Cost to Develop an Ecommerce App Like Iconic in Australia

A significant shift is occurring in the Australian retail landscape toward digital platforms, so as we move further into 2026, fashion retailers will soon find themselves challenged not by whether they should have an app but rather how much they should invest in developing and maintaining an app to compete against large multinational companies, as evidenced by the rise of Iconic.

This blog provides you with an overview of app development costs for developing an ecommerce app and an overview of ecommerce app features (such as AI search and Augmented Reality [AR] virtual try-on functionality) that will assist you with your ecommerce app budgeting and decision making throughout your app development lifecycle. 

The Blueprint for Success: Deciphering The Iconic’s Model

If you’re currently looking to launch an app and want some help figuring out how to get started, we’ve created this guide to help better understand some of the associated costs related to the various functions within the marketplace where you will compete, including pricing for building an ecommerce application similar to Iconic.

Considering that more than 70% of all digital transactions in Australia are coming through mobile devices, simply having an online presence is insufficient. Retailers must adopt a “mobile-first” philosophy.

The tremendous success enjoyed by The Iconic (a significant fashion retailer in Australia) is largely due to their ability to provide consumers with a non-stop, seamless and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled experience quickly via their app. However, as a growing entrepreneur or an established retailer, it can often be difficult for you to ascertain how to develop the proper financial plan to build your mobile application and provide the best experience possible.

What is an Ecommerce App Like The Iconic?

Before we can begin discussing numbers, we need to clarify what we mean by that. Essentially, an eCommerce application similar to The Iconic will be a highly-functional e-commerce marketplace with thousands of SKUs, real-time inventory capabilities and complex logistics support.

Different Types Of Ecommerce Applications

When it comes to the cost of developing an ecommerce application like The Iconic, the technology stack is one of the large playing factors. 

• Native Applications: Are created specifically for either an iOS device or an Android device. They offer optimal performance however there is a separate codebase for each platform.

• Cross-Platform Applications: Use a framework such as Flutter or React Native. This is the way most startups in Australia are choosing to go as it cuts the project cost to develop a mobile application by 30% – 40% while still providing the user with a “native” experience.

• Progressive Web Applications (PWAs): Are quicker to create than traditional apps however they do not allow for as much seamless deep hardware functionality (like advanced push notifications) which a fashion brand powerhouse would require.

Core Features of The Iconic

Here are some of the key features for an App like Iconic:

• With AI-Based Searching: Minimizing the amount of times Users Get “no Result Found” From Searches.

• With Visual (Snap-to-Shop) Searching: Allowing Users To Upload A Picture Of An Item, To Be Able To Locate Similar Items.

• With Hyper-Personalization: Giving Users Real Time Recommendations Based On Their Recently Viewed Items & User Intents.

• With Advanced Logistics: Connecting Ecommerce App Development Company To Australia Post, DHL And Other Partners For 3 Hour Delivery Windows.

An infographic map of Australia with “hotspots” in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, highlighting average monthly spend per user.

Why is Mobile E-commerce an Essential Part of Businesses in Australia?

As with other parts of the MENA region, there are very high expectations from consumers when it comes to app performance. In Australia, for example, retail sales recently surpassed $38 billion, and clothing and fashion are the leading online categories.

1. Understanding Australian Consumers

• Benchmark of 5.5 million households: An average of 5.5 million Australian households shop online at least once each month.

• Sustainability: 75% of Australians are now choosing to buy sustainably produced products. Therefore, your app should show “Eco-friendly” or “Considered” Editions, just like The Iconic’s Eco-friendly Collection.

• Loyalty Programs: Loyalty is not just about collecting points; loyalty programs are an ecosystem of loyalty. The Iconic’s “Front Row” loyalty program illustrates the type of loyalty that Australian app users want – that is, loyalty based on tiered rewards and access to special events.

2. Local Regulatory Compliance and Regulations

A reputable mobile application development company in Australia will help to ensure that your mobile application is built in compliance with both the Australian Privacy Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if shipping outside Australia. Protecting user information is not only required by law; it is a fundamental trust issue and impacts conversion rates directly.

Breaking Down the Steps: The Process

We’ll illustrate for you the steps of app development in Australia and what it takes to create an app for a high-end Australian fashion brand.

1. Find Out What’s Needed

The most important step of the entire project is the very beginning. You begin by creating a blueprint through Market Research to clarify both what a brand-new app must offer ( and Customer Target ) to qualify as a User Experience (UX).

• Estimated Overall Cost: $10,000 – $25,000

• Goal: To develop a document called a Product Requirement Document (PRD), which defines exactly what features and functionality an app will initially have to protect you against “scope creep”.

2. Create the User Experience/Interface, and Wireframe Designs

For any type of high-end ecommerce app, the user experience is VERY important. If your customers do not like the user experience they will leave.

• What is included: High fidelity Prototype, User Journey Mapping, and Brand Identity.

• Pro Tip: Use a “Clean Design” as research indicates that a clean and easy to understand website can Improve Sales by up to 30%.

3. Frontend and Backend Development

The most important part of the project occurs during this phase. Building the “back-end” Delivery Logic and User Interface using the most cost-efficient and reliable technology. We recommend using the Flutter technology stack, combining robust performance and cost-effectiveness.

4. Test and QA

The largest financial mistake you can make in developing your Ecommerce application is NOT Testing and QA; fixing an application after launch costs 5X more than fixing it before you launched it.

• What is included: Security Audit, Load Testing for Black Friday Peak and Cross Device Compatibility testing.

5. Deployment & Post-Launch Support

Launching on the App Store and Google Play is just the beginning. Continuous updates are required to stay compatible with the latest OS versions.

Costing, Timeframes & Common Pitfalls

How much does it actually cost? In 2026, the ecommerce app development cost in Australia varies based on complexity.

Budgeting With Ecommerce App Development Cost by Complexity

1. Factors that Impact Ecommerce App Development Cost

• Development Costs: The cost of Australian senior developers can range from $150-$250 per hour.

• Integration Complexity: Adding integrations such as Afterpay, Zip, Xero, and local logistics partners increases the overall complexity.

• Backend Infrastructure Complexity: The amount of SKUs (more than 40,000) must have a complete cloud infrastructure setup (AWS or Google Cloud).

2. Common Mistakes Made by Australian Companies

• Building up Maintenance Costs: Set aside 15%-20% of your total costs for annual maintenance.

• Not Taking 5G into Account: With many new 5G towers going online in Australia, customers want access to high-definition videos and fast-loading web pages.

• Not Providing a Good Payment User Journey: Customers often abandon their payments in Australia because they do not see local payment methods available such as Afterpay or CommBank.

Future-Proofing: AI & Immersive Retail Trends

The standard e-commerce experience is transitioning to agentic e-commerce where the app becomes the user’s agent. Your Australian mobile app development company will need to look at the emerging technology trends in 2026 to develop an app that leads rather than mimics what is happening in the current market.

• A.I. Native Shopping Assistants. The Anemic has virtually eradicated “null” searches thanks to machine learning. By 2026, the expectation will be to have generative AI concierges. Users will be able to ask the app to find them “sustainable linen dresses for beach weddings occurring in Perth next weekend”, and the app will present a complete outfit including accessories and shoes.

• Immersive Augmented Reality (AR) “Try Before You Buy”: AR is no longer seen as a novelty. With 5G networks continuing to roll out across the Australian metropolitan areas, AR virtual try-on capabilities for glasses, shoes, and makeup will be the new baseline for ecommerce app development in Australia. Long-term, this type of technology will save ecommerce app development companies in Australia significant money by lowering returns rates – one of the greatest “hidden” costs to retailers.

• Hyper-Local Logistics and Predictive Shipping: Predictive analytics can now be used to predict demand for specific suburbs (e.g. Surry Hills or South Yarra). By integrating A.I. into your company’s supply chain, your app will be able to utilize this data to predict where demand for products exists at any given time.

Why Choose Techugo for Ecommerce App Development

When you’re looking to build a market leader, it’s important to have a partner who can provide guidance and support, rather than just being a vendor. Techugo is a leading eCommerce app  development company based in Australia that brings performance-based thinking to every project.

• Our Fashion Experience: Techugo has successfully delivered numerous retail platforms that support millions of transactions per day with an overall uptime of 99.9%.

• Integrating AI into The Solution: Rather than simply adding AI to your solution, Techugo leverages Vertex AI and machine learning to turn your search into a discovery opportunity.

• Proof Through Relationships with Fortune Companies and High-Growth Startups Worldwide: Techugo’s approach is centred on return on investment (ROI) as opposed to only programming lines of code.

Techugo’s methodology as a leading mobile app development company incorporates detailed long term planning, including a three-year growth plan before any code is developed. 

FAQs

How long do you expect it will take to develop an app like the Iconic?

A full-scale enterprise application often takes approximately 8-12 months. However, we usually advocate for you to initially build a Minimum Viable Product in 3-4 months, which will give you time to gather real user data before developing the application’s full scale.

Can I decrease my expenses when I develop an e-commerce application?

Yes, choosing Cross Platform Development (using either Flutter or React Native) is one of the best ways to help you manage the initial expense in developing your e-commerce application in Australia. Additionally, starting with a minimum viable product version of your application is another way to control your first time e-commerce development.

Is it required that I host my application in Australia?

Although there is no hard and fast rule that requires an application to be hosted in Australia, hosting data on Australian-based servers (such as via AWS SYD) greatly reduces latency for local users and greatly aids in complying with data sovereignty laws.

Are there any “hidden costs” when I develop an application?

Some of the more common hidden costs in application development include third-party application programming interface licensing fees, cloud-based hosting fees as well as the 15-20% of your yearly budget needed to maintain your application through security patches and operating system (OS) upgrades.