How Much Does It Cost To Develop Food Ordering App Like HungerStation?

Who doesn't love to have their favourite meal delivered right to them in just a few minutes? That's right, we are talking about food ordering apps.

Key Takeaways:

• Hungerstation-like app development costs $15,000–$120,000+, depending on features, complexity, and development region.
• Beyond development, ongoing expenses like APIs, compliance, hosting, and 10–20% annual maintenance make up the actual project cost.
• Monetization strategies for food ordering apps include commissions, delivery charges, subscriptions, advertisements, and Platform-as-a-Service (for B2B).
• AI/ML, automation, and eco-friendly trends (drones, ghost kitchens, smart logistics) can future-proof your investment.

You'll be surprised to know that only two brands, DoorDash and Uber Eats, have captured 90% of the food delivery market. Even in Tier 2 countries like Saudi Arabia, the food market is exploding rapidly and being dominated by regional players such as Hungerstation, which is also our case model in this article.

Think of Hungerstation as the Saudi Arabian version of DoorDash! 

And if you are planning to jump into this huge market, now is the time! Market potential is massive and growth trajectory is tangential — you know it, we know it! 

But what about investment? The cost to make a food delivery app like Hungerstation or DoorDash in 2025 ranges between $15k – $120K, depending on various factors such as features, sleek app design, app complexity, tech stack, skill level, and location of development team, and other region-based specific business needs.

In this article, we will break down the entire cost model for developing a food delivery app like Hungerstation, factors impacting cost (investment), revenue generation strategies (Return on Investment), and how the development process impacts the cost.

What Does the US (Leading Country in This Industry) & Global Market Say About food ordering apps?

DoorDash Chief Executive Tony Xu said in one of the recent conference calls that, “Food is the most resilient category and most sought-after category for convenient consumption.”

Nearly two-thirds of US citizens have used such apps at some point. Stats indicate the USA’s meal delivery market volume is going to cross $602.78 bn by 2030, with user penetration reaching as high as 196 million in the same period. 

At the global level, numbers are much higher, with the market volume reaching as high as US$2.02 trillion by 2030. 

That’s a massive opportunity, right? 

These apps have also led to the rise of Ghost Kitchens, delivery-only cooking facilities with no dining space. Even after 2019, investments are gaining momentum towards drone delivery for quick and efficient deliveries. Moreover, to cut down margins, companies are working towards optimizing logistics by introducing mega mobile delivery units.

HungerStation App At A Glance

Hungerstation was launched in 2012 and is regarded as one of the first food ordering apps in Saudi Arabia. The founder, Eng. Ghassan Ahmed Al Sulaiman identified the gaps in ordering the traditional phone-based ordering system and introduced a mobile-first platform where users can easily order food from their favourite restaurants. 

Over time, Hungerstation diversified its operations and included groceries, order pickups, pharmacy, flowers, and more in its app. While the app does not serve a global audience, it has a strong presence in the MENA region, especially Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. 

Being a region-native player, they are dominating even some of the big brands, such as Uber Eats, in their area of service. Here are some of the standout features of the Hungerstation app:

For Users:

• Multi-language support
• Support both the global chain and hyperlocal outlets.
• Wide range of food options along with advanced filters.
• Easy payment options.
• Users can order instant delivery or pre-schedule a delivery time.
• In-app call/chat option with restaurants and delivery partners.
• Live support

For Driver/Delivery Partners

• Navigation assistance
• Earning Dashboard
• Availability toggles
• Incentive-based programs.

For restaurants/cloud kitchens:

• Easy menu integration & management tools
• Real-time order update.
• Sales and revenue tracking.
• One tap open/close availability settings.

For App managers:

• Comprehensive dashboard with analytics access to all three above services' data.
• Customer behaviour insight, peak hours, etc, to manage the flow of demand and supply.
• Covers cities as well as suburban areas efficiently.
• Fraud detection and security tools.

Standout features leading towards Hungerstation Supremacy:

• Localized approach, all while collaborating with the Delivery Hero ecosystem. Thus, having the benefit of regional expertise and global standards.
• Inclusion of essential commodities via grocery and pharmacy stores.
• Loyalty and reward-based program
• "The Subconscious Order" Initiative (In 2 weeks, 78K new customers; 6K new customers per day.) – Detailed discussion in case studies presented in later sections.

Market Positioning of HungerStation Against Its Competitors

Platform	Primary Market Focus	Market Reach	Remarks
Hungerstation	Saudi Arabia & wider MENA	Saudi Arabia (dominant), Bahrain	Strongest presence in the region, but not present globally.
Talabat	Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt	7+ MENA countries	A wider audience than Hungerstation and the closest competitor, too.
UberEats	Global (North America, Europe, MENA, Asia-Pacific)	6,000+ cities worldwide	Global reach but lacks regional presence.
Deliveroo	Europe (UK, France, Italy), GCC (UAE, Kuwait), Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore)	10+ countries (mainly Europe & selective MENA/Asia)	Focussed towards premium brand-appeal.

Why Do Entrepreneurs Want a Hungerstation Clone?

Hungerstation is a proven example of an established and profitable business. With global demand rising, as we observed in the above sections, investors are now more interested than ever in investing in similar business models.

Investors are often looking to invest in a Hungerstation-like app. Well, here are a few reasons 

Reason	Description
Proven Business Model	Hungerstation has already validated the demand for food ordering apps in the MENA region.
High Market Demand	Online food delivery is growing rapidly with increasing smartphone and internet penetration.
Scalable Revenue Streams	Multiple monetization models – delivery charges, commissions, subscriptions, ads.
Low Entry Barrier with Clones	White-label and clone solutions reduce development time and cost.
Branding & Localization Flexibility	Clone apps can be customized with local languages, currencies, and cultural features.
Investor-Friendly	Food ordering apps have high funding potential due to proven scalability.

Key Features to Make Your Food Delivery App Compete with Giants Like Hungerstation

The combo of solid fundamentals and standout features is what keeps you relevant and profitable. Since there are 4 types of users using the app simultaneously:

• Customers
• Restaurant Owners
• Delivery Partners
• App Managers

Let’s analyze the features for each of them. We will be covering both must-have and nice-to-have features.

Customer App Feature - 

Since customers are the primary source of revenue generation, the customer app must enable easy navigation, a sleek UI, and easy payment options.

Must-Have Features:

• User Account - Users should be able to create/sign in using various authentication methods such as Gmail, Apple ID, phone number, etc. The onboarding process of users(specifically) should be both easy and speedy.
• Restaurants & Cuisines Listing - A categorized directory of restaurants and cuisines, allowing customers to order their favourite food from their favourite restaurants.
• Order Tracking - A real-time order tracking mechanism to track their food.
• Reviews & Ratings - Users should be able to give reviews and ratings to restaurants or dishes. Insightful for both app admins and restaurant owners. These reviews and ratings can be further used to add loyalty programs in the app.

Nice-To-Have Features:

• Along with the payment gateways, you may consider adding in-app wallets. These wallets will allow instant cashback and easy payment checkouts.
• Customers shall be able to schedule their order for later delivery. This works perfectly for working professionals who like to have their meals pre-planned.
• Customers should also be allowed to add favourite items to their wishlist or reorder previously ordered items.
• Provide in-app communication channels among customers, delivery partners, and restaurants.
• To keep the customer engagement, consider adding an integrated coupons system for discounts and promo codes.
• If a user has added a particular dish to their wish list from their favourite restaurants, they should get updates like “out of stock” or “just got out of the oven.” Such features not only help in providing a seamless experience but also aid marketing strategies. 

Restaurant App Feature

Restaurant owners need a dashboard and analytics from which they can track their sales/purchases. Here are some features to include:

Must-Have Features:

• Registration & Verification - A step-by-step guide on how to register and set up a restaurant online. To ensure only credible businesses can register, consider adding a verification process.
• Menu Management - Restaurants should be able to upload/edit their menus, edit prices, highlight special discounts on specified items, and update availability status in real-time.
• Order Management - A customized dashboard for managing orders. It should contain essential options like view, accept/decline, contact with the delivery partner, add meal preparation time, status update, and others.
• Revenue Analytics - Tracking sales and optimizing revenue strategies is essential for any business to sustain itself. Owners should be able to track sales and orders to have insights about the customer preferences, peak hours, increased demand patterns, etc.

Nice-to-Have Features:

• Customers who prefer dine-in service should be able to make reservations for tables directly through the app.
• Push notification mechanism for new orders and customer requests.
• When adding orders, customers should have the option to include a specific note regarding order customization.
• Owners should be able to run ads, discount offers, meal of the week, new on the menu, or signature dish on their portal. Such tags boost user experience and can benefit restaurants greatly.
• Notify users when items run low or sell out.

Delivery App Feature

Delivery partners are the bridge between service providers (restaurant owners) and customers. App features for them should focus on assisting them with the order pickups and deliveries.

Must-Have Features

• Easy onboarding, ID verification, and Driving License verification (essential).
• Integrated GPS navigation with a route optimization mechanism for efficient deliveries.
• Drivers should have the option to accept/reject orders based on their availability, delivery time, and proximity.
• An earning portal where users can track their previously completed orders, total earnings, and incentives earned.
• Push Notification about delivery charges surge, high demand, or higher incentive events.

Nice-to-Have Features

• Drivers should have the option to choose between real-time payouts and scheduled payouts.
• They should have an in-app communication channel with both end users.
• Delivery partners should have access to analytics about peak hours and active orders to plan their working hours accordingly.

App Management Tools

The admin panel serves as a centralized and regulatory hub, enabling app moderators to ensure the app's smooth operation. They are responsible for onboarding, approvals, compliance checks, and performance monitoring of restaurants and delivery partners. 

For an enterprise-grade app, they might need an even more comprehensive admin panel with features to manage various franchises, track a vast amount of data, active users, revenue details, and fraud detection. Although dynamic offers, such as incentive programs, are better handled by AI/ML, app managers should still have the option to adjust prices. Other features include:

• Easily handle order disputes, cancellations, and refunds.
• Built-in tools for referral programs, email campaigns, and banner ads.
• AI to detect fake accounts, suspicious reviews, or coupon abuse.

Here’s a quick overview of how cost varies as per app modules:

Module	Features Included	Estimated Cost (USD)
Customer App	Browsing, search filters, order placement, payments, and real-time tracking	$7,000 – $12,000
Restaurant App	Menu upload, order management, revenue reports	$5,000 – $10,000
Driver App	GPS navigation, delivery assignment, wallet & earnings	$4,000 – $8,000
Admin Panel	Multi-dashboard, restaurant & driver management, analytics	$6,000 – $12,000
AI/ML Add-ons (optional)	Chatbots, predictive delivery times, personalized recommendations	$8,000 – $18,000
Payment & Security	PCI DSS compliance, encryption, and fraud detection	$4,000 – $7,000
Total App Cost	(MVP & Mid-Tier Solutions)	$20,000 - $47,000

Inspiring Case Study - “The Subconscious Order” by Hungerstation

In 2023, Hungerstation launched an amazing AI-powered initiative called “The Subconscious Order.” Approximately, an adult spends close to 132 hours a year just looking at menus.

So, the Hungestation made an innovative idea where if you are not able to decide what to order, then the app will help you to identify what your subconscious mind wants.

How does it work?

The new feature recognizes when you are endlessly scrolling and not able to decide what to order. Then, the AI will take over and present a variety of cuisines on the screen. Based on your eye movement, it tracks and sorts the food items and presents you with a sorted and narrowed list of the cuisines that your subconscious mind wants at that time.

This first-of-its-kind feature helped hungerstation to gain 2.5M impressions, 630K portal visits, 78K new customers, and 6K new customers per day – all in just 2 weeks.

Hungerstation Like App Development Cost Structure – Explained(2025 Updated)

Cost structure depends on various factors, including the development procedure and the app type you are opting for. An app can be divided into three categories: MVP, Medium-complex, and Full-Scale App. 

These app types serve different purposes with features increasing in each type, so does the cost.

Here’s the Cost Breakdown Of The Food Delivery App As Per App Type

App Complexity	Key Features	Best For	Timeline	Estimated Cost (USD)
MVP Version	Customer app (browse/order/pay), basic restaurant dashboard, driver tracking, simple admin panel.	Startups testing the market	12–16 weeks	$15,000 – $25,000
Mid-Level Solution	Advanced restaurant management, driver earnings dashboard, push notifications, analytics, subscription & offers, secure payments	Growing businesses	20–26 weeks	$30,000 – $45,000
Full-Scale / Enterprise	AI-powered recommendations, loyalty programs, multi-region support, wallet integration, advanced logistics, enterprise-grade security & scalability	Enterprise-level scaling	30–40+ weeks	$50,000 – $120,000+

Why Does the Cost Structure Vary So Widely?

There are numerous factors at play when determining the cost of Hungerstation app development. Some of the factors that cause variation in the cost structure are:

White Label vs Custom Solution - Next comes the type of solution you want to have for your app idea. White label solutions come with a pre-built app structure, allowing quick launch of your platform. While they are a budget-friendly option, you cannot modify or scale them as per your customized needs. On the other hand, a custom-built solution is built from scratch, giving you the full opportunity to develop and customize it as per your business needs. Resultantly, custom-built solutions require more expertise and resources.

Development Region - Another factor behind varying costs is the region from which you have hired the development team. A development team from the USA will have higher rates but better work quality compared to Asia.

Features and App Complexity - Features and app complexity are one of the main reasons behind the varying cost. A simple MVP app with only core features will naturally cost less than one with AI/ML integrated features and highly scalable. Features like voice-enabled search require a high level of technical expertise to integrate with the app. In such a scenario, the budget is automatically increased.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Make a Food Delivery App Like Hungerstation

Food ordering apps like Hungerstation have quite a complex mechanism. Without strategic planning with clear business goals and a target audience, you may run into financial troubles. Here are 10 factors discussed that are primarily responsible for the cost of app development.

1. App Type & Complexity

The first and foremost factor is the app type. A full-scale app is naturally going to cost more than the MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Secondly, how many modules will you include in the app, specifically customer, restaurant, driver, and admins, and what functionality will each module provide? 

As you move from MVP to enterprise-grade solutions, a dedicated app for each module seems a more viable option as they provide more & segregated control for each type of user.

2. Features

Advanced features such as integration of AI/ML can significantly increase the development cost of an app like Hungerstation. Features that might sound basic, such as voice search and proximity filter for delivery partners, require expertise and come under the layered functionality. 

3. Design & User Experience

How your app looks and feels has a big impact on user retention. Choosing a white label solution might help you save on budget, but you have very limited options to tweak the design. On the other hand, you have the flexibility to design the entire UI, even conduct A/B testing to check which one performs better.

Since in a custom solution everything is built from scratch, the cost naturally adds up. An enhanced UI/UX is the reason why big brands like Hungerstation or Uber Eats choose to develop their custom design. 

4. App Deployment Platform & Tech Stack

Another factor that significantly impacts cost is the deployment platform and technology stack.

To host your app on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, you need to pay additional fees. For the Play Store, it is a one-time payment of $25, while for the App Store, you need to pay annual fees of $99.

Now, depending on the app deployment platform you have, the following options are available to develop your app:

• Build a cross-platform technology stack such as React Native or Flutter.
• Build an app on native frameworks such as Swift (iOS) and Kotlin (Android).

By opting for a cross-platform tech stack, you can build your app for both platforms with a single codebase, thus saving you on budget rather than developing an app with two separate frameworks.

5. Development Region & Team Structure

Next is the region of the developers. Hourly rates vary hugely. North America and Europe generally have higher rates than Asia and the Middle East. 

Similarly, agencies usually have higher rates than freelancers but provide more structure and a robust solution with ready-to-scale abilities.

6. Third Party APIs & Payment Compliance

Food ordering apps like Hungerstation rely heavily on API to integrate different features in their ecosystems, such as Payment Gateways, chat systems, SMS/push notifications, maps, etc. 

These APIs often have operational monthly/annual costs. Also, integrating APIs needs expertise in frameworks, which further increases the cost.

Furthermore, for payment-related complaints, you may need to get PCI DSS, GDPR, or other local government complaints. Cost here varies depending on the scope of your app.

7. App Scope - Building Secure & Scalable Solution

Your app can’t stay MVP forever, and developing a full-scale app in the beginning stage is neither viable. Thus, it necessitates building a solution that is budget-friendly in the beginning and also has full capabilities to scale in the future.

Similarly, investing in data encryption, secure authentication, and fraud detection systems is essential. These security-first measures may increase upfront cost, but they save far greater long-term risks and liabilities.

8. AI & Advanced Features

Food delivery networks such as Hungerstation often handle a large amount of data, including a huge number of payments on a daily basis. Auditing such huge data accurately may need AI/ML integration. 

Moreover, features such as AI-powered route optimization, chatbot support, and fraud detection improve user experience, all while keeping a security perspective in check.

9. Testing, QA & Speed of Delivery

Once the project is completed, a team of professional QA testers is required to identify bugs and ensure that the final product, before delivery, matches the PRD. Additionally, they test the app using automated bots to check whether the app can handle a large number of users.

Once automated testing is done, the product (your app) moves to beta testing. In this stage, specific users are given access to the app and share their feedback. Based on the layers you choose during testing and QA (Quality Assurance), prices fluctuate accordingly.

10. Post-Launch Costs & Growth Features

Ongoing maintenance or post-launch cost is often overlooked. Once your app is live, it requires regular maintenance, bug fixes, version updates, security patch updates, etc, which increase the overall cost of the project. Usually, maintenance cost is around 10-20% of the initial development cost.

Hungertstation-like App Development Cost Comparison (Region-Wise)

Region	MVP Cost	Mid-Tier Solution	Full-Scale/Enterprise	Remarks
America (USA & Canada)	$25,000 – $32,000	$50,000 – $65,000	$95,000 – $130,000	Highest rates due to premium dev costs, strict compliance (PCI DSS, GDPR), and advanced scalability needs.
Europe (Western & Eastern)	$20,000 – $27,000	$35,000 – $55,000	$65,000 – $110,000	Balanced pricing. Strong UI/UX, GDPR expertise. Eastern Europe offers more cost-effective yet quality solutions.
Asia (India, Vietnam, Philippines)	$15,000 – $20,000	$25,000 – $30,000	$40,000 – $95,000	Most cost-efficient. Ideal for MVPs and startups. Agencies here offer end-to-end dev at 40–50% lower cost than in America.

Recommended Tech Stack to Build a Food Delivery App Like Hungerstation

The selection of the tech stack depends on the project scope. It is important that you discuss all the aspects included in the PRD with the project manager to avoid tech debt in later stages. 

We will be covering each aspect closely and discussing the best recommendations alongside:

1. Front-End Development

UI/UX is most important for any app. It should be reliable, scalable, and most importantly, fast. For MVPs, it is often recommended to use React Native or Flutter as they are cross-platform compatible. Instead of writing two separate code bases, which usually happens when you choose native frameworks, you can deploy your app on both platforms from a single codebase. 

This option is not only budget-friendly but also scalable. These cross-platform frameworks provide an easy migration and a scalable option. Furthermore, updated modules of React Native allow Over-the-air updates, which, by the way, are trending in the technology world.

However, if you choose to provide a complete native app experience, then you might need to consider Swift and Kotlin.

Additionally, to enhance the UI/UX, prefer using Tailwind CSS (for responsive design) or ShadCN for the dashboard side view.

2. Backend Development

Backend bridges the dots between frontend (what displays on the screen) and database (where all the information is stored). Therefore, prefer using language and frameworks that are secure and fast.

Consider using Node.js with Express.js for event-driven tasks such as tracking orders or delivery partners. And if you are expecting millions of users, then you should go for options that are enterprise-ready, such as Java with Spring Boot. Alternatively, Python with Django or FastAPI is great for AI/ML integration and fast prototyping.

3. Database

Remember what the role of the backend is? Yes, to connect databases with the frontend of the application. 

In a food delivery app like Hungerstation, you’ll have to manage both structured (menus, transaction logs, orders, etc) as well as unstructured data (ratings and reviews, user activity logs, etc). 

For structured, you can proceed with PostgreSQL or MySQL, and for unstructured, you can proceed with MongoDB. This hybrid structure of the database will allow you to perform operations with accuracy and flexibility.

4. Cloud Hosting

You need cloud hosting to keep your app live and running. It is often advised to choose services that are scalable or have pay-as-you-grow pricing models. If you are targeting a global audience, then you should go for AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. 

And to handle computational tasks and manage databases online, prefer EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), S3 (Simple Storage Service), or RDS (Relational Database Service) services.

It is worth mentioning here that for scaling purposes, you can opt for Kubernetes and Docker, which let you handle sudden traffic spikes. This is the same problem Hungerstation got into, after which they migrated to the Google Cloud services and deployed Kubernetes to handle weekend traffic spikes.

5. Third Party Services & APIs

To integrate services such as Google Maps, in-app communication, and payment gateways, you need to integrate APIs. Here are some recommendations regarding APIs:

• For payments - Use Stripe, PayPal, or Braintree as they are already PCI-compliant.
• For Location services - Use Google Maps API, Mapbox
• For In-app communication, consider Twilio or Google Firebase Cloud Messaging.
• For Profile verification and authentication, go for OAuth 2.0, JWT, or Firebase Authorization.

6. Admin Panel & Analytics

The admin panel behaves as the central command of the entire app. You have to monitor data, manage profits, develop strategies, detect fraud, and much more. Therefore, for the admin panel, our recommendation would be centred around providing advanced insights.

• Dashboards - React.js or Angular
• App performance - GA, Firebase, Mixpanel
• B2B/Advanced Insights - Tableau or Apache Superset

7. Other Features & Integrations

Providing the bare minimum will not help you generate profit, given the brands already established in the market. This is where AI/ML jumps in!

To provide personalized food suggestions based on the previous order history, you can use TensorFlow or PyTorch. For leveraging AI in security and fraud detection, you can go for either AWS SageMaker or Azure ML.

Furthermore, make sure that the payment gateways you have integrated are PCI-DSS compliant. Security and compliance are must-haves for a food delivery app like Hungertation, where both personal and financial data is exchanged on a daily basis.

Food Delivery App Tech Stack At A Glance

Aspect	Tech Choices
Front-End Development	React Native / Flutter (cross-platform), Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android), Tailwind CSS, ShadCN
Back-End Development	Node.js + Express.js, Java (Spring Boot), Python (Django / FastAPI), Microservices + REST/GraphQL APIs
Database	PostgreSQL / MySQL (structured), MongoDB (unstructured), Redis (caching)
Cloud Hosting & Deployment	AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure; EC2, S3, RDS; Kubernetes, Docker
Third-Party APIs & Services	Payments: Stripe, PayPal, Braintree; Location: Google Maps, Mapbox; Communication: Twilio, Firebase; Authentication: OAuth 2.0, JWT, Firebase Auth
Admin Panel & Analytics	React.js / Angular (dashboards), Google Analytics, Firebase, Mixpanel (performance), Tableau / Apache Superset (advanced insights)
AI/ML Add-ons	TensorFlow, PyTorch, AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, Dialogflow / Rasa (chatbots)
Security & Compliance	SSL/TLS, AES-256 encryption; PCI DSS, GDPR compliance

(BTS) Behind-the-Scenes: Hungerstation Like App Development Procedure & Timeline

Now that you have all the knowledge about the features, cost, and technology stack, it is time to go BTS. The whole development procedure of an app can be divided into 6 phases

Printing the Blueprint - Design & Documentation (2–3 Weeks)

Developing a procedure begins with planning and deciding what your app is going to look like and what its functions are. This phase includes market research, defining the USP (Unique Selling Proposition), gaps in the market, feature prioritization, and finally concluding all the points in the PRD (Product Requirement Document) and MRD (Market Requirement Document).

Almost all the aspects are discussed in this phase, and you get a comprehensive workplan for your app development.

Creating Look and Feel of the App - UI/UX Design (2-3 Weeks)

Next comes the UI/UX development. This phase includes creating basic wireframes and developing an interactive mockup simulating UX for both customers and the development team.

Interactive mockups also include high-fidelity screens with animations and responsive design, which are ready to go under development.

Tip: Testing early prevents costly UX fixes after full development.

The Long Marathon - Developing the Entire App (12-18 Weeks)

This is the most crucial phase of building an app. In this phase, frontend, backend, database, and other API integrations take place as per the chosen tech stack. 

To make the procedure effective, teams often deploy agile methods such as sprint planning and concurrent development (highly beneficial to developing apps with multiple modules).

Quality Analysis & Testing (3-4 Weeks)

Once the app is built, running a quality check ensures it is free of bugs and fixes. QA testers run manual and automated testing to check the UI/UX consistency, server scalability, and performance in intense instances such as high traffic spikes, etc.

Once the app is run through QA testers, it then shifts to beta testing, where real users are given access to give feedback about the app. Beta testing also includes UAT (User Acceptance Testing). During UAT, minor tweaks regarding UI/UX are often observed.

Off We Go - Deployment & Launch (1-2 Weeks)

Once QA testers complete the testing and match the final product against the PRD, the app is ready for deployment. The developers then focus on pushing the SDKs to various app stores, configuring servers, and hosting platforms for the app.

Tip: Staged rollout or beta testing can reduce initial errors and improve app ratings.

Ongoing Maintenance To Keep the Wheels Running

Even though the app goes through rigorous testing before deployment, a few bugs come to light after complete deployment. Therefore, the development team conducts a manual check post-deployment to ensure that the app is error-free. 

Additionally, to keep the app running, you might be required to pay a subscription fee for the third-party integrations, platforms used, etc – all of this comes under the ambit of ongoing maintenance. 

With this phase, the next stretch for making the app successful begins, i.e., Marketing.

Professionals Who Will Be Collaborating to Develop Your App

Since you already have a fair idea about the workflow, why don’t we go through the working professionals who will be completing the development of your app:

• Project Manager – Oversees development flow & timeline.
• Business Analyst – Gathers requirements & defines PRD/MRD.
• UI/UX Designer – Creates wireframes, prototypes & app visuals.
• Frontend Developer – Builds user-facing app interfaces.
• Backend Developer – Manages server, APIs & business logic.
• Mobile App Developer – Codes iOS/Android (native or cross-platform).
• QA Tester – Ensures bug-free and smooth performance.
• DevOps Engineer – Handles cloud hosting, CI/CD, and deployments.
• AI/ML Engineer – Builds personalization & predictive features.
• Security Specialist – Ensures compliance & data protection.
• Digital Marketer – Drives app growth & user acquisition.
  

A professional mobile app development company usually provides a dedicated project manager who coordinates with all these experts, ensuring seamless communication and successful project delivery.

10 Monetizing Strategies To Maximize Your Food Delivery App’s Profit - How Do Hungerstation-like Apps Make Money

Clearly, building an app like Hungerstation requires a significant amount of effort and investment. But what about ROI? 

If you are worried too, we've got you covered! 

Here are the strategies that you can consider to boost your revenue.

1. Commission Per Order

food ordering apps often charge a small percentage of commission on every order from both the restaurants. This is one of their primary and most widely used revenue model. Commission rates usually vary between 10% and 30%. Further, apps might also choose to waive some of the percentage during special occasions, which usually promotes increased spending. 

Thus, this means that the wider network a food delivery app has, the higher the revenue through this channel.

2. Delivery Charges

Based on the location, distance, and timings, food ordering apps charge a delivery fee. To cover a small distance where the charge-to-expenditure ratio is low, food ordering apps also charge a “small order fee.” Similarly, you might also have noticed apps charging platform fees, handling fees, or late-night charges to cover the expenditure of short deliveries.

3. Subscription Plans

Subscription plans are one of the most reliable and recurring sources of revenue for all food ordering apps. By clubbing certain features together and making them exclusive, apps charge a certain recurring amount.

Features that can be covered under subscription plans are:

• Unlimited free deliveries
• Priority delivery during peak hours
• Exclusive discounts on partner restaurants
• Early access to promotions & offers
• Loyalty points multiplier (extra points per order)
• Personalized food recommendations
• Access to premium or “chef’s choice” menus
• Ad-free in-app experience
• Faster customer support (priority chat or hotline)
• Special festival or event-based perks

To make subscription plans more viable, food delivery companies often categorize them into tiers. 

4. Brand or Restaurant Promotions (Great for App’s Free Version)

Subscription plans are the only monetization model in which apps like Hungerstation earn direct revenue from the customers. For freemium users, apps can display advertisements and promotions, earning a good amount of profit without requiring users to pay. 

With this monetizing model, not only do app owners benefit, but restaurants can also maximize their sales by promoting their restaurants in the adverts. This is a great way for new restaurants that have fewer ratings or a cloud kitchen to grab customer attention.

Adverts and promos can also be applied in the B2B model, where other major brands partner with the app owners to promote their related products.

5. Surge Pricing

During peak hours when demand is too high or delivery partners are limited, apps often put a price surge. With this strategy, they not only control the demand but are also able to generate higher profits through delivery partners.

Similarly, food ordering apps also increase the incentive given to the delivery agents during the peak hours, encouraging more delivery partners to get online and engage in delivering orders.

It was this scenario for which we focused on integrating AI/ML to automate tasks, including handling real-time data. With the help of AI integration, a balance can be attained in real time, which is nearly impossible in a manual way.

6. Restaurant Onboarding

Some apps charge a one-time setup fee to new restaurant partners. This onboarding fee covers menu digitization, system integration, and basic training. While this is not the main revenue source, it provides immediate cash flow and brings a sense of commitment from restaurants.

7. Advertisements and Partnerships

Advertisements and Brand promotions are another good way of generating a consistent source of revenue. This model is quite helpful in generating revenue from free version users. 

Note that in the brand promotion model (mentioned in the 4th point above), apps target restaurant owners to publish advertisements, but here they can partner with other platforms that do advertisements on their platform, such as Google’s AdMob.

8. Social Media Partnerships

Similar to the above stream, apps like Hungerstation can also collaborate on their social media handles for promotional purposes. Since such apps already have a follower base, they can leverage an established audience for highly targeted advertisements through social media.

9. B2B Model - Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)

This is another creative way of establishing a consistent source of income. food ordering apps can extend their platform to be used by other regional players. This helps in two aspects:

• Earning revenue by charging on a monthly/biannually/annual basis for using their platform.
• Expand their brand reach.

You must be wondering what the benefit is for businesses that are buying such a service. For them, such services will help to:

• Have already defined, well-maintained architecture, and a ready-to-go platform.
• Leverage the popularity of an already running brand name.

10. Own Cloud Kitchen Model (ex., Uber Eats, Doordash)

Food delivery platforms usually charge 20-40% commission from restaurants, but if they own a cloud kitchen model, they can totally bypass this commission process and create their own supply chain. 

Since a cloud kitchen is not a fully established restaurant, it reduces the investment cost in establishing its own supply chain. Several food delivery platforms, such as Uber Eats, Doordash, Deliveroo, and even Hungerstation, are experimenting with this business model.

Evolving Future Trends of food ordering apps - What to Expect?

The food delivery app market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2025 to 2029. This steady rise can be attributed to higher internet penetration. While this market is expanding at such a high rate, here are some future trends that you should observe in food ordering apps in 2025:

• AI has become an integral part of our internet and smart device usage. Users now expect to have a ready-to-buy, hyperpersonalized, curated list of cuisines based on their taste, past orders, etc. Integrating such an AI-powered recommendation not only adds uniqueness to your app but also enhances user satisfaction.
• As industries are booming with development, it is imperative to dedicate yourself to an environmental cause, however small it may be. Prefer environmentally friendly packaging and clear hygienic standards – such initiatives improve brand loyalty and catch customers’ attention.
• Several food delivery giants, such as Uber Eats, are already testing and trying new ways of establishing efficient delivery channels, such as drone and robotic deliveries. Such state-of-the-art innovation not only positions brands as innovative hubs but also positions them as industry leaders.
• We are all aware of rising technologies such as AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality. Food delivery app platforms can consider using AR to display menus and cuisines on their platform. This feature will let customers see dishes in 3D before ordering.
• Having transparent policies in platforms related to the food industry brings trust and authentication. Food delivery platforms should look towards integrating real-time tracking with each and every detailed update regarding the order, such as preparing, packing, picked up, on the way, ETA, etc. Use of AI/ML to automate kitchen management can help to integrate such an initiative.

Want to Develop a Food Delivery App Like Hungerstation? Join Us

The business model and monetization strategy have already proved the market potential of food ordering apps. Suffescom provides custom and ready-made white-label solutions for developing food ordering apps like Hungerstation. 

With 1250+ projects delivered successfully, we have the industry’s great minds on our team who will help you from curating the idea to successfully developing the app and establishing the monetization strategies, without any big upfront investment. 

Wanna discuss your plan? We are all ears!

Wrap Up

food ordering apps like Hungerstation prove that localized strategies combined with strong tech foundations can create billion-dollar opportunities. While development costs in 2025 range between $15,000 - $120,000, largely depending on scale and features, the market potential is undeniable. 

With rising global demand, innovative monetization models, and future-ready tech stacks, entrepreneurs have a strong chance to enter and scale in this future-proof industry—provided they balance investment with long-term growth planning.

FAQs - Food Ordering App like HungerStation 

Q1. How much does it cost to make a food delivery app like Hungerstation?

Ans. To develop a food delivery app like Hungerstation, the cost ranges from $15,000 to $120,000+, depending on the features, tech stack, and region.

Q2. Why is the cost of food ordering apps so high?

Ans. The cost of food ordering apps is high because of the multi-app ecosystem (customer app, restaurant app, delivery app, app manager panel), advanced features, APIs, payment compliance, scalability, and maintenance needs.

Q3. Can I build a Hungerstation clone app under $20k?

Ans. Yes, but only a basic MVP with core features—not a full-scale solution.

Q4. How long does it take to develop a food delivery app?

Ans. Typically 3–9 months, varying by complexity and team size.

Q5. What tech stack is used for Hungerstation-like apps?

Ans. The recommended tech stack for Hungerstation-like apps is React Native/Flutter, Node.js, PostgreSQL, AWS, Firebase, Stripe, AI/ML, Twilio, and WebRTC.

Q6. Do I need separate apps for iOS, Android, and Web?

Ans. Not necessarily—cross-platform frameworks such as React Native or Flutter can handle iOS, Android, and Web with one codebase.

Q7. What are the ongoing maintenance costs for a Hungerstation clone?

Ans. About 15–25% of the initial development cost annually. Factors that influence maintenance cost are - services integrated, third-party API integration, hosting and database services, etc.

Q8.How do food ordering apps make money?

Ans. Food ordering apps make money through commissions, delivery fees, ads, subscriptions, surge pricing, cloud kitchens, brand promotion, giving Platform-as-a-Service, and partnerships.

Q9. What is the cheapest way to build a food delivery app?

Ans. Start with a white-label clone or MVP and scale features gradually. This way, you can have your food delivery app ready within $20,000.

Q10. Can AI reduce delivery costs and improve efficiency?

Ans. Yes, via route optimization, demand prediction, personalization, and driver allocation.

Q11. What are the risks of launching a food delivery app?

Ans. High competition, logistics challenges, regulatory compliance, and thin margins.

Q12. How much do developers in India vs the USA charge for Hungerstation-like apps?

Ans. Developers' rates vary region-wise. Here’s a generalized idea about the hourly rates of developers:

• India: $25–$40/hour, 
• USA: $80–$150/hour.

Q13. Can I integrate drone delivery into my app in the future?

Ans. Yes, you can integrate drone delivery into your food delivery app, but it requires regulatory clearance and custom API integration.

Q14. How to scale a small food delivery MVP into an enterprise app?

Ans. To scale a small food delivery MVP into an enterprise app, start by optimizing the core system, then expand with:

• Multi-region support for broader reach
• AI/ML features for personalization & predictions
• Advanced analytics & automation for operations
• Cloud scalability to handle high traffic and orders

Q15. What’s the future of food ordering apps post-2025?

Ans. Post-2025, the future of food ordering apps will be shaped by:

• AI-driven personalization for customer experience
• Drone & robotic delivery for faster logistics
• Eco-conscious branding to attract sustainable consumers
• Ghost kitchens & smart logistics for cost efficiency

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