A report shows that the demand for video chat apps has become high. Simply put, it has become an integral part of our daily lives. Therefore, investing in live video chat APP development is a good idea. It’s no exaggeration to say that over the past few years, online messaging and video calls have become an almost integral part of our daily lives.
For years, family and friends have used video chat services to communicate. But as technology advances, many companies continue to shift to remote work. Therefore, the video calling APP development market will continue to grow. Research shows that the video chat market size is estimated at RMB 4.2 billion and is expected to reach RMB 8.6 billion by the end of 2026 .
In the future, more and more organizations are looking for real-time video chat APP development services. If you also want to enter this market, then finding a trustworthy and leading live video chat APP development company is a good choice. In this blog post, we will share the details about developing a live video chat APP , the features that must be included in the APP , and a lot of other information that you must know.
Market Overview: Video Chat Apps
After the epidemic, business shifted online. Starting in early 2022, many companies have shifted their operations from remote locations. According to the report, the usage of live chat in mobile apps in the United States has increased significantly from 17% to 44%. At the same time, market valuation rises from $4.21B to $16 billion in 2030
With this type of APP , employees can start working from the comfort of their couch. Furthermore, employees can easily attend formal meetings anytime and anywhere simply because of the video chat APP . On the other hand, the competition in the real-time video calling APP development market is becoming more intense than ever before.
Therefore, this is a great opportunity to invest in custom live video chat APP development. However, doing this job alone is challenging, so it is best to seek help from experienced professionals who are trained to develop innovative apps for various industries .
Types of video chat apps
There is no doubt that video chat or video APP is an instant messaging tool with high-quality video calling and recording capabilities. Zoom, Google Duo, Skype, and Microsoft Teams are the top video chat apps for communicating with employees . If you also want to make money, then developing a real-time chat APP is a good choice. However, there are different video chat APPs , so you must check out the following types of video chat APPs .
1. Social APP
Social Connect Video Chat APP is designed for casual conversations and meeting up with friends and family. Platforms such as Zoom, Skype and Google Meet fall into this category. It offers a user-friendly interface, supports large group calls, and various features such as screen sharing and virtual backgrounds. These apps are versatile and allow users to connect for both personal and professional purposes.
Therefore, when deciding to invest in live video chat APP development solutions, you can choose such APPs to make money.
2. Dating APP with video function
Video chat apps have changed the game in the online dating world. Apps such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge have built-in video chat capabilities, allowing users to go on virtual dates before meeting in person. Not only does this add a layer of security, but it also creates a more interactive and personalized experience, promoting stronger connections between potential partners.
3. Collaboration and productivity tools
Video conferencing apps tailored for business and productivity , such as Microsoft Teams and Slack, have become extremely popular. These apps focus on document sharing, project collaboration, and seamless communication between team members. Video conferencing is a key part of these platforms, allowing remote teams to stay connected, discuss projects, and maintain a sense of teamwork regardless of physical distance.
4. E-learning and virtual classroom platforms
With the emergence of online education, video chat APPs occupy an important position in e-learning platforms. Apps such as Zoom for Education, Microsoft Teams for Education, and Google Meet for Classroom provide virtual spaces for teachers and students to interact, teach courses, and share educational resources. These platforms often include features such as breakout rooms for group discussions and screen sharing for effective coaching.
5. Health and Wellness Health APP
The health and wellness industry adopts video chat apps to enable virtual consultations, fitness classes, and mental health classes. Telemedicine platforms such as Doxy. Me and HealthTap allow users to connect with medical professionals and receive telehealth visits. In the fitness field, apps such as Peloton and Fitbit provide live and on-demand workout video functions, allowing users to exercise in the comfort of their homes.
Features included in video chat app
In order to develop a live video chat APP , it is very important to include functionality. Here, we list some essential things you must know before planning to stay ahead of the competition.
- Register
A quick and easy sign-up process can be a great way to welcome visitors. Therefore, you must provide a registration option. Make sure users can register via email ID, phone number and social media credentials. To include this feature, you can also take the help of an on-demand app development company that has a skilled development team .
- user information
In addition to registration, a user profile is always essential. With this feature, users can create their own profile including details, image, avatar, status, and customization options. When they create their profile, make sure not to give them too many details about themselves.
However, getting the job done is very challenging, so you must look for an Android app development company that can help you in every possible way to develop a functional APP .
- File management
Once you decide to develop a live chat app , you must include profile management functionality. Users want to interact with each other, so you have to provide simple permissions to the chat room creator to get admin rights like chat access, add/remove call members, reactions, etc.
That's why you have to implement this feature in your APP . To make the process more convenient and simple, you can hire dedicated developers with good skills and experience .
- Group call
This is a must-have feature for video chat APPs , so you must ensure that your APP is equipped with this feature. With this feature, users can communicate with multiple people at the same time. Therefore, this is a basic function that a video chat APP must have.
To include this feature, you must look for a trustworthy and leading video chat app development company that will help you take your business to the next level.
- Voice and video calls
This is another important feature that you must include in your APP . This means that when you decide to develop a live video chat app , you must include voice and video calling features. This feature provides a secure architecture for communication between users.
So this is an essential feature that you must add to your app. But app development is more challenging than it seems. That’s why it’s recommended to hire mobile app developers to find solutions that meet customer needs.
- Short message
It comes in handy when users want to communicate in writing or cannot hear the other party during a call. Therefore, it is crucial to add this feature in your APP . This amazing feature will help make text chat an option as users don’t always want to answer calls. Therefore, when developing a live video chat APP , you must consider this feature in your APP .
- push notification
Push notification functionality is crucial for real-time video chat apps . This will help you notify users of missed calls or new chat messages. Additionally, they keep users informed of all the latest news and keep them engaged with the APP . So don't forget to include this amazing feature in your APP .
- encryption
In recent years, end-to-end encryption has become a required security standard. These messages are encrypted so if the APP is hacked, they cannot be read and the confidentiality of the information remains intact. That's why you must include this amazing feature in your APP .
Step-by-step guide to developing a live chat app
- Short message
It comes in handy when users want to communicate in writing or cannot hear the other party during a call. Therefore, it is crucial to add this feature in your APP . This amazing feature will help make text chat an option as users don’t always want to answer calls. Therefore, when developing a live video chat APP , you must consider this feature in your APP .
- push notification
Push notification functionality is crucial for real-time video chat apps . This will help you notify users of missed calls or new chat messages. Additionally, they keep users informed of all the latest news and keep them engaged with the APP . So don't forget to include this amazing feature in your APP .
- encryption
In recent years, end-to-end encryption has become a required security standard. These messages are encrypted so if the APP is hacked, they cannot be read and the confidentiality of the information remains intact. That's why you must include this amazing feature in your APP .
Step-by-step guide to developing a live chat app
Mobile app development cost depends on a variety of factors such as platform, team, app features, developer/development company location, and expected deadline. Video calling apps require the work of UI/UX designers, project managers, front-end developers, etc.
Generally speaking, the cost of customizing a video chat app can be expensive, depending on the job, platform, and features. The average development cost of an Android APP may be RMB 20,000 to RMB 40,000 . However, the cost depends on the time required to implement the technology and functionality. For the iOS/Android development stage, developers also need 300-500 hours of MVP. Web server creation and configuration takes 20-250 hours.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development:
| stage |
time frame |
main activities |
| 1. Planning |
2-4 weeks |
Define core functionality, user stories, and technical requirements. |
| 2. Design |
4-6 weeks |
Create wireframes, design UI/UX and establish visual identity. |
| 3. Development |
8-12 weeks |
Develop essential features and focus on functionality rather than decoration. |
| 4. Test |
2-4 weeks |
Conduct rigorous testing, including user acceptance testing. |
| 5. Deployment |
1-2 weeks |
Release the MVP to a limited audience to get initial feedback. |
Fully functional development:
| stage |
time frame |
main activities |
| 1. Feedback loop |
in progress |
Collect user feedback from the MVP and implement necessary improvements. |
| 2. Function expansion |
12-16 weeks |
Launch additional features based on user feedback and market demand. |
| 3. Zoom |
6-8 weeks |
Optimize your infrastructure, enhance performance, and prepare for increased usage. |
| 4. Marketing |
in progress |
Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy to increase awareness. |
| 5. Continuous updates |
in progress |
Regularly update the APP with new features, improvements and security patches. |
In addition to this, the location of the developer will also affect the development cost of the real-time video chat app . For an idea, you can look at the tables listed:
Developer area cost per hour:
| area |
Cost per hour ( RMB ) |
notes |
| Kitami |
$100 – $150 |
Developers are skilled and labor costs are high. |
| Western Europe |
$80 – $120 |
Well-trained workforce with moderate labor costs. |
| Eastern Europe |
$40 – $80 |
Technical talent is growing and labor costs are lower compared to Western Europe. |
| Asia (India) |
$20 – $40 |
It has abundant talent reserves and high development efficiency. |
| Latin America |
$30 – $70 |
Emerging tech hub, competitive prices. |
add up
Over the years, the use of video chat apps has increased. Businesses are also using the app to connect with employees working remotely. Therefore, developing a real-time video chat APP is a great opportunity.
However, the process is not easy and efficient, especially for non-technical people. If you have a deep understanding of technology and trends, the steps listed above will be helpful in developing a live video chat APP . You can also take help from professionals to make the task easier and more convenient.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to ensure the security and privacy of video chat sessions?
Implement end-to-end encryption to protect user data. We regularly update our security protocols and comply with data protection regulations.
2. What are the basic functions of a real-time video chat application MVP?
Start with basic features like user authentication, 1:1 video calling, chat functionality, and a simple interface.
3. How to solve the scalability problem for a growing user base?
Leverage cloud services for scalable infrastructure. Optimize code for performance and run load tests to identify and resolve bottlenecks.