This guide will cover the best social app development services, how much they cost, top app development features, and how you benefit from using social app development companies.
Social apps allow users to interact and communicate with each other in a variety of different forms. These apps are popular, and usage is only increasing—nurtured further by Covid-19—making these necessary communication tools to stay in contact.
Like any industry, building and developing social apps requires several must-have features. They need to allow users to post updates, comment and like posts, share their profiles, and other social media integration is key.
Notifications, news feeds, and customizable profiles are popular, as is the ability to chat with others in the network. It’s about allowing users to create content to interact with each other.
Need help knowing where to start? We’ll cover everything you need to know about social app development.
What is a social app?
Mobile social media apps are apps which can be downloaded and stored on your phone or tablet.
Social media apps typically feature messaging, photo-sharing, and other interactive content. There are many categories that social media apps can fall into overall.
Having your own social media app allows you to customize it to use push notifications so that your audience can receive alerts straight to their phone without having to open up their browser first.
There are a plethora of social apps available on both the Android and Apple app marketplaces today, so your app will need to shine.
Types of social apps
Examples of social apps include the following:
- Social network apps, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
- Media-sharing network apps, including Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube
- Discussion forum apps, including Reddit, Quora, and Digg
- Bookmarking and content curation networks, including Pinterest
- Consumer review network apps, including Yelp, Zomato, and TripAdvisor
Social app developer example
Source: FreshWorks Studio
You’ll be familiar with social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok, as these platforms help us connect with friends, family, and–of course–brands.
A social networking mobile app allows users to share thoughts, curate content, upload photos, form groups based on interests, and participate in stimulating discussions.
All social apps are built around the user and everything that’s important to them. Think carefully about your business and the type of social app that would work best for you.
Why should I develop a social app?
When you design the platform you interact with your community on, there are no outside rules–that’s what creating your own social app gives you.
When you create a social app, you’re in charge and have the freedom to interact with your community on your own terms.
You also have the power to access data about the users who are most interested in who you are, which is great for well-meaning marketing purposes.
For creatives, connecting with fans and subscribers can be restricted by traditional social media platforms.
The contrary is true when you have the means to design and operate a social app yourself–you don’t compromise your vision.
When you create a social app, you’re in control. In your own dedicated community space, you’ll have more control over the design and look too.
Social app developer example
Source: Wasko
Not to mention that selling things to your community isn’t possible in many cases on existing social media platforms.
Using your own social app, digital marketplace options can be built right into the platform and features like one-click and express purchasing become possible.
Effectively then, it’s you and your audience, and you can reach all of them every time you post–it can be one of the most powerful marketing tools around.
What is the social app development process?
You need to develop the best social app possible. One that loads quickly, focuses on the user and runs efficiently.
Building a social app is about following a specific process that ensures nothing gets missed during the app’s development.
The social app development process can be found below–let’s dive into the key steps.
1. The target audience
You need to decide what your social media app will be about, as well as gain a good understanding of the market and the competition.
Creating a social media app is tricky, so it’s important to understand what features your potential users would like and what the competition lacks.
Keep in mind the following:
- If you plan to make money from your app, you’ll need to think carefully about the different monetization options
Once you have a good indication of what your social app will be about, it’s time to start putting together your ideas. You’ll want to consider your options for user retention, as well as what strategies you’ll use to grow and keep your community engaged.
2. Functions and features
When you first start planning your social app, it’s easy to get lost in the many different functions and features.
Be sure to understand your limitations, budget, and app development skills to ensure that all the features are necessary and think about the type of content you’d want to upload to the app.
Keep in mind the following:
- What security measures will you take to ensure your app is as safe as possible for all users?
- Do you want to enable comments to boost user engagement?
- Will you use push notifications to keep people engaged?
Top Social App Developers
3. The design and development phase
Now it’s time to start designing and developing your social app.
You’ll need to decide early on what route you intend to take and whether you want your app available for Android users, Apple users, or both of them. Android and Apple both use different technological stacks.
Keep in mind the following:
- If you’re using a SaaS solution, you don’t need to worry
- The development process can be expensive and time-consuming, so think carefully about your strategy
Ensure your outlines and designs are as clear as possible for an app developer to put them together and start by wireframing your app, as this will help your team visualise how the app works and what pages link.
Prototyping is the next step and involves creating a working model of the app–it helps everyone understand the app better.
4. Grow the community
Once you’ve developed your social app, it’s time to get your users on there and build up the community, bit by bit.
Keep in mind the following:
- Think about your initial marketing needs
- Decide how you will get users to download your app
It’s worth using tactics such as app incentives that will ensure users have a good time using your social app.
Social app developer example
Source: Chelsea Apps
5. Analysis
There is a wide range of analytics tools that can help you assess the success of your app.
Keep in mind the following:
- Keeping track of engagement can help you make actionable changes in the future
- You’ll be able to spot what’s working and what isn’t inside your app
For example, you might look at how long people spend on your app or how many times per week they use it.
User engagement is measured by the amount of engagement you’re seeing in your app and can be measured by the number of actions a user takes and how long people are spending in the app.
Social app development best practices and features
Here are some of the main aspects to consider when developing a social app, including best practices as well as essential and advanced features.
Think about the app platform
The platform of the mobile social app affects, above all else, the cost. Even though there’s a negligible difference between developing iOS and Android apps generally speaking, starting with a single platform is a good way to keep things in check.
From there, developing a cross-platform mobile app that targets both main platforms with a shared codebase is the next natural step.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the UI
The UI design of the app is a key factor that affects a user’s enjoyment and the overall cost of the app. A social app with a basic design will cost less, and it’s worth thinking carefully about which features are essential.
A huge part of engaging your user comes down to having straightforward navigation with a UI that’s intuitive from the start.
Social app developer example
Source: Mutual Mobile
Ensure the app is secure
Social app users are likely to share a range of information, whether publicly or privately, and, as a result, their information must be kept secure.
A key feature of social apps is the ability to create a user account with personal login details and identification methods that allow users to provide everything from their name to their contact information.
Essential features
Your social app will need to offer a lineup of essential features that the app can’t function without.
The MVP is the minimum standard to showcase your product to your target audience, and the features must meet the most critical functions of social apps.
These are some of the essential features your mobile app needs to have:
1. Open forum
2. Push notifications
3. Secure login
4. Post feed
5. Location-based services
6. Accessible image menu
7. File uploading
8. Networking element
9. Messaging system
10. Offline app usage
Focus on app features that provide the greatest value to your customers. Collect feedback, let users tell you what features make sense to them, and then implement the changes when possible.
Social app developer example
Source: Code Brew Labs
Advanced features
Advanced features are (mostly) optional, but they allow your app to offer value to users. Advanced social app features include the following:
1. Recurring posts
2. Approval flow
3. Voice input
4. RSS feed automation
5. Follower labelling
6. Virtual reality
7. AI support
8. Chatbots
9. Smart data
10. IoT integration
Of course, the more advanced features you add, the higher the cost of the mobile app’s development. When deciding your final budget, be sure to keep track of your overall costs.
How much does it cost to develop a social mobile app?
Development costs of social apps vary. Below are the average estimates, as well as a few other things to keep in mind:
- Basic social app complexity level — $30,000 to $80,000 — 3 to 6 months
- Medium social app complexity level — $80,000 to $150,000 — 6 to 9 months
- High social app complexity level — $150,000 to $250,000 — over 9 months
Depending on your business, you’ll need to have access to a few different teams that can assist you during the social app development process. Developing a cross-platform mobile app that targets both main platforms with a shared codebase is economical and highly recommended.
The good news is that it’s a flexible model where you can adjust the budget according to your need. That said, it’s best to contact a social app development company for an estimate before doing anything else.
How can I benefit from social app development services?
Partnering with social app development companies allows you to create apps that enable customers to stay up-to-date with your business wherever they are in the world.
These expert developers let you take advantage of the significant opportunity available while keeping things as stress-free as possible.
Social app developers build highly-scalable apps, whether they’re your first app or tenth. These development companies create beautiful apps that use the latest tech and trends while meeting expectations.
Social app developer example
Source: Wolfpack Digital
Some of the critical benefits of social app development companies include the following:
- Affordable development costs — Apps typically get designed using different frameworks, which allow app developers to reuse the code for multiple different social apps.
- Smarter functionality — App development companies provide excellent functionality and usability with top-notch features.
- Bespoke plans — Custom social app development plans that are designed to fit all needs and typically come with leading scalability.
- Better security — Apps get built with increased security for your customers and business using the latest mobile app encryption technology.
- Careful data management — Data management solutions that protect both customer and company data.
- Reliable communication — Communication at every key stage of your social app development journey.
If you’re planning to design a social app, getting a free quote from mobile app development professionals is usually a smart move–this is especially true if you’re a beginner.
Get started with the best social app developers
To recap, the most critical reasons for having a social app are the following:
- You can stay in touch with your customers 24/7 and provide them with updates on new services and products
- You can extend your business reach by bringing in new customers from across the globe
- Users can use personal profiles with photos of their favourite products and services
- You can stay connected with users through the use of push notifications
- They allow you to build long-term relationships with customers
- You’ll be able to impress potential customers and receive user feedback
- You can feature clickable product tags so that users can explore products themselves
There are a number of app development companies that take on social app development projects and have app developers with experience specifically catering to these apps. Here we’ve put together for you a list of the best.
List of social mobile app development companies
Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 11-50 | $25k+ | 9k+ |
We build digital platforms with global organisations and movements to make change happen. 3 Sided Cube champions and advocates all things tech for good. We are an ISO accredited app development and digital product agency on a mission to use technology to change millions of lives for the better.
Learn more about 3 Sided CubeFounded | Employees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 11-50 |
Designli is a digital product studio in Greenville, South Carolina. We specialize in the rapid prototyping of new software concepts, taking our clients from vision to V1 as effectively as possible. Startups and entrepreneurs value our process for its key \'pausing points\' along the way, as we help founders seek validation, feedback, and - oftentimes - investment.
Learn more about DesignliApp Maisters
Trusted Digital Transformation Partner for Startups, Growing and Enterprise Companies
Founded | Employees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 10-50 |
App Maisters Inc. is recognized as one of the Top App Development Companies in United States. We provides an ultra-rapid & cost effective delivery cycle, a key success factor in such a rapidly evolving market place.
Learn more about App MaistersFounded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 180+ | $16m+ | 5k+ | 47,000 |
Konstant Infosolutions is a globally recognized mobile app development company delivering the best-in-class solutions. Having served businesses, startups, enterprises across all industries, weíve developed over 600 Android, iOS and hybrid mobile apps.
Its team of 180+ professionals possess the finest combination of skills in business analytics, project management, code development, UI/UX design, app prototyping and strategy, web design, quality assurance and various other verticals. With a vision to becoming the top choice of businesses worldwide as a trusted offshore development partner, Konstantinfo continues to follow on-time, in-budget principles and offer cost-effectiveness in each of the projects delivered.
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Flutter, Ionic, React Native, PWA, Internet of Things, Web Development, Mobile Web
- Sector Focus: Real Estate & Property, On-Demand Solutions, Social Networking, Food & Restaurant, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Education & eLearning, Ecommerce, Retail & B2B, Travel & Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, Healthcare & Fitness, Transport & Automotive, Gaming & Leisure, Directory & Organization, Event & Tickets
- Offices: California (USA), Florida (USA), Jaipur (India), UAE
- Key Clients: United Nations, Volkswagen, Stanley Connect, Delmonte, Citrix Systems, Thomasville, Tailored Brands, Reliance Infrastructure, Wonder Cement, Rawbank, Scholastic
- Employees: 180+
- Serving in Industry: 17+ Years
Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 51-100 | $17m+ | 3k+ | 20,000 |
Product Consulting - Our product consultants use a methodical approach, sharpened over time with 200+ products. We separate your product into its components, analyze each element, make recommendations, prioritize, and then optimize each aspect.
Learn more about MoburstTech Exactly
We translate your ideas into futuristic apps and immersive mobile experiences.
Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 10-50 | 5m | 10000 | 15000 |
Tech Exactly is award winning Indian Mobile App Development Company with a diverse global clientele. We provide dedicated mobile app and web developers to help startups and enterprises create bespoke solutions.
Learn more about Tech ExactlyFounded | Employees | Social | Traffic | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 10-50 | 1000+ | 2000+ |
TopDevs team possesses expert skills in the best technologies: iOS: Swift, RxSwift, Swift UI, Objective-C, Realm, Apollo, SwiftMessage, Automatic Layout, Mix Swift, UI Kit, Map Kit, MVVM, XCode, Custom UI Android: Java, Kotlin, Coroutines, Flow, Room, Dagger/Hilt, Retrofit, Navigation Component, Custom UI, Jetpack Compose, MVVM Frontend: JavaScript (Vue.
Learn more about TopDevsEmployees | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
10-50 |
Who We Are: We are the nations hottest startup mobile app development and marketing agency. We\'ve helped launch a variety of mobile apps from their inception. We can attribute a lot of our success to our affordable pricing and agile process, which has made us capable of attributing more of the clients budget to growth.
Learn more about SEM NexusAltoros
Top-notch application development services and custom software solutions for innovators. Enable digital transformation now!
Founded | Employees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | 201-500 |
Altoros is a global outsourcing software development provider with a focus on using advanced technologies to deliver top-notch and high-quality software solutions tailored to our customers’ unique requirements.
Learn more about AltorosTekRevol is a top-tier mobile app development company based in the United States, offering cutting-edge, state of the art mobile app development services to the customers. Our work is coded to perfection and structured to drive immense results.
Learn more about TekrevolFounded | Employees | |||
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2014 | 10-50 |
Arateg is an award-winning custom software development company that helps you grow feature-rich online marketplaces such as Amazon, Uber Eats, Airbnb, Booking.com, etc. Having considerable 7+ years of experience, we deliver web & mobile development, UX/UI design, IT consulting, testing, support, and maintenance services.
Learn more about ArategEmployees | ||||
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500+ |
WASKO is one of the leading software development companies in Poland, based in the heart of Gliwice. We have been on the market for more than 30 years with the team of +1000 developers on board. Thanks to the clients all over the world we have the strong experience to develop any kind of software when it comes to Web and Mobile App Development.
Learn more about WASKOSkylark is a pioneer software development company having deep industry and functional expertise. Although based in Singapore, our services are not restricted to geographical boundaries. We are a team of experienced, highly motivated and dynamic web designers and programmers, who deliver cutting edge, cost-effective and result-oriented solutions to meet your expectations.
Learn more about Skylark InfotechHeads and Hands is a digital product development agency focusing on data-driven mobile and web-services and self-learning tools. The main idea behind the company is in its slogan saying “your ideas turned into success”.
Learn more about Heads and HandsCode Brew Labs is a mobile focused software development company which has served startups and enterprises all across the globe. We are a team of around 100 people, using the best practices and having the best minds and creativity.
Learn more about Code Brew LabsAppus Studio is a full-cycle app development company with the in-house team. The company was found in 2009 in Ukraine. Now it is a middle-sized IT company with 40 professionals (iOS, Android, Web developers, UI/UX designers, project managers, QA testers) on a board and one of the TOP app development companies, based in Ukraine that serves clients from all over the world.
Learn more about Appus StudioFounded | Employees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 51-100 |
Uptech is a one-stop Product Development Studio. We help innovative companies bring bold ideas to life and launch mobile and web apps. What apps we create: iOS apps (using Swift) Android apps (using Java, Kotlin) Cross-platform mobile apps (using React Native) Web apps (using JavaScript, ReactJS, NodeJS, Java, Ruby on Rails, HTML/CSS) By working with us, you not only get a 5-star product.
Learn more about UptechFounded in 2008, [x]cube LABS is a leader in mobile app development and consulting. With deep expertise across Mobile, IoT & Wearables, Big Data and Cloud technologies, [x]cube is the partner of choice for several disruptive startups and Fortune 1000 brands like GE, Honeywell, Sharp, UHG, Amazon, Nokia, Dreamworks, Texas Instruments etc.
Learn more about [x]cube LABSFounded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 10-50 | $1m | 5000 | 5000 |
Based in Manchester UK, Foresight Mobile is an end to end bespoke mobile app development agency that specialises in Flutter. Established in 2017, we create attractive, performant digital experiences using Flutter, React Native, Android and iOS for a wide range of clients, from individual startups and entrepreneurs to household names such as Electronic Arts, Arm Microprocessor and Levi Strauss.
Learn more about Foresight MobileFounded | Employees | Revenues | Social | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 10-50 | 1m+ | 5k |
Chelsea Apps – is a mobile and web app development agency with 70+ million mobile app downloads and generating in excess of £250m for its clients. The team is dedicated to crafting apps that make a real impact. People that work in Chelsea Apps bring to bear a blend of youth and experience with strengths in areas such as creativity, development, enterprise-level security and big data innovation. Chelsea Apps worked for companies likes of TFL, Ladbrokes, Waitrose, KPMG, Peace One Day and Telefonica among others
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
- Sector Focus: Retail
- UK Office: 30 Stamford Street, London SE1 9LQ, & Telephone House, 18 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3NE United Kingdom
- Employees: 10+
Agicent offers high quality mobile app development services to startups, entrepreneurs, and growing organizations across the world. We created some famous apps like HASfit, Pregmo, and Drivewey. We assign you a dedicated developer (or team) for your project, no matter how small or big work it is so that you have full control and never have communication gap.
Learn more about Agicent App CompanyFounded | Employees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 51-100 |
We create great mobile and web apps using the latest technologies focused on building elegant and functional products.
What sets us apart is our can-do attitude about every project we take up. We are a bright team of 80+ developers, designers, analysts, strategists, and QA engineers who don’t just provide efficient apps, but also innovate the way business people think.
We started guiding companies into mobile and web development in 2011 and have successfully completed more than 300 projects ever since. Over the years, we have become a full-cycle development company delivering cost-effective applications across various domains: Health & Fitness, eCommerce, FinTech, Entertainment, IoT, Social Media, Taxi Booking, Enterprise, and others.
Key clients: Hamleys, Sport.com, Philips, CoachNow, Adidas, IKEA, MTBank, PSN Group.
Services we provide:
- Mobile (iOS and Android) Application Development
- Web Development
- UI/UX Design
- Business Analysis
- Quality Assurance
- IoT Development
Borne – Not just app development but digital products at large. Established in 2013, highly creative agency, with a team of 20 professionals that develop for both iOS and Android, web, as well as UX/ UI design, branding, market research user strategy and product mapping. Clients include Shell, The British Army, Xendpay. gowithYamo, Bendi, Shell, Joseph Homes, Holiday Swap, BuzzHire, Unifi, Zeus, Sidekicks.
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Sector Focus: Social, Health
- UK Office: Workhouse One, 3rd Floor 6-8 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4BX, UK
- Employees: 10+