4.4%, during the projected time. 

Do you now see the window of opportunity in Edtech, or due to it, for introducing technology enablement in education? It is a sector where the opportunity cost to miss out on an idea could be zillions. But the readers should be warned against the deadly Fear of Missing Out i.e. FOMO syndrome.  

If you are full of Edtech startup ideas or even education startup ideas, great, but it has to be approached systematically. Anyone searching for an education app development company, or for that matter, freelance educational app developers must first classify their business model for education startups. 

Before agreeing on the terms and conditions, entrepreneurs must probe for answers to the following questions, which can even be the answer to why investors who are looking to fund an EdTech model are asking: 

• Does the Elearning app development company have the talent pool to provide AI, ML, and robotics support?
• Does the education app developers have the expertise to integrate conversational AI and AR/VR features into the app?

• And last but arguably the most important factor, what does the portfolio of the educational app development services have to say about them?

Online business opportunities appear profoundly great on whiteboards but turn into a nightmare when you get to the execution stages. Consider the following sub-verticals that e learning startups are modeling their educational app development portfolio on. You can also read them as the education app ideas which are bound to be successful in the time to come.

Consider the following sub-verticals that EdTech startups are modelling their portfolio on offers: 

Upsurging Interest in EdTech 

Technology is affecting every aspect of our lives and changing them by the day. But it’s not just our life, its businesses as well that are transforming and can’t afford to look away. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projects that 1 billion jobs, that is approximately 1/3rd of all jobs in the world, would be transformed by technology in the upcoming decade. 

According to the ‘World Economic Forum Annual Meeting’, by 2022 around 42% of all core competencies deemed essential for jobs are expected to change. Such a fast-forward and unavoidable upskilling revolution can be delivered feasibly only through technology.

As per the Education Data Initiative, schools in the US spend an average of $12,624 per pupil, which is the fifth-highest amount per pupil among the 37 other developed nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

According to reports by Reach Capital’s analysis of data from Pitchbook, during the the first six months of 2021, U.S.-based education technology companies raised over $3.2 billion in investment capital.

But could it be a fluke? What if coincidently there had been a hype bubbling somewhere thanks to venture capital rumor mills. We can run this assessment through a litmus test. 

For our experiment, we choose three well-established education startups that are opportunistically building their Edtech app business models. A measure to gauge public demand for their services would be to see how their virtual education startups have played out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chegg, Inc. 

• It is an education tech startup with a product suite replete with digital learning solutions. At a time when businesses are clamoring for government aid to survive, Chegg recorded US $132 million in revenue in Q1 2020.
• The most recent investment made by Chegg was on Apr 13, 2020, when Frank Financial Aid raised $5M.
• At the end of 2020, they had a 6.6 million subscriber base.

K12 Inc. 

• K12 is an education management company that promotes online learning as a substitute for classroom training for students covering the curricula for kindergarten to 12th grade. Their vision makes them one of the best learning apps for kids.
• Their revenue model for edtech business for the first 3 months of 2020 was U.S. $257.2  million. It’s marginally higher than their earnings for the same period last year which were U.S. $253.3 million.
• Amongst all of its business units, the online public school program raked in the U.S. $228.3 million. 
• K12 CEO Nathaniel Davis shared insights into user query trends for registration, which were high for both February and March, reinstating how it is one of the best educational apps for kids.

2U, Inc.

• Amongst all the business models for education startups, 2U distinguishes itself by creating end-to-end learning channels for non-profit academic institutions to offer online degrees.
• It runs a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model for its B2B partners. 2U earnings for Q1 2020 touched base at U.S. $175.5 million. 
• It’s SaaS business registered revenues worth U.S. $118.5 million. 2U’s acquisitions, GetSmarter (for short-term courses) and Trilogy Education (for boot camps) brought in consumer spending worth U.S. $57 million. 
• As part of their immediate plans, they are working with Simmons University, an existing client to effectuate a digital undergraduate program. Additionally, they launched a video production solution labeled Studio in the Box, for faculties to record training sessions from home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

What Does This Mean?

It is clear from the observations that Edtech businesses despite an unexpected catastrophe have not just survived until now, but thrived. Predicting the future would be immature but taking stock of the situation we can definitely point in a few directions where education mobile app development appears most likely to augment resources.

Trends Affecting the Edtech Industry

The devices are getting smarter and more efficient. IoT is casting a thorough web of interconnectivity assuring big data generation and enabling Artificial Intelligence to identify improvement measures for autonomous customer experiences (CX). Speaking of which, the CX will be enhanced by Mixed Realities adding a new dimension to EdTech and catalyzing its ascendency. 

The Coronavirus pandemic has teased signs of speeding Blockchain’s adoption as a result of which the distributed ledger technology could be used for decentral and secure data management. 

Gen Alpha (those born after 2010) could be the first to taste the introductory iterations of the technologies taking Edtech next level.

A.  Global Internet Penetration 

As of writing, approximately 4.88 billion people in the world have access to the internet making up 62% of the world population. Cybersecurity Ventures places the total internet users at 6 billion by 2022 by which time the total world population is expected to reach 8 billion. By 2030, total internet users are expected to reach 7.5 billion which could be 90 percent of the then 8.5 billion world population. 

• Digital access to education would ensure a border-less experience zeroing in on B2C education distribution channels. 
• With learning material becoming remotely accessible, Edtech solutions could well and truly be the panacea for education for all. 
• Digital classrooms and textbooks could reduce the cost of publication. Education could be tailored to each student with self-paced classes becoming commonplace.
• It plays right in tune for children with disabilities, for who innovating customized provisions for education will not be a challenge anymore. Simultaneously, it presents equally enriching online business opportunities for people with foresight.  

B.  Data-Driven Decisions 

Digital textbooks will be a starting point in the exercise to structure E-learning. Tracking online learning patterns would be a revelation in maximising the tools required for a multi-sensory, fulfilling experience. 

• Tailored experiences would rise. With AI, ML and Big Data fast-maturing, content delivery would be without hiccups and more personalized than ever. 
• Universities are warming up to the reality that data management needs retrofitting. Where spreadsheets sufficed, visualization tools must come in. 
• When predictive analytics is left to do its bit, faculties can focus on what they are best at i.e. to teach. 

C.  Virtual Reality 

Virtual and Augmented Realities are shortening the distance between studying and experiencing something. In a nutshell, immersive learning is the process of imparting education/learning vis-a-vis simulations and AI. 

• Millennials would recollect memories of a science park visit for experimental demonstration. Now, put on a VR- headset and you are virtually transported to the park. 
• Denmark-based startup Labster is a point in case wherein it builds virtual laboratory simulations for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). In 2021, it raised US $60 million in Series C funding.
• Interplay Learning is an online training platform for skilled trades upskilling frontline workers for on-the-job proficiency. It uses VR and 3D simulations to train people and raised a US $18 million in Series B round in early 2021.

D.  Augmented Reality 

Augmented Reality commands a higher likelihood of a wider adoption within the Edtech market earlier than VR due to its enablement on smartphones. 

• A perfect example of this would be the BBC Civilisations AR app. 
• And lest we forget, Pokemon Go was an AR-based experience and its makers, Niantic Labs, raised U.S. $245 million at a US $4 billion valuation last year. It continues to partner with nonprofits in the space to facilitate education with AR. 

E.  Conversational AI 

People have begun accepting Voice-Enabled devices as a staple part of their homely chores.

It typifies conversational AI assisting humans and the application of it in the Education industry could soon be underway. 

Cognii is a great example with its conversational AI that has products for K-12 students and corporate professionals with open-format responses to improve critical thinking. 

F.  Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning is a learning delivery method where algorithms customize the teaching as per the student. 

• However, previous attempts to win-over higher education with hyper-personalized learning by one startup Knewton, failed to live up to expectations, crashing its US $180 million financing to the ground. 
• But progressive steps are being taken nevertheless. Quizlet is an AI-based tool that helps students in studies. It uses machine learning algorithms to identify the pressing needs of each child and tailors the experience towards it. Quizlet recently closed its Series C round at a valuation of US $1 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic signalling high investor confidence. 
• Querium, KidSense and Kidaptive are also jostling and trying to build a reputation with similar tools in the market. 

G.  Robotics

Robotics is also gaining momentum in education management. 

• Roybi is a company with its namesake product, the Roybi Robot helping infants aged 3 to 7 years old in STEM skills. 
• Roybi uses machine learning to match the cognitive capabilities of the child with pattern recognition. The product acknowledges that learning is not a one size fits all garment and needs to be custom-made. It was featured in TIME magazine as one of the best inventions of 2019. 
• Robotify is a Dublin-based startup that uses hardware installations in schools to educate students in programming lessons. 

H.  Blockchain 

Blockchain’s decentralized fundamentals could be momentous in upgrading antiquated education infrastructure. At the same time, it can incentivize students to put in their best efforts and be rewarded for, say procuring a major degree in a discipline. Not to mention, it can manage data, securing it in immutable ways for student records to be archived. 

• Blockerts is an open platform incorporated by the coming together of the MIT Media Lab and the Learning Machine (now Hyland). It can be used for a myriad of purposes from certificate/degree issuance to storage and verification. Future employers can be referred to the platform for fact-checking background information. 
• ODEM is a Blockchain-powered platform connecting students/working professionals with quality teachers. Smart contracts are used to record the specifics of a course. Over time, the ODEM ledger recognizes patterns from the history of courses each student was enrolled in and that which the professors taught. ODEM tokens can be used for transacting on the platform. ODEM assigns skill badges against the participant profile indicating their experience and expertise.  
• Nova Learning Management System developed by Appinventiv, helps teachers to easily upload their courses. On the other hand, the app allows students to enroll and pursue the course easily. Appinventiv provided a solution that brought a positive approach in the edtech sector.

I. Game-based Learning

Gamification, like immersive learning, is a good utilization of technology in Education since it involves students in the process. This technique isn’t new and has been in use for 20 years. Because it is so practical, today’s online learning systems make extensive use of it.

You must be thinking, what is it that makes it so successful? Then simply put, you know learning is always challenging, whereas playing is simple and enjoyable. Thus, the majority of people believe that gamification encompasses a wide range of techniques that can enhance the user experience.

Gamification includes two key elements.

• To begin with, children get a familiar and engaging environment, so there is no need to waste time and effort trying to keep their attention.
• Second, the platform’s versatility allows instructional knowledge in a fun way. It has no limits to your imagination.
• For example, the project “Minecraft: Education Edition” is the best proof of this. Millions of children enjoy this popular computer game that has been successfully used for educational reasons. This tool’s beauty is that it can be applied to any subject, including architecture, geography, english, biology, culture, physics, and chemistry.

Now that we have delved into what makes the EdTech sector a profitable online education business model and what can be expected from its future, the next plan of action for an entrepreneur should be to prepare for a success-guaranteed entry in the sector.

EdTech Business Models

Schools, universities, coaching institutes, and other traditional institutions faced enormous challenges during pandemic. This led to the increase in scope of education.  To ensure business and learning continuity, the learning class had to swiftly upload all of their work on the internet, making access to education easy. Here are some edtech business models that have been already there but have boomed due to the pandemic crises.

Freemium Model

It’s an appealing concept for startups since it allows you to quickly build brand trust and position yourself as a niche leader.

For example, Coursera began by offering free courses on a number of topics with the option of purchasing a certificate. The company soon rose to prominence as an edtech powerhouse, thanks to $210 million in funding.

This technique allows you to generate a lot of momentum quickly and make your product available directly to your end consumer without the usage of intermediaries. The downside of the principal-agent problem in education is that your users aren’t your buyers.

Edtech Marketplace

When you don’t have your own content, you set up an Amazon-style marketplace where educators can sign up to sell their work. This strategy allows educators to promote their course to a large audience while the platform receives a portion of the revenue.

Udemy is a well-known Edtech company that has shifted to a marketplace model. Udemy is an online marketplace that allows businesses and individuals to offer their courses online. It is now worth over $3 billion. Udemy takes 50% of the course cost and provides a full array of tools for monetizing, marketing, and producing these courses and their associated learning materials.

Institutional Model

The top-down or institutional model is a more traditional method of selling to schools through district executives. The target market volume is determined based on the projected penetration rate and the market size is first calculated.

Once the desired market volume has been determined, a strategy for achieving the potential revenue is devised. This works by a district or an area head making a single purchase for all of the schools under its control. The top-down paradigm has the advantage of allowing districts to sign big contracts.

Consumer Model

The consumer approach is a new online education business model that allows schools to try a product for free before charging families to continue using it at home. This concept is best suited to businesses that provide things that children can use independently. In this situation, schools effectively serve as lead generators for consumer adoption.

With this concept, it’s critical to establish a “product loop” between school and home, in which teachers use the product with students in the classroom and then advise parents to have their children use it at home.

The benefit of this strategy is that schools prefer free (high-quality) items, which can increase user adoption, and parents are more likely to follow instructors’ suggestions for home use of technology. The uptake is particularly evident in edtech products for toddlers and kindergarten students.

Sponsored Model

A unique and intriguing approach is one in which neither the school nor the parents pay. Instead, a company is brought in as a sponsor and helps pay for product placement, which is usually done as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.

The benefit is that when you offer a fantastic product to schools for free, utilisation will be relatively high, which is all that matters to the sponsor. The sponsors have the opportunity to build brand awareness and goodwill for their company.

Sponsored items, such as GoNoodle, can help a company’s image tremendously. This Edtech product gives teachers access to a large video library that encourages pupils to be active, creative, and enjoy learning. To give their goods for free, GoNoodle worked with significant institutions like Tonies, No Kid Hungry, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and many others. This contributes to the creation of an egalitarian learning environment in which the impoverished can study alongside their wealthier counterparts.

How to Create a Successful EdTech Startup Business Model?

Following the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, EdTech has grown in popularity.

EdTech improves the traditional education system by improving pedagogy and the learning process. EdTech’s target audience is not restricted to the education sector but it also includes employed people in huge organizations for corporate learning. To create a successful edtech business model you should follow these instructions.

1. Have a clear understanding of your user base – You should have clarity on the fact that while kids or employees will be using the app, it is the parents or organizations that will be taking the decision. 
2. Understand the current issues or loopholes – Talk to your clients, research about their issues, ask them what is lacking in the current system and which features do they think can help them get a better learning experience. Ultimately, create a user persona to fulfill your customers’ needs. 
3. Build an MVP – Before launching a full-fledged application or solution in the market, build an MVP with the must-have features or USPs of your offering. Following the development, share the MVP with prospective clients to understand how they are reacting to it and if there is a positive sentiment attached to the product.

What is the Cost of Developing an EdTech Business App?

Determining the actual cost of an education app has never been easy due to a lot of factors, including the app’s complexity, features, functionality, the operating system used, development time, and the cost of the development team, among others.

However, depending on the company you choose, the cost of establishing an education app with basic functionality might range from $15,000 to $25,000+. Still, this is a general estimate, which can vary depending on the number of hours it will take to build.

You can also read and acquire knowledge regarding mobile app development cost.

FAQs

Q.  What is an Edtech Startup? 

Using technological means to deliver education (education + technology) is called Edtech. Any startup in this space using emerging technologies such as AI, Robotics, VR, AR or Blockchain is an Edtech Startup. 

Q.  How Big is the Edtech market? 

EdTech market is set to grow at a 2.5x proportion between 2019 to 2025, reaching $404 billion in global expenditure

Q.  Is Edtech profitable? 

The largest companies in this space are Unicorns like ByJu’s and Udemy. Their strategy for the first few years was to capture market share and become a niche-leader. However, currently, both the companies run profitable businesses.

Key Takeaway 

The global EdTech industry will evolve at a fast-forward pace. Venture capital infusion in the fastest-growing Edtech companies, or Edtech Startups, particularly in the US, China & India, points to the formation of parallel growth sectors between the West and Asia. 

We say this based on the analysis of all the Global Edtech Unicorns. Online learning has not just come out of its cocoon but established itself as a wide network space of emerging technologies. There are many edtech startups that have failed and risen.

One of the reasons startups fail, or for that matter most startups fail, not just in this sector but anywhere is because they overpromise by building hype, in the absence of reliable data. BYJU’s, Udemy, Coursera, and Udacity, some of the most valuable Edtech companies in the world have managed to reach the pinnacle by timely identifying technological applications to bring down the cost of education. To that extent, education software development companies must enter the market with solutions that include remote access, multi-device compatibility, multi-language support, and 24/7 uptime. 

Every education app developer for startups should ask the investors and entrepreneurs to focus on amalgamating tech, not for the sake of it, but because they have the opportunity to create an equitable distribution of knowledge that respects the sovereign pace of understanding of each individual.

At the same time, many venture capitalists have begun showing interest in EdTech startups. In fact, it has been found that VCs funded about USD 1.7 Bn in the edTech market in 2019 across 105 deals.

This has not solely attracted the attention of business enthusiasts who were confused about entering the edTech space, but has also encouraged Entrepreneurs to tweak their existing businesses with the help of cutting-edge technologies and take advantage of this profitable business model.

Assuming that you are someone falling into the latter category, I will be revealing a complete list of technologies changing the education landscape in this article. 

But before that, it is wise to take a look at the present scenario of the edTech trends market so as to get a clarity of the technology impact on education industry.

Table Of Content

1. An Outlook of the Present EdTech Market
2. Top 10 Technologies Ruling the EdTech Domain
3. How Appinventiv can help integrate a technology into an existing LMS or similar education software?

An Outlook of the Present EdTech Market

1.  What was once dominated by blackboards and textbooks is now a market of tech-based solutions. The technology used in the education sector has increased by more than 3x in the past decade.

2.  The United States has the largest number of edTech enterprises in the world, followed by those in India, Brazil, United Kingdom, and China.

3.  Around 89% of educators realized that technology is an integral part of their everyday life and so must be integrated into the education business.

4.  As per a report by electronics service distributor RS, 50.8% of teachers said they know what edTech is, while 35.6% have heard about it but are not sure about the terminology and another 13.6% are still unaware of the edTech industry. This gives a hint that people are slowly and gradually becoming familiar with edTech and will soon embrace it.

5.  Over 89.6% of educators admit tech is an effective way to engage students in the classroom. 

6.   Nearly 82.7% of educators accepted that tech helps them in improving their jobs. 

7.  The amount of the school’s budget invested in technology has increased from 3.9% to 15.5% during the period 2018-2020. This clarifies that tech has become the fourth highest spending priority. 

8. The number of school leaders saying that the impact of technology on the education has doubled in the last year – rising from 17.6% in 2018/19 to 40.9% in 2019/20. 

9.  Entrepreneurs already having mobile apps are focusing on strengthening different aspects of their business model, such as –

10.  As per a report by HolonIQ, the global funding in edTech ventures grew from USD 0.5 Bn to USD 7 Bn between 2010-2019. It has been anticipated that the investment will be 3x by the next decade. 

11.  As per a report by Internet and Mobile Association of India, educational companies are earning money majorly from freemium monetization model. This reflects that the users are willing to pay for good solutions. 

Such numbers and reports have encouraged CEOs to look into how technology impacts education and invest in education app development company. They have motivated them to look ahead to introducing the cutting-edge and latest technology in the education system, which has further taken their attention towards the top technologies trends in education for 2021.

A list of which we will be covering in the next section of this article.

Top 10 Technologies Ruling the EdTech Domain

1.  Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The foremost technology in the education system that is revolutionizing the education sector is Artificial Intelligence. The integration of AI in education has the potential to transform how students learn and how educators teach, leading to more personalized learning experiences and enhanced educational outcomes

Artificial Intelligence, as already mentioned in our article on the impact of AI on businesses, is aiding in content creation, customization of learning processes, evaluating performances, ensuring real-time communication, automating grading, generating more leads, and so on. 

A consequence of which is that the global market for AI in education will be valued USD 3.68 Bn by the year 2023, at a CAGR of 47% during the period 2018-2023.

2.  Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) will also gain a huge momentum in the edTech startup business in the coming years.

The IoT solutions for education will connect every single device and element including the whiteboards and lights to put forth better opportunities like monitoring class pets, getting an idea of when the plants inside the classrooms require water or sunlight, running scientific experiments, and much more. And eventually, the future of IoT in the education market will grow significantly; making it worth USD 11.3 Bn by the end of 2023.

3.  Blockchain 

Another significant technology impact on education and the trend that is going to disrupt the educational system is Blockchain.

The role of blockchain in education domain will expand further; making learners enjoy high-quality educational experience by offering opportunities like – 

• Interacting tutors from different parts of the world via an online learning platform.
• Managing and safeguarding the records across the ecosystem.
• Subsidizing cost for learners and others by combining with MOOCs like Coursera.

4.  AR/VR

Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) also comes under the top educational technologies to watch out in 2020. 

When talking about the benefits of VR and AR in the education sector, they are turning realistic scenarios into enticing environments by introducing different virtual elements and situations. This is also helping educators and even students enjoy an opportunity to perform different tasks and even critical surgeries virtually rather than keeping visualizing the theoretical concept and watching video demonstrations. 

And this way, the contribution of technology in education will accelerate the pace of understanding complex subjects and enable top edTech companies to deliver incredible experiences – all with the help of a reputed education mobile app development company.

5.  Learning Analytics and Machine Learning

The landscape of machine learning and learning analytics in higher education will also expand dramatically in the coming years.

These technologies will allow teachers, professors, and others to understand and optimize learning experiences, evaluate and report student learning all by the web. 

Also, the role of learning analytics and machine learning in the education sector will aid in recognizing and mitigating their academic/behavioral challenges and help them harness their full potential.

6.  Cloud Computing

From higher accessibility to resource availability, huge scalability, and enforcing intellectual stimulation, the adoption of cloud computing in higher education is bringing forth various new opportunities and advancements. 

The cloud computing in education sphere is also enforcing collaboration between students and teachers worldwide and delivering various other advantages, such as a real-time backup of information, improved file access, better accountability, reduced expenses.

And it is expected to continue the same in the coming years, generating the revenue by USD 25.36 Bn by the year 2021.

7.  Wearables 

Wearable technology impact on education is taking the edsector to the next level. It is making it possible for students to learn new concepts right from their smart watches, bracelets, and smart glasses anytime and anywhere. It is also improving student engagement, communication level between edtech companies and students, and the generated revenue. Which is eventually making entrepreneurs interested in Wearable app development.

8.  Gamification  

Gamification, one of the prime factors in success and evaluation of Duolingo-like app development cost, will also go popular in the education technology industry. 

The gamification technology used in education sector is adding a wide range of benefits in the education domain by evoking creativity, excitement and imagination in students and encouraging them to remain engaged in the educational environment. It will prevent them from saddling with paper and pencil, and empower them to freely express themselves and develop skills in a new and innovative way.  

A result of which is that many more entrepreneurs will look into how does gamification affect learning domain and put efforts to get a slice of its revenue, which is anticipated to be USD 1800 Mn by 2023.

9.  Video Learning   

When discussing the video learning impact in the education sector, the technology impact on education is enhancing this sector to capture the attention of  students, reduce the tutor’s workload, enhance learning outcomes, and much more.

10.  Payment Gateway 

Nowadays, various educational platforms are providing online learning courses, books, certificates, and other resources. Students are buying them online with a few taps on their mobile devices – all using the power of Payment gateway integration.

The concept of payment gateway is ensuring quick and seamless cash flow, getting an escape from the traditional payment issues, deriving a comprehensive report of all the earlier payments, accepting payments 24×7, enjoying instant communication, and much more. Something that is fostering the usage of payment gateway in edTech businesses.

While these are the technologies that are prevailing in the present market and encouraging education technology industries and companies like you to bring your team on board and see how to revamp your existing edtech business models, there are many more all set to enter the list. Or better say, bring significant difference in the future of the edtech industry.

Knowing this, it is understandable that taking a deep dive into the educational industry to get familiar with its future scope and the driving factors is a must effort. 

Now, we know that starting a new edTech startup by integrating these technologies is quite easier. But you have to be careful as it can be challenging to upgrade an existing learning management system (LMS) or another education application.

How Appinventiv Can Help Integrate a Technology Into an Existing LMS or Similar Education Software?

We, at Appinventiv, are known widely for aiding education business enthusiasts to launch a perfectly innovative and business-centric edTech solution, globally. Our team, with strong market knowledge and experience of creating LMS platforms like Nova, have helped Entrepreneurs beat the traditional/hidden challenges in the education marketplace and get a bigger slice of the market revenue, along with ruling the hearts and minds of the targeted audience. Something that clarifies that handing over your edTech project to us will give you the freedom and opportunity to integrate the finest technologies and tools into your business – and that too without bearing any issue.

So, what’s on your mind now?  Have faith in our learning app development company and connect our education app experts to experience the massive technology impact on your education business.

“Amsterdam-based Tribe, with an intent to boost digital skills, raised €3 Mn.”

“India-based top edTech startups, BYJU’s and Unacademy raised $400M and $100M in a round led by Facebook, one of the largest edTech venture capitalists of the world.”

All such news has taken the world by storm and has made all of us ask the same questions in sync – 

“How come VCs have suddenly started taking an interest in the Edtech startup world?”

 “Is this a sign that one must invest in the Edtech startup ideas?”

Read the article below to understand the Edtech market and figure out answers to many more questions. 

Reasons Behind Growing Interest in EdTech Venture Capital Segment

1.  Untapped opportunities

Even today, various regions and communities do not have access to educational resources. They are not able to have even the primary learning experience. Likewise, various people are eager to learn something new or polish their skills but cannot do so within the traditional educational ecosystem.

All such instances highlight a myriad of unexplored opportunities in the marketplace, which assures edTech venture capitalists that investment in education startup funding ideas will be profitable to them.

2.  Wider acceptance

Edtech platforms bridge the gap between those who wish to learn and those who offer the same service by virtually bringing them on the same platform. They enable them to learn anything, anytime, and anywhere at their own pace. Also, these platforms operate using the finest of technologies like artificial intelligence and IoT. 

The above reasons garnered not only the interest of consumers but also of investors. 

3.  Need for a lifelong learning experience 

By the time one learns a skill for a particular job, they get to know that another skill is also essential. It makes the scenario imperative to embrace the idea of lifelong learning. And eventually encourage investors and developers to invest their time and money into developing mobile apps that are expected to be the future of the education industry.

4.  Lower competition

Low competition and high market scope are two contributing factors for investors to support the idea of a profitable education investment fund. 

5.  Higher ROI

Various factors such as exponential growth of the Edtech industry, minimal competition, and widely accepted solutions indicate that the profit over investment, i.e., ROI is exponentially higher in the online education domain, and it can be regretful for EdTech venture capitalists to overlook this opportunity.

While this clears the reasons why the Edtech domain is becoming a favorite of both educational investors and entrepreneurs, let’s take a look at the second important question –

Should one invest in the idea of launching their online education and Edtech startup?

Well, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Investors look at different factors before deciding whether to go for the edtech investment or not. We can take a glance at the next section of this article.

Essential Factors EdTech VCs Consider Before Investing

1.  Core Problem & Its Impact

Currently, various edtech startups are looking ahead to step into the education segment. However, the problems they are focusing on are either too small to consider or have already been solved. Because of this, Edtech venture capital firms have become too selective about the projects they fund. They have started asking different questions to the entrepreneurs to see if the problem-focused is on ‘must-solve’ or ‘nice-to-solve.’.

In simpler terms, the venture capitalists give a ‘green’ signal to only those Edtech startup ideas that – 

1. Fit the market needs and customer demands
2. Attract and retain talents
3. Steers both small ideation level teams to substantial large companies
4. Accomplish goals in extreme situations

2.  Robust Cash Flow

Various edtech startups operate with the business model that brings millions of dollars into their bank account for a particular time and then suddenly brings it to the verge of shutting down. To overcome the loss of educational investment fund for any organization, educational investors pay attention to this factor while investing in any educational startup idea.

3.  Competitive Landscape 

The competitive landscape is another factor that edTech venture capitalists (VCs) check before investing in any educational startup idea. They examine carefully if the edtech startups are progressively working on the problem they proposed to solve and whether they are finding it easy to beat the competition or not. The method helps to forecast the future of any startup to decide whether or not to invest in further.

4.  Scalability

Edtech venture partners also focus on the scalability factor when funding any startup. That implies the possibility of the Edtech idea growing over the next 2 to 3 years while remaining in the limelight and ensuring regular finance

5.  Business Model 

Consumer demands and market needs are changing with a passage of time. It makes educational investors curious about the startups that come up with unique and innovative business models and ensure better returns. It means that the business model you pick is yet another factor that can make your Edtech startup idea get the attention of the investors.

6.  Alignment To VC Mission

When it comes to funding,  edTech venture capitalists are not solely interested in Edtech startups that add to their profits but also provide them with a plethora of opportunities in the marketplace. It is again another reason why venture capitalists become choosy about Edtech startups.

7.  Experience 

Lastly, some Edtech VCs prefer startups whose founders have substantial experience in this segment, are familiar with the education space’s hidden challenges and can use their knowledge and expertise in crafting better ideas.

We have seen what made investors turn towards the educational market and the set of factors they focus upon before investing in any Edtech idea.

However, one major question that comes to mind here, even if you avoid making all the reasons that edtech businesses fail, is – What are the different Edtech startup ideas that one can forth?

To tackle this question, let’s uncover the different Edtech categories or the types of Edtech app ideas that are changing the education landscape.

Types of Edtech ideas to invest in 2022

1.  K12 Education Apps

The major type of EdTech application you can create is the K12 education app. These web and mobile solutions provide school students and tutor kids with high-quality videos designed primarily on the academic curriculum. 

BYJU’S, PlanetSpark, and Blackboard Radio are the top Edtech startups to refer when entering this category. They come laden with all the functionalities counted as the new–gen must-have features of on-demand tutoring apps.

[Also Read: Why Kid’s Educational Apps are a Good Investment for Startups?]

2.  Test Preparation Platform

These Edtech platforms are capable of bagging the interest of edTech venture capitalists while enabling students to prepare for entrance exams like LNAT, USPC, Mensa, IELTS, Gaokao, and CFA. These software and mobile apps empower them to remain updated with the latest information, track their progress, gain confidence, and prepare for the exams at their own pace and convenience.

When talking about subdomain of the education industry, the top startups to get inspired from are NeoStencil, Classplus, Examify, and Top Rankers.

3.  MOOC Portals

MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) portals are distance learning courses offered online by top universities across the globe. They let students register into any university worldwide, complete any course they want, and connect with other people enrolled for the same course. In other words, these platforms enable students to boost their knowledge and get ready to step into the real world smartly.

4.  Tech Learning Solution 

Like online learning portals that help students study any particular topic or subject, these platforms empower them to excel in coding and programming. The three best Edtech startups present in this app category are Coding Labs, Aeon Learning, and Edureka.

5.  Gamified Learning Apps  

These applications enable learners to study and test their knowledge while playing a quiz or participating in any activity. The best examples of these EdTech apps are Moose Math, Masha and the Bear, Shifu, and Vismory.

6.  Language Learning Platform  

These platforms help users learn a new language or practice any already known language in a highly gamified and interactive manner.

7.  Career Development Apps  

While they seem much like MOOC platforms, they serve a different purpose and are capable of bagging the interest of major edTech venture capitalists. Career Development Apps facilitate graduates and other professionals to understand the basics of their dream job and prepare for the same faster and more effectively.

8.  Learning Management System

Learning Management System (LMS) is another type of online education startup funding idea that you must consider this year. It refers to a software or platform that works like a corporation and provides the facility to administer, track, report, and deliver the learning resources, along with other products like discussion boards. 

As reported by Fortune Business Insights, the global learning management system (LMS) market size was valued at USD 14.43 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from $16.19 billion in 2022 to $40.95 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 14.2%. 

9.   School Administration   

Last but not the least, school administration applications are the type of education ideas that teachers and school administrators highly use to manage schedules, organize special events, calculate payroll, invoicing, etc. Examples: Asana, Gibbon, Fedena, and Evernote.  

While these Edtech app ideas will help you make real money on your investment, the journey is not a piece of cake. Various hurdles come in the way to entering the marketplace and enjoying the limelight.

So, to prepare you for the Edtech market, we will be throwing light on the obstacles that can hinder your path.

Challenges Your Startup Might Face in the EdTech Domain

1.  The fragility of the outer ecosystem  

While the educational ecosystem might seem like a perfect environment to go with the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, it is not so.

If you wish to bag the funding from an edTech venture capitalist, you have to dive deeper into the education and learning segment which will make you realize that the social and cultural factors make a huge difference in the existence and success of every learning solution.

So, understanding the delicacy of the education environment and building your EdTech startup while considering all the language and cultural barriers is the foremost challenge to address.

2.  Need for technological infrastructure   

Even today, various regions are deprived of basic infrastructure and resources, including electricity and the internet. The network latency is much higher than expected, making the app pages take hours to load. And when it comes to video lessons, the buffering continues for years.

The scenarios make it nearly impossible for the students to reap the benefits of using the top Edtech solutions and contribute to the marketplace’s success. It implies that lack of proper technological infrastructure is also one of the challenges that turn Edtech startups into a failed attempt.

3.  The attitude of the targeted audience   

By offering real-time and personalized services, Edtech solutions add a sense of convenience to the environment. However, some students see this as a way to escape from a disciplined learning environment. It further makes it challenging for teachers and others to deal with unmotivated students. 

Making a balance between convenience and consumer engagement is yet another challenge that you need to focus upon.

4.  Lower monetization   

Since people are more interested in free courses and study material, most online education startups embrace the freemium model for scaling their business. Although it brings higher downloads to the brand, it does not provide them with a higher retention rate. 

A prime reason that people are ready to pay only for things that bring long-term success to them. Or better say, things that aid them in knowing and polishing the skills that are highly in demand in the business world. 

The absence of such business models that earn by informing and preparing users for the top employment opportunities is again why the investment from edtech venture capitalists in the education market is not growing.

Now, while these are the challenges in the education market, it is not wise to strive to handle them on your own. It is essential to take the help of the best education app development services providers like our team of Edtech software developers.

How Can Appinventiv Help in Launching Your EdTech Startup?

Apart from being a leading digital innovation partner, Appinventiv is also a reputed education mobile app development company that aids in shifting from the traditional classroom education system to a virtual learning world which can bag you major edtech venture capital for your business.

Our team of educational web and mobile app developers has served various online education startups and establishments with highly innovative and business-centric solutions to overcome the existing market challenges. Our experts keep themselves abreast with the changing consumer and market needs and have expertise in integrating the latest technologies like AI, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Computing, and IoT in a digital solution – a glimpse of which can be taken from our ‘Nova learning’ platform case study.

And, in case you have any further queries, connect with our educational app experts today itself!

Final Note

When focusing on the future of the edTech space, the online learning market size is anticipated to grow exponentially. Many more startups are entering the market with the support of reputed education app development services providers to connect students, teachers, and administrators anytime, anywhere, and across the devices. They are looking for a massive upside potential of nearly USD 16 billion dollars by the end of 2022. 

FAQs

Q. Why are VCs investing in edtech?

A. The edtech sector is growing at a rapid rate and possesses a lot of unexplored opportunities in this sector. In addition, there is lower competition and higher market scope, which turns out to be profitable for VCs looking to invest.

Q. What are VCs investing in?

A. VCs are investing in the online learning platforms and edtech sector because there are plenty of opportunities. Plus, ROI is exponentially higher in the case of the online education domain, so it’s a great place to invest.

Q. Why do venture capitalists invest in startups?

A. Venture capitalists love to invest in startups because they have a competitive edge in the market. VC invests in startups that provide solutions to burning problems that haven’t been solved before by other companies in the marketplace.

Moreover, in February 2022, the leading language learning mobile apps generated almost $27 million in in-app purchase revenues from users worldwide, with market leader Duolingo accounting for half of the total, with $13.38 million in revenues generated during the examined month.

According to Stastista, “Duolingo went public on Nasdaq with a valuation of nearly five billion U.S. dollars, becoming one of the few publicly traded digital language learning companies.”

These figures have ultimately convinced education businesses to work on eLearning applications which is why the most crucial question of the decade revolves around Duolingo app development cost.

The development cost of an app like Duolingo can range from $25,000-150,000, or more based on multiple factors and features.

Now, this article familiarizes you with the various factors contributing to the final cost of Duolingo application development, the whereabouts of how to make an app like Duolingo, and much more.

So without a further ado, let’s begin with a quick overview:

About Duolingo- The App Ruling the Language Learning Domain

Duolingo is a language-learning platform offering over 95 courses in nearly 35 different languages. The platform, founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn, has made a valuation of $88.3 million and gained 500M user acquisitions so far.

The application received the credit of being the first educational app to receive the fame of ‘iPhone App of the Year’ in 2013 and ‘Most Downloaded App’ on the Play Store for 2013 and 2014. It has also been rewarded with many other titles, including being announced as one of Forbes’s “Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2019”. What makes Duolingo superior to other language learning apps is its ability to solve user issues. Let’s take a look there:

Language Learning Issues that Duolingo App Solves

The digital language learning industry is changing at a fast pace since the globalization of the economy and the development of cost-effective innovation based mobile applications. Worldwide, the Duolingo language learning app and website has made the learning process easier and easily accessible for users.

How? Below factors answer your question:

1. Boring learning process

Whether you pick a book or turn towards some mobile education platform, the learning process is  hectic and uninteresting.

Duolingo added fun to learning and made users more excited to achieve their desired goals via Gamification.

2. Low credibility of app content

With most of such applications running on software and algorithms, it was a question for users if to pick these apps over real tutors or not.

Duolingo solved this issue by ensuring that the content delivered to users is not just checked by AI-based algorithms, but also verified by users. For this, the app looks into the answer offered by users and validates the one selected by the majority.

Not only this, but the application has also initiated a certification process, making you leverage the same perks as offline learning programs. Something that again adds to the benefits of language learning apps like Duolingo.

3. No customization

Above all, the existing web and mobile learning portals were not offering any personalized services. Users were compelled to go through the same journey as others, irrespective of duolingo app development cost whether they had the same goal or not.

But, with the advent of Duolingo, the situation took a 180-degree turn. The application came loaded with personalization elements, making it easier for users to plan their own journey and enjoy.

With this covered, Duolingo has crossed the revenue of $6 billion every year. Also, the number is estimated to grow by around $8.7 billion by the end of the year 2025.

Overview of the Duolingo App Development Cost

If you wish to develop it for a single platform like Android or iOS, the development cost of an app like Duolingo can range from $25,000- 100,000.

However, If you want to develop an app like Duolingo for a hybrid platform, then the app development cost might range from $80,000- $150,000.

Now, this is just a rough estimate of your Duolingo app cost. The range can relatively move higher or lower depending on the type of advanced tech stack, functionalities and features used. Apart from that, there are distinctive factors that affect the mobile app development costs, which is why you need to consider a breakdown of all factors.

Let’s begin with understanding the factors that contribute directly to the Duolingo app cost.

Factors that Contribute to Duolingo App Development Cost

The cost estimation of Duolingo like app development may vary from one education app development service to another. Moreover, the primary factors listed below also play a vital role:

1. App platform

The choice of building an application for Android, iOS, or both makes a difference in the cost value. This is because the required tech stack, app complexity, and other factors vary per the platform involved.

2. Frontend development

While some programming languages and frontend development environments are open-source and secure, others demand a higher fee to use. Also, a few of them do not offer customization in terms of tech stack. All these factors again create a significant difference in the language learning mobile app development cost.

3. Backend development

When it comes to developing education and mobile web platforms, backend development languages, frameworks, hosting servers, etc. add to the cost of the Duolingo app.

For example, when you choose microservices architecture over monolithic, you get better futuristic services but at a higher cost. Likewise, the use of Node.js costs less when compared to that of Java.

Likewise, when you do not ask your hired development team to pay for backend hosting services, you get an opportunity to reduce app development costs.

4. Design process

Again, the cost to design a mobile app also affects the overall cost of creating an app. So, it is imperative to be familiar with the factor that influences the cost of the Duolingo app, which includes not having a clear vision of what design elements to use, what design tools to prefer, the use of animation content, and more.

Besides, various companies charge separately for user persona, UX research, and user journey mapping. In such a scenario, it is better to hire an e-learning app development company that does not charge separately for the research and guesswork.

5. Testing

Last but not least, the tools and efforts related to the quality assurance process also reflect the difference in the overall cost of creating an app.

Here’s an exhibit of the above factors;

Now, another Duolingo app development cost breakdown depends on the features you integrate in your eLearning app development.

Top Six Features to Include in Duolingo-Like App Development

To create an app like Duolingo, you need to implement an advanced set of features to ensure high engagement and scalability. These features are associated with up to 60% of the final cost of a Duolingo-like app.

Check out the top features required to build an educational app.

1. Profile and settings

The foremost feature to consider while developing a Duolingo-like education application is Profile and Settings.

Here, users can save their personal details and see all the activities they have performed so far. Also, they can make some changes to the shared content or its privacy, ultimately enjoying a safe and satisfying experience on the platform.

2. Course and levels

Here, users are offered an opportunity to pick from 100 courses related to 40 languages and decide the pace at which they wish to learn. This means that they can choose if they want to learn on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

3. Language practice and revision

This is the feature that defines the actual purpose of the application. Here, users come across different speaking and listening exercises, alongside those requiring choosing from multiple options or translating the displayed content.

4. Push notification

Push Notification is yet another feature that you must consider while creating an app like Duolingo. This feature reminds users to complete their course if they miss out on any. Also, it contributes in terms of motivating users to leave their laziness and focusing on achieving their targeted goal soon.

5. Gamification

Gamification is one of the core features of the Duolingo-clone app.

This feature deals with adding gaming elements to your application and is used in different forms in the application. Two of the prime areas of usage are:

• Experience and Levels – Gamified elements, like Animation and Sound effects, are used to make the screen super-engaging.
• Achievement and Badges – Whenever you complete any course or task, you are awarded a badge and associated items. Also, there’s a leaderboard screen where you can see all of your achievements and feel motivated.

6. Social media integration

Last but not least, the Duolingo application offers users an opportunity to log in via their existing social media accounts.

While this feature impresses users looking to learn a new language or polish their skills in one they already know, what makes them pick Duolingo over Babbel or any other e-learning app is their UX strategy.

While we are done with the required features that affect the final Duolingo app development cost, you must take into account the steps to develop a successful Duolingo like education app.

Also read: Cost to Develop a Language Learning app like Babbel

Step-By-Step Process to Create a Learning App like Duolingo

According to Statista, Duolingo has 500 million worldwide users, which is expected to increase in the upcoming days. Therefore, businesses are now planning for e-learning mobile app development and follow a strong strategy for developing an educational app. Here is the step-by-step process to create a language app like Duolingo:

1. App idea based on language learning apps

Before you step into the world of mobile app development, get a clearer idea of why a language learning app is necessary. You need to have a clear idea about what type of e-learning app you want, which begins with clear research.

Soon after, you can start planning out the functionalities, features, technical stack, and other things you would like to implement in your e-learning application.

2. Platform for Duolingo like education app development

Businesses are often confused about the right platform they need to choose for their educational app development. It is always suggested first to determine the type of development platform and then move on to the development process.

In this competitive world of the online learning market, choosing the best platform for your application is a major factor that can determine the success of your mobile app. Make your choice based on the factors like app development, time, complexity, location, business needs, target audience, and so on.

3. Advanced tech stack

Depending on the type of language learning app development platform you choose, pick the technology stack accordingly. Various platforms consist of different technology stack methods and needs.

For instance, for developing an Android app, the programming languages required are Kotlin and Java, while iOS app development requires programming languages like Objective C and Swift. The same is applicable for the development parts of your educational app like Duolingo.

4. Create an appealing UI/UX

A poorly-designed e-learning app will only lead to uninstallation and nothing else. The users will uninstall an app if they find it difficult to navigate the features or unattractive.

Thus, it is crucial to keep the design process attractive and simple, ensuring that your e-learning application does not experience frequent uninstallations.

You need to keep a check on the following factors:

• App’s usability
• Wireframe
• Information architecture
• Visual design

5. Education app development process

Once you are completely done with the steps mentioned above; you can now begin with the development process of your language learning app. Start with creating an MVP version of your mobile app to know the viability of your app idea.

Creating an MVP is not only cost-effective but also helps you to know how your target audience is interacting with your app idea. Read this blog to know why MVP is important in software development.

6. Test your educational app

App Testing is a crucial part of your mobile app development process. Once you develop an educational app, test it for bugs in order to keep your application 100% bug or error-free just before its launch in the app stores.

Testing your mobile app will help you identify the loopholes of the app and other errors that can be rectified on time. Testing is a quality assurance process that will help smoothen your e-learning app development process while boosting the chances of revenue coming your way.

7. Education app launch

This is the final step of your language learning app after you have performed all the steps mentioned above successfully. Having an app launched isn’t the end but the beginning of taking your business to new heights. It is recommended to hire a reliable e-learning app development company to guide you throughout the entire process smoothly.

As stated above, here’s an exhibit of the above process and its associated cost:

While you are now aware of the rough Duolingo app development cost estimate, you might also want to discover your options and strategies to make sure you are going the right way.

10 Effective Strategies to Make Your Duolingo App Development Right

The top features of an app like Duolingo not only entice the users but will also enhance engagement. Other than the features, there are few strategies that you need to put into consideration to understand how to build a language learning app.

Here’s a list of effective strategies that can keep your education app ahead in the market:

1. Easy to use app

While building an app like Duolingo, you need to ensure that your app doesn’t irritate your users. They are here to learn something, and you have to make their learning process easier. Therefore, keep the application as simple and engaging as possible.

Focus on the UI and UX concept of your app and avoid excessive ornamentation.

With too much graphical ornamentation, your users will find it difficult to interact with the app and navigate it freely, thus going for uninstallation. Make your app fun and engaging by including simple exercises. You can also learn the tips and tricks for reducing mobile app uninstallation.

Follow a simple approach to make the exercises easy to understand. Create a clean UI to select puzzles, challenges, games, and other numerous language choices to ensure your users are engaged and interact well with your app.

2. Put gamification and learning together

E-learning applications like Duolingo take complete advantage of the gamification process for keeping the users engaged. With gamification, the learning process becomes fun. The entire learning process revolves around solving quests, puzzles, and getting points.

These apps are now transforming the entire learning procedure with the inclusion of exciting games with incentives, achievements, and challenges. So, if you are planning to create an app like Duolingo, then start with gamification at every step in order to make your app a success.

3. Chatbot integration

Language learning bots are just exceptionals. Duolingo is majorly popular because of its bots. The bots help practice vocabulary and foreign language. But where to start if you are also planning to build a language learning chatbot app like Duolingo? The AI powered chatbot learning framework will soon replace human tutors.

In case you have used Duolingo, then you will notice that the chatbot prompts you to submit the right response. In fact, bot texting has now become more effective than any other communication platform. And who knows, your billion-dollar learning app idea may just work.

4. Simple yet engaging onboarding experience

Many business enthusiasts make the mistake of considering onboarding screens as the area where they could share all of their apps’ features. However, there are various users that wish to explore the app on their own or get irritated by seeing this user manual.

This is where Duolingo has outshined in the market. The application has minimal screens with short and crispy content; making way for users to land on the platform at the earliest and explore it themselves.

5. Delayed registration process

This language learning application does not force users to create an account at first. Rather, it lets users choose the course, and level, and perform a few lessons. After this, it displays a positive message to encourage users to register for an account, “Time to create a profile to save your progress and continue learning for free”.

This way, it shows what the application can do and how, before making it imperative to create an account. Something that increases the chances of user conversions.

Besides, the application has made the registration process short and faster to give a pleasant experience to users.

6. Push notification

Knowing the fact that building a push notification strategy can increase conversions, Duolingo has also introduced different push notification mechanisms into the app. They have used this technique to remind users about their daily/weekly/monthly goals and encourage them to take another course with some positive and personalized content.

7. Progressive onboarding experience

Another mistake that app designers and business people make is limiting the scope of the onboarding experience to the point the user enters the app. This is where Duolingo has proven to be an expert.

The application has introduced onboarding elements throughout the application. This way, they have succeeded in simplifying the workflow and delivering a higher level of personalized experience to users.

8. Speed and convenience

The application has also worked on delivering higher speed, convenience, and a valuable experience to its users – something that only a few applications like Netflix have nailed.

9. Positive messages and encouragements

The Duolingo app has also worked on adding positive vibes into its design. They have introduced positive messages to encourage users, in case they fail. This way, they have given an impression that they understand their user pain points and have the knack of how to bring them back.

The effect of which is that more than 45M users use the application every month.

10. Voice recognition

Lastly, they have looked into how to use voice recognition and Artificial intelligence for delivering a better user experience.

These features make Duolingo enjoy the limelight in the language learning industry. However, they are able to perform smoothly and deliver exceptional experiences because of the tech stack used.

So, let’s uncover the tech stack these apps are backed with.

Tech Stack to Consider for Building a Duolingo-clone App

The tech stack of the Duolingo app, that power up the features and make it a top choice  of every user, includes:

For Native development:

Java, Kotlin, Objective-C, Swift, Scala, and Swift for native development

For Backend development:

Backend is backed by Python, Vue.js, React.js, and Angular.js. CSS, jQuery, and Bootstrap are used to create the UI/UX design journey.

For Data management :

MySQL, Postgres, MongoDB, HBase, and Cassandra are considered for meeting the database management needs.

Similarly, Hadoop and Spark big data frameworks, Apache, and IBM are often considered for real-time analytics, and Amazon Data Services or Google Cloud Storage for cloud storage needs.

But, wait!

Before we make a stop, shouldn’t we also consider some of the significant development challenges and the ways to monetize Duolingo like education app development?

So, let’s check for the development challenges you might face in the process of creating a language learning  app.

Challenges You Might Face in Duolingo-like App Development

While there are various challenges associated with developing a Duolingo-like education application, the two significant challenges are:-

1. Delivering impeccable chatbot services

Duolingo’s bot is available in more than one language and delivers longer sentences. To create one such language-learning chatbot, you need to dive into complex algorithms and integration processes, especially when starting from scratch.

This demands higher efforts and budget, and many times does not even deliver results in the form of intelligent conversation as expected. So, it is a risky investment both for business people and developers.

2. Integrating voice technology with bot

Another such challenge that can be faced by the development team is integrating chatbot with voice-recognition technology. This is so because the voice technology is still immature with fewer sources to make this possible.

Something for which experts suggest to partner with top education apps development services only.

With this covered, let’s see how this language learning mobile app makes money (and you can too.

Bonus Read- How Do Apps Make Money?

Business Models You Can Follow For Your Duolingo Clone App

The Duolingo business model is Crowdsourced. It makes some text/content available to users for translation as a part of their learning course.

When multiple users give the same translation for any particular content, the website considers it as the right translation and saves it as the translated text. This text is then shared with organizations like BuzzFeed and CNN in return for some monetary benefits.

Besides, Duolingo also earns money by embracing the following these monetization models:

1. In-app Advertisement

This is another Duolingo business model, where the application allows users to enjoy free content but loads it with advertisements from brands who pay on the basis of CPC and CPI.

2. Subscription Model

Here, the application provides an ad-free experience alongside various other perks to users, when paid. The app lets users gain gems and in-app currency to unlock content beforehand and get more chances in competitions.

Also, the language learning app asks for a fee of $49 for enrolling for a certification in any language.

3. Freemium

Educational apps are now offering freemium features or access to special courses through payment. Freemium is one of the best ways to gain a huge user base for your e-learning platform; as it gives a chance to users to explore your app and know more about it.

In case, your users want to explore a few special courses or features of that application, then they need to pay for it.

4. Paid Apps

Paid apps business model simply means that your app is not free to download. If people want to utilize your app, then they must first purchase it from the App Stores. Paid apps for e-learning platforms can cost as per the services provided.

While these are the business models that Duolingo prefers, there are various other strategies that new-age businesses can emulate to earn money from a mobile app, with Affiliate marketing being on the top of the list.

With this covered, let’s wrap up this article by covering a few tips that can make your app prepared for the future.

Five Takeaways For Effective Duolingo Like App Development

We have already covered the Duolingo app development cost factor, however, it is crucial to align your app needs with your customer needs. For this, you might need a few bonus tips to understand the success criteria of Duolingo app.

1. Focus on customers

One of the reasons Duolingo is leading in its respective domain is that it solves users’ pain points better than others. So, taking the same forward, create your own  language app by planning as per your user expectations and needs. Target local markets to get a microscopic understanding of their requirements and implement them in the global market.

2. Introduce “real-time translation” and writing feature

There’s hardly any language learning application that offers the functionality of translating any word in real-time or learning how to write them. So, it is again a profitable opportunity to consider while building a Duolingo-clone app.

3. Localize your app

App localization can help to get more conversions and loyal customers. So, hire the experts and localize your app content in languages spoken by your target audience (usually in those that are majorly used by them).

4. Embrace latest techstack

Create your own language app by embracing the latest technologies in your business. Gamification and Artificial Intelligence are making a good profit. No denial of this. However, with the changing market, it is necessary to welcome other technologies too.

So, look ahead to integrate AR/VR, IoT, and other such trending technologies into your process of creating a language learning app like Duolingo.

5. Follow UI/UX trends

Knowing that the UX is the secret sauce of Duolingo’s success, it is again a profitable act to consider the top mobile app UI/UX design tips and trends.

For instance, Appinventiv created smarter digital tools for teachers in Gurushala, that aimed to save time while presenting an engaging and exciting lesson format. We ensured that the website is easy to navigate and user-friendly for both teachers and students.

6. Promote your app

Last but not least, it is necessary to take the right steps for promoting your application. While the Duolingo team relied only on ‘Word of Mouth’ marketing, you can turn to other effective methods to promote your app and get better results.

In fact, it is better to invest in pre-launch app promotion to prepare the market for your application and enjoy higher downloads. And eventually, get back the money invested in the form of Duolingo app development cost.

How Can Appinventiv Help You With Duolingo Like App Development?

Appinventiv is a leading education app development company that has redefined learning for millions of students and trainers. Our team has vast experience in building next-gen education applications with state-of-the-art features using the latest learning techniques – gamification, social learning, blended learning, and interactivities.

Talk to our experts to leverage eLearning application development solutions loaded with features and functionalities.

FAQs

Q. How much does it cost to develop a Duolingo-like application?

A. Duolingo app development cost for a single platform like Android or iOS can range from $25,000- 100,000. However, If you want to develop an app like Duolingo for a hybrid platform, then the app development cost might range from $80,000- $150,000. This range might also differ depending on your app requirements, therefore, it’s best to consult with an experienced education app development company before getting started.

Q. What is the development team’s structure for creating an app like Duolingo?

A. For creating an app like Duolingo, a development team’s structure should be as follows:

• Project Manager
• System Architect
• Business Analyst
• Art Director
• 2D Artist
• Web Designer
• 3D Artist
• SFX Composer
• React Native Developer
• React Native Lead
• .NET Developer
• .NET Lead
• DevOps
• QA

Hire a professional e-learning app development company like Appinventiv, to get these professional skills in order to make your app a reality.

Q. What are the features of Duolingo that made it famous?

A. Duolingo, the popular e-learning platform is famous because of these reasons:

• The platform provides 10,000+ words and 23,000 sentences per language.
• Any user can enhance their skills with this platform as they can start as a beginner or an experienced learner.
• The app has 40 most popular languages, including French, English, Portuguese, Hindi, etc.
• It includes everything about a particular language, for example, grammar, basics, phrases, etc.
• The app has a skill tree which is divided into 9 units and these units get complicated as the learner passes the previous unit.
• The application also has vocabulary lessons where the users can match images with words.
• It also has a resource library that contains stories, practice sessions, podcasts, and other specific events that a learner can follow up on.
• Leaderboards make it more interesting for the users as they can compete with the other users around the globe.

Q. How long does it take to build an app like Duolingo?

A. App development is time-consuming. Building a language learning software requires a lot of patience as it involves the complex tasks of engineering at both frontend and backends like UI design, data integration, and development.  Building an app like Duolingo might take 4-9 months, or more based on the complexity and other requirements.

To get detailed insights on this, check out how long does it take to develop a mobile app.

Q. What are some of the effective monetization strategies for building an app like Duolingo?

A. Are you planning to earn more revenue from your language learning app? Try the below-mentioned app monetization strategies today:

• Pay-per-course
• Premium Subscription
• Freemium
• Additional Option
• In-app Purchase
• Ads Model