WhatsApp estimations
How much would it cost to develop an app like WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is not just a text messenger anymore. It now allows users to have audio and video calls, post Statuses updates similar to Instagram's Stories, share Location with friends, and much more.
Obviously, you might not need all those additional features, so feel free to check only those that you would like to be included in the estimation.
And if you would like to get a cost of making app like WhatsApp for both Android and iOS, just select both platforms below.
hourly rate
let's select an hourly rate first:
$55 per hour
Senior developers. There is nothing they can't do. Expensive, but the result will be top notch: pixel perfect design, great performance, and best user experience possible.
platforms
select what you target
login and registration
Login and registration flow is very simple in WhatsApp, which makes the user's experience way better.
WhatsApp only asks for a phone number and verifies it. If a user is new - it will ask for a name and profile picture. Otherwise, it will open the app.
To find the cost to build a messaging app like WhatsApp, just select the features that you will need. If you don't need some WhatsApp features, you can easily deselect them below.
login and registration estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 | |
| 8 | 4 | 6 | 18 | |
| 12 | 8 | 6 | 26 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 56 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $3,080 |
Messaging
The core feature of WhatsApp is obviously - messaging. Let's try to check all the main screens related to it, and figure out how much time they could take
On Chat List Screen, WhatsApp will only show people with whom user already started a conversation. If you would like to start a chat with a new person - you can try to find a contact in existing Address Book, or you could try to create a new contact.
Except text messages, users can send photos, videos, voice messages, and share their location.
Messaging estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 12 | 8 | 32 | |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 14 | |
| 12 | 8 | 4 | 24 | |
| 16 | 16 | 20 | 52 | |
| 4 | 12 | 4 | 20 | |
| 4 | 12 | 4 | 20 | |
| 12 | 16 | 16 | 44 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 206 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $11,330 |
calls
Even though audio and video calls are considered part of the chat - we decided to make a separate section for these, so you can make sure to include (or exclude them) from the estimation.
If you would like to figure out a custom cost to build and maintain an application like WhatsApp - just select features that you would like to include, or write to us at kyrylo@mova.io
calls estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 16 | 8 | 32 | |
| 10 | 24 | 8 | 42 | |
| 12 | 8 | 4 | 24 | |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 14 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 112 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $6,160 |
contact profile
WhatsApp user profiles are very customizable. You don't only see user's info, but you can check all the files exchanged, starred messages, change user's tone notification, and more.
In addition, you can customize user's profile by adding info that is important to you: custom email addresses, phone numbers, notes, etc.
contact profile estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 16 | 8 | 36 | |
| 12 | 8 | 4 | 24 | |
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | |
| 8 | 8 | 4 | 20 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 108 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $5,940 |
group chats
To find out the cost to develop a chat app like WhatsApp, you can choose features that you will need in your project. If you don't plan to add group chars - you can deselect them below.
group chats estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 12 | 8 | 28 | |
| 8 | 8 | 2 | 18 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 46 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $2,530 |
status updates
Status Updates is a relatively new feature. It reminds of Instagram's Stories and becomes more and more popular.
Status Update can be a photo, video, or a text. They are all temporary and can disappear after some period.
status updates estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | |
| 8 | 16 | 4 | 28 | |
| 16 | 8 | 4 | 28 | |
| 8 | 4 | 6 | 18 | |
| 8 | 12 | 4 | 24 | |
| 8 | 8 | 6 | 22 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 148 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $8,140 |
settings
WhatsApp is very customizable. It allows you to set different notification preferences, different chat styles, change privacy and security settings and more.
It makes the app pleasant to use, but on the other hand, it increases development time and prices. So, remember - you can always deselect items that you don't need in your application!
settings estimates
select only features you need
| Interface | Logic | Backend | Total (h.) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 | |
| 8 | 8 | 2 | 18 | |
| 8 | 12 | 6 | 26 | |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 14 | |
| 12 | 16 | 8 | 36 | |
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 14 | |
| 8 | 12 | 4 | 24 | |
| 8 | 12 | 6 | 26 | |
| Estimated time (hours) | 198 | |||
| Estimated costs (USD) | $10,890 |
Selected platformsiOS and Android
Summary:
Total price for an app similar to WhatsApp (for both iOS and Android) with a selected set of features would be around $48,070.
Development itself would take 874 hours (or around 27 weeks).
Total Costs
Hourly rate: $55 per 1h.$48,070
Total Time
874 hours~27 weeks