How to Develop a Wellness Application? Expert Guide by a Devabit Developer

Back to Basics: Exploring the Fundamentals of Wellness App Development

Before jumping right to the guide on how to develop a wellness application, let's discuss some fundamental aspects of wellness app development to sort things out.

What is a wellness app?

The definition of a wellness app is quite straightforward: a wellness application is a software solution, web-based or mobile-based app/platform, aimed at improving users' well-being, either physical or mental.

What are the main features of wellness apps?

To achieve this goal, wellness applications often provide the following features:

• question-answer quizzes & logic to maintain interactiveness;
• advanced analytics of physical/mental health metrics to generate personalized recommendations;
• useful resources to spread knowledge;
• AI or person-based virtual assistants to provide relevant feedback;
• reminders, alerts, and notifications to ensure ongoing progress;
• other niche features related to physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

What are the types of wellness applications?

Here are several of the most widespread wellness app types:

• fitness apps;
• meditation apps;
• nutrition apps;
• menstruation cycle tracking apps;
• sleep cycle tracking apps;
• habit tracking apps;
• expenses tracking apps;
• calorie tracking apps;
• mental health support apps;
• physical health support apps;
• mindfulness exercises apps;
• water balance apps, etc.

Please note that we mentioned only the most popular types of wellness applications. In case you are looking for something more exclusive or have a crazy (in a good way) idea you want to validate, just contact our wellness app development consultants, and we will answer all your questions. The consultation is completely free, with no strings attached.

What are the examples of wellness applications?

Needless to say, wellness app development is a popular sector, so there are plenty of relevant examples in the modern market. Let's take a look at some of the most interesting wellness app examples:

• Strava — is a unique US-based solution that combines the features of a social platform and activity tracking app. Positioning itself as a GPS cycling and running application, Strava enables users to gain valuable insights into their day-to-day activities while sharing their achievements with the community.

• GoodBudget — a solution developed by a San Francisco custom web app development company aimed at tracking personal expenses and more. From user synchronization and shared budgets to payoff debt strategies, the app offers an extensive feature set, making it one of the most exciting examples of budget trackers.

• Flo — a British project that gained an international presence and was translated into 22 languages, with over 380 million downloads worldwide. Used by women from different parts of the world, Flo serves as an all-in-one platform for tracking menstrual cycles, spotlighting health patterns, and providing personalized recommendations thanks to a built-in virtual assistant.

• Marriage Score — a US-based B2B and B2C application for improving marital relationships. Interactional quizzes, meaningful resources, and personal scores — this multi-functional wellness app helps improve relationships in various ways.

• Rozmova — a wellness application developed by a talented team of Ukrainian developers. Intended to create a perfect match between psychologists, psychiatrists and patients, this solution is a convenient platform for choosing the right specialist based on your unique requirements.

• MoonX — a famous project that started as a simple lunar calendar and evolved into a comprehensive platform driven by feedback from the user community. The app enables users to manifest positive affirmations, create personal natal charts, access daily horoscopes, and more. As a perfect mesh of psychology, astrology, and esoterica, MoonX is a fascinating example of a wellness application that handles various purposes under one roof.

How much does it cost to develop a wellness application?

As we always remark, the sky is the limit. Although it may be challenging to calculate how much it costs to develop a wellness application in general, let's try to categorize the price ranges.

• A simple wellness application with a small range of features will cost approximately $15.000-35.000.
• Middle-segment wellness apps typically require a $35.000-75.000 investment.
• Advanced wellness solutions are quite expensive, ranging from $75,000 to $150,000 or more.

Please note that the price of a wellness application depends on multiple factors, including team size, functionality, toolkit, location, and platform choice. In case you are looking for a direct price calculation, just share your requirements with our wellness app development consultants, and we will come up with an answer as soon as possible. The consultation is completely free, with no strings attached.

How to Develop a Wellness Application? A Detailed Guide by Our Top iOS Developer

Finally, we have reached the part where a real expert shares his hands-on experience! Meet Artem Serbin, our beloved iOS magician. In his talented hands, code transforms into state-of-the-art mobile solutions that rock.

Hi everybody! I cannot be more grateful to devabit for introducing me in such a creative way :) Today, I am going to introduce an interesting wellness application I created as part of the devabit team.

How did it start?

Our client is a real psychologist and coach specializing in the area of marital relationships. He came up with the idea to develop a B2B wellness application aimed at helping couples improve their relationships and eventually enhance their overall well-being.

Even though he initially planned to target only businesses interested in buying subscriptions for their teams as part of well-being programs, he soon changed his decision after speaking with our experts, who recommended broadening the target audience by including B2C users (access to the app through the App Store). He later mentioned it was a smart business decision that resulted in a larger ROI.

What was the app about?

1. The user creates a personal account and invites their partner. This is a mandatory step necessary for the proper functioning of a wellness app.
2. Next, both partners participate in the questionnaire.
3. There are 4 categories like happiness, communication, etc., with 16 questions per category.
4. Based on the collected answers, the app offers weekly challenges. Simply stated, it generated specific activities like gifting flowers or saying compliments in order to improve the satisfaction of each partner.
5. Each week, the participants are also required to evaluate the results by deciding whether their relationships improved or not.

Are there any specific features worth mentioning?

• In fact, there was nothing super technically complex. The entire focus was on creating a convenient and clear UX. For example, we did everything in our power to ensure a couple could quickly match and start receiving challenges. It looked simple, but in reality, we put a lot of thought and testing into the invite process.
• I think another interesting feature is gamification. The users gain points for completing specific activities, which works well for motivation. Besides, this wellness app offers a progress bar up to 100%.
• As for me, access to resources (books, podcasts, videos, and articles) created by an app owner (famous psychologists) is one of the most exciting features of this app. All in all, you not only buy a subscription but also have unlimited access to relevant and authoritative resources, which I believe is super helpful in the long term.

How did the wellness app development process and team look like?

• On our side, there were 6 people involved in the wellness app development process: a Project Manager, a UI/UX Designer, an iOS Developer (me), an Android Developer, a QA, and a Backend Developer.
• The whole wellness app development process was divided into 2-week sprints dedicated to planning, grooming, demos, and retrospectives.
• Speaking of communication, we tailored it to the client's requirements (email + video conferences).
• Last but not least, we utilized the Scrum methodology to ensure maximum productivity.

How about technical details?

• At that time, SwiftUI was still quite new, but we decided to use it because it allowed us to develop the interface faster. Now, most devs already use it, but back then, it was still kind of a 'new thing.'
• We started with the development of an iOS version and developed an Android version later on.
• We added the following invitation mechanisms: email, link, and QR code.
• This wellness application was developed on Jetpack Compose.
• Until two participants accept the invitation, the application is not active.
• We put an emphasis on UI/UX: non-standard elements, sliders, and custom graphics.

Were there any challenges associated with the project?

• Our main challenge was associated with the onboarding process since the user cannot utilize the wellness app without a partner. This could potentially result in lower conversions. To overcome this challenge, we made a super straightforward invitation process.
• Business logic > tech complexity. Technically, the project was not difficult, but it was essential to design the chain of user interaction competently.

Q&A Session with Our Top-Tier iOS Developer

What a mind-blowing journey behind the scenes of wellness app development. Let's ask Artem a few more questions!

What features should a wellness app have?

In the paragraph "What are the main features of wellness apps?" our team have already provided a quick sneak peek into the top features most wellness apps have. Click here to view.

As for me, I believe that expert resources are something truly worth your attention. Whether it is a wellness app focused on nutrition, sports, or mindfulness, in-app consultations with real professionals or useful resources add credibility and, as a result, increase conversions. Mutual value for app owners and users is the key here.

How do I define the target audience for a wellness app?

Over the span of my career, I have worked on multiple mobile applications (not only wellness apps), so I would say it depends on the project. But here is the golden rule: always try to walk in the user's shoes. Think like a user, not an owner or developer. In which cases this wellness app could be helpful to you? It sounds pretty simple, but it always works, trust me.

How do I validate my idea for a wellness app?

Oh, I definitely understand your worries. The validation stage is one of the trickiest parts of the whole wellness app development process. Think of it as your win-or-lose chance.

What would I recommend doing?

1. Try the discovery phase and build an MVP of an app.
2. Choose a reliable wellness app development company that can share valuable insights and enhance your idea with regard to current trends in the industry. Similar to what we did at devabit (a few paragraphs earlier, I mentioned our recommendation concerning a broader target audience that resulted in a higher ROI).
3. Do not be afraid to stand out. Prioritize UI/UX, add gamification, and do not be scared to try creative approaches.

What's the difference between a wellness app and a fitness or mental health app?

Actually, I do not see the major difference between a wellness app and a fitness or mental health app. The thing is that wellness apps signify a broader category, which includes fitness, mental health apps, and so on.

What are the best practices for user onboarding in wellness apps?

Make it as simple as possible. Utilize intuitive UX to guide users through the onboarding journey. Similar to what we did at devabit (a few paragraphs earlier, I mentioned that we utilized several simple onboarding strategies like email, QR code, link, etc.).

How do I ensure my wellness app is HIPAA or GDPR-compliant?

That is not always necessary. By way of illustration, apps like MoonX or GoodBudget do not require compliance. If you are dealing with a health-related wellness app (physical or mental areas), look for a reliable wellness app development company that offers HIPAA- or GDPR-compliant solutions. This approach is much easier than gaining credibility on your own.

How can I use AI in a wellness app?

AI is everywhere, right?:) Although I am a bit fed up with this trend for AI, it can be truly helpful in some cases. For instance, AI virtual assistants or chatbots are a perfect addition to your wellness application. Just make sure you train your generative AI model enough to provide relevant information and prevent a poor user experience.

How to Develop a Wellness Application: Key Takeaways

At the end of the day, it is always about a perfect mesh of a project concept and a skilled team that can turn this idea into a functional wellness app.

• A wellness app is a web or mobile solution designed to enhance users' well-being.
• Typically, wellness apps have the following functionality: quizzes, questionaries, expert recommendations, notifications & alerts, and various personalized features, to mention just a few.
• There are plenty of wellness applications in the market: fitness apps, habit tracking apps, mental health support apps, water balance apps, etc.
• Wellness apps signify a broader category, which includes fitness, mental health apps, etc.

Want to get more relevant info on the topic of wellness app development? Consider wellness app development an interesting option, but do not know where to start from? Need expert guidance on the wellness app development process? We know how to help. We have a great team of experts like Artem Serbin who are ready to share their experience and bring your idea to life. Just get in touch with our wellness app development consultants to start your journey right now for free.