How Long Web Development Takes? Real Timelines by Project Type
If you're planning to build a digital product or platform, one of the first questions you'll ask is: how long will it take?
Maybe you've already come across it – or maybe you're about to – but when you contact a software agency, they’ll almost always say the same thing: “It depends.” On timeline, on cost, on scope. And you know what? They're not lying.
But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck without direction. There are reliable, average numbers you can use to orient yourself – based on industry benchmarks and research across 50 software development agencies.
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Delivery: 6–10 weeks
An MVP is the fastest way to validate an idea – it should include only core features, a minimal design system, and enough backend logic to function reliably. You can usually expect:
- Week 1–2: Discovery, feature prioritization, wireframes
- Week 3–7: Frontend/backend dev, testing, iteration
- Week 8–10: Launch, bug fixes, feedback integration
Want to start lean? See how MVP development services can shorten your path to market.
Corporate Website (Informational)
Delivery: 3–6 weeks
For brand visibility, investor relations, or just having a legit online presence, corporate sites are relatively fast to build – especially when:
- Content and brand assets are ready
- There's a clear sitemap
- You’re not reinventing UX conventions
Some websites take longer due to animations, content delays, or custom CMS needs.
eCommerce Website
Delivery: 8–16 weeks
ECommerce platforms often take longer due to product catalogs, payment integrations, checkout logic, and admin panels. For custom builds:
- Week 1–3: Discovery, user journeys, prototyping
- Week 4–10: Frontend/backend dev, payment, cart, inventory logic
- Week 11–16: QA, UAT, launch prep
If using Shopify or headless CMS + Stripe, the timeline shortens. But with scale comes complexity.
Admin Dashboards / Internal Tools
Delivery: 6–12 weeks
Dashboards sound simple but can become time-consuming due to:
- Complex data tables and filtering logic
- Role-based access controls
- Integrations with internal databases or APIs
If you’re digitizing operations or replacing spreadsheets, this is your zone. Learn more from digitalization companies that specialize in internal platforms.
Client Portals (B2B, Fintech, SaaS)
Delivery: 10–18 weeks
Client-facing portals must be secure, responsive, and often involve tiered access, document sharing, ticketing systems, or billing tools. Plan for:
- Multiple user roles
- Data visualization (charts, dashboards)
- Authentication + security audits
Projects involving sensitive data also require compliance checks (GDPR, ISO, etc.).
Financial Applications / Fintech Products
Delivery: 12–24 weeks
Apps dealing with payments, lending, wallets, or investments usually involve:
- AML/KYC integrations
- Real-time data syncs
- Regulatory constraints
- Transactional reliability
Fintech builds are complex by nature and benefit from an experienced partner. That’s where a team like S-PRO adds long-term value.
Digital Banking Platforms
Delivery: 6–12 months
Launching a digital bank or neobank is a marathon. These platforms typically include:
- Core banking engine integrations
- User onboarding and identity verification
- Transaction flows and budgeting tools
- Admin modules and audit logs
Timelines stretch further with multiple regulatory environments or cross-border features.
Telemedicine Platforms
Delivery: 16–32 weeks
These platforms must balance UX with medical compliance. Common features:
- Video consultations (HIPAA or GDPR compliant)
- Patient records and appointment scheduling
- Prescriptions, billing, and insurance logic
Telemedicine builds require extra time for security testing and health data protection.
Marketing Analytics / Brand Monitoring Tools
Delivery: 10–20 weeks
Building a competitor to Brandwatch or Sprout Social? Even a minimum version would need multiple data pipelines, a frontend for analytics, and filtering tools for time ranges, geography, or topic clusters. If AI or generative summaries are involved, you’ll also need model tuning, prompt testing, and bias checks. You’re dealing with:
- Real-time data ingestion from social APIs or news sources
- Natural language processing for sentiment, keyword, and trend analysis
- Data normalization and storage across multiple channels
- Alerts and notifications when sentiment shifts or mentions spike
You can expect faster delivery (closer to 10–12 weeks) for a simplified use case – e.g., just tracking Twitter mentions with sentiment. But full-featured dashboards can easily take 4–5 months to stabilize.
