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Sports fans love sports and always desire to watch their favorite games, support their teams, discuss players' stats, and exchange strategies. Now, not only do they want to be part of the action, but they also want to make a profit from their sports knowledge, making it more interesting and exciting. This desire has given rise to the booming fantasy sports industry, where people create their own dream teams and earn real money. This is where fantasy sports apps come in, giving people the opportunity to create teams, manage leagues, and compete for real cash prizes, all from the comfort of their smartphones.
As the number of fantasy sports fans increases exponentially, the demand for fantasy sports apps is very high. Many entrepreneurs and developers keep on plunging into the market to be at the center of a new trend or the next big thing. However, there is one question that every company seeks an answer to: "How much does it cost to build a fantasy sports app?"
In this blog, we will cover in detail the factors you must be familiar with in order to calculate the cost of creating a fantasy sports app, the hidden costs no one told you about, and the ways to get through the complicated process. By the time you finish reading, you will know clearly how to make an app that will stand out in the thriving market of fantasy sports.
Dig Deeper: Step By Step Guide To Develop A Fantasy Sports App
Ever since the world has shifted into the digital era and technological advancement, the way people watch sports and share their insights has changed. Due to this, the fantasy sports industry has become a massive part of global sports culture.
Sports fans still participate in sports activities and leagues with the same continuity as they did before. However, one thing has changed: now, they use sports apps or websites to connect with sports. This has imposed a higher demand for fantasy sports apps and platforms.
Whether it's football, basketball, or cricket, fantasy sports apps are an all-in-one destination for users to engage with their favorite sports more interactively.
As a developer or entrepreneur, you're probably reflecting on various markets' potential and deciding where you should invest. Nevertheless, one particular sector is both experiencing an incredible spike in growth and altering the sports fans' interaction to such a degree that this industry appears very much alive and kicking: fantasy sports. Now that fantasy sports have players in the millions all over the world, and the market could be a few billion dollars, it is a huge open market for app developers and business owners to step forward into.
But the question is - should you really put your money on a fantasy sports app? Can it keep up the trend, or does it show potential for recurrent expansion? Let's understand this.
A Booming Industry with Staying Power
First and foremost, the fantasy sports industry's demonstrable solidity and its perspective of indefinite expansion must be counted as the pivot factors. By 2025, the global fantasy sports market is expected to reach $34.23 billion. The data also forecasts that the market is likely to keep growing and will reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.09% by 2029.
These not only transform fantasy sports into an evergreen trend but also bring it to the foreground as a new culture among sports lovers. Whether it's regular leagues or daily fantasy sports (DFS), the truth is that people of all age groups are involved with fantasy sports like never before, providing a gaming ground that is worth the while.
Engaged Users and Consistent Revenue Streams
What makes fantasy sports particularly appealing is the engagement it generates. Users don't just participate once in a while; they are committed, interacting with the app regularly to check scores, make trades, or update their lineups. The high engagement level brings the possibility of making money from the platforms to the forefront.
According to The Hindu Business Line, the Fantasy Sports Platform Dream11 generated a profit from operations, jumping 66 percent to Rs 6,384.49 crore, up from Rs 3,841 crore in FY22. It's just one example; FanDuel is another top-rated fantasy sports app company that has generated significant revenue. With in-app purchases, subscription models, and entry fees for contests, there are several strategies that they have used to ensure that their income source doesn't rely on one model.
Also, fantasy sports apps are usually flooded with returning customers. First of all, the distinction between fantasy sports and other kinds of apps is that the latter mostly lose their users in due course, but host season-long cricket tournaments, for example. Thus, it is very likely that users will not only sign up for one season but also use the app constantly, particularly in the peak seasons. Consequently, there is a multiplying effect which ensures that the league subscriptions remain constant in each season and still enable the users to get a good share of the profits.
Changing Sports Viewing Habits
Another basis for deciding to invest in a fantasy sports app is the way it is changing sports consumption. The fans are not only passive viewers anymore—they are active participants. Fantasy sports offer fans the opportunity to make their experience personal, as they can have their teams and they get to play with other people.
The change in fans' behavior towards sports is a significant factor for the increase in engagement across the sports industry, whereby we can find the casual fans and also the hardcore sports enthusiasts being covered. And from the increased participation, fans are potential clients with a much more likely possibility of spending money on fantasy sports apps all through.
Low Barrier to Entry Compared to Other Sports Innovations
Even though it may seem that through a sports app development process one can achieve a lot, it is in fact a fact that the technical barrier in the case of fantasy sports app development is far smaller compared to those of other sports innovations.
The growth in technology has allowed developers to utilize flexible frameworks, Fantasy Sports APIs, and third-party services to manage fantasy sports app development more effectively and, hence, scale them. This means you can build a feature-rich, reliable, and robust system without having to do the process from scratch, enabling you to enter the market right away and leverage the instant revenue flow.
The Potential for Niche Opportunities
The fact that the fantasy sports market is not one-size-fits-all is a fact. There are opportunities to serve small audiences with a plethora of available offerings. Niche audiences can be tapped by concentrating on a specific sport (like soccer, esports, or cricket), a particular area, or those fantasy formats that attract specific kinds of players.
Through these areas, you will be able to reach and offer your services to a different set of people that other bigger platforms would otherwise neglect. It will also give you an opportunity to do something new and thus, stand out in the market where it's easy to get lost.
A Path to Scalability
Fantasy sports apps are, by default, very scalable. Once your app becomes popular and attracts more users, you could do a lot of things—enhancing features, adding more sports, and even introducing more interesting game modes.
With the appropriate growth tactics, local niche offerings in the fantasy sports app domain can be converted into global brands. The flexibility of the market and the app itself provides the foundation for scalable success.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should invest in a fantasy sports app development. The more you explore the industry and understand it, the more reasons you will find. Although investing in a fantasy sports platform isn't just about building another one, it's about your approach to meeting the demand of users, tapping into the right revenue stream without ruining the user experience, and taking advantage of rapidly evolving trends to expand your offering accordingly. If you're looking for a profitable venture, entering the fantasy sports market could be one of the smartest moves you make.
Dig Deeper: Fantasy Sports App Like Fairplay
When building a fantasy sports app, the features you choose to include are not only important, they're essential. The right set of features decides your app's success. In order to make a power-packed platform that stands out and keeps users engaged, companies must implement value-driven features that enhance the user experience, streamline management, and ultimately ensure long-term business success. Below is the list of must-have features for both users and admins, as well as advanced features that will take your fantasy sports app to the next level.
1. Login
The first step to entering the fantasy sports world is logging in. A straightforward login process ensures that users can access their accounts quickly. Whether through email, social media integration, or single sign-on, a smooth login experience keeps things hassle-free and secure.
2. Leaderboard
Every fantasy sports player wants to know how they stack up against others. The leaderboard feature lets users track their performance in real-time, displaying rankings based on points, contest wins, or season performance. It's a simple but motivating tool that keeps the competitive spirit alive.
3. Create Multi-Teams
Fantasy sports are all about strategy, and some users prefer managing multiple teams. This feature allows players to create and manage several teams in one go. Whether for experimenting with different strategies or increasing their chances of winning, creating multiple teams adds flexibility to the gaming experience.
4. Create A Contest
For those who want to set up their own fantasy games, the "Create A Contest" feature is key. Users can set up contests with specific entry fees, prize pools, and participant limits. It's an ideal option for those who want to challenge their friends or create custom competitions with personalized rules.
5. Invite & Earn
Fantasy sports are more fun with friends. The Invite & Earn feature encourages users to invite others to join the app. Not only does this expand the community, but it also rewards users with bonuses or free entry into contests for each successful invite. It's a win-win for everyone.
6. Player Stats
Keeping track of player performance is crucial in fantasy sports. The Player Stats feature provides users with detailed information about their selected players, including recent performances, injuries, and other key metrics. This helps users make informed decisions when managing their teams or making transfers.
7. Transfer Players
As the season progresses, players form changes. The Transfer Players feature gives users the ability to swap players in and out of their team, adjusting to injuries, form slumps, or hot streaks. It's an essential feature for staying competitive throughout the season.
8. Mock Draft
For those new to fantasy sports or seasoned players looking to hone their skills, the Mock Draft feature is invaluable. Users can practice their draft strategies in a risk-free environment, simulating real drafts with other users. It's a great way to build confidence and refine team-building tactics before entering real contests.
9. Join Contest
Joining a contest is the core action of fantasy sports apps. With a clear, easy-to-navigate contest listing, users can browse through available contests, check entry fees, prize pools, and participant numbers, and join contests that suit their preferences. It's fast, simple, and lets users dive straight into the action.
10. Match History
Track your progress over time with the Match History feature. Users can review their past contests, analyze performance, and identify areas for improvement. Whether you've been winning or losing, this history gives valuable insights into your playing style and results.
11. Push Notifications
Keeping players updated is essential in fantasy sports. Push notifications alert users about upcoming matches, player injuries, contest results, or promotions. It's a great way to keep users engaged and ensure they never miss out on important information that could affect their team.
12. Loyalty Programs
Fantasy sports apps should include loyalty programs to reward dedicated players. These programs offer points, badges, or rewards for consistent play, contest participation, and referrals. It's a simple way to recognize user loyalty and keep players coming back for more.
Dig Deeper: How to Develop a Fantasy App like Dream11?
1. Admin Dashboard
Admins can access different statistical figures like the number of matches played, the total number of players, the total amount of earnings made by every user in the app, and so on. Admin will have access to monitor and track the performance of the app, all from the app dashboard.
2. User Account Manager
This feature enables admins to manage the entire user base account, and they get access to edit, delete, and deactivate users account without needing to touch the backend.
3. Manage Contests
This feature allows admins to manage the ongoing contests or add new contests in the app seamlessly. They can manage all the latest happenings within the fantasy sports app using the contest management feature.
4. View Earnings
This is the most common admin panel feature that every app, including a fantasy sports app, must have. This feature allows admins to monitor all the transactions happening in the app, including the revenue data as well. They can check how much and where users have made the transactions.
5. Rewards Point Management
To retain your existing users, encourage them to keep coming back more, and accommodate new users, your fantasy sports app should facilitate free rewards for those who deserve them. This is where the rewards point management feature comes in handy. Admins can give reward points to those who constantly participate in the fantasy sports events or games within the app. The more users play, the more points they will earn, and according to their points, the admin can reward them.
Dig Deeper: How To Build A Successful Fantasy Sports Software?
Developing a fantasy sports app is a waste if it does not make a profit for the business. Therefore, only the development is not the end of your job; how you will make revenue from your app is a big challenge. Balancing your platform with user experience and revenue generation models is key to your app's success. Here are golden strategies to monetize your fantasy sports app:
When thinking about developing a fantasy sports app, the first thing that comes to mind is the cost of building a fantasy sports app. Well, finding the actual cost figure for the fantasy sports app development is not that easy; plus it's not fixed. It is because it varies depending on several factors, including app features complexity, app UI/UX design, the tech stack used, the platform chosen, and the timeline. For instance, the cost of developing an Android app will be less than that of the iOS platform.
Whether it's multi-sports fantasy apps or fantasy sports betting apps, carefully planning your budget and schedule is necessary to stand strong. There are a few main types of fantasy sports app categories. Let's break down the cost by fantasy sports app type:
Daily Fantasy Sports App
The daily fantasy sports app allows users to create fantasy teams and compete for contest prizes. The earnings of users depend on the team they've built and how well they are performing in real life. These apps include sports and events that typically run for a day or a whole week instead of the entire season. FanDuel and DraftKings, both are perfect examples of DFS apps.
How much does it cost to develop a DFS app? These apps offer quick-play contests that reset daily for never-ending competition, and such a fantasy sport app development cost ranges from $25,000 to $120,000.
Multi-Sport Fantasy App
This app covers multiple sports and events for users who love Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, etc. This type of app is generally built using diverse fantasy sports APIs, and even more complex APIs, and has exhaustive database management. This app offers features like real-time player performance tracking and live scorekeeping.
How much does it cost to build a multi-sports fantasy app? The average development cost for multi-sports fantasy applications can range between $70,000 and $150,000. The cost is high due to complex features, multi-sports, and various fantasy games, which further affect the development costs and complexities.
Season-Long Fantasy App
These types of apps follow traditional fantasy sports formats that allow users to build their fantasy team at the start of the season and play over a complete season. ESPN Fantasy and Yahoo Fantasy Sports are season-long fantasy platforms. These apps typically use multiple monetization models like premium membership options, advertisements, and sponsorships to generate revenue.
What is the cost of developing a season-long fantasy app like ESPN Fantasy or Yahoo Fantasy Sports? These apps offer traditional leagues that run across a full season and include features like live drafts, trading, player statistics tracking, and more, which adds more complexities to the development. So, the approximate cost to develop a season-long fantasy app ranges between $40,000 and $180,000. This fantasy sports app development is expensive due to complex logic for season progression, large data storage, trade rules, and regular updates.
Fantasy Sports Betting App
A fantasy sports betting app includes both conventional fantasy sports and betting elements. In this app, users create their teams of actual players and earn/lose money based on the performance of their chosen teams. Fairplay, Parimatch, etc., are fantasy sports betting platforms where players create teams and, based on their accumulated points, they win pool prizes.
How much does it cost to develop a fantasy sports betting app like Megapari or Parimatch? The estimated cost for fantasy sports betting app development ranges from $30,000 to $300,000, depending on the features like secure payment processing and wallets, legal compliance and audit requirements, payout automation, and more.
Dig Deeper: How Much Does It Cost To Develop An App Like Betway?
Several key factors, including development team size, location, the fantasy sports app complexity, and the development platform and tool chosen, gradually influence your budget.
By carefully considering these factors, you can calculate an estimated fantasy sports app development cost and the resources required effectively and avoid unnecessary expenses:
Development team size
Developing a fantasy sports app or website requires a competent team that possesses the technical knowledge and can handle any technical hurdle. For fantasy sports app development, typically, teams that include project managers, UI/UX designers, app developers, and QA testers are required. The more experience and expertise a team possesses, the more money you will need to hire them.
Geographic location of the fantasy sports app developers
The development cost of a fantasy sports app also depends on the developer's location. Different regional developers may charge differently. For example, USA-based developers typically charge $60–$130 per hour, which is higher than that of India-based experienced developers. They typically charge $25-$35 per hour. Outsourcing to different regions with lower hiring costs can reduce your overall budget.
App complexity and features
Another factor that plays a big role in affecting the fantasy sports betting software development cost is app complexity and its features. A basic app with minimal features can cost you less, while a complex app with more advanced features like high-speed data processing, multiple payment gateways, amazing UI/UX designs, responsiveness, machine learning, and many more is more expensive and requires dedicated resources for development.
Development platform and tools
Technologies play a big role in innovation, and the tools and platforms you choose for development directly influence the cost. Choosing native app development for developing your fantasy sports app for both platforms separately is costlier than working with cross-platform or low-code development tools.
Post-launch support and maintenance
Ongoing support and maintenance services are important for your app's success. This helps you keep your app fresh, secure, and competent, which enhances the user experience overall. To keep your fantasy sports app engaging and secure, you will need to invest more in regular updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements.
Dig Deeper: Dream11 Clone App Development Cost
As technology and innovation continue to thrive, fantasy sports apps are becoming a one-stop destination for players, encouraging them to spend more time on these platforms. These apps not only entice users to participate in the games and events but also thrill them to win exciting prizes.
It opens extensive opportunities for developers and investors looking to capitalize on this growing fantasy sports app development market and start generating profits for their business. The profit is when you hit your market at the right moment, and 2025, where technologies, innovation, and industry are booming, is the right year for launching your fantasy sports platform and accumulating a massive user base and revenue.
So, do you feel like putting your bets in the fantasy sports mobile app development industry? Then you must partner with a top-rated fantasy sports app development company. Orion Infosolutions stands out as a strong contender for developing innovative apps.
With over 10 years of experience and 970 satisfied clients, we have the resources and the expertise to develop innovative fantasy sports applications for mobile and web platforms. Connect with our experts, let us know your requirements, and we will send you cost-effective quotes that are suitable for your business size and models.
DC Kumawat is the CEO of Orion InfoSolutions, a leading provider of IT solutions to businesses of all sizes. He has over 14+ years of experience in the IT industry. He is a passionate advocate for the use of technology to improve business performance.