How to Build A Chat App? A Complete Guide to Follow

Want to build a chat app, but don’t know how to proceed?

Well, chat apps have now become the latest trend in the market.

“Do you know, in 2021, there were three billion people who were motivated to use chat apps”.

When it comes on how to create a chat app, you should know that the right guidance can help you here.

Relax. You don’t need to wander here and there to get the right steps. We have already done it for you. Beginning from the concept, reasons, steps, monetization, challenges, and much more, you can find a way to make your dream chat app a reality.

Let’s begin this journey together.

What is a Chat App?

How to make a chat app? Before answering this, let’s throw a question on you.

Are you using a chat app and if yes, then how many times a day?

Well, in this digital era, it is very common to use a chat app. If you are the one, who is unaware about what it is. Here is a brief.

Chat apps can be defined as one-to-one or group real-time communication platforms. Such kind of app is built to perform synchronous and asynchronous communication among people either in groups or individuals.

Moreover, the depth and functionality of apps rely on the type of industry using the app. These apps allow instant messaging over the internet.

Besides this, text messaging can be used for real-time communication although, it can be slower than that.

Now, that you are aware of what a chat app is, let’s have a view of why to make one.

Why Make a Chat App?

How to build a messaging app?

Before we move to how, let’s learn why to make it.

In the current era, building a messaging app is one of the good decisions because communication has become one of the indispensable elements in our lives.

To create a social media app, it is essential to know the reasons behind creating it. This will motivate you to keep going with the process.

Here’s a list you can check.

1. Growing Market Demand

Increasing market demand to have a messaging app is one of the key elements that you should not overlook. When it comes to messaging apps, WhatsApp is the one around.

With almost 2000 million users, WhatsApp is the leading chat app in the social media marketing industry. Now, you can say that with this increasing market growth the chances for your app’s success doubles.

2. Rise of Conversational Commerce

Digitalization has already brought a revolution with a boom in the e-commerce industry. One-to-one communication with encryption and authentication should be your next move to create a messaging app.

Revenue in the e-commerce industry is projected to grow US $4117 billion in 2024. With this increasing revenue, they are more inclined towards maintaining a direct link with their potential customers.

Thus, messaging apps provide them with a medium to perform this job at a simple scale. This creates an opportunity for you to enter the industry at this very right time.

3. Diversification and Innovation

Diversification is another milestone for you. In the current competitive market of messaging apps, you need to bring a new perspective to the table.

In 2024, there will be 3.42 billion users, expected to increase to 3.51 billion in 2025. It provides you an opportunity to conduct market analysis and find a gap in this growing market.

It will not only help your app to survive but also will assist you in capturing a large target market. With a new idea, you can make this large business all yours.

4. Source to Monetization

When you create a chat app, it automatically opens the doors for monetization. Build a chat app that creates opportunities to earn money through advertising and other app monetization models.

These models include in-app purchases that offer extra income. Thus, the development of a chat app assists in finding ways and opportunities that enable increased measures for earning profits.

You can opt for multiple strategies that open a source to earn money via chat app.

5. Enable Seamless Communication

If you are the one who wants to provide people with a new way to communicate, build a messaging app that can do it all at once.

In 2021, Facebook Messenger has the highest market share in the USA with 187.436 billion users due to its effective communication feature and news feed.

6. Easy Integration With Other Platforms

Nowadays, users can connect with different companies and brands using versatile features.

After building a chat app, you can collaborate with other social media platforms that help to increase a user base along with successfully reaching to the target audience.

People find it easy to communicate over chat rather than over call, thus it’s a golden opportunity for you to create a messaging app from scratch.

Now, you know why to go ahead with the messaging app development process, in 2024. Well, there is still a lot more to learn. Head on to the next section for the same.

Most Popular Chat Apps

Do you wish to know, how popular messaging apps have made it so far?

Well, it’s the chance to learn about them. The most popular chat apps are designed with a unique idea that makes them sustain the competition.

Let’s understand them well here.

►Facebook Messenger

Messenger can also be called Facebook Messenger and is an American app for instant messaging. This app is a secure messaging service that helps to keep online communication private.

It is a free instant messaging app that is used for sharing photos, audio recordings, and videos, and for performing group chats. Video and voice calls are just a byproduct of the app. You can develop an app like Facebook Messenger that provides a seamless communication network to the users.

►WhatsApp

WhatsApp was initiated to provide an alternative to SMS to its users. This app supports sending and receiving various media including text, photos, documents, videos, and location.

It is a multifunctional and multiplatform messaging app that is among one of the most popular call and chat apps. You can develop an app like WhatsApp by learning its effective features that make communication simple.

►Signal

Signal is a private messenger app that allows secure messaging overall. This app is a free and easy-to-use app with a strong end-to-end encryption feature.

Users do not need to pay any extra amount because the app uses the phone’s data connection to perform messaging.

►Telegram

Telegram is an app used for sharing content, money transfers, online chat, screen capture, and voice chat. It is a cloud-based platform that provides encrypted instant messaging services.

This app has over 900 million monthly active users, due to which it is among the top 10 most downloaded apps in the world. It offers a multi-featured cross-device synching app in the market.

►WeChat

WeChat is a Chinese instant messaging app named Weixin in China. The app is effective for instant messaging. Besides this, it allows users to send and receive any kind of media, play games, pay bills, etc.

It has evolved as a multi-purpose app that has transformed the way how people communicate and perform businesses. This platform has made itself a one-stop-shop for businesses to connect with their target audience in China.

►Snapchat

Snapchat is an app that strengthens people to express themselves, learn about the world, live in the moment, and have fun together.

To develop an app like Snapchat, you should check its amazing features including self-destructing photos and videos. The app uses the snap camera to spot and capture images that can be shared in real time.

Bonus Read: Best Alternatives to Snapchat

►Line

The line is among the fastest-growing messenger apps, globally. Using this app users can become closer to friends and loved ones. Here they can enjoy free messages, video calls, and voice calls whenever they want.

This line app is available on iPhones and Android devices as well. Here users can view posts and interact with the official accounts easily.

Learning about the best chat apps is not sufficient when you need to bring their features and offer a unique platform to the users.

Let’s head on to the next section to learn all the important features of messaging apps.

Features of Chat Apps

After learning how the best messaging apps have made it so far, it’s time to know the types of features that can help to make the best chat app.

Here is the list of the best social media app features that you should not avoid.

1. Onboarding and Registration

One of the important parameters that should be followed is onboarding and registration. It needs to be simple and encrypted with the latest robust technologies. The process should be easy for the user to sign in with easy navigation steps to be followed.

2. Low Latency Feature

You should implement a low latency feature that can allow users to chat in real-time and to expect that the messages are to be sent and received near-instantly. This app refers to the minimal delay between sending a message and receiving it to ensure seamless interactions among users.

3. Video and Voice Calling

Voice chat can help to stand out from the competitors by attracting users who like its ease and benefits. Even the voice notes can be helpful to enhance the user engagement. This is one of the basic features that should be included to make a chat app.

4. Conversation History

In the current era, messaging apps are using cloud storage to provide users with cross-platform access to their history. A persistent chat history also allows users to track their chat record which is even important in the case of businesses or related purposes.

5. Search Functionality

You should implement a search functionality feature in the app to enable the users to search for people or groups they want to connect with. It is difficult to search for people, you want to connect with a large list of contacts in the messaging app. Thus, the search feature becomes quite important here.

6. Typing Notifications

Typing indicators or notifications is of paramount importance. This can be added with real-time chat features, to enable users to engage in interactive conversations. It is even helpful to the users to know first, what the other component is typing in order to answer their text.

7. Multimedia Support

To make a chat app, you should ensure that it persists a multimedia support. It refers to sending and receiving different kinds of media including photos, videos, locations, contacts, and other related documents. With diverse sharing options, users can remain engaged with the platform for a long.

8. Notifications

Push notifications are one of the simple ways to engage people over the platform. It is one of the prominent mediums to let users know that they have a message. This function is effective in keeping users aware of information that can be very essential for them.

9. Customization Options

Mobile app personalization can become your trump card to win the race of chat apps. These apps are built to target customers and to develop customized experiences, messages, and recommendations. With this feature, you can create messages that are more engaging, relevant, and impactful.

10. Security and Encryption

Encryption is an important feature that is helpful to reduce the risk of sensitive data leakage. With mobile app security features, encrypted messages remain secure even when the message servers are compromised. Your app should also provide data backup options to store relevant information in the cloud.

After learning the most important features of messaging apps, it’s important to know how to make a messaging app. The next section will help you in this scenario.

How to Build a Chat App from Scratch?

How to build a messaging app?

Well, building an app isn’t rocket science. All you need is to understand the basics and steps that will make a difference in your dream app and reality.

This section is all about a step-by-step guide to messaging app development.

Shall we begin?

Step 1: Mobile App Idea

If you persist in a new approach that can bring a change in the market, then it’s time to trust the process. You need to Develop a mobile app idea that will frame the whole picture of the app.

An app without an aim is of no use. When you don’t know what to display to your end user, your app cannot even exist.

The app idea is the ultimate goal of developing it. The idea should be practical to be achieved that can be converted into reality simply.

Step 2: Market Research

You should have an in-depth market research. It is the process of identifying the target market and knowing your end users.

Market research will be useful in identifying the gap that exists between users’ demand and supply. This is the way to know what and when to unleash your app into existence.

It can be helpful to test if your app idea is effective in serving the people’s purpose. Social media app statistics evaluation should be performed before investing in it.

Step 3: Identify the Target Audience

Here in this step, you should be very keep to observe the end users and the users you want to serve. Learning about the users is one of the important elements that you should attain for making a lead.

You can channel the behavior of the users which can be effective to learn the changes in their app usability process.

This is the third step, to let you know the actual users and their thinking process. If you want to sell a service that your users should buy or use, first be in their shoes.

Step 4: Create User Persona and Profiles

After learning your target users, you should develop user personas that contain demographics, age, pain points, goals, and motivation of the end users.

The profile will depict the type of users who are the actual target. Developing these personas and profiles can be effective for performing marketing later.

It is also tailored to the target audience’s interests and user preferences. To build a chat app, all you need is to identify the user first.

Step 5: Identify the Core Functionalities

Now, it’s time to decide the type of functions and features you need to put in the app. Here it’s compulsory to put on the type of core features and advanced features that will make your app successful.

Congratulations, you have crossed the half-way now. Deciding on the features is one of the important and confusing tasks. Here you need to decide which feature you should avoid overburdening your app.

This is an important step, here you should keep an eye on your aim and the reason that has motivated you to keep going.

Step 6: Make an MVP

Are you aware of what MVP depicts? Well, it can save your app from failing and will help to evaluate overall mobile app development costs.

Minimal value product (MVP) is just an app launched with minimum features. It is made for early adopters and to evaluate the current demand for your app in the market.

You can make out the feedback from the real users to add features and also to remove errors from the app.

Also Read: Common Mistakes to Avoid While Developing an MVP App

Step 7: Design Your App

In this step, you need to finalize the design for your app. Selecting the social media app design can be fun with the right team.

Here you will select the color, and theme, by creating a wireframe and prototype for your app. The right design is enough to let your app users visit the platform regularly.

You should remember that, now you are building first impressions among the users through creating UI/UX design.

Step 8: Select a Suitable Tech Stack

Tech stack refers to selecting the technologies useful for making an app. It comprises of multiple elements including the database, type of computer language, and others.

Here you should hire mobile app developers with the right number of experience. You can recheck the analysis from market research to know your answer.

Then, you should decide on the platform allocation and evaluate again the aim to make an app

Step 9: Test the App

Are you eager to launch your chat app? It is advised to not make a hurry in this step. Hold your horses and conduct a thorough mobile app testing.

Connecting to the right mobile app development company will not only assist you in testing your app around real users but also in developing it successfully.

You should ask for a complete testing process before your app gets ready for launch.

Step 10: Deployment and Launch

Well, this is the time to decide the. This process will be useful in deciding even the platform to opt for.

In this step, you can hire iOS app developers or hire Android app developers based on your specific demands of platform selection.

Now, here you are to select a suitable launch date for your app. You should analyze the current market dynamics before deciding on the launch date. You can also perform marketing for your app till its launch, to inform potential users regarding it.

Step 11: App Maintenance

Are you aware of the importance of app maintenance? This is a continuous process that can help you never let your app out of competition.

Here you can connect with an app maintenance service provider to help with the same. App Maintenance is not only about updating the features or adding additional ones.

It’s all about scheduling app testing in a way that doesn’t increase your chat app’s downtime rate.

Also Read: Practices to Reduce Mobile App Maintenance Downtime

With the step-by-step guide to chat app development, you have the right formula to initiate the process.

But, how much should you invest in app development?

Relax, we will never leave your queries unanswered. Head to the next section to know the cost and time, it takes to make a messaging app.

Resources Required: Cost & Time to Make a Chat App

Till now, you have learned concepts, reasons, top apps, features, and step-wise processes in the complete guide to messaging app development.

Now, it’s time to learn about cost and time factors that are important concerns to build a chat app.

The cost to develop a social media app can vary from $30,000 to $350,000. However, certain factors can impact overall cost including complexity, app design, platform, etc.

Let’s come to understand the time factor.

The time to build a messaging app will depend on the development team and their scale of expertise. Here is a table you can rely on.

Overall, the time to develop a chat app can be from 10-14 weeks.

Now, let’s head towards monetization strategies to make money out of the cost invested. Check out the next section to learn about successful models.

How to Make Money With a Chat App?

After learning the cost and time factors that should be noted to develop a chat app, it’s essential to on-board the strategies helpful for social media app monetization.

Here are the top three ways that you can look out for earning money.

• Subscription

Under this method, you can make your app free to use for the users at the initial stage. And can make certain features to be used after making a payment. You can offer advanced features and functionalities for a subscription-based app fee or one-time purchase.

• Advertising

Advertising is an important medium helpful to earn money. Under this method, you can display the ads within the app to earn revenue from clicks and impressions. This is one of the effective ways where you can have multiple types of advertising including banner ads, video ads, etc.

• Collaboration and Integration with Third-party

You can partner with different kinds of small and large-scale businesses to offer them chat services. And in return, you can charge a commission from them. Your app can be useful for businesses to connect with their customers directly.

In this strategy, you can partner with various payment gateways and even perform e-commerce integration.

These are the top ways for you to adopt if you have decided to develop a chat app. However, there can be other strategies too such as in-app purchases, data monetization, and others.

Till now, we have discussed popular apps, reasons, how to build a chat app, its cost, and money-making strategies.

Well, it’s not the end of a complete guide to build a chat app.

Although, there can be certain challenges that you might face.

Head on to the next section to know them all.

Challenges to Develop a Chat App

Can you create a chat app from scratch without any errors?

Challenges start from the first day of the chat app development process. Let us help you to know, common mistakes to avoid while creating a social media app.

Here is a list that you can proceed with.

1] Security

Chat apps are preferred by the users just because of their privacy protection chats which are encrypted through robust technologies. Thus, this is a highly critical aspect to be considered.

Here developers should implement certain effective measures that can use robust technologies for ensuring security.

2] Scalability

You can face an issue regarding increasing the signal bandwidth. With a growing number of users, it is essential to increase the scalability of the blog.

The server should be able to withstand high traffic without compromising the app’s performance. This is one of the most significant factors that can lead to the success of the app.

3] Competitive Industry

The growing market of social media is competitive. There are already so many messaging apps present in the market hence, it’s quite challenging to develop a new app.

Developers should find a way to make their apps stand out in the competitive market. Your app should have competitive and unique features to offer and should be capable of attracting users.

4] Real-Time Communication

It is important to ensure that the app offers real-time communication which should be instant with minimal latency.

Along with this, an inability to scale at the global communication level is one of the real challenges that your app can face.

5] Creating User Engagement

People are already using apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, so providing them with a unique feature so that they will shift to your app can be the biggest challenge.

Hence, user engagement is one of the important issues that should be considered. Security and privacy are parameters that can increase users’ inclination towards an app.

6] Compatibility

If your app is not compatible with the selected operating system then it is of no use. This issue takes place when software and hardware components are not designed to work well.

Such kind of issues can result in errors, crashes, performance problems along security risks. It can further result in losing potential app users.

With these six challenges, you might get a list of issues that should be avoided to create a chat app from scratch. Now, what can be the solution to such challenges? Let’s head to the next section for the same.

Best Practices to Make a Chat App Standout Competition

After learning the challenges that can be the real barriers to addressing how to develop a chat app, it’s time to know effective solutions.

Here is a list of the best practices that need to be adopted for making your app stand competition.

• Attractive User Interface

The user interface plays an important role in increasing the number of users for the app. An attractive user interface is even capable of overcoming the toughest competition. Thus, you should prioritize the user experience and user interface by providing a clean and simple navigation system.

• Ensure the Use of Robust Security

Providing privacy and security is the foremost step to build a chat app from scratch. Hence, you should use robust security measures to provide users with a safe and secure network to communicate with their friends and family.

• Implementation of Latest Technology

It is vital to implement the latest technology, to keep your app up-to-date. The use of the latest technology such as artificial intelligence in social media, the Internet of Things, augmented reality, etc. should be adopted to remain in the competitive market.

• Right Platform Selection

If you are unable to select the right platform, then the chances of your app failure will increase. Thus, you should be aware of the right platform that will increase the chances of user engagement. The right platform can be identified by evaluating the demands of the target audience.

• Ensure Reliability

If an app runs slow and is full of errors then there are chances that you will lose a lot of competitors. High reliability is an important factor for every app. A reliable application meets the needs and expectations of everyone it serves.

• App Testing

An app launched without effective testing can be full of errors and bugs. Here you should ensure that the app can be installed simply, it should remain installed while your app users use it. During the live release of the app, it needs to be tested thoroughly.

Select a firm, that believes in your app’s reliability. A company that understands you well and knows how to give it the right shape. Know the pattern to select a company for your dream app in the following section.

How to Select a Reliable App Development Company?

After learning all the six practices of making it to the competition. It’s important to have a team that pertains experience and holds a promise for making your app compete with the top apps.

Well, it’s time to select a company you can trust. But, what it takes to choose a company? You can check the three rules below.

• Expertise: A team of experts that holds experience knows well how to turn the ball in your court. Thus, select a team that possesses enough experience to lead your project.
• Budget-Friendly: You need a company who knows well, how to utilize your budget at an appropriate place. A company that knows well, how you have managed to create a budget for your app.
• Review: If you think connecting with the current client of the company can help to strengthen your decision, then go ahead. You should check out the reviews of real clients to know the story behind them.

Collaborate with Nimble AppGenie to Develop a Chat App

Now, it’s time to partner with a reliable company. We understand, how it feels to make the right decision. But, Why don’t you just have a word with us?

After all, it all starts with building connections.

Collaborate with Nimble AppGenie, we are the best Social Media App Development Company with great expertise.

Why us?

Well, our team is inclined to assist you with all that we have. We are determined to make your dream app a success with the implementation of current trend technologies that fall within your budget.

Conclusion

To create a chat app from scratch, you need proper guidance to excel in it. The chat app is all about messaging in real-time with the latest technologies. Growing market demand, rise in e-commerce platforms, and motivation to earn money are certain parameters due to which you should make a chat app.

There are many popular apps including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and others. To make an app like these competitors, you should be able to identify their capable features effectively enough to compete in the market. These features comprise low latency features, notifications, customization options, etc.

You can proceed with the steps to make a messaging app, starting from mobile app idea, market research, identification of the target audience to app launch and maintenance. The cost can vary according to different factors including complexity, app platform, app design, etc.

Developing a chat app can provide you diversified scope of earning money. Moreover, you should avoid a variety of challenges including security, scalability, and compatibility. There are certain practices that you can opt for comprising robust security, attractive user interface, and others to compete with the top apps.

FAQs

Pratha Sharma

Pratha Sharma, a Versatile Content Writer at Nimble AppGenie, possesses over 3 + years of experience. Her driving force lies in bridging the knowledge gap with compelling content. She has the expertise to present complex content in simple and understandable language which makes her perfect for this post.