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Hello everyone, are you curious to develop messaging apps like Telegram? If you are literally interested then this is the perfect guide for you because we cover everything which is important to know for developing Telegram-like apps. 

Everyone wants to use a secure app for chatting or messaging and an app where they can share anything, such as large videos, photos, movies, documents, and many more. People also want to make calls and video calls to their friends and family; this is the app that is perfectly preferred for all purposes. Everyone also knows that the Telegram app is the most popular app globally. Here, you can buy or sell everything by creating groups and channels. This kind of app allows many unique things for their users so that they can engage with this app. 

So, developing such apps is a wise idea. In this guide, we will cover all the essential points, like what this app is and why it is popular, the benefits of building such an app, the features you must integrate into your app while developing, the 5 top messaging apps, the core technologies required to make a chat app, the development process for chatting apps like Telegram, and the estimated cost and revenue models for making money with this app. 

But before developing such an app, you need to know the market size and trends of this particular chat app market. The stats will give you the confidence to make up your mind about developing Telegram-like apps. So, look at these amazing market stats and size for better decision-making. 

Market Stats, Tends, Size of Chat Applications

The chat application market is experiencing significant growth and is projected to continue expanding between 2025 and 2030. Here’s a concise overview:

According to Verified Market Research, the chat application market was valued at approximately $87.81 billion in 2025. It is expected to reach around $213.4 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3%.

As per Statista, the number of mobile messaging app users worldwide is projected to increase from 3.6 billion in 2022 to about 7 billion by the end of 2030, nearly doubling over the decade.

The instant chat industry is also rising, with an estimated CAGR of 17.67%, reaching approximately $341.43 billion by 2030.

These trends indicate a robust chat app market expansion driven by increasing global connectivity and the growing demand for real-time communication platforms.

Telegram is a messaging and chatting app that allows people to send messages, photos, videos, and files securely and quickly. It works on phones, tablets, and computers; anyone can access their chats from any device. 

Telegram is the most popular chatting app because it offers strong privacy features that can protect your chats. It also allows users to create large groups, broadcast channels, and use bots for automation. The app is fast, free, and has no ads, making it a favorite choice for millions worldwide.

Here’s a detailed overview of the Telegram app:

FeatureDetails
Launched Year2013
Android Rating4.4/5.
iOS Rating4.0/5
App SizeApproximately 30 MB on Android and 80 MB on iOS.
Number of Languages SupportedTelegram officially supports 12 languages, with additional custom languages available through user-created language packs.

Benefits to Develop Chat Apps Like Telegram

There are many benefits to developing messaging apps like Telegram. If you make up your mind to develop such kinds of apps, you have to know the benefits before development. Here, we cover all the most important benefits of building a chat app like Telegram for your consideration. So look at these benefits. 

Huge Market Demand

Huge market demand is one of the essential benefits of these chat apps. These apps are popular worldwide with millions of active users, so investing in them is the best decision. 

High Security and Privacy

High security and privacy are also benefits of creating chat apps like Telegram. When developing the app, you have to offer end-to-end encryption to attract privacy-conscious users. You can invest your money in this app. 

Multiple Revenue Opportunities

Multiple revenue opportunities are also a benefit of developing messaging apps like Telegram because if you build this app, you can earn a good amount of money through ads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases.

Community Building

Community building is another benefit of developing chat apps like Telegram. In this app, users can create groups and communities, making the app more interactive.

Enhanced User Engagement

Another benefit is enhanced user engagement, by developing such an app you can increase the user engagement by offering such features like stickers, channels, and voice calls to keep users engaged.

Easy Brand Promotion

Easy brand promotion is the most powerful benefit of making messaging apps like Telegram because, with this app, businesses can promote products and services through channels and groups.

Cross-Platform Accessibility

Cross-platform accessibility is one of the top benefits of building a chat app like Telegram because it works on multiple devices, such as mobile, desktop, and web, for better reach.

Note: If you want to develop chat-talk hangout app like Discord, consider this guide. In this blog, we cover every point you need to know before developing such an app. 

Must-have Features for Creating Chat App Like Telegram

If you develop chat app like Telegram, you have to integrate essential features that can enhance the app’s user engagement and efficiency. Some features play a huge role in the market, and if you use these features while developing your Telegram-like app, then you can beat the competition for sure. We cover some important features that can change the game, and if you go with these features, you can be a player in this market. 

Chat App Like Telegram Features

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is the most powerful feature in such a chat app like Telegram because it enables users to send and receive messages quickly and reliably.

End-to-End Encryption

Integrating an end-to-end encryption feature is very important when developing chat apps like Telegram because it ensures user privacy by implementing robust encryption for messages and calls.

Voice and Video Calls

Voice and video calls are the most considerable feature in chat applications because it provides options for high-quality voice and video calls, both one-on-one and in groups. Integration of this feature is very important.

Media Sharing

Media sharing is also a feature that is really important for chat applications because users can share photos, videos, documents, and other files within chats.

Group Chats and Channels

The group chat and channel creation feature is most usable in messaging apps like Telegram because it supports large group conversations and broadcast channels for disseminating information to a wide audience.

Advanced Search Functionality

Advanced search functionality is an advanced feature that will help implement comprehensive search features to help users find messages, contacts, and files efficiently.

Customizable Themes and Stickers

Customizable themes and stickers are the most considerable features in chat applications like Telegram because this feature allows users to choose personalization options, such as theme and a variety of stickers, which will enhance user experience.

Bot Integration

The bot integration feature is the best because it facilitates the use of bots for tasks such as news updates, reminders, and other automated services.

File Storage Management

File storage management is quite an essential feature because it gives users control over media and file storage, including options to manage cache and auto-download settings.

Cross-Platform Synchronization

Cross-platform synchronization is an engaging application feature because it allows seamless access to chats across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

Note: If you want to develop multi purpose messaging app like WeChat then you can integrate these features as well and make your app more successful and engaging in this competitive market. 

Top 5 Messaging Apps like Telegram

Well, there are many messaging and chat apps like Telegram available in the market, but few are the evergreen choice. Many businessmen want to develop apps like popular apps, but all apps will not achieve success because something is missing that people want. If you want a successful app, you have to integrate the best and most engaging features as per the market trend and audience demand. 

Leave everything for now. Here, we make a table of the five most popular chat apps for your conversation. In this table, we cover some important information that is required for a better comparison. 

AppLaunched YearAndroid RatingiOS RatingAge LimitationApp Size (Android/iOS)Number of Languages Supported
WhatsApp20094.3/54.7/513+~30 MB / ~150 MB60+
Slack20134.4/54.8/516+~50 MB / ~200 MB8
WeChat20114.2/54.5/513+~150 MB / ~350 MB17
Line20114.1/54.5/513+~90 MB / ~220 MB17
Discord20154.5/54.8/513+~100 MB / ~250 MB28

Technologies Required to Build Chat Apps like Telegram

Whenever you go to develop messaging apps like Telegram, you must carefully choose the tech stack and require one of the best mobile app development companies for this. The professional chat app development company will help you to select the best tech stack for your Telegram-like app. Well, to make the process easy, we cover technologies in 2 categories, backend and frontend. For your better understanding, we separate these technologies. 

Here’s a table of essential backend technologies that are needed to build chat apps like Telegram:

Technology CategoryTechnologies
Programming LanguageNode.js, Python, Go
FrameworkExpress.js (Node.js), Django (Python), Gin (Go)
DatabasePostgreSQL, MongoDB
Real-time CommunicationWebSockets, MQTT
Cloud InfrastructureAWS, Google Cloud, Azure
AuthenticationOAuth 2.0, JWT
Storage SolutionAmazon S3, Google Cloud Storage
SecuritySSL/TLS, End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)
API GatewayNginx, Kong
Load BalancingHAProxy, Nginx
Monitoring & LoggingPrometheus, ELK Stack

Here’s a table of essential frontend technologies that are required to develop messaging apps like Telegram:

Technology CategoryTechnologies
Programming LanguagesJavaScript, TypeScript
Frameworks/LibrariesReact.js, Vue.js, Angular
State ManagementRedux (React), Vuex (Vue.js), NgRx (Angular)
Real-time CommunicationSocket.io, WebRTC
UI Component LibrariesMaterial-UI (React), Vuetify (Vue), Angular Material
Cross-Platform DevelopmentReact Native, Flutter
Push NotificationsFirebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), OneSignal
AuthenticationFirebase Auth, OAuth 2.0
RoutingReact Router, Vue Router, Angular Router
Media HandlingHTML5 APIs, FFmpeg.js
Storage SolutionsLocalStorage, IndexedDB
StylingCSS3, SCSS, Tailwind CSS
API IntegrationAxios, Fetch API

How to Develop Telegram-like App in 5 Steps?

You are curious to know how to develop chat apps like Telegram, what the first step is, and many more questions, right? So here we provide you with the entire development process in five steps. You just need to follow these steps, and you can successfully build the app. 

How to Develop Telegram-like App

1. Define Key Features

Initially, you must choose and make a list of essential features like messaging, voice/video calls, file sharing, and encryption. Then, you must plan advanced options such as chatbots, channels, and cloud storage.

2. Choose the Right Tech Stack

After that, you have to hire mobile app developers who can professionally select programming languages like Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android), or Flutter for cross-platform. Then, use cloud services, databases, and security tools to handle large data.

3. Design the App UI/UX

After choosing the tech stack, it’s time to design the app’s UI/UX, and for that, your hired designers will create a user-friendly interface with simple navigation. Then, you have to ensure the design is attractive, fast, and responsive for different devices.

4. Develop and Test the App

After successfully designing UI/UX, it’s time to start coding the app based on your planned features and design. After development, you hired testers to test the app for bugs, performance issues, and security loopholes.

5. Launch and Market the App

Now, it’s time to launch the app on Google Play and the App Store. After launching, you must promote it through social media, ads, and partnerships to reach users.

Note: Are you planning to develop apps like chatGPT, then read this guide before making your mind. This blog will help you to develop an app similar to chatGPT seamlessly. 

How Much Does It Cost to Develop Messaging Apps Like Telegram?

The mobile app development cost can’t be defined at the initial phase because it can vary depending on too many factors, such as features you choose, development team experience and location, tech stack you select, and complexity. If you integrate any advanced features, then it may cost more. 

However, whenever you discuss your project with your messaging app development company, you can ask for the estimated cost of building a chat app like Telegram. Well, for your consideration, we have made a cost estimation table. 

Here’s a table of the estimated cost to develop chat apps like Telegram based on different roles involved in the development process:

RoleHourly Rate (USD)Estimated HoursTotal Cost (USD)
Project Manager$40 – $80300 – 400$12,000 – $32,000
UI/UX Designer$30 – $70250 – 350$7,500 – $24,500
Frontend Developer$40 – $90500 – 700$20,000 – $63,000
Backend Developer$50 – $100600 – 800$30,000 – $80,000
Mobile Developer$40 – $90500 – 700$20,000 – $63,000
QA Engineer$30 – $60300 – 400$9,000 – $24,000
DevOps Engineer$50 – $100200 – 300$10,000 – $30,000
Business Analyst$40 – $80150 – 250$6,000 – $20,000
Security Expert$50 – $120150 – 250$7,500 – $30,000
Maintenance & Support$30 – $70Ongoing$5,000 – $20,000/year

Estimated Total Cost:

  • Basic Version: $100,000 – $150,000
  • Advanced Version: $200,000 – $400,000

Here’s the cost estimation table with development time for chat apps like Telegram based on complexity levels:

Complexity LevelEstimated Cost (USD)Estimated Time Period
Basic$50,000 – $100,0003 – 6 months
Medium$100,000 – $200,0006 – 9 months
High (Advanced)$200,000 – $500,000+9 – 15 months

Note: If you want to know about AI chatbot development cost, then this is the perfect blog to know every single thing about the development cost. 

How to Make Money with Chat Apps like Telegram? Revenue Models

Many revenue models are available in the market. You have to choose the effective one and the ideal one that can make money through this application. Well, we cover some revenue models that are really effective and must be considerable. So, look at these monetizing strategies for your application. 

1. Subscription Plans

Subscription plans are one of the most effective revenue models for such an app because, in this strategy, you can offer premium features like an ad-free experience, extra storage, and special stickers for a monthly or yearly fee.

2. In-App Advertisements

In-app advertisements are also a considerable revenue model for these apps because, with this model, you can target ads in chats or channels to earn revenue from advertisers. This revenue model will help you earn a good amount of revenue through this app. 

3. In-App Purchases

In-app purchase is the best revenue model for messaging apps like Telegram because this strategy allows you to sell stickers, themes, emojis, and special features to users. It is also the most applied revenue strategy for these apps. 

4. Freemium Model

The freemium model is the ideal revenue model because it provides basic features for free and charges for advanced features like message scheduling or cloud backup. If a user wants to explore more, he/she will go for advanced features, and for that, they have to pay. 

5. Sponsored Channels and Messages

Sponsored channels and messages are also a must-use revenue model because, in this model, you can allow businesses to promote their content or send messages to users for a fee. This is the best revenue model for your chat app like Telegram. 

Note: If you develop apps like snapchat, then you can use these revenue models to make money. 

Why Choose Octal IT Solution for Telegram-Like App Development Needs?

Well, here you get the best mobile app developers who are experts in developing chat applications. Below are the reasons to choose Octal for your app development requirements. 

  • At Octal, you get the best developers who have 10+ years of experience in a particular domain. 
  • Here, all developers follow trending development tools and practices that can make the app more valuable and competitive. 
  • Our developers follow the time guidelines and deliver the app within the development period. 
  • Our developers, testers, designers, and project managers are always available for clients and develop the app according to their expectations. 
  • We always mark the words and accordingly provide user-centric development services. 

Let Octal IT Solution help you make your Telegram-like app successful, according to your desires and competition. We provide the most affordable and budget-friendly mobile app development solutions without compromising the quality of the work. 

Note: If you want to develop other apps, such as messaging apps like WhatsApp, you can also use us for seamless integration and development. 

Wrapping Up!

Now we are going to discuss the conclusion. I hope you are satisfied with this blog. With these points, you can easily decide to develop chat apps like Telegram. The step-by-step development process is also helpful in building the app seamlessly. 

If you decide to develop chat app like Telegram, you need a mobile app development company that can provide all types of mobile app development services. You must be careful when choosing an app development team for your app development requirements. You must consider their previous work and domain expertise in each particular role. 

Remember that your selection makes your app, so select the best ones and build a successful Telegram-like app. If you’re looking for the best app development company, then Octal IT Solution is one of the best choices. 

FAQs:

THE AUTHOR
Project Manager
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Priyank Sharma is a tech blogger passionate about the intersection of technology and daily life. With a diverse tech background and a deep affection for storytelling, he offers a unique perspective, making complex concepts accessible and relatable.

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