How much does it cost to build a fantasy sports app?

The overall cost to build a fantasy sports app can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of features, design, technology stack, maintenance, and team of developers.

How much does it typically cost to build an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports?

The overall cost to create an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports can vary widely, but typically ranges from $15,000 to $75,000, depending on various factors.

What are the main factors influencing the development cost of a fantasy sports app?

Key factors include the complexity and number of features, the chosen platform (iOS, Android, or cross-platform), the design complexity, the tech stack used, ongoing maintenance needs, security measures, and the location/expertise of the development team.

How can I minimize the cost of building my fantasy sports app?

To minimize costs, you should start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), opt for cross-platform development over native, simplify the UI/UX design, minimize backend complexity, and conduct thorough market research.

What are some core features to include in a fantasy sports app?

Essential features include user registration, payment integration, social media integration, push notifications, live scores, search and filter options for sports/leagues, and multi-language support. Advanced features like AI/AR/VR integration and gamification can be added later.

How Much Does it Cost to Create an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports?

Fantasy sports: a world of dreamland, away from the chaos, complexity, hustle, and bustle of our lives. It's where people get to indulge in an era that doesn’t exist in reality, where they are far from sorrows or any kind of real-world pressure or disappointment.

Many fantasy sports apps are learning this industry and helping users to refresh their minds and souls. The ESPN fantasy sports app is among them.

"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." — Warren Buffett

Prior to looking at the developing steps, you might get through the question “What’s the cost to develop an ESPN fantasy sports app?”

Well, the cost to build an ESPN fantasy sports app can vary from $15,000 to $75,000. This cost can vary depending on multiple factors such as the complexity of features, design, and much more.

Let’s learn the breakdown of the cost to build a fantasy app like ESPN, here.

ESPN Fantasy Sports and Stats

ESPN fantasy sports apps allow users to participate in multiple fantasy sports games, including basketball, baseball, football, hockey, and many others. It offers features such as creating and managing leagues, drafting teams, setting lineups, and more.

This app is designed to allow users to create and join leagues, draft teams, manage rosters, and make trades, all while following their players' performances in real-time.

Now, let’s have a brief check on the fantasy sports market statistics

The complete global fantasy sports market size is estimated at USD 24,853.7 million in the year 2024, and is further projected to reach USD 56,381.2 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.2%.
The U.S fantasy sports industry is dominated by a market share of over 86% in the year 2024.
This market size was valued at USD 30.4 billion in the year 2023, and is expected to grow from USD 34.08 billion in 2024 with a CAGR of 12.1% during the forecasted period.
In the year 2024, ESPN’s fantasy football app had over 13 million players, and in February 2025, the app had 3.6 million unique users.

These were some of the crucial stats that you can look for when you start an online fantasy sports business in this competitive industry.

When you think of building your dream app, you might get confused about its process or whether it's the right time to continue with the same, or not.

Hence, the following section can be a solution for the same.

Why Build an App like ESPN Fantasy Sports?

Creating an app is not a hurry; it's important that you know the core purpose of building it, or being aware of the reasons to invest.

Resources are the foremost element that comes along with converting your dream app into a success.

Well, it's also true that investing your resources is not a simple task; hence, you should know the reason behind creating your app like ESPN fantasy sports.

Let’s discover all these reasons below.

1. User Engagement and Retention

People like to be in a world where they can enjoy their dreams of playing with their favorite players, whether it is in football, basketball, baseball, or any other sport.

Thus, creating an app like ESPN fantasy sports can help them with a platform where they can find all these sports in one place. This will all result in user engagement and retention.

2. Revenue Generation

Another important reason to consider here is earning revenue from diversified mediums, such as in-app purchases, subscription plans, advertising, partnerships, and more.

The app will motivate you to invest more when you go through the key app monetization strategies.

3. Provides Competitive Advantage

Creating an app like ESPN fantasy sports can help provide a competitive advantage to your app. Hence, it is one of the key and most important parameters when it comes to building an app like ESPN fantasy sports.

With this, you can build the platforms who don't have an app and can take over the audience, who still go for fantasy sports sites.

4. Accessibility and Convenience

When you create an app like ESPN fantasy sports, it can provide you with an opportunity to enhance the accessibility and convenience for users so that they can effectively manage their apps.

The ESPN fantasy sports apps do provide you with instant access to the services and products anytime, anywhere. It provides them with the opportunity to enhance the overall features and connect well with the audience.

5. Market Expansion and Brand Building

Through developing an app like ESPN fantasy sports, you will be able to expand the brand and create a unique niche in the market.

This will help you to evaluate the brand’s presence, helping you to focus on differentiation, understanding the audience well, and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Considering these reasons, are you ready to build an app like ESPN fantasy sports?

Yes!

Then, let's evaluate the types of features that you can include in an app like ESPN fantasy sports in the section below.

Features to Include in an App like ESPN Fantasy Sports

Waiting to learn about “how much does it cost to create an ESPN fantasy sports app?”

Well, before that, let's evaluate the features to include in your customized ESPN fantasy sports.

With the fantasy sports app features, you can be able to engage the users successfully and confidently.

Let’s learn them all.

1] Payment Integration

Including the feature of payment integration provides a chance for users to invest in the app and increases your app’s potential in the future.

2] Social Media Integration

Social media integration is one of the features that helps users connect with their friends, share achievements, and more on social media app platforms.

3] Push Notification

Another crucial feature that you can adopt or might go through is push notification, where you can help the users to get all the real-time updates linked to the leagues, any player injuries, and other related options.

4] Live Scores

You can help the users to engage the audiences, check out the live scores related to current matches, through which they can make decisions while playing a fantasy sports game.

5] Search and Filter the Sports

It might be difficult for the users to find the leagues or even the sports in which they want to join abruptly. Thus, you can include a search bar over the app, including the search and filter options.

6] Multi-Language Support

Now, another crucial feature that can be included in the ESPN fantasy sports app is multi-language support to help users operate the app within their preferred language.

7] AI Usage

AI in fantasy sports apps boosts the performance of the app, and it will be capable of analyzing the user’s data and providing them the customized recommendations. The implementation of AI can even help the admins to manage accounts wisely.

8] AR/VR Integration

You can include AR and VR in the apps that are poised to revolutionize fantasy sports by offering an immersive and personalized experience. Along with this, technologies like AR and VR will enhance your overall app’s performance.

9] Gamification in Sports

Including gamification in the fantasy sports app can enhance your app’s presence in the market by adding visualization and gaming elements like rewards, points, levels, etc.

Including these features in your ESPN fantasy sports app, now, let’s proceed with the resources to invest while building it.

The preceding section can be helpful.

Cost to Build an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports

The overall cost to create an app like ESPN fantasy sports can vary from $15,000 to $75,000. This cost selection depends on factors such as the complexity of the apps, platforms, the development team’s location, and many others.

Well, whether it's analyzing the cost to build a fantasy app or building an ESPN app, you should learn about the top factors impacting them.

You can consider the table below for more information.

Complexity Level	Estimated Cost Range (USD)
Basic Features	$15,000 - $35,000
Medium Features	$35,000 - $55,000
Advanced Features	$55,000 - $75,000

Let’s learn them all in the section below.

Factors Impacting the Cost to Create an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports

What are the top factors impacting the complete cost of building an app like ESPN fantasy?

Let’s learn about all the factors below.

1. Complexity of the Features and App Size

One of the important factors that can impact the cost is the complexity of the features, where the more complex features typically result in a larger app size. Additionally, a complex app with more features will end up with you investing more, and vice versa.

Similarly, the large app size will require more cost to create. Additionally, a complex app with many features does require more code, large media files, and more complex data structures, all contributing to a bigger app file.

Let’s learn them all in the table below.

Complexity	App Size	Cost Range	Key Features Included (Very Basic)
Low	Small	$1,000 - $2,500	User login, manual team picks, and static player info.
Medium	Basic MVP	$2,500 - $5,000	Adds simple league setup, limited automated scoring, and static stats.

2. Platforms of the App

The type of platform you select for your app can be iOS and Android, or even both. However, the selection of these platforms can affect your overall cost in one go.

Here, you can even hire Android app developers or iOS app developers, as per the requirements for your app.

Let’s discover how the selection of platforms impacts the cost in the table below.

Platform Type	Cost Range	Description & Considerations
Single Native	$2,000 - $5,000	Develop for one platform (either iOS or Android). Offers the best performance/UX for that specific OS. Cost is lower as you build only once.
Basic Cross-Platform	$5,000 - $8,000	Develop for both iOS and Android using frameworks (e.g., React Native, Flutter). Shares codebase, saving time and cost vs. two native apps, but may have minor performance/design limitations for a complex app.
Web App (Basic)	$3,000 - $6,000	A responsive web application accessible via a browser. No app store submission. It might offer a simpler starting point for basic fantasy functions.

3. Design of the App

The fantasy sports app design has a high impact on the total cost of building it. A basic app with basic features can be much cheaper. However, it will not be able to attract the potential users in the long term.

Additionally, a well-defined design with attractive features, color, and theme can impact the complete cost to build an app like ESPN fantasy sports. Here, you can evaluate the mobile app wireframe and build an app prototype to select the leading design.

Let’s learn about the cost to design an app in the table below.

Design Complexity	Cost Range	Description & Impact on User Experience
Basic/Standard	$2,000 - $4,500	Functional & Clean: Uses templated layouts and standard UI elements. Focus is on clear navigation, not unique aesthetics. Acceptable for an MVP.
Simple Custom	$4,500 - $8,000	User-Friendly & Branded: Incorporates basic custom branding, colors, and fonts. Aims for intuitive flow and a slightly more polished, cohesive look than standard.

4. Tech Stack

The types of technologies that you desire to include in the app can create a large impact on the complete cost to create an app like ESPN fantasy sports. Here, you need to evaluate the fantasy sports tech stack to include in this app.

If the mobile app tech stack is complicated, then it can increase the cost to create an app like ESPN. Well, let's consider the complete cost and its breakdown for the tech stack in the table below.

Let’s discover more about the cost below.

Tech Stack Type	Cost Range	Description & Impact
Lean Cross-Platform	$5,000 - $10,000	Example: React Native, Flutter (for both iOS/Android). Offers faster development and single codebase. Ideal for basic MVPs to reach both app stores quickly.
Single Native (Focused)	$8,000 - $15,000	Example: Swift/Kotlin (for either iOS or Android). Provides superior performance and platform-specific features, but costs more due to separate development for each OS.
Basic Web Backend	Included in the above	Example: Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), PHP (Laravel) for the backend. Essential for user data, league management, and core logic. Cost is integrated with front-end choice.

5. Maintenance and Updates

It's important to keep a budget for maintaining the ESPN fantasy sports app, which can vary from 15% to 20% depending on the overall cost to build it.

Here, factors such as frequency of updates, tools for updates, and even the skills of the developers can have a high impact on the overall cost. You can connect with effective app maintenance services for implementing accurate updates.

Let’s discover it all in the table below.

Maintenance & Update Level	Annual Cost Range	Key Activities Included
Basic Maintenance	$3,000 - $7,000	Essential bug fixes, server monitoring, basic security patches, minor OS compatibility updates (e.g., ensuring the app still runs on new iOS/Android versions without major issues), and routine health checks. Limited new features.
Moderate Updates	$7,000 - $12,000	Includes all basic maintenance, plus regular bug fixes, more proactive security updates, adaptive changes for new OS versions, and occasional small feature enhancements or UI tweaks.

6. Security of an App

The fantasy app security can impact the cost as you need to include the advanced security measures for protecting your app from uncertainty and threats.

Integrating robust mobile app security features like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and secure data storage can increase development time and require specialized expertise, thus adding to the overall cost.

Let’s check out the breakdown of costs in the given table.

Security Level	Cost Range	Key Measures (Basic MVP)
Foundational Security	$2,000 - $6,000	Secure coding, basic data encryption (in-transit/at-rest), and user login security.
Enhanced Security (Basic)	$6,000 - $10,000	Adds 2FA, input validation, and regular framework security patching.

7. Team of Developers

One of the most significant factors that you should consider here is the team of developers. Hire dedicated developers who know well about how to optimize the resources and build your dream app.

Here, two other factors that you need to evaluate are the location of the developers along with the skills of the developers, in the long run.

Let’s consider the breakdown of the cost in the given table.

Developer Location	Hourly Rate Range (Approx.)	Estimated App Cost Range (Basic MVP)	Considerations
Asia	$25 - $50	$5,000 - $20,000	Most cost-effective. Good for lean MVPs. May require more active project management due to time zone/cultural differences.
Middle Europe	$40 - $75	$8,000 - $50,000	Good balance of cost-effectiveness and quality. Often strong technical talent and better time zone overlap with Western Europe.
UK	$60 - $100	$12,000 - $80,000	Higher cost, but often offers excellent communication, cultural alignment, and strong industry expertise.
US	$80 - $150+	$15,000 - $90,000+	Highest rates. Within this budget, you'd get very limited hours, suitable for ultra-minimalist MVPs or consultancy.

8. Impact of AI

In this competitive landscape, as the trend of artificial intelligence grows, fantasy sports is not an exception. With the help of Chatgpt, and Gemini, you can improve the code and reduce manual errors to build an app like ESPN fantasy sports.

However, creating an app like ESPN fantasy sports with AI can impact the overall cost. Yes, it includes AI-powered tools that might offer advanced and accurate predictions, improving your position in the market.

Although it's important to factor in the cost to create a fantasy sports app like ESPN via AI. Let’s learn it from the given table.

AI Feature Complexity	Cost Impact (USD)
Basic AI Features	$2,000 - $6,000
Examples: Simple player trend analysis, basic data visualization, automated content suggestions (e.g., news).
Medium AI Features	$6,000 - $10,000
Examples: Player recommendation engine (based on basic stats/matchups), rudimentary injury prediction, automated drafting tips, personalized content feeds.
Advanced AI Features	$10,000 - $15,000
Examples: Sophisticated player performance prediction models, advanced analytics dashboards, real-time strategy optimization, AI-powered opponent analysis, complex risk assessment for contests.

Connecting with the leading AI Development Services can help you to lead.

Well, these were some of the factors that might impact the overall costs that you should consider and can help you decide on the budget.

Now, let’s look at another factor, “time,” in the section below.

How Long Does it Take to Build a Fantasy Sports App like ESPN?

When it comes to evaluating the time undertaken to build an app like ESPN, it's important to look for the key factors that have a large impact on the same.

But before that, let’s evaluate the estimated time in the table below.

App Complexity Level	Estimated Time (Months)	Key Features Included
Basic MVP	3 - 6 months	User login, manual team creation, basic league setup, and static player data.
Intermediate	6 - 12 months	MVP + simple live scoring, team management, leaderboards, limited multi-sport.
Advanced/Full-Featured	12 - 18+ months	All above + live drafts, trading, advanced analytics, AI, social, payments, robust backend.

On average, the time it takes to build an app like ESPN fantasy sports can vary from 12 to 18 months.

This time can be impacted by factors such as the skills of the developers, budget, complexity of the app, and even the location of the developers.

After considering the time, let's evaluate “how to minimize the cost to build an ESPN fantasy sports?” in the following section.

How to Minimize the Cost to Build an App like ESPN Fantasy Sports?

Well, in this competitive environment, it's essential to know and evaluate the process to optimize the cost and save resources.

You want to invest in an app like ESPN fantasy sports, wisely, right?

Yes!

Hence, this section is all about optimizing the cost when it comes to ESPN fantasy sports.

► Market Study

In-depth market research can be useful in identifying the preferences and current market competition, which will be helpful in ensuring the brand’s growth.

Additionally, with the help of a market study, you will be well aware of your fantasy sports startup idea and its validation in the competitive landscape.

► Create an MVP

A minimum viable product (MVP) is all about including only the valuable and essential features that can attract the early adopters, wisely.

Thus, when it comes to creating an app like ESPN fantasy sports, you should begin by building an MVP for your app.

► Choose Cross-Platform Development Over Native

We understand that building an app for a particular platform can help you reach your target audience. However, what if you need to build an app for another platform (Android or iOS)? This might end up costing you more.

Hence, you should opt for cross-platform development over native development to save on your overall cost.

► Simplify the Design

You must simplify the complete design of your ESPN fantasy sports. The design of your app must be simple, as when it comes to complicated design can lead to an increase in the cost.

Thus, you should focus on considering the simple designs for optimizing the cost.

► Minimize the Backend Complexity

It's essential to minimize the complete backend of the app. Here, you should focus on modular designs, optimizing data handling, and efficient resource utilization.

Here, you can connect with the skilled developers who can help you with the backend procedure and optimize the overall cost.

Till now, as you are well aware of the cost to create a fantasy sports app like ESPN, its factors, and cost-minimizing strategies, let’s learn about the models to make money in the proceeding section.

Monetization Strategies to Build an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports

Through the help of monetization strategies, you can evaluate the type of frameworks and can adopt them for earning revenue through the app, like ESPN fantasy sports.

Let’s learn about fantasy sports app monetization strategies below.

1. Entry and League Fees

You can include the entry and league fees when it comes to an ESPN fantasy sports app. It's about the method to earn money by implementing a fee structure to cater for the diversified contests and leagues.

2. Advertising

Here, the advertising strategy is all about providing a space to third-party apps, for promoting their products and services over your platform. This framework can be helpful to earn an additional source of income.

3. Subscription Plans

You can regularly earn money through implementing the subscription plans that will be monthly, annually, and even weekly. This subscription plan is a good and efficient way to build recurring revenue, and even foster user loyalty.

4. Sponsorships and Partnerships

For this kind of strategy, you should focus on collaborating with the brands, teams, and other related businesses to create valuable sponsorship opportunities. This will help you earn some extra money from creating your ESPN app.

Considering these monetization strategies can be helpful to you for earning money via the ESPN fantasy sports app.

Connect with JPLoft and Build your Dream App

So, you are ready to build your app, but confused about where to go?

Well, in that case connect with JPLoft, we are the leading fantasy sports app development company focused on partnering with the target audience.

Our team is ready to help you with the market study for building your customized app, by including the required features.

We can help you to lead the industry by identifying the gaps and then preparing a customized strategy to convert your dream app into a success.

Conclusion

The journey to building an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports, while promising immense engagement and revenue potential in a rapidly growing market, requires careful consideration of costs.

Key factors influencing your budget include the complexity of features, choice of platform (native vs. cross-platform), UI/UX design, tech stack, and the location and expertise of your development team. To minimize expenditure, prioritize a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), leverage cross-platform development, simplify design, and strategically utilize third-party APIs.

By understanding these cost drivers and adopting smart optimization strategies, you can wisely invest your resources to launch a compelling fantasy sports app and tap into this lucrative industry.