Explore The Features And Cost To Develop An App Like Kik

An app like Kik can be a magic wand for your business and this is why investors like you are looking to develop an app like Kik.

Today, there are more than 7.26 billion mobile app users. That is 3/4^th of the world’s population. And more than3 billion mobile app users use messaging apps.

With such a strong user base, the messaging app or chat app market is growing like never before. One of the proofs is the number of active users on messaging apps that grew from 1 bn to 3 bn.

Messaging apps like Kik, Messenger, Whatsapp, Telegram Skype, etc. are some of the most common apps everyone has used. To say the least, it has also attracted a lot of businesses from every corner of the world. So, if you are one of those who is inspired to make an app like Kik, this blog is for you.

Here, we shall be going through everything related to creating a messaging app like Kik that can help your business grow and reach new heights.

What is KiK? Messaging App Development

Facebook & WhatsApp are two of the most popular chat apps in the world. But one of the apps that are quite overlooked is Kik.

Launched back in 2009, by the students of the University of Waterloo, the very first version of the app was developed for one of the largest phone brands, Blackberry. But, it wasn’t long before, it was launched on iOS and Android.

So, what makes Kik stand out from the rest? Well, for one thing, it is unique in its interface. The front end of the application is interesting because it allows easy & effective communication among people, making it more than “just a messaging app’’.

With the increasing market success, they also have raised $120.5M in investments making their valuation at $1bn. These success details can inspire anyone to consult a mobile app development company and develop a messaging app like Kik, we shall be discussing more in the next section.

Overview of the Messaging App Market Size & Analysis

Let’s look at some of the top stats to know about the market better.

The global instant messaging app market size was $24210 million in 2022 and is likely to reach 58843 million by 2032. And, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period.

There are several reasons pointing towards the growth of this market such as the usage of such applications increased in the corporate arena, amplified internet penetration, and more.

Without a doubt, these messaging apps are becoming the best way to communicate with families, associates & friends. And, surely giving enough reasons to develop a chat app.

Now, if you still have reasons to develop a messaging app like Kik, then the next section might be of help

Why Develop a Messaging App like Kik?

So, why should you develop an app like Kik? Well, in this section, we shall be giving you plenty of good reasons.

These are, as mentioned below:

1. Strong Audience Base

The first criterion for any successful app development are user base. And in the case of instant messaging app development, the market is one of the world’s largest.

There are more than 3 billion people using messaging apps which is a good chunk of the world’s population. If an app can convert even 10% of those users into a customer, that means millions or even billions of dollars. This is one of the reasons to Invest In Mobile App Development.

2. Revenue Generation Opportunities

The main goal of a business is to deliver value to customers and generate revenue while doing that.

In the 21^st century, the last decade to be more specific, mobile applications and the internet have changed the way business is done. Today, people are generating more revenue online than in their physical stores.

With a mobile app like Kik, you can also leverage your business growth and generate revenue that hits your target and skyrockets past it.

3. Affordable Development Solution

Well, one of the most common questions clients ask before developing an app is, how much will it cost?

Well, let’s not get specific right now (we will do it later). So, the thing is, any form of social media app development can be expensive and this can demotivate a lot of clients.

However, you will find that kik-clone app development isn’t all that expensive. There are a lot of mobile app development companies who can help you with the same.

4. Need of the Hour

Yes, you read that right. With the growing demand of users, these apps remain the dominant force in the market. Also, the craze of millennials and Gen-Z for these messaging apps is fueling the market.

A well-designed messaging app can capture a significant portion of this active user base, adding another reason to develop a messaging app like Kik.

5. Building a Community

A successful messaging app can foster a good community where users connect, share experiences, and build relationships. This can help in user engagement & loyalty.

Just make sure to do careful planning, differentiation, lay a strong focus on user safety & privacy to make your app successful in the market.

With this out of the way, let’s talk about the must-have features that you should incorporate in your Kik-like app development.

Must-Have Features to Create an App like Kik

Chat Apps are evolving daily with new features and becoming user favorites. So, if you want to be the one, we will suggest these features to have in your app.

Let’s get to know them one by one:

• Easy & Quick Onboarding

74% of enterprises have a dedicated customer onboarding team. These are those enterprises, who understand the importance of easy & quick sign-up. You can take notes and let your user sign up easily into your app such as through a Gmail or phone number.

You can also consider social media integration to provide them with easy options such as Facebook to further streamline the process.

• Messaging

This feature is a must while developing a messaging app.

A user should be able to send messages, GIFs, videos, images, and other content. This feature although can be divided into different parts such as

• Private Chats
• Message Status
• Voice Messaging
• Group Chats
• Message Search

• Data security & Encryption

App security & Data protection are two vital issues in the online world. Every 39 seconds a cyber-attack occurs.

Companies launching a new platform raise people’s speculation about whether it will be able to safeguard important information from any kind of attack or not. Offering end-to-end encryption and integrating some security measures will help you protect your user’s data & build trust in your app.

• Push Notification

Another must-have feature is push notification services.

If used properly, it can be of great use such as this can inform users about new messages leading them to keep coming back to your app.

Apart from that, they can get to know their contacts who recently joined the app, new message alerts, and other crucial things.

• Disappearing Messages

These messages are like temporary notes that vanish once the receiver sees them. It’s a great feature to have in your app, where users can share conversations and thoughts without the worry of leaving any trace.

Apart from that, if the user constantly runs out of storage because of photos & videos, this feature can be a life-saver to optimize the device’s memory.

• Video and Audio Calling

Both these features have become social media app development trends. Although such features might add some cost to build a messaging app like Kik.

This is the foundation allowing one-on-one or group chats with text, messages, and video calls.

• Discover New People

Kik also has this ‘‘meet new people’’ feature through which you can connect with new users whenever they want.

Similarly, you can create a social media app or messaging app with this feature to assist the user in finding other people or their friends seamlessly.

• Media Sharing

This feature will help your user to share huge amounts of files, from photos to videos through the app without any limitations.

But, to enable this, it is necessary to make sure that the app can take care of the traffic and perform well without compromising quality. By incorporating a scalable storage system, you can enhance your user experience.

Go Beyond Kik: Unique Features to Stand Out

Here are some of the unique features we are sharing with you briefly that will help you get a competitive edge:

• Gamification Elements

To keep your user engaged on your app and enhance their experience, you can add some mini-games or challenges.

• Secure Payment Integration

Another amazing feature is to have a secure payment system such as sending money to friends or purchasing virtual goods within the app.

• Integrate AR filters

You can implement AR filters in your app such as funny effects, filters, or backgrounds during video chats. This will make it more engaging and interactive. Apps like TikTok and Instagram have this feature.

• Live streaming Integration

Through this, you can allow your user to host live streams in the app. This way it can add a new dimension to their entertainment.

Moving forward, we will see how to develop an app like Kik to make your dream a digital solution in the next section.

How to Make an App like Kik?

Messaging & Chat App Development is easier said than done. Since you want to develop a market-leading app like Kik, it is a good idea to learn more about the process.

In this section, we shall be going through exactly that. With this being said, let’s get right into it:

Step 1: Ideation

Ideation is the first step of the process. Without having an idea for your project, there is no way you can move forward.

This is something that you have to do on your own. You can take inspiration from existing apps, brainstorm, base it on research, or other methods that fit you.

When you are done with this, it is time to start with research.

Step 2: Research

This is the part where you do a reality check and collect information about the market.

Here, you can look at the competitors, look at their strategies, what people love and hate about their products, and so on. Once done with the market research, you will be able to lead an effective development process.

Step 3: Cross-Checking

Before you decide to patent your app idea, you should cross-check it.

Make sure it can be developed into an application, it can be monetized, it solves problems or delivers value to customers, and so on.

Following this, we can monetize the app.

Step 4: Monetization

We already discussed monetization in detail; therefore, we won’t be getting too deep into this. Moving on, it’s time to choose an app development platform.

Step 5: App Development Platform

This is the time to choose an app development platform. Well, there are two types of app platforms. These are native and hybrid.

Within native, you can either go with Android or iPhone app development services. Both iOS and Android are amazing platforms. They have their own ups and downs.

Coming to the hybrid one, you can go with react native app development services. This is yet another top platform.

Moving on, with the platform finalized, it is time to select a tech stack.

Step 6: Tech Stack

Tech stack refers to the programming languages, frameworks, toolkits, and technology in general that are used for mobile app development.

There are a number of top tech stacks. But choices narrow down based on which platform you choose.

Now, whether you choose to hire Android app developers or iOS ones, choosing the right tech stack is important.

Step 7: Hire Dedicated Developers

With all said and done, it is time to find an app developer. Now, there are a number of ways you can do it.

These are, as mentioned below:

• Hire Freelancers
• Outsource to an app development company
• Hire part-time developers
• Consult local development firm
• Assemble in-house team

Step 8: UI/UX Design Process

Now that you have a development part, it is time to start the design process.

The front-end or UI/UX design is a very important element as it plays a big role in affecting user engagement. Thus, create a design that attracts customers while also being easy to navigate.

Step 9: Back-End Development

This is the part for which you hire on-demand app developers. In other words, in this process development team will be writing the source code and creating the final version of the same.

Back-end development is also the part where most of the resources are put in and most time is consumed. For this reason and others, it is highly recommended that you maintain good communication with the development team.

Step 10: Testing & Deployment

Following development, it is time to test the application.

Your chosen developer will make sure everything is as per the customer’s demand and up to the market standards. Nevertheless, once this is done, it is time to deploy the market.

Deployment is done and we are finished.

This was the development process. This begs the question, how much does it cost to make an app like Kik with these features? Well, we will be answering this question in the next section of the blog.

How Much Does It Cost To Develop An App Like Kik?

So, how much does it cost to make an app like Kik?

The cost to develop an app like Kik can be anywhere ranging from $20,000 to $120,000.

There is a range of factors that can affect total development cost; the reason behind giving a range rather than an accurate cost is to make you understand that there is no fixed cost or number.

But here is a small breakdown of the cost:

There are several elements that can increase or decrease the cost to develop an app like Kik, let’s get to know about them in the below section.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Develop an App Like Kik

Now that you have understood about cost, it’s time to take a look at the factors or elements involved in the Kik clone app development cost.

Let’s get to know about them in the below section:

1] Development Team Expertise

The more talented and expert your team is, the higher their charges will be. So, your estimated cost to build an app like KiK can change as per the expertise of the development team.

For instance, if you have a complex project or strong requisite, you will need an all-rounder team of developers to launch your app successfully.

Check out in this table how the development team can affect the cost to develop an app:

2] Location of the Developers

If you are planning to hire mobile app developers for your project, mind that the location of the developers also affects the cost to develop an app like Kik.

Wondering how? See if you hire developers from the USA, their charges will be exclusive due to high living standards compared to other countries.

Now, as we talk about the countries, you can get an overview through this table about the hourly rates of developers in other countries.

3] Tech-Stack Component

A tech-stack component is made up of different languages, technologies, and tools that power your app. And, choosing the right tech stack will not only affect the Kik-clone app development cost, but also security, & user experience.

Now, coming to the cost part, check out this small breakdown about how a tech stack can impact your Kik-like App

4] Testing Process

App testing is necessary for a smooth and positive user experience.

Thorough testing recognizes & fixes bugs, helping you to save money in the long run. This way once a final app version is ready, you can improve the app’s value and return on investment as well as reduce the cost to make an app like Kik.

Summoning up, a high quality is necessary to stand among other chatting apps for long-term success and such investment pays off in the long run.

5] Platform

The platform you are considering for the Kik-clone app also affects the cost to develop an app like Kik. Such, as Native app development is costly compared to hybrid app development. Although, both have their own advantages & disadvantages (that’s for later).

However, it is highly suggested to analyze your target users, research user demographics, and consider the expertise of the development team to make the right decision that pays off in the long run.

With this out of the way, it’s time to know how you will recover all these investments which is why we will get to know about the monetization models for your app.

How Does Instant Messaging App Make Money? Monetization Strategies

Monetization strategies are embedded into a mobile app like Kik and importantly so.

You see, it is with these strategies that a solution can develop revenue. Assuming you want to do the same, we shall be looking at some of these in this section.

Consequently, we are presenting top monetization strategies for your app.

• Advertisement

One of the well-known and quite famous monetization models is ‘Advertisement’.  Make sure to maintain a balance between showing ads and user experience. We will suggest not overdoing it as it can be distracting for your users leading them to abandon your app.

• Freemium Model

Another popular monetization strategy is a freemium model that allows your users to explore the basic version for free to know what your social media app has to offer them. And, then you can ask for a fee for premium content similar to Twitter.

• Subscription-Based Model

As you know there are a lot of subscription apps in the market that are making remarkable revenue from this model. One of the top benefits of this model is that it generates regular revenue. You can take inspiration from apps like Yubo which are earning quite well through this model.

If you happen to integrate this feature, be sure to add some new updates, amazing features & personalized content to make them feel it’s worthy of their investment.

• Affiliate Marketing

You should not underestimate the power of affiliate marketing.  By recommending products & services from relevant parties, you can add value to the user’s journey while making money.

Make sure to select the right products and services to establish trust between your users and position yourself as a reliable messaging app in front of them.

• Pay-Per-Download

As the name implies, users need to pay to download your app which can be another best monetization model. On one side where investors are building apps like WhatsApp and offering their users for free, you need to offer unique feature that sets you apart and make them pay.

Initially doing it might be a wrong move, first offer a user-sustainable experience and make a name for yourself in the market. Then, you can opt for this model.

By carefully analyzing your platform, its features, and its target audience, you can incorporate multiple monetization models for sustainable revenue.

With this out of the way, we bet you’re curious to know “how long it takes to develop an app like Kik?”

How Long Does It Take To Make A Messaging App Like Kik?

So, “How long does it take to make a messaging app like Kik?”

On average, if you want to build an app like Kik the basic version will take 13-17 weeks and comprise of necessary features. Whereas, the advanced version will take 17-25 weeks including all the cutting-edge features.

There is no fixed development time as same above factors that affect the cost to make an app like Kik also affect its development time too.

In that case, here’s a breakdown:

Nimble AppGenie- Best Partner for Social Media App Development

Looking forward to making an app like Kik?

If yes, then leave it to the experts of Nimble AppGenie, a social media app development company with ample years of experience and expertise in developing top-notch messaging app that generates substantial income.

Ysily is a top messaging app in the UK that was made by our expert developers and is driving revenue for the business as well as adding value to users. Consequently, our hands-on similar projects make us a perfect choice for your project.

Hire dedicated developers from us and get started today!!

Conclusion

Kik is a great app, but there is always room for more. So, if you want to take steps forward then you can leverage the best features of Kik and add your own creativity to bring something new. This way, you can cater to the evolving needs of users.

If you are someone who wants to develop a market-leading app like Kik or just want to learn more about the cost to make an app like Kik, it would be a good idea to consult an on-demand app development company.

FAQ

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.