Build an App like NetMeds: Features and Cost
By Tracy Shelton
July 29, 2025
Table of Contents
The health industry has seen an incredible shift to technological solutions. This includes internet-based medicine delivery app like NetMeds, which revolutionize the way people access essential medications. These apps offer ease of use, accessibility, and efficiency, making it much easier for patients to purchase and receive their medication in the comfort of their own homes.
We will examine the essential features to have in an online medicine delivery application, as well as the costs involved in creating an app like NetMeds. Additionally, we will explore monetization methods and provide a detailed explanation of how Idea2App can help you create an effective app like NetMeds.
NetMeds is a renowned health and e-pharmacy platform that offers a wide range of medications, as well as other services. With its user-friendly interface and a simple process for shipping, NetMeds is known for making healthcare easier for people in India. NetMeds is a top online platform for healthcare in India, which offers various kinds of services in the field of healthcare, including:
NetMeds isn’t a major company within the U.S. market and does not have any significant presence or operation in the United States. NetMeds’s success is mostly centered in India, which is where it was first established and where its business model – affordable medical delivery, a wide reach, as well as integration into Reliance Retail caters to the requirements that are unique to the Indian healthcare industry.
The United States, the e-pharmacy and digital health sector is dominated by firms such as:
They already have deep connections to healthcare providers within the U.S. healthcare system, insurance networks, as well as pharmacy benefit management (PBMs), which are vital to operating on a large scale across the U.S.
If NetMeds is to be successful in its entry into the U.S., it would have to overcome significant obstacles, including:
Currently, NetMeds’ success story is primarily focused on India. It isn’t operating in the U.S. in any meaningful manner, and its model requires significant adjustments to be adapted to the American market.
To build an medicine delivery app like 1mg or Netmeds successful, you should incorporate crucial features that streamline processes and enhance the user experience. Here are some options you can include:
The cost of developing a NetMeds-like app USA, isn’t easy to determine, as it depends on the customer’s specifications and requirements, the number of development hours, the development platform, and the location of the development company.
The cost of developing an app like NetMeds is largely dependent on US-based companies. The cost can range from $15 to $30 per hour. In Europe, the cost of building a medical delivery app like NetMeds is lower than in the USA and can range from as little as $18 to $25 per hour.
South Asia offers lower rates for medicine delivery through app like NetMeds. The development cost for one platform is approximately $ 8,000, while the hybrid app is priced at $30,000 and works across both platforms.
After you’ve figured out the approximate cost of developing a medicine delivery app, it’s time to look over the key aspects that influence the total price. Below is a list of the factors that affect the cost of developing a medical delivery app.
The features and costs for developing an online medication delivery application align with those. The higher-level features are more complex and cost more to set up (i.e., uploading prescriptions, AI recommendation engine, Telemedicine, etc.). A mobile app with only basic functions significantly reduces the expense of developing an online medical ordering app compared to an app with additional features.
It’s less expensive to build an app optimized for one platform, whether iOS or Android, instead of building apps for both platforms. While cross-platform development can yield lower costs with frameworks like React Native or Flutter, it may be hindered by the inability to access specific and dedicated native functions.
The more intricate and custom User Interface (UI), as well as the more User Experience (UX)-focused design, requires more designers and additional time, leading to higher costs. A simple, visually appealing design is often an effective way to reduce the development costs of a delivery app.
The geographical location of the Pharmacy app development firm is a major factor in determining the cost of developing a medication delivery application. Developers located in North America or Western Europe generally have a higher hourly cost than those from Eastern Europe or Asia, particularly those from Asia.
The integration of third-party APIs into payments gateways, GPS trackers, electronic medical records (EMR), and telehealth could add complexity and cost to the application for medicine ordering, as well as the cost of development due to the necessity of developing and licensing these systems.
The complex backend design, which encompasses databases, server configuration, and API architectural development, leads to rising development costs. A well-planned and scalable backend is crucial when you have a large number of users and a lot of data. It will increase the cost of developing a medicine delivery app.
Apps for pharmacies must handle sensitive patient information and, consequently, must adhere to rules such as HIPAA and the GDPR, for example. The development of secure protocols for security, encryption of data, and performing Security audits, as well as compliance audits, increases the cost of developing a medicine delivery app.
Conducting thorough testing of all application scenarios on different devices is vital to ensure that the product doesn’t contain bugs. QA usability, functional performance, security, and usability tests, as well as these add-on timelines, and an app for ordering medicine development costs.
The application is not fully developed after its launch. It will require regular maintenance and bug fixes, which will add to the total cost of developing the Pharmacy application. Additionally, there will be ongoing costs for maintaining the app and ensuring it remains up-to-date, as well as creating new features.
The choice of a business model (e.g., the subscription model, commissions, or advertising) could have implications for technical requirements and, consequently, the development costs for pharmacy apps. Features that are compatible with these models, such as integrated advertising in the app and subscription management, can introduce technical complexity.
Making a healthcare-related app requires various complexities that impact the development time. The duration of development is dependent on the level of sophistication of the app and its capabilities, ranging from simple functionalities to more complex systems. Here are estimates of timeframes for different stages of medicine delivery app development process in healthcare:
A simple healthcare app typically includes features such as appointment scheduling and patient profiles, as well as basic telehealth services, and may also offer basic prescription management. With a clear vision and strategy, apps can be created within 4-6 months, providing the basic functions your customers need.
A healthcare app with intermediate features includes advanced functionalities such as remote patient monitoring, in-app messaging, EMR integration, and AI-powered decision support. The development time for an intermediate application can vary between 6 and 9 months, depending on the complexity involved in implementing these advanced functions.
An advanced healthcare app requires extensive customization, as well as integration with sophisticated technologies (EMRs, IoT devices), AI-driven diagnostics, real-time monitoring, and rigorous regulatory compliance. The development of a complete application can take between 12 and 18 months, allowing ample time for thorough testing, optimization, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
If you’ve decided to spend money to build NetMeds-like app, there may be unintentional stress in your mind regarding whether you should invest in developing this app. But don’t baffle yourself!
If the costing causes you discomfort, let us inform you about the many important revenue-generating strategies that will help you make the most out of this fantastic investment. Here are some!
Display targeted ads in your application based on the user’s preferences and location. Work with businesses related to yours, such as pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare establishments, and display their ads.
This is a very simple model. Apps for medicine delivery can charge users for every delivery of medicine they offer within their app. The apps can provide prices based on the type of service customers use, as well as the travel distance.
While you are not charging your intended customers directly, you may earn commissions on delivery. Additionally, by partnering with health service companies instead of charging users directly, they receive a percentage of every medication delivered via their application. Work with healthcare providers and offer a portion of the payment they earn.
Your app’s target audience may incur a monthly or annual cost to utilize a specific number of delivery options or enjoy discounted rates on your medication delivery app, such as NetMeds.
You can include an upgrade option in your application for the delivery of medicines, such as NetMeds, with essential features available at no cost, as well as premium features that can be purchased at a specific price.
Idea2App, a leading medicine delivery app development company, offers customized healthcare software and mobile apps that are integrated with your specific workflows. Our solutions enhance patient engagement and streamline clinical processes, all while ensuring compliance with industry standards, including HIPAA and GDPR. Our extensive domain expertise enables us to develop applications that meet the requirements of regulatory agencies and are compatible with healthcare interoperability standards, such as FHIR and HL7.
The cost of developing applications for medicines can be a lucrative expense, particularly in light of the shift in focus from healthcare to the virtual world. The development cost for the app that delivers medicine will vary depending on factors such as the features, platforms, and other delivery alternatives (iOS, Android, or cross-platform), as well as the number of interfaces for UI/UX, and the location of the business where their development staff is situated.
If you’re looking to develop an app like NetMeds, you can build something within a couple of months. However, if the goal is to create sophisticated applications (e.g., Telemedicine components, AI-enabled parts, and robust security systems), this will require longer development and be less cost-effective. If you could develop an online pharmacy app for your clients that incorporate the necessary functions, with a focus on UX/UI, this would provide users with a great experience, enhance market penetration, and help facilitate expansion against competitors in the e-pharmacy field.
A pharmacy delivery application allows users to purchase prescription medicines and OTC merchandise directly from licensed pharmacies and have them delivered directly to their doorstep. The majority of users upload prescriptions, search for a medicine, complete the payment, and monitor their delivery in real-time.
Pharmacists verify prescriptions, and delivery agents complete orders by integrating logistics workflows. The platform must comply with local regulations for drugs and patient privacy laws.
The price can vary significantly depending on the level of quality and features. A simple healthcare application can cost tens of thousands, while more sophisticated applications can cost over six figures.
There are a variety of advantages of building an app like NetMeds:
Patients can purchase drugs at the convenience of their own home by using a pharmacy delivery app USA. It makes it easier to access, especially for individuals with disabilities or those who are older.
