How To Build A Chat App In Flutter With Firebase?

Published On December 4th, 2024 Tech Talks

Steps to build a chat app in Flutter along with Firebase integration for authentication 

Flutter is a go-to framework for developers, aiming to build their chat apps natively for all platforms, within a short time. On the other hand, Firebase helps you integrate real-time functionalities into your app along with security and storage capabilities. 

Incorporating the Firebase chat app Flutter technologies lets you create a scalable, feature-rich, and user-friendly chat app for your users.

In this article, we’ll cover the steps in building a chat app in Flutter with Firebase integration.

Let’s get started! 

Why Did We Choose Flutter?

Unarguably, messaging apps are the inevitable trend or necessity for enterprises and sectors to bridge the communication gap. This triggers the demand of developing multi-tenant chat apps for developers in a short span of time, but with extensive features. 

But why a chat app with Flutter?

Flutter is a powerful framework built by Google that can help you build high-quality apps within a short period of time. There are many reasons to why this framework may be the best choice for your app,If you are developing a flutter chat app. here are the top reasons:

  • Shorter Development Time: Be it any kind of app you are building, Flutter will cut your development time by half, without compromising on the quality of the build.
  • Cross-platform compatibility: Since Flutter is a cross-platform framework, you can build apps for all the devices from a single codebase instead of building separate apps for mobiles, web browsers and desktops. 
  • User-friendliness: The customization rendered by Flutter lets you create a beautiful, modern chat app system design
  • Hot-reload: Making changes in your codes and worried about losing the existing app state. Fear not, Flutter lets you see the changes in real-time, without affecting the app.

What Is The Role Of Firebase In A Flutter Chat App?

Firebase chat is a good choice for a chat app, as it is a real-time database that facilitates instant messaging. Modern communication demands features and capabilities that go way beyond regular chat apps, and Firebase plays a vital role in building robust and secure real-time infrastructure. especially when developing a Flutter group chat app with Firebase.

Here are the major reasons why developers choose to integrate the Firebase chat app in Flutter

  • Real-time functionalities: When you are building apps that need to deliver data within 1/2 a second, typically in real-time then Firebase chat app integration might be your best bet.
  • Security: User authentication is a critical feature for apps that involve multiple users. When you set up a login for users with email, password, google or Facebook sign in, Firebase helps you incorporate them into your apps easily. Moreover, the data stored in the cloud is also protected with this service. 
  • Data Storage: A chat app typically involves conversations and media shares being stored for user access. This is another service offered by Firebase to keep user data safely in a cloud space. 

So far, we have talked about both Flutter messaging app and Firebase. Now let’s see how these both work together.

How Effective Is the Flutter Chat App with Firebase?

Flutter chat app with firebase is a powerful combo in terms of performance and reliability. Here are other solid reasons. 

  • Cross-platform compatibility: Flutter is compatible with cross-platform support. You can code once and deploy it on multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, Web, and desktop. It gives you performance like native apps.
  • Hassle-free integration: You can easily integrate the Flutter chat API in just 20 minutes instead of building a chat app from scratch for every platform, which involves a lot more time, money, and effort.
  • High scalability: Flutter is designed to scale automatically based on your app’s growth. You don’t have to worry about feeding servers, load balancing, or handling spikes in traffic.
  • Real-time communication features: Firebase facilitates real-time communication features such as push notifications, dashboards and analytics, real-time metrics, device cross-platform compatibility, and so on.

These are some of the notable reasons that the Flutter chat app works well with Firebase. Now it’s time to start using them to build your messaging application.

 
Excited to Build a Flutter Chat App Using Firebase?

Create a Flutter Chat App With Firebase Integration 

We will cover the entire development in 2 parts:

  • Part I: Building a messaging app in Flutter
  • Part II: Integrating Firebase into the chat app

Part I: Steps To Build A Chat App In Flutter

In this tutorial, we will use Android Studio as the development environment and MirrorFly’s Flutter Chat SDK to add real-time messaging capabilities to the app. 

Minimum Requirements

  • Flutter 2.0.0 or later
  • Android 4.4 or later
  • MirrorFly Chat SDKs & License Key
  • Dart 2.12.0 or later
  • Firebase Account

Step 1: Get Your Chat SDKs And License Key

  • Create your MirrorFly account 
build-chat-app-with-Flutter
MirrorFly Chat SDKs
  • Verify your account with the Confirmation link sent to your Email ID
  • Sign in to your MirrorFly Account and complete the account setup process
chat-app-for-ios-and-android
Flutter Chat SDK
  • Download the Flutter SDK Package
  • Extract the downloaded SDK files onto your device
  • Again, go to your MirrorFly Account Dashboard 
  • Make a note of your License Key
build-messaging-app with-flutter
Build a Chat Application With Firebase

 Step 2: Get Started With Your Chat App Project In Android Studio

In this step, you’ll create a new Android project, setting up Flutter as your development language.

  • Open the Android Studio IDE
building-chat-app-using-firebase
Chat Application in Flutter with Firebase
  • Fill in the basic information of your project. Your Project Window will open
  • From the Downloads folder of your device, import the dependencies to your project’s App Folder. 
  • Next, add the pubspec.yaml file
  • To avoid library conflicts between the imported files, you’ll need to add the below line in the gradle.properties 
android.enableJetifier=true

 You’ll require permission to access different components of the project. To grant them, add the below lines to the AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />

Next, in the app/build.gradle configure the License key that you acquired from your MirrorFly Account Dashboard. 

plugins {
	...
	id 'kotlin-android'
	id 'kotlin-kapt'
}
android {
	compileOptions {
    	sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
    	targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
	}

	kotlinOptions {
    	jvmTarget = '1.8'
	}

	packagingOptions {
    	exclude 'META-INF/AL2.0'
    	exclude 'META-INF/DEPENDENCIES'
    	exclude 'META-INF/LICENSE'
    	exclude 'META-INF/LICENSE.txt'
    	exclude 'META-INF/license.txt'
    	exclude 'META-INF/NOTICE'
    	exclude 'META-INF/NOTICE.txt'
    	exclude 'META-INF/notice.txt'
    	exclude 'META-INF/ASL2.0'
    	exclude 'META-INF/LGPL2.1'
    	exclude("META-INF/*.kotlin_module")
	}
}
In the app/build.gradle file of your Flutter project, add the following dependencies:

dependencies {

 	... // your app dependencies

 	implementation files('libs/appbase.aar')
 	implementation files('libs/flycommons.aar')
 	implementation files('libs/flynetwork.aar')
 	implementation files('libs/flydatabase.aar')
 	implementation files('libs/videocompression.aar')
 	implementation files('libs/xmpp.aar')

 }
Add the below modules to your gradle build and configure the required parameters as shown below:


dependencies {

 	... // your app dependencies

 	configurations {
     	all {
         	exclude group: 'org.json', module: 'json'
         	exclude group: 'xpp3', module: 'xpp3'
     	}
 	}

 	//For lifecycle listener
 	implementation 'android.arch.lifecycle:extensions:1.1.1'
 	annotationProcessor 'android.arch.lifecycle:compiler:1.1.1'

 	//For GreenDao
 	implementation 'de.greenrobot:greendao:2.1.0'

 	//For gson parsing
 	implementation 'com.google.code.gson:gson:2.8.1'

 	//for smack implementation
 	implementation 'org.igniterealtime.smack:smack-android:4.4.4'
 	implementation 'org.igniterealtime.smack:smack-tcp:4.4.4'
 	implementation 'org.igniterealtime.smack:smack-im:4.4.4'
 	implementation 'org.igniterealtime.smack:smack-extensions:4.4.4'
 	implementation 'org.igniterealtime.smack:smack-sasl-provided:4.4.4'

 	implementation 'androidx.localbroadcastmanager:localbroadcastmanager:1.0.0'
 	implementation 'androidx.multidex:multidex:2.0.1'
 	implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:17.0.0'

 	//Dagger Dependencies
 	api 'com.google.dagger:dagger:2.40.5'
 	kapt 'com.google.dagger:dagger-compiler:2.40.5'
 	api 'com.google.dagger:dagger-android:2.40.5'
 	api 'com.google.dagger:dagger-android-support:2.40.5'
 	kapt 'com.google.dagger:dagger-android-processor:2.40.5'

 	//coroutines
 	implementation 'org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-android:1.3.8'
 	implementation 'org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-test:1.3.8'

 	//apicalls
 	implementation 'com.squareup.retrofit2:retrofit:2.6.1'
 	implementation 'com.squareup.retrofit2:converter-gson:2.6.1'
 	implementation 'com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:4.2.0'
 	implementation 'com.jakewharton.retrofit:retrofit2-kotlin-coroutines-adapter:0.9.2'

 	//stetho interceptor
 	implementation 'com.facebook.stetho:stetho-okhttp3:1.3.1'

 	//okhttp interceptor
 	implementation 'com.squareup.okhttp3:logging-interceptor:3.14.3'

 	//shared preference encryption
 	implementation 'androidx.security:security-crypto:1.1.0-alpha03'

 	//for mobile number formatting
 	implementation 'io.michaelrocks:libphonenumber-android:8.10.1'
 }

buildTypes {
  debug {
	buildConfigField 'String', 'SDK_BASE_URL', '"https://api-preprod-sandbox.mirrorfly.com/api/v1/"'
	buildConfigField 'String', 'LICENSE', '"xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"'
	buildConfigField 'String', 'WEB_CHAT_LOGIN', '"https://webchat-preprod-sandbox.mirrorfly.com/"'
	buildConfigField "String", "SUPPORT_MAIL", '"contussupport@gmail.com"'
  }
}

Step 3: Initialize The Chat SDKs

In your Android Application Class, go to the onCreate() method and add the ChatSDK builder. This step will help you get all the necessary details to get started with the SDK initialization.

Kotlin:

//For chat logging
LogMessage.enableDebugLogging(BuildConfig.DEBUG)
 
ChatSDK.Builder()
	.setDomainBaseUrl(BuildConfig.SDK_BASE_URL)
	.setLicenseKey(BuildConfig.LICENSE)
	.setIsTrialLicenceKey(true)
	.build()

Step 4: Register a User

  • Once you’ve initialized the SDK, you’ll need to register the user using the USER_IDENTIFIER and  FCM_TOCKEN
  • You can create the user either in the live or sandbox mode, as given below

Flutter:

FlyChat.registerUser(USER_IDENTIFIER, FCM_TOCKEN).then((value) {
	if (value.contains("data")) {
	// Get Username and password from the object
	}
}).catchError((error) {
	// Register user failed print throwable to find the exception details.  
});

Once you register the user, the server automatically gets connected.

Step 5: Start Sending And Receiving Messages

  1. Send a Chat Message

Add the sendTextMessage() method to start sending messages from your Flutter app.

FlyChat.sendTextMessage(TEXT, TO_JID, replyMessageId).then((value) {
     // you will get the message sent success response
 });
  1. Receive a Chat Message

Get notifications on any incoming message, using the below  onMessageReceived() method

FlyChat.onMessageReceived.listen(onMessageReceived);
void onMessageReceived(chatMessage) {
     //called when the new message is received
 }

You’ve now successfully built a chat app in Flutter that can send and receive messages. Now, let us move on to integrate Firebase into your application. 

Part II: Steps To Integrate FireBase Into Your Chat App

Follow the below steps to add Firebase services to your Flutter messaging application. To get started, you can refer to Flutter chat app with Firebase source code

Step 1 : Create a Firebase Project

  • Create a Project using the package name of your Flutter application. Let us assume that name is com.testapp

Step 2: Configure Your App Info In The Console

To store and manage your app’s configuration information the Google Developer Console, you’ll need to perform the following steps:

  • Go to Console
  • Select your project
  • Navigate to Project settings
  • Select Cloud Messaging. You’ll find the  google-service.json file here
  • Download the file
  • Add it to the App folder of your project

Step 3: Add Firebase Dependencies 

  • Once you’ve set up the configuration, you’ll need to add the below Firebase dependencies. To do this,
  • Go to build.gradle
  • Add the below repos
buildscript {
    repositories {
        // Check that you have the following line (if not, add it):
        google()  // Google's Maven repository
   }
   dependencies {
       classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.3.13' // google-services plugin
   }
}

allprojects {
   repositories {
       // Check that you have the following line (if not, add it):
       google() // Google's Maven repository
   }
}

Next, add the plugins for the Android app and Google services

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
apply plugin: 'com.google.gms.google-services'

dependencies {
  implementation platform('com.google.firebase:firebase-bom:30.3.1')
}

You’ve now successfully set up Firebase for your app. Let’s proceed further to integrate the Push notifications

Step 4: Firebase Integration For Push Notification

  • To set up push notifications, go to the build.gradle and add the FCM dependency as mentioned below
implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging:23.0.6'

In your Manifest file, add the below line

<service android:name=".MyFirebaseMessagingService"
         android:exported="false">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="com.google.firebase.MESSAGING_EVENT" />
    </intent-filter>
</service>

Extend the FirebaseMessagingService service by creating the MyFirebaseMessagingService file in your application

Java:

public class MyFirebaseMessagingService extends FirebaseMessagingService {
    @Override
    public void onMessageReceived(@NonNull RemoteMessage message) {
        //Push message will be received here when push notification triggered for this device
    }

    @Override
    public void onNewToken(@NonNull String token) {
         //Whenever Device token will get updated/changed this method will be triggered
         PushNotificationManager.updateFcmToken(token, isSuccess, message) -> {
            
                         });
    }
}

Kotlin:

class MyFirebaseMessagingService : FirebaseMessagingService() {
    
    override fun onMessageReceived(message: RemoteMessage) {
        //Push message will be received here when push notification triggered for this device
    }
    
    override fun onNewToken(token: String) {
        //Whenever Device token will get updated/changed this method will be triggered
        PushNotificationManager.updateFcmToken(token, object : ChatActionListener{
            override fun onResponse(isSuccess: Boolean, message: String) {
                }
        })
    }
}
  • Use the link below to enable cloud messaging 

Firebase Cloud Messaging

To start receiving messages and calls from Chat SDK, you’ll need to authenticate cloud messaging with the server. For Authentication,

  • Go to Project Setting under Cloud Messaging
flutter group chat app with firebase
  • Copy the API Key
  • Configure it in the server
  • Next, add the below permissions to the AndroidManifest.xml
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />

In the cloud message console, add the device token 

Java:

 FirebaseMessaging.getInstance().getToken()
                .addOnCompleteListener(new OnCompleteListener<String>() {
                    @Override
                    public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<String> task) {
                        if (!task.isSuccessful()) {
                            //Fetching FCM registration token failed
                            return;
                        }
                        
                        //Fetching FCM registration token succeed
                        // Get new FCM registration token
                        String token = task.getResult();
                        PushNotificationManager.updateFcmToken(token, isSuccess, message) -> {
            
                         });
                    }
                });

Kotlin:

FirebaseMessaging.getInstance().token.addOnCompleteListener(OnCompleteListener { task ->
            if (!task.isSuccessful) {
                //Fetching FCM registration token failed
                return@OnCompleteListener
            }

            //Fetching FCM registration token succeed
            // Get new FCM registration token
            val token = task.result
            PushNotificationManager.updateFcmToken(token, object : ChatActionListener{
            override fun onResponse(isSuccess: Boolean, message: String) {
                }
            })
        })

Step 5: Firebase Integration For Crashlytics

  • In your project level build.gradle, add the Crashlytics as given below
dependencies {
    // Check for v4.3.3 or higher
    classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.3.13'
    classpath "com.google.firebase:firebase-crashlytics-gradle:2.9.1"
}

allprojects {
    repositories {
       // Add repository
        google()  // Google's Maven repository
    }
}

In your app-level build.gradle, add the Crashlytics as given below

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
apply plugin:  'com.google.firebase.crashlytics'

dependencies {
 // Add dependency
  implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-crashlytics:18.2.12'
}

Steps to set up a Firebase Cloud Messaging app on Flutter

  • Prepare your platform.
  • Install the FCM plugin.
  • Get the registration token.
  • Disable automatic initialization.
  • Re-activate FCM auto-init during runtime.
  • Handle incoming messages.

Conclusion:

We hope this article helped you understand the steps involved in building an encrypted Flutter Messaging App with Firebase Integration. By following the instructions, you will be able to add real-time messaging functionalities to your Android app as well as set up user authentication, push notifications, and crash reporting using Firebase. 

All things considered, you now have everything you need to build a feature-rich messaging app. Why wait? Begin your development now!

Well, if you are considering 100% customizable video, voice, and chat features for your Flutter app development, you can avail of our best self-managed chat solution for a one-time license cost! To know more about this faster and more reliable option, talk to our experts today!

Till then, Happy building, and good luck!

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  • Topic-based Chat
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can we use Firebase for chat apps?

Yes, of course! Firebase can be a great choice for building chat apps as it offers certain features and tools that are essential for chat applications like real-time database, authentication, and cloud messaging. Additionally, they offer libraries and SDKs that come compatible with different platforms and support integrations with third-party services like Dialog Flow and other cloud services.
Thus, making it a great option for building a scalable and reliable chat application

Is Firebase free forever?

Yes, Firebase is free and you can make use of their no-cost pricing plan (Spark Plan) as long as you want. However, if you want more storage, network bandwidth, or hosting space for your chat app, then you must opt for their paid-tier pricing plan (Blaze Plan).

How To Build A Chat App In Flutter Along With Firebase Integration?

Below are the steps to Build a Flutter Chat App with Fire base Integration.
1. Set up your Flutter development environment.
2. Create a new Firebase project.
3. Configure the Firebase settings.
4. Create the app’s UI.
5. Set up user authentication.
6. Install the chat functionality.
7. Manage user profiles and contacts.
8. Enable push notifications for new messages.
9. Test your chat app
10. Launch your app

Can I build a chat app in Flutter?

Yes, definitely, you can build a chat app in Flutter. It allows you to build a chat app that can be deployed on multiple platforms. It also has some notable features like hot reload, a single code base, community support, open-source, a rich set of features, a highly customizable widget, access to libraries, and so on.

Does MirrorFly use Flutter to build chat apps?

Yes, MirrorFly chat SDK supports Flutter tech stack to easily and swiftly ship in-app messaging experiences across web and mobile apps.

What language does Firebase use?

Firebase’s primary language is Javascript for its client-base libraries and SDKs in order to interact with its features such as authentication, databases, storage, and cloud hosting. However, it supports multi-programming languages for server-side development like Java, Python, Go, and more.

Does Firebase work offline on Flutter?

Yes, Firebase works offline on Flutter applications. It provides a local caching mechanism that allows your app to continue functioning even without network connectivity. This feature is more useful for mobile applications, as they often encounter issues with limited or no internet connection.

Is Firebase better than AWS?

In general, neither can be considered better than the other. Choosing between Firebase and AWS depends on your project requirements, technical expertise, scalability, and cost considerations. It’s recommended to evaluate the features and benefits of both platforms and choose based on your project requirements.

Which famous app uses Firebase?

The New York Times, Starava, Tiktok, Dualingo, Delivery Hero, and Shazam are some of the famous apps that rely on Firebase for real-time data synchronisation, cloud storage, user authentication, push notifications, and more.

Is SQL faster than Firebase?

Both SQL and Firebase are faster in their own ways. SQL databases are enhanced for structured data and complex queries, making them capable of handling advanced querying capabilities such as complex joins, aggregation, and indexing. On the other hand, Firebase uses a NoSQL data model and is enhanced for real-time data synchronization and simple queries.

How does Flutter communicate with Firebase?

Flutter communicates with Firebase using the Firebase SDK for Flutter. Firebase is a completely mobile and online app development platform. Flutter is an open-source UI software for multi-platform app development that can be deployed on iOS, Android, the Web, and desktop. Both are backed by Google.

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Rajeshwari

Rajeshwari is a skilled digital marketer, passionate about SEO and exploring the latest trends and tech innovations in communication and Chat APIs. With a keen eye for detail, she helps brands improve their online visibility, and she is always eager to stay ahead in the evolving digital landscape.

32 Comments "How To Build A Chat App In Flutter With Firebase?"

  1. Anila says:

    hi,
    is there any possibilities to give a explanation of my queries in a short time? How can I secure my chat app and protect user data?

    1. Abirami Elangovan says:

      Hi Anila, In order to build a Flutter chat app, you can make use of the below-listed packages and libraries.

      • Flutter SDK
      • Dart programming language
      • Provider or Riverpod
      • Firebase
      • Socket.io-client
      • CachedNetorkImage
      • Dio
      • FlutterToast or snackbar

      If you feel these processes take a long time, you can simply opt for MirrorFly Flutter chat SDKs and integrate communication functionalities into your Flutter app in < 10 minutes.

  2. David says:

    hello team fly,
    It is actually good to read and I can get some knowledge by the first look of it, can you tell me that How do I implement real-time messaging in a Flutter chat app with Mirrorfly?

    1. Abirami Elangovan says:

      Welcome David, I hope you are doing great. To be specific, implementing real-time messaging in your Flutter chat app with MirrorFly is just a 10-minute job. Here, I’ll take you through the step-by-step process.

      • Create an account under the MirrorFly Console Page.
      • Setup your account process
      • Acquire a license key from the ‘overview’ page.
      • Download the SDKs.
      • Add dependencies for Android, iOS, and Flutter.
      • Initialize the SDKs.
      • Connect with the MirrorFly Server
      • Test and deploy

      That’s it. By following the above-mentioned simple procedure, you can integrate real-time messaging functionalities and features with your Flutter app.

  3. Jarvis says:

    hi guys,
    Could you let me know what are the essential components of a chat application developed with Flutter and Firebase?

    1. Abirami Elangovan says:

      Hello Jarvis, I hope you are doing great. While developing a chat app using Flutter and Firebase, it’s crucial to incorporate features that improve the user experience and functionality. Think about the following key elements:

      • Contact management
      • Multimedia support
      • Real-time messaging
      • Push notifications
      • Typing indicators
      • Localization
      • Read receipts
      • Group chats
      • Message history

      You can have a look at our Flutter tutorial docs for Flutter codes to implement a full, comprehensive suite of Flutter chat apps.

  4. Alice says:

    hi,
    Thanks for sharing a great article I notice that customizability is at the forefront of your chat app, so now explain me in a short way that what is Firebase, and how does it relate to the development of chat applications?

    1. Abirami Elangovan says:

      Hi Alice, It was great to hear this question from you. Firebase aims to simplify and accelerate the development of applications. It provides multiple features and key components for a chat app, as follows:

      • Real-time database
      • Cloud Firestore
      • Authentication
      • Firebase cloud messaging
      • Cloud Functions
      • Hosting and analytics
      • Machine Learning Services (ML Kit)
  5. Deepak says:

    hey guys,
    I’m Deepak, I would like to discuss regarding how to build a chat app in Flutter with Firebase integration? could you make it simple?

    1. Abirami Elangovan says:

      Hello Deepak, Building a chat app in Flutter with Firebase integration involves several steps, as mentioned below.

      • Set up the Firebase Project
      • Configure Firebase in Flutter
      • Initialize Firebase in Flutter
      • Implement Authentication
      • Create a chat screen
      • Use Cloud Firestore
      • Implement real-time messaging
      • Handle user presence and secure your Firebase database
      • Testing and Deployment

      By following the above-mentioned steps, you can develop a chat app in Flutter with Firebase integration for any platform.

  6. Ajmal says:

    Hi team,
    this is a very detailed article for those who try to build a chat application, can you tell me why is Flutter utilized for the building of chat applications with Firebase?

    1. Abirami Elangovan says:

      Hi Ajmal, I hope you are doing great. Well, here are a few reasons why Flutter is utilized for building chat applications with Firebase.
      1. Cross-platform development
      2. Widget-based UI
      3. Hot Reload
      4. Firebase Realtime Database
      5. Authentication and authorization
      6. Cloud Functions
      7. Cloud Messaging
      8. Scalability and reliability

      These are a few reasons to build a chat app using Flutter with Firebase. You can also talk with an expert to learn more about this matter.

  7. Harald says:

    How do I make a group chat on Flutter?

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      You can make a group chat on Flutter by following the simple procedure mentioned below.
      1. Setup the Flutter project.
      2. Design a user interface.
      3. Implement user authentication.
      4. Choose a backend service to handle real-time messaging.
      5. Implement a feature to create a new group chat.
      6. Allow users to send and receive messages in groups.
      7. Use real-time capabilities from your backend service.
      8. Test and deploy
      9. Implement push notifications and features to manage groups.
      10. Provide clear documentation for users regarding dos and don’ts.
      By following this procedure, you can easily make a group chat on Flutter.

  8. Ahsan Bilal says:

    I’m trying to configure Firebase Messaging in Flutter, but it seems that there is no implementation yet for the upstream messages.

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      According to the Firebase documentation for Flutter, the Firebase_messaging plugin supports upstream messages. Flutter primarily supports downstream messages, which are messages sent from the server to the client (Flutter). However, upstream messages that are sent by the client and sent to the server are not primarily focused on in the early stages of development. Here is a fix: By directly interacting with FCM APIs, upstream messaging is still possible in the Flutter app. Refer documentation page for steps and codes.

  9. Connor Gillivan says:

    Is there any way to create push notifications with Flutter without using Firebase (FCM)?

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Yes, you can implement push notifications in your Flutter chatting app without using Firebase (FCM). One of the best alternatives is the OneSignal platform. It allows you to facilitate push notifications seamlessly on both Android and iOS messaging platform.

  10. Aari Murray says:

    How do I add an active user feature to the Chat Flutter app?

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Active user features or presence indicators help you identify the user status in real-time, both online and offline. To add an active user feature to your Flutter messaging app requires several steps, as mentioned below.

      Step 1: Track user status management
      Step 2: Setup an API for backend integration.
      Step 3: Derive app state management
      Step 4: Implemetn UI
      Step 5: Optimise for real-time updates.

      These steps involve several coding lines; refer to the documentation page for coding.

  11. Walter says:

    Hello MirrorFly, a really great article that’s put up neatly for beginners. Hats off! I’m looking forward to learning more about your product and how it can benefit me, as I’m developing a real-time chat app and needs authentication features to be implemented.

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Hello Walt, thank you for your kind words about my article. I’m thrilled to hear that you are interested in our product and how it can help you build a real-time chat app. Here’s a brief intro about us. MirrorFly is a powerful Free chat API provider that is highly preferred by developers for its easy-to-use messaging features and simple integration capabilities. Along with these, it also offers both cloud and self-hosted solutions to build feature-rich chat apps. If you would like to learn more about us, you can schedule a demo with our expert team who would be happy to guide you on your requirements.

      And regarding the need to add authentication for your chat app, the ideal option would be to go ahead with firebase integration using MirrorFly’s in-app chat SDK.

  12. Saina says:

    Hello team, I’m looking to build a healthcare chat app using Flutter for adding voice and video capabilities and I want to know whether you support this framework. Also, I want to know whether you have UI kits for my app. How may I reach you?

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Hello Saina, thank you for reaching out to us, and great to hear that you are planning to build a healthcare chat app. Yes, we do support the Flutter framework for building chat apps with both voice and video capabilities. And regarding UI kits, we have a pre-built UI kit for iOS, Android, and web apps that can help you jumpstart your healthcare chat app project.

      You can get in touch with us by talking to our experts or by sending an email to our support team.

  13. Charles says:

    Hi, I have built a chat app using Flutter but looking for certain features. And when I searched other websites, I found the pricing to be high. May I know at what pricing you offer your services and I need integration support too?

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Hello Charles, it is really wonderful news that you have a chat app ready in hand. I’m thrilled to tell you that MirrorFly’s Free chat API offers high-end messaging features to users for recurring monthly packages or one-time license cost. You may also take a look at our pricing page to get more clarity on the pricing options available.
      Regarding the SDK integration support, our self-hosted solutionself-hosted solution lets you hire a dedicated development team to help you with the integration right from the start till your app goes live. If you would like to proceed further, please talk to our experts.

  14. Benjamin says:

    Hello, I’m Benjamin and this is a very good tutorial. Can you tell me how to notify the user status online or offline? Thanks!!

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Hello Benjamin, thank you for your kind response towards my article. You can notify users about their offline/online status by enabling online presence indicators in your chat service using our Free chat API.Or simply, you may talk to our experts regarding this.

  15. Kennedy says:

    Thank you very much for the blog post! I hope you write more stories on flutter!

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Sure Kennedy! Thanks for your response to my article and please keep coming back for more insights on developer-related articles.

  16. Ayaz says:

    This is a great article to learn how to build a chat application using Flutter and firebase. This article has everything from Firebase integration to Flutter along with Authentication, Sign-in, Cloud firebase, and storage services. This is a must-learn tutorial for beginners in Flutter development because it teaches much more about Firebase services and how to access them in Flutter to build a Chat application. This type of integration is adopted in some of the most amazing Flutter chat app templates that are in the market.

    1. Vigneshwar says:

      Thanks for such a wonderful response to my article! Very true Ayaz, these days Flutter is highly used to build chat apps along with Firebase services. My best wishes to you.

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