How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Grill’d In Australia?

The food delivery industry has seen a massive boom in recent years, powered by changing consumer behavior, smartphone integration, and the growing demand for convenience. Among the many players in the market, Grill’d has emerged as a standout brand, offering not just delicious, healthy burgers but also a seamless digital food ordering experience through its mobile app.

If you're a restaurant owner, startup founder, or entrepreneur planning to build a custom food delivery app like Grill’d, understanding the cost to develop a food delivery app is crucial before diving in. From essential features and design to backend development and ongoing maintenance, multiple factors influence the total development cost of Grill'd like app.

In this blog, we have highlighted everything you need to know about building a food delivery app like Grill’d, including core features, advanced functionalities, tech stack, key cost factors, and estimated pricing ranges, to help you develop a feature-rich food app like Grill’d.

What is Grill’d?

Grill’d is an Australian fast-food restaurant chain known for its healthy and gourmet burger offerings. With a strong focus on quality ingredients, sustainability, and customer experience, Grill’d has expanded its reach through a user-friendly mobile app that enables online ordering, delivery, and loyalty rewards. The brand’s tech-driven approach makes it a great model for anyone looking for a modern food delivery app development.

Core Features of a Food Delivery App Like Grill’d

To create a successful food delivery app like Grill’d, it's essential to offer a seamless, user-friendly experience across all touchpoints, customers, restaurant staff, delivery partners, and admins. Here are the must-have core features to include:

1. User Registration & Login

• Social media, email, or phone number sign-up

• Secure login with OTP or password

• Profile management (name, address, preferences)
   

2. Interactive Menu & Customization

• Browse full menu with images, prices, and nutritional info

• Customize items (e.g., extra toppings, gluten-free options)

• Add special instructions
   

3. Smart Ordering System

• Easy-to-use cart with item summary

• Multiple order types: delivery, pickup, dine-in

• Scheduled orders for later delivery
   

 4. Secure Payment Integration

• Multiple payment options: credit/debit cards, wallets, UPI, net banking

• Integration with trusted gateways (e.g., Razorpay, Stripe, PayPal)

• In-app wallet or saved card options
   

5. Real-Time Order Tracking

• Live status updates: order placed, prepared, out for delivery, delivered

• Delivery ETA with map tracking

• Push notifications for updates
   

6. Loyalty & Rewards Program

• Earn and redeem points on every order (like Grill’d’s Relish program)

• Exclusive offers, birthday rewards, and referral bonuses

• In-app promo code system
   

7. Location & Store Finder

• Auto-detect user location or manual pin

• Nearby outlets with estimated delivery times

• Geofencing support for area-specific promotions
   

8. Admin Dashboard

• Menu and inventory management

• Order monitoring and analytics

• User and delivery partner management

• Discount, promo, and loyalty settings
   

9. Delivery Partner App

• Real-time delivery assignments

• GPS navigation to pickup and drop-off locations

• Status updates and payment tracking
   

10. Customer Support Integration

• In-app chat or call support

• Order issue resolution & refund requests

• FAQ section for quick help

Estimated Cost to Build an App Like Grill’d

Grill’d like food delivery app development cost in Australia depends on several factors including app complexity, feature set, design quality, platform (iOS, Android, or both), technology stack, and the location of your development team. Basically the estimated cost to build a food app like grill’d ranges between $15,000 to $50,000+.

Here’s a general estimate based on three levels of app complexity:

Factors Affecting the Development Cost of a Food Delivery App Like Grill’d

Building a food delivery app like Menulog in Australia involves various components, and the total development cost of a Grill'd like app can vary significantly depending on the choices you make during the planning and development stages. Below are the key factors that directly influence the development cost of app like Grill’d:

1. App Complexity & Feature Set

The more features you include the higher the cost, such as real-time tracking, loyalty programs, multi-language support, and in-app wallets can increase the cost. A basic app with limited functionality will cost lesser than a fully-loaded, enterprise-grade platform.

2. UI/UX Design Quality

User interface and experience play a critical role in retaining customers. Custom, visually rich, and responsive designs increase development time and costs but offer a more polished, branded user experience.

3. Platform Selection

Do you want to build for Android, iOS, or both? Cross-platform development tools (like Flutter or React Native) can lower costs, while building separate native apps increases both budget and timeline.

4. Location of Development Team

Hiring of remote developer rates vary by region:

• USA/UK/Canada: $80–$150/hour

• Eastern Europe: $40–$80/hour

• India & Southeast Asia: $20–$40/hour
   

5. Third-Party Integrations

Integrating external APIs for payment gateways (e.g., Razorpay, Stripe), maps (e.g., Google Maps), SMS/OTP, analytics, or CRMs adds to the total Grill’d like app development cost, especially if they require customization.

6. Backend Infrastructure

A robust backend system for handling orders, payments, analytics, and real-time updates requires careful planning and secure architecture. Advanced backend services (e.g., cloud hosting, load balancing, or admin dashboards) increase development costs of food app in Australia.

7. App Maintenance & Updates

Post-launch, you'll need regular updates for performance improvements, security patches, and feature enhancements. Ongoing maintenance typically costs 15–20% of the initial development cost annually.

8. Marketing & Launch Preparation

Although not part of development directly, budget should also be allocated for ASO (App Store Optimization), app store fees, initial marketing campaigns, and social media promotions to ensure your app gains visibility post-launch.

Tips to Optimize Grill’d-Like Food Delivery App Development Cost in Australia

Developing a food delivery app like Grill’d in Australia can be a significant investment, especially with higher local development rates. However, with smart planning and the right strategies, you can effectively optimize app development cost without compromising on quality or performance. Here’s how:

1. Start with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Avoid building everything at once. Focus on essential features like user login, menu browsing, ordering, payment, and delivery tracking.
 

2. Use Cross-Platform Development

Instead of building separate native apps for iOS and Android, use frameworks like Flutter or React Native to create a single codebase.

3. Outsource to a Reliable Offshore Partner

Australia has higher hourly developer rates. Consider outsourcing the project to a trusted offshore development company (e.g., in India or Eastern Europe) while maintaining project management locally.
 

4. Leverage Pre-Built Modules & APIs

Instead of developing from scratch, use existing third-party APIs and pre-built components for features like maps, payments, chat, and analytics.
 

5. Limit Custom Design in Phase One

Opt for a clean, template-based UI in the initial version and refine the design after validating user engagement.
 

6. Hire a Dedicated Development Team

Instead of freelancers or in-house hires, choose a dedicated development team model from an agency. This gives you project continuity, predictable costs, and reliable timelines.
 

7. Plan for Scalable Architecture Early

Invest in a scalable backend architecture from the start to avoid major rework later. Cloud services like AWS or Firebase offer flexible pricing based on usage.
 

8. Automate Testing & Use Agile Methodology

Agile mobile app development with regular sprints and testing ensures you build the right features efficiently without waste.
 

Conclusion

Developing a food delivery app like Grill’d is a strategic move for businesses looking to capitalize on the growing demand for on-demand food services. From intuitive user interfaces to real-time delivery tracking and loyalty rewards, the features you choose will directly impact both your user experience and development cost.

If you're aiming to build a successful app, it's crucial to prioritize features, use scalable technologies, and explore cost-saving strategies like MVP development and offshore outsourcing. Partnering with an experienced food delivery app development company in Australia can help you align your goals with the right tech solutions, while ensuring compliance with local market expectations and user behavior.