How to Create a Messaging App Like WhatsApp For Free – An Expert’s Guide
Have you ever wondered the secret behind the success of a messaging app? Let us help you:
- Fast and Stable
- Simple and Easy-to-Use
- Cost-Effective Service
- Safe and Secure Connection
- Cope with a Weak Internet Connection
Sounds good? Well, WhatsApp has covered all of these attributes. It has emerged as the best ever messaging app so far and radically changed the way we communicate and share files with our friends and family. Today, WhatsApp is leading the global messaging app industry with 2B active users.
The app has reached the pinnacle of success, and businesses are striving to follow its footsteps and make headway. If you’re also planning to create a messaging app like WhatsApp and touch the heights of success, this article is for you. Here you will find the necessary aspects that can smoothen your app development journey.
What is WhatsApp?
Founded by Brian Acton and Jan Koum in 2009, WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to exchange messages in real-time. It is a cost-effective alternative to short message service rendered by mobile carrier networks. It is said that WhatsApp has done to SMS what Skype did to international calling. Today, the app is available everywhere, from smartphones and tablets to PCs and Macbooks. This is why your idea to create a messaging app like WhatsApp is quite logical.
How to Make a Messaging App Like Whatsapp?
In today’s digital world with lots of competition, it is very important to stay ahead of the competition. It is not an easy task to launch a new app, reach the right target audience, and boost installations. So, having a plan in place is very important in order for your app to be successful in the end. Luckily, with Appsgeyser, the process is extremely easy. In just a few steps, you can make an app exactly like WhatsApp. Follow the steps below in order to create a messaging app like WhatsApp and its alternative app like WhatsApp shared inbox create a new business opportunity for yourself.
Step 1 – Brainstorm Your Idea
Before you can create your messaging app, you need to think about everything that will influence your messaging app from the idea to the launch of the app. Think about the challenges or obstacles that you may encounter during the development process. Firstly, you should determine who your target audience is and then you need to figure out how your app will add value to their life. You can also, conduct research to gain certain knowledge about your target market and create a list of features that you need to integrate into your app.
Step 2 – Decide the Platform
After you have evaluated who your target audience is, and worked out what features you want to include in your app, you need to select the platform for developing your application. Are you going to develop your app for Android, iOS, or both devices?
Native Android and iOS apps offer an improved user experience and performance but demand a lot of time and resources for development. If you want to make your app available on both platforms, you can also create a cross-platform app using frameworks like React Native and Flutter. This way you can easily create an app like WhatsApp. We also recommend you initially roll out a minimum viable product (MVP) to validate your idea.
Later on, you can create a full-fledged messaging app based on user feedback. This approach can help you reduce development costs as well as time to market.
Step 3 – Focus on User Experience (UX)
The UX of your app can make or break the success of your application. The User Experience of your app is a big factor that significantly impacts the usability, installation rate, and customer review. Apps that offer sub-par UX end up being uninstalled. WhatsApp had an intuitive and interactive UX, which prompted the users to do what the company actually wanted – texting like there is no tomorrow. So, it is crucial to pay attention to the UI/UX of your app if you wish to impress users in the first interaction and avoid a high uninstallation rate.
Step 4 – Add Features To Create Your Own WhatsApp Chat App
When you get to the 4th step you have made it to the step where your app is almost ready to go live! Before you can publish your app, you need to make sure that your chat app includes the most important features that all chat apps should include.
These features include;
- Registration,
- Address book for contacts,
- One-on-one chat, and group chats,
- Voice, or video calls,
- Multimedia file transmission features,
- and Notifications.
The features we listed above is the most important features any chat app like WhatsApp should consist of. Once you are sure that your app includes all of these features, you can move on to the final step.
Step 5 – Publish Your WhatsApp Chat App
This in the final and last step in your WhatsApp app creation process. If you worked through all of the above steps and you reviewed your app, and its features, you can publish your app and market it to your audience.
What are the Key Features of WhatsApp?
Easy and Secure Registration Process
WhatsApp allows you to register via a mobile number. Once you enter your number, the app will send you an OTP that you have to enter to verify your number. WhatsApp also notifies you when your account is opened on any other device.
Profile Customization
WhatsApp enables you to add your profile picture, enter a name, and set a status. You can also change your privacy settings to hide your online status and last seen. Besides, you can enable face ID to unlock Whatsapp.
Instant Messaging
WhatsApp has integrated Extensible Messaging & Presence Protocol (XMPP) into the app to allow you to send messages within seconds. To add an extra level of security to the app, Whatsapp stores messages on the server for a while. As soon as the receiver receives the message, it gets deleted from the server.
Phone and Video Calls
Besides messaging, WhatsApp also provides a facility to have voice calls with your family and friends for free. If a voice call is not enough, you can also have video calls. Thus, this feature facilitates communicating with loved ones even if they are miles away.
Group Chats
You can also create a group to chat with multiple people at a time. This way, you can always stay connected to the groups of people you never want to lose, such as your family or school friends. You can also name your group, add a picture, mute or customize notifications, and more.
Voice Messages
Sometimes, you need to drop an urgent message but are running out of time. Instead of typing a long message, WhatsApp enables you to quickly record the message with just one tap and send it away.
File Transfer
WhatsApp allows you to share photos and videos with a few taps. You can even capture the moments using a built-in camera and instantly send to people even if you have a weak internet connection. Moreover, the app also facilitates sending PDFs, spreadsheets, documents, and more, eliminating the need for sharing files via email or other file sharing apps.
WhatsApp with Web and Desktop
With this feature, you can seamlessly synchronize your chat to your PC or laptop so that you can message people on whatever device is convenient for you.
Share Location
This feature allows you to send your current location with your friends to help them find you easily. You can also share your live location with them for a specific amount of time.
How Much Does it Cost to Make an App Like WhatsApp?
The process of creating a messaging app like WhatsApp pivots on UI/UX designing, backend development, and testing. The development cost of the app will vary according to its features, size, and complexities. If you reinforce your app with the features mentioned above, it would cost you between $30,000-$50,000.
How to Create an App like Whatsapp on Android for Free?
If you have a tight budget, app builders like AppGeyser allow you to create a messaging app like WhatsApp for free. Though you can’t build a full-fledged app using AppGeyser, the platform will enable you to build a basic Android app or MVP using ready-to-use templates within minutes. Thus, you can step into the market with your messaging app, and later on, upgrade your app based on the user feedback.
Features You Can Incorporate Using AppGeyser
1. Voice and Video Call – Allow users to have high-quality voice/video calls and chat with their friends and family.
2. Push Notifications – Send instant notifications to users regarding messages and voice/video calls.
3. Profile Settings – Enable users to add a profile picture, enter a name, hide their last seen, and more.
4. Media Sharing – Let users send images, videos, emojis, GIFs, documents, spreadsheets, and more in an instant.
Steps to Create a Messaging App Like WhatsApp for Free
- Open Video Calls and Chat App template and click Create App Now.
- Customize the interface with background images, camera stickers, and color schemes.
- Choose a unique name and write a brief description of your app.
- Upload your own logo or choose the default one.
- Download the APK after creating your app and follow the guide to publish it on Google Play.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WhatsApp?WhatsApp is a messaging app that enables users to exchange messages and have voice/video calls using the internet.
How to Make an App like Whatsapp?To create a messaging app like Whatsapp, you should brainstorm your development challenges, decide on features and platform, and design intuitive UI/UX.
What are the Key Features of WhatsApp?– Easy and Secure Registration Process;
– Profile Customization;
– Instant Messaging;
– Phone and Video Calls;
– Group Chats;
– Voice Messages;
– File Transfer;
– WhatsApp with Web and Desktop;
– Share Location.
The development cost of your app like WhatsApp would range between $30,000-$50,000 depending on its features, size, and complexities.
How to Create an App like Whatsapp on Android for Free?You can create a messaging app like WhatsApp for free using AppGeyser without any prior coding knowledge.
Make An App Like WhatsApp