How To Develop A Buy And Sell App Like Carousell?

Picture this—your friend says, “I just sold my old phone in two hours.” You reply, “Wait… how?”

They grin, “Posted it on a resale app. Easy money.”

A single casual conversation can explain the proliferation of buy-and-sell apps all over the place. In this case, we see that people are now much less inclined to keep things around that they don’t really need and, instead, want fast cash, good deals, and virtually no trouble in getting those quickly. 

That is exactly what apps such as Carousell set out to address - providing people the means to turn their unused items into revenue using just a few taps on their devices on their phone. 

Now take yourself out of the consumer mindset and place yourself into the position of an entrepreneur or founder with a startup. "If users enjoy the simple nature of using these types of apps so much, should we create one too?" 

The objective of this guide is to provide a step-by-step approach that someone can follow to create a buy-and-sell app that is similar to Carousell without the headache of tech-related issues. 

What is Carousell?

Now you must be wondering what Carousell exactly is?

Carousell is an app that lets consumers sell their new or used goods to each other. It takes little time to sell or find anything from electronics, clothing, vehicles, and even real estate.

At its core, it’s a C2C marketplace app like Carousell. A key point in this marketplace is that both trust and ease of use, and the ability to communicate directly with one another, will speed up the sales process since there are no long or confusing checkout processes to deal with.

If you want to build app like Carousell, you need to understand how easy it is to sell and buy products through this simple-to-use app.

Market opportunities for Buy and Sell Apps in 2026

The resale economy is booming—and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. By 2026, global recommerce markets are expected to grow massively due to:

1. Booming Resale Economy

In 2026, there has been a surge in popularity of second-hand shopping due to the demand for budget-friendly and eco-friendly alternatives. This makes buy & sell platforms a lucrative and rapidly expanding online business opportunity.

2. Sustainability-Driven Consumers

With the rise in eco-friendly consumers, there is an increase in the use of resale platforms to decrease waste, save money, and foster circular economies – perfect for increased acceptance of buy & sell applications and their future viability.

3. Mobile-First User Behaviour

Smartphones dominate shopping habits, and therefore, consumers expect expedited listings, fast communication with other users, and an enjoyable mobile experience when using buy & sell apps for their everyday transactions.

4. Low Entry, High Scalability Model

Buy & sell applications are much less expensive than traditional e-commerce because they have less inventory to buy, are quicker to launch, and can be scaled through advertising, subscriptions, and premium listings and can be scaled at an extremely rapid rate.

More entrepreneurs are looking to create a buy and sell app like Carousell because:

• Entry barriers are lower than traditional ecommerce

• Monetisation options are flexible

• User acquisition can scale fast with the right UX

This makes Carousell like buy and sell app development a high-potential business idea in 2026 and beyond.

Key Features of a Buy and Sell App Like Carousell

To succeed, your app must feel effortless. A mobile app development services company should know what features suit your project.

Below are the features of a buy and sell marketplace app that users expect today.

1. Easy User Onboarding

Users quickly sign up through their social media or phone accounts, making it simple to join. This helps bring users into the app, list items, search through items for sale, and engage in messaging conversations immediately.

2. Simple Product Listing

An easy-to-use upload process allows users to upload pictures of items for sale, write descriptions of them, set prices and publish listings in a matter of minutes. This makes selling feel fast and fun with no hassle at all.

3. In-App Chat System

Real-time messaging allows for communication between buyers and sellers, helping them negotiate directly and complete transactions more quickly without leaving the app environment.

4. Advanced Search & Filters

Smart filtering allows users to quickly find lists by category, price, location and condition, thereby improving overall satisfaction and encouraging user engagement.

5. Location-Based Discovery

Showing local listings provides buyers and sellers with more confidence in the transaction, cuts down on shipping, and encourages a quicker sale through local transactions.

More Must-Have Features Are:-

• Wishlist & saved searches

• User ratings and reviews

• Secure payment integration

• Push notifications

• Report and block users

• Admin dashboard & moderation tools

• Featured and promoted listings

Most Carousell clone app development projects succeed or fail based on how smooth these features feel.

What are the Steps to Build an App Like Carousell?

Let’s talk about execution. So what are the steps to build an app like Carousell? Experienced teams also bring insights from building Popular buy and sell apps and solutions, helping you avoid costly mistakes. Here’s a simplified roadmap to Carousell like buy and sell app development.

1. Idea Validation & Market Research

Conduct research about your target audience, niche, and rivals in order to determine demand for your app and its attribute refinement, so you can design an app that addresses real user pain points.

2. Feature Planning & Monetisation Strategy

Determine core functionalities, premium services, advertisements or commission structures for your business early in the process so that you can match your business goals to that of the user experience and generate long-term revenue.

3. UI/UX Design & Prototyping

Create intuitive designs like screen designs with a seamless flow from listing to browsing or chatting with others to make the experience simple, thrilling and fun for all users.

4. App Development & Integration

Carefully develop frontend, back-end, admin panel, and integrations so that performance, security, scalability, and instant interaction are maximised throughout your application.

5. Testing, Launch & Scaling

Test thoroughly, fix bugs, launch with confidence and continuously gain feedback concerning user experience so as to scale out features to enhance user adoption and trust in your marketplace.

Many startups also explore similar models, like Develop A Marketplace Like Mercari to understand global best practices.

What is the Cost to Build a Buy and Sell App Like Carousell?

Now the big question—money. What is the cost to build a buy and sell app like Carousell? 

The cost to build a buy and sell app like Carousell depends on complexity, platforms, and features. Let us now break down the cost based on the level of the app. 

1. Basic App Cost

The basic app cost ranges from $5,000 to $8,000. It is an ideal choice for a startup looking for an MVP or a small business. 

2. Mid-Level App Cost

A mid-level app cost ranges from $10,000 to $15,000. It is an ideal choice for medium-sized businesses looking for expansion. 

3. Advanced-Level App Cost

An advanced-level Ecommerce app development cost range starts from $15,000 and goes higher depending on your project requirements. It is a good choice for large enterprises. 

If you’re researching the cost to build app like Carousell, remember that quality and scalability matter more than just low pricing. In most cases, the Carousell like app development cost includes design, development, testing, deployment, and post-launch support.

Factors Affecting the Recommerce App Deveopment Cost

Several elements directly influence the Carousell app development cost. Some of the major factors are given below. 

1. App Platform Selection

The type of platform you decide to develop for Android, iOS, or both will affect the amount of time and resources used and the cost of building your buy and sell app.

2. Feature Complexity Level

A basic listing app will have a lower overall cost compared to one that includes additional features such as AI recommendations and analytics, which will increase the development cost of your app.

3. UI/UX Design Requirements

In addition to custom designs, a template-based user interface can create an impact on development costs based on how much effort and time it takes to create the custom design.

4. Development Team Location

The amount that developers charge per hour varies by geographic location, so where you decide to place your development team will contribute to your total app development cost.

5. Third-Party Integrations

The use of payment gateways, mapping services, chat services, and notification services will add functionality to your app while also increasing both the development cost associated with these features and ongoing maintenance costs.

Other Cost-Influencing Factors Are:-

• App maintenance and updates

• Security and data protection needs

• Cloud hosting and server costs

• Scalability requirements

• Testing and quality assurance

• Admin panel complexity

By analysing these factors, you can Build An App Like Cashify at an affordable rate. We are taking an example of Cashify because it is one of the most popular players in this market. 

Why Choose a Professional Ecommerce App Development Company?

Partnering with a professional Ecommerce app development company ensures your app is secure, scalable, and market-ready. It helps you save time, money, and major headaches. 

IMG Global Infotech have experts who have real experience in the marketplace. Our developers will give you much better advice than simply guessing what has worked in the past. We have a deep understanding of how users interact with your app, the development of scalable architecture, and the design of secure payment flows. All of these factors are crucial to helping you create a successful application.

Professionals use a proven development process, making sure that your new eCommerce application goes to market quickly and runs smoothly on all devices. Our focus is also on application security, data protection, and compliance with local regulations, which will help you gain the trust of your customers from the moment they use your application.

Most importantly, you won’t just be working with developers. You’ll also be working with strategists, designers, testers, and ongoing support resources. This will assist you in providing your customers with better features than ever before, a highly functional application, and an application that can grow with your business.
 

IMG Global Infotech specialisation:-

1. Custom Ecommerce & Marketplace App Development

IMG Global Infotech are specialized in Marketplace app development. They develop scalable, feature-rich ecommerce and marketplace applications tailored to the distinctive business objectives, user behaviours, and long-term growth strategies of its clients.

2. Mobile App Development Expertise

The organisation has expertise in designing and developing high-performing mobile applications for Android and iOS, while providing an intuitive user interface, easy navigation, and enhanced user experience across multiple devices.

3. AI-Powered & Scalable Solutions

We integrate artificial intelligence (AI) functionality such as smart product recommendations, analytics, and automated processes to assist your applications in scaling effectively and remaining competitive.

4. End-to-End Development & Support

From concept validation through ongoing support, IMG Global Infotech provides end-to-end application development services to ensure the highest levels of reliability, security, and ongoing improvement of your applications.

More Areas of Expertise:-

• UI/UX design services

• Cloud-based app architecture

• API and third-party integrations

• App testing and quality assurance

• Ongoing maintenance and support

• Dedicated teams if you hire ecommerce developers

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Carousell like buy and sell app development, is not simply about creating yet another marketplace, but also about tapping into an expanding resale community that people love. In fact, due to the increasing preference for affordable products, convenience, and sustainability, buy-sell platforms are becoming everyday applications rather than just being used from time-to-time by consumers.

Every element of your buy-and-sell app will have a significant influence on how successful your app ultimately will be, such as your selection of a target niche, your required features, and the development costs associated with it. 

The secret is to ensure that the overall experience for the customers using your app is uncomplicated. For the users of your app, they will want fast listings, effective messaging, and no confusion. If you combine an easy-to-use interface with great usability, excellent security protocols, and frequent enhancement features, you will probably have a significant competitive advantage over many other existing resale marketplaces.

If you are serious about attempting to compete in the resale marketplace and want to Develop A Marketplace Like Mercari, you should take action immediately. If you work with experienced consultants, a reliable app development team, and have a precise vision, your buy-and-sell app could develop into the primary resale marketplace people will utilise each day.