How to Develop an App Like Instagram?

Do you desire to develop an app like Instagram?

Well, almost 1,406.38 million people use Instagram around the world in the current year. This increasing growth in the number of users depicts a great opportunity for people who want to enter the industry.

To develop a social media app like Instagram, you need to look forward to the steps that can guide you in this process. Here you will find all your answers.

We will discuss the current market statistics, the concept of Instagram, the need to develop this app, the top features of Instagram, the cost, and tips to improve it further. Let’s start the journey together.

Discovering Instagram: The Social Media Powerhouse

Are you aware of what Instagram is?

Well, even before learning how to build an app like Instagram? You should know about the app.

Here you can get, a definition for those who are new to this industry.

Instagram is a free photo and video-sharing app which is available on iPhone and Android. Through this app, people can upload photos and videos and are allowed to share them with their followers or with a selected group of friends.

Over this platform, people are allowed to view, comment, and like posts shared by friends on Instagram. It is one of the amazing social media platforms, where users can interact with other’s content and can control what and with whom they desire to share their content.

In the current era, businesses are using this platform to build a community and to perform marketing.

Well, do you desire to have a broad picture of current social media apps out there in the market? The next section will be going to help you.

Market Statistics: A Brief About the Social Media App Industry

An inclination towards the social media market is increasing and creating an opportunity for you to enter the industry with just a unique mobile app idea to serve people.

To get an idea, let’s perform market analysis to have certain quantitative data. It can even help you reach out to the core users’ needs.

• Over 4.59 billion people were using social media worldwide, a number projected to increase to 6 billion in 2027.
• Moreover, in 2023, the global social media use has increased to 59%.

• Facebook is the market leader and was the first social network that has surpassed over 1 billion registered users. Currently, the platform has more than three billion monthly active users.
• Facebook is followed by YouTube, Instagram, and then WhatsApp. The Meta platforms solely own four of the biggest social media platforms.

Okay! Let’s come to Instagram.

• The global number of Instagram users is forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2028 by in total of 361.1 million users.
• Instagram’s user base is estimated to reach 1.8 billion users, a new figure till 2028.

Why not you create a platform, just like that?

In the next section, we are going to discuss it all. Yes, the reasons to make an app like Instagram.

Why Create an App Like Instagram?

Are you still wondering about one particular reason to develop a social media app? Well, there are many. You have got the current market stats, that might have attracted you to initiate it.

To know more, let’s count on them one after the other to know actually why there is a need to enter the industry.

• Increasing Trend

The increasing number of users of social media apps can create an opportunity for you to develop an app like Instagram. In the current era, people are more inclined towards expressing their emotions and activities over social media platforms.

Along with this, the number of users on social media platforms is increasing continuously. People have become more active on social networks which is evolving their needs to adopt the platform.

• A Source of Making Money

Developing a social media platform that can engage users is an opportunity to make money. You can have app monetization options based on the number of ad impressions, clicks, etc. More than half of the world’s population is active on social media.

Do you know, there are over 5.07 billion people around the world on social media platforms? Thus, by developing a social media platform, you can earn money via the platform.

• To Build a Community

If you want to connect with a variety of app users then building a community over a social media platform can help you. These platforms are developed to connect a wide number of users. Here you can provide a place for like-minded individuals to connect and engage with each other.

Businesses can approach these communities that can provide you with a wide source of income. Community building can help you connect your end users directly.

• Scope of Innovation

It is one of the growing trends in the market that has a limitless scope to capture a vast population. There are still undiscovered areas in social media that you can discover with the right thought.

You can evaluate the actual user’s needs and can study them thoroughly to reach the core of their demands. This will create a field of innovation and creation to serve users differently.

• User Engagement

This is a new field to get the user engagement. Here you can directly connect with the end user and get feedback on the app usage. This will help you to excel growth in the industry. Here you can collect a large amount of data effective for earning money through the app.

You can create user engagement through your app by serving them what they want to have in it.

What are the Top Features of Instagram?

Have you given it a thought as to why Instagram has become a powerhouse of social media? What makes it so simple to use?

Features have whole a different story. They can make or break your app.

It’s the feature behind every functionality of social media apps that provide the users a platform to pick what they desire to have.

Shall we begin to read the top features that add a bonus for how to develop an app like Instagram?

1. Direct Messaging

Direct messaging has added value to the user’s lives as they can contact their friends or relatives without even sharing their phone numbers. The app offers a personal space for the users to have conversations that they want to share with the whole world. The messages remain secure and encrypted.

2. Video Calling

Users may find video calling features over other social media apps but here it’s somewhat different. The video calling feature assists the users in adding filters while conducting video calls. This feature is effective in increasing user engagement over the platform. Here, users can conduct individual or group video calls with a secure network.

3. Editing Options and Filters

The filters of Instagram make it so unique to use. It helps the users to improve the quality of their photos and videos. Here users can create color adjustments, add filters to it, rotate it, and much more. Editing options available in the app are effective in selecting the best suits for pictures and videos.

4. Instagram Hashtag

Hashtags are one of the important algorithms on Instagram. It helps the users to find the content easily. These algorithms are useful for placing posts in other users’ feeds based on what keeps the users engaged from viewing them again. Businesses often use this algorithm to grasp the attention of their target user base.

5. Map Search

Instagram has location capabilities and has enhanced its location features. Within the app, users can explore popular tagged locations around them. This helps users to find businesses easily. With this feature, users can filter locations by specific categories such as restaurants, cafes, beauty, etc.

6. Geotagging

Geotagging is one of the great ways to add context to posts to increase user engagement rate. Here they can tag the location of where you took the photo or where it was taken. This feature is useful in discovering users who are searching for posts in that location. Once users find the location, they can search for posts on that location.

7. AI Stickers

AI stickers are one of the amazing features that attract users. Here users can search for it through GIPHY stickers and can add it in a term. This can generate endless opportunities for users to post their videos and posts exactly in the way they want. The sticker is generated by artificial intelligence which is totally based on the prompt users provide via texts.

8. Reels and IGTV

Instagram have this feature of reels and IGTV, where users are allowed to create short and longer forms of video content. This feature is effective in showcasing the brand, sharing tutorials, and behind-the-scenes footage. Currently, this has become one of the exciting features of Instagram that attracts a lot of users.

9. Live Streaming

The Live Streaming feature over Instagram is useful to users who have a large following base. This feature helps them to connect with their followers in real time. It is used for questions and answering sections and to understand the user’s needs better. Moreover, this feature adds much more value for businesses to sell products and services directly from the app.

10. Restricting Users

Instagram provides users with control over their posts. With this feature, users can restrict the users to view their posts or stories. They can change the settings or can even keep the stories shared with only them or a selected group of people. It is an effective feature as here users can restrict the users from commenting on their posts without even blocking them.

Now, that you learned about the features that add a bonus to Instagram, would you like to have a process to make an app? The next section will guide you.

Steps To Develop a Social Media App Like Instagram

Now, your wait to know how to create an app like Instagram is over. In this section, we will discuss over steps to build an app like Instagram. You can hire a mobile app development company for this purpose.

This stepwise guide can help you to count on the app development process.

Step 1: Conduct Market Research

This is the foremost step, prior to making an app. Here you should conduct market research to identify the targeted users and their needs. This will help you to understand why and how users are using apps like Instagram.

Market research can assist you in identifying the current market competition and is also useful to reduce future business risks.

Step 2: State Your Purpose

You should know the purpose of creating an Instagram app well. Thus, after conducting market research, you will know well about the gaps that exist. Identifying these gaps will help you to have an idea to design a social media app.

Stating the purpose will also help you to know about the target audience and their demands better.

Step 3: Outline the Important Features

Now, you need to define the features that are important to use. Under this step, you can decide the core features based on user profiles, news feeds activity and to discover mechanism. Moreover, you should know your limitations to select the features of the app.

This step demands you to select the basic and advanced features of social media helpful to create an app like Instagram.

Step 4: Create MVP

Developing a minimal-value Product (MVP) is essential to save resources such as time and cost. After understanding the core user of the app, this step comes second. It will help you to validate product idea hypotheses.

MVP refers to a version of a product with enough features that it can be used by early adopters. The focus of using it is to avoid unwanted features that can confuse end users.

Step 5: Design the App

Now, you can plan and act on app design. Here you will create the UI/UX design of your app. Your app design is the key to success, thus you should decide on the design accordingly. An attractive user interface is sufficient and can provide data protection.

Under this feature, you should implement the feedback that you have collected through using the app. You can start by wireframing and prototyping.

Step 6: Select a Suitable Tech Stack

In this step, you should select a tech stack that is effective for your app to succeed in the competitive market. Here, you need to decide on the database and language that can provide you with the utmost benefit to serve the needs of the users.

You can hire a mobile app development team and discuss with them the type of skills and experience required to ensure efficient as well as effective app development.

Step 7: Choose a Right Monetization Strategy

Now, it’s time to select the type of monetization model that can be useful to earn money. After investing in the app, you should be well aware of how to recover the cost as it can act as a motivation. Here you can connect a platform for businesses too.

Selecting the right social media app monetization strategy is crucial to combine and refine the revenue model. Here you should align the business objectives with the needs of the target audience.

Step 8: Testing the App

Launching an app without testing is a waste of resources. Then, what should be done? Testing an mobile app is the only solution here. You can hire iOS app developers and can hire Android app developers to learn the right process to test an app over different platforms.

Here you need to conduct overall app testing including functional, security, compatibility, etc. After performance testing, you should decide on the launch date.

Step 9: Deployment and Launch

Now, it’s time to decide the platform on which, you can deploy the app. It’s required for you to read all the detailed guidelines related to app launches over multiple platforms.

When you decide on the launch date, ensure that all the features are updated as per current technological requirements.

Step 10: App Maintenance and Updates

This is the last and ongoing step in Instagram clone app development. You can make a mobile app maintenance checklist for attempting the app maintenance process. Here you can track the regular updates required for your app to stand out from the competition.

App maintenance is important to consider for enabling growth. Conducting regular updates can help fix bugs and prevent disruptions in the user experience.

Now, as you covered all the 10 steps idolized for Instagram app development, deciding on the cost to develop an app like Instagram plays a vital role here.

Cost to Develop an App Like Instagram

After learning about the process of building an Instagram clone app, you should be wondering how much does it cost to make a social media app.

Well, the average cost to make an app like Instagram is from $30,000 to $350,000. Moreover, to decide on the cost, you should know the factors that are impacting the overall cost.

These factors include complexity, app design, tech stack, platform compatibility, and development team. You can read them in detail in the next section.

What Are the Factors Impacting the Cost of Building an App Like Instagram?

Till, now you have learned about the Instagram concept, market statistics, reasons to develop an app like Instagram, its process, costs, and top features to make an app.

Now, you should be aware of the factors that are impacting Instagram like app development costs. Here’s a list to check.

►Complexity

The features you decide for your app can make your app complex and it can cost high. The type and size that you select to develop a social media app impact the cost of developing an app like Instagram. You can check the table below to learn more.

►App Design

Another component that can affect the overall app development cost of an app like Instagram is its app design. You check the guide of UI/UX principles to help you decide the total cost of developing your Instagram app. The given table can help you out here.

►App Compatibility

The platforms you select for launching the app play an essential role here. You need to rectify the compatibility of your app with platforms such as iOS, and Android. Selecting a single platform to design the app can cost you less than covering both platforms to launch your app.

►Tech Stack

The tech stack and frameworks that you use for app development can affect the ease and cost of an app. When you decide on the languages, framework, and database for designing the app, it takes costs. Here’s a table to check more.

►Development Team

The team you select for developing the app can affect the Budget. Hence, you should consider two important factors before deciding on the cost. These factors include the location and expertise of the team members. Here’s a table to help you.

Well, as you get the idea of the cost of making an app like Instagram and the factors that are impacting it, you should also have a list of success tips that can make your app unique.

Tips to Achieve Success While Developing an App Like Instagram

Now, that we are approaching the end of the blog, we ensure that you take away important tips that can add importance to the purpose of developing your app.

Here is a list of quick tips you can undertake for making an app like Instagram.

1. Provide Customization

Customization is a trick to win the hearts of millions of app users. You should help the users to customize their profiles. This may include changing the settings of the app as users prefer to make it.

2. Ensure Users’ Security and Safety

A social media app without providing an encrypted user base can impact the overall design of the app. This will help you to retain the app users by earning their trust. Here you should provide ample options to users for ensure mobile app security.

3. Implementation of AI

In the current era, there is an increasing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in social media. This can provide you with the benefit of developing an app like Instagram. By including AI over the core features of the app, you can help your app users evaluate the changing user’s preferences.

4. Use of AR-VR Trends

AR-VR Trends are attracting the young generations and making them engage in using social media platforms. The implementation of AR filters, VR-based storytelling, and interactive 3D posts is effective in gaining the attention of app users.

5. Choose the Type of Model

Here models refer to customer-centric or business-centric models. You should decide over selecting the type of model to develop an app like Instagram. Here you need to think about a detailed project after identifying the target audience.

6. Select the Right Technology and App Design

The user interface is an important part as it is the first impression of the app. Hence you should examine its design along with the type of technologies you are using to make an app. The right tech can provide you with a wider scope of app growth.

Collaborate With Nimble AppGenie to develop an App Like Instagram

We already stated that a team plays an important role in developing an app. Hence you should decide a team wisely an after analyzing multiple factors.

Well, Nimble AppGenie is the best social Media App Development company, focused to develop apps successfully.

With an expert panel of the team, you just need to sit back and hold your breath to achieve success in the industry.

Conclusion

To make an app like Instagram, you need to go through several steps. Before that you should be aware of the current market statistics. The growing demand of users towards social media is an opportunity to enter the industry.

With reasons like growing market demand, providing user engagement, scope of innovation, and a method to earn revenue, app development is crucial. There are several Instagram features that you can adopt to ensure your app’s success. These features include direct messaging, video calling, reels, etc.

Now coming to how to build an app like Instagram? Here are the steps: initiate with market research, identify the target users, develop an MVP, design, and choose tech stack. After then develop and launch the app.

The cost can vary on certain factors along with this you can adopt current technologies to achieve success in the sector.

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.