How to Build a Social Networking App like Instagram Cost & Terms of Development
                     HOW TO BUILD A 
SOCIAL 
NETWORKING APP 
LIKE INSTAGRAM: 
COST & TERMS OF 
DEVELOPMENT
HTTP://WWW.HALKWINDS.COM/
Having more than 3.5 billion users, social media is evolving at a very 
fast pace. Businesses prefer using social media to reach out to their 
target audience.
And, if we talk about the most trending social app: Yes, you got it right!! 
It is none other than INSTAGRAM. Do you know why?
 More than 800 million people use Instagram actively every month.
 Around 80% of all the users follow at least one business account.
 Gets over 2 million new advertisers every month.
 According to a recent study, 'For micro-influencers, Instagram is the 
platform where they get the best engagement.‘
 More than 60% of users on Instagram visit the platform daily.
Enough of the statistics!!! You got my point. Instagram is a must-have 
for all of us. So, let's find out together how to create a social media app 
like Instagram.
2
SOME MVP 
FEATURES AN 
INSTAGRAM-LIKE 
MOBILE APP SHOULD 
HAVE:
3
 Authorization: The very first step is to make an account on your social 
media app. For that, you should use various registering options (via the 
phone number, email account, or social media page name) for your users. 
Make sure to include a resetting option there as well because you know we 
millennials forget easily.
 How it works: Your privacy is our responsibility. If a user registers using a 
mobile no., the application will have access to the user's SMS. If a user 
login via social media account, protocols like OAuth will help to proceed 
with the application.
 Customizing Profile: Once users have logged in, they should be able to 
customize their profile by including credentials like gender, name, bio, 
profile picture, etc.
 How it works: Editing your profile is a crucial stage. These changes can 
be implemented via the client and the server-side interaction.
4
 Uploading Photos, Videos, And Reels: Who doesn't like compliments? 
Everyone does!! So, don't forget to add an option of uploading photos and 
videos. It'll help the users to garner attention from their family and friends. 
And, you should also focus on details like uploading existing content, 
commenting and tagging, etc.
 How it works: Mobile developers use various tools for uploading videos 
and photos. Some commonly used tools are as follows: 
android.hardware.camera2 API, MediaRecorder, SurfaceView and 
UIImagePickerController.
5
 Photo Editing: Location check! Pose Check! Smile check! Click!!! But wait. 
Users don't put photos on social media after completing this process. They 
need editing. And, Instagram just provides umpteen filters for the same. 
Customizing the picture with filters and features like zooming, rotation, and 
straightening is what your users are looking for.
 How it works: In your mobile application, you can use some standard 
filters i.e. it is already inbuilt in your app by coders. For a customized code, 
it has to be written from scratch.
6
 Connecting With Other Social Networks: Interacting with your friends 
is something we can't miss!! So, the more social media you can integrate, 
the better the results will be.
 How it works: To link Instagram like mobile applications with other social 
media networks, developers establish a strong connection between social 
media account ID and the app account ID.
7
 Geo-Location: Amalgamating geo-location in your app makes it an 
interesting user experience. They love to add location not only on 
photos but on maps as well.
 How it works: Developers use Location and Map services to 
implement geolocation features.
 Search: This is a must-have feature in your mobile application. The 
search option allows users to look for what they want to- in just one 
click!!
8
 Messaging And Commenting: Real-time conversations are what your 
users are looking for. They need a heart-to-heart talk with their friends. 
And, this can further be enhanced by implementing push notification. 
This will notify the users as soon as someone sends them a message or 
comment on their posts.
 Flexible Settings: Settings should be adjustable. It should be upon the 
users to choose the customer language interface, having the account 
public/private or enable/disable push notifications, etc.
 Stories: People love sharing photos or videos of their cherishable 
moments as stories. They disappear within 24 hours if users won't save 
them. You can add stickers, text, face filters, and geo-stickers in them 
as well.
9
However, from 2017 to 2020, Instagram has evolved manifolds.
They have started providing:
 Boomerang: Assembling 1.5 seconds looping videos
 Superzoom: It records a 3-second clip in zoom mode. i.e. the clip 
focuses closely on what the camera is pointed at.
 Rewind Videos: Constructs a rewind video out of the original clip.
 Emoji Slider: This sticker allows when added to the story allows users 
to ask questions from their audience. People react by sliding an emoji.
 Question Stickers: It is an interactive sticker and lets the audience 
ask questions to the users.
10
INSTAGRAM 
BUSINESS MODEL 
CANVAS
LET'S UNDERSTAND 
THE INSTAGRAM 
BUSINESS MODEL:
11
Instagram Monetization Strategy:
Initially, when Instagram was launched, it didn't make a single penny as its 
revenue. And, at that time, Facebook was making $100 billion as its 
revenue.
Now, according to a recent study of Merkle's Digital Marketing Report, 
advertiser spending reached over 177% in comparison to 40% on Facebook.
12
Let's Have A Look At Some Features That Instagram Uses For Its 
Pricing Model.
 Sponsored Posts: The number one on the list is Sponsored posts (an 
ordinary post with a sponsored tag and call-to-action aka CTA) button. And, 
there is no doubt in the fact that just like Facebook's major revenue comes 
from sponsored posts, the same is the case with Instagram.
 Carousel Advertisements: These are the advertisements that combine 
several images into one single image. Advertisers use these kinds of 
advertisements to tell a story.
 Stories: This feature is influenced by Snapchat. Advertising videos pop up 
while users are watching their friend's stories.
 Facebook Adverts: Even Instagram has a feature of Facebook adverts. An 
advertiser can place a Facebook advert on Instagram as well. It can be done 
without an Instagram account as well. 13
Here Are Some Ideas On How To Monetize A Mobile Application 
Like Instagram:
 Advertisement: These photo-sharing apps provide users with an 
incredible opportunity of creating a business, advertising, and 
establishing themselves as a personal brand. For an application like 
Instagram, you can sell various filters, special deals, and provide users 
with special offers.
 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.
14
How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Instagram?
The social media app development cost is a crucial issue to discuss. The 
easiest way to find out social networking development costs, what you 
can do is multiply hours of development by the hourly rate. A primary 
estimate is that an Instagram-like app with basic features will take 1,180 
hours of development time. With an approximately $50/hour rate, the 
whole project will cost you around $59,000.
The development of Instagram clones varies from company to company.
15
Key Competency Indicators:
The three P's which an app like Instagram needs to analyze are 
performance, popularity, and progress. Here are important key 
competency indicators that help you to define your app's success.
 Active Users: The main goal is to bring as many new users as possible. 
This can be majorly done in three simple ways:
1. Social Media Marketing: Just as water is important for you to 
survive, similarly your business needs social media. You need to 
advertise your app ideally 6 months before the launch on all social 
media platforms.
16
3. Referral Programs: You have to entice your users to leave 
feedback and comments on your app by rewarding them with some 
special filters and effects. This will surely help you to make credibility 
in the market.
4. Hire Influencers For Promotion: You can always hire influencers 
to promote the app as it will help you to attract a lot of new users in 
the market.
 User Involvement: It helps us to access how much people have spent 
time on your app or log in more often. This involvement level can be 
judged by the activity that takes place in your app. It includes likes, 
comments, and other activities like sent media (old/ new and overall).
17
How Can We Do It?
1. By adding social features like comments, likes, stories, and reels, 
etc.
2. By providing high-quality editing tools for professionals so that they 
can spend more time on your app.
Retaining The User: You need to make sure that users should keep 
coming back.
How Can We Do It?
3. By sending them to push notifications.
4. Replying to their feedback.
5. By launching various promotional events.
18
How To Create An App Like Instagram? Let's give you an outlook on 
the steps involved in creating your app.
1. Thorough research the market and learn about your competition.
2. Keep your target audience in mind.
3. Consult with a reliable company.
4. Define your budget before the development. And, in case it exceeds, 
be ready for funding.
5. Hire efficient developers to build an MVR for you.
6. Make sure your app has a USP of your app. After all, users don't need a 
second Instagram.
7. Testing it to avoid major bugs in the final version before launching.
8. Maintain it and continue evolving.
19
 Conclusion: Now, you know the basic steps to create an app like 
Instagram and how their business model operates. But, just remember 
that you should not replicate it to a T. Have your unique selling point 
and amalgamate it with the features of Instagram like the simple 
interface and photo editing features, etc.
Enough of these theories !!!
Without further ado, let's get started with your application making.
P.S. The sooner, the better!!
20
THANK 
YOU
[email protected]
HTTP://WWW.HALKWINDS.COM/