How to make a Social media app like Instagram in 2023

Overview: Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps that has gained recognition throughout the years. Influencers, business and Meme Pages have made Instagram their go to app. With all the greatness it has, we bring to you today a complete guide on apps like Instagram, including the tech stack, cost and features so you build the next Instagram with TechnBrains.

It’s hard to imagine our daily routine without social media nowadays, isn’t it? Among them, Instagram stands out as one of the most popular and influential platforms, allowing users to share their moments, connect with others, and express themselves creatively.  

In the third quarter of 2021, Instagram reached over 2 billion users and is predicted to have 2.5 billion monthly active users by the close of 2023.

Have you ever wondered how to create a social media app like Instagram? This article will guide you through the process, uncover the secrets of Instagram’s success, delve into the app development process, explore the costs involved, and highlight essential KPIs for a photo-sharing app.

Instagram

Instagram is a widely used social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos, as well as interact with others through likes, comments, and direct messages. It was launched in 2010 and quickly gained popularity for its focus on visual content and user-friendly interface. 

People use Instagram to highlight their daily lives, connect with friends, family, and followers, follow their favorite celebrities, brands, and influencers, and discover new trends and interests. The platform has various features like Stories, IGTV, and Reels, making it a versatile platform for both personal and business use.

Stats about Instagram in 2023

• Based on data from SEMrush, Instagram is ranked among the top 10 most-visited websites in the world, with a total of 4.25 billion visits per month.
• Around 30.94% of the world’s 4.48 billion internet users regularly utilize Instagram. 
• Instagram is used by approximately 25.31% of the global population.

Here is a table of monthly users of Instagram:

Year	Users
2013	110 million
2014	200 million
2015	370 million
2016	500 million
2017	700 million
2018	1 billion
2019	1.1 billion
2020	1.3 billion
2021	2 billion
2022	2.3 billion
2023 (estimated)	2.5 Billion

Secrets behind Instagram’s Success

Instagram’s remarkable success can be attributed to various factors that have resonated with users worldwide. The platform’s user-friendly interface, focus on visual content, and constant innovation have all contributed to its widespread popularity. Moreover, Instagram’s seamless integration with other social media platforms and its strategic use of influencers have propelled it to new heights. By maintaining a balance between catering to user preferences and embracing technological advancements, Instagram has managed to create a compelling and addictive user experience.

Features of App like Instagram

In the next section of our guide on creating an app similar to Instagram, we’ll discuss the importance of incorporating various features.

Instagram owes much of its success to the diverse range of features it offers its users. Over the years, the platform has expanded its repertoire from a simple photo-sharing app to something truly remarkable.

Who would have thought a photo-sharing app could help users generate thousands of dollars? Each new feature added to Instagram serves a specific purpose, from increasing engagement with Stories to enhancing interaction through direct messaging. There’s also IGTV, in-app purchases, GPS, search functionality, integration with other platforms, and much more.

To ensure that your app surpasses existing offerings, you too must incorporate these features. After learning how to create an app, it’s crucial to identify which features to include to make it stand out. Below, we’ve listed some of the must-have features to consider when building an app like Instagram.

1. Photo and Video Upload

Uploading photos and videos is a fundamental aspect of creating an app like Instagram. It is essential to provide users with features such as preview, editing, filters, tagging, and the ability to capture images. This is also an opportunity to enhance your application and surpass Instagram’s functionalities. 

For instance, Instagram users cannot directly crop their photos when posting them. Although they can apply various filters and adjustments, cropping is not an available option. Uploading photos and videos, along with applying filters, requires coding on both the front-end and back-end. In total, it can take around 300 hours of coding to establish the video upload structure.

Developing a 15-20 second video and recording it can consume at least 200 hours of front-end coding. Additionally, applying filters and special effects can take 8 hours of coding each. Furthermore, enabling features such as camera flip, beauty mode toggle, flash toggle, and speed settings can also take eight hours each. 

2. Registration Process

The registration process for an app like Instagram is important, as it can impact the user’s first impression. Making the user wait for too long or requiring too much information can increase the chances of them opting out. 

To avoid frustration, consider extracting information from Facebook or sending push notifications for users to complete their profile later. Google also delays asking for phone numbers and profile pictures until later stages. Adding a login option through social media or Google can be helpful. 

To set up the registration process for an app like Instagram, front-end coding for username, password, phone number, and email will take 14 hours. Back-end coding for the same process will take about 32 hours. Setting profile pictures and user interests will take 8 hours each on both ends. Allowing users to watch videos without registration takes 6 hours, while adding registration through Gmail or Facebook takes another 6 hours for each platform. In total, it takes 140 hours to set up the registration process.

3. Searching

Instagram users have the ability to search for hashtags, people, and pages. Incorporating this search feature into your application is crucial for enhancing the user experience.

Although it may seem insignificant, the search function is the key feature on Instagram. By allowing users to search for their favorite pages, people, and hashtags, you can improve the overall appeal of the application.

4. Notifications

The registration process is complete. However, how can you ensure that the user returns to your application? Push notifications are the solution. Instagram uses this feature to notify users of newly added stories and when someone adds a photo. These functions encourage users to revisit the app multiple times. 

Instagram’s notification system is user-friendly and effective, but back-end coding is necessary to determine who likes your post, video, or photo. This takes approximately 20 hours of coding, while front-end coding takes around 16 hours. 

Other features, such as “Who has followed you,” “notifications,” “who has shared your video,” “comments,” and “profile views,” require front-end coding that takes 88 hours on an app like Instagram. Back-end development for these features takes around 110 hours.  Mobile app developers need approximately 198 hours of expertise and time to complete the notification feature.

5. Integration with other Platforms

Did you know that Instagram allows users to share photos on Facebook? As Facebook owns Instagram, why not add this feature to your own app? By including this feature, you can use Facebook to promote your app and attract new users. Sharing photos is easy and convenient, and it can help increase exposure for your app. Additionally, integrating with Facebook can be a useful marketing tactic, especially if you have a business Instagram account. Don’t miss out on the benefits of this integration

6. Interacting with Stories

This feature is especially crucial for advertising, especially when it comes to using Instagram for business purposes. With this feature, users can create polls, surveys, ask questions, and more to enhance engagement. Messaging through stories is also an excellent way to boost interaction, which is essential for any business on Instagram. Check out the picture below to see how this feature can increase engagement with stories on Instagram.

7. Location Integration

A lot of users prefer to share their whereabouts with their followers. To make your application more dynamic, it’s essential to incorporate a GPS function. Your application should be able to automatically obtain the user’s location. However, in areas where GPS targeting is weak, it’s important to include a mechanism that lets users set their location manually.

Including GPS tagging is also crucial for user engagement. Tagging places or people in stories has been shown to be a great feature for users. As demonstrated in the attached picture, Instagram has effectively integrated location into their platform.

8. The Activities Section or Instagram Feed

For Instagram users who are interested in keeping up with their followers’ activities, the activity section is the place to go. In the past, it was also possible to see which posts a user had liked or which pages they were following. However, Instagram has removed this feature, despite its popularity among users. Nonetheless, there are still ways to benefit from this functionality. The attached picture depicts the Instagram feed.

9. Sending Messages

Communication with followers and other users is a crucial aspect of Instagram. Throughout its history, direct messaging has been well received by users. 

In addition, this is an opportunity to introduce new features to direct messaging. This requires research and a dedicated team to identify any weaknesses in Instagram and enhance them. 

By doing so, you can surpass Instagram and develop a superior version of the app. The image displays an instance of sending messages.

10. Instagram Stories 

Instagram stories function similarly to Facebook and WhatsApp stories, but with Instagram, users receive notifications after new stories are added. Additionally, Instagram has introduced the “Close Friends” feature, which allows users to share their stories exclusively with selected close friends. Furthermore, there are various story downloaders available to download Instagram stories. These unique features are exclusive to Instagram and are not present on WhatsApp or Facebook. 

App like Instagram Tech-Stack

If you are wondering how to create a mobile app like Instagram, there are several technologies involved in both front-end and back-end development, as well as designing and maintaining the server-side of the application.

For back-end development, we recommend using Laravel, and for front-end development, React Native is a great option. When it comes to maintaining your database, PostgreSQL is a reliable choice. For cloud services, Amazon Services is a good option.

For payment gateways, PayPal, Braintree, and Stripe are all great choices. Additionally, tools like Elastic-Search, Google Maps, Google Analytics, and Twilio can be helpful in handling various services and functions.

The Instagram tech stack is a good example of the many technologies and tools involved in creating a mobile app. It’s important to work with a team that has the necessary expertise and knowledge in these areas, from full-stack developers to design experts. You can choose to hire an in-house team or outsource your project.

How to make an app like Instagram

If you are inspired by Instagram’s success and want to create a social media app like Instagram, here is a guide to create an app like Instagram in just 8 steps

1. Idea Generation and Market Research 
2. Define Features and Functionalities  
3. Choose the Right Technology Stack  
4. Design the User Interface  
5. Front-End and Back-End Development  
6. Testing and Quality Assurance  
7. Launch and Marketing  
8. Continuous Improvement  

Let’s take a look at these steps in detail:

1. Idea Generation and Market Research 

Before diving into development, identify your app like Instagram’s unique selling points and conduct thorough market research to understand user preferences and competition.

2. Define Features and Functionalities  

Outline the core features your app like Instagram will offer, such as user profiles, photo sharing, comments, likes, and direct messaging. Consider incorporating additional features to distinguish your app from the competition.

3. Choose the Right Technology Stack  

Select the appropriate technology stack for your app like Instagram’s development, including programming languages, frameworks, and tools that align with your vision.

4. Design the User Interface  

Create an intuitive and visually appealing UI/UX design of apps like Instagram that ensures seamless navigation and a delightful user experience.

5. Front-End and Back-End Development  

Develop the front-end and back-end of your app like Instagram, focusing on functionality, performance, and security. Implement features like user authentication, data storage, and real-time interactions.

6. Testing and Quality Assurance  

Thoroughly test your app like Instagram across various devices and scenarios to identify and fix any bugs or glitches. Prioritize user feedback to refine the app further.

7. Launch and Marketing  

Prepare a compelling launch strategy to generate buzz and attract users. Utilize social media, influencer partnerships, and app store optimization techniques. Post-launch, you need to optimize your app store rating and reviews. 

8. Continuous Improvement  

Gather user feedback post-launch and implement updates and new features regularly to keep your app engaging and relevant.

Cost of app like Instagram 2023

The main question that’s on everyone’s mind: what’s the cost of creating an app like Instagram? To determine this, we’ll need to calculate the total number of hours required for the project. Let’s take a closer look at the key components that go into building an app like this, and estimate the required hours for each.

Task	Number of Hours
Back-end Development	659
Front-end Development	1008
Wireframes	100
Designing	90
Quality Assurance	335
Project Management	252
Total Number of Hours	2454

Based on real-time estimation, we have prepared estimates for developing an app like Instagram. The amount of work required for this task is now clear, so let us discuss the cost involved. 

When creating an app like Instagram, factors such as its design, aesthetic, and the location of its developers can all influence the cost. Additionally, the hourly rates of developers can also be a significant factor. Developing an app like Instagram may cost around $500,000.

8 Apps Like Instagram That Offer the Same Excitement

Now that we have discovered all we need to know about an app like Instagram, let’s get down to Instagram alternatives. While Instagram has become one of the most popular social networks, other apps offer a different experience while incorporating some of its best features. 

These apps have their own unique feel and are just as visually appealing and community-driven as Instagram. Check out the following list for some refreshing options to try out.

TikTok

TikTok is a strong competitor of Instagram. An app like TikTok can easily compete with Instagram because of the unique and diverse features that it has to offer. TikTok and Instagram stand out as two prominent platforms, each offering a unique experience for users to connect, share, and engage. TikTok is better for raw content whereas Instagram is better for polished content.

Retrica

Retrica is a social network and photo/video platform, app like Instagram. Unlike Instagram, Retrica supports GIF image formats and allows you to create your own GIFs from a collection of photos or a video. 

With Retrica, you can enjoy all the features you love from Instagram, plus additional ones. The app offers a variety of fun filters and editing effects, as well as stickers and stamps, to help you express yourself creatively. Moreover, you can connect with like-minded people in the community who share your interests and ideas.

Vigo Video (formerly Flipagram)

If you are looking to create fun videos and photo slideshows with your favorite or trending songs in the background, Vigo Video (formerly Flipagram) is the app for you. Unlike Instagram, Vigo Video allows you to import music and sound effects into your videos. 

Vigo Video is a social network where you can follow other talented users, get inspired by their videos or slideshows, have your posts featured, and participate in fun challenges to get your creative juices flowing. This app like Instagram includes a library of music clips, so you don’t need to have the perfect song in your device’s music library to import it.

Snapchat

It’s worth noting Snapchat as it competes with Instagram in terms of popularity and features, particularly as both strive to be the preferred platform for users to share their personal stories. You can easily make an app like snapchat to capture pictures or short videos to add to your Snapchat story, which will be automatically removed after 24 hours. 

Snapchat has also introduced Snapchat web, which is a game changer in the photo sharing app industry. If you prefer the concept of temporary posts, Snapchat might be the perfect app for you since all your photos and videos, whether sent as messages or part of your story, will eventually vanish.

We Heart It

If you enjoy sharing and viewing inspirational content, We Heart It is a popular image-sharing platform that you might enjoy. Unlike Imgur, the content on this app is more introspective and consists mainly of motivational photos and quotes. The platform is similar in layout to Pinterest, allowing users to browse and add photos to their collection. 

You can also create your own profile, known as a “Canvas,” by uploading your own photos and liking other users’ photos to add them to your “Hearts” section. It’s a great way to connect with positive and inspiring users in the community.

Pinterest 

Did you know that Pinterest is not just for wedding planning and recipe collecting? If you love the visually appealing aspect of Instagram, then you will definitely love Pinterest’s super slick and eye-catching platform. Unlike Instagram, Pinterest allows its users to “repin” or save pins from other users. These pins can also link out to other web pages, providing you with more information related to the pinned image.

Tumblr

You may be familiar with Tumblr, a popular blogging platform that mainly revolves around sharing images and GIFs. Along with posting photos and videos, you have the option to create text posts, audio posts, chats, photosets, and more. By following other Tumblr users, you can even “reblog” their posts to your own Tumblr blog. 

Tumblr is one of the most versatile social networks available, and its mobile apps make it simple and enjoyable to post and interact with the community. You can post almost any type of content you desire and customize your layout to resemble a genuine blog when viewed on the web from a browser.

Flickr

Have you ever wondered if people still use Flickr? The answer is a resounding yes! You might be surprised to learn that Flickr’s mobile apps have undergone some impressive updates, including cool photo filters and editing effects, as well as a sleek feed. 

Some people even say that Flickr is better than Instagram! After Instagram’s privacy policy controversy in 2012, many switched to Flickr and never looked back. If you’re someone who loves taking photos with your phone but aren’t completely satisfied with Instagram, it might be worth checking out Flickr’s mobile apps.

Imgur

Imgur is a widely used and popular free platform for hosting images on the internet. Millions of people use it every day to find amusing pictures, animated GIFs, and videos that have been shared and interacted with extensively, leading to their rise in popularity. 

The mobile app boasts a sleek design that showcases the best content, app like Instagram. You can also create a profile and share your own content, similar to other social networks.

TechnBrains can help you make the next Instagram

TechnBrains offers premier custom app development services to help you build an app like Instagram seamlessly. Our skilled team covers every aspect:

1. Strategy: We’ll refine your concept and create a tailored plan.
2. Technology: We use cutting-edge tools for robust performance.
3. Design: A visually stunning interface with user experience in mind.
4. Features: We integrate engaging functionalities like photo sharing.
5. Testing: Rigorous testing for a flawless user experience.
6. Launch: A well-strategized launch for maximum impact.
7. Support: Ongoing updates and user support post-launch.
8. Monetization: Guidance on effective revenue models.
9. Security: Stringent measures to protect user data.
10. User-Centric: Continuous improvements based on user feedback.

With TechnBrains, your custom app dreams become reality, setting you up for success in the competitive app market.

FAQs

1. How does Instagram make money?

Instagram generates revenue through various channels, primarily:

1. Advertising: Businesses and brands pay to promote their products or services to a targeted audience through sponsored posts, Stories, and Explore sections.
2. Shopping: Instagram allows businesses to set up a virtual storefront, enabling users to directly purchase products from posts.
3. IGTV Ads: Creators can monetize their IGTV videos through ads.
4. Instagram Shopping Ads: Brands can promote their products within the Shopping section of the app.
5. Influencer Partnerships: Influencers collaborate with brands for sponsored content.

2. How much does it cost to create an app like Instagram?

The cost of developing an app like Instagram can vary widely based on factors such as features, complexity, development team rates, and location. Developing an app like Instagram may cost around $500,000. 

3. What is Instagram’s technology stack?

Create a mobile app like Instagram using various technologies for front-end and back-end development, as well as server-side design and maintenance. Laravel and React Native for back-end development, while PostgreSQL and Amazon Services are reliable options for database maintenance. Payment gateways like PayPal, Braintree, and Stripe. Utilize tools like Elastic-Search, Google Maps, Google Analytics, and Twilio for various services. Hire a team with expertise in these areas, either in-house or outsource.

4. How can I build an app like Instagram?

To build an app like Instagram, follow these 9 steps:

1. Idea Generation: Define your unique value proposition.
2. Market Research: Understand your target audience and competitors.
3. Features: Outline the features you want to include.
4. Design: Create an intuitive UI/UX design.
5. Development: Build the app’s frontend and backend.
6. Testing: Thoroughly test the app for bugs and user experience.
7. Launch: Prepare a strategic launch plan.
8. Marketing: Promote your app through various channels.
9. Feedback: Gather user feedback and continuously improve.

5. What are the top competitors of Instagram?

Some of the notable competitors of Instagram include:

1. Facebook: Instagram’s parent company offers a similar platform.
2. Snapchat: Known for its disappearing photo and video sharing.
3. TikTok: Focuses on short-form video content.
4. Twitter: Allows users to share text, photos, and videos.
5. Pinterest: Primarily used for discovering and sharing ideas through images.

Each platform has its unique features and user base, contributing to the competitive landscape in the social media industry.