How Much Does It Cost to Build a Bill Payments App Like My Optus?

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, convenience is king. From ordering food and buying groceries to booking medical appointments and managing finances, the demand for user-friendly applications is skyrocketing. Among this wide array of applications, digital payment apps emerge as a transformative force, offering unparalleled convenience to access financial services and manage transactions on the go.

According to Statista, the total transaction value in the global digital payments market is anticipated to reach $11.55 trillion ($158.50 billion in Australia) in 2024 and show an annual growth rate of 9.52% (10.88% in Australia), resulting in a market volume of $16.62 trillion ($239.60 billion in Australia) by 2028.

The recent stats showcase that users of all genres are increasingly embracing online bill payment applications and ditching cash or card methods. This shift presents lucrative opportunities for businesses to capitalize on the growing trend.

My Optus, a leading bill payments app, exemplifies this trend by providing a streamlined, intuitive platform that simplifies the process of bill payment and financial management.

Wondering how much does it cost to develop an app like My Optus and how to build one for your business? Well, if we talk about basic app development, the budget can range between $30,000 to $100,000+. However, the cost of bill payment app development with advanced features and complexity can soar from $100,000 to $300,000 or more.

In today’s blog, we will discover the various factors that determine the bill payment app development cost, also exploring the intricacies that go into building an app like My Optus. But before we dive into details, let’s examine what makes businesses contemplate building a bill payment app like My Optus.

What Makes My Optus Stand Out in the Digital Payment Market

To build your own financial management app, it is wise to seek ideas from a successful application. That is why, in this segment, we will uncover some interesting facts and figures about the popular bill payment app — My Optus.

Optus, Australia’s top telecommunication company, known for its unified services for digital transformation and electronic payment. The company’s My Optus app allows users to manage their mobile, internet, and TV services and handle multiple transactions with just a few taps on their smartphones.

My Optus app is a self-serve tool for accessing Optus features and managing the Optus account on the go. Users can check their usage, view payment information, change account settings, chat with the customer support team, make transactions, and do a lot more.

In addition, My Optus provides amazing deals on a range of electronic items. With its incredible capabilities and advanced features, the app has become the chief cornerstone of modern financial management.

Let’s Check Out Some Interesting Facts and Figures about Optus

• Optus has a total of 57 apps, including 28 Android apps and 29 iOS apps.
• My Optus app boasts over 11 million happy customers.
• Optus’ total app revenue in May 2024 was $600K ($200k for Android and $500k for iOS apps).

Interested in building an app like My Optus, but financial considerations hold you back? Well, let’s explore the various factors that influence the cost to develop an app like My Optus and get a detailed insight into how much you should invest when embarking on the journey of digital payment app development.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Develop an App like My Optus

Developing a bill payment app involves several components that can significantly influence the My Optus app development costs. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating the cost to develop a bill payment app like My Optus:

Features and Functionality

The app complexity and range of features you want to incorporate in the app can significantly impact the My Optus app building cost. Features such as payment gateway integration, account management, usage tracking, push notifications, chatbot, etc., all add to the app’s complexity, leading to increased development costs and timeline.

Here is an estimated cost to develop an app like My Optus based on product’s features and complexity:

UI/UX Design

An intuitive and visually appealing UI/UX is the lifeblood of a digital payment application, enhancing user engagement and retention rates. Creating a user-friendly interface requires high-quality animations, captivating graphics, and interactive design elements that not only elevate the app’s appeal but also increase costs.

Platform Compatibility

The cost to develop an app like My Optus largely depends on the platform selection. Native apps that run seamlessly on both platforms (iOS or Android) typically cost more than developing for a single platform. However, you can opt for cross-platform development frameworks like React Native or Flutter to reduce costs. Moreover, if you want a versatile solution that can function as both a mobile app and a web app, it will also add to the My Optus app development cost.

Security and Compliance

Since bill payment apps deal with sensitive financial information, you must secure your app from potential vulnerabilities and cyberattacks. Implementing robust security measures such as data encryption, secure authentication, biometrics authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition), and compliance with industry standards (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS) not only strengthens the app’s security but also increases the development cost.

Third-Party Integration

To make a successful finance app like My Optus, you must integrate it with third-party services like payment gateways, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, or billing platforms. Not to mention, the complexity of these integrations significantly impact My Optus app development cost.

Maintenance and Updates

Creating an app like My Optus is a one-time process, but maintenance is an ongoing journey. Thus, you must also consider the cost of app maintenance when evaluating the cost to develop a bill payment app like My Optus.

Development Team Location

The geographical location of the FinTech app development company is a critical factor in determining the development cost of an app like My Optus. For instance, outsourcing developers from nations like the US, UK, Australia, etc., often cost more than those in India, Asia, or Africa. Remember, the selection of the right app development company can directly affect the bill payment app development cost, timeline, and, of course, the quality of the product.

Tech Stack

The choice of tech stack is a crucial component that also significantly impacts the cost to develop a bill payment app like My Optus. For instance, using widely adopted technologies and frameworks like React Native or Flutter for cross-platform app development reduces costs in comparison to creating separate native apps for each platform.

You may like reading: Fintech Application Development Costs in 2024

Must-Have Features of a Finance App like My Optus

Want to build an app like My Optus and make it a big success in the digital payment market? Well, who doesn’t want to? To make a successful finance app like My Optus, you must incorporate user-friendly features into the application. Here are some amazing features of a finance app like My Optus that you must consider when evaluating the bill payment app development costs.

Multiple Payment Options

Digital wallets have secured a permanent place in the FinTech sector by simplifying the transaction-making process. One way to ensure this is to allow users to pay their multiple bills directly through the app with various payment options like credit/debit cards, bank transfers, UPI, and PayPal. My Optus collaborates with several telecom companies, OTT platforms, etc., to simplify the bill payment process, eliminating the need for users to visit multiple stores.

Prepaid Services and Subscriptions

When developing a digital payment platform like My Optus, you must prioritize user convenience and provide easy recharging options for Wi-Fi, DTH, mobile payment, etc. It provides real-time balance tracking and low-balance alerts, ensuring users stay informed and connected without service interruptions.

Usage Monitoring

My Optus offers real-time data usage monitoring, helping users keep track of their data consumption. With proactive alerts for nearing data limits or unusual usage patterns, users can manage their usage effectively and avoid unexpected charges.

Plan Management

Your bill payment app should allow users to view, modify, and upgrade their plans directly within the app. By offering such plan management features, you can empower your users to optimize their plans based on their usage patterns and needs, providing a tailored experience.

Service Management

My Optus provides users with functionality to manage their additional services, such as international roaming, add-on data packs, and entertainment subscriptions. This is an essential feature of bill payment app development, which fosters trust, transparency, and credibility among users by giving them control and flexibility over their services.

Customer Support

Integrating the functionality of an AI-driven chatbot is a must for any advanced application, and a bill payment app is no exception. Chatbot integration supports 24/7 customer service, enhancing user experience. Additionally, a comprehensive self-service portal with FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and DIY articles empowers users to resolve common issues independently.

Notifications and Alerts

The app should send timely notifications to inform users about upcoming bills, last dates, payment confirmations, etc. The personalized notification feature keeps users updated on critical account activities and changes.

Security Features

Stringent security features, such as biometrics, two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, etc., are essential for protecting user data. Adding such features ensures that users’ sensitive information is secure during transmission and storage.

Store Locator

A geo-enabled store locator helps users find the nearest physical stores or authorized retailers. It also provides real-time updates on store hours and available services, making it convenient for users to access in-person support.

For example, My Optus users can benefit from the app’s integration with Optus’ network of 292 retail stores nationwide. This feature enhances user convenience by allowing them to easily locate and visit a store for in-person assistance or service needs.

Integration with Other Services

Your app should also integrate with third-party financial services and provide a unified platform for users to manage their various financial activities. By connecting with entertainment and communication services, the app must allow users to conveniently handle all their needs in one place, streamlining their interactions and improving their experience.

Deals and Discounts

Offering lucrative deals and discounts typically converts one-time users into loyal customers, increasing repeat customers and user retention rates. Thus, your app should introduce multiple deals and rewards to tempt users to stick to your digital platform for making purchases or bill payments.

AI-Powered Fraud Detection

AI-powered fraud detection is an integral feature of a FinTech app as it helps identify and prevent fraudulent activities, improving payment apps’ security. It can help identify fraudulent patterns in transactions. By analyzing large amounts of data in real-time and identifying anomalies, AI algorithms can flag suspicious transactions and alert the security team to take proactive steps to prevent fraud.

You may like reading: How AI in FinTech industry is wooing millennials

Analytics-Based Dashboards

My Optus gives users a detailed view of their account information, including balance, recent transactions, and payment history. Thus, your bill payment app must have a dashboard to give users proper information on where they spent their funds, upcoming bills, etc. You can even go a step ahead and integrate budget management functionality within the app. It allows users to track their expenses and manage their budget accordingly.

How to Develop a Bill Payment App Like My Optus?

Developing a bill payment app like My Optus involves several stages of meticulous planning, user-focused design, technology integration, and beyond. Below are step-by-step details of the My Optus app development process.

Research and Define

To begin with, you must conduct thorough market research and competitor analysis to understand the specific needs of your targeted audience. This will help you identify your users’ pain points, analyze market gaps, and define your app’s core features and functionalities.

Choose the Tech Stack

Choosing the right tech stack is one of the most integral steps of the app development process.  The choice of tech stack greatly influences the app’s performance, security, and My Optus app development cost. Here is a list of common tech stacks used for financial software development:

Design UI/UX

The next step is to create an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes navigation easy and effortless. This stage also involves developing wireframes and prototypes that visualize the app’s layout and user flow.

Also Read: POC vs. MVP vs. Prototype: Which is Better?

Develop

Now, it is time to bring your app design and features to life. At this stage, FinTech app developers build scalable frontend and backend to facilitate secure transactions, user management, data storage, seamless communication, and more.

Implement Security Measures

Security is of paramount importance for a bill payment or finance app. On 22nd September 2022, My Optus faced a major data breach that affected up to 10 million current and former users’ info, comprising a third of Australia’s population. Due to some security flaws, this data breach leaked sensitive customer information, including their names, dates of birth, phone numbers, driving license details, passport numbers, postal addresses, and email addresses.

Learning from the Optus data breach incident, you must implement robust security features and compliance protocols to safeguard your app.

You may like reading:  How to Build a Financial App with Proactive Security Measures?

Test

Before bringing your app to the market, you must ensure that it undergoes extensive testing and quality assurance. This includes unit testing, integration testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), performance testing, and security testing. This step is vital to ensure the app can handle high traffic and data loads without compromising security, speed, and functionality.

Deploy

Once the development and testing phases are complete, the next step is to deploy the bill payment app at the targeted platforms. This is the stage of submitting the app to the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Once approved, your audience can start downloading and enjoying your app offerings.

Maintain and Support

Remember, the secret to building a successful finance app like My Optus extends beyond its initial development—it significantly relies on continuous maintenance to improve app performance and address security challenges. Thus, post-launch support for bug fixes, new feature additions, and regular release of necessary updates are essential steps to ensure the long-term success of a bill payment app like My Optus.

Want to get an in-depth understanding of the mobile app development process? Read our complete guide here.

Explore the Power of FinTech App Development with Appinventiv

Diving into the world of bill payment app development requires strategic planning and careful execution of the same. Understanding the factors influencing the cost to develop an app like My Optus, learning how to create a finance app, and recognizing the benefits of hiring a FinTech app development company like Appinventiv can greatly enhance the likelihood of making your app a huge hit in the ever-evolving FinTech landscape.

Our team of 1500+ tech evangelists will help you understand the competitive market and stand by you at every step of the way, from building your app from scratch to bringing it to the market and beyond. Don’t believe in words; get a glimpse of our expertise in FinTech app development by exploring the success story of Edfundo.

We assisted Edfundo in creating the world’s first financial intelligence app for kids, featuring flexible parental controls designed to cultivate money-smart youngsters. The app was able to bag a pre-seed funding of $500,000 and is currently preparing for a seed funding of $3 Million.

Ready to set your feet in the growing digital payment market? Let’s turn your idea into a reality. Reach out to us today and start building your next successful app now!

FAQs

Q. How much does it cost to build an app like My Optus?

A. There is no one-word answer to the pressing question, “How much does it cost to develop an app like My Optus?” On average, the cost to build an app similar to My Optus ranges between $30,000- $100,000 for simple apps, $100,000-$150,000 for medium complex apps, and  $150,000- $300,000 or above for a highly complex app.

Want to get a more precise estimate for a bill payment app development cost? Discuss your project idea with our efficient FinTech app developers and get a precise cost estimate.

Q. How long does it take to develop an app like My Optus?

A. The time it takes to create an app like My Optus varies based on several factors, including the project complexity, app functionalities, tech stack selection, UI/UX design, the expertise of the FinTech app development company, and so on.

To give you a rough estimate, we can say that the FinTech app development timeline can range from 4 months to a year or more, depending on your specific requirements.

Get in touch with our app developers to get a more accurate estimate of the app development timeline.

Q. What are the benefits of creating an app like My Optus?

A. Investing in a digital payment app development can be rewarding for a number of reasons. Here are some of the most remarkable benefits of an app like My Optus. Let’s check them out:

• Increased Market Potential – The world is going digital. Users want convenience in every aspect of their lives, including online payments. Thus, building an online payment app with user-friendly features will help meet their day-to-day needs, and you may capitalize on this growing market.
• Business Profitability – There are several successful online payment platforms, including My Optus, PayPal, myFawry, and more. These apps generate good revenue and gain user trust. Thus, building such an app will help you gain substantial revenues and boost business profits.
• Global Reach – By developing a bill payment app like My Optus, you can reach your targeted audiences on a global scale and expand your digital wings worldwide.

All these elements signify that building an online payment app like My Optus will certainly be worth your investment, resources, and time.

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director