How Much Does Augmented Reality App Development Cost in 2023?

February 20, 2023

Is it worth investing in an Augmented Reality app? If you are a business, you ought to know the statistics of AR apps if you are thinking about this question. The number of people using mobile augmented reality (AR) is expected to grow rapidly between 2019 and 2024, according to Statista. According to projections, by 2024, there will be 1.73 billion users, an increase of 0.44 billion from 2019. There is no doubt that Augmented Reality is experiencing strong growth on mobile devices. However, the question is how much it cost to develop an augmented reality app. In order to answer your question, we do research and curate this guide to ensure precision and quality.

What is the cost of building an Augmented Reality app?

A total AR app costs between $10,000 and $200,000.

Costs vary depending on your mobile app’s requirements, timeline, and complexity.

Developing a mobile AR application with a custom algorithm and API will also increase the cost.


Costs of AR app development based on complexity

A table showing the cost of augmented reality can be found below. AR apps are categorized and their development costs are estimated.

Types of AR apps

The cost

The simplest AR application

Between $10,000 and $50,000

A medium-sized AR application

$50k to $200k

A complex AR application

From $250k to $800k


AR App Development Costs by Region

The region plays an important role in determining the app development cost. Due to this, it is important to know what time each region is at.

Region

Cost ($/hour)

North America

$60 to $275

Australia

$55 to $150

UK

$35 to $170

South America

$45 to $150

Central Europe

$22 to $160

India

$10 to $120

The cost of building an AR mobile app has been calculated phase-by-phase. The next step is to explore the benefits, examples, and costs associated with AR app development.

AR App Development Costs by Category

Apps for Augmented Reality

The application is a software program that integrates digital audiovisual content into the user’s environment in a real-world setting.

Features of AR Apps

  • Developing 3D AR apps using 3D object tracking
  • Wearable technologies and smart glasses SDKs
  • Geo-location integration plays a crucial role in integrating visual content in AR apps

Examples

  • Google Maps
  • IKEA Place
  • Pokemon Go

Cost

$10,000 to $200,000


Here are the main factors affecting app development costs.

Factors that Affect Cost of AR App Development

Description

Scope of Work

The amount of project management and quality assurance labor required depends on the complexity of the app’s logic.

Timeline

Increasing costs means tightening deadlines. Tighter deadlines mean higher costs.

Development Team

Developers’ experience and technology determine the cost. Depending on the developer’s experience and the technology implemented, the cost may increase.

Geo-location

A developer’s or company’s geo-location plays a significant role in determining an AR app’s cost. North America charges $150 per hour, while India charges $10 to $80 per hour.


What are the types of Augmented Reality apps?

In order to develop an augmented reality app, you will need to consider the goals you want to achieve with your application. Here are some types of AR solutions:

  • A marker-based augmented reality system
  • AR based on location
  • A projection of augmented reality
  • Augmented reality based on superimposition

We describe how they differ and what technologies are used to build them below.

 

A marker-based augmented reality application

AR applications like this rely on image recognition or image markers. An application overlays digital information on a feature once it detects a recognized image or object.

Such solutions can use 3D or non-3D objects, such as QR codes, as markers. 

 

Augmented reality based on location

The most widely used implementation of augmented reality is location-based AR, also known as markerless AR. As opposed to using features, these apps create AR objects based on the location of the device, using GPS, acceleration sensors, compasses, and other location-based sensors. A great example of this type of application is Pokémon Go.


Augmented Reality Projection

This type of application relies on visual odometry. Data is collected from multiple sensors and algorithms are used to identify objects’ exact location and take appropriate action. 

Since projection AR can show hidden objects from built-in cameras, it can be used for car parking systems. It is also possible for architects and engineers to use this technology to determine where construction should be placed based on the environment.


Examples of AR apps for education

AR Through interactive 3D models and visualizations, this application aids students in understanding complex mathematical concepts.

By holding, viewing, and rotating a virtual cube, students can learn complex geometry concepts interactively with a Merge Cube.


How Long Does it Take to Develop a Basic AR App?

The development of an AR mobile app based on markers takes approximately 100 to 150 hours.

Nevertheless, the time it takes to develop an AR app is determined by the complexity of the app, the developer’s expertise, as well as the team size.

Additionally, after each module is developed, it is crucial to test it thoroughly before moving on to the next. In general, this process takes 8 to 10 hours (depending on the module’s size and complexity as well).


Final thoughts

To make sure you don’t miss anything when planning for AR app development, we have discussed the cost of building different types of AR apps.

Furthermore, we addressed essential questions related to app development factors and timelines to clear any doubts you may have.

Carmatec is a leading AR app development company with more than 20 years of experience. 

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