How to BUILD Best Messaging App Like WhatsApp

WhatsApp!

Does it need any introduction?

Most of us are well aware of the fact that it is used to text another person and comes under top social media platforms.

No one can imagine their everyday life without a chat app and majorly WhatsApp because people have got their emotions attached to this application.

Now, every business needs an app like WhatsApp as it is rising worldwide. Due to the rise in usage of such apps, startups, SMEs and big enterprises are focusing on building messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Let me give a brief introduction to what it is!

WhatsApp is the most popular app and best messaging app used globally to this date. It is the American freeware, secured cross-platform and Voice over IP(VoIP) app which was initially released in January 2009 and was later owned by Facebook in 2015. And, then its popularity just breaks off the chart. It allows the users to send text messages, voice messages, chats, makes audio-video calls, and share media and documents with in-person or groups.

How does it get its popularity?

The big glimpse of this best messaging app and one of the top social media platforms is that it works across every smartphone. It is nearly free which means barring the low cost of a basic mobile data plan- unlike SMS text. WhatsApp reformed the SMS style that Skype did for international phone calls. Such reformations are necessary for the ever-changing technological environment.

WhatsApp, if compared to every year’s progress, is packed with many more features now that people from every country or region are leveraging. It remains clean, fast, and simple. Moreover, it’s the best chat app for sharing multimedia pictures, audio, and video.

It is one of the popular messaging apps and you are curious to know what technology stack WhatsApp uses. Then you are in the right place in this article, I will explain WhatsApp's, Technology Stack here now.

Eager to know the technology stack of WhatsApp?

Being known among the best social media apps, you may now get curious about the technology stack for WhatsApp. Let’s check it out here:

• Erlang
• PHP
• XMPP
• Mnesia
• Facebook Data Center
• FreeBSD
• Yaws

Erlang:

We might not be aware of Erlang as it’s very unheard of in the times. Let’s know what it is. It is a general-purpose and concurrent languages such as Java, C#, JavaScript, Python, and many more. It is used on the server-side in WhatsApp. It contains built-in support for concurrency, distribution, automatic crash recovery. Message passing (IPC) is the core feature of Erlang.

PHP:

PHP is an open-source, free server-side scripting language, that is built for developing websites and web applications. So, this best chat app has used PHP in it.

XMPP:

XMPP protocol is majorly used by WhatsApp for the instant messaging backend. It’s having the "Extensible Messaging Presence Protocol" where the client generates a connection with the XMPP Server and keeps it open till the requirement fulfillment.

MNESIA:

WhatsApp uses the MNESIA platform to manage hundreds of millions of users. It is the multi-user distributed DBMS built in Erlang. The major advantage of using it can be held comprehensibly onto the disk and in memory. It is best to get quick requests time

FreeBSD:

FreeBSD is the well-known OS distribution that is used to power desktops, modern servers as well as embedded platforms. FreeBSD acts as an excellent performance of OS, that’s why popular applications use this. Infact, it provides better security than Linux.

Yaws:

Yaws (Yet another webserver) is the high-performant multi-threaded web server, which is written totally in the Erlang language. It is suited for dynamic web applications for content too. It performs under high concurrency as it uses a lightweight threading system that can work efficiently with any database.

Facebook Data Server:

WhatsApp runs IBM SOFTLAYER cloud, which is a well-known cloud hosting company but got shifted to Facebook's own Data Center later on.

So, this best messaging app uses all the above-mentioned technologies to come out as the best one.

How To Develop a Messaging App like WhatsApp?

Step 1: Analyze the Market need

Current market analysis is important when you give a thought to developing the best messaging app. Knowing the predictions can help you include those features which might not be currently present in the app like WhatsApp.

Not just WhatsApp, think like what you can provide in extra that WhatsApp couldn’t till now. You can also witness what I’m trying to convey when you read the section focusing on the alternatives of WhatsApp. Frame the unique idea in your mind and then take a step ahead.

Need more pointers to examine the market need? Know below here:

• Be clear with the purpose of developing an app
• Check the industry's outlook on it
• Target the customers
• Analyze your competition
• Collect the data and analyze your search
• Turn your analysis into action

Step 2: Select the app module which suits your business

Requirements need to be fulfilled when you’re trying to develop an app like WhatsApp-I.e., the best messaging app. You need to start thinking about how it will work like.

This app will need a Login panel, main screen, privacy policy screen, contact section, and much more in it.

Should we choose the app module or say wireframe, which is different from the business and app functionalities?

I would suggest not making this mistake as this will bring your app to another track which will not be good for your business and this will not be beneficial too. So, select the app module very wisely.

Step 3: Choose Trending & Must-Have WhatsApp Features

While start giving a push to the development process of the WhatsApp-like app, choose the features of the app. It will save time and will work much better when you further explain to the development team or the offshore developers.

Make sure that you choose the trending features for your WhatsApp. We know these days AI/ML, and technologies such as chatbots are trending and these can help in retrieving out-of-the-box features.

You can choose the famous features of the different messaging apps such as Hike, Telegram, Messenger, Viber, and many others.

Want to know some interesting WhatsApp features?

• Status updates,
• Video calls,
• Group video call,
• Animated stickers,
• Dark mode, and more.

Step 4: Select App Design

Once you have filtered out the significant features of WhatsApp like the Android App, you can step ahead in selecting the design. It will be the app design that will be further needed for the Android app developers.

Remember to pay attention while choosing the UI/UX of the Android app. This will be best in attracting users to your app.

Step 5: Hire Android App Developers to develop an app like WhatsApp

Want to build the best social media app like WhatsApp?

Search for a reliable and top-level Android application development company to hire Android developers.

Remember never to take a risk of not hiring a developer if you need a pro app and the best chat app like WhatsApp.

Skilled developers know what cross-development technologies would be needed in building an Android app like WhatsApp. I would say here mobile app developers mostly use Flutter, Java, Swift, and React Native technologies to develop chat apps like WhatsApp.

WhatsApp from Meta instead of WhatsApp from Facebook

Do you know WhatsApp has made a big change in its footer to reflect the latest company change?

Do you know what it now displays?

“WhatsApp from Meta” rather than “WhatsApp from Facebook”.

Facebook is now known as Meta after the recent big announcement.

So, when WhatsApp meta is here, you will find no one whose mind doesn’t click.

Not only WhatsApp but apps namely, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and other apps have started showing the company’s new Meta branding tag over both Android and iOS devices. This update came just after Facebook announced its new name as Meta and talked about the Metaverse they are going to work on. Now, if you notice, every app by Meta has started its branding on the splash screen.

Undoubtedly, WhatsApp Meta plays a major role in the global areas that are important to Meta's future growth. Currently, by putting monetization efforts on hold, Meta has its focus on the future of international, cross-platform communications. With the acquisition of WhatsApp Meta, the company is certain to reach a number of people, and Meta will surely find a way to eventually cash in.

The alternatives of WhatsApp

Curious to know?

Let’s discuss.

Telegram

Telegram Messenger has been known as the best WhatsApp competitor for a very long time now. This is known as the open-source and best messaging app and people majorly use it as the WhatsApp alternative. It is packed with similar and usual messaging features like WhatsApp.

But you might be thinking about how Telegram is different?

It brings out amazing features such as massive groups of up to 100,00 people, several usernames, public channels, and the capability to share files of up to 1.5 GB, self-destructing messages, passcode lock, and end-to-end encryption in the secret chat. There’s always a virtual fight between Telegram vs WhatsApp users.

Technologies used to build Telegram:

Telegram is consistently in the race of upgrading its features as well as new programming languages. The current version is using Node JS, Express, and MongoDB in the backend. Swift and Objective C are the heart of Telegram as they are AI-based chatbots.

Signal

Do you know how Signal is partnering with WhatsApp?

Signal powers end-to-end encryption technology in WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

On the other hand, the Signal Foundation is providing its very own messaging app like WhatsApp. It is the Signal Private Messenger. Signal brings out several benefits in terms of security whenever compared to WhatsApp. It provides self-destructing messages and is the best advantage one could expect from any messenger app, that provides almost similar features to WhatsApp. It also offers screen security (to prevent anyone from taking screenshots) and much more into the list. The war doesn’t end here among the Signal vs WhatsApp users.

How does it bring a difference to the users?

Signal messenger app brings encryption to the backups, calls, group calls, and other data in the application. Infact, it provides security and doesn’t link any data to your identity. This app is dedicated to people who are looking for a simple and secure messaging app. It is the best WhatsApp alternative for you.

Technologies used to build Signal:

JavaScript, jQuery, Python, PHP, NGINX, Java, Apache HTTP Serv, Ubuntu, CSS 3, Ruby, Go, and Objective-C.

Viber

Viber is another alternative for WhatsApp as it integrates well with the existing phone contacts. This is known to be the best chat app in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Here, users set up their account with a single code and once the app is downloaded to your phone, this app will automatically search for your contacts who are present on Viber. The app has 260 million daily active users.

How does it make a difference?

The biggest difference that Viber vs WhatsApp has is that Viber has a secret chat feature while WhatsApp didn’t. Viber claims that no one can attempt to see or listen to any activity in a secret chat, it can’t be hacked. It is due to the high end-to-end encryption.

Technologies used to build Viber:

PHP, NGINX.

Kik

Kik is a popular and free messaging app that allows users to stay in touch with family and friends, which is used via Wi-Fi or your phone's mobile data. It only needs an email address to sign up and you don’t need a phone number. It is available on Android, iOS, and Amazon's Kindle Fire.

How does it make a difference?

A major benefit that one can draw is Kik doesn’t require a mobile number and no other party needs any number to contact you via Kik. On the other hand, WhatsApp is powered by your mobile number. So, anonymity defines it better and uniquely.

Technologies used to build Kik:

Kik majorly uses 31 technology products and services, that includes HTML5, Google Analytics, and jQuery. It is currently using 64 technologies for its website. These include Viewport Meta, SPF, and iPhone / Mobile Compatible.

Threema

Threema is an open-source messenger app, which forms end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, and further provides every feature one wants to have from an instant messenger app. The web app of Threema is also available that can be used on the Desktop. Threema is not only an encrypted and private messenger but you will find it a versatile and feature-enriched app.

How does it make a difference?

Privacy by design makes the major difference to use the Threema-the best alternative to WhatsApp.

It was designed from the ground level while keeping the maximum security and data reduction in mind. On the other hand, the WhatsApp business model is based on the usage of personal data for marketing purposes.

Technologies used to build Threema:

Threema is currently using 18 technologies for its website. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone/ Mobile Compatible, and SPF.

The Bottom Line:

Thinking of how to develop an app like WhatsApp?

Don’t just overthink!

Let us know what’s on your mind. We, at Seasia Infotech, will cater to every idea you have to build an app like WhatsApp.

Talk to our experts!

FAQs:

Which technology uses the live chat feature?

AI and chatbots, MLP, AR technologies, 3D holograms, and an omnichannel melting pot

Which tech is used for making a chat application?

WebSockets is the technology used to make a communication line between servers and the mobile app to send and secure data from different messages. Further, voice calls and video calls are made possible with the help of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

What are the features of chat?

The chat features must include:

• It must show you when someone is typing.
• It should offer read receipts I.e., it must show when someone has read or received your message, as well as display your contact when you read their message.
• It should send messages over mobile data and Wi-Fi.
• It must let you share files and high-resolution photos.

Which technology uses Facebook live chat feature?

Thrift is the communication protocol that conducts communication between services running on different technologies. It uses C++, Erlang, PHP, JavaScript.

Can we use bots on WhatsApp?

Yes, you can create and use one.