How to build app like instagram
How To Make An App Like Instagram in 2023
Updated
22 min read
Over a billion people use Instagram every month.
Video and photo-sharing applications are gaining traction today. And Instagram leads this group of social media platforms.
You’ve probably wondered what it owed its success to and how to make an app like Instagram.
In this guide, we’ve answered all your questions. You’ll learn how to create an app like Instagram and repeat its success.
Here is what’s hidden inside this guide:
- what is the secret of Instagram’s success
- how to make an app like Instagram
- how much does it cost to build an app like Instagram
- KPIs for a photo-sharing app like Instagram
Let’s dive right into the article and learn how to build an app like Instagram in 2022.
How has Instagram Been Successful?
Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger are who you need to say thank you for the creation of the most popular social media platform in the world. In 2022, the company's worth is already over $110 billion. The social media platform is projected to reach over $40 million in annual ad sales by 2023.
JavaScript chart by amCharts 3.21.15HOW HAS INSTAGRAM BEEN SUCCESSFUL?InstagramNikeGoldman SachsAMERIAN EXPRESSNETFLIXGM020406080100120
JS chart by amCharts
JavaScript chart by amCharts 3.21.15The social media platform (Billion - Dollar)
At the start of Instagram’s history, it was named Burbn, a solution that combined features of a check-in app and an online social game. But its founders didn’t stop there. They went further and decided to create a photo-sharing app and combine it with photo editing features. Before then, such solutions existed, but only separately.
The combination of photo sharing and photo editing features was explosive. It became Instagram’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
Thanks to the prototype, founders raised $500,000 from first investors. Two months after its release to the market, the platform gained over a million active users.
In 2012, Facebook bought out Instagram for over $1 billion, and in 2013 the photo-sharing application gained its first 100 million monthly active users.
So, what stands behind the popularity of Instagram?
Instagram is a successful social media marketing tool because of its extensive and growing user base. There are a few factors that ensure its never-stopping popularity:
- First of all, the app’s creators came up with a really unique app idea at the time that wowed users.
- At first, they didn’t invest all the money into creating a new platform. They created a photo-sharing app for iOS only and tested it for two years. Only after they witnessed huge success did they move to the development of Android and web versions.
- They stayed flexible enough and quickly understood when to change the first app ideas and which direction to move.
- The company knows both how to get new users and retain existing ones. It’s one of the platforms whose popularity hasn't wavered for over 10 years now.
Instagram is an app with a pretty simple app idea. The company has stuck to it throughout the years. However, it successfully added new features that the audience loved.
What is Instagram in the Nutshell?
JavaScript chart by amCharts 3.21.15Instagram as a photo-sharingapp: 25.00%Instagram as photo-editing app:25.
00%Instagram as a messenger app:25.00%Instagram as an eCommerceplatform: 25.00%JS chart by amCharts
Instagram had successfully transformed from a photo-sharing application into one of the most successful social media platforms in a couple of years. Today, it’s much more than that. Let’s take a look at Instagram as a photo-sharing app, photo-editing solution, messenger, and eCommerce portal.
- Instagram as a photo-sharing app
The key feature of Instagram is photo sharing. Considering how to make an app like Instagram, you can limit its features to just this one feature. It’s possible to make an app like Instagram, starting with an MVP and then moving on by adding extra features.
The minimal feature set for such an app would be:
- User profile
- Uploading and deleting photos
- Geolocation
- Comments
- User tagging
- Integration with 3rd party social media
- Instagram as a photo-editing app
As mentioned above, Instagram combines both photo-sharing and photo-editing features.
Users can apply filters, change the size of a photo, adjust brightness, warmth, add text, markers, and so on. Users can create catching content right in one single application.
The MVP feature set for such an app would be:
- User profile
- Basic photo-editing features (cropping, resizing, filters, etc.)
- Advanced features (adding text, frames, stickers, etc.)
- Instagram as a messenger app
Today, it’s difficult to imagine Instagram without the built-in messenger. This feature allows users to interact and share highlights, reactions, and messages.
Must-have features would be
- User profile
- Text and audio chats
- Ability to delete and send messages
- Feature for blocking users
- Instagram as an eCommerce platform
Instagram never stands still. From a photo-sharing app, it grew into something more.
Today, businesses use Instagram as an eCommerce platform. The number of business accounts is around 25 million. Retailers can post products, promote and advertise them, and sell and interact with buyers.
The minimal number of features would be:
- Business profiles
- Product listings
- Targeted ads
- Paid posts
- eCommerce analytics tools
Despite more than 10 years of history, Instagram continues to evolve. The list of the most recent features includes Instagram Reels, IGTV, and shoppable posts.
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How to Make an App Like Instagram: 10-Step Guide
This part of the article covers the key aspects to consider to make an app like Instagram.
The process of app development doesn’t start with coding. It starts much earlier with market exploration and competitors’ analysis.
Here is how to make an app like Instagram in 10 steps:
- Conduct market research
- Make competitor analysis
- Validate an app idea
- Create app design
- Choose a technology stack
- Decide on features
- Choose monetization strategy
- App development
- Deployment, launch, and ongoing development
- Marketing and promotion
Let’s review each of the steps to make an app like Instagram in more detail.
1. Conduct Market Research
It’s impossible to decide how to make an app like Instagram without understanding the current situation on the market of photo-sharing and social media applications. The first and most logical step is to conduct market research.
The key purpose of this step is to analyze the market of similar applications. As you are working on your research, try to answer the following questions, which will help you make an app like Instagram that users will love:
- Where will you launch your application?
- What do users like and dislike?
- How do users interact with similar apps? Which features do they use the most?
- What are the demographics (female-male ratio, age, income, location, etc.
)? - Where will you launch your application?
Answers to these questions will help you answer the most critical question: Who is your target audience? After identifying it, you will understand how to make your app appealing to them.
2. Make Competitor Analysis
Competitive analysis of apps like Instagram will help you define the vision of your own project. You need to learn from your competitors; check their functionality, key strengths and weaknesses, and monetization methods.
During this stage, try to answer the following questions:
- What is the USP of competitive apps?
- What do users love about those apps the most?
- What features are competitors offering?
- How do competitors monetize their apps?
The key purpose of competitor analysis is to understand how you can stand out with your own app.
The table below lists the top 10 photo-sharing apps with key insights about them.
| Application | Details | Platforms | USP & Features |
1+ billion monthly active users (MAU) 500+ million daily active users (DAUs) | iOS, Android, Web | Photo & video sharing Photo & video editing IGTV, reels Photo filters | |
| Retrica | 190+ filters available 250 million users Available in 102 countries | Android, iOS | Photo & video sharing Add filters to photos made with the front camera before taking a shot Make GIFs from collages and videos |
| Flickr | 60+ million monthly users 100+ registered photographers 25+ million photos uploaded every day 10+ billion photos shared since launch Available in 63 countries | iOS, Android, Web | Photo sharing Creation of photo albums in the cloud Professional photo editing tools Private sharing with a close circle |
| Hipstamatic | Not a social network 4+ million users | iOS | A large suite of tools for creating vintage photos Add filters to photos before taking a shot |
459 million MAU Users watch around 1 billion videos every day | iOS, Android, Web | Share & view images Segregation by topics Save or repin pins | |
| Yummi | Available in 100+ countries 50+ restaurants listed | iOS, Android | Photos sharing platform dedicated to food and restaurants Restaurant recommendations Friends recommendations Food diary |
| VSCO | 4 million paying users 30 million registered users | iOS, Android | Photo sharing app without social media experience Advanced photo-editing capabilities Ability to share photos in VSCO or on other social media platforms |
| Snapchat | 280 million of DAU 5+ billion snaps created every day 18+ billion daily snaps views | iOS, Android | Auto-disappearing shares (snaps) Group stories Augmented Reality features |
| Dispo | Raised $20 million in investment Company value of $200 million | iOS | Next-day automatic delayed posting of photos Only via-invite joining No photo editing, no hashtags |
| Unsplash | 3. 3.6+ billion photo downloads 264+ contributors | Web | Photo-sharing features Free downloading of images Daily hand-selected photos |
1+ million uploaded photos
3. Validate Instagram-Like App Idea
Creating new applications is a risky venture as you never know how the target audience will react to it.
One of the ways to ensure its success is to ask your potential users how to make an app like Instagram that they will love to use. The choice of the tool is up to you: you can create polls, get in touch with the target audience and ask them questions directly. After you get answers, it will be easier to finalize the USP of your photo-sharing app and create a business model canvas.
A business model canvas usually contains nine blocks, each dedicated to one aspect of your application idea:
- Audience segment
- The main problem that users are dealing with
- Unique selling proposition
- Your solution
- The advantage of your app
- Cost
- Key performance indicators
- Revenue channels
- Advertising channels
Below you can find a draft of such a business model canvas with a short description for each of the blocks.
Filling out these blocks will help you better understand how to make an app like Instagram that will meet both customer expectations and your business requirements.
4․ Create Photo Sharing App Design
In the era where users ‘buy’ with their eyes, you can’t make the mistake of underestimating the importance of app design.
You should take care of two parts of app design:
- User experience (UX) – defines user flows, how users interact with your application and move through app screens.
- User interface (UI) – the visual representation of your app that should support the app’s functionality.
Study the latest trends in app design, explore the latest innovations and consider using them for your application. Today, no one wants to interact with an app with an outdated and too complicated design.
When designing for iOS and Android, make sure you are familiar with and follow Human Interface Guidelines by Apple and Material Design Guidelines by Google.
5. Choose the Right Technology Stack
You can’t create a photo-sharing app without knowing the tools that keep Instagram running.
So, the Instagram technology stack includes the following technologies:
- Python/Django on the server-side
- JavaScript and React.js for front-end development
- React Native for Android and iOS native applications
- PostgreSQL for database
- Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, Amazon EC2 for cloud computing
Instagram app is designed to handle huge amounts of data while providing high performance.
As you decide how to make an app like Instagram, you will need to decide on its technology stack. Every project is unique, and it doesn’t mean that the Instagram tech stack will be sufficient for your application. We can offer native app development or Flutter app development based on your business needs.
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6. Decide on Features
Instagram was introduced as a photo-sharing application and had a basic set of features. After successfully testing the app idea and seeing positive feedback from the audience, its creators added more advanced functionality.
Let’s review how to make an app like Instagram by analyzing which features you can add to your application – both basic features needed for MVP and advanced functionality required for further product implementations.
- Registration & authorization
The first step of interaction with an app like Instagram is new account registration. When creating a photo-sharing app, add multiple options for user sign-ups and sign-ins: an email account, phone number, Google, and the most popular social media platforms.
The worst thing you can do is force users to fill out a form manually. The best thing to do is simplify the process and bring it down to a few seconds.
It’s also possible to make your app registration-free but only for some features. For example, you may allow users to watch some content without registration, but further interaction with it will require them to sign up.
- Profile editing
Exploring how to make an app like Instagram, don’t forget to add the profile editing capabilities to the list of features. Users should be able to log into their account and change personal information, such as name, phone number, email address, profile picture, profile description, etc.
For this feature to work, you will need to create an interaction between the client and server-side of your application.
- Uploading photos & videos
Uploading photos and videos is the top priority feature for Instagram development. There are different ways of how you can implement such a feature. Think about adding the ability to preview content, upload existing photos and videos from a phone, or take photos with the camera right inside the app
- Photo editing & management
Photo uploading combined with robust photo editing features is one of the reasons why Instagram became popular in the first place.
It is a must-have feature for Instagram-like applications. You can approach their creation in different ways. For example, you can add only some basic capabilities at the start, like adding stickers and text to the uploaded photos. If you want to know how to make an app like Instagram that users will fall in love with right away, consider developing more advanced functionality, such as the ability to adjust colors and tones, delete unnecessary objects, and so one right inside your application.
- Linking with social networks
Creating a connection with other social media networks will help users stay in touch with their friends and share content throughout all the networks. It’s a nice-to-have feature that you can also consider adding to create a photo-sharing app.
- Geo-location
Instagram, first of all, is a social media platform. Users don’t only share their photos; they share their favorite places, best vacation spots, etc.
Adding GPS is an essential step to make your application more valuable and exciting for users.
When developing the feature, you need to add auto geolocation detection and the function to set up the location manually for situations and locations when the GPS signal is weak.
- Search
You can’t make an app like Instagram without providing users with the ability to search for other users, groups, content, tagged photos, the latest news, and so on.
- Messaging and commenting
Real-time messaging is one of the features that makes Instagram tick. Users need to have the ability to communicate with their friends via direct messages and comments on each other’s photos.
- Push notifications
You might want to leave this feature for further application improvements. Adding the ability for the app to notify users when they receive likes, comments, or new messaging will incentify them to interact with your app more.
- Instagram feed
Instagram wouldn’t be itself without its feed with photos. It is a must-have feature that allows users to view all the content in a profile without opening each photo.
- App adjustments
Depending on your business goals, you might need to launch your app in different countries. Thus, users would need to have the ability to manually adjust the app’s settings, such as language. Also, they should also have the ability to enable and disable push notifications, configure the account’s privacy settings, and so on.
- Stories
This is one of the key features that Instagram has today. Stories allow users to share some interesting moments from their lives that you don’t want to add to your feed. Stories automatically disappear after 24 hours if users don’t save them.
Stores are photos and videos with texts, stickers, filters, etc.
Between 2017 and 2018, Instagram took this feature and moved it to the next level. Today, stories have a huge number of additional features, such as the ability to make boomerangs, superzooms, add question stickers, create story highlights, share shoppable posts, add hashtags and nametags, and much more.
Instagram serves as a great example of fast-growing and innovative apps. If you wonder how to make an app like Instagram, study its history and how it evolved throughout the years. You would be surprised to see how swiftly Instagram adapts to new realities and how it is the key trendsetter in the industry of social media apps.
7. Choose Instagram Monetization Strategy
Instagram hadn’t always been on the list of the Fortune 500 companies. In fact, during the first two years of its existence, Instagram didn’t even have a monetization strategy.
The first monetization capabilities were added after Facebook bought the company. What started as a sponsored posts feature later turned into a full-fledged advertisement system. Today, users can create a feed, carousel, story, and video ads.
So, how do apps like Instagram make money? Below you can find an overview of the key principles of its monetization strategy.
- Sponsored posts
Instagram generates the majority of revenue from sponsored posts. Sponsored posts are like ordinary post that contains a CTA button.
- Carousel ads
Carousel ads are just like posts but contain several images. Such carousels are great when advertisements want to tell a story with their posts.
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- Stories
Ads in stories are not the invention of Instagram. The company adopted the idea from Snapchat showing sponsored stories while users are watching the stories posted by profiles they are following.
- Social eCommerce
This is one of the recent features that allows users to buy products by following links in Instagram posts and stories. Social eCommerce is a relatively new niche but has vast potential, so it might be good to consider such functionality for your future application.
- Facebook ads
Facebook ads are a part of the Instagram revenue model. Advertisers can place an ad on Instagram through Facebook, even if they don’t have an Instagram account.
There are numerous ways to create a photo-sharing app and make money from it. Just stay creative and find new monetization opportunities.
8. Start Instagram Development Process
After you’ve successfully identified features for the first version of your solution and chosen the technology stack, you can start the development process.
At first, you might want to start building an app like Instagram for iOS or Android only. During the research, identify what type of device is most popular among your target audience.
The development stage is usually divided into several phases:
- Coding – the creation of the app’s codebase, integration with APIs, SDKs, and third-party solutions.
- QA & testing – application testing to identify and solve any bugs.
- Deployment – release of the developed app to the market.
WHAT MVP DEVELOPMENT IS?
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9. Deployment, Launch, & Ongoing Development
When your app is ready, it’s time to launch it to the market. Remember that the development process stops with this step. The key secret of successful applications is content improvements.
Just take a look at Instagram. If its creators stuck to the app's first version, we wouldn’t have had such an app today.
10.
The marketing strategy for the app’s promotion isn’t created in a single day. You should start working on it long before you launch the version of the app to the market – while your app is still in the development phase.
There are multiple marketing channels that you can use:
- Paid ads
- SEO, and content marketing
- Social media marketing
- Email marketing
- Influencer marketing
- Participation in events
The main goal of a marketing strategy is to put your app in front of potential customers and make them want to try it. Analysis of results provides valuable insights into how an app is performing. Feedback from users is the most critical data you can acquire and use for further app improvements. It’s the only way to create a high-in-demand photo-sharing application, even if the final solution will be very different from your first concept.
How Much Does It Cost to Make an App Like Instagram?
The cost to build an app like Instagram can be very different depending on the complexity of the app, the number of features, and who will develop it.
Usually, the development of a photo-sharing app ranges between $50,000-$250,000. The final cost will depend on the number of custom features you need to implement, UX and UI design, and where you outsource app development.
For example, the cost for app development services is around $100 per hour in the USA. The same services in Europe cost around $35 per hour, while you get the same quality and level of technical expertise.
To calculate the final cost, use the formula presented below.
If you need more detailed estimates, check the table below with an approximate time calculation to create every major feature.
| Feature | iOS/Android | Backend |
| Authorization (social network) | 15-25 | 10-20 |
| Authorization (email) | 40-55 | 15-25 |
| Profile | 15-25 | 5-10 |
| Post creation | 40-60 | 30-65 |
| Feed | 40-60 | 25-40 |
| Image customization | 35-100 | - |
| Geolocation | 15-35 | 15-25 |
| Social features | 10-20 | 10-20 |
| Notifications (basic) | 10-20 | 15-35 |
| Search | 25-35 | 50-80 |
| Direct messaging | 40-85 | 40-85 |
| Total (hours) | 285-520 | 224-405 |
The design of a photo-sharing application will also impact the final cost:
- UX will take around 50-100 hours
- UI will take around 50-80 hours
Additionally, you might need to create a logo and some custom images. Such works can add up to 50 hours to the development cost.
Here is a more helicopter-view representation of Instagram app development cost.
| Dev hours | iOS | Android | Hybrid | |
| Backend | 400 | $14,000 | $12,000 | $16,000 |
| Development | 1800 | $63,000 | $54,000 | $117,000 |
| Design/UX | 100 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $6,500 |
| Web/desktop | 1000 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| QA/PM | 100 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $6,500 |
| Total cost | 3400 | $119,000 | $107,000 | $181,000 |
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How to Find the Best-fitting Instagram KPIs
As mentioned before, you will need to measure how your app performs after launch. During the development, you need to keep in mind the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for an app like Instagram. The success factors in the case with such apps will be users, engagement, and retention.
- Users
The number of active users is the best measurement of an app’s success. If the number is steadily growing, it’s the main indicator that you are taking an app in the right direction.
Social media marketing, influencer marketing, and paid ads are effective strategies to get early users and steadily grow the user base throughout all stages of the app’s lifecycle.
- Engagement
Impossible to measure the success of an app just on the number of users. There are other factors to consider, such as the time they usually spend interacting with an app, how many times they open the app during a day, the number of photos they upload, shared messages, and likes. All these factors show that users are actively involved with your app and continue to use it days, months, or even years after installation,
- Retention
Getting users is the first part of the goal. Keeping them is an entirely different task.
You need to be good at keeping users engaged with your app. One of the ways to do that is to use push notifications. That’s why we usually recommend adding such functionality to our client’s applications. However, before sending them right and left, study your app's audience and identify timeslots for users to interact with the app.
Delighting customers with innovative features is also one of the ways to make them use your app. It’s also possible to organize different contests and allow users to monetize the shared content to keep their devotion.
Delighting customers with innovative features is also one of the ways to make them use your app. It’s also possible to organize different contests and allow users to monetize the shared content to keep their devotion.
Make an App Like Instagram in 2022: Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to make an app like Instagram, it’s time to sum up everything said above.
The plan to make an app like Instagram should include the following steps:
- Market research to identify your target audience
- Competitor analysis to evaluate the competition
- App idea validation to finalize your app idea
- Design to create a visual representation of your app
- Technology stack to implement all features
- Features that will form the basis of your app
- Monetization strategy to decide on how to make money with your app
- Development process to create the code base of the solution
- Ongoing development to quickly adapt to the latest changes and trends
- Marketing and promotion to get and increase the user base
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How to Make a Social Media App Like Instagram and Avoid Possible Pitfalls
Instagram is today’s giant that is famous all over the world. Its enormous popularity proves that the demand for photo-sharing apps is increasing. Thanks to Facebook, which bought it in 2012, Instagram today is considered an effective marketing tool. This kind of success is what attracts entrepreneurs to the idea of creating a photo-sharing app like Instagram. So let’s find out together how to build an app like Instagram.
How Instagram became a reality
Instagram is the largest-growing social-media platform. It was a success right from the beginning, with over a million users only two months after its launch. Instagram was developed by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in San Francisco. Systrom was working in marketing and started doing engineering at night to teach himself coding. He created a prototype app of an idea he originally called Burbn, which allowed people to check-in where they are on their mobile web app. After meeting people who worked for venture capitalist firms at a party, Systrom got them to agree to a meeting to discuss Burbn. After the first meeting, he quit his job, and two weeks later he had raised $500,000 from the firms. At this point, Systrom decided to find a team to help him, and Mike Krieger agreed to join. They decided that the app was very similar to other already established mobile apps, so they pivoted to focus solely on communication through images.
They stripped out all the features from the app except uploading photos, commenting, and liking. It was renamed Instagram which referred to the fact that users were sending a type of instant telegram.
Instagram launched on the 6th of October 2010 and its growth was nearly instantaneous. From a handful of users, it soon became the number one photography app gathering 100,000 users in one week, increasing to 1 million in two months.
According to Kevin Systrom, the app itself took only eight weeks to build but was a result of a year of work behind it. It went on to be bought by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012. So if you’re curious to know how to make a social media app like Instagram, follow me.
Instagram technology stack
Whether you are a techie or a non-technical founder, it is important to have some knowledge of basic technologies for your mobile application like Instagram. Here’s what you need to know about Instagram technology stack.
Create an Instagram clone: basic features and their development time
So how to make a social media app like Instagram? Here are some MVP features an Instagram-like mobile app should have.
Authorization
The user experience with your application starts with an account authorization. Make a social network app like Instagram with various register options: via an email account, phone number, or social media page name. Also, it is useful to add the option of resetting via the email, phone or a user social media account.
How it works
The user data is stored in a database. If a user registers using a phone number, the mobile application should have access to the user’s SMS. If a user logs in via social media account, the operation proceeds with protocols like OAuth.
Profile editing
Once users have logged in, they should be able to edit the account. The basic changeable fields include name, gender, phone number, website, profile picture, bio, etc. All of these are part of coding an app like Instagram.
How it works
The manipulations with profile information can be implemented via the client and server-side interaction.
Uploading photos & videos
One of the essentials to develop a social media app like Instagram is adding a feature that lets users upload photos and videos. Do not forget about such details as previewing display, uploading existing content, commenting, tagging, taking pictures, etc.
How it works
Mobile app developers use the following tools to implement photo and video upload on Android: android. hardware.camera2 API, Camera API, SurfaceView, MediaRecorder classes, etc. iOS developers can use UIImagePickerController which is a part of UIKit Framework.
Photo editing
Instagram is known for its filters. Users like to play with photos by changing how they look. That’s why picture customization is a ‘must-have’ if you decide to create an app like Instagram. Don’t forget about rotation, straightening, zooming, and other editing capabilities.
How it works
For your mobile application, you can use standard filters or create your own filters. for standard filters, developers copy a ready-made code into your app. For a customized filter code is written from scratch.
Linking with social networks
What is good about Instagram is that you can interact with friends, no matter which social network they prefer. The more social media you are able to integrate into your app, the better.
How it works
To link Instagram like mobile application with other social media networks, developers establish a connection between the app account ID and social media account ID.
Geo-location
The integration of geo-location will help to extend the functionality of your application and make it more interesting. Users like sharing places where photos and videos are taken. Consider showing a place not only tagged on the photo but on a map too.
How it works
Developers implement geo-location feature with the help of various APIs. For Android and iOS, it can be done via Location and Maps services.
Search
One simply can’t develop a social media app like Instagram without a search feature. The search option allows users to look for information using a set of predefined parameters. For example, to filter by liked posts or tagged photos.
Messaging and commenting
People want to be able to communicate. Give your customers the opportunity by implementing a message exchange option. Set it up, so they can chat in real-time. Give users the ability to comment on each other’s photos. Implement push notification into your mobile app so users are notified about all incoming messages and comments.
Adjust settings
Settings should be adjustable, for the convenience of usage. Let your customers choose the interface language, enable/disable push notifications, set the account as private, etc.
Stories
Story is an Instagram feature that lets users share moments of their day. They disappear in 24 hours if users don’t save them. Stories can be photos or videos presented in a slideshow format. Just like to a regular post, users can add text, stickers, live face filters, and geostickers to their stories.
However, if you want to make something more than just a photo-sharing app, take a look at the features that Instagram introduced between 2017 and 2018. These features have improved the user immersion and taken the app to the next level of entertainment:
- Boomerang – makes 1.5 seconds looping videos.
- Superzoom – records a 3-second clip that zooms extremely close on what the camera is pointed at.
- Rewind videos – makes a rewind video out of ordinary footage.
- Emoji slider – this sticker can be added to a story and lets users ask their audience questions. People react by sliding an emoji.
- Question stickers – it’s an interactive sticker to share with the audience and let them ask you questions.
- Nametag – is a customizable identity card, that allows you to find people on Instagram, when it’s scanned.
- Stories highlights – a section where users can import their ongoing and past stories so that others could see them on a constant basis.
- IGTV – a YouTube rival with horizontal videos.
- Shoppable posts – business accounts can now mark their goods on photos.
- Explore page – it was rethought and redesigned.
- Hashtags and profile links in bio – Instagram allowed people to include hashtags (#) and profile links (@) in their bio, which serve as live links that lead to a hashtag page or a profile link.
We can take a lesson from Instagram that every app needs to evolve. Entrepreneurs should take into consideration current trends and try to apply them to their application when necessary and suitable. Constant product development is what can bring success to your app.
Instagram business model canvas
Now that you know how to build an app like Instagram, let’s take a deeper understanding of the Instagram business model.
Instagram monetization strategy
Instagram started as a no revenue photo-sharing app. When Facebook bought it for $1 billion, the app began making money for its owners. The monetization of Instagram brought it to where it is now, worth $100 billion. Like Facebook, Instagram makes money mostly from advertising.
Some research has gone on to show that advertising growth on Instagram is actually overgrowing Facebook. Based on Merkle’s Digital Marketing Report, advertiser spending on Instagram reached 177% over the second quarter of 2018, compared to only 40% on Facebook.
Here are some features that Instagram uses for its advertising pricing model.
Sponsored Posts
It’s not a surprise that Instagram’s major revenue source is sponsored posts, just like on Facebook. A sponsored post is basically an ordinary post with a sponsored tag and a call-to-action button.
Carousel advertisements
Something similar to an ordinary post is a carousel post that contains several images that advertisers use to tell a story.
Stories
A story is a feature that Instagram took from Snapchat. Advertising videos pop up while users are watching the stories of others they follow.
Read also: How to Make an App like Snapchat
Facebook Adverts
Instagram’s revenue model involves Facebook’s ads. An advertiser can place an advert on Instagram through Facebook. It can be done without an Instagram account.
Here are some ideas on how to monetize a mobile application like Instagram:
- Advertisement. Photo-sharing apps can provide users with the opportunity of creating business profiles, advertising themselves, and gaining followers.
- In-app purchase. For an application like Instagram, there are several things you can sell like custom filters and effects.
- Special deals. You can provide users with special offers.
How much does it cost to develop an app like Instagram
The social media app development cost is an important issue to discuss. To find out social networking app development costs, what you need to do is to multiply hours of development by the hourly rate. For example, the total time for developing an Android or iOS app is about seven months, the hourly rate for a middle size company varies from $30 to $70. Consequently, the cost of a photo-sharing app like Instagram will be approximately $59,300. The development cost of an Instagram-clone depends on a company’s rate. Yet, do not go for the cheapest option, make sure that the quality of an accomplished product is satisfying.
Here’s a rough estimate of the development of the cost to build a social media app like Instagram. Note that it only includes basic features.
Key efficiency indicators
Mobile app development of an MVP of an app like Instagram it is important to test and analyze its performance, progress, and popularity. So, here are key efficiency indicators that can help you analyze your app’s success.
Active users
Goal: To bring as many new, loyal users as possible.
How to do it
Check the stats to find out how fast the user base grows. Here’s how:
- Media marketing: tell your target audience about your app through social media. Hire a marketing professional. Ideally, 3–6 months before the launch.
- Referral program: you can ask your users to leave comments and feedback on your app and reward them with free filters or effects.
- Attracting high-profile users and using smart PR: photo-sharing apps usually have their own influencers, so if you can attract them with some proposals, they will talk about your app and increase your popularity.
User involvement
Goal: To make people spend more time on your app and log in more often.
The involvement level can be assessed by the activity that takes place in your app: the likes amount (new and overall), the sent media amount (new/recent/overall), and so on.
How to do it
- Add social features (comments, likes, groups, friends, followers, channels).
- Satisfy the needs of professionals. Provide them with high-quality editing tools so they can post good content into your app.
Keeping the user
Goal: To make sure users come back to your app.
How to do it
- Send push notification.
- React to the feedback from your users.
- Launch different promotional events.
How to create an app like Instagram
As a bonus, we’ve created a step-by-step instruction on how to develop an app like Instagram.
- Research the market and learn your competitors.
- Define your target audience and features they might like.
- Consult with a reliable specialist or a company.
- Define your budget prior to the development and be ready to attract funding if you exceed it.
- Hire developers or a dedicated company to build an MVR for you.
- Make sure your app has something unique to offer its users.
- Test it to avoid major bugs in the final version.
- Maintain it and never stop evolving.
Conclusion
Now you know the basics of how to make an app like Instagram. Note, that Instagram earned its worldwide popularity thanks to its simple interface, good performance, and designated features. The key to creating a successful photo-sharing app like Instagram is not making it a complete copy of an already known and loved product. Incorporate basic Instagram features, keep an eye on the new trends it uses and tries to come up with the features that will distinguish your mobile app for Instagram and other famous photo-sharing apps. It is important to give users what they want, and it is possible to do by constantly testing and improving.
Have thoughts about building an app like Instagram? Why not share them with us? We can make it better together.
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How to create a social app like Instagram* in 2023: step by step guide
More than 500 million people use Instagram* every day. They post photos and videos, share stories, watch videos and broadcasts, find new locations, buy goods and chat with friends. Instagram* could replace the browser - that's how it is able to satisfy user requests. And all this in one mobile application. Today we'll take a look at how and why Instagram* has been so successful.
This article will be useful for entrepreneurs who are going to create a social application like Instagram*. We will look at analogues, talk about the main and additional functions of a social application, estimate the cost of development and share recommendations on how to promote an application like Instagram*.
Instagram success factors*
The right time . The founders of Instagram* caught the right moment. In 2010 they launched a social network with photo editing functionality on the iPhone. That Instagram* had a feed, user profile, search, photo filters, and social features like likes and comments. Then there was no application with similar functions. Therefore, Instagram * immediately attracted the attention of the audience and scored a million downloads in two months.
Borrowing features . Instagram* introduced the social features of other apps that were gaining popularity. For example, Snapchat stories, Periscope broadcasts, and TikTok video feeds. Thus, Instagram* contains all the functions for the social life of the user, so that one app is enough for him.
Monetization options . There are many ways to make money on Instagram*. These are paid subscriptions to accounts, branded offers, advertising and commercial accounts. Who understands money, he goes to Instagram * in the hope of making money. So Instagram* is not just a social network. It is a multifunctional platform that allows people to earn a living.
Key features
It's hard to imagine Instagram* without features such as login, feed, content creation and management, search, profile, social functions and notifications. Let's explain why.
Authorization
The user creates an account to access the social network. He registers via email, other social networks or by entering a login and password.
Social apps try to make registration easier, but there are exceptions. The Clubhouse audio chat app required the user to receive an invite from a friend. Otherwise, the user will not be able to access. The atmosphere of exclusivity proved to be very attractive to users in 2021.
Clubhouse users cannot login to the app without being invited for the first time
Feed
Users interact with content here. It's the endless scrolling of posts that makes up the core user experience.
To make the user spend more time in an app like Instagram*, you can create a feed based on recommendations, like in TikTok. Its feed takes into account user behavior based on views, comments, and likes. The feed shows you content you'll enjoy based on your likes and follows history.
TikTok feed
Content creation
Users not only watch other users' content, but can also create it themselves. Instagram* allows you to take photos and videos within the app or upload them from your library. Initially loading from the library was not supported and users were unhappy. The creators listened and added this option. Do not repeat their mistake and immediately give the opportunity to download content from the library.
Content Processing
It is important for users to express their individuality and style through photo and video editing. And it should be easy. To do this, you can create filters with a preview of the result and visual settings. Moreover, the list of options should not be too extensive. Otherwise, you run the risk of flooding the user with a large number of settings.
A good example of simple editing is VSCO. This is an application where the user can apply custom presets, add visual effects and adjust the skin tone.
Profile
Published content and user information are in the profile. Some main features: user avatar, bio, content feed and private message button. The user should be able to customize their profile, but again, don't overdo it.
Additional functions can be added to the profile screen. For example, Twitter users can send donations by clicking on the button in their profile.
Twitter profile
Search
This feature is essential for finding friends and meeting new users. People can search for posts, accounts, or anything else under a specific tag, such as "food" or "dog."
Users may be imprinted, which may prevent them from finding the desired content. To help them find what they need faster, you can adjust their queries based on popular ones.
YouTube search
Social features
Like, comment, share. Many photo-sharing apps have these buttons for the user to interact with the content and share it with their followers.
During UI/UX development, make sure that the "social" buttons are comfortable to press with the thumb of one hand. Because the more users who want to click on these buttons, the better for your application.
Zenly location sharing app has many buttons with vibration and sound effects
Notifications
Remind you to check your friends' new posts. Or use any other call to action that encourages you to open the app. This will keep users, and it’s just convenient for the audience - people want to see updates on social networks in time.
BeReal has gone one step further and linked the interaction to notifications so users can take and share new photos daily. A person has 2 minutes to take a photo from both cameras at the same time and share it.
BeReal Notice
Additional Features
Besides the basic features, there are a few less traditional features worth knowing about. Not all of them are featured on Instagram*, so they can give you a competitive edge.
New formats
When you build an app like Instagram*, you might think of a unique content format. This will set you apart from your competitors.
You can rely on emotions or combinations of new features to create a new user experience. You can create new masks for photos or videos like in Snapchat, challenges like in TikTok, or audio chats like in Clubhouse.
Private messages
Over time, Instagram* users no longer have enough communication through comments, especially since they cannot share content there. Then the developers added private messages to the application to open up a new communication channel. And later there were also voice messages and video calls.
Geolocation
Users can share new places with friends using geolocation.
During development, it is important to consider whether users can mark geolocation manually if the connection is weak. Constant tracking is useful for suggesting relevant content based on location or watching friends move like in Zenly.
Support
Sometimes users have problems with an application and want to contact support. It is best to do this as one of the buttons in the settings, where other important functions are located. The user can consult the knowledge base or contact a support agent for help.
If you are running a social network around the world, it is better to hire specialists who will answer users' questions in shifts. This way you will be provided with 24/7 support.
How to Build a Social App Like Instagram* in 6 Steps
Step 1: Do Research
Conduct market and competitor research to determine market size, target audience profile, and development plans.
Step 2: Define your USP
To stand out from the competition and attract potential audiences, define a unique selling proposition (USP) for your app. Use the following questions to correctly identify your USP:
- What do users like and dislike?
- Where are they located? Who are they?
- What problems do they have? How to solve them?
- How do users interact with similar applications? What features do they use the most?
After answering the questions, form the concept of the application. Ask yourself: how do you make sure your vision meets the needs of your audience? To do this, ask friends or a focus group to test your hypotheses.
Step 3: Create a Unique UI/UX Design
Once you've done your research and approved your USP, you need to select features for your social app. Imagine the application's interaction logic.
At this stage, the UI/UX designer creates all the buttons, icons, text fields and defines how they will interact. At Purrweb, this step results in application layouts + UI-kit for developers.
Step 4: Design
It's time to code your social app. This will require an experienced team of mobile developers to get it done quickly and efficiently.
Consider the platforms your application will run on. You can develop for iOS and Android separately, or choose cross-platform development. A native application separately for iOS and Android is a long and expensive process. Cross-platform development will save time and money. If you want to reach a large audience and save on budget, our React Native development team can help you achieve this.
Step 5: Catch bugs
You need to debug the application so that all functions work properly. To do this, the testing team will check the application for errors and fix them.
Step 6. Release and support
Release the application and collect feedback. Find out what users like and dislike. And also whether they will use the application.
Plan further updates and new features based on this information. This way you will better interact with your users.
How much does a social app like Instagram cost*
The cost of developing a social app depends on several factors. For example, features, design complexity, and the platforms the app is released on. Also consider the time to implement unique features. Also remember that the cost of MVP will be much lower than traditional development. Let's see what it takes to create a photo sharing app.
| 0214 | 142 | 6 | 318 thousand | |
| Development | We develop an application for iOS and Android. It has clean code without crutches so that other developers can work with it later. | 1,050 | 12 | 3 million |
| Testing | We find bugs and fix them so that users get a working application. | 360 | — | 432 thousand |
| Project management | We make sure that the team adheres to a single vision and manages to complete tasks on time. | - | - | 318 thousand |
This is the base estimate. If you want to know the price of your particular application, we can prepare an individual estimate. To do this, fill out the form below.
How to promote and develop a social app
Engage your audience after the app is launched. You will be doing this all the time, so pay attention to several ways.
Building a community
Engage users with your app so they can recommend it to their friends. Choose the appropriate tone of communication with the audience and win them over. Create your own community. This will keep current users and attract new ones.
Situational Marketing
Search for hot or weird news, link it to the app and share it on other social media apps. Hop, you're trending!
For example, if the Instagram* servers are down, it's time to post on Twitter with interesting features of your app that Instagram* doesn't have. People will look up why Instagram* isn't working and will most likely stumble upon your tweet.
Content Branding
Use the logo when users share content outside of your app. This way, friends or followers will notice the name of the app and are more likely to install it. For example, when sharing screenshots of Telegram on iOS, the application logo is on top.
Blogger Affiliate Program
Reach bloggers with a large audience on other social apps. Let them create unique content in your application. They will share links to your social network with their followers. If they like the content, the audience can gradually switch to your app to try something new.
Advertise
You can promote your photo sharing app with Instagram ads*. Showcase amazing features in short video creatives to reach your target audience.
Conclusion
If you want to move Instagram*. then you need a unique function. Users must like it so that they switch to your application. If you have found your USP, recruit a development team and follow your vision. Create, modify and promote your application. Perhaps your application will become the next giant of social networks.
If you're looking to build a social app like Instagram*, please contact us. We are a team of full-cycle developers, we create mobile, web and desktop applications from idea to release. We have 200 people on staff, we have been working for 8 years. Therefore, we will be happy to share our experience in order to turn your idea into reality.
*Meta's activities (Facebook, Instagram*) are recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation.
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Enter your e-mail and we will send the article thereHow to create your own profitable mobile application
Do you have an idea to create a mobile application, but doubt whether you have enough knowledge and skills to create it? Even if you do not understand anything about creating mobile applications, you can still create it and even make money from it.
Content:
Idea
Application types
Monetization options
Development
Development cost
How to create an application for free
How much can you earn?
Idea
Work on creating an application starts with an idea. First, think about who you want to make the app for. For example, if you live in a big city where there are a lot of tourists, then you might consider creating an app for them. There are a lot of options.
Also, think about your hobbies and interests. Let's say you travel a lot and want to visit the most famous clubs around the world. You have made a list of your favorite places. Why not turn this database into a travel app?
Many well-known applications are not centered around special interests, but they are always in the top three ratings - these are games. You have probably already downloaded to your smartphone - Temple Run, Minecraft. Gaming apps tend to make more money because users are more willing to pay for them, especially if they are very popular with your friends.
Don't be discouraged if you find something similar to your idea when searching through the App Store. Learn to think outside the box. For example, there are several apps that provide information and maps about all the most popular tourist spots in Moscow. But there is an application that provides information about unusual places in the city that not everyone knows about.
Try to come up with an idea that has few competitors. But if you're determined to turn your idea into an app despite the competition, take a look at your competitors and try to figure out what you can do to make your app better than theirs.
Here are some important things to consider while you're thinking about your application:
- Do you plan to develop the application yourself, or are you able to hire a programming team?
- How will the application be useful to people
- Will the application require daily monitoring
- Do you want your application to become your main business or just a single project
- What platforms will your application work on
Application types
There are many categories in which you can create an application. Here is a list with examples of some of the more popular options.
- Games (Angry Birds)
- Travel (TripAdvisor, Kayak)
- Social networks (Facebook, Twitter)
- News (RIA Novosti, NTV: news)
- Music (Spotify, Pandora) Video (Vandora)
- Utilities (Google Translate, Flashlight)
- Photo (Instagram, Picstitch)
Monetization options
Before you start developing an application, you need to decide how you will earn on it. There are several main ways to monetize apps:
- Free app. Usually used by large companies, and the application helps to sell their products or services.
- Free app with ads. Used in popular applications that actively interact with the user
- Paid application. The most popular and profitable type of monetization. For every sale of your app, Apple takes a 30% commission.
- Lite and Pro. Lite app is free but with limited features. By purchasing Pro you unlock all functionality
- In-app purchases - you can sell new features or new game levels directly from the app
Development
Now you have an idea. Okay, that's half the battle! But what now? We assume that you, like most people, have no experience in programming. And it's wonderful! There are tons of options.
If you want to take the easy but more expensive route, check out the mobile app developer websites. The AppBooker site allows you to enter the desired platform, country, your budget, and then it will return a list of developers that meet your needs. By selecting a developer, you can see a list of their clients and the types of applications they specialize in.
A good list of domestic developers can be found here - ratingruneta.
Another option to find a developer is to contact the flanker exchanges. It may even be cheaper, but more risky, as you may come across an unscrupulous employee.
Here are some questions to ask your future developer:
What is the cost of their work?
Who did they work for in the past?
Are their applications successful?
Will I have full rights to the application?
Do they have the experience and knowledge to bring your idea to life?
For which platforms (IOS, Android, etc.) can they create applications?
Development cost
As they say, in order to earn money, you must first spend it. This is not entirely true when it comes to mobile applications, but we will return to this below. In the meantime, let's assume that you decide to order an application from a developer.
Depending on the type of application you want to make, the price can range from $500 to $100,000. Such a price may seem very high, but keep in mind that the profit from a successful application covers the costs several times over. In addition, gaming applications are the most expensive in terms of development and are also bestsellers.
If you already have some experience (eg layout and graphics), you can significantly reduce the price. Another way to reduce costs is to offer the developer a share of the profits from the application.
To find out approximately how much it will cost to develop an application, you can use the howmuchtomakeanapp calculator. It was created by the Canadian company ooomf.com. The resulting price can be safely divided by 2, and you will find out the development price from us. You can also see examples of applications they have already created with prices - crew.co.
Placing an already finished application on the App store will cost you $99. 9 per year. Placing an application on the Android Market costs $25.
How to create an app for free
If you don't want to create a game or some kind of application that is unique in its functions, then you can use special online mobile application constructors. With the help of these sites, you can make a simple application for free without programming knowledge. But if you want something special, then you have to switch to a paid plan.
- Appsmakerstore.com
- Infinitemonkeys.mobi
- ibuildapp.com
- appsvolcano.com
- yapp.us
How much can you earn?
Obviously, the money you earn from your application will largely depend on its popularity, and how much you earn is hard to say.
A study by GigaOM Pro found that over half of their 352 developers surveyed were earning less than $500 per month.
It's certainly not enough to make a living from app revenue, but it's fine if you just want to make some extra money.
