How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Glovo?

Lokesh Kumar
May 08, 2025

Goods and services as payment-dependent delivery apps such as Glovo have changed the game in the modern digital economy. The application functions as a direct link between the users with nearby stores, fulfilling orders like food, groceries, and other commodities in a matter of minutes. If you own a business and intend to develop a clone app, you must first pay attention to technology, operation, or even the experience of the user.
Regardless of the field of focus, be it user interface or backend systems, all are critical in providing a dependable and scalable business solution. In this blog, we are going to discuss the step by step process of developing an application like Glovo, discussing the main components, tech components, and problems likely to be faced along the road.
Are you ready and set to carefully look into it?
What is the Glovo App?
In today’s fast-paced world, on-demand delivery apps in Spain have become essential, and Glovo serves as a very good example; it aids users in getting in touch with their local delivery professionals and availing them of services like grocery booking, food booking, parcel booking, and even pharmacy delivery. Glovo allows its clients to order from grocery shops, restaurants, and medicine shops simultaneously and through a single application. As such, it supports multiple countries. Its simple but appealing design, plus swift delivery, make it a popular choice amongst consumers in urban cities where time is always of the essence.
Why Invest In Apps Like Glovo?
There is ample opportunity in the digital economy with investing in apps like Glovo. Here are five reasons substantiating this claim.
Rapid Market Growth
The on-demand delivery market is flourishing. The proliferation of smartphones coupled with a shift in user spending behavior drives users to instant delivery apps like blinkit. Instant delivery services are well-positioned to capitalize on this growing trend as urban centers continue to expand.
Diverse Revenue Streams
Glovo and other similar applications earn revenue from a variety of sources including delivery and partner commission, premium accounts, and advertising. This mitigates their reliance on a single source of income, providing opportunities for further growth in the future.
Scalability and Flexibility
Platforms providing goods and services on demand are far more scalable. The initial investment in setting up the grocery delivery app like coles infrastructure makes future expansion into new regions and cities cost effective. Furthermore, the business model is not limited to only food and groceries but can apply to other categories such as pharmacy, retail, and logistics.
Data-Driven Insights
These applications accumulate a wealth of information from their users that can be used for marketing and improving product and service delivery. This data enables route, inventory, and customer behavior forecasting optimizations to be performed in real-time.
Customer Loyalty and Retention
Grocery delivery apps like Glovo improve user experience and engender customer loyalty with Glovo-like apps using personalized recommendations, multiple payment options, and real-time tracking functionality. Trusted services encourage adoption and retention, as well as referrals.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Glovo?
The cost to build an app like Glovo depends on various factors, including the design, development, testing, and deployment across iOS and Android platforms, as well as the hourly rates of the instant delivery app development company. This cost breakdown also varies based on the geographical location of the developers and the specific features required in the app. For businesses looking to launch an on-demand delivery app in Nigeria, these factors become even more critical, as local market needs, logistics infrastructure, and user behavior in Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem can influence the overall development cost. Below is an estimated cost structure to build an app like Glovo.
Factors Affecting The Cost To Build An App Like Glovo
Now that you know the factors affecting the cost to develop an app like Glovo, you must go through them in detail with our guide. Here, we have examined the factors affecting the cost to develop an app like Glovo with each and every particular detail.
Platform Choice (iOS, Android, or Both)
Whether the app is built for iOS, Android or both will determine the cost to build an app like Glovo. Lower costs may be achieved through a cross-platform model, however, user experience and performance are enhanced through developing native applications.
App Features and Functionality
Real-time tracking has become the industry standard for user registration, order placement, and tracking. Significant changes in cost and complexity come with advanced features such as chat support, multi-language capabilities, and AI-powered recommendations.
UI/UX Design Complexity
Compared to standard designs, lesser spending is associated with UIs that incorporate animations, branding, and customization. However, food delivery app development services providers will enhance spending and improve the user experience, retaining and increasing customer satisfaction levels.
Backend Infrastructure
Strong backend systems are critical in user data capture, order handling, payment processing, and partner system integrations. The backend infrastructure's scalability, security, and overall design dictates the cost to develop an app like glovo.
Location of Development Team
Hourly rates for grocery delivery app development company increases the cost to build grocery apps like glovo and differ greatly from region to region. For example, Western Europe or North American developers charge a premium compared to their Eastern Euro or Asian counterparts, which affects overall cost to develop an app like glovo..
Third-Party Integrations
The multifaceted SMS, Push Notification APIs, payment methods along with the maps interface each require separate processes of development and usage, all of which incur additional cost to build grocery app like glovo.
Admin Panel and Dashboard
This is another factor that affect the cost to build grocery app like glovo with an efficient operation can only be achieved with a powerful admin interface, which makes the process of managing orders, vendors, users, and payments more complex yet necessary.
Ongoing Maintenance and Updates
The cost to build a grocery app like Glovo increases with this factor, as Applications must be kept competitive, dependable, and reliable at all times, necessitating the integration of updates, bug fixes, server maintenance, and regular security improvements.
It is advised to connect with a leading grocery delivery app development company if you want to know about the rough estimation on your cost of glovo like app development.
Key Features Of The Glovo-Like App
Combining the insights of these 15 features can guarantee a successful app that stands shoulder to shoulder with Glovo and can handle user scalability with a unique, accessible delivery experience. Every grocery delivery app development for startups must include the following features: the grocery app, the user app, the Admin Panel, and the Courier App.
1. User Registration & Authentication
Depending on the model of the application, this app may serve as the initial foundation for every user-facing on-demand delivery app like glovo. The most crucial aspect of account creation entails enabling users to register and log in using social media accounts, phone numbers, and email addresses. Activating two-step verification ensures security from other risk factors too.
2. Real-Time GPS Tracking
Accuracy in predicted order and delivery timestamps should meet their expectations along with distinctive tracking capabilities for added transparency. All of which forms trust, allowing the user to track in real-time with improved value and experience.
3. Search & Filters
A robust search feature of on-demand delivery apps like Glovo with filters lets customers conveniently navigate stores, restaurants, and items by rating, distance, price, or categories. This feature helps users find what they are looking for in a timely manner.
4. Multi-Category Support
Unlike other Glovo- like grocery delivery app developments that serve single purposes, Glovo encompasses a variety of deliveries including food, groceries, medicine, and even courier delivery services. The app should enable seamless switching and ordering from different categories.
5. Cart & Order Management
Users can add multiple items to a cart and can also update quantities while viewing the price breakdown for each item. This module comes with order confirmation and modification as well as order cancellation features.
6. Payment Integration
A smooth, secure checkout process with a range of payment methods, such as credit or debit cards, wallets, and cash on delivery, guarantees a frictionless experience.
7. Real-Time Notifications
Users can be updated on order progress, promotional materials, and changes to the glovo like grocery delivery app development through push notifications. These can be supplemented by SMS or email alerts to enhance reach.
8. Ratings & Reviews
Customers should be able to provide both qualitative and quantitative feedback on the items received and on the delivery service. This aids in maintaining service delivery and supporting customer needs with grocery delivery apps like Glovo.
9. In-app chat or Call
Communication between users and couriers (or support) is crucial. Through in-app chat or call features, users can issue clear delivery instructions and resolve any issues together with the users right away.
10. Loyalty Programs & Promotions
Reward systems, discount codes, and referral programs help encourage user retention. All these features foster loyalty and usage of the grocery delivery app like glovo over a sustained period.
11. Order History & Reordering
Users can view previous orders along with their invoices, and reorder them in a single click. Such convenience increases the reusage and enhances the experience for the customers.
12. Courier Profile & Delivery Management
A food delivery app like Glovo must have profile creation, order acceptance, navigation, status updates, and other core elements. Delivery folks can monitor all their active and completed deliveries.
13. Route Optimization
Strategic route planning is pivotal to maintaining schedules and managing expenses. Integrated mapping and GPS features let couriers choose the shortest routes free of traffic.
14. Admin Dashboard & Analytics
The Admins require a complete backend infrastructure to have control over users, couriers, vendors, payments, and customer service. Analytics can be utilized to evaluate their performance along with other automated processes for optimal decisions.
15. Multi-Language & Multi-Currency Support
Glovo clone app development has a wider geographical appeal, so there is a need to accommodate diverse languages and currencies. This fosters greater relevance and makes it easier to use in different regions.
How Does A Glovo-Like App Make Money?
A Glovo clone app development can create revenue on different frameworks based on its on-demand multi-category delivery. Here are five major ways such platforms make money:
Delivery Charges
The users are levied a fee based on the distance, time, and urgency of the order as per each delivery. This is a direct stream of income, particularly during high-traffic periods for selected deliveries, which are subjected to priority deliveries and surge pricing increases.
Commission from Partners
The percentage commission per order from partner restaurants, grocery vendors, and other shops is charged. This has proven to motivate registration while granting the Glovo clone script a scalable model to earn revenue. The commission rate can vary depending on the vendor type and order volume.
Subscription Plans
Many delivery glovo apps have a premium membership plan where the members get extra facilities (free deliveries, exclusive offers) for a certain monthly or yearly charge. These types of subscriptions offer guaranteed revenue on a recurring basis and also serve to satisfy customer loyalty through the addition of extra benefits.
In-App Advertising
Stores may buy space to promote their items on the glovo grocery app . A prime location on the main screen, in the search results, or with the help of banners can not only get partners' visibility and orders but will also let the glovo grocery delivery earn money from advertising as a result.
Service Fees
In the cost of delivery and product, the application may also ask for service fees to assist in keeping the Glovo online shopping app operational. The fees could be small fixed amounts or a percentage of the order value and are typically collected from users at checkout.
Conclusion
Making an app like Glovo is a matter of strategic planning, using a powerful tech stack, and having a clear picture of the users' needs and the market demands. With real-time tracking to secure payments and multi-category assistance, all those things are necessary, and every feature counts towards it being achieved and the convenience it brings to the cost. It is necessary, whether you are launching an enterprise or expanding your delivery services, to partner with a development leader who is the right fit for you. IMG Global Infotech is an expert in creating scalable, highly functional delivery apps to reach your business goals.
Having a team of professionals, dedication to agile methodology, and all kinds of support, we can easily implement your idea without much effort and expense. You are welcome to bring us your app idea, and we will turn it into reality.