How to Build an App Like Rightmove: Features, Cost, Business Model & Development Process

Introduction

Finding a property used to mean calling estate agents, checking newspaper listings, visiting multiple offices and spending hours comparing homes.

Property apps have changed that experience.

Today, a buyer or renter can search by location, price, property type and other preferences, save interesting listings, receive alerts and contact an agent directly from a smartphone.

One of the strongest examples in the UK is Rightmove. The platform describes itself as the UK’s largest property platform, offering properties for sale and rent alongside tools covering affordability, valuations, market information and other parts of the home-moving journey.

That makes the Rightmove model particularly interesting for entrepreneurs considering a real estate app development project.

But there is an important distinction.

Building an app like Rightmove does not mean simply creating another property listing website. The real opportunity is to build a property marketplace that connects buyers, renters, landlords, estate agents and developers while making property discovery faster and more useful.

So, how much does it cost to build an app like Rightmove? What features do you need? How does the business model work? And what technology is required?

Let’s break it down.

What Is a Rightmove-Like Property App?

A Rightmove-style platform is a digital property marketplace.

Instead of owning the properties listed on the platform, the business generally brings together property professionals and consumers.

The main users can include:

• Home buyers
• Tenants
• Landlords
• Estate agents
• Letting agents
• Property developers
• Commercial property businesses
• Overseas property sellers

Rightmove itself explains that it is a property advertising platform rather than an estate agent.

This marketplace model is important because your business doesn’t necessarily need to buy or manage properties.

Instead, you create the technology and audience that make property transactions easier.

How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Rightmove?

The cost depends on how sophisticated your platform needs to be.

A basic property listing app is very different from a large marketplace with advanced search, maps, AI, valuation tools, agent dashboards and extensive analytics.

Development Level	Estimated Cost	Approx. Timeline
Basic Property App MVP	$40,000–$70,000	3–5 months
Advanced Property Marketplace	$70,000–$150,000	5–8 months
Rightmove-Like Platform	$150,000–$300,000+	8–14 months
Enterprise Real Estate Ecosystem	$300,000+	14–24+ months

These are approximate software-development ranges.

The total business investment can be higher because you may also need to budget for:

• Property data
• Marketing
• Agent acquisition
• Cloud infrastructure
• Maps
• Third-party APIs
• Legal services
• Customer support
• Security
• Compliance
• Sales teams

For a UK property marketplace, the cost of acquiring and maintaining a strong property inventory can be just as important as the mobile app itself.

Just Read : How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App in 2026? Complete Pricing Guide

Why Build an App Like Rightmove?

The biggest opportunity is not simply property search.

A modern property platform can help users through the entire property journey.

For example:

Search → Compare → Save → Calculate affordability → Contact agent → Book viewing → Make decision → Move

Rightmove has continued expanding in this direction, adding tools around affordability, valuations, local market information and other home-moving services. It has also been investing in AI-powered search and property discovery.

That creates several opportunities for new businesses.

You could build a platform specifically for:

• First-time buyers
• Rental properties
• Student accommodation
• Luxury properties
• Commercial real estate
• Overseas buyers
• New-build properties
• Affordable housing
• Property investment
• Short-term rentals

A focused niche can be easier to launch than trying to compete with an established general-purpose property marketplace from day one.

Core Features of a Rightmove-Like App

1. User Registration

Users should be able to create accounts using:

• Email
• Mobile number
• OTP
• Social login

Once registered, they can save properties and searches.

An account also allows the platform to personalize recommendations and alerts.

2. Property Search

Search is the heart of a property marketplace.

Users should be able to search by:

• City
• Town
• Postcode
• Neighbourhood
• Transport station
• School area
• Property type
• Price range

A more advanced platform can also allow users to draw a custom area on the map.

Rightmove currently supports saved searches, drawn search areas, saved properties and property alerts.

3. Advanced Filters

Property search becomes much more useful when users can narrow results.

Possible filters include:

• Minimum price
• Maximum price
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Property type
• Tenure
• Parking
• Garden
• Furnished/unfurnished
• New build
• Retirement property
• Student accommodation
• Commercial property

You can also create lifestyle-based filters.

For example:

Properties within 30 minutes of central London by public transport.

4. Property Listing

Each property should have a detailed listing page.

It can contain:

• Property photos
• Price
• Address
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Floor area
• Property type
• Description
• Key features
• Agent details
• Map location
• Nearby facilities
• Energy information
• Viewing options

High-quality property information can make a major difference in user engagement.

Also Read : Property Listing App Development Company: Complete Guide to Features, Cost & Development Process

5. High-Quality Property Images

Property images are one of the most important elements of the listing.

You can support:

• Multiple photos
• Full-screen image viewing
• Image galleries
• Floor plans
• Video tours
• 360-degree tours

AI can later be used to improve image discovery and personalization.

6. Map-Based Property Search

Maps make property discovery much easier.

A user could open a map and immediately see available properties around a preferred location.

The map can display:

• Property pins
• Price
• Property type
• Area
• Transport links
• Schools
• Local amenities

Users can then move around the map while the results update.

7. Save Properties

Users should be able to save interesting listings.

For example:

My Shortlist

• Property A
• Property B
• Property C

They can then compare properties later.

8. Property Alerts

Property alerts can become one of the most valuable retention features.

A user could define:

2+ bedroom apartment
Manchester
Under £300,000

When a matching property appears, the platform can notify them.

Rightmove currently allows users to configure alerts at different frequencies, including instant and scheduled options.

This creates a strong reason for users to return to the platform.

9. Property Comparison

Instead of opening multiple listings separately, users can compare them.

For example:

Feature	Property A	Property B
Price	£350,000	£365,000
Bedrooms	3	3
Bathrooms	2	2
Parking	Yes	No
Garden	Yes	Yes
Distance	1.2 miles	2.1 miles

This makes decision-making easier.

10. Mortgage and Affordability Tools

A modern property platform can go beyond listings.

An affordability calculator can estimate:

• Potential borrowing
• Deposit requirements
• Monthly payments
• Mortgage affordability
• Estimated purchase costs

Rightmove currently provides mortgage and affordability-related tools as part of its wider home-moving experience.

This creates additional value without requiring users to leave the platform.

Also Read : Property Management System Development Company: Complete Guide to Features, Cost & Development Process

11. Property Valuation

Homeowners often want to know:

“How much could my property be worth?”

A valuation feature can provide an estimated range using property and market data.

You can combine:

• Historical sales data
• Local market trends
• Property characteristics
• Comparable properties

For a more advanced product, the platform can connect homeowners with professional estate-agent valuations.

12. Local Area Insights

A property is not just four walls.

People want to know what the surrounding area is like.

You could provide information about:

• Schools
• Transport
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Parks
• Hospitals
• Crime-related public data where legally appropriate
• Local prices
• Rental trends

This can help users compare neighbourhoods rather than simply comparing houses.

13. Commute-Time Search

This can be a powerful differentiator.

Instead of searching:

Properties in London

users could search:

Properties within 45 minutes of Canary Wharf.

The system can use transport and location data to calculate approximate travel times.

14. Virtual Tours

Virtual property tours can reduce unnecessary physical visits.

You can support:

• 360-degree tours
• Video walkthroughs
• Interactive floor plans
• Virtual staging

This becomes particularly useful for international buyers and busy professionals.

15. AI Property Search

AI is becoming increasingly interesting in property discovery.

Instead of entering dozens of filters, a user could type:

“Find me a three-bedroom family home in Birmingham under £400,000 with a garden and good transport links.”

An AI-powered search system can interpret the request and translate it into structured property criteria.

Rightmove has been expanding AI-powered property search, including conversational search and AI-based discovery features.

For a new property app, this could become a strong differentiator.

16. AI Property Recommendations

AI can analyze:

• Saved properties
• Search history
• Budget
• Location preferences
• Property types
• Previous interactions

It can then recommend relevant properties.

For example:

“You saved three properties in Leeds. Here are five new listings with similar features.”

The objective is not simply to show more properties.

It’s to show better properties.

Also Read : AI Sales Agent Development Company in UAE: Complete Guide to Features, Cost, Benefits & Business Use Cases

17. Contact Estate Agent

Users should be able to contact agents directly.

Possible options include:

• Call
• Email
• Enquiry form
• Chat
• Request a viewing

Every enquiry can be stored in the user’s account.

18. Book a Viewing

A user can request a viewing directly from the listing.

The system can show:

• Available dates
• Available time slots
• Agent information
• Confirmation
• Reminders

This creates a smoother transition from property discovery to real-world action.

19. Rental Features

If your platform supports rentals, you can add:

• Rental applications
• Tenant profiles
• Viewing requests
• Deposit information
• Tenancy documents
• Rent affordability tools
• Rental alerts

You could also create dedicated features for landlords.

20. Commercial Property Search

The same platform can support commercial property.

Categories may include:

• Offices
• Retail
• Warehouses
• Industrial units
• Land
• Hospitality properties

Rightmove’s marketplace includes commercial property alongside residential, rental and overseas listings.

Features for Estate Agents

The agent dashboard is critical because agents are the supply side of the marketplace.

Property Management

Agents should be able to:

• Add listings
• Edit listings
• Upload images
• Change prices
• Mark properties as sold
• Mark properties as let
• Update availability

Lead Management

Agents can view:

• New enquiries
• Calls
• Viewing requests
• Saved-property interactions
• Lead status

Listing Analytics

Show agents:

• Listing views
• Enquiries
• Click-through rates
• Viewing requests
• Search impressions

This helps agents understand which listings are performing.

Featured Listings

Agents can pay for greater visibility.

For example:

• Featured property
• Premium placement
• Homepage promotion
• Area sponsorship

This can become an important revenue stream.

Admin Dashboard

The admin system controls the entire marketplace.

Important features include:

• User management
• Agent management
• Property management
• Listing approval
• Reported listings
• Payments
• Subscription management
• Advertising
• Analytics
• Content management
• Support tickets
• Fraud monitoring

An effective admin dashboard can reduce operational workload as the platform grows.

How Does a Rightmove-Like App Make Money?

One of the most interesting aspects of the Rightmove model is that the consumer experience can remain largely free while property professionals pay for access to the audience and advertising products.

Rightmove’s published business model describes estate agents, letting agents and new-home developers as paying subscription fees to advertise, with additional digital advertising products available.

A new property platform can use several revenue streams.

1. Agent Subscription

Charge estate agents a recurring fee to list properties.

Plans could vary according to:

• Number of listings
• Number of offices
• Lead volume
• Analytics
• Premium tools

2. Featured Listings

Agents can pay to place properties higher in search results.

This is particularly useful in competitive areas.

3. Advertising

Property-related businesses can advertise:

• Mortgage services
• Insurance
• Removals
• Home improvement
• Furniture
• Utilities

This creates a broader property-services advertising ecosystem.

4. Lead Generation

Businesses can pay for qualified leads.

Potential partners include:

• Mortgage providers
• Estate agents
• Conveyancers
• Insurance providers
• Removal companies

5. Valuation Services

You can offer property valuation products to homeowners and agents.

6. Premium Consumer Services

Most core property searches can remain free while advanced services can be monetized.

Examples:

• Detailed market analytics
• Investment insights
• Advanced property reports
• Premium alerts

How to Build an App Like Rightmove?

Step 1: Choose Your Market

First decide where you will operate.

You could target:

• Entire UK
• London
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Edinburgh
• Student housing
• Luxury property
• Commercial real estate

Starting with a specific market can make customer acquisition easier.

Step 2: Identify Your Audience

Define your primary customer.

Are you helping:

First-time buyers?

Renters?

Investors?

Estate agents?

Landlords?

The answer determines your feature priorities.

Step 3: Build the Property Data Strategy

This is one of the most important steps.

Decide where property information will come from.

Possible sources include:

• Agent submissions
• Developer feeds
• Property management systems
• Licensed data providers
• Your own listing tools

The quality and freshness of your listings can determine whether customers keep using the platform.

Step 4: Develop the MVP

A practical first version could include:

Consumer App

• Registration
• Search
• Filters
• Property listings
• Maps
• Saved properties
• Alerts
• Enquiries

Agent Dashboard

• Registration
• Listing management
• Lead management
• Analytics

Admin

• User management
• Property moderation
• Agent management
• Reports

Also Read : What Is an MVP in App Development? A Complete Guide

Step 5: Add Advanced Features

Once the MVP has traction, introduce:

• AI search
• Property recommendations
• Mortgage tools
• Valuation
• Virtual tours
• Commute-time search
• Property comparison
• Advanced analytics

This staged approach keeps the initial investment under control.

Technology Stack

A Rightmove-like platform needs a scalable architecture because the number of property listings, images and searches can become very large.

Mobile Development

Possible options:

• Flutter
• React Native
• Swift
• Kotlin

Backend

Common options include:

• Node.js
• Python
• Java
• .NET

Database

Depending on the architecture:

• PostgreSQL
• MySQL
• MongoDB
• Redis

Search Engine

A dedicated search technology can improve performance for large property inventories.

Options may include:

• Elasticsearch
• OpenSearch
• Algolia

Cloud

Potential infrastructure:

• AWS
• Azure
• Google Cloud

Maps

Mapping services can support:

• Property locations
• Radius searches
• Directions
• Commute calculations
• Nearby amenities

How Long Does It Take to Develop a Rightmove-Like App?

A rough timeline can look like this:

Development Stage	Estimated Time
Research & Planning	3–5 weeks
UI/UX Design	4–7 weeks
Customer App	8–14 weeks
Agent Dashboard	6–10 weeks
Backend & APIs	10–18 weeks
Search & Maps	4–8 weeks
Admin Panel	4–7 weeks
QA & Security	5–8 weeks
Launch Preparation	2–4 weeks

With multiple teams working in parallel, an MVP can potentially launch within 4–6 months.

A large Rightmove-style ecosystem with advanced AI, property data infrastructure and multiple integrations may require 8–14 months or longer.

How to Make Your Property App Better Than Existing Platforms?

Trying to beat Rightmove simply by adding more listings would be extremely difficult.

Instead, look for areas where technology can improve the experience.

AI-First Search

Allow users to describe their ideal home naturally.

Better Rental Experience

Make renting easier for tenants and landlords.

Smarter Affordability

Show users what they can realistically afford before they spend hours searching.

Commute-Based Discovery

Let users search based on travel time rather than postcode alone.

Property Investment Tools

Help investors compare rental yields, prices and market trends.

Virtual Property Experience

Give users immersive tours before they arrange physical viewings.

Personalised Search

Learn from user behavior and improve recommendations.

The winning product may not have the largest number of features.

It may simply remove more frustration from the property-search journey.

Why Choose a Mobile App Development Company UK?

If your target market is Britain, choosing a Mobile App Development Company UK with experience in marketplace, real estate and location-based products can help you build a platform around UK user expectations.

A development partner can help with:

• Real estate app development
• Property marketplace development
• iOS app development
• Android app development
• Cross-platform development
• Property listing systems
• Agent dashboards
• Map integration
• AI property search
• Mortgage and affordability tools
• Payment integration
• Cloud infrastructure
• Backend APIs
• Admin dashboards
• App maintenance

For a property marketplace, technology is only one part of the equation. Your development partner should also understand search, data, scalability and marketplace workflows.

Why Choose AppCrex?

AppCrex helps businesses turn real estate and marketplace ideas into custom digital products.

Our services include:

• Real Estate App Development
• Property Listing App Development
• Property Marketplace Development
• Rental App Development
• Property Management App Development
• iOS App Development
• Android App Development
• Cross-Platform App Development
• AI App Development
• Map & Location Integration
• Payment Integration
• Backend & API Development
• Admin Dashboard Development
• UI/UX Design
• App Maintenance & Support

If you have an idea for a Rightmove-style platform, the development process can start with an MVP and expand gradually as your property inventory and user base grow.

Final Thoughts

A Rightmove-like app is much more than a collection of property listings.

The real value comes from connecting property inventory, consumers, agents, search technology, location data and useful decision-making tools in one experience.

A basic property marketplace could cost around $40,000–$70,000, while a sophisticated Rightmove-style platform can move toward $150,000–$300,000+ depending on the feature set and technical complexity.

The biggest challenge, however, may not be development.

It may be building the marketplace itself.

You need enough properties to attract users and enough users to make the platform valuable to agents.

That’s the classic marketplace challenge.

For a startup, the smarter route is often to begin with one city, property category or customer segment, build strong inventory, and then expand.

And if you’re entering the UK market, there is another major opportunity: AI can make property discovery more conversational, personalised and useful. Rightmove itself is now experimenting with conversational AI search and other AI-powered property features, showing where the property-search experience is heading.

The goal shouldn’t be to build another property directory.

Build a smarter way for people to find, understand and act on property opportunities.

FAQs

Q. How much does it cost to build an app like Rightmove?

A basic property marketplace can cost around $40,000–$70,000, while an advanced platform with AI, maps, analytics, agent tools and extensive integrations can cost $150,000–$300,000+.

Q. How long does it take to build a Rightmove-like app?

A focused MVP may take around 4–6 months, while a larger platform can require 8–14 months or more.

Q. What are the main features of a property app?

Property search, advanced filters, listings, maps, saved properties, alerts, enquiries, property comparison, agent profiles and affordability tools are among the most useful features.

Q. How does a Rightmove-like app make money?

A property marketplace can earn through agent subscriptions, featured listings, advertising, lead generation, valuation services and premium tools.

Q. Can AI be integrated into a property app?

Yes. AI can support conversational property search, personalised recommendations, image analysis, affordability insights and automated customer support.

Q. Can I build a property app specifically for the UK?

Yes. You can build a UK-focused platform around specific cities, property types, renters, buyers, investors or estate agents.

Q. Can a property app include mortgage and affordability tools?

Yes. Affordability calculators, mortgage-related tools and financial integrations can be added, subject to the relevant regulatory and commercial requirements.

Q. Can AppCrex develop a Rightmove-like app?

Yes. AppCrex can build property marketplace applications with consumer apps, agent dashboards, admin panels, maps, search, AI features, APIs and ongoing support.