How Much Does Augmented Reality Cost in 2025
Let’s get to the point straight away…the price of augmented reality development may vary due to a number of factors. But in general, developing a basic AR app in 2025 may cost you anything ranging from US$5,000 to US$10,000. But the price can escalate to US$250,000 or more if the AR / VR app contains more complex and feature-rich elements.
Now, let’s say you’re an advertiser who wants to market a real estate brand’s upcoming project. But there’s not been any construction. There are no apartment complexes or villas developed. How do you do that? How will you sell the experience of what it’s like stepping into that apartment, or what the floor plans are like for that villa? That shouldn’t be a hurdle these days as all the leading architectural and real estate giants have their own AR apps, and with just a few taps, your mobile’s screen will display the visualization you need.
AR has revolutionized our world for the better, while covering a massive range of spaces that are a vital part of our daily lives, like the e-commerce area, the information environment, as well as user behavior.
Recent studies and projections state that the AR & VR market will have a market volume of US$58.1bn by the year 2028. On top of that, market insiders say that the AR market is swiftly growing and snowballing at least four times quicker than the VR industry.
Augmented Reality (AR) – An Introduction
Now, it’s important to note that virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) concepts aren’t as brand new as people think. The very first funny VR helmets were seen in the 1960s, while AR fundamentals were created in the 1990s. AR is basically a tool improving the world via information and visuals developed by a very special kind of expertise, enhancing user’s (yours and mine) environment via digitalized data.
➔ How does it work?
In simple terms, Augmented Reality (AR) generally works in these simple steps:
- Firstly, your device’s camera acts as an optical scanner which identifies the image of the real object.
- Then, your device’s software gets busy analyzing the resulting image and selects the visible augment corresponding to it.
- And voila! The actual (real) image is blended with its augment and developed to the device. That’s it! Augmented reality is created.
➔ What are the means to develop AR?
- Cell phones and Tablets
- Augmented Reality (AR) Glasses
- Computer Screens
- Kinect – Motion Sensing Device
- Simulators & Medical Equipment
➔ Which industries require augmented reality (AR) development?
The future of virtual reality and AR technologies can be seen by how global tech giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft are paying close attention to them, with Apple investing heavily in AR development.
VR/AR Area |
Sales Share (%) |
Education |
2% |
Military Industry |
4% |
E-commerce |
4% |
Real Estate |
7% |
Movies, TV Shows |
9% |
Live Events |
11% |
Engineering |
13% |
Health Care |
17% |
Video Games |
32% |
AR technologies can be leveraged in many industries. For example, in healthcare AR can be useful when it comes to patient diagnosis. While in the education sector, complex topics can be taught via AR. Even the manufacturing industry can reap benefits of AR by teaching modeling and product design in a completely new light. While the e-commerce sector can help stimulate their sales by taking advantage of AR.
The crux of the matter is that apps with augmented reality integrated in them would communicate with consumers at a whole new level, captivating them and taking the retention rate through the roof.
Given what we’ve discussed so far, even the highest augmented reality app development cost will pay off in no time. And the following industries should not even be asking questions like, ‘what is the augmented reality price?’, or ‘how much do AR cost?’ Let’s discuss…
1- Entertainment Industry
The room for imagination in the entertainment industry is huge when it comes to AR! And the gaming sector will thrive within the entertainment industry as there is no limit to our imagination, it can take us many different realms.
The one augmented reality app, The Machines has to be mentioned here. It’s a multiplayer strategy in real-time. And its plot is pretty simple…players must search for a table, then point their camera at it and their device generates a steep post-apocalyptic location on its surface which is a virtual battlefield. After that, the gamer or user must place its combat robots on the map and start playing.
2. Real Estate & Architecture Industries
These two industries have certainly benefitted from the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, are the real estate and architectural industries. AR has massively enhanced the quality of testing as well as creation architecture, design and showcasing a builder’s construction projects…think of it as an amazing portfolio.
And if we don’t give a shout out to the popular app called ‘ARki’, that would be unfair. ARki is available for any iOS / Android device and it integrates AR technology into the architecture. It develops 3D models with numerous levels of interactivity for both design projects and presentations. Users can use the app to put 3D models on present 2D floor plans.
If your business operates anywhere near the construction or architecture industries, don’t even bother asking the AR app development cost or mulling over the cost of AR. You should seriously start thinking of AR app development as it’s a great way to visualize projects, and conveying your vision to the clients and customers alike.
We’ve helped many of our clients in the real estate and architectural sector by providing exceptional Artificial intelligence Development (AI) services.
3. Retail & E-commerce Industries
Say, you’re a business owner and you have an online jewelry store. Now, wouldn’t you agree that it would be an innovative business decision to let your customers try the ring on the finger virtually without having them visit your outlet? OF COURSE! This innovation would definitely see a significant increase in your sales. Let us quote a great example so you understand with a bit more clarity.
Magic Leap has developed an AR app that allows the study of the product-in-question from every angle. Why? Well, to offer the shopper to be able to see how a piece of furniture or appliance will look in the interior. Never ask ‘how much is AR?’ or ‘how much does virtual reality cost?’ when you’re in the retail or e-commerce sector.
At Digital Gravity, we offer sublime augmented reality services to our esteemed clients, who happen to be some of the leading brands in the world.
4. Education
Without a doubt, augmented reality (AR) has a massive future in the education industry as it makes studying new subjects, complex topics so much easier, and with a new angle. No education firm should ponder over ‘how much will AR cost the company?’ or ‘how much do AR glasses cost?’ when it comes to solving complex surgeries.
It would be very handy to support educational apps with this AR feature. No, let there be no doubt that the cost of augmented reality development is obviously in the higher region but the results are worth it.
5. Advertising and marketing
These days, any renowned brand is coming forward with proposals to integrate augmented reality in their advertising and marketing campaigns to attract additional audiences without letting the age-old questions like, ‘how much does augmented reality cost?’, ‘how much does AR cost the company?’ or even ‘what is the AR pricing?’.
Just imagine what the future of advertising could look like. Imagine walking past a cafe, and receiving an actual notification or even information about its discounts or other offers. If you’re thinking of advertising or marketing your product effectively, augmented reality could be the answer and Digital Gravity’s virtual reality solutions your best friend! You must consider this as an expenditure as the AR app development cost for sure.
6. Medicine
In the ever evolving field of medicine, AR apps are now in demand more than ever. Surgeons have already started working on AR via Google Glass by conducting complex surgeries. This enables them to connect with their colleagues via video conferences.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality tech has already enabled and empowered doctors to see the organ under examination and monitor its function online. So if you’re a reputable health institute or a new one on the block, you might want to think about the development of augmented reality apps sooner rather than later.
Before we close, you must know how to decide to bring third-party experts on board, you should know that not every AR developer charges the same as the rates mostly depend on their location. For instance, check the table below to see the prices according to the locations / regions.
Region |
Hourly Rate |
India |
$10 – $120 |
Central Europe |
$22 – $160 |
UK |
$35 – $170 |
South America |
$45 – $150 |
Australia |
$55 – $150 |
North America |
$60 – $275 |
As a mobile app development powerhouse, Digital Gravity knows that app development services play a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge, industry-leading augmented reality apps that help captivate the audience. It’s high time that businesses start integrating this technology into their organizational or business operations.