Have you ever wished you could stay updated on the world’s top news, without scrolling endlessly through long articles or switching between multiple apps?
That’s exactly what Inshorts delivers: news in just 60 words. Fast, clean, and to the point. But behind this simplicity lies a highly intelligent product and an equally sophisticated tech stack. As more businesses and startups eye the growing market of bite-sized news consumption, one question keeps popping up:
How much does it really cost to build an app like Inshorts in 2025?
In this blog, we’ll break it all down for you: costs, features, development steps, challenges, hidden factors, money-saving tips, and everything in between. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or just curious, this blog will be your ultimate guide.
Let’s get started.
An app like Inshorts is a news aggregator that provides brief summaries of news from many sources, often ranging from 60 to 100 words. Time savings, increased engagement, and quicker and easier news reading are the goals of these apps.
They use a combination of:
Apps like Inshorts are designed for:
Examples of similar apps:
Fun Fact: Inshorts began in 2013 as a Facebook page started by three IIT dropouts. It now has over 10 million downloads and is one of India’s top news apps!
Before you build your own Inshorts-like app, let’s look at the numbers and trends that show how hot this market is.
Pro Tip: Adding regional language support (Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, etc.) can help you reach India’s 600M+ non-English internet users—a major advantage in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Apps like Inshorts go beyond news—they drive engagement. If you’re a startup, publisher, media house, or digital entrepreneur eyeing the content or news tech space, building one is absolutely worth it. Here’s how:
People are overwhelmed by information but hungry for quick updates.
Apps like Inshorts provide exactly that:
Result? Users return to the app often, fueling repeated engagement and building loyalty.
Fun Fact: According to Inshorts, users open the app four to five times a day, usually in little bursts of time—during breaks, line waits, or commutes.
A summary-based app may sound “simple,” but its monetization potential is massive:
India has:
Building an Inshorts-style app with regional language support could unlock Tier 2/3 markets where people prefer summaries in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and more.
“Give people news in the language they think in—and you win.” – YeasiTech Research Team
Summarization no longer needs a big editorial team. With tools like:
You can automate most of your content aggregation and summarization process, drastically reducing operational costs. Bonus? Your app gets smarter with every user interaction.
Inshorts-style summaries don’t just work for news. You can build vertical-specific apps, such as:
Each of these can attract niche users—and advertisers.
Because of AI/ML, you can create hyper-personalized feeds where:
This level of personalization is what keeps users hooked—and returning daily.
Unlike e-commerce or ride-sharing apps, you don’t need huge backends or logistics. An Inshorts-style app can be built lean and iterated fast. Perfect for MVPs or early-stage startups.Minimum requirements:
You can literally launch a solid version in 2–3 months (we’ll show you how shortly ).
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Fast time to market | MVP can be built in 8–12 weeks |
| Strong monetization | Ads, subscriptions, data insights |
| AI-powered | Reduces editorial cost |
| High engagement | Swipe-based micro-content |
| Multi-lingual reach | Covers 600M+ Indian regional users |
| Daily usage | Builds habit and loyalty |
An app like Inshorts doesn’t need to be bloated. It needs to be fast, simple, and smart. Here’s what you need:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| News Feed | Swipeable card-based UI with summarized stories |
| Read More Option | Direct link to original article |
| Categories | News filters like Sports, Tech, Business, etc. |
| Push Notifications | Real-time news alerts |
| Bookmark/Save | Save news for later reading |
| Share | Share news via WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| AI Summarization | GPT-powered or custom AI to shorten news |
| Personalized Feed | Recommends news based on user behavior |
| Sentiment Tagging | Tag news with “positive/neutral/negative” |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | Manage stories, users, ads |
| Manual Summarization | For sensitive news pieces |
| Analytics | User behavior, engagement tracking |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Login/Signup | With Google, Apple, or Email |
| Language Selection | English + regional languages |
| Dark Mode | Reader-friendly UI |
Let’s simplify it. Here’s how your app that apps like Inshorts might become a reality:
Before anything, you must know:
Your app is only as good as its content.
Three beginner-friendly options:
How YeasiTech helps:
We’ll set up legal, reliable news feeds and integrate APIs or publisher partnerships so content flows in automatically.
A news app must be simple:
How YeasiTech helps:
Our design team creates clean, modern, and swipe-friendly layouts — so even first-time users feel at home.
This is where coding happens — but you don’t need to touch a single line.
How YeasiTech helps:
We manage the entire development process, install servers, guarantee quick performance, and maintain security.
Before launch, we:
After launch:
How YeasiTech helps:
We take care of testing, publishing, and ongoing updates so your app stays fresh and bug-free.
The cost is determined by the features, design, and level of complexity you desire for your app; there is no set pricing. Don’t worry, though; this introduction will help you understand what to anticipate without getting weighed down in obscure terms.
| App Type | Estimated Cost (INR) | Timeline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic MVP (Single Language, Android Only, Simple CMS) | ₹4 – ₹6 Lakhs | 8–10 weeks | Startups testing the idea with minimal features |
| Mid-Tier (AI Summarization, Bilingual, Android + iOS) | ₹8 – ₹12 Lakhs | 10–14 weeks | Growing businesses ready to scale |
| Full-Scale App (AI, Multi-language, Advanced Personalization, Premium UI) | ₹15 – ₹25 Lakhs+ | 16–20+ weeks | Brands aiming for a top-tier, national-level launch |
Many companies quote 2–3 times higher, but at YeasiTech, we:
Costs vary because of many levers — here are the primary cost drivers and practical impact:
This is the #1 cost driver. The more features your app includes, the higher the cost.
| Feature | Adds Cost? |
|---|---|
| Swipeable summary cards | Base requirement |
| Multi-language support | Requires translation logic, storage |
| AI summarization | External API costs + integration logic |
| Personalized content feed | Needs user segmentation & algorithm |
| Voice summaries or TTS | Involves audio tech, APIs |
| In-app commenting or polls | Adds backend + moderation layer |
Tip: Start lean. Focus on 3–5 core features for MVP.
| Platform | Cost Impact |
|---|---|
| Android only | Cheapest (most Indian users) |
| iOS only | Slightly higher (strict testing & review) |
| Android + iOS (separately) | Doubles dev efforts |
| Cross-platform (React Native/Flutter) | Cost-efficient for both platforms |
Tip: If you’re bootstrapping or testing, go Android-only or use Flutter.
Where your developers are located matters a lot in pricing.
| Region | Avg Dev Cost/hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| India | $15 – $30 |
| Eastern Europe | $25 – $50 |
| US/Canada | $80 – $150 |
| Southeast Asia | $20 – $40 |
Hiring a reliable Indian app development firm like YeasiTech can cut your costs by 60–70% compared to hiring in the US.
Your choice of technologies affects:
Simplicity is key for Inshorts-style apps—but polish matters too.
| Design Type | Impact |
|---|---|
| Basic card UI | Quick, cheap |
| Custom animations/transitions | Adds dev time |
| Dark/light theme toggle | User-friendly, minimal cost |
| Gesture-based navigation | Custom dev work |
More features = more testing time = higher cost.
Never skip testing—bad UX kills retention fast.
Don’t forget ongoing costs:
Building an app like Inshorts isn’t rocket science—but it’s also not as easy as “just summarizing news. The success or failure of your app depends on a number of technical, editorial, and user experience issues. Rest assured, though, that we are here to help you solve them like an expert, not just to point them out.
“The summary is too vague.”
“This makes no sense.”
“It missed the most important point!”
These are real user complaints on apps using raw AI summaries.
YeasiTech Tip: Add a “Read More” link to the original article to let users dive deeper.
In an age of misinformation, sharing a false summary—even accidentally—can damage your app’s reputation instantly.
Bonus: Partner with fact-checking platforms like Alt News or BOOM Live.
Users expect real-time updates—especially for breaking news.
Even if you get 50,000 downloads, your daily active users (DAU) may drop fast.
Pro Tip: Gamify the experience with streaks, daily digest goals, or rewards.
News apps deal with user behavior data, personalization logs, and content syndication—which could raise legal concerns.
Partnering with YeasiTech gives you built-in support for legal compliance and security.
| Tip | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Start with MVP (Minimum Viable Product) | Build only the core features first to save money. |
| Use Ready-Made Solutions | Saves time and reduces development costs. |
| Outsource to Skilled but Affordable Regions | Get quality work at lower rates. |
| Plan Before You Build | Avoids costly changes later. |
| Choose Cross-Platform Development | One code works on both Android & iOS. |
| Test Early & Often | Fix issues before they become expensive. |
| Use Open-Source Tools | Cuts down software licensing costs. |
| Negotiate with Vendors | Get better deals for APIs, hosting, etc. |
The way people consume news has changed forever — quick, personalized, and right at their fingertips. Building an app like Inshorts isn’t just about delivering headlines; it’s about creating an engaging, habit-forming experience that users check every single day.
By focusing on the right features, smart budgeting, and partnering with a skilled development team, you can launch an Inshorts-like app that not only competes but truly stands out in this fast-growing market. The opportunity is wide open — and now is the perfect time to grab it.
At YeasiTech, we specialize in turning ideas into successful, market-ready apps like Inshorts — delivered on time, within budget, and without compromising quality. From concept to launch, we guide you through every step, ensuring your app attracts, engages, and retains loyal users.
Your app idea is newsworthy — let’s make it headline-worthy.
On average, 3–6 months for an MVP; more for advanced features.
Depending on features and region, it can cost between $8,000 – $15,000 or more.
Commonly React Native/Flutter for mobile, Node.js/Python for backend, and cloud hosting.
Yes, via ads, premium subscriptions, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.
No, you can hire developers or use app development agencies like YeasiTech.
YeasiTech is a trusted IT service partner with 8+ years of experience, empowering 250+ businesses with scalable web, mobile and AI solutions.
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