The first step of the \u201cHow to build an app like WhatsApp?\u201d guide is, diving into the market.<\/p>\n
Looking at the market, and understanding its growth and user trends is a good way of preparing for your own instant messaging app development.<\/p>\n
Therefore, let\u2019s get right into it:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Big Three of the messaging<\/a> world are: WhatsApp with over 2 billion users, WeChat with a use base of 1.2 Billion, and Messenger From Meta (Facebook formerly) with 1 Billion users.<\/li>\n
- Reports show us, that 60% of the users choose instant messaging over email and even phone calls. A big factor behind the popularity of messaging apps.<\/li>\n
- 66%<\/a>of consumers are more confident about making a purchase when a company is active in messaging apps.<\/li>\n
- Messaging apps are actually more popular than social media apps.<\/li>\n
- Businesses and users exchange\u00a020 billion messages on Messenger monthly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Market statistics clearly show why so many people love messaging apps and why investors want to create a chat app like WhatsApp.<\/p>\n
Speaking of WhatsApp, let\u2019s look at an overview of the most popular messaging app in the next section.<\/p>\n
<\/span>WhatsApp, Most Popular Instant Messaging App: An Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n
Available on <\/em>iOS<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Android<\/em><\/a>, & <\/em>Web<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n
![\"WhatsApp](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WhatsApp-Active-users-over-the-time.webp\")
<\/p>\nWhatsApp, is the most popular instant messaging App in world<\/a>, with over 2.78 billion unique active users worldwide in June 2023.<\/p>\n
But what is this app exactly?<\/p>\n
For those who are new to the concept, WhatsApp<\/a> is a very popular instant messaging app or chat app. It is a freeware, cross-platform solution, which is also centralized.<\/p>\n
As the name suggests, the application lets users exchange text messages, voice messages, video\/voice calls, as well as media, over the internet. The best part is, that all of this is free of cost, one of the big reasons behind the popularity of these platforms.<\/p>\n
It was launched back in 2009 by Brian Acton\u00a0and Jan Koum.<\/p>\n
The concept behind it was to provide a plain, ad-free, and instant messaging platform. And even today, WhatsApp is one of the most examples of chat app development<\/a> in the market.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to 2014, this platform was acquired by Meta (Facebook) which led to a series of changes.<\/p>\n
A good example of this is WhatsApp Business, a version specially crafted for businesses to handle clients over WhatsApp. Launched in 2018, today the platform has over 200\u00a0million monthly users<\/a>.<\/p>\n
This begs the question, what is it that makes this chatting app so popular among users?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s answer the question below:<\/p>\n
What Makes WhatsApp Successful?<\/h3>\n
If you are planning to build a messaging app like WhatsApp, you must be wondering, what drives the popularity of these platforms.<\/p>\n
Well, there are various factors, let\u2019s look at them below:<\/p>\n
1. Free Messages<\/strong><\/h4>\n
if you compare instant messaging apps to their alternative i.e. SMS; the former is absolutely free in most cases and considerably cheaper in others. In addition to this, they are much more versatile than SMS messengers.<\/p>\n
2. Much More Than Just Messaging<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Apps like WhatsApp aren\u2019t just about texting. Users can use voice calls, video calls, share media, transfer money, and much more.<\/p>\n
3. No Distraction<\/strong><\/h4>\n
If you think about it, there are other platforms that enable instant messages like Social Media. However, there are too many distractions. Chat Apps on the other hand are dedicated to the cause.<\/p>\n
Have you ever wondered how WhatsApp makes money?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s answer this question.<\/p>\n
WhatsApp Business Model<\/h3>\n
WhatsApp follows a unique business model.<\/p>\n
Originally, WhatsApp was \u201cfreeware\u201d. Meaning the platform didn\u2019t reply to advertisements or big data.\u00a0 Rather, the platform relied on two monetization models, Subscription and donations.<\/p>\n
As a subscription based app, the platform used to charge 1$ for download and then 1$ yearly subscription. (It also depended on location, in some countries app was free to download.)<\/p>\n
However, when Meta acquired it, the platform was made free for users. The idea for the latter one was, that businesses would be picking up the cost since WhatsApp was used to drive traffic to this business.<\/p>\n
But Meta wasn\u2019t a revenue generation business for Meta, as it offers something way more valuable. This is the behavioral data and personal information of the user base. It was used to drive other services like Meta Ads on Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n
Speaking of which, now that all you need to know about WhatsApp, it\u2019s time to get back to our WhatsApp Like App Development Guide. Next up, let\u2019s see why you should develop such an app.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Why Develop A Chatting App in 2024?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Should you develop an app like WhatsApp? Why should you do it?<\/p>\n
These are some of the common questions that come to mind before you invest in mobile app development<\/a> and rightfully so.<\/p>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-Develop-a-Chatting-App.webp\")
<\/p>\nWell, here are some reasons to do it.<\/p>\n
Reason 1: Rising Market Demand<\/h3>\n
The app in question, WhatsApp, alone has over 2.5 billion users.<\/p>\n
If you look at the instant messaging industry as a whole, the total user base is expected to reach 3.51 billion by 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n
These numbers show the immense demand for dating applications in the market. A big reason why this venture can be a successful one.<\/p>\n
Reason 2: Revenue Generation Opportunity<\/h3>\n
Every business wants to make money, that\u2019s the essence of business itself. One of the best opportunities is to via instant messaging applications.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take LINE for example, one of the popular chatting apps like WhatsApp. It generated 16 million U.S. dollars<\/a> from just in-app purchases. Right behind it, Snapchat generated around 12.5 million U.S. Dollars in revenue.<\/p>\n
You get the gist of it.<\/p>\n
Reason 3: Great Return on Investment<\/h3>\n
Every investor thinks of Return on Investment, whenever they put their money in a project.<\/p>\n
However, when you make an app like WhatsApp, rest assured, that these platforms deliver a high return on investment. This is what makes it a good investment all-round.<\/p>\n
Reason 4: Texting is Popular<\/h3>\n
Did you know, that people prefer messaging over other forms of communication?<\/p>\n
In fact, instant messaging apps drive higher engagement, more users, and a much quicker response time. With 90% of messages opened in under three minutes.<\/p>\n
Another driving factor why people use these apps and want more of them is the ability to engage in multiple conversations, share media, voice calls, video calls, and other integration features. Not to mention, these applications are multilingual.<\/p>\n
It is safe to say, that texting is and will always be the most popular communication method, making it a safe investment.<\/p>\n
Reason 5: Messaging Apps vs Social Media<\/h3>\n
A lot of investors are confused between chatting and media & entertainment app development<\/a>.<\/p>\n
While both of them seem lucrative ideas, the latter is considered more so. However, reality is much different as messaging apps like WhatsApp are actually more popular than social media.<\/p>\n
You see, as a whole, messaging applications have 20% more monthly active users than social media platforms.<\/p>\n
If this isn\u2019t the reason to develop your own chat app like WhatsApp, we don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n
Speaking of creating an app, great things are born out of inspiration. So, let\u2019s look at other instant messaging apps to get inspired.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Other Messaging Apps Like WhatsApp <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
A crucial part of the answer to the question, of how to make an app like WhatsApp is, learning from the best. Therefore, in this section of the blog, we shall be looking at some of the best chatting apps<\/a>.<\/p>\n
These are, as shown in image below:<\/p>\n
![\"Top](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Top-Messaging-Apps.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>Essential Features For Chatting Apps <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Features are an essential part of creating an app like WhatsApp that stands out and drives business growth.<\/p>\n
In fact, features speak for the app itself, driving user engagement, user experience, as well as satisfaction. Even though an exact feature differs based on the application itself, there are some common features every app should have.<\/p>\n
![\"Features](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Features-to-include-in-chat-app.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSo, here are basic features to include in an app like WhatsApp:<\/strong><\/p>\n
– Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)<\/h3>\n
VOIP or voice over internet protocol is also known as voice call in layman\u2019s terms. This is the feature that lets users call each other from apps like WhatsApp.<\/p>\n
– Video Call<\/h3>\n
As the name suggests, this functionality allows two or more WhatsApp users to connect on real-time live streaming. Much like how websites like Omegle<\/a> work.<\/p>\n
– Group Calls<\/h3>\n
Group call is a feature that applies to both video calls and voice calls. It enables the user to add multiple others to their voice or video call in a conference sort of fashion. In addition to this, users can also create groups where they can add multiple people.<\/p>\n
– End-to-End Encrypted Chat<\/h3>\n
This is a great security feature that you find in real-time chat apps like WhatsApp. This technology encrypts messages and other communication data which are then decrypted at the other end, ensuring secure communication.<\/p>\n
– Push Notification<\/h3>\n
Yet another basic feature, push notification<\/a> enables the app to send alerts to the user\u2019s phone. This keeps them updated on the latest messages and other events.<\/p>\n
– Cloud Synchronization<\/h3>\n
Well, this is a feature that you surely can\u2019t miss when you build an instant messaging app. Cloud synchronization lets the user enjoy cross-device functionality, protecting data, and accessing their messages from any and everywhere.<\/p>\n
– Multimedia Support<\/h3>\n
Multimedia support is quite an important feature. It enables users to share media like audio files, images, video files, and other formats in chats.<\/p>\n
– Geolocation Integration<\/h3>\n
Lastly, we have a geofencing feature, it\u2019s also often known as geolocation. It enables real-time location sharing and tracking functionality in chatting applications.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Advanced Features For Chatting Apps<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Advance](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Advance-Features-to-have-in-Chat-App.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSpeaking of how to build a real-time chat app like WhatsApp, just basic features won\u2019t do. Here are some advanced features that you should consider including.<\/p>\n
– Payment Integration<\/h3>\n
Digital payment gateway integration<\/a> is one of the trending advanced features in instant messaging applications. As the name suggests, this lets the user send money or request it in the chat itself. It is often seen in popular chatting apps.<\/p>\n
– Private Chat<\/h3>\n
This is an advanced feature of WhatsApp-like apps that lets users keep a chat private or hidden. It can be locked behind another authentication gate which can be PIN, Password, or Biometric authentication<\/a>.<\/p>\n
– Story\/Status<\/h3>\n
The feature of uploading status or story was first started by apps like Instagram<\/a>. But today, majority of the instant messaging applications have adopted it too. It leads to better engagement and improved app time.<\/p>\n
– Message Broadcast<\/h3>\n
Lastly, we have a message broadcasting feature. If the user doesn\u2019t want to create a group, yet they want to send a message to several people, they can broadcast it via this feature.<\/p>\n
So, these are the basic and advanced features to consider when you make your own chat app like WhatsApp. Speaking of creating an app, it\u2019s time to dive into the \u201chow to\u201d of the same.<\/p>\n
![\"Develop](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/CTA-2_-Create-Instant-Messaging-App-\u2013-Instantly.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>Step-by-Step Process To Make An App Like WhatsApp<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
It\u2019s time to make an instant messaging app like WhatsApp.<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s how do you do it?<\/p>\n
Well, the app development process<\/a> for this project is complex, long, and sophisticated. However, in this section of the blog, we shall be discussing all you need to know about it, from ideation to deployment.<\/p>\n
![\"Instant](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Instant-Messaging-App-Development-Process.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSo let\u2019s get right into it:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Step 1. Ideation\/Validation<\/h3>\n
First step to building a messaging app is coming up with an idea.<\/p>\n
While there\u2019s no fixed path you can take to find a concept or specific niche, what you can do is look for real-life problems or user issues that you can solve with your chatting app like WhatsApp.<\/p>\n
This is what – WhatsApp \u2013 itself did when it first came to market.<\/p>\n
And when you have an idea, you need to cross-check whether or not it\u2019s applicable, developable, and marketable.<\/p>\n
Step 2. Market Research<\/h3>\n
Once you have a concept for the messaging app, we get down to app market research<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you need to deal with in this step:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Find Target Audience<\/li>\n
- Competitor Analysis<\/li>\n
- Market Analysis<\/li>\n
- Figure out market trends<\/li>\n
- Sales and Marketing Research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Now, there are various ways to cover it, go with the ones that suit you the best. The information collected in this step works as fuel for the entire development. It is using this information that we create a plan.<\/p>\n
Step 3. Planning<\/h3>\n
WhatsApp-like app development is a complex process; thus, before we start the actual development, we need to create a plan.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s see what we need to do here.<\/p>\n
– App Platform<\/h4>\n
The first thing you need to do is choose an app development platform.<\/p>\n
Here, you can either go with Android or iOS app development<\/a>. Both of these are native platforms and offer amazing feature sets as well as performance.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, you can also go with cross-platform apps. React Native app development<\/a> is the most popular choice to create a hybrid application.<\/p>\n
– Tech Stack<\/h4>\n
It\u2019s time to choose a tech stack for app development<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Here are the options to choose from:<\/p>\n
![\"Develop](\"https:\/\/www.nimbleappgenie.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/CTA-1_-Do-you-want-to-develop-an-app-like-WhatsApp.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\n