Here's a surprising fact: insurance apps cost 40-60% more to build than regular consumer apps in the same category.
Building an insurance app like Getsafe could set you back anywhere from $20,000 to $300,000+. The final price depends on what you need. These apps come with unique challenges. They must protect sensitive personal data, work with older systems, follow strict rules, and maintain bank-level security.
The rewards make this investment worth thinking over. The insurance app market should hit $11.25 billion by 2025 and reach $42.31 billion by 2030. That's an impressive CAGR of 30.34%. Major investors like Swiss Re, Earlybird, and CommerzVentures have already backed companies like Getsafe heavily.
Several key factors should shape your insurance mobile app development plans. App complexity leads the pack as a major cost driver. On top of that, your choice of technology, business domain, and development team will affect your budget substantially.
This piece explains what you need to know about building a Getsafe-like app. We'll help you understand the main cost drivers and find ways to save money on this complex but rewarding project.
Why Insurance Apps Like Getsafe Are Gaining Popularity
Mobile applications are changing how the insurance industry meets customer expectations. 61% of insurance executives say customer priorities have pushed them to adopt insurance technology. This change isn't temporary, it's altering the map of the entire market.
The shift from traditional to digital insurance
Insurance operations used to depend on paperwork, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings. Customers waited through delays in claims processing. They struggled to check their policy information and spent hours waiting for representatives. This old system created many problems in the customer's experience.
Digital insurance platforms have revolutionized this space. These platforms do more than just digitize paperwork. They represent a comprehensive change that uses advanced technologies and automation. The numbers tell the story: customer satisfaction with digital insurance claims for auto and home insurance rose 17 points from 2023 to 2024.
Self-service has become the life-blood of this digital change. About 78% of leading life insurers now let customers file claims, update coverage, and access policy documents right away. Customers get faster service and insurance companies benefit from better operations, lower costs, and fewer mistakes.
How Getsafe disrupted the market
Getsafe stands out as a game-changer in this digital shift. The company started in 2017 with renters insurance in Germany and has grown faster across markets and products.
Getsafe puts everything on your smartphone. Their app lets customers buy, manage, and change policies, and file claims, in seconds. This easy approach has made Getsafe Europe's largest neo-insurer with over 400,000 clients in different markets.
Getsafe's customer participation sets it apart. Nearly 30% of customers use the app monthly, much higher than traditional insurance companies or brokers. British market alone drives one quarter of the company's growth.
Investors have noticed this success. Getsafe raised its Series B funding to $93 million to accelerate innovation and market growth. The company's technology lets them enter new markets within months while delivering a consistent digital experience.
User behavior and mobile-first trends
People now want their insurance as easy as other digital services. This trend crosses age groups, 93% of Millennials, 90% of Gen Xers, 89% of Gen Zers, and 84% of Boomers want to manage their financial services in one place.
Numbers show this mobile preference clearly:
- Americans check their mobile devices about 352 times daily
- 74% of insurance customers have their carrier's app installed
- 69% use their insurance app monthly
- 84% of customers say their insurer communicates well digitally
Mobile-first strategy helps insurance providers beyond happy customers. Companies with good digital services see 8% fewer customers switching to competitors. One insurer cut claims processing time by 30% using app-based photo uploads. This changed weeks of paperwork into days of resolution.
Companies that deliver great mobile experiences will lead tomorrow's insurance market. Traditional insurers must adapt as Getsafe and other digital-first providers gain ground. Those who don't risk falling behind in our mobile-focused world.
Ready to Build the Next Getsafe?
Join the digital revolution. Create a customer-centric app that drives loyalty and reduces churn by offering instant, mobile-first services.
Understanding the Core Cost Drivers
Creating an insurance app like Getsafe needs smart budget planning. Your final investment depends on three key factors: team location, app complexity, and platform choice. Let's get into these cost drivers.
Development team location and hourly rates
Developer location plays a crucial role in your budget. Here's how rates differ around the world:
- North America & Western Europe: USD 70-250 per hour
- Eastern Europe: USD 40-100 per hour
- Asia (India/SEA): USD 25-60 per hour
The cost gap remains substantial for specialized roles. Project managers in North America charge USD 70-120 hourly, while their Eastern European counterparts ask for USD 40-70. UI/UX designers in Western markets cost USD 60-110 compared to USD 35-65 in Eastern Europe.
App complexity and feature depth
Your insurance app's complexity shapes its development costs. Here are price ranges based on features:
Simple insurance apps (USD 25,000-60,000) include:
- User registration/login
- Simple policy management
- Simple claim submission
- Notifications and alerts
Medium-complexity apps (USD 50,000-165,000) add:
- AI-driven risk assessment
- Document scanning
- In-app customer support
- Third-party integrations
Advanced insurance apps (USD 100,000-250,000+) incorporate:
- Blockchain security
- Automated underwriting
- Machine learning for fraud detection
- Virtual assistants and chatbots
- Up-to-the-minute data analysis
Development timelines grow with complexity. Simple apps need 3-6 months, medium-complexity apps take 6-8 months, and advanced applications require 9+ months or more.
Platform choice: iOS, Android, or both
Platform selection affects your costs substantially. Here are your options:
Single platform development keeps costs lower with one codebase. Native iOS or Android apps cost between USD 30,000-80,000. This works well for targeted markets, iOS for North America/Western Europe, Android for Asian markets.
Cross-platform development with Flutter or React Native costs USD 50,000-100,000. It costs more upfront than a single platform but saves 20-40% compared to separate native apps. You get broader market reach while keeping development costs reasonable.
Dual native development (separate iOS and Android apps) runs USD 80,000-150,000+. It's the priciest option but delivers the best performance and user experience. Costs rise by 40-60% because you maintain separate codebases, testing procedures, and maintenance needs.
Insurance startups with tight budgets should start with an MVP on one platform. They can expand to other platforms after proving their concept. This approach can cut initial development costs by up to 50%.
Your budget should reflect these core elements. Smart decisions about team makeup, feature priorities, and platform strategy help create a competitive insurance app without extra costs.
Breakdown of Insurance App Development Stages
Building a successful insurance app requires several methodical stages. Here's how to develop your Getsafe-like application from start to finish.
Planning and business analysis
A complete discovery phase kicks off the development process. Your team analyzes the insurance sector in depth, sets clear milestones, and maps out vital app features. This groundwork creates a blueprint that defines expectations for deliverables and technical requirements.
The phase focuses on three key analyzes:
- Market analysis - Understanding customer needs and industry trends
- Competitor analysis - Studying existing insurance apps like Getsafe
- Cost analysis - Calculating development expenses and potential ROI
Smart planning sets the foundation for success. Industry experts suggest this stage helps teams make choices that line up with your brand voice. Insurance apps need stakeholder interviews and technical audits to establish core functionality and target users effectively.
UI/UX design and prototyping
The design phase shapes your insurance app's look and functionality. Your design team builds a clickable prototype that refines user flows and guides development. This prototype serves as a powerful presentation tool for potential investors.
A full UI/UX design package delivers:
- UX wireframes defining the interface structure
- UI designs for all app screens
- Interactive, clickable app prototype
- Collaborative design files for developer handoff
Insurance apps need specific design elements. They should simplify complex processes, use plain language instead of jargon, and create user-friendly navigation paths. A well-crafted insurance app turns frustrating processes like claims submission into smooth digital experiences.
Frontend and backend development
This stage turns designs into working code. Development follows set milestones to stay on schedule and hit deadlines. The work combines frontend developers who create the user interface and backend developers who build server-side functionality.
Backend development creates secure connections to key insurance systems like policy management, claims processing, and payment processing. Frontend work implements responsive interfaces across devices.
Testing and QA
Insurance apps handle sensitive financial and personal data, so quality testing becomes vital. QA teams run multiple tests to verify functionality, security, and performance. These thorough checks help find and fix potential issues before launch.
Key testing procedures include:
- Functional testing - Verifying app features work correctly
- Security testing - Checking data protection measures
- Performance testing - Assessing speed and stability
- Compatibility testing - Ensuring cross-device functionality
- Regression testing - Confirming updates don't break existing features
QA engineers must check specific components like quote systems, case management, underwriting systems, and CRM integrations. Industry data shows approximately 25% of development time goes into quality assurance.
Deployment and launch
The final stage puts your app on the Apple App Store and Google Play. In spite of that, the process continues after release. Post-launch support helps address user feedback and implement ongoing improvements.
Deployment tasks include:
- Final smoke tests to confirm stability
- Configuration of app infrastructure and security
- Establishment of backup and recovery procedures
- Creation of promotional materials and store listings
Industry experts emphasize the importance of collecting and implementing user feedback right after launch. Your insurance app's features and performance can improve steadily through continuous updates based on real user experiences.
Each development stage builds on the previous one. This creates a complete process that turns your insurance app concept into market-ready reality. Understanding these stages helps you manage expectations and resources throughout your app development experience.
Cost by App Complexity: Basic to Advanced
Insurance app development costs can vary significantly based on complexity level. You can budget accurately and prioritize features according to your financial resources by understanding these price tiers.
Basic insurance app: features and cost
A simple insurance app costs between USD 25,000 and USD 60,000 and takes about 3-6 months to develop. This entry-level solution focuses on core functionality without extra features.
Your basic insurance app would include:
- User registration and login systems
- Policy viewing and management
- Simple claim submission forms
- Basic profile management
- Notification alerts
- Contact information
These fundamental apps help test market response effectively. Many insurance startups choose this approach to confirm their concept before investing in more sophisticated features. These apps need fewer resources and launch faster, though they have limited expandability.
Medium complexity app: what's included
Medium complexity insurance applications cost between USD 50,000 and USD 150,000 and need 6-9 months to develop. These mid-tier solutions balance functionality and investment effectively.
This level includes everything from the basic package plus:
- In-app payment processing
- Document scanning capabilities
- Multi-language support
- In-app customer service
- Claims tracking functionality
- Document uploads and management
- Third-party integrations
Advanced app like Getsafe: AI, automation, and analytics
Advanced insurance applications like Getsafe are premium digital solutions that cost between USD 130,000 and USD 250,000+ and take 9-15 months to develop. These sophisticated platforms use technology to enhance insurance operations.
Your advanced insurance app integrates advanced features:
- AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants
- Automated underwriting systems
- Blockchain-based security protocols
- Machine learning fraud detection
- Predictive analytics dashboards
- Telematics integration
- OCR technology for document processing[193]
Costs may vary for specific insurance verticals:
- Auto insurance apps: USD 100,000-300,000+ (high complexity due to telematics)
- Health insurance apps: USD 120,000-400,000+ (HIPAA compliance requirements)
- Property insurance apps: USD 120,000-350,000+ (claims processing with visual AI)
Advanced applications deliver better ROI through automation. They lower operational costs, reduce human error, and provide evidence-based insights. Users get tailored experiences that improve satisfaction and retention rates.
Your business goals, target audience, and available budget determine the right complexity level. An MVP approach lets you test the market while managing costs. You can add sophisticated features later based on user feedback and business performance.
Note that yearly maintenance costs add about 15-20% to the original development cost. This investment keeps your app secure, functional, and competitive as insurance technology changes faster.
Technology Stack to Build an App Like Getsafe
The technology stack you choose can make or break your insurance app like Getsafe. Your choices will impact development costs and your app's future success.
Frontend and backend technologies
Several viable options exist to build your frontend:
- Mobile-specific technologies: Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android remain the top choices to build native apps. They offer the best performance and let you access all device features.
- Cross-platform frameworks: Flutter and React Native help you develop faster across platforms with one codebase. This cuts both time and costs.
- Web technologies: ReactJS with TypeScript gives you great options to build single-page applications (SPAs) that are easy to maintain.
Your app's complexity and team expertise should guide your backend technology choice:
- Node.js shines at real-time processing and API development, making it perfect for event-driven insurance workflows.
- Java with Spring Boot brings the security and stability needed for enterprise-grade insurance systems.
- Python frameworks like Django or Flask excel at data processing, essential for insurance metrics analysis.
- NET Core suits organizations with strict compliance requirements.
APIs and third-party integrations
APIs serve as digital bridges that let applications talk to each other smoothly. They're crucial for insurance apps, as shown by PwC's research, 41% of insurance consumers might switch providers if digital capabilities fall short.
Insurance APIs come in several types:
- Public APIs: These come with minimal restrictions and allow broad integration options.
- Private APIs: These work with internal systems and stay protected from outside access.
- Partner APIs: These limit access to approved business partners through authentication.
These APIs streamline underwriting by providing rich data sets and speeding up processes. They work great with payment gateways, analytics tools, and marketing platforms.
Cloud services and database options
Modern insurance apps rely heavily on cloud infrastructure. Public cloud service spending jumped from $313 billion in 2020 to $482 billion in 2022.
Major cloud providers offer specialized insurance solutions:
- AWS delivers scalable infrastructure that handles changing insurance demands.
- Google Cloud brings AI-powered tools like Apigee API management to link different systems.
- Microsoft Azure provides enterprise-grade solutions that established insurers love.
Your data structure needs should guide your database choice:
- SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) work best for structured insurance data storage.
- NoSQL databases (MongoDB) adapt well to unstructured data and quick scaling.
- Redis speeds up claims or policy lookups through caching.
Many insurance apps combine SQL for user accounts and NoSQL for activity feeds to get the best performance from different data types.
Native vs cross-platform development
Native and cross-platform development choices significantly affect costs:
Native development with platform-specific languages (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) delivers better performance and full device feature access. This costs more but gives users a superior experience.
Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter and React Native can reduce development costs by 30-40% since you maintain just one codebase. These frameworks have evolved substantially and now perform almost as well as native apps.
Your budget and performance needs should guide this choice. Insurance apps with complex calculations or deep hardware requirements might need native development, while others can succeed with cross-platform solutions.
Choose the Right Tech for Your Insurance App
From Flutter for cost-efficiency to Java for enterprise-grade security, we help you select the perfect stack.
Security and Compliance Considerations
Building insurance apps like Getsafe comes with significant compliance costs. Legal requirements protect user data and your business from penalties that could sink your entire project.
GDPR, HIPAA, and insurance regulations
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to all insurance apps that handle EU residents' data, no matter where your company operates. Your app needs transparent data processing practices and proper legal grounds to handle personal information. Under GDPR, insurance companies must:
- Establish a lawful basis for processing personal data
- Implement appropriate security measures
- Notify authorities of data breaches within 72 hours
Breaking these rules can be expensive, fines go up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue, whichever is higher.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs health-related information in U.S. markets. HIPAA compliance adds about 20-30% to your development costs for health insurance apps.
Your insurance app must also follow these industry-specific rules:
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act for financial data security
- State insurance codes
- Carrier-specific requirements
Data encryption and secure authentication
Security measures are the foundation of any insurance app. Your app must encrypt data both at rest and during transmission. This two-layer protection keeps data safe even if someone intercepts it.
Authentication systems deserve special attention. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become the standard. MFA uses several ways to verify identity:
- Strong password policies
- One-time passwords
- Biometric verification (fingerprint or FaceID)
Role-based access control (RBAC) adds another security layer by limiting user permissions based on job functions. This ensures employees can only access information they need for their work.
Full disk encryption (FDE) should protect all mobile devices that connect to your insurance platform. FDE encrypts at the hard drive level, making data unreadable if devices get lost or stolen.
Audit trails and compliance documentation
Audit trails create unchangeable, time-stamped logs of every action in your insurance app. These records track:
- User logins and activity
- Data modifications with before-and-after values
- Policy changes and approvals
- Document uploads and access
These trails do more than meet compliance, they help break down security incidents, spot fraud, and prove regulatory compliance during audits.
Documentation goes beyond audit trails. Your insurance app must keep:
- Written policies outlining privacy procedures
- Records of security measures
- Data processing agreements with third parties
- Proof of user consent where applicable
These security and compliance requirements will shape your insurance app's budget. Planning for these needs early helps you avoid getting pricey adjustments later and builds an app that meets both regulatory standards and user expectations.
How to Reduce the Cost to Develop an App Like Getsafe
Smart choices, not quality compromises, help reduce the cost of developing an insurance app like Getsafe. Development expenses range from USD 20,000 to USD 500,000+. Startups and established insurers need budget-friendly ways to build fully functional apps.
Outsourcing to budget-friendly regions
Your development budget largely depends on location. North American developers charge USD 70-250 per hour. Eastern European professionals cost between USD 40-100, while Asian developers work for USD 25-60 hourly. These price differences apply to all team roles:
- Project managers: USD 70-120 in North America versus USD 40-70 in Eastern Europe
- UI/UX designers: USD 60-110 in Western markets versus USD 35-65 in Eastern Europe
Using Flutter for cross-platform development
Flutter has become a powerful money-saving tool for insurance app development. Developers can write code once and deploy it to both iOS and Android platforms. This typically saves 20-40% compared to building separate native apps.
The framework brings several advantages to insurance applications:
- Quick development cycles with hot reload functionality
- Steady performance across devices
- Less testing time with a single codebase
Success stories support these benefits. Companies like Virgin Money and Lucid Motors have launched multi-platform apps from single codebases using Flutter. Insurance-specific apps built with Flutter can cost between USD 20,000-80,000, depending on feature complexity.
Building an MVP first
Starting with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) saves money effectively. This approach creates a basic version of your app with essential features and improves it based on user feedback.
McKinsey's research shows successful carriers usually pilot two or three MVPs, each lasting 8-10 weeks. Insurance companies can:
- Test market assumptions quickly
- Reduce development waste
- Put resources into proven concepts
The MVP approach cuts development and implementation costs by up to 40%. Insurance apps should start with core features like policy viewing and basic claims submission as foundations for future updates.
Prioritizing must-have features
Good feature prioritization prevents spending too much. The MoSCoW method works well, grouping features as Must have, Should have, Could have, or Won't have. This helps focus development on high-impact, compliance-critical functions.
Start by identifying the biggest pain points in insurance workflows, claims submission, policy renewal, or underwriting. Then use survey platforms to get feedback from potential users before investing resources.
Essential features for insurance apps include:
- Secure user authentication
- Policy management
- Basic claims submission
- Notifications
- Contact information
These four strategies can help you build an app like Getsafe at a lower cost while maintaining quality and user experience.
Why Choose CISIN for Insurance Mobile App Development
The right software development team can make a huge difference when creating an insurance app. CISIN stands out from other mobile app development companies, and with good reason too.
Expertise in fintech and insurance domains
CISIN brings 20+ years of specialized experience to insurance app development. A team of 1000+ professionals creates financial technology solutions and insurance management portals that deliver excellent customer experiences. The company has completed over 5,000 projects, and its developers understand the challenges insurance businesses face every day. Their fintech expertise covers digital banking, mobile wallets, cryptocurrency development, and insurance management.
Budget-friendly and adaptable solutions
CISIN provides flexible engagement models with Staff Augmentation PODs that come with a 2-week paid trial period. The company uses a hybrid approach that combines US-based project managers with offshore development teams to reduce costs by up to 40%. Their insurance apps use AI-driven analytics, machine learning credit scoring, and blockchain-based verification. Smart automation in their solutions streamlines underwriting, automates claims processing, and helps boost customer participation.
End-to-end development and support
CISIN goes beyond coding to provide complete project management from the original consultation through post-launch maintenance. The development process has stringent testing protocols that include penetration testing, AI-driven security scans, and compliance checks (PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR). The company provides ongoing support with immediate monitoring and AI-powered performance tracking after deployment. CISIN maintains high security standards throughout development with CMMI Level 5 appraisal and ISO 27001 certification.
We Don't Just Code, We Care
From initial consultation to AI-powered post-launch monitoring, get a partner committed to your long-term success.
Conclusion
Building an insurance app like Getsafe requires substantial investment, yet the potential returns justify the cost. Insurance apps need higher development budgets than standard applications because they have specific requirements for data security, regulatory compliance, and system integrations.
Three key factors will shape your development costs. Your team's location dramatically affects hourly rates, Eastern European and Asian developers offer significant savings compared to North American counterparts. The complexity level you choose directly affects both budget and timeline. Your platform selection (iOS, Android, or cross-platform) influences overall expenses.
The growing insurance app market creates tremendous opportunities. Digital insurance solutions promise a bright future for forward-thinking companies, with projections showing expansion to $42.31 billion by 2030.
Smart strategies can help manage this investment effectively. Companies can reduce expenses by up to 40% by outsourcing to affordable regions. Using Flutter for cross-platform development saves 20-40% compared to separate native apps. An MVP helps confirm your concept before committing to full-scale development and potentially cuts implementation costs by 40%.
Budget considerations shouldn't compromise security and compliance. Development must address GDPR, HIPAA, and industry-specific regulations to avoid penalties later. Building compliance features from the start typically saves 15-20% compared to modernizing them afterward.
Mobile app development company CISIN brings specialized expertise in insurance app creation. Their two decades of experience and flexible engagement models provide budget-friendly options for insurance businesses of all sizes.
Successful insurance apps balance cost efficiency with quality execution. Strategic decisions throughout the development process help build a competitive insurance application that delivers real value to users while providing strong returns on your investment.

