An Exclusive Guide To Develop Social Media Apps Like Snapchat

In today’s market, Snapchat needs no introduction because it is one of the most popular social media networking apps globally. Founded in 2011, Snapchat has grown to become one of the most used social media platforms. Its success inspired businesses to build apps like Snapchat to redefine real-time engagement with features like disappearing messages, AR filters, and interactive stories.

However, building a successful social media app requires a deep understanding of user behavior, innovative technology, and a scalable architecture. From creating a seamless user experience to integrating AI-driven filters, multiple factors you should know before knowing how to develop an app like Snapchat.

In this guide, we will explore the essential steps, strategies, and technologies needed to create high-performance social media apps like Snapchat. After reading this blog, you will grasp the key features, the development process, and the costs associated with developing a cutting-edge social media app. Let’s dive right in by understanding:

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat is a social networking application launched by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown in 2011. Snapchat was one of the unique and new social media app ideas. The application has over 107 million users in USA, and 200 million active users in India. Snapchat is used to share photos, videos, text, and stickers. Some reports suggest that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, offered Spiegel $3 billion to buy the app.

But the founders turned the offer down because they believed that Snapchat was one of the hottest apps. They were right. After three years, Snapchat was valued three times more than Zuckerberg’s offer. Now, Snapchat has generated a revenue of $5.36 billion in 2024.(Source) This huge success allowed businesses to build similar apps like Snapchat.

Understanding Snapchat’s Business Model: How It Makes Money

Snapchat has transformed into a multi-billion-dollar tech giant, generating revenue through a combination of advertising, premium features, and strategic partnerships. Understanding their business model is crucial for businesses planning to develop a similar app like Snapchat. Let’s take a look at its business model:

1. Advertising

Snapchat makes a lot of money through advertising, which is the main source of its revenue. The app provides several ad formats for businesses to engage with their audience.

• Snap Ads – These are full-screen vertical video ads that appear between Stories.
• Sponsored Lenses & Filters – Brands can create AR-powered filters that users apply to their snaps. This is the most used thing by the users.
• Discovery Ads – Brands can advertise on Discover to reach millions of users.
• Story Ads – Businesses can place ads within Snapchat Stories to increase brand awareness.

2. Snapchat+

In 2022, Snapchat introduced Snapchat+, a premium subscription service priced at $3.99/month. This service offers exclusive features such as:

• Custom app icons
• Priority Story replies
• Special badges
• Experimental features
• Snapstreak restoration

3. In-App Purchases

Snapchat allows users to buy features such as:

• Snap Tokens – They are used for digital goods like gifting to creators or unlocking lenses.
• Bitmoji Merchandise – The app allows users to purchase custom Bitmoji products.

4. Spotlight (Monetization For Creators)

Now, Snapchat is another home for creators, also. They pay creators for making viral content on Spotlight. This attracts influencers and increases engagement, making the app more attractive for advertisers. They use this feature to gain more advertising deals.

Key Features To Include in Apps Like Snapchat

Before building a similar app like Snapchat, you need to have a deep understanding of the features that make it unique and engaging. Snapchat has some advanced and engaging features that make this app a people-favorite. You need to include next-gen features to ensure success in the competitive social media landscape.

1. Disappearing Messages & Stories

The core feature of Snapchat-like apps is allowing users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after a set time. This feature is loved by users due to its focus on privacy and real-time interaction. When a user uploads a story, it disappears after 24 hours. This feature has been used by other social media platforms also. Adding this feature requires a partnership with an experienced mobile app development company.

2. Advanced Camera With AR Filters & Lenses

Apps like Snapchat must include a high-quality camera interface with AR filters, stickers, and lenses. The app should allow users to enhance their photos with animated effects, facial recognition features, and interactive AR elements. If you’re wondering what apps are like Snapchat in terms of camera features, then you should check Instagram and TikTok.

Read Also: How To Make An App Like TikTok: A Complete Guide

3. Text And Drawing Tools

Adding this feature will not make you the first app to add text across the screen like Snapchat, but it can help you make it engaging for users. Including customizable text, drawing tools, and emoji stickers can help you boost engagement because users will get connected to them.

4. Face Swap And Bitmoji Integration

Face-swapping and personalized avatars make the users feel connected to the application. It can be an important feature for apps like Snapchat because users love creating their unique Bitmoji characters and applying fun effects to their photos.

5. AI-Powered Face Recognition & Filters

Filter apps like Snapchat should include AI-based facial recognition to apply beauty enhancements, age filters, gender swaps, and real-time transformation effects. Snapchat has reshaped the future of AI in social media. Other apps like Snapchat filters have capitalized on this trend. You can also engage users with your app by including beautiful and high-quality filters.

6. Real-Time Chat And Calling

Including features like instant messaging, group chats, and high-quality audio & video calling is necessary for similar apps like Snapchat. Furthermore, the disappearing messages feature makes the application interesting and increases the level of privacy.

7. Snap Map

Snapchat has the feature of Snap Map which allows users to share their real-time location with friends. If you’re building an app like Snapchat for kids or general users, adding location-sharing and snap map can boost interaction.

8. Discover & Spotlight

Creating short-video sharing and curated content feeds is essential for other apps like Snapchat. When you add a discovery page and a spotlight-like feature for trending content, it increases user engagement.

Read Also: Short Video Sharing Social Media App Development Guide

9. Snapcode Scanning

You should include a feature like snapcode scanning. It allows users to connect after scanning their snapcode on the application. This streamlines the process of finding a user on the application.

10. Memories

Allow users to store and organize their snaps and stories so that they can revisit and share them later. This feature can make users replace their gallery or camera app with your app like Snapchat.

11. Gamification And Interactive Stickers

To compete with free filers apps like Snapchat, you need to include gamification elements such as interactive challenges, stickers, and rewards that increase user participation and loyalty.

Read Also: App Gamification Strategies To Boost User Experience

Steps To Develop Apps Like Snapchat

After understanding the features that you should include in the application, now it’s time to take a look at the development process. There are several steps that you should follow to make advanced and engaging apps like Snapchat. You should read these steps carefully to avoid mistakes while developing a social media app.

Step 1: Identify Your Unique Value Proposition

Before diving deep into the development, the first step is to make your app stand out from the other apps. You need to ask simple questions to yourself to identify what is unique that you are going to offer.

• What features will differentiate your app?
• Will you focus on privacy, AI filters, or a niche audience?
• How will it provide value to users?

Remember that you are competing with Snapchat, so your app should have something unique to achieve success in this competitive landscape. Finding the answer to these questions can also help you discuss your idea with the social media app development company.

Step 2: Research The Market & Competitors

Analyze other apps that have filters like Snapchat, such as Instagram, TikTok, and B612, These are the popular apps. You need to dive deep to find more competitors and get a unique idea for your application.

After identifying all the competitors, look at the trends, strengths, and weaknesses in existing apps to refine your strategy. You can do that by looking at user demographics, key features, and monetization models. After completing the research, you can find a reliable mobile app development company to build your social media app.

Step 3: Create UI/UX Design

When you are building apps like Snapchat, you should focus on user-friendliness and the visual look. It plays a huge role in the success of your application. Creating a refined user interface and mapping out a user experience that prioritizes simplicity and seamless navigation is essential. You should focus on social media app development trends to craft advanced UI/UX design.

Snapchat became famous because it’s easy to use and provides a classic feel to the users with high-quality animations and images. Also, provide smooth navigation between the features to reduce the chances of abandonment. You should focus on making a user-friendly interface to stand out from the competition in the crowded market.

Step 4: Build An MVP

You should invest in MVP development services to validate your idea in the competitive market. Starting with the basic version of your app is important to test its functionality and market demand. Launching an MVP can help you save time and money spent on making a full-fledged social media app because MVP development cost is lower.

Also, it can minimize risk, gather feedback, and open doors for faster iteration and a more refined product launch. With faster development, an MVP can be launched quickly. Instagram and TikTok are apps with filters like Snapchat, which were launched as MVPs. So, if you have a unique idea, then you should go with an MVP to check its impact on the people.

Step 5: Test And Launch Your App

Before launching your app like Snapchat, you need to test the application to make it high-performing. Testing helps in fixing bugs and optimizing performance, eliminating app crashes and speed issues. You can try the best ways for MVP testing to launch a successful app.

After testing, businesses can provide a high-quality user experience, improve security, which leads to customer satisfaction, loyalty, and business success. Completing the testing phase leads you to launching the application on app stores such as the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Cost To Build An App Like Snapchat in 2025

Building a mobile app like Snapchat, with features like disappearing messages, AR filters, and social sharing, can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000  or more. However, several factors can affect the overall cost of developing the social media app. Let’s take a look at these factors:

1. Features And Complexity

The cost of building similar apps like Snapchat depends on the complexity of the application and the features you are including. If you want to build a high-end application, then the cost will rise. Just like this, including advanced or extra features in the application will also make a hole in your pocket. So, you need to make informed decisions while selecting the features and complexity of the application. Doing this can help you save a lot of money and time.

Cost Based on Complexity

• Basic Version – $20,000 to $50,000.
• Moderate Version – $50,000 to $150,000
• Advanced Version – $150,000 to $200,000+

2. Platform And Tech Stack

Deciding on the platform for the application is crucial. You need to choose whether you want to develop an application for iOS, Android, or both. This decision will impact the cost. Building applications separately for Android and iOS will require separate teams, increasing the cost.

However, you can choose cross-platform app development to save money. Furthermore, the tech stack also impacts the cost. Thus, you need to choose a budget-friendly and robust tech stack to build social media apps like Snapchat.

3. Design And UI/UX Services

We have been discussing that making the application intuitive and appealing is necessary, but it can make a huge impact on the cost. If you need professional UI/UX design services to make your app look and feel right, then you need to spend extra money. UI/UX is a crucial aspect to make the app successful because an app that has filters like Snapchat should look appealing and attention-grabbing.

4. Development Team

Hiring a development team is a daunting task. You need to find an experienced and top mobile app development company to build your app like Snapchat. You should hire a development team from regions that offer budget-friendly mobile app development services. However, you can hire dedicated mobile app developers to save money. These developers are skilled professionals, and they are also cost-effective.

Wrapping Up

We hope you now have a clear understanding of how to build a social media app like Snapchat. From defining a unique value proposition to creating an appealing UI/UX, every step plays a crucial role in creating a successful and scalable platform.

However, building apps like Snapchat is a complex task. That’s why businesses need to partner with a top mobile app development company. At RipenApps, we have individuals with experience in building social media apps like Snapchat. We can help you build a cutting-edge social media application to achieve your business goals.