Technology advances have always made it possible to be in contact with friends and peers from any location. Therefore, many users now use the interesting and feature-rich video chat platforms. These apps provide real-time communication just with a tap.
Notably, 78% of the users between the age of 18-34 and 49% of the people over 50 years old prefer video calls over phone calls. This increased demand among both older and younger users has resulted in the emergence of apps such as Monkey. So, if you want to enter this market, you must first know how much you must invest to develop apps like the Monkey app. So, let's break it down. First, we need to understand the reasons behind the popularity of the Monkey app.
Reasons Behind Monkey App's Popularity
The Monkey app is gaining more popularity because of its casual and fun interface. With Monkey faces all around, this quickly gets the eyeballs. It is specifically made for Gen Z, but every adult can use it.
It comes with a fast-paced video chatting experience of only 15 seconds. However, you can lengthen the time if you want. But, if you do not take any action, the call will cut automatically. You can connect with complete strangers around the world and make new friends. What sets this specific apart are-
- User-friendly interface
- Swipe feature
- Profile customization
- Interest-based matching
- An affordable subscription plan of $15 per month
All these features guarantee that you get enough user engagement. It is not like your regular formal video calls, you can video chat with anyone in a more relaxed way. People are loving this app because of its smooth performance. This can be one of the many reasons behind its viral success.
Approximate Investment to Make an App Like Monkey App
Monkey app became extremely popular, and that is why it has successfully attracted 2.61 million users from the United States. If you are to develop a comparable video chat platform, the cost varies depending on the selected video app development company. Not only that, but the price will change based on the app's complexity level. Let's know that in detail:
- Suppose you wish to make a basic-level app. Then, you will get basic features as one-to-one video calls, text-based chat, and primitive matchmaking. In this case, the price will stay between $30,000 and $50,000.
- However, to develop a medium-level app, you need to have a bigger budget. It is because the medium-level app will have dedicated user profiles, multimedia sharing, group video calls, improved UI/UX. So, the cost here will be from $50,000 to $100, 000.
- On the other hand, the most expensive development will be creating an enterprise level app. You may have to invest between $100,000 and $3,00,000+. It is because developers need to integrate third-party solutions using advanced technologies. It will have features like AI matchmaking, video optimization, and improved security.
So, it means that the advanced the features, the more the amount to be invested in owning and maintaining the app. Here is a cost breakdown in the table:
| Type of App | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic-Level App | $30,000 to $50,000 |
| Medium-Level App | $50,000 to $100, 000 |
| Enterprise-Level App | $100,000 to $3,00,000+ |
List of Factors That May Affect the Total Price of a Platform Like Monkey App
There are a lot of factors to consider when creating a video chat application like Monkey. Your ultimate mobile app creation cost will be decided depending on those factors. However, always partner with a trusted mobile app development company to avoid hidden fees.
So, here is a list of factors that can change your development cost. Remember, every move takes time, energy, and specific expertise to develop a smooth, secure, and interactive app.
Front-end Development
The front-end means the part that an individual user interacts directly with within the app. So, developing front-end can take longer. Also, it requires more skillful experts to add complex animations or features. Plus, they need advanced tools to implement interactive features which again needs more coding and testing. So, in this case, more features means more coding, which would be more costly.
Approximate Price: $10,000-$100,000
Backend Development
Backend development is responsible for data, servers, and video streaming. Constructing a strong backend is needed if you want to develop apps like the Monkey app. It must serve lots of users and involve sophisticated architecture and security. The more features your app supports, the more time it takes to develop and maintain the site. So, based on this, it will be costly.
Approximate Price: $10,000-$150,000
UI/UX Design
To make your app more appealing to users, having a proper design plan for UI/UX is essential. So, it can be a development cost deciding factor as well. The total expense may fluctuate depending on the app's intricacy, screen quantity, and the designers' skill level. Also, there is a catch here. It can add to the total cost if your developers need to make customized interactions.
Approximate Price: $5,000-$30,000
Features' Complexity
Integrating high-end features such as group calls, multimedia sharing, and AI matchmaking entails a lot of programming, testing, and system integration. With more features, more time is taken to develop. That is why more specialized skills are needed, which increases the cost of a project.
Approximate Price: $30,000-$300,000
Platform Selection
Development for multi-platform (iOS and Android) is independent unless one wants to use cross-platform tools. Native apps tend to perform fast but require much more time for development. So, the support for both platforms increases the scope of work and cost of the project in general. However, if confused, you may directly discuss picking a platform with your hired video app development company.
Approximate Price: $10,000-$100,000
Chosen Tech Stack
The speed and efficiency with which the app can be developed and scaled depend on the tech stack. If you require more experienced developers or complex infrastructure, you must invest more. Plus, for some advanced technologies, sometimes the development becomes more expensive. Also, using scalable and secure technologies may call for increased initial costs, but can go a long way towards maintenance.
Approximate Price: $50,000-$250,000 or more
Tips on Reducing the Cost of Developing a Monkey-like Video Chat Platform
Building a video chat app is expensive, which can be upsetting for small businesses. But there are smarter ways of doing it at a cheaper cost, without sacrificing the quality. Here are a few tips.
Start with an MVP
Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with critical functions like video calls and basic chat. This makes development faster and ensure early release. You are able to collect the feedback, test the market, and add more features at a later time according to user needs.
Use Cross-Platform Development
Instead of making native Apps for iOS and Android, go with Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native. This allows you to have one codebase for both platforms. This is the reason why one-third of mobile app developers use cross-platform because it saves time, effort, and overall project costs.
Choose Open-Source Tools
It can save licensing fees by using open-source technologies for video calls, databases, or backend services. Many open source tools are secure and robust, with excellent community support, enabling one to cut down on software costs without losing quality.
Outsource to a Skilled Team
Hiring a mobile app development company from countries with lower rates (India or Eastern Europe) can decrease the initial costs of the development. Go for an experienced team of people who do similar apps to avoid experiencing delays and will have better results within a budget.
Limit Initial Features
Do not overwhelm the app with too many features during the first release. Draw attention to the key point in the matter of user experience. This cuts down the development time, and you can push out updates incrementally to amortize costs over time.
Use Pre-Built Solutions
Build up on top of existing APIs or SDKs for things like video streaming, messaging, or authentication. This prevents a situation where everything has to be built from scratch. These tools are typically battle-tested, allowing you to get your app out the door more quickly while requiring less effort in development.
Conclusion
In summary, if you wish to create successful apps like the Monkey app, knowing the right approach is essential. You can easily make the app within your budget. Just pick the correct platform, tech stack, developer team, and others to lower the development cost. Also, always use the right tools to make it more appealing to the users.
Wanting to create an app like Monkey that will let your users enjoy video chatting? Contact Owebest Technologies. We have an expert team that will create high-quality apps that meet your needs. Using our competencies and skills, we can make your dream a reality.
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