Social Media App Development
Cost to Create an App Like WhatsApp in 2026 ($20k–$120k)
December 16, 2025
December 16, 2025
Messaging applications have become an essential part of modern communication, connecting people instantly across the globe.
Among all messaging platforms, WhatsApp stands out as one of the most successful and widely used apps, with over 2 billion active users worldwide.
As businesses and startups look to enter this growing market, one of the first questions they ask is:
How much does it cost to build an app like WhatsApp?
The answer is not fixed. The development cost depends on several factors, such as features, platform choice, security requirements, backend infrastructure, and the location of the development team.
This guide provides a detailed, realistic, and SEO-optimized cost breakdown to help you plan effectively.
Developing an app like WhatsApp is profitable; it seems profitable because of massive growth and an increase in demand for messaging platforms. WhatsApp had over 2 billion active users by 2023, making it one of the most popular apps worldwide.
This popularity stems from its simplicity, reliability, and wide-reaching user base, making it an attractive model for new development.
Meanwhile, the messaging app market is expected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 12% from 2023 to 2030, according to Statista.
It was projected that WhatsApp Business would generate approximately $1 billion in revenue in 2022, as noted by Business of Apps.
This API is increasingly used for customer service, promotions, and direct communication between businesses and consumers. Furthermore, WhatsApp introduced WhatsApp Pay, a feature that enables peer-to-peer payments and generates revenue through transaction fees.
The cost of developing an app like WhatsApp varies based on several critical factors, including the features you plan to build, the platforms you target (Android, iOS, or both), the complexity of the app design, and the geographic location and expertise of your development team.
On average, the development cost of a WhatsApp-like messaging app ranges between $20,000 and $120,000, depending on the scope and scale of the project.
A basic version of a WhatsApp-like app includes essential features such as one-to-one text messaging, emojis, file sharing, and simple group chats.
These apps require minimal backend infrastructure and are suitable for startups looking to launch quickly.
Estimated cost: $20,000 – $40,000
Best for: MVPs and early-stage products
Adding advanced features such as voice and video calling, end-to-end encryption, real-time push notifications, message synchronization across devices, and enhanced security significantly increases development complexity.
These features require scalable servers, real-time communication protocols, and stronger data protection mechanisms.
Estimated cost: $50,000 – $120,000+
Best for: Scalable, enterprise-ready messaging platforms
Developing a WhatsApp-like app for both iOS and Android increases the overall cost due to additional testing, optimization, and platform compatibility requirements.
However, using cross-platform frameworks such as Flutter or React Native can help reduce development time while maintaining consistent functionality across devices.
Estimated cost: $50,000 – $80,000
Post-launch, continuous maintenance is essential to ensure app stability, security, and performance.
Maintenance typically includes bug fixes, feature updates, server hosting, and compatibility updates for new OS versions.
Annual maintenance cost: Approximately 15–20% of the initial development cost
Overall, the cost of creating an app like WhatsApp depends heavily on feature depth, technical complexity, platform selection, and the quality of the development team.
Proper planning and a phased development approach can help control costs while ensuring long-term scalability.
Here’s a real example of how a business built a WhatsApp-like app without overspending:
A mid-sized business needed a secure, real-time messaging app for internal communication and customer interactions. The goal was a scalable solution with essential features under a controlled budget.
Key Features Required:
One-to-one & group messaging
Media sharing (images, documents)
Push notifications & basic authentication
End-to-end encryption
Tech Stack Used:
Frontend: React Native
Backend: Node.js with WebSocket
Database: MongoDB, AWS hosting
Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging
Development Timeline
Planning & UI/UX: 3 weeks
Core development: 8 weeks
Testing & QA: 3 weeks
Total duration: ~14 weeks
Timeline & Cost:
Total Duration: ~14 weeks
Total Cost: ~$39,000
| Task | Costing |
| UI/UX | $2,500 |
| Frontend | $12,000 |
| Backend | $15,000 |
| Security | $5,000 |
| Testing | $4,500 |
Results:
MVP launched within budget
Supported 10,000+ users without issues
Scalable backend for future voice/video features
Reduced internal communication costs by 30%
Takeaway: Focusing on essential features and cross-platform development helped build a WhatsApp-like app efficiently and cost-effectively.
Development of an app like WhatsApp, a popular communication platform, where the overall cost is dependent on multiple factors.
The cost to build an application like WhatsApp may vary depending on complexity, team experience, platform type, and many other things.
These factors can be broken down into essential components such as platform choice, features, UI/UX design, technology stack, backend development, and maintenance.
|
Features |
Description |
Cost Estimate |
|
Platform Type |
Separate codebases for iOS and Android or cross-platform. |
$3,000 |
|
Features and Functionality |
Core features: messaging, voice calls, media sharing. |
$7,000 |
|
UI/UX Design |
Basic intuitive design across devices. |
$2,500 |
|
Technology Stack |
Tech stack for mobile and backend development |
$4,000 |
|
Backend Development |
Server-side logic, database management, API integration |
$6,000 |
|
Security and Privacy |
Encryption, secure authentication, and data privacy compliance |
$3,500 |
|
Testing and Quality Assurance |
Comprehensive testing for bugs, performance, and compatibility. |
$2,000 |
|
App Maintenance and Updates |
Regular updates, bug fixes, and OS compatibility maintenance. |
$2,500 / year |
Below is a detailed breakdown of the core elements that influence the cost to build an app like WhatsApp.
Platform selection is one of the most critical cost-defining factors when developing a WhatsApp-like messaging app.
WhatsApp is available on both Android and iOS, which traditionally requires separate codebases for each platform.
Native development ensures high performance and platform-specific optimization, but it significantly increases development time and cost.
The scope and complexity of features play a major role in determining the overall cost of building a messaging app like WhatsApp.
Core Features Include:
Real-time text messaging
Voice and video calling
Multimedia sharing (images, videos, audio)
End-to-end encryption
Status updates
Push notifications
Advanced Features That Increase Cost:
Group chats and broadcast messages
Live location sharing
File transfer and cloud storage
Chatbots and AI-based automation
Third-party integrations (payments, CRM, APIs)
The more feature-rich and sophisticated the app, the more resources are required for development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance, leading to a higher overall cost.
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design are essential for the success of a messaging app.
An app like WhatsApp must be simple, intuitive, and visually appealing, catering to users of all age groups—from tech-savvy millennials to non-technical users. Designing such an experience requires:
Custom icons and buttons
Smooth animations and transitions
Logical navigation flow
Responsive layouts for multiple screen sizes and devices
The cost of UI/UX design depends on the level of customization, branding, and design sophistication.
A well-designed UI/UX improves user retention and engagement, but also adds to the total development budget.
The choice of technology stack significantly influences the performance, scalability, and cost of developing a WhatsApp-like app.
WhatsApp initially used Erlang for its backend due to its ability to handle massive concurrent connections and real-time messaging efficiently.
Key technology decisions include:
Backend programming languages (Erlang, Node.js, Python, Java)
Frontend technologies (Swift, Kotlin, JavaScript, React)
Databases (SQL vs. NoSQL)
Cloud infrastructure and APIs
Using proven and well-established technologies can reduce development risks and costs, while adopting newer or custom solutions may require specialized expertise, increasing overall expenses.
Backend development is one of the most complex and cost-intensive components of a messaging app like WhatsApp.
The backend must support:
Real-time message delivery
Media storage and sharing
Voice and video calling
User authentication and data synchronization
High availability and scalability
This requires powerful servers, databases, APIs, real-time communication protocols, and cloud infrastructure.
A secure, scalable, and high-performance backend is essential for reliability and user satisfaction, and its complexity directly affects development costs.
Security and privacy are non-negotiable for messaging applications.
WhatsApp-like apps must implement:
End-to-end encryption
Secure authentication and authorization
Data protection and secure storage
Compliance with global regulations such as GDPR
Developing and maintaining these security measures requires advanced expertise, continuous monitoring, and regular updates, which significantly increase both initial development and long-term maintenance costs.
Comprehensive testing ensures the app performs flawlessly across all platforms and devices.
QA processes include:
Functional testing
Performance and load testing
Security and vulnerability testing
Compatibility testing across devices and OS versions
Given the complexity of WhatsApp-like apps, extensive QA is essential to prevent crashes, data leaks, and performance issues.
While thorough testing increases development costs, it ensures a stable, secure, and user-friendly application.
Post-launch maintenance is a continuous and often underestimated cost factor.
Maintenance includes:
Bug fixes and performance optimization
Security patches and compliance updates
Third-party API updates
Feature enhancements based on user feedback
For apps with a large user base, maintenance costs can be substantial. Regular updates are critical to keeping the app secure, competitive, and aligned with evolving user expectations.
Hidden costs are often underestimated during the app development planning phase, yet they can significantly impact the total cost of building a messaging app like WhatsApp.
Understanding these hidden expenses helps businesses avoid budget overruns and ensures sustainable growth.
Most messaging apps rely heavily on third-party services and APIs to deliver core functionality. These services may include:
Cloud storage and hosting
Push notification services
Real-time messaging APIs
Analytics and monitoring tools
Payment gateways and authentication services
While many providers offer free or low-cost plans initially, pricing typically scales with usage.
Costs are often calculated based on API calls, data storage volume, bandwidth usage, or monthly active users.
Publishing and maintaining a messaging app on platforms like Google Play Store and Apple App Store involves recurring fees and compliance-related expenses.
Apple requires an annual developer subscription.
Google Play charges a one-time registration fee.
Beyond store fees, apps must continuously comply with evolving platform policies, privacy standards, and content guidelines.
Even with extensive testing, real-world usage often uncovers bugs, crashes, or performance bottlenecks that were not detected during development.
Post-launch expenses commonly include:
Bug fixes and hot patches
Server and database performance optimization
Scalability improvements for increased user traffic
As the app grows, backend infrastructure must be optimized to handle higher message volumes, media uploads, and concurrent users.
After launch, user support becomes a critical operational requirement. Users may need assistance with:
Account access or verification issues
Technical problems or bugs
Feature usage and app navigation
Providing support through email, live chat, or helpdesk systems requires both human resources and software tools, increasing operational costs.
Additionally, messaging and media-sharing apps often require content moderation to prevent spam, abuse, misinformation, or policy violations.
Clearly defining app requirements at the beginning helps prevent frequent changes and rework. A well-planned scope reduces development time, avoids unnecessary costs, and ensures the team stays focused on delivering quality features.
Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) allows businesses to launch with essential features only. This approach saves time and money while gathering real user feedback before investing in advanced functionalities.
Using cross-platform development frameworks such as Flutter or React Native enables a single codebase for both iOS and Android. This significantly reduces development and maintenance costs while maintaining consistent app quality.
Leveraging reusable components and open-source libraries minimizes custom development work. Reliable libraries for features like authentication, payments, and analytics help reduce the cost to create apps like WhatsApp without compromising performance or security.
Outsourcing development to experienced teams or developers in cost-effective regions can lower expenses. Selecting professionals with proven expertise ensures high-quality results while staying within budget.
Implementing automated testing helps detect bugs early and reduces manual testing effort. This prevents expensive fixes after launch and ensures stable performance across different devices.
Planning for scalability and future maintenance from the start avoids costly redesigns later. A scalable architecture supports growth while keeping long-term costs under control and maintaining quality.
WhatsApp-like messaging apps generate revenue primarily through business-oriented services and platform integrations, rather than traditional advertisements.
This approach preserves a clean user experience while creating sustainable and scalable income streams.
Below are the key monetization methods used by WhatsApp-style apps.
Messaging platforms charge businesses for access to official Business APIs, enabling automated customer communication, order updates, alerts, and support at scale.
These APIs allow companies to integrate messaging into their workflows, creating a reliable and recurring revenue source for the platform.
Many messaging apps adopt a conversation-based pricing structure, where businesses are charged per messaging session or interaction window.
Fees typically apply to outbound messages such as promotions, reminders, or transactional updates, ensuring revenue scales with business engagement and message volume.
Large organizations integrate WhatsApp-like apps with CRM, ERP, and customer support systems.
These enterprise-level integrations are often offered as paid services, allowing companies to manage customer interactions more efficiently while generating higher-value contracts for the messaging platform.
Messaging apps expand beyond communication by offering peer-to-peer payments, merchant transactions, and financial services.
Revenue is generated through transaction fees, banking partnerships, or payment processing services, turning the app into a multifunctional digital platform.
Businesses can showcase products, manage catalogs, and complete purchases directly within chat interfaces.
Messaging platforms may earn commissions, service fees, or subscription charges from these in-chat commerce capabilities, enabling seamless buying experiences for users.
Verified and premium business profiles offer enhanced visibility, credibility, analytics, and advanced messaging tools.
Companies pay subscription or verification fees to access these benefits, creating an additional recurring revenue stream while maintaining trust and platform authenticity.
Techanic Infotech is the best social media app development company that helps businesses build cost-effective messaging apps by focusing on smart planning, scalable architecture, and efficient technology choices.
The team begins by understanding your business goals and identifying essential features to develop a high-quality MVP, reducing unnecessary development costs to create apps like WhatsApp.
By using cross-platform frameworks and modern backend technologies, Techanic Infotech minimizes development time while ensuring strong performance and security.
Building an app like WhatsApp usually requires more than advanced features, as it clearly demands having a monetization strategy, scalable technology, and a cost-effective development process.
Successful messaging applications usually focus on delivering the best communication services for business and also connecting with family and friends.
Partnering with an experienced mobile app development company makes this process more efficient and successful, with affordable pricing.
With proper planning, technology stack, and development approach, businesses get the ability to create a powerful messaging application that delivers high performance, strong security with communication, and sustainable revenue by staying under budget.
The cost ranges from $20,000 to $120,000, depending on features, platform choice, design complexity, and development team location. Advanced functionalities increase the budget significantly.
Core messaging costs less, while voice/video calls, end-to-end encryption, multi-device support, real-time notifications, and advanced media sharing increase development expenses.
Yes, using MVP development, cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter, reusable components, and outsourcing to experienced developers can lower costs without compromising quality.
Ongoing maintenance, including bug fixes, server costs, updates, and feature improvements, usually amounts to 15–20% of the initial development cost annually.
Revenue comes from business APIs, in-app payments, enterprise integrations, premium accounts, and e-commerce features rather than traditional advertisements, providing sustainable income streams.
Neha Sharma is a tech expert at heart who loves exploring new technologies and turning complex ideas into easy-to-understand content. With a passion for learning and writing, she enjoys sharing insights on emerging tech, digital products, and innovation that help businesses stay ahead.