Want to develop a social media app?
Well, before even wondering about app development, the foremost thing that comes to mind is cost. Before deciding on the app, you decide the budget, right?
This is the significance of identifying the cost prior you think of developing an app. There are certain factors on which the cost depends. Since, while developing a social media app, you should be aware of factors impacting cost.
Here, you will find all the answers related to cost, factors impacting cost, strategies to minimize cost, and monetization models. Let’s get started.
The Average Cost to Make a Social Media App
How much does social media app development cost?
The average cost to develop a social media app can range from $30,000 to $350,000.
We have provided you with a range because it all depends on the features that you select for the app development process.
Want to study the factors impacting the cost to create a Social media app? Let’s study them in the following section.
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Factors Impacting the Cost to Develop Social Media App
How much does it cost to develop a social media app?
Well, we have already presented you with a range to deal with this question. An app development cost can differ from project to project.
Every social networking platform is unique on its own. They have their own set of features, a unique combination of platform, design, and technology that makes the platform different.
Hence, if you decide to calculate the overall cost to build a social media app, then you should understand these factors very well. Here is a list that can help you with the same.
1. Complexity
Under this factor, you need to remember a simple formula. More features result in more cost. This is due to the development time and resources it will require to make an app.
Complex features including real-time chat, geolocation, augmented reality, or machine learning algorithms will increase the cost of creating a social media app. Check out the table below to know more.
| Complexity Factor | Description | Cost Range |
| Low | Simple requirements, minimal customization. | $30,000 – $60,000 |
| Moderate | Some customization and integration are required. | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| High | Extensive customization, and complex integration. | $120,000 – $200,000 |
| Very High | Highly specialized requirements, and intricate integration. | $200,000 – $350,000 |
Well, hiring a mobile app developer can help you to have a proper guide on the complexity and other factors of cost impact as well.
2. App Design
UI/UX design of an app can affect the cost to make a Social Media app. User interface and user experience design complexity also affect costs.
Here you will identify that intricate designs, animations, and custom interactions require more time as well as effort from designers and developers that can increase UI/UX design costs.
A well-designed UI requires the developer’s expertise and also includes extensive research. Check the table below for more details.
| App Design Aspect | Description | Cost Range |
| UI/UX Design | User interface and user experience design. | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Platform | Designing for iOS, Android, or cross-platform. | $30,000 – $100,000 |
| Features | Complexity and number of features to be included. | $50,000 – $200,000 |
| Customization | Level of customization required for branding or unique functionality. | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Responsiveness | Ensuring app responsiveness across devices and screen sizes. | $40,000 – $100,000 |
| Accessibility | Compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines. | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Total Cost | $30,000 – $350,000 |
Before you head on to UI/UX design, you should check the guide to create mobile app wireframes.
3. Platform
The choice of app platforms, including iOS, Android, and cross-platform, can impact the social media mobile app development cost.
Here you will find that the cost may increase for several platforms that you will select for deployment of an app. You need to hire iOS app developers and Android app developers.
They will write code for each platform and use tools suitable for your app. Check the list below for details.
| Factor | Description | Cost Range |
| App Platform | Designing for iOS, Android, or cross-platform. | $30,000 – $100,000 |
| UI/UX Design | User interface and user experience design. | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Features | Complexity and number of features to be included. | $50,000 – $200,000 |
| Customization | Level of customization required for branding or unique functionality. | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Responsiveness | Ensuring app responsiveness across devices and screen sizes. | $40,000 – $100,000 |
| Accessibility | Compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines. | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Total Cost | $30,000 – $350,000 |
4. Tech Stack
The choice of tech stack influences the cost of developing a social media app. When you select popular technologies like react native or Flutter for cross-platform development, it can reduce the costs as compared to native development for iOS and Android.
Here you can keep in mind utilizing cloud services like AWS or Google Cloud that can streamline development and may add to operational costs over time.
Moreover, the complexity and specific requirements of social media apps can affect cost. Here’s a table to check out.
| Feature | Cost Estimation ($) |
| User Authentication | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| User Profiles | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| News Feed | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| Messaging | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Photo/Video Sharing | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Push Notifications | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Search Functionality | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Analytics | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Admin Panel | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Cross-platform Support | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| Total Estimation | $125,000 – $250,000 |
5. Development Team
The development team plays an important role in creating an app. Moreover, in this case, you should consider two major factors including the location and expertise of the team.
The location of the development team is important to evaluate in deciding the final cost. However, the cost to build a Social Media app can also vary depending on the hourly rates of developers.
Here the rate can change based on regions and expertise impacting cost to hire developers. You can check the table below for more information.
| Development Team | Description | Countries/Regions | Cost Range |
| Offshore Development Team | A team of developers based in offshore locations with varying expertise levels. | India, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia | $30,000 – $100,000 |
| In-house Development Team | A team of in-house developers located in the same country as the company, offering closer collaboration. | United States, Western Europe, Australia | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Hybrid Development Team | A combination of offshore and in-house developers, leveraging the benefits of both approaches. | Global (mix of various regions) | $80,000 – $200,000 |
| Remote Freelance Developers | Hiring freelance developers remotely on a project basis offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness. | Global (freelancers from various regions) | $60,000 – $150,000 |
Effective mobile app development services can be helpful to you in analyzing the right cost based on the mentioned features.
Strategies to Minimize the Cost of Making a Social Media App
Well, as you are aware the social media app development cost estimation. The next thought that will come to mind can be is there any process to reduce the cost of building a social media app.
Yes, there is. Want to know how? You can check here the strategies that can assist you in reducing the cost. Let’s count them one after the other.
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Define Your Core Features
In this strategy, you should create a minimum viable product (MVP). It will assist you in deciding the core features suitable for your app and can reduce the development cost of a social media app.
Here you should start by prioritizing essential functionalities for your app, including user authentication, profiles, news feed, and basic messaging.
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Use Open-Source Framework
You should consider the usage of open-source frameworks, including react native or Flutter for development. Here you can construct apps that run on iOS and Android with a single codebase.
This strategy can assist you in exploring available open-source libraries and APIs for functionalities like user authentication, push notification, and social media integration.
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Outsource Wisely
You should consider in-housing and outsourcing as important activity. It will help you to outsource non-core tasks or specific development stages to cost-effective offshore or nearshore development teams.
To ensure a reduction in social media app development costs, you should consider factors like region, experience, and skill set while selecting an outsourcing associate.
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Implement Scalability
While developing an app, you should focus on scalability by building the cost of a social media app. You can select a cloud-based total infrastructure that scales up your app and can make it flexible.
You can also use cloud structures like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) by providing various scalable services that can cater to your particular needs.
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Use an Automated Method for Testing
You can implement automatic testing tools that can reduce the time and resources required for manual testing. It will assist you in reducing the development cost of social media apps by discovering bugs and regressions early on.
These tools can even prevent pricey delays and transformation. You should automate the deployment technique to streamline app updates and reduce the chances of human errors.
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Continuous Optimization
A regular monitor of app performance and user feedback can be helpful in identifying areas for optimization and improvement. To implement this strategy, you should prioritize the user needs and cost-effectiveness.
App performance optimization is one of the end steps in a product experimentation process. In this process, you are feeding all your learning back to the earlier stages of the process. Here you can reduce the cost to build a social networking app by regularly updating the app and enhancing its features.
Monetization Models to Earn Money From Social Media Apps
Till now, you have got the cost to develop a social media app, factors impacting the cost, along with strategies to minimize it.
Well, after spending a high cost to make a social networking platform, you might be thinking of identifying the modes to earn money.
Now, it’s time to evaluate the app monetization models useful to earn money after developing an app. Here is a list of models that you can follow.
► In-app Advertising
In this type of advertising, it involves displaying ads within the app to generate revenue. You can display banner ads, interstitial ads, rewarded video ads, and other formats. This model can be efficient in displaying ads to the users relying on demographics, interests, and online behavior.
► Affiliate Marketing
This type of marketing helps the apps earn commissions by promoting external products as well as services. You can use this strategy to cover social media platform development costs by partnering with brands to promote their products and earning commissions in between.
► Data Monetization
When you develop a social media app, a high amount of data will be gathered, including user names, preferences over products, etc. This will be used as a strategy to earn revenue by analyzing the data and developing reports that can be useful for other brands.
► Partnership and Sponsorship
If an app becomes popular in a particular niche market, app developers can partner with these specific companies to promote their brands. You can collaborate with brands or companies to sponsor app features, events, and content.
► Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is one of the important ways to inject funds into the venture, especially in the early stages of a free app’s development. These sites make money from the percentage of the funds raised or by directly charging the backers and investors.
► Freemium Model
This model is based on the principle of providing the app’s copy for free with a limited basic set of functions. Additional, more advanced features can be purchased inside the app for a small fee in exchange.
How Can Nimble AppGenie Help in Developing a Social Media App?
Well, you might have got an idea related to social networking app development costs. We have already discussed that selecting the potential team for the app development is important and cost can vary in relation to this factor.
Why don’t you find a trusted company to help you with this process?
Partner with Nimble AppGenie who ensures you enhance your app’s presence in the market. We are the best social media app development company that can assist you in making your dream app come true.
Conclusion
The cost of developing a social media app is a crucial consideration that goes hand in hand with the development process. Understanding the factors impacting cost is essential for effective planning.
With an average cost ranging from $30,000 to $350,000, depending on selected features, it’s imperative to analyze factors such as complexity, app design, platform choice, tech stack, and development team expertise.
Furthermore, monetization models like in-app advertising, affiliate marketing, data monetization, partnerships, crowdfunding, and the fermium model offer avenues to generate revenue post-development.
FAQs
Several factors impact the cost of developing a social media app, including complexity, app design, platform choice, tech stack, and development team expertise. The complexity of features, UI/UX design intricacy, platform selection (iOS, Android, cross-platform), and chosen technologies all contribute to the overall cost.
The average cost to develop a social media app typically ranges from $30,000 to $350,000. However, the final cost can vary based on the specific features chosen, development approach, and project requirements.
You can minimize the cost of developing a social media app by defining core features, utilizing open-source frameworks, outsourcing wisely, implementing scalability, automating testing, and continuously optimizing the app. These strategies help streamline development efforts and reduce unnecessary expenses.
Monetization models for social media apps include in-app advertising, affiliate marketing, data monetization, partnerships and sponsorships, crowdfunding, and the freemium model. Each model offers unique ways to generate revenue through user engagement, partnerships, data insights, and premium features.
App design complexity, including UI/UX design intricacy, platform-specific design requirements, feature customization, responsiveness, and accessibility compliance, can significantly affect development costs. Intricate designs and custom interactions may require more time and effort from designers and developers, leading to higher costs.
The development team’s location and expertise play a crucial role in determining the cost of developing a social media app. Factors such as hourly rates, region-specific labor costs, and the skill set of developers impact the overall project cost. Offshore, in-house, hybrid or freelance development teams offer varying cost structures and expertise levels.
To estimate the cost of developing a social media app for your project, consider factors such as desired features, design complexity, platform requirements, tech stack preferences, and development team structure. Partnering with a trusted development company like Nimble AppGenie can provide personalized cost estimation and guidance throughout the development process.
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.
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