In 2021, WhatsApp generated $8 billion in revenue. That is an impressive figure. There was an impression that after Facebook and WhatsApp, the market is closed but apps like Telegram, Lines, and WeChat came to say that it is not so. With careful consideration of market demands, you can still build a successful messaging app. Money will not flow in billions as with other popular apps but a proper messaging app can still make your business grow. Ok, then, what is the cost to build a messaging app?
If you outsource in India, a messaging app like WhatsApp will cost you $30,000. If you build elsewhere in Europe, a messaging app will cost you up to $70,000.
The difference between revenue and spending is obvious. Let’s dive more into the issue of how much you will spend to build a messaging app.
Factors impacting the app development cost
There are several factors impacting the app development cost. Here are some.
Operating system
If you decide to go with either iOS or Android, the price will be higher than if you choose a cross-platform framework like Flutter. But if you decide to go with either iOS or Android, you should consider the platform’s language. Some language developers charge more than others. For example, Swift and Objective C programmers cost higher than Java programmers.
Functionality
The number of features as well as the size of the app also determines its cost. The large and complex apps have more features. They also offer multi-language support. On the other hand, small apps are designed for a single platform and use standard UI elements.
Location of developers
This is perhaps one of the first cost drivers for web and mobile applications. Since developers in the US, Canada, and Western Europe charge twice and even thrice as much as those in Asia and Eastern Europe, therefore the cost of the app changes by hiring developers in various regions. Here is an image for the developer fees in various regions.
Maintenance cost
Once again it is important who is in charge of your app maintenance, i.e., updating to the latest versions of third-party services, fixing bugs, code optimization, controlling app stability, and performance of servers.
On-going support takes is long-term and finding the right team will save you money. But never compromise on your app quality and security by trying to save money.
Tech stack affecting the cost of an app
Building an app can cost you a couple of hundred thousand or just one dozen. Not only do the factors mentioned above affect the cost but also the tech stack chosen. For example, JavaScript (Node.js) is the cheapest option in the market. The same programming language can be used for both the backend and front end. But of course, you can find free frameworks. Framework 7 is an example of an open-source and free tool that you can use. It can run on any platform. There are other free frameworks like Ionic, Flutter, Xamarin, and the rest.
So, why do people pay for tech stack? Why don’t they use free options? Since they are hybrid when you target a single platform this may take away from functionality. Therefore, if you are after only iOS or Android, it’s better to choose the native language.
What is the time frame?
A simple app may take some 10 days. Well, at least some of the developers say that. But to build a chat app as complex as WhatsApp may take 4 to 6 months if you build a messaging app from scratch. You understand that timing also affects the cost. If you want a simple chat app for your business, I would say a minimum of 1 month is needed but that’s my speculation. Please refer to your app development company for the preliminary estimation of timing.
Features of Messenger Apps
Features are another determinant of the cost. The more functionality your app has, the more time will be needed to hire developers and pay a service fee. So, what to do? Do you need to save on cost or build a full-functioning app? Well, it depends on your intent. I wouldn’t bother with complex features if I don’t aspire to go into competition with big apps like WhatsApp or Facebook. So, it all depends on your business.
Some features are common for all messaging apps. These are basic functionalities that are must-have for any messaging app. Others are more complex.
Here are the basic features:
- Simple log-in
- Contact integration and sharing
- User profiles
- Messaging
- File exchanging
- Notification
- Cloud storage and backup
- Data security and encryption
- Chatbots.
If you want to stand out, here are some extra features:
- Voice calls, video calls
- Audio messages
- Games
- Location tracking and sharing
- Extra security features.
How much would it cost?
Above all, how much does it cost to build an app in general? If you do just a simple search, you will see that the numbers vary. As we already talked, it is because of various factors like the service fee of developers or the number of features.
But to give you a rough estimate that will help you have some idea, here is a scheme to look at.
- Prototype – up to $5000
- Application development – up to $28000
- Backend development – from $17000.
To put it more simply, it will cost you somewhere between $30,000 to $50,000.
Final thought
I have gone through several factors that affect the cost to build a messaging app. Some of these are common sense but others need further review. This was a short introduction that can be helpful in the initial phase of your research. Please consult developers for specific answers. An important thing at this stage is to find the right development company that will be reasonable both on budget and does not compromise on quality. As a final note, I would recommend contacting those in Eastern Europe like Armenia or Serbia for a reasonable price.
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