April 2020 - Mobile App Development Company UK

How to Create an App Like Zoom

Posted on April 29, 2020 by rgadmsupadaccess

2020 has brought an onslaught of uncertainties where people across the globe are being advised to maintain physical distances from each other. Such unique circumstances have forced the majority of the population and businesses to transfer to an online working approach.

To ensure that work gets done smoothly, many are increasingly becoming reliant on conference calls. Having said that, studies report that working and speaking with co-workers without actually seeing them can be a cause for distraction.

This paves the way for apps like Zoom that have proven to excellent platforms for businesses to conduct their meetings.

On the lighter note, apps like Zoom are also being increasingly used to remain in touch with friends and family members, conducting online classes to ensure that communication channels are always open.

Lets see how we can create a video chat app like Zoom and its development cost

Why Has Zoom Shot To Fame In Recent Times?

Web conferencing tools are available in plenty. That said, not every platform is suited to conduct group meetings involving a large number of employees.

While most support up to 10 members, you will struggle to find applications that can include higher employee numbers than that.

There isn’t a ‘one size, fits all’ solution that will ensure that your video meetings go smoothly.

But in recent times, Zoom as a video conferencing app has shot to fame as the application has been able to meet the operational demands for both businesses and personal individuals.

By enabling HD video conferencing and supporting up to 1000 participants in a single session, Zoom capitalized on the growing needs of the market that was looking for platforms to conduct online meetings.

Start-ups and entrepreneurs, inspired by the skyrocketing demand for video conferencing platforms are viewing this as a viable opportunity for investment. Many are keen to create an app like Zoom too.

So, the question is, how to create an app like Zoom from scratch? Let’s find out.

Read Also : 24 Best Video Chat Apps 2020

Start With selecting a Platform

Before you commence with the application development, you need to decide on the type of target platform that you will be using. This is essential as it helps in determining the cost outlay and the tools required in the development process.

Ask yourself this key question. Where do you want your application to run – Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, Desktops? You can choose one or even all of these platforms to host your application.

Alternatively, you can opt to use WebRTC which does not restrict you to a particular platform only as it can support all of them. That said, you should go with an approach that is best suited to your app’s requirements, the resources available at your disposal, and the budgetary allocations.

In the current scenario, your available options are to go native or web-based.

Native Apps

If you choose to go the native route, you need to select which platform will you be deploying the application on. Officially, Android and iOS are supported by their respective programming languages, namely, Java and Swift/Objective-C.

So, you will have to create a separate application for both iOS and Android platforms.

On the other hand, you can also utilize frameworks such as React Native that permits you to develop native apps that can run on both Android and iOS devices.

Web-based Apps

A web-based application is what most developers think of first. Since WebRTC APIs come included with all major browsers, the app can be accessed on any device that has any one of these browsers installed.

Moreover, using web-based applications is advantageous as there is no need for an additional third-party tool. You can use simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the application. Or else, go withReactJS, Angular, or Vue that makes the app more powerful.

Developing your video conferencing app is convenient on the web-based application as many desktop platforms offer it as a default inclusion with the system.

It is said to be ideal for those apps that are looking to enter both general computers and laptop markets. But it has been said to work well on mobile devices too.

If you wish to give more power to your app as an individual entity for respective platforms, opting for the native route makes more sense. Also, if your objective is to support legacy devices, native is the way to go as it is not supported by WebRTC APIs.

Progressive Web App

Progressive Web App or PWA is a concept that has been recently gaining in popularity. This combines the best of web and native which you may wish to consider as a third strategy when creating an app like Zoom.

Define Your Video Chat App Features

Now that you have your target platform sorted, the next step is to make a list of features and functionalities that will be highlighted through your application.

A lot will depend on the requirements of your application and the budget allocations.

Here is a list of recommended features that can be included in your video- conferencing application.

#1. Pre-call Video Preview

Allow your app users to check the camera before joining in on a video call. Enable them to disable video, if they wish to do so.

#2. Chat

While enabling video is a must for online meeting applications like Zoom, you also need to integrate a chat feature as an add-on channel of communication that users can utilize during a call.

#3. File-Sharing

When creating a Zoom clone application, having a feature that allows users to exchange files during the online meeting offers convenience. That said, you must ensure that the app provides a secure platform to store and transport these files.

#4. Multi-party Conference

An online meeting app will only be successful with the users if it allows more than two users to join in the call. A multi-party conference feature is a tough task to accomplish but is the heart and soul of any video-conferencing application.

Enabling more than 10 users to join in the call will require adequate backend support and reinforcements to ensure that the app works smoothly.

#5. Desktop Sharing

Integrating a desktop sharing feature is a key functionality that comes in handy when users are connecting from remote work locations and wish to share the content of their screens during the online meeting.

This is especially useful in cases where technical support is needed and an expert can guide users to get a specific task accomplished.

#6. Recording

Recording during an online meeting can be advantageous for very many reasons. Having said that, if you consider offering this feature then make sure that you provide storage for these recordings too.

Although, you can allow the user to save the recording on the Cloud or locally on their device too. You should also think about security measures to ensure that access is not granted to unauthorized users.

#7. Filters or Icons

If your Zoom clone application is being used in an informal capacity, then having a feature that allows users to add funny filters and icons during a call can help to attract a larger user base.

This will encourage more private calls to be initiated even though your target market primarily caters to a business audience.

#8. Whiteboard

If your application is being used by educational purposes, then a Whiteboard feature helps the initiator, or in this case, the teacher to impart a class through a tool that adds graphics to an idea.

#9. Live Streaming

Thanks to social media live streaming as a feature has become extremely popular. It allows a specific user to live stream audio, video, or both to a particular group in real-time.

From a business context, it can be helpful in live streaming conferences and meetings to a large group of audiences or help the government to gain access to disaster zones or rescue missions.

#10. Virtual Hand-raising

During an online meeting especially when there is a large group of members, having a virtual hand-raising feature enables a user to convey their wish to speak or voice concern by signaling to the host.

This is usually through a virtual emoji that is designed in the format of raising a hand. This feature prevents multiple users from speaking at once, thus ensuring that the meeting progresses coherently and seamlessly.

#11. Polls

As the online meeting ensues, the host can create a poll that is shared with the participants. This Poll feature enables the host to collect participant responses about a specific issue or topic.

#12. Mute Participants

When the host of a meeting wants to ensure that users do not speak out of turn, he or she can make use of the ‘Mute Participants’ feature. This mutes the mic of one or more of the online meeting participants according to the desire of the host.

Know the Technology Stack

With a well-defined platform and the list of features out of the way, you need to know on how actually to create an app like Zoom.

Here is the recommended technology stack.

Native Apps

Android:
- Programming Languages – Java, Kotlin
- Toolkits – Android Studio
- SDK – Android SDK
- Video Chat – WebRTC
iOS:
- Programming Languages – Swift
- Toolkits – Apple Code
- SDK – iOS SDK
- Video Chat – WebRTC

SDK and API

WebRTC uses 3 APIs
- MediaStream
- RTC PeerConnection
- RTC DataChannel
Third-party APIs
- ContusFly
- Pubnub
- CometChat
- Willio

The Development Process

Take a look at the steps that you cannot ignore when developing your video conferencing app.

Step 1 – Back-end Development

To create your video conferencing app like Zoom, you need to figure out how to create the server part that contributes to the proper functioning of the platform. This has to be done right at the very onset.

A ready-made BaaS solution can be used for some select apps. That said, a video conferencing application is quite complex and may require more robust technologies such as building a server from scratch.

Step 2 – UI/UX Design

The design of the app is the next step. You must design the app user interface and experience making it attractive for popular usage to the end consumer.

The navigation should be simple and convenient to understand. The user should be able to quickly grasp the functioning and performance of individual features and functionalities.

Your team should consist of the following experts:

Project Manager – 1
Tech Lead – 1
iOS Developers – 2
Android Developers – 2
Backend Developer – 1
UX/UI Engineer – 1
QA Engineer – 1

If you are building an MVP app, here is a stage-wise break-up of man-hours that you may expect to invest in the development process.

Stages	MVP Hours	Full Feature Hours
Business analysis + UX	50—70	80—100
Technical Specification	20—40	50—60
UI/UX	40—60 for each platform	80—120 for each platform
iOS/Android development	400—450 for each platform	500—700 for each platform
Backend	150—200	300—400
QA	50—60 for each platform	80—100 for each platform

With a limited set of features, you are looking at a time investment of approximately 1200 to 1450 man-hours, whereas if you go with a full-blown, feature-rich version, the man-hours may range anywhere between 1750 to 2400 hours.

Read Also : 11 Steps to create a successful mobile application

How Much Does It Cost To Create An App Like Zoom ?

Basis these two ranges, here is a rough cost estimate to create an app like Zoom.

Country	Average hourly rate	MVP	Full feature set
USA	$80	$96 000 – 116 000	$140 000 – 192 000
UK	$70	$ 84 000 – 101500	$ 122 500 – 168 000
Western Europe (Germany)	$60	$ 72 000 – 87 000	$ 105 000 – 144 000
Eastern Europe (Ukraine)	$30	$36 000 – 43 500	$52 500 -72 000
India	$25	$ 30 000 – 36 250	$ 43 750 – 60 000

This is only an estimate and the actual cost will depend on several factors such as the final list of app features, the constitution of your app development team, their location, total man-hours put in the process, etc.

Final Thoughts

Zoom has set itself as a benchmark in the video conferencing app space. Having said there, there are still a lot of lee-ways available for more players to make their presence felt in the domain.

The benefits and subsequent returns to create a video chat app like zoom are crystal clear. Plus, the trends promise it a long life.

So, what are you waiting for? Start working on your idea today. Get in touch with our experienced consultants if you want to create an app like Zoom.

How to Create A Video Chat App Like Skype

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Redbytes UK SEO

Wondering if you can create a video chat app like Skype? Even though the market is quickly reaching saturation point with players like Google Hangout, Zoom, and more, there is still space for new players to mark their mark. This is because the demand for the product is skyrocketing worldwide.

Before you jump onto the bandwagon in the hope of reaping millions in revenue in a few years, it best to sit down and be clear on the purpose and objective of developing a Skype clone. After all, you have to create a video chat app that stands out in the crowd.

Let’s take a look at the process in detail.

Start with identifying your Target Audience

Are you going to create a skype like app for both iOS and Android users?

Are you going to concentrate on targeting millennials only or will there be something to attract a business clientele too?

Before commencing with the app development process, you must ask these questions to identify your audience and their respective needs and expectations.

Studies report that the range of age of 60% of video chat app users is between 18 and 29 years. Only 40% of individuals between 30 and 49 years are consistently using video chat apps.

One of the reasons could be the generation gap which is why a younger target audience makes more sense. This process will also be the foundation of shortlisting your app features and functionalities as

For example, if you intend to cater to millennials, especially youngsters and teenagers, your video app should be built on concepts like Hike and Viber.

Cool new features like stickers, filters are a few must-have features that will help you reach out to a larger audience base. This will also add a touch of innovation to your platform.

On the other hand, if your app is primarily designed to meet the needs of a business audience, then functionalities such as a secure video conferencing facility should be a priority.

Investing in data encryption, quality of the video, and related business applications should not be compromised in any way.

Alternatively, you can also combine the two to create an application that can be used by both teens and corporates alike.

Read Also: 24 Best Video Chat Apps 2020

Features of a Video Chat App

You need to have a list of basic features in place that will create the skeleton of your video chat application. If you build an MVP app, you can start with some must-have functionalities and then keep building on from there as per the demands of your audience.

Take a look at the recommended list.

1.User Registration

You can design your user registration process in two ways. Build a system from scratch that requires the user to submit their email, name, and contact information.

Alternatively, you can have a quick registration via a social sign-in or a Gmail id to build your user profile on the app. It is best to have both methods of user registration available so that the user has the opportunity to select their preferred way.

2. User Profile

Enabling the user to build their profile allows for easy chatting. With every user having their profile can store their personal information in a single location. Once the profile has been created, users can add avatars, change them, edit and manage profiles whenever required.

3. Search and Add Friends

This feature is essential as it enables users to find or get in contact with people that they need to connect with. It should be as easy as sending an invite to join a chat. The user should also be able to invite another user to join their contact list.

4. User Status

This is a key function that shows your contact list your status on the app. This can also work in terms of highlighting to you the status of your chat companion too.

You can add common status messages such as – Away, On A Call, Not Available, etc. This allows users to understand if your companions or friends on your contact list are available to chat or not.

5. Text Chat and Delivery Status

There may be times when your video chat cannot be supported adequately by your internet connectivity. In such instances, the user should be able to initiate text chats through an exchange of messages.

While this is not a showstopper feature, but is necessary, nonetheless. Remember to add a sign to show that the messages have been delivered and read.

6. Geolocation

Today, geolocation is a feature that is integrated into most applications. This enables your users to select their country simply and conveniently.

The GPS data can be automatically read that will detect user location. Your friends on your contact list can also show them which country or city you are currently in.

7. Video and Voice Calls

Video chats can never be a possibility sans video calls. Moreover, the app should also have the voice call feature available that can be an alternative to normal phone calls. When contacting people overseas, voice calls do not attract any additional charge making the process very economical for users.

8. Group Chats

The video chat application should also be able to support Group Chats. This is beneficial on a personal and professional level where a specific group of users can be added to a single conversation.

9. End-to-end Encryption

The type of encryption you offer protects the messages send from the devices of your recipient and sends it at the final transfer point. This means that when the message is sent from the device of the sender, it is already encrypted. But when it reaches the device of the recipient, it is automatically decrypted.

The idea is to ensure that no one can hack into the message whilst it is in the transfer state and read it. This feature ensures message confidentiality and drives credibility for your video application.

10. Synchronization with Cloud Service

Any video chat app should also possess the capability of storing user files such as images, videos, recordings of voice calls,and even documents. These are the types of information that usually people from both corporate and personal users tend to exchange on these platforms.

11. Automatic Backup

In a situation where you may have to delete the video chat application from your device, the user should not lose any data which was received or exchanged as part of the sent-received correspondence.

Having a daily automatic backup feature is, therefore, a key functionality to have that ensures all files on the chat platform are safe and sound.

12. Push Notifications

Push notifications again is a general feature that should be part of every mobile or web application. Having this functionality ensures that your users are always informed of new app updates and receive notifications of new features that may be subsequently introduced at a later stage.

These basic features can form the foundation of your application. You can keep introducing more premium features and functions as the app attracts a significant user base in due course of time.

Steps to Create a Video Chat App Like Skype

To create a video chat app like Skype requires a lot of steps to be followed. Take a look.

Step 1. Back-End Development

From your initial discussions with your development team, you should have designed a blueprint and a wire-frame of the application. For all applications, the first step of the development process involves starting with the back-end.

This includes creating the server part that enables the video app to function. You have the option to go with a ready-made BaaS solution. This will be suitable if your app is quite simple. On the other hand, if your video has complex features and functionalities, you may have to design and develop a customized BaaS solution from scratch.

Step 2. UI/UX Design

With your back-end sorted, it is time to concentrate on the front-end. This involves your user interface and user experience design.

Ensure that the navigation is simple to use because you do not want your users to be hunting around for features on the application. An intuitive workflow enables them to understand the functions of the app much better. All of this is part of the user experience.

The UI should have an attractive and catchy design. This will make prospective users more interested in using the application more frequently.

Step 3. Technology Stack

Several tech stack combinations that can be used to create the video chat app like skype. You have a choice of:

SaaS Solutions for Building Video Chat Application: PubNub, OpenTokRTC, Wowza, Twilio, Socket
Programming Languages and Tools to Use for Video Chat App Development: Swift, Java and Kotlin, Bambuser, SDKs, and APIs

Take a look at the comprehensive list of technologies as a recommendation. That said, what you end up using will primarily depend on your app’s specific requirements.

Read Also: 11 Steps to Create a Mobile Application

For Android

Android Java, Rest APIs, Android studio
Third-party integration: Pusher, AppLogic (for chatting), PubNub SDK,

For iOS

Xcode, Swift
Third-party integration: PubNub SDK, AppLogic (for chatting), Pusher

For Desktop Application

Socket IO (for chatting)
React & NodeJs

WebRTC is an open-source technology that is most commonly for video connection between devices that enables quick deployment of real-time communication over iOS and Android chat apps possible. If you end you using this solution, then you will have to deal with four API interfaces.

These include:

MediaStream
RTCPeerConnection
RTCDataChannel
OpenTOK

How Much Does It Cost to Create A Video Chat App Like Skype?

To create a video chat app like skype is a relatively complex task. The more features and functionalities you have, the more it is going to cost. You will need access to a team of specialist developers, testers lead by an able Project Lead.

Here is a list:

Project Manager
The back-end and front-end engineers
Designer for UI / UX
QA specialist

The average time taken to develop the application will be anywhere between 665 to 780 man-hours.

Registration and address book: 50 – 60 hours
Messaging: 180 – 200 hours
Multimedia file transmission: 40 – 45 hours
Location: 25 – 30 hours
Contact sharing: 65 – 70 hours
Voice and video calls: 170 – 200 hours
Settings: 80 – 100 hours
Design (UX/UI): 55 – 75 hours

The cost of app development will also vary depending on the location of your development team. Given below is a median cost according to Statista:

North America: $60-250 per hour
United Kingdom: $60-150 per hour
Western Europe: $40-120 per hour
Eastern Europe: $20-100 per hour
India: $10-80 per hour

You also need to estimate the cost of deploying ready-made SaaS and BaaS platforms if you decide not to develop them from scratch.

How Can You Monetize Your Video Chat App?

Now that you have created your Skype clone, you need the video app to make money. Monetization of the application can be explored in several ways. Here are a few suggestions:

Advertising

The integration of brand advertising on the video chat app is the most productive method of generating revenue. This is a direct avenue of creating instant interaction between brands and their target audience triggering profit for your video chat app in the process.

Premium Stickers

While you may have free stickers available on the app platform, you can allow access to superior designs that can be accessed on payment of a fee. You can enable a monthly subscription model wherein you introduce new stickers designs every month.

Paid Voice Calls

You can enable your app with the paid voice call feature wherein the user pays a fee to call on any wired line across the globe.

Read Also: App Development Cost-Design, Development, Deployment

Conclusion

The manner in which video chat apps are reshaping the communication and entertainment domains holds a lot of promise for future players in the space. Armed with confidence and a clear understanding of your objectives and end goals will help you in the process of development.

So now that you have everything to go ahead, start the process right away.

How to Create an App like Snapchat?

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Redbytes UK SEO

The success story of Snapchat is truly inspiring. A few college students get together and come up with the idea of a photo messaging application. Everyone thinks of it as an idea that has no merit.

Fast forward a few years and they have Facebook and Google offering a whopping $ 3 to $ 4 billion to buy it. What do these young entrepreneurs do? They reject the offer.

Another three years pass by and the application is worth $ 20 billion. It sounds like a dream but that’s the true tale of Snapchat. Today, it is one of the leading social media networks globally.

Entrepreneurs around the world have been moved by this story and have come up with ideas for their start-up venture mirroring an app like Snapchat.

If this journey has driven you to create an app like Snapchat and you want a slice of the action too, let’s take a look at what you need to do.

What Are the Core App Features That You Need To Focus On?

Some years ago, Snapchat was the only easy messaging app with its focus on its best feature of removing messages in one to 10 seconds. With time, several new features have been added to its core functions evolving more like a perfect blend of a public and private messaging platform.

Bloomberg reported that this entertainment app has recorded a staggering 10 billion views in a day thus transforming this messaging channel into a media giant.

Here are some of the core features that you should introduce when you decide to develop your version of a Snapchat application.

Read Also: 10 Best Free Social Media Apps in UK

1. Message Exchange

Go one step further than just having a feature like chatting, by offering additional value with a set of innovative features when it comes to message exchange. Snapchat has its unique function known as ‘snaps’ which are multimedia messages comprising of a photo or short video.

These messages are editable. You can add effects, filters, text, captions, drawings. Their recent Chat 2.0 update enables users to make video and audio calls along with sending audio notes.

Snaps can be sent privately to your selected contacts, or a published as a semi-public story that automatically self-destructs within a few seconds.

2. Self-Destructing Messages

This is a custom Snapchat feature where messages sent between users automatically self-destruct within a few seconds. This function has made the app popular among teenagers and young adults across the globe.

3. Stickers

Modern communication minus stickers seems unthinkable these days. Snapchat provides the option of 200 stickers to their users that have been in-built within the application.

When you create an app like Snapchat, think of how you too can come up with a custom feature like Stickers that will attract a large audience to use your platform.

4. Location Sharing

The location-sharing feature enables Snapchat users to share their whereabouts with individuals on their contact list. Their location appears on the Snap Map.

Users of this feature can select which individuals on their contact list can view their location. This works only when the Snapchat is in use.

5. Adding Friends

Look into Snapchat’s smart ways of adding friends instead of just using standard methods like phone numbers and usernames.

Surrounding the Snapchat Ghostface Chilla logo are black dots which is personalized QR code. Using the Snapchat camera, any user can scan it in and start to follow you instantly. This is the work of recognition algorithms in the backend also referred to as Snapcodes.

The Add Nearby feature makes use of your location and automatically scans in users within your proximity who have enabled this function on their Snapchat app too.

The device coordinates are shared with the server from the app. It then compares the geolocation of devices located close to the primary user.

6. Video and Audio Calls

With the latest update on the app, it enables current users to initiate one-tap video chats instantly. In case your preferred user is not online, you can send an audio note instead.

This function offers the user an alternative to WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger by transforming the Snapchat platform very similar to a phone.

7. Geofilters

This is a unique graphical overlay feature known as Geofilters that activates when a user is within a specific geographical location. This can be an event, a city or even a destination.

Geocoding is used to mark the location of the images being shared by users. This is a computational process that automatically converts the geographical coordinates of the location into a description, generally the name of the place. This then shows up overlaid on the image typically within a template format.

8. Lenses or Filters

Within the Snapchat app, this is probably one of the most exciting features. Allowing the addition of real-time effects on images, making alterations on video images through a process of face detection has taken the messaging app to an entirely new level.

This feature was made possible when Snapchat made a strategic acquisition of a facial modification start-up called Looksery. Their core area of expertise making simulating facial appearances on a photo or video more accessible to users in real-time on mobile platforms.

9. Stories

If you wish to broadcast a photo or video content from your channel to your friends, then Stories is the feature that you should be using. The stories remain to live for 24 hours. The function provides users with a similar social channel to share the news.

The feature can now be upgraded to Live Stories that triggers a new functionality. It allows Snapchat users located at the same event location to contribute to the same story trail.

10. Discover

Discover feature is an alternative method of exploring Stories that covers a wide range of editorial teams. It includes all types of sponsored short-form content from major publishers, for example, BuzzFeed, CNN, Mashable, People, etc. The section undergoes a refresh every 24 hours.

How to Create an App Similar to Snapchat?

To create an app like Snapchat, you need to do some deep thinking about the development process once you have finalized the list of features that you aim to include in the application.

Here is a step-by-step layout of your action plan.

Step 1. Discovery or Inception

At this stage, your primary objective is to finalize the non-functional and functional requirements. Along with that, have a project budget estimate handy and outline the business needs.

Step 2. Documentation

The business analysts and project managers at this stage will chart out the specifications of the project. This will include all project-related documents, basically an app blueprint describing how your app is expected to perform.

Step 3. Prototyping

The prototype of the future app along with scenes and user journeys is created by the mobile development team. This is the stage where you can imagine the future of your app and share your feedback and thoughts with the core team.

Step 4. UI/UX Design

The design team basis your screen prototype works on the app UI/UX design. You can begin visualizing what your app screens are going to look like at this stage.

Step 5. Development

All the necessary features in this phase are integrated by the mobile development team post finalization of the app design. As the process of app development progresses forward, you or your project manager may add or subtract precise requirements basis the project’s functionality.

Step 6. Quality Assurance& Testing

Quality Assurance is carried out by the QA team to ensure that the features and functions are performing as per plan. Testing also ascertains that the application is free of bugs.

Step 7. Deployment

Once the QA team certifies that the app is ready, the development team publishes it on relevant app stores for users to download.

Step 8. App Monetization

Once the app has been deployed, you also need to look at ways for the app to generate revenue. Take a look at these recommended routes:

In-between Snap Ads
Branded GeoFilters
Sponsored Lenses
The “Discover” section
Sports Partnerships
In-app purchases
Premium access

Tech Stack For The Snapchat-Like App

When you create an app like Snapchat, you may consider the following tech stack combinations

Development Languages: Python, Objective-C(iOS), Cocoa Touch, PHP
Hosting: Google Compute Engine
Front-end: Semantic UI
Back-end: Goole App Engine

What is the cost to create an App Like Snapchat?

Experts recommend allocating at least a year to build a comprehensive and complex app like Snapchat.

Check out the features along with the estimated costs and development timelines

Feature	Development Timelines	Cost for Android in US dollars	Cost for iOS in US dollars
Automatically self-destructed messages	1.5 months for two platforms – iOS and Android.	9000	10,000
Location sharing	120 hours	2000 to 4000 for both platforms
Snapcodes	1 month	8000 to 10,000	8000 to 10,000
Nearby function	7 days	3000	3000
Video and Audio Calls	1 month	14,000	12,000
Lenses or Filters	1 month	8000	8000

It is suggested that you build your application on the MVP model. Developing it on the MVP platform will enable you to include essential features and functions as given below

Feature	Description	Estimation in Hours
Registration/ login feature	Email, Phone number, Social network	Around 10 to 16 hours
User profile	Profile picture, Password, Contact details, Name, Gender, Phone Number	From 60+ hours
Posting	Users can postImages, Videos Users can apply editing tools like Effects, Filters, Smileys, Emoticons	Up to 320 hours Applying filters 120+ hours Creating custom filters 120+ hours Cropping and rotating photos 80+ hours
Embedded messenger	Enable users to exchange messages	Up to 40 hours

The essential features phase is total around 430+ man hours at least.

The overall time estimate will look something like this

Business analysis: 225 hours
Project management: 223 hours
Frontend for iOS: 513 hours
Frontend for Android: 519 hours
Backend development: 681 hours
Quality assurance: 163 hours
UI/UX for iOS: 297 hours
UI/UX for Android: 307 hours

Creating an app like Snapchat is a complex process. Your core team should include the following members

UI/UX designers
iOS and Android developers
QA engineers

The average rate of your development team will vary anywhere between $25 to $ 43 depending on their location.

United States: $ 150 per hour
Central and Western Europe: $ 43 per hour
Scandinavia: $ 42 per hour
India: $ 40 per hour
Baltic States: $ 28 per hour
Eastern Europe: $ 26 per hour
Ukraine: $ 25 per hour

Read Also: How to Create an App like YouTube

The Bottom Line

Undoubtedly, Snapchat with its unique set of core features and functions is the reigning king of the social messaging app space. With its numerous photo and video editing tools, young adults have found a new voice of visual communication.

When you begin with your app development process, it will be a smart move to study how Snapchat has journeyed through its various stages of growth and expansion. Deep dive into these learnings and start benchmarking. It is not necessary to make an identical clone but bring out your unique idea into the forefront.

So, what are you waiting for? Take inspiration from the Snapchat story and get your journey on the tracks. Get in touch with a credible mobile app development company to kickstart your project.

How To Create An App Like YouTube

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Redbytes UK SEO

The root of every global business began as a start-up. The good news is that the basic technology to lay the foundations of their digital offering is accessible in the public domain. So, it is a definite possibility that your app may just be the next success story.

Have you been thinking of developing a video sharing app like YouTube? No doubt, creating an app like youtube is a massive undertaking. But before plunging deep into the ‘how to’ of the process, let’s take a look at some vital data on YouTube.

YouTube – An Overview

Launched in 2005, YouTube is now the most popular online video sharing channel in the world today.

It encompasses every type of video and audio user-generated content including TV clips, music videos and other video clips, such as short original videos, video blogs, gaming videos, educational videos and instructional videos on everything from language learning to DIY.

Stats report that YouTube has over 2 billion logged users on a monthly basis making it the most sought after video-sharing channel.

With a more penetrated smartphone and internet connectivity has made YouTube into a global platform. In the last few years, YouTube has also become a channel where users can make money.

The majority of the content is available on a free to view basis. To date, it is one of the most popular applications that users download from the Android and iOS play stores.

A Guide to Create A YouTube Like App

There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration when you start your journey to create an app like youtube. These include app design, features and functionalities, servers, development teams, and overall app development cost.

Take a look at this step-by-step guide to create a YouTube clone app.

Read Also: 11 Easy Steps to Create a Mobile Application

Shortlist the Features For Your Video Sharing App

If you opt for an MVP application at the very onset, you can choose a basic list of must-have features for your video sharing application at the point of publishing it on the play stores. Here is a list for ready reference.

Search Videos: In a video sharing app like YouTube, the Search feature is of primary importance. The manner in how effectively and efficiently it functions can make or break the success of the application. Incorporate the search feature where users are able to look up videos by title, publisher or random keywords too. Keep adding filters to enhance the user experience of the search option.

Drag & Drop / Remote Video Upload: Having a Drag and Drop feature enables users to upload low to medium-sized videos from Google Drive, Dropbox, local disk or even more locations. Even video content from FTP or HTTP locations can be accessed automatically by incorporating remote video upload features.

Frames Preview: With a Frames Preview option, you can modify or alter video thumbnails as per your requisites. This allows the user to deliver the perfect preview frame on your YouTube-like video-sharing channel. Moreover, the functionality should be able to offer a choice in thumbnails in order to host videos from the cloud or local disk.

Live Streaming: Live Streaming for any video streaming app like YouTube is a vital feature. This allows your users to reach out directly to their followers or audience base and even go beyond their immediate customer target circle. You do not have to exactly follow what YouTube does its live streaming. Instead, work on your own set of innovative streaming experience that gives the user something extra to look forward to.

Playlist: When you create an app like youtube it is not just limited to sharing or streaming videos. It also needs to be a storehouse for a massive playlist of music and videos which the user should be able to personalize as per the likes.

Multi-channel Support: The Multi-channel Support feature enables the users to upload their audio and video content and share them as a playlist or also on a subscription format. This should be made manageable either from the profile directly or as a default mechanism of the channel via the channel management page.

Push-Notifications: With so much content accessible on the application, it is necessary for your userbase to be kept informed of any new addition that falls under the purview of their preferences. The Push Notifications feature can also be used to keep your customers updated on premium services and upcoming deals.

Social Media Sharing: Just like any other social or messaging app, a video sharing application like YouTube must also offer the users an opportunity to share the video or audio content that they upload or like on their personal social handles such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. This allows them to increase follower engagement whilst boosting new traffic to their channels.

Analytics: It is critical of an app like YouTube to have a robust Analytics tool embedded in order to have a comprehensive understanding of user demographics, current viewership status, and real-time performance statistics. The integration of Analytics also permits the app admin to generate periodic reports on various app segments to the minutest detail of a single video or audio content. Therefore, this functionality is essential for you to know what features and content are working for you and what’s not.

Multi-tiered Security: When you have the provision for users to upload audio–video content on the application, you need to ascertain that there are adequate security encryptions in place. Remember that you will need your users to create user accounts on your platform or login via social media profile or their Google ids. All of these data should be under layers of security protection to prevent unauthorized access to the system.

Responsive Design: Ensure when you build your application, that the user interface adheres to a responsive design benchmarking against domain leaders like YouTube. You can opt to use from a vast array of templates, designs, fonts, and more and also allow end-user feedback to tailor the design partly. Check on multiple devices like smartphones and tablets to ensure that responsive design works.

Admin Panel: As you design your front end features and functionalities, the backend must be sustained by an efficient Admin Panel that provides managerial support to the application. This will allow you to work your way through keeping a record of all essential data and insights along with successfully organizing and managing content on the app.

How to Monetize Your Video Sharing App?

It is not just enough to build your application; your video-sharing app must be able to generate revenue for you too. For this, you need to ensure that you monetize the videos in the following ways:

Subscription Model: Introduce a reasonable fee that your loyal users will not mind paying in order to view quality content. Enabling this model can ensure that you generate handsome revenue with an ever-increasing user base.

Advertisement: As your app gathers a significant user base, you can attract advertisers to market their products and services on your video streaming platform. YouTube has cleverly integrated the advertising option in-between content which has worked well in the larger scheme of things.

Pay Per View: The Pay Per View model works on the concept of allowing the user to only pay for the content that they wish to view. It also enables the Admin to understand which content is being viewed more frequently in comparison to all uploaded premium content.

Purchasable Asset: Promote your videos by enabling content to be downloaded for offline viewing. This can be a monetization strategy that brings in a steady income flow and helps in scaling your business too.

Read Also: Mobile App Business Model [A Comprehensive Guide]

How Much Does It Cost To Create An App Like YouTube

To create an app like youtube may seem like a relatively simple and not very expensive at first glance. It is anything but that.

A YouTube clone app that is highly functional, yet lightweight and simple needs a skilled development team working in the backend. Ideally, your development team should comprise of the following specialists

Project Manager
iOS developers
Android developers
UI and UX designers for Android and iOS platforms
Back-end coders
Software tester

The average time that will be required to create an app like youtube is anywhere between 160 to 240 working hours or 4 to 6 weeks. There are factors like interface complexity, the number of additional features, settings, and so on that will also end up determining the overall time required to develop the video-sharing app.

A key element that is also a deciding factor on arriving at a cost estimate to build this video streaming application is the hourly rates of your core development team. Take a look.

Android Developer – $15 to $40 per hour
iOS Developer – $15 to $45 per hour
UX/UI Designer – $10 to $35 per hour
Back-end developer – $10 to $45 per hour
Project manager – $15 to $45 per hour
QA Engineer – $10 to $30 per hour

Other than that, the experience of your development team will also help you determine your overall costing for the app.

For example, if you opt for a relatively simple version of the application which can be developed by a team of Junior Developers, the cost will hover around $ 12,000.

However, if you choose to go with a slightly more robust version of the app incorporating simple to medium complex features and functionalities, the cost will be somewhere close to $ 30,000.

This version of the app will include responsive design created for both the iOS and Android platforms by a team of experienced developers.

Lastly, if your app incorporates a number of complex and custom-designed features and functions with high-end design and user interface, it can cost you around $ 55,000.

The app will comprise responsive design and available on both iOS and Android platforms and developed by a team of sought-after developers.

It is best not be start developing on both the iOS and Android platforms simultaneously. Let your development concentrate on one platform first and then move on to the next. This process is more time-efficient, cost-effective, and simple.

In fact, an MVP app with a multi-platform development approach can be a complicated procedure. In most cases, the cost runs higher than anticipated and the process of development can encounter several challenges and roadblocks.

Adopting a hybrid development approach for the MVP app version may also prove to be more affordable in the long run. In comparison to native applications, hybrid apps are economical.

For Android app development, this is one of the safest methods for creating the application. Hybrid development can work offline offering superior visuals compared to web apps.

Read Also: App Development Cost-Design, Development, Deployment

Final Thoughts

To Create an app like youtube may be a herculean task but it is not an impossible one. The core aspects that you need to control are being organized and mobilizing the available and financial and human resources to its maximum potential.

Have your blueprint of the application design, feature specifications, and your development team already and geared before you begin the actual process.

So, without much ado, start the process.