Instant messaging apps that are just a subtype of social networking apps with limited public features are going to reach significant revenues in 2021. 

According to the most recent statistics, WhatsApp has 1.6 billion users, while Facebook Messenger has 1.3 billion users and WeChat has over 1 billion users by the end of the year. In terms of profits, both audience size and engagement rate are critical for apps.  

The messaging app market demonstrates continuous evolution, and there’s still a chance to build a WhatsApp-like app that will get a decent market share.

What is WhatsApp?  

You must be living under the rock if you’re not aware of what WhatsApp is! 

WhatsApp, which was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, has now evolved into the most idealized instant messaging chat app. There isn’t a single mobile user who hasn’t used or heard of the WhatsApp chat app. Of course, when the app was first released, there was little competition in the mobile app store, especially because the concept of directly connecting phone-book contacts for chatting was novel at the time.

The big part of WhatsApp success relies on the following capabilities:

Is it a good idea to Develop Messaging apps Like WhatsApp?

So you might want to make a messaging app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger – but is it really worth it?

Our world has been forever altered by the rise of social media. It became a prominent part of reality for the younger generation, as well as having a significant impact on the older audience. Even grandparents today frequently use social media to communicate with their children and grandchildren. Furthermore, when some people wake up, the first thing they do is check their WhatsApp account.

Of course, this does not imply that any chat application can be a success. People, on the other hand, value such products and expect them to be modern, user-friendly, and feature-rich. It is possible to develop an app for Android, iOS, or Flutter App Development.

Steps on how to create an app like WhatsApp

If you intend to build an app like WhatsApp, you should follow these steps below:

Step 1- Choose a proper business model to keep up with to build an app like WhatsApp

Step 2– Find experienced developers that know how to make app like WhatsApp

Step 3– Consider team’s location

Step 4– Build the app architecture

Step 5– Add MVP features to create your own WhatsApp

Step 6– Build a great design for your WhatsApp-like app.

Also Read: – Real-time Audio, Video Call, & Chat with WebRTC – Everything you should know about it.

Key Features in Messaging Apps-

Here we list those messaging app functions that the app cannot exist without.

User Authorization: – 

App users should be able to create a personal account. Implementing a one-click user sign-up option via social media is a wise idea.

Contact Importing: –

For a better user experience, your messaging app should be able to access existing user contacts and automatically import them into the messaging app. A strategic step would be to highlight for end-users which of their contacts are already using this messenger. 

Messaging Capability: – 

This is the foundational feature of any messaging app. This feature should provide a simple, straightforward, and intuitive user experience.

Photo and Files Sharing: – 

Users nowadays require the ability to exchange files, videos, photos, and other content. As a result, ensure that your messaging app supports various app attachments.

Push Notifications: – 

This is a critical component in the development of any messaging app. This is the function that allows the user to determine whether or not someone has sent a message. This functionality is implemented by developers using Google Cloud Messaging and Apple Push Notifications.

Chat App Features to Stand Out-

Video calls: – 

Take a look at the best chat apps if you’re wondering how to make a highly interactive chat app. They all have one thing in common: video call support. These video messaging apps allow users to communicate visually using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Chatbots: – 

Chatbots are an excellent choice for a business chat app. They enable predefined responses to common questions and messages. This is also one method for monetizing your messenger if businesses decide to use it in their operations.

Channels and groups: – 

Many of the most popular chat apps offered only one-to-one communication at the start of their evolution. All of the major platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber, now support the creation of communities. Channels and groups became a new form of communication that encouraged users to share their interests, thoughts, and opinions, as well as to discuss interesting topics.

Stickers: – 

Stickers are a welcome addition to the standard feature set. Users can use them to add emotions to their communication. Viber has taken it a step further by allowing users to create their sticker packs. Users can personalize each message they send. When you work with the best mobile app design and development company, you can maximize your benefits

Encrypted communication: – 

Telegram’s signature feature, secret chats, stores encryption keys on users’ devices, and messages can only be deciphered with smartphones. Other enhanced features of other messengers include a notification when screenshots are taken, making it impossible to forward messages from a secret chat to outside users.

Technology stack for an app like WhatsApp-

So how can you develop a chat app like WhatsApp? Start by understanding the tech stack that you’ll need. You should Hire Flutter App Developers in Houston if you want to create authentic and innovative applications.

Also Read: – Hire Expert Mobile App Developers in Houston from ThinkStart!

Authentication-

The ability to recognize users is critical for any mobile app. To protect users from fraud and spam, any messaging app should include authentication. Typically, this is accomplished through the use of a third-party API. If you want to implement phone number authentication in your chat app, you can use the Nexmo API, which provides an easy way to add a layer of security by using a phone number to authenticate new and existing customers.

Chatting-

A chat app means you’ll be receiving messages all the time. Use a WebSocket to process hundreds of thousands of messages instantly and with little to no delay. WebSockets allow you to connect the mobile app to the server in a secure manner.

User data storage-

A chat app stores a large amount of user data, such as text messages, files, and images. Backend logic must be set up to store all of this user data. This stage of development includes databases such as PostgreSQL, file storage services such as Amazon S3, and web servers such as Nginx.

Wrapping up – 

The popularity of chat messenger apps is out of this world, with billions of active users and astronomical profits. Such a level of human communication was unthinkable even a decade ago, but it is now regarded as a normal part of daily life. New messaging apps will transform the world of chat communication, enthralling a wide audience with exceptional performance and user experience.

If you want to work with an experienced software house to develop a Messaging app like WhatsApp, we’re ready to collaborate. Our team of experts will assist you in transforming it into a successful application that your users will appreciate because of its innovative, awesome features. Make a messaging app with ThinkStart Private Limited (Best Mobile App Design and Development company)– You’ll be surprised at how much we can accomplish as a group. We would be delighted to become your dependable business partner.

Get in touch with us, today- [email protected].