How Much Does It Cost to Make an App Like Instagram?

Imagine… you’re sitting in your favourite café, sipping an iced coffee. When you cast your gaze around you see nearly everyone glued to their phones – sharing stories and snapshots on Instagram. Needless to say! It is the fastest growing yet demanding platform that has been in the limelight since quite a long time now. 

Seeing the success, it’s tempting to think – why not create the next big thing in photo sharing apps? But before fantasizing about instant fame and fortune, it’s important to ground yourself in harsh reality: how much would it cost to make an app similar to Instagram?

Obviously, it took thousands upon thousands of dollars to develop Instagram into the social media juggernaut it is today. The costs go far beyond just coding – elements like UI and UX design, functionality, and overall polish can have a significant impact on the price tag. 

For a comprehensive look at what it takes to create an Instagram-like app – our mobile app development company has put together a guide to help you walk through the key features needed to build an Instagram-like app, the associated development costs, and tips for controlling your budget.

Strap yourself in – it’s time to take a look behind the curtain with professional social media app development services provider.

Breakdown of the Cost to Make an App Like Instagram

Well peeps, the cost of developing an app may vary significantly based on uncountable factors, including the app’s complexity, the features you want to incorporate, the development team’s location, and the platform(s) you intend to support.

However, below are some key components that contribute to the overall cost to make an app similar to Instagram:

1. Feature Set: Instagram has a diverse feature set, including photo and video sharing, filters, stories, chat, and a newsfeed. The complexity of these elements, when combined with other functionalities like AI-powered recommendations and real-time notifications, has a considerable impact on development costs.
2. Design & User Interface: Similar to Instagram’s user-friendly design, creating an intuitive and visually appealing interface requires painstaking planning and skilful design work. If you choose bespoke animations, high-quality visuals, and a unified user experience across multiple devices and screen sizes, the price may rise.
3. Backend Development: It takes a significant investment to build a powerful backend infrastructure capable of processing millions of users, storing multimedia material, ensuring data security, and managing real-time interactions. This covers costs for server installation, database management, cloud services, and the integration of scalable technology to meet an increasing user base.
4. Advanced Feature Integration: If you intend to integrate advanced features such as AI-driven content suggestions, augmented reality (AR) filters, or location-based services, the cost will rise proportionately. These characteristics necessitate specialist knowledge and additional resources, which have an impact on the overall development cost to make an app.
5. Testing and Quality Control: Thorough testing is required to provide a smooth and bug-free user experience. This step entails numerous rounds of testing on various devices and platforms, which increases the overall cost of the app development process.
6. Maintenance & Updates: Ongoing expenses should be included for post-launch maintenance, frequent updates, and fixing any technical difficulties or security vulnerabilities. This keeps the software competitive, secure, and compatible with varying technology.
7. Legal Compliance and Security: Ensuring compliance with data protection legislation, implementing robust security measures, and protecting user privacy are all non-negotiable factors that contribute to the overall development cost.

Just considering these factors, the cost of developing an app typically ranges from $70,000 to $150,000 for a basic version – and we’re talking about the apps that are similar to Instagram. But if you need a more comprehensive and feature-rich application, the cost can surpass $300,000 or more, depending on the customization and complexity involved. 

Don’t be amazed! You know what importance such applications hold – you can get in touch with our mobile app development company or precisely social media app development services provider to get the accurate figures. 

Things to Consider When Making an App Like Instagram

The cost to make an app is not the only concern – building a unique, scalable, and engaging app requires more than a budget. Here are some pivotal aspects to consider when making an app like Instagram:

1. Define your USP: While it may be tempting to produce an exact clone, your app’s unique characteristics will set it apart. Recognize the gaps in the present market and tailor your USP accordingly.
2. Technology stack: Determine whether to create a native app (unique to iOS or Android) or a cross-platform app. Select the appropriate technology stack: server, databases, APIs, and so on.
3. Competitors:  Research direct and indirect competitors in the photo sharing space thoroughly. Examine their features, user interface, and target demographics. Determine what distinct value propositions and differentiated features you can provide users that your competitors do not.
4. Target Audience: Define the key target audience and demographics clearly. Conduct user research and surveys to learn about their wants and problems. Instead of taking a broad, generic approach, refine your app vision and features to specifically appeal to this particular user population.
5. UX and UI Design: Other than the cost to make an app, UX/UI is pretty essential aspect. You would agree that Instagram’s intuitive and engaging interface is something that keeps the audience hooked. You can choose flutter as your main technology while getting an access to rich set of customizable widgets. This would make it easier to achieve a visually appealing UX and UI. But don’t forget to put a fresh spin on it.
6. Ongoing Innovation: Avoid stagnation by releasing new features, filters, integrations, and improvements on a regular basis. Analyze use data and consult with users to drive new enhancements. Long-term success is dependent on frequent innovation.
7. Solid Backend Infrastructure: Every day, Instagram manages millions and billions of interactions. If you expect significant expansion, you’ll need a strong backend.
8. Cross-Platform Capability: Flutter’s main selling point is its capability to develop apps for both Android and iOS from a single codebase. This has the potential to drastically reduce development time and expenses. All you need to do is make the use of this feature to its fullest.
9. Security and Privacy: With data breaches in the headlines, be sure your app is secure. You must prioritize the security of users’ images, videos, and personal info while including the most recent authentication and encryption methods.
10. Strategy for Monetization: Before you begin development, consider how you will earn revenue. Will it be through advertisements, premium features, collaborations, or some other method? Make sure, this strategy reflects in the design and functionalities of your application.

Capping Off

Building an application with instagram’s features is no small feat. The cost to make an app can easily exceed $100,000 when factoring features, design, development, maintenance and marketing. 

While it may seem intimidating, starting small and expanding gradually can help you become an Instagram competitor. The trick is to budget properly, set targets, and avoid over ambition at first. Remember, your next great idea could be the next Instagram, although on a small scale, if you think strategically and plan realistically.

Still, if you need help in making such an app, Geeks of Kolachi is the perfect choice. Being a leading mobile app development company and exceptional social media app development services provider in the USA – they know the real hack.