How To Create App Like WhatsApp?

The internet is filled with numerous chatting and communication apps. Almost 75% of users used a messaging app to connect with their family and friends. Even businesses are using such apps to update their employees with recent activities. However, among all of them, WhatsApp is one of the most popular chatting apps globally. As per the research, it was the most downloaded mobile app which has more than 40.5 million downloads in January 2022.

Source: Statista

Create WhatsApp like app sounds intimidating? And yes, it is. Developers are facing tough competition and challenges in developing chatting apps. The consumption of messaging apps is increasing day by day, and WhatsApp recorded2.0 billion users globallywho used this app monthly.

Interestingly, it is a popular messaging app in over 100 countries. Due to its massive success, the majority of business owners want to develop an app like WhatsApp. But very few of them pursue this business idea and lead to the development stage.

Therefore, creating such projects require lots of concentration, in-depth research, market knowledge, time, effort, and a huge budget. Besides this, it is imperative to know how to create an app like WhatsApp, the major tech stack, features, functionalities, and much more.

So, this guide is specially designed to help those who wondered about how to create an App like WhatsApp. Without further ado, keep reading!

What To Consider for Applications Like WhatsApp?

Ready to build a WhatsApp clone app? But wondering about the things you need to consider to make an app like WhatsApp app? So, here is the list of factors developers should know before initiating the app creation journey.

If you to know the secret to create a successful messaging app like WhatsApp, let’s read the major aspects to make an app development journey!

  • Must consider the operating platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, Web, & Mac
  • Your app Cope up with the weak internet connection
  • Security first
  • Plan your budget
  • Incorporate the latest features
  • Find out your customer’s needs & requirements
  • Your app design should be simple
  • Ensure about server architecture to avoid glitches and errors
  • Avoid app complexity
  • Must launch the MVP (minimum viable product) of your app

How To Develop an App Like WhatsApp – Steps to Follow

Well, you know WhatsApp covered all the attributes to building an app like WhatsApp is not an easy task. It is the right time to start creating messaging app.

Scroll down your screens and read on!

Step #1 – Analyze the market need

When you decide to create a leading chatting app like WhatsApp, it’s important to examine the competitive market. It is one of the essential steps to examine the current industry’s outlook and pain point of your targeted customers, clear the aim of building a similar app like WhatsApp, and provide a deep analysis of market competition.

By doing so, you have a chance to predict the need for your app and even get an idea about how to make your app unique.

Step #2 – Brainstorm your idea first

Once you analyze your findings and customer’s pinpoints and gather every single data, it is time to brainstorm your app development idea. Think of every challenge you need to encounter during the app creation process. You need to figure out things that add value to your app and becomes the changer in the world of messaging app.

The simple trick is; to make a list of advanced features that you want to integrate into your app. And try to put your analysis into action.

Step #3 – Choose your platform

After elucidating all the obstacles, select the app development platform like iOS, Mac, Android, etc. Make sure you opt for the right business model that surely aligns with your WhatsApp-like application. You must go through the play store and app store policies to come up with the perfect version.

Step #4 – Hire the best app development team

Now, you have to find the app development team who has the experienced and skills to create a perfect WhatsApp-like application. They have complete knowledge of different versions like Java, React Native, and Swift technology to build an app like WhatsApp.

Suppose you want to create an app for android studio, make sure the app developers have complete knowledge of it. Skilled and proficient developers know which tech stack will be best suits to making WhatsApp like app in Android Studio.

Step #5 – App Prototype

The next step is to make the prototype of your app. Do you know what is prototype? So, it is simply an interactive and operative visualization of an app that helps to identify usability faults in the app design. It tells developers what features they need to add to improve app functionality.

However, it helps to create a convenient design and app user interface that is easy to use and highly interactive. This is the time when you think about features that make your app unique among all. This is the most critical stage where you validate your idea.

Make sure you also determine the MVP features of your app. It is the simple step to test the actual digital product of your app. These two are the most crucial phase of the app development journey that validate your idea and show is it actually profitable and valuable.

Step #6 – Tech stack for app like WhatsApp

WhatsApp used Erlang programming language. This language is designed for scalable systems that offer real-time value and fulfill each requirement. To make an app like WhatsApp, you can use Node.js, PHP, XMPP, Erlang, Yaws, and Lighttpd.

Using the right tech stack will improve your app performance and functionality. These are the basic components that increase app efficiency and offer real-time communication protocols. You can use the same languages for the frontend and backend to create a cost-efficient development environment.

Step #7 – A/B Testing

At last, perform AB testing. It ensures your app functionality, and is your app working properly or not. If you find any problem you have a chance to adjust all of its working criteria and make relevant changes to improve the app experience.

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Advance Features to Add In App Like WhatsApp?

  • Secure registration process
  • Audio & video calls
  • Media file transfer
  • Share locatio
  • Push notification
  • Fingerprint lock
  • Profile customization
  • Instant messaging

Keep Up with Right Business Model

Before starting your app creation process, you need to think of different business nuances that need to consider to make an app like WhatsApp.

  • Target audience

Determine your audience first, it means check out the individuals who are interested to develop a messenger app.

  • Market competitors

Knowing your competitors is of utmost importance. You must study all your competitors and analyze the market to understand what is going on and what features make your app better. Check out the audience response to determine what they want from them.

  • Monetization

The aim of creating a WhatsApp-like app is to earn money and get paid off after its launch. So, make sure you choose the right monetization model to gain high profit, such as P2P payment, advertising, and in-app purchase.

  • App store optimization

Once your app is published on Google and App Store, do not skip an app optimization process. Must think of techniques and strategies for app promotion to nurture more users.

How Much It Cost to Develop an App Like WhatsApp?

As per the rough estimation, the cost to develop an App like WhatsApp ranges from $35,000 – $60,000. The complete app development process approximately takes 1400 hours for Android and iOS.

However, the cost of making an app like WhatsApp depends on lots of factors that include app complexity, time, development team cost, and many others. It cost even increases If you add advanced features to your application, such as Camera filters, end-to-end chat encryption, WhatsApp UPI Payment, etc.

Below you read the chart that shows cost of an app like WhatsApp according to its version;

  • Basic app version $35,000 to $41,000
  • Advance app version $42,000 to $52,000
  • Complex app version $52,000 to $60,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Start your WhatsApp-like app development process with market research, analyze customer needs, pick the best app platform, hire the team of developer, consider an app prototype or MVP, choose interactive UI/UX app design, and perform A/B testing before you launch your app.

The cost to develop an app like WhatsApp ranges from $35,000 to $60,000.

To design messaging app like WhatsApp, you need to integrate a set of features such as profile customization, Messaging, push notifications, chatting, media file transfer, contact integration, etc. If you are not a UI designer, it’s better to hire the best team of professionals.

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