How Much Does It Cost to Create An App Like Discord?

So how much does it cost to create an app like Discord? Are you also looking for the answers to the same? Well, we covered everything here from cost, factors, features, technologies and more…

With the fact that the messaging market size has reached $101.41 billion in 2023, group chat apps have gained immense popularity and Discord has outshined in this domain!

Discord is one of the leading video calling and chat apps that allows players to chat with each other and coordinate while game-playing through text and voice chat. Its flexibility to connect with additional gaming apps makes it a popular option for the millennial generation. 

With more than 586 million users registered worldwide with Discord in 2023 and 245 million monthly active users in the US alone, Discord has become one of the fastest-growing instant messaging apps in the messaging market. 

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These figures are inspiring and encouraging businesses to look forward to creating an app like Discord. But one central question is what exactly makes this app a popular choice?

Here’s What Makes Discord a Winning Chat App?

Discord is one of the unique group-chatting apps that has captivated users’ attention with its unique winning combination of versatility, user-friendliness, and constant innovation. There are a few major strategies that Discord has adopted to establish its foothold in the domain of group-chatting apps.

If you are all set to hire an app developer to create an app like Discord, then here are the few strategies that Discord boasts:

• The best part about Discord is free and easy to get started without paying any sign-up fees. 
• It offers a variety of unique features that keep users engaged with an app. The features like voice and video chat while playing on other apps and the ability to join or create servers make it an appealing option for the users.
• Availability on multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and more.
• It has a super user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
• Offering 24*7 customer support if you need help using the app. 
• It regularly updates its features and strives to bring unique features that keep the users engaged.
• Above all, Discord is constantly improving its security measures to ensure that your information is safe.

Creating an app like Discord requires a strategic and comprehensive approach that considers not only the current market trends but also the constantly changing needs of users.

While developing an app like Discord, its costs always matter the most to the businesses. But how much does it cost to create an app like Discord? 

You must be curious to know its actual development cost. Well, any app developer can help you estimate the price with the right set of features. But before you go straight to hiring a mobile app developer to kickstart your project idea, let’s understand in detail how much it costs to create an app like Discord. 

Let’s watch the quick video to know “How Much Does It Cost to Create An App Like Discord?”

How Much Does It Cost to Create An App Like Discord?

Let’s get into it!

How Much Does It Cost to Create An App Like Discord?

The average cost to create an app like Discord usually starts from $35,000*+ and the cost to build an advanced app version may easily go from $75,000*+ to $200k*. But you may be wondering why is there a huge gap in the overall cost.

Precisely, the instant messaging mobile app development cost depends upon a plethora of factors like the complexity of the app, features & functionality, UI/UX design, app development team skills, technology, and much more. 

Depending on these factors, here we have explained cost estimations in below table:

Before you take these estimations as a final cost to create an app like Discord, it is important to realize that every business has different requirements and there is no standard application that fits all business requirements. So there is no standard cost to create an app like Discord. 

Are you convinced enough to build an app like Discord? If yes, then let’s check out the process of creating an app like Discord.

Best Practices To Create An App Like Discord

Discord is a voice and text chat app designed for gamers that lets you easily find, join, and chat with friends. It’s free, secure, and works on both your desktop and phone. But the central question is how to create an app and how much each step will cost you…

Let’s get into a step-by-step guide to building an app like Discord:

Step 1: Conduct Market Research

Though Discord has gained immense popularity when it comes to building a group chat app. But if you are thinking of making the app clone then you might be mistaken. Since Discord has already won user’s trust and has established its name in the community, so why users will look for new options until or unless they are not getting something unique into it?

So that’s where getting inspiration from a social media app like Discord can be a worthy decision, but to begin your app development process, it is best to conduct market research to validate whether the app is required in the market. What are the changing needs of the users?

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Step 2: Hire a Team of App Developers

Once you decide on the app idea, you need to hire a mobile app development team that help you transform your app idea into a perfect solution.

So what type of app development team you will require to build an app like Discord? 

Generally, you will require a team that may consist of a project manager, backend developer, frontend developer, QA engineer, UI/UX designer, and more. 

Now here is a simple tip that will make the task easier when you look for a top software development company– You need a team of experienced developers who are familiar with the app development process and who have a good understanding of what it takes to create a successful app. Once you have your team in place, you can start working on the development process.

Step 3: Design the App

Instead of looking for a complex app design, it is worth going for simple, easy-to-navigate app designs. Discord-like app has a brilliant UI/UX design that helps users to easily get started with an app.

Here are a few major areas where Discord is being used. So make a design that fits the target audience. 

Here are the simple steps that help make the designing process simple:

• So just to get started with the app design, first design an app wireframe or blueprint to get an idea about how your app will look like. 
• Once you have a general layout and functionality of your app, you can start creating mockups. 
• Next, you need to create a prototype. This is a working version of your app that you can test and use to get feedback from potential users.

So this is how you need to customize the UI/UX design of your app to avoid any design blunders.

Step 4: Build an MVP

Developing a full-fledged chat app like Discord can be an expensive investment. That’s where hiring an app developer to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a great way to get started with mobile app development.  

This will help you validate your idea and ensure that there is a market for your app. Plus, building an MVP can be a quick and cost-effective way to get your app off the ground. To build an MVP, start by identifying the core features of your app.

Then, create a prototype that includes these features:

• Choose your platform.
• Design your user interface. 
• Create your server infrastructure. 
• Write your code. 
• Test, test, test!
• Launch your app. 
• Get feedback and iterate

Step 5: Test Your App With QA Engineers and Beta Users

Once you have a prototype, test it out with potential users to get feedback. For in-depth app testing, it is worth choosing both automated and manual testing

Here’s a tip to perform app testing and eliminate the risk of bugs:

1. Choose a platform to develop your app on.
2. Start coding!
3. Once you have a beta version of your app, send it out to your testers and ask for feedback.
4. Once bugs are fixed, the next step is to process it for deployment to the app store.

Step 6: Post-launch – Keep Improving it!

The process of app development is never finished. It will continue with the post-launch maintenance and upgrade process.

And it is really important when it comes to developing an app like Discord where the competition is tough and you constantly need to bring unique features to maintain your presence in the market.

Here are the few best practices to keep your app updated and maintained:

1. Keep track of what people are saying about your app. Read reviews and take note of feedback, both positive and negative.
2. Use this feedback to improve the app. Regularly release new updates that address user concerns and add new features that they request.
3. Keep marketing your app. Even after it’s launched, you need to continue promoting it to ensure that it remains popular.
4. Experiment with different marketing strategies and find the ones that work best for your app.
5. Always be thinking about ways to improve your app and make it more user-friendly.

So these are the basic steps that you need to follow to create a chat app like Discord, but what features and functionalities do you need to prioritize and how much will it cost you?

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Important Features to Create an App Like Discord and Its Cost

Features and functionalities of the app are the biggest success-driving factors. Though as an investor you have the flexibility to add features as much as you want, due to budget limitations, it always becomes challenging to prioritize the features. 

So before you look for the top mobile app development company to get started with the app development process, here we have categorized it into two broad categories:

General Features to Create a Chat App Like Discord

There are a wide choice of features that you can integrate into your app to make it interactive, but it can also add up to your cost and budget.

So if you are a startup and looking for MVP solutions, then here we have prioritized the features that need to be included in the basic to medium app version:

• In–app Chat: Ensure real-time and seamless engagement through text, voice, and video chats for effective communication within the platform.
• Customizable Servers and Channels: Empower users to create tailored servers, fostering organized discussions and content sharing via dedicated channels.
• Cross–Platform Compatibility: Ensures a consistent user experience across various platforms, allowing communication and connectivity from PC to mobile effortlessly.
• User Roles and Permissions: Implements a structured user hierarchy, providing administrators with control over permissions for effective moderation and user management.
• Rich Media Support: Enhances communication with the ability to share diverse multimedia content, including images, videos, and GIFs, within chat conversations.
• Push Notifications: Stay informed with timely messages, mentions, and updates through engaging push notifications, ensuring user connectivity.
• User Profiles and Customization: Encourage personalization with unique profiles, avatars, status messages, and contact management options for users.
• Moderation Tools: Administer a secure community environment with essential content moderation tools for effective server management.
• Bot Integration: Elevate server functionality with seamless bot integration, offering diverse features and automation for an enriched user experience.
• Screen Sharing and Streaming: Foster collaboration with screen sharing and live streaming capabilities, enhancing interactive sessions within the app.

These are the few general features that you can consider to create a chat app like Discord which may start from $35,000*+. But what if you are competing with the feature-rich Discord app? Here, we have listed advanced features to help you take a step ahead in the competition.

Advanced Features to Create an App Like Discord

Considering the trending technologies and changing marketing needs, here we have combined few advanced features that make your chat app a winning solution over other options. 

• File Sharing and Cloud Integration: Streamlines collaboration with direct file sharing and seamless integration with cloud services, ensuring efficient storage and accessibility.
• Activity Feed and Discoverability: Stay updated with an activity feed and explore new servers effortlessly.
• In–App Emojis: Let users express their emotions using the diverse emojis, reactions, and micro-interactions in the app.
• Data Security: Prioritize privacy and security of the user data by using robust end-to-end encryption or two-step authentication.
• Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Gain insights into user behavior and app usage for informed decision-making.
• Voice and Text Recognition: Elevate interactions with advanced voice and text recognition for enhanced accessibility.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Features: Experience innovative AR functionalities for unique and immersive in-app experiences.
• Integration with Third–Party Services: Expand functionality by seamlessly integrating with external services, providing a more integrated digital experience.

Though integrating all such advanced features in an app can lift the app development cost, it adds a competitive edge to your business. So how much does it cost to create an app like Discord with advanced features? 

The average cost to create an app like Discord with advanced features will range between $50,000* to $75,000*+, the rest depending upon the level of team you hire for the app development and their location. 

Read More: Top Mobile App Development Ideas in 2024

How To Monetize Your Group Chat App Like Discord?

When developing a chat app, profitability is key. Take cues from successful platforms like Discord for diverse monetizing strategies:

1. Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Subscription Plans

Provide enhanced experiences with adaptable monthly, quarterly, or yearly premium subscription plans, generating revenue for sustained app development and improvement.

2. Offering In-App Purchases

Monetize with virtual goods, stickers, or themes, allowing users to personalize their chat experience through in-app purchases.

3. Make Revenue from Third-Party Advertisements

Boost income by integrating targeted advertisements, and leveraging user engagement and impressions within the app.

4. Freemium and Premium Model 

Provide essential features for free and entice users with a premium version, unlocking advanced capabilities through a subscription fee.

5. Gamification and Virtual Goods

Drive engagement and revenue by implementing gamification elements and offering virtual goods for purchase.

Various types of monetization strategies that you can choose from. However, the ultimate choice depends upon your business requirements and the features you integrate into your app. That’s where choosing to hire a software developer can help you monetize with the right strategies. 

Hidden Brains is one such leading software development companies that help you customize your app as per your business needs and budget.

Read More: How Much Does It Cost To Create An App in 2024

How Can Hidden Brains Help You Get Started With a Chat App?

Elevate your chat app development vision with Hidden Brains as our seasoned professionals can transform it into an excellent solution. At Hidden Brains, we have an in-house tech team that provides expert consultation to shape a tailored plan that suits your business goals.

With cutting-edge development, we harness the latest technologies to deliver a chat app with robust and innovative features. Our scalable solutions ensure your app seamlessly evolves to meet growing user demands. Security is paramount, and we implement rigorous measures to safeguard user data and privacy.

Our team has crafted an “AR & AI Based Video-calling Tool” for one of our leading clients that ensures seamless communication and conducts direct connection with customers. 

Here are the Key Highlights of Our AR & AI Based Video-Calling Tool:

• Smart Assist for Brands: Personalize customer interactions with live video chats.
• Precision Tech Support: Virtually handle difficult tasks for equal service.
• Cloud Video Calling: Let organizations see and solve problems in real time.
• Multi-Party Conferencing: Connect with specialists for issue resolution.
• Technical Support Anywhere: Troubleshoot and train operators remotely.
• Virtual Inspections: Inspect equipment with real-time connectivity.
• Share Documents Instantly: Screen share documents for on-demand support.
• Instant Connect Console: Launch video calls with one click.
• Web-Based Platform: Accessible on any device without an app.
• Concurrent Support Calls: Speak live with multiple agents simultaneously.
• Inbound Call Routing: Direct calls based on agent skills and availability.

To learn more about our “AR-Based Remote Assistance App” here you can read the complete case study and get connected with our team for a tailored solution.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here we have a frequently asked questions section where we have covered all the questions that our clients usually ask for when developing a chat app.