Cost guide 2026
Healthcare apps cost $100K to $500K+ in Australia. Compliance and security requirements add real cost. Here is what to plan for.
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The short version
$100,000 to $500,000+
A simple wellness or appointment booking app starts around $80K to $120K. Apps that handle sensitive health data, integrate with clinical systems, or require TGA compliance start at $150K. Fully regulated software as a medical device (SaMD) can exceed $400K to $500K when you factor in clinical evidence, security audits, and regulatory submissions.
What type of app do you have
Healthcare is a broad term. The type of app you are building determines how much compliance and security overhead is involved.
| App type | Examples | Typical cost | Compliance level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness and fitness | Meditation, sleep tracking, general wellbeing | $60K to $120K | Low. Australian Privacy Principles apply. |
| Appointment booking | GP booking, allied health scheduling | $80K to $150K | Low to medium. Privacy and data storage requirements. |
| Health data management | Patient portals, chronic disease management, health records | $150K to $300K | High. Australian Privacy Act, My Health Records Act, data sovereignty. |
| Telehealth / remote monitoring | Video consults, remote patient monitoring | $150K to $350K | High. AHPRA, professional standards, data security. |
| Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) | Diagnostic tools, clinical decision support | $300K to $500K+ | Very high. TGA classification, clinical evidence, ISO 13485. |
What drives the cost
Health data is among the most sensitive personal data you can collect. End-to-end encryption, secure data storage (Australian data sovereignty if required), access logging, and penetration testing are not optional in healthcare. Budget $20K to $60K above a standard app build for security architecture and testing.
Apps collecting health information must comply with the Australian Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles. This means a compliant privacy policy, consent flows, data breach procedures, and data retention policies. The legal and compliance consultation alone can add $10K to $30K before a line of code is written.
Connecting to electronic health records (Best Practice, Medical Director, Genie), pathology systems, or pharmacy networks is expensive and complex. Each integration requires API agreements, testing against real clinical data, and ongoing maintenance. Budget $20K to $50K per major clinical integration.
If your app makes or contributes to clinical decisions, it may be classified as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) under TGA regulations. Achieving and maintaining TGA registration requires significant documentation, quality management system (ISO 13485), and potentially clinical evidence. This adds $100K to $200K to the total project cost and significant ongoing compliance overhead.
FAQ
Healthcare apps in Australia cost $100,000 to $500,000+. Simple wellness apps start around $60K to $120K. Apps handling health records or requiring clinical integrations run $150K to $300K. Software as a Medical Device subject to TGA regulation can exceed $400K. See the full app development cost guide.
Only if your app makes or contributes to clinical decisions. A general wellness app, appointment booking tool, or communication platform typically does not require TGA registration. An app that diagnoses conditions, recommends specific treatments, or monitors physiological parameters to inform clinical decisions likely does. Get regulatory advice early. The cost of non-compliance is far higher than the cost of getting it right from the start.
Health data collected about Australian patients must comply with the Australian Privacy Act. For government-funded healthcare and apps connecting to My Health Record, data must typically be stored in Australia. Most commercial healthcare apps can use international cloud providers (AWS, GCP) with Australian data regions selected. Get specific legal advice for your use case.
Yes. We build healthcare apps for non-technical founders who want to navigate compliance without getting lost in it. Our Inception phase includes a compliance framework review so you know exactly what regulatory requirements apply before you commit to building. See our healthcare app development page.
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