How to Develop a Shopping App Like Temu?

We all know the popularity of shopping apps all over the world; in 2025, people love to shop for themselves and their loved ones, sitting on their comfortable sofa with a sip of coffee. Hence, eCommerce businesses are making immense money through shopping apps like Temu. 

According to a report by Statista, the revenue of the eCommerce industry has risen by 754.29 billion U.S. dollars since 2017, and it will rise by 655.91 billion U.S. dollars in 2029. 

Temu is a Chinese-owned e-commerce app and website that offers a vast array of consumer products—like electronics, clothing, and home goods—at very low prices by connecting buyers directly to manufacturers. People love to use such applications that directly connect the buyer to the manufacturers, which saves them money on the middleman. 

Along with that, apps similar to Temu are worth using because they have a variety of products at a minimum cost. So, if you also deal in the eCommerce business and want to build an app like Temu, then you are reading the most appropriate blog. 

In this blog, we are going to tell you about how you can build an app like Temu for your eCommerce business. In addition to that, we will also discuss the revenue model of the Temu app, must-have features, monetization strategies, and much more. 

So stay tuned to learn… 

What is the Temu App?

Temu is an eCommerce application, and they have their own website as well, which was introduced by PDD Holdings, which is the mother company of Pinduoduo, in September 2022. The main value proposition of this application is that it offers an enormous assortment of very inexpensive goods, including clothing, electronics and home items, beauty, and accessories. In addition to that, it obtains through direct connections with manufacturers, eliminating the traditional retail chain and allowing it to set very low prices.

In addition to that, the application is famous, and businesses want to build an app similar to Temu because they have an attractive & user-friendly interface, constant offers, alerts about coupons, and aesthetic elements to make the application more interesting. 

Another peculiarity is the gamified shopping experience of Temu: users can enter games and challenges in the application and can earn credits or more deals, which improves retention and engagement. The most remarkable logistics of the app are free or low-price shipping, efficient order tracking, and a simplified process of returns.

As of Q2 2025, Temu had already surpassed 400 million monthly users across the globe and had surpassed 1 billion downloads, making the company a significant disruptor in the e-commerce field on a global scale. The direct-from-China and rapid upsurge of Temu contribute to it being one of the most rapidly growing shop-like billionaire apps in the world today.

How Does the Temu Business Revenue Model Work?

Now, as you know what Temu is and how it works, and as you are planning to develop shopping apps like Temu, you must know the revenue model of the Temu application. This will help you by letting you know that after building such a retail application and website, you can make money out of it. 

• Commissions on Sales: The first model that Temu uses is commissions on sales. For example, they charge third-party sellers a cut (often in the single digits up to 30%, depending on category and agreement) for every sale that has happened on their Temu platform.

• Advertising Services: The next model is advertising services. Temu provides its platform, or some space on its app and website, to sponsors for listing their products. This has become a significant revenue driver, accounting for a large portion of platform income in recent years. 

• Logistics & Fulfilment Fees: Temu offers logistics, warehousing, and order fulfillment to vendors and charges fees for this. Additionally, they also do this by subtracting the expenses on payouts to sellers, particularly in major markets such as the U.S.

• Affiliate Commissions: The platform has an affiliate marketing system where commissions are paid on referred sales, and they also make a profit out of directing external sales through affiliate links.

• Data Monetization: Although Temu does not claim to sell user data, aggregated consumer data is utilized to do analytics, predict demand, manage inventory, and optimize targeted advertising.

• Social Commerce Levers: Gamified elements, group purchases, and referral bonuses make users more engaged and increase the value of higher orders, which leads to increased revenue in an indirect manner.

Why You Must Invest in a Shopping App Like Temu

You may have an idea of why investing in more apps like Temu is advantageous in the future, as the future of retail and eCommerce is bright globally. But if you are not aware enough, then don’t worry, we will tell you why you must be in this business. 

1. Rapid Growth of Mobile Commerce

Mobile commerce is expected to constitute 59% of all online retail sales in the world by the end of 2025, and its transaction volume will be approximately 4 trillion dollars. Till now, more than 1.65 billion consumers are already using the existing mobile commerce facilities. Along with that, the rapid growth of mobile will not only give you customers but will also offer you a lead over browsers. 

2. High Revenue Potential

An app similar to Temu has high revenue potential and can be earned using mobile-first commerce, since the gross merchandise volume of Temu increased to $70.8 billion and was primarily driven by the sheer volume of products and aggressive advertising. Along with that, Temu also earns from other revenue models as well, like commission-based, advertising-based, and logistic services, which allows them to become a profit juggernaut as the rate of mobile app adoption and digital shopping increases.

3. Massive Market Reach

Temu, which operates in approximately 80 countries, has taken advantage of its digital-first model and direct-sourcing model to scale to more than 400 million monthly users across the globe. In addition to that, this has also crossed 1 billion total app downloads in a minimum period of time. Such platforms achieve permanent global growth by targeting different demographics and local tailoring to supply models.

4. Competitive Pricing

The direct-from-supplier business model of Temu reduces costs and allows low pricing, which attracts millions of cost-sensitive shoppers and creates stickiness. This also helps in making high turnover rates and competition on prices, which also makes the app very attractive, particularly in major markets where customers are price sensitive.

5. Advanced Personalization 

Temu makes the most of customer engagement and experience through AI-powered personalization and gamification, and customized recommendations. Consumers want to have customized offers and shopping experiences—apps that provide this experience experience a significant increase in app session time and conversion.

6. Efficient Supply Chain and Logistics

The merger of Temu with both local and global fulfillment centers allows quick and efficient deliveries even when the number of orders skyrockets. The retail and e-commerce companies investing in effective logistics would be able to provide better customer service, which means that their application will be the one to choose when making a repeat purchase.

Key Features to Build a Shopping App Like Temu

Now you know that investing in an app like Temu is worth the money, so you must know some advanced features that complement your dream business. Here in this section, we will tell you the top 12 key features that you must add to your shopping app like Temu. 

1. User-Friendly Interface

To provide a smooth shopping process to your customers, you must have a clean and user-friendly interface. It must offer convenient navigation, easy access to categories, simple onboarding, and one-click checkouts. It is important to do a perfect and eye-pleasing mobile-first design because most users shop using smartphones. An uncluttered design makes the user locate products fast and increases retention and conversion rates.

2. Advanced Search & Filter Options

Powerful search with intelligent filters, including price, brand, ratings, and categories, helps users reduce options effectively. Such features as autocomplete, voice search, and image search make it more convenient. In addition to that, filtering and sorting options make it possible to have a personalized shopping experience, which leads to low bounce rates and a higher level of user satisfaction.

3. Personalized Recommendations

Due to AI-based algorithms, user behavior, browsing history, and purchase patterns are analyzed to provide personalized product recommendations. This individualization enhances interest, increasing recurrent purchases and rising average order prices through cross-selling and upselling of complementary products.

4. Secure Payment Gateway Integration

The app should follow various safe payment methods such as credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, and buy-now-pay-later plans. Facilitating easy, quick, and secure transactions creates customer loyalty, minimizes cart dumps, and serves customers in local markets with local payment options.

5. Real-Time Order Tracking

Offering live parcel tracking and notifications will give the customers power through transparency in order confirmation to delivery. This characteristic makes the customer more trustful, decreases anxieties in deliveries, supports, minimizes inquiries, and raises customer satisfaction and loyalty.

6. Social Media Integration

Social sharing, influencer marketing, and viral referral programs can be achieved through integration with such platforms as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The characteristics of social commerce promote organic growth, enhance marketing ROI, and draw more engagement, since users can share deals and products easily.

7. Multi-Language & Multi-Currency Support

A global audience means a variety of languages and currencies, which are automatically modified according to the position of the user. This inclusivity increases the market coverage, enhances the purchasing experience of the foreign buyers, and assists in penetrating the different regions.

8. On-Demand Delivery & Logistics Integration

Merging with local as well as international logistics partners allows quick and sure deliveries. Technologies such as real-time route tracking, dynamism in delivery planning, and seamless operation of warehouses make the supply chain lean and enhance customer satisfaction.

9. Review and Rating System

Enabling feedback, rating products, and sharing experiences gives customers trust in the community and guides them to make purchases. Authenticated reviews minimize product recall, improve quality control, and increase transparency on the site.

10. Scalable Backend Architecture

It makes use of a powerful and scalable backend that serves millions of users, updates in real time, offers hassle-free payments, and provides data analysis. The cloud infrastructure and microservice architecture allow flexibility, fault tolerance, and quick feature deployment to support quick growth.

11. Gamification Features

Incorporating a gamification feature into your app, like Temu, makes it more fun-loving and keeps people on the application for a long period of time. In addition to that, you can also do a free gift option on winning any game that a free gift app like Temu does for its customers. 

12. Low Stock Alerts & Notifications

You must add a feature where people get to know about your low stock notification so that they can start adding to their cart and buy. This will not only help you in getting your customers’ trust but also help you in building more customers through your clients’ recommendations. 

So, these were the top 12 key features that you must add to your shopping app like Temu by taking Mobile app development services. Adding these features to your Temu-like application because it had to be better than the existing one. Only then will people show their interest in your business. 

Step-by-Step Process To Build a Shopping App Like Temu

The development process of a Temu-like application is important to understand, as this will give you proper guidance on how you can build an app like Temu for your retail and eCommerce business. Here we have given you a roadmap, strategic planning, feature choice, the use of modern technology, and scaling specific to the market. The step-by-step process with the best practices that apply to 2026 and beyond looks as follows:

1. Define Goals & Market Scope

Start with comprehensive market research to understand the demographics of users, shopping patterns, market competitors, and market gaps. Decide on the type of niche products or general products that the app will cover.

• Identify the core value proposition 
• Differentiators from competitor apps
• Analyze user pain points 
• Underserved categories to find your entry niche

2. Plan Features & Tech Stack

You must add key features according to market requirements, scalability, and the expectations of users. Select the frameworks that provide rapid development and cross-platform support.

• Necessary features include: intensive search and filters, simple onboarding, secure checkout, product suggestions, social commerce, and order tracking.

• Suggested technology stack for 2025: React Native/ Flutter Mobile front-end, Node.js/ Django backend, MySQL/ PostgreSQL database, and AWS/ Google Cloud scalable hosting.
• Introduce AI for off-the-shelf and fraud detection.

3. Design Intuitive UI/UX

The user experience must be smooth and aesthetically pleasing, and must be optimized for the mobile and tablet screens. Hence, building good and eye-pleasing UI/UX is important for better engagement and customer experience.  

• Sketch user flows using wireframes 
• Develop early feedback prototypes
• Focus on quick navigation, clear CTA buttons, good images, and easy checkout processes.

4. Develop Core Functionalities

Create and interlink modules related to user registration, display of products, shopping cart, payments, and notifications. 

• Develop in an iterative mode Agile methodology with flexibility 
• Add feature modification functionality 
• Include third-party payment gateways 
• Shipping and analytics APIs

5. Integrate Supply Chain & Logistics

Select logistics providers or develop APIs that are used to track the location in real-time, update inventory, compute shipping costs, and manage multiple locations.

• Assist multi-vendor support where necessary
• Deploy a powerful warehouse management system
• Offer ways of managing products and orders for sellers

6. Test & Assure Quality

Testing of the application and website is necessary to ensure the quality before launching the product and service in the real world. So, before launch, conduct thorough testing processes in terms of functionality, usability, performance, and security. 

• Mixing of both manual and automated tests 
• Incidentally, eliminate possible bottlenecks 
• Security vulnerabilities before launch 

7. Launch & Market the App

The next step is to launch the application in the real world and promote it in the market. 

• Devise a marketing plan: targeted ads, influencer campaigns, and referral programs.
• Ensure app store optimization
• Social media engagement for reach

8. Monitor, Update & Scale

After the launch, track KPIs and app analytics to determine problems and areas of improvement. And then, based on the real-world users’ feedback, improve the application and website as well (if any). This will help you in learning exactly what your customers demand from your business. 

• Implement frequent modifications and additions
• Scaling options according to the user activity statistics
• Regularly interact with users with special offers, new collaborations, and seasonal campaigns

How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App Like Temu?

Now you know the features that you must include in your temu-like app, so this is the right time to let you know the e-commerce app development cost. In this section, we have created a cost table for you so that you can seamlessly know the cost and can estimate your temu-like app development cost. 

Development Phase	Estimated Hours	Cost Range (USD)	Description
Project Planning & Research	20–80 hours	$1,000–$12,000	Understanding requirements, target audience, and market trends
UI/UX Design	100–300 hours	$5,000 – $30,000	Designing intuitive, engaging interfaces to boost user experience
Frontend Development	400–800 hours	$20,000–$80,000	Coding core app functions like product catalog, search, cart, and authentication
Backend Development	200–500 hours	$10,000–$25,000	Server-side logic, database, and API development for order processing and data management
Testing & Quality Assurance	100–200 hours	$5,000–$10,000	Bug fixing, performance optimization, and user experience validation
Payment Gateway Integration	NA	$2,000–$4,000	Secure, multi-option payment support
API Integration (social, analytics)	NA	$5,000–$15,000	Third-party services integration
Deployment & Launch	NA	$1,000–$2,000	App store submission and launch support
Maintenance & Updates	Monthly	$2,000–$10,000/month	Ongoing support, feature updates, and scaling
Advanced Features (AI, Gamification)	NA	$10,000–$40,000+	Personalized recommendations, chatbots, gamified shopping experience

Basically, the total estimated development cost is approximately $50,000 to $200,000+, depending on app complexity, features, team location, and technology stack. Other than this, there are multiple factors that affect the cost. In the next section, we are going to discuss that. 

Read in detail – How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App?

Factors Affecting The Cost of an App Like Temu 

As said, multiple factors affect the cost of an app like Temu, so here are the 7 major factors that can actually make a difference. 

1. App Complexity and Features

• Basic: Simple onboarding, product listings, single payment gateway, basic admin, and support ($25K–$50K).
• Mid-Level: Categories, advanced filters, multiple payments, promo codes, basic AI, FAQs ($50K–$80K).
• Advanced: AI-powered search, real-time tracking, in-app chat, loyalty, multi-role admin ($80K–$120K+).

2. UI/UX Design

• Customer-centric navigation, mobile-first layouts, speed, and intuitive checkout.
• Enhanced visual hierarchy, informative product pages, high-quality images, and clear CTAs.
• Continuous feedback integration and trust-building elements are key for retention.

3. Development Hours and Rates

• Average Hours: 2,500–4,000+ for mid-to-complex apps.
• Hourly Rates (2025 averages): India $22–$30/hr, Southeast Asia $30–$45/hr, Europe $35–$55/hr, USA $60–$120/hr, Australia/Canada up to $120/hr.
• Total Cost Formula: Development Hours × Hourly Rate = Total Cost.

4. Backend Infrastructure

• Scalable cloud hosting (AWS, Google Cloud), real-time database (Firebase, PostgreSQL), and microservices for modularity.
• API-driven design for integrations: shipping, payments, analytics, and AI modules.

Must Read: Top 7 Big Data Databases

5. Testing and Quality Assurance

• Automated and manual functional testing, UI/UX/usability tests, security, and performance audits.
• Multi-device testing for iOS, Android, and different screen sizes.

6. Technology Stack 

• Frontend: React Native/Flutter.
• Backend: Node.js/Django.
• Database: PostgreSQL/MySQL, Firebase for real-time features.
• Add-ons: AI modules, third-party APIs, and analytics (Google Analytics, Mixpanel).

7. Development Approach

• Agile methodology for flexibility and regular feedback.
• Cross-platform frameworks for faster go-to-market and a unified codebase.
• DevOps for CI/CD automation, faster releases, and easier scaling.

Top Monetization Strategies for Apps Like Temu

Here is the most interesting part of the blog: the monetization strategies. Now we will tell you all the possible monetization strategies for your shopping app, like Temu, so that you can earn money in even higher numbers in comparison to your competitors. Keep reading to learn all: 

1. Commission-Based Model

The Temu-like application earns a commission on each transaction that a seller achieves using the platform. This is the easiest and smoothest way of earning from an app like Temu; also, it makes the app have its revenue directly proportional to the volume of the marketplace and motivates growth and seller success.

2. Subscription Plans

The next is a subscription plan where sellers (premium analytics, priority placement, or lower charges) or buyers (perks, such as free shipping/early deals) provide different kinds of subscriptions for different and advanced services. This method of monetization for shopping apps like Temu develops a dependable recurring income.

3. In-App Purchases

In-app purchases allow customers to purchase online items and access premium features or deals within the application. In addition to that, this type of monetization enhances the basic shopping services and, side-by-side, increases order values and app use.

4. Advertising Revenue

Shopping apps like Temu also give some space to the sponsors to run their ads, and they charge a good amount from them. This is one of the most stable ways of earning from the Temu-like app, and this also helps them in doing their free marketing. Along with that, it also increases the number of users, and it becomes a strong source of earnings. 

5. Data Monetization

Use user information to sell insights or targeting tools to merchants or partners, or use advanced analytics to enhance performance and targeted delivery of ads. This type of monetization not only enhances the value of the platform without necessarily selling user information but also helps users to choose the best of their choice.

6. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is something that, if done the correct way, can help you earn the most amount from a shopping app like the Temu application. This requires you to collaborate with influencers and publishers, who get a commission on each successful order they make to the platform. The strategy is organic acquisition-driven and viral growth, which is low incremental cost.

7. Flash Sales and Limited-Time Offers

You can also run flash sales for limited-time offers in case your stock has not been selling for a long period of time; then you can start a flash sale on your website and application at a low price. This helps you in getting new customers and increasing trust from our previous customers. This also includes deep discounts on features, time-based offers, or group buys to create the feeling of urgency, clear stock, and a drastic rise in app usage within limited periods.

8. Gamification and Rewards

Add daily check-ins, streak rewards, or team competitions to generate more frequent user engagement. And if you want to increase the traffic in terms of Gen Z, then you must add the gamification and rewards feature to your application. These reward systems keep people spending some time in-app and encourage referral rewards.

9. Logistics and Fulfillment Fees

Most of the sellers don’t have a big warehouse and fulfillment; however, shopping apps like Temu provide them with the logistics and fulfillment for which they charge. Therefore, this is also one of the good strategies to earn from your Temu-like application, as warehousing, order packing, delivery, and inventory management are provided by the app’s own logistics network. This is a service-oriented revenue that augments transaction charges.

10. Seasonal Events and Exclusive Product Drops

Last but not least, you can also drop exclusive products based on the running season and organize limited-time campaigns for that. This will add a new taste of products to the application, and people will take an interest in new drops that are present on the platform for a specific time only. You can add special product launches to generate buzz, boost new user signups, and create “shopping moments” that can drive significant revenue spikes.

Top 6 Alternatives to the Temu Shopping App

Almost at the end of the blog, let us give you the estimate of other apps like Temu that have already existed in the real world for a good period of time, and also, they are leading the market. This will help you know the top competitors of yours in this industry, and you also get to know what exactly your target audience is and how you can overcome these competitors. 

Application	Description	Estimated Annual Revenue (2025)	Downloads (Till 2025)
Shein	Global fast-fashion retailer offering affordable apparel, accessories, and lifestyle products	~$56 billion	85+ million (2025 Jan-Jul)
AliExpress	A cross-border e-commerce platform by Alibaba, offering a wide range of products globally	~$18.4 billion (Alibaba international commerce)	500+ million monthly visits
Wish	Discount mobile marketplace focused on low-cost variety goods	~$287 million (2023)	Dropped from a peak of 100+ million to ~12 million active users
Amazon	Global e-commerce and cloud services giant covering diverse product categories	~$700 billion (projected 2025)	500+ million+ globally
Etsy	Marketplace for handmade, vintage goods, and unique crafts	~$2.9 billion	100+ million+
eBay	Online marketplace for new, used, and collectible goods	~$10.3 billion (2024 revenue)	134 million active buyers

Conclusion 

At the end, this blog concludes that investing in a shopping app like Temu is beneficial for all the business owners dealing in eCommerce and retail. As the demand for shopping apps is increasing exponentially day by day. Along with that, if you integrate the advanced and latest technologies into your application, it will add more value to that, like gamification, AI-driven personalization, social sharing, and much more. 

However, you will receive all the possible benefits of a Temu-like app only when you partner with a trusted mobile app development firm that provides jaw-dropping eCommerce App Development Services. Before partnering with an organization, you must check the background of the firm and some more details, like their online reviews, market performance, portfolio, etc. 

So, stay tuned for the last section of this blog, where we have suggested the perfect partner for you. Read the next section and get your business a budget-friendly App development company that can help you build your dream eCommerce application. 

How Can ScalaCode Help You Build a Shopping App Like Temu?

If you are our continuous reader, you must know which mobile application development company we are going to talk about. Yes, it is the best eCommerce software development company—ScalaCode. We have 15+ years of experience in providing the most appropriate solution to our clients; along with that, we have 150+ developers who work dedicatedly on your dream projects. Not only this, but we also integrate the latest technologies like AI, blockchain, AR/VR, etc., into your application, software, and websites to make them even more loved by their users. 

• We provide custom end-to-end eCommerce app development services
• We use the latest technologies like AI, blockchain, and AR/VR for advanced features
• We offer a multi-vendor marketplace 
• We offer scalable app architecture solutions
• We integrate secure payment gateways 
• We ensure to build a smooth UI/UX design focused on user engagement 

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