How much does it cost to build a course management app?

Standard price for a course management app: $37,333

Find out the cost to build your own custom course management app:

Get Estimate Now

What is a course management app?

A course management application is a web or mobile app that enables the creation, organization, and delivery of educational content. Course management apps typically provide features for teachers to create courses and upload course materials such as lecture videos. The app may also include tools for students to take exams, submit homework assignments, and view their grades.

Course management apps are similar to other educational apps, like language learning apps, reading tutorial apps, and test preparation apps. Some of the most notable course management applications include Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, and Schoology.

Here are some recent course management app examples built with Crowdbotics:

  • An app for developing skills.

  • A non-profit app for parents and health pros to read their curriculum. Android, IOS, possibly Web.

  • An educational app. App will connect students in school districts in Oakland to connect them with courses, teachers, and events. Will need users to connect to the LMS that they are creating to access/complete courses and communicate other members.

What is the typical cost to build a course management app?

A course management app usually costs $37,333 to build. However, the total cost can be as low as $9,000 or as high as $100,000. A course management app with a low number of features (also known as a "minimum viable product", or MVP) will be more affordable than an app that includes all intended functionality.

For example, here are some recent course management app price quotes from Crowdbotics:

  • $55,000

  • $12,000

  • $45,000

Here are some considerations that may impact the cost of a app:

How long does it take to build a course management app?

A course management app usually takes 498 hours to build. However, a course management app can be built in as few as 120 hours, or in as many as 1,333 hours. The exact timeline mostly depends on how complicated your app is. As a general rule, it will take longer if you require highly custom designs, niche features, or non-standard release platforms.

For example, the most recent course management apps built with Crowdbotics received the following hourly estimates:

  • 733

  • 160

  • 600

How to successfully grow your course management application

Course management apps often grow by leveraging the existing network of their users. These apps typically have a small user base at the beginning, but when students or faculty members refer the app to each other, it's easier to grow rapidly. The key is to create incentives for sharing the app, such as offering free credits to new users who sign up through a referral. Some apps also benefit from featuring well-known professors or speakers in their marketing materials.

Risks and challenges of building a course management application

A course management app faces risks associated with the handling of students’ personal information, user account security, and the potential transfer of intellectual property (including copyright) to third parties. Course management apps should take measures to ensure that student data is kept private and secure, and that students are aware of their ability to revoke consent for it being used for any purpose (including marketing). It is also recommended that developers ensure that they do not provide access to courses in a way that would violate the license under which they are made available.

Want a more detailed estimate?

Get a feature-by-feature breakdown with our cost estimate calculator.

Browse our full library of app cost quotes.

Find pricing info for all other app types here.

Some of the descriptions on this page were completed with AI assistance. Learn more here.