{"id":36089,"date":"2024-12-09T16:47:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T11:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/?p=36089"},"modified":"2026-02-13T18:43:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T13:13:57","slug":"build-an-app-like-instagram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-an-app-like-instagram\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build an App Like Instagram in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>Want to create a social networking app like Instagram? We\u2019ll walk you through 5 easy steps and show you how to launch your app in the next few hours<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We all love to hang around on an app like Instagram, every day. Using it is&nbsp;fun! And building an app like Instagram is even more fun if you have the right plan and tools.&nbsp;Ready To Build An&nbsp;App Like<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hey \ud83d\ude4b<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, we are going to walk you through everything about building a social media app like Instagram. Did we read your mind? Then stay with us, for every section of this article has something interesting to help your social media app development plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3..2\u20261\u2026.Let\u2019s begin!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Social_Media_Becoming_The_Future\"><\/span><strong>Is Social Media Becoming The Future?&nbsp;<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Absolutely!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell me when was the last time you used a social media app. A few minutes ago? A few hours ago?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s exactly how much Social media apps has intertwined with our daily lives. We all love networking, especially on apps like instagram that makes lives fun and engaging. And it is not surprising to know that there are over 1 billion Instagram users across the world, and the count seems to multiply as years roll.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With many more strong statistics backing the fact that Social media is going to rule the internet, this is indeed a great opportunity for Businesses and developers to make use of the opportunity to start building platforms, that could turn out to be big giants in the upcoming years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the market gets crowded with too many apps, you can start building the platform right away and evolve with growing needs of your customers. Isn\u2019t that a great idea?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have the same on your mind, I\u2019d suggest you to go through the entire article, and at some point of time, bigger ideas may spark for your business. Try it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Instagram_A_Quick_Glimpse\"><\/span><strong>Instagram: A Quick Glimpse&nbsp;<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Instagram is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos. It&#8217;s owned by Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) and is available on iOS, Android, Windows 10, and the web.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes Instagram so popular among this generation and why it is sure that Instagram will remain a go-to choice for the future generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Let\u2019s take a look at the facts:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/social-media-tips-on-instagram.webp\" alt=\"tips for social media networking app\" class=\"wp-image-18048\" width=\"800\" height=\"387\">\n<figcaption>Social Media Tips On Instagram<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Between 2019 and 2023, Instagram saw its number of monthly active users grow by an impressive 127%. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>The Social Sheperd<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instagram saw its number of monthly active users grow by an impressive 127% between 2019 and 2023..(<strong>Source: <\/strong><em>Data Reportal<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A significant portion of Instagram&#8217;s audience is young, with 39.2% of Generation Z checking the app more than once daily. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Hootsuite<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nearly 86% of companies actively use Instagram, showing how crucial it is for marketing.<br>(<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Hootsuite<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instagram&#8217;s ads can now reach over 1.6 billion people worldwide, making it one of the best platforms for increasing brand visibility. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Datareportal<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Posts on Instagram generate 4 times more engagement than Facebook posts and 10 times more than tweets on Twitter, making it a top choice for interaction. (<strong>Source: <\/strong><em>Sproutsocial<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each month, about 130 million users click on shopping posts, highlighting Instagram&#8217;s strength as a platform for online shopping. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Hootsuite<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over 25 million small businesses use Instagram, relying on tools like Stories, Reels, and Live to grow their brands. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Oberlo<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For every $1 spent on influencer marketing, brands earn an average of $5.20, proving Instagram is a profitable choice for collaborations. (<strong>Source: <\/strong><em>Influencermarketinghub<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brands that use Instagram Reels experience up to 22% higher engagement compared to posting regular photos. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Hubspot Blog<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>About half of B2B decision-makers use Instagram for research, proving its value beyond just consumer-focused marketing. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>SproutSocial<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More than half (58%) of users say Instagram Stories make them more interested in a product or brand. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <em>Instagram Business<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"cta-wrapper-three\">\n<div class=\"left-wrap\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cta-thumbnail-image.webp\" class=\"cta-three-thumbnail\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"right-wrap\">\n<summary class=\"heading\">Integrate Activity Feeds + <span class=\"highlight\">Communication APIs Into <\/span>Your Instagram-like Apps! <\/summary>\n<ul class=\"cta-three-wrap\">\n<li> \n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12.99\" height=\"12.99\" viewBox=\"0 0 12.99 12.99\">\n  <path id=\"arrow-down-circle\" d=\"M.812,6.495A5.683,5.683,0,1,1,6.5,12.178,5.683,5.683,0,0,1,.812,6.495Zm12.178,0A6.495,6.495,0,1,0,6.5,12.99,6.495,6.495,0,0,0,12.99,6.495ZM6.9,9.337a.406.406,0,0,1-.812,0v-4.7L4.347,6.376A.406.406,0,1,1,3.772,5.8L6.208,3.366a.406.406,0,0,1,.575,0L9.218,5.8a.406.406,0,1,1-.575.575L6.9,4.633Z\" transform=\"translate(12.99) rotate(90)\" fill=\"#ffcf18\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>\nComplete Source Code<\/li>\n<li> \n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12.99\" height=\"12.99\" viewBox=\"0 0 12.99 12.99\">\n  <path id=\"arrow-down-circle\" d=\"M.812,6.495A5.683,5.683,0,1,1,6.5,12.178,5.683,5.683,0,0,1,.812,6.495Zm12.178,0A6.495,6.495,0,1,0,6.5,12.99,6.495,6.495,0,0,0,12.99,6.495ZM6.9,9.337a.406.406,0,0,1-.812,0v-4.7L4.347,6.376A.406.406,0,1,1,3.772,5.8L6.208,3.366a.406.406,0,0,1,.575,0L9.218,5.8a.406.406,0,1,1-.575.575L6.9,4.633Z\" transform=\"translate(12.99) rotate(90)\" fill=\"#ffcf18\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>\nLifetime Data Ownership<\/li>\n<li> \n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12.99\" height=\"12.99\" viewBox=\"0 0 12.99 12.99\">\n  <path id=\"arrow-down-circle\" d=\"M.812,6.495A5.683,5.683,0,1,1,6.5,12.178,5.683,5.683,0,0,1,.812,6.495Zm12.178,0A6.495,6.495,0,1,0,6.5,12.99,6.495,6.495,0,0,0,12.99,6.495ZM6.9,9.337a.406.406,0,0,1-.812,0v-4.7L4.347,6.376A.406.406,0,1,1,3.772,5.8L6.208,3.366a.406.406,0,0,1,.575,0L9.218,5.8a.406.406,0,1,1-.575.575L6.9,4.633Z\" transform=\"translate(12.99) rotate(90)\" fill=\"#ffcf18\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>\nDeploy on Own Server<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"cta-btn-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/request-demo.php\" class=\"cta--wrapper-button\">Request Demo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a lot more statistics and facts that back Instagram\u2019s popularity and engagement metrics, and how it has changed the way people run their businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that is one good reason to consider building an app like Instagram, for engaging your audience socially and building potential networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Top_10_Instagram_Key_Features_You_Must_Need\"><\/span><strong>Top 10 Instagram Key Features You Must Need<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Top 10 <strong>Best Instagram Key Features<\/strong> are Posts, Reels, Stories, Notes, Favorites, Message Editing, Pinned Chats, Instagram Feeds, Email Login &amp; Profile Bio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of us use Instagram on an average of between 29 to 33.9 minutes every single day. What holds our attention in this app is its fun and interactive features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Here are some of the prominent features we enjoy daily, while using the app:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/features-of-instagram-app.webp\" alt=\" create A Social Media App Like Instagram\" class=\"wp-image-18048\" width=\"800\" height=\"387\">\n<figcaption>How To Make A Social Media App Like Instagram<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Posts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To capture your followers&#8217; attention, you can use AI tools to enhance your photos, <a href=\"https:\/\/picsart.com\/ai-image-extender\/\">expand images<\/a>, and add eye-catching effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Reels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can create short videos with music, and other audio effects for up to 15, 30, 60, or 90 seconds. In the recent years, people prefer this short-form content over longer ones, as they are more captivating and interesting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Stories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These short-lived content can be shown on your profile for up to a 24 hrs. as tappable circles. The content that you publish as a post or a reel can be shared as a story to boost your recent activity, where you can more like attract views, and reactions from other who follow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to rememver an even or some person you see when scrolling through reels or insta posts, you can immediately add a note. This message\/ phrase will last on your profile for upto 24 hours, so you would remember the information, amidst 100s of content you consume on the app.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Favorites<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You will have an unique preference of friends, family, or content creators whose content you&#8217;ll choose to watch first over others you follow. Rather than searching for their accounts to see their content, you can simply add them to your favorites list, which will put their content first on your feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Message Editing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone makes mistakes while chatting. Sometime typos, sometimes wrong windows and sometimes irrelevant messages. Understanding this Instagram gives you an option to edit the message within 15 minutes from the time you hit &#8216;send&#8217; All you need to do is, long-hold on the message, click on edit and revise the text. That&#8217;s it, super-easy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/features-of-app-like-instagram.webp\" alt=\"communication features for building instagram-like app\" class=\"wp-image-18048\" width=\"800\" height=\"387\">\n<figcaption>Top 10 Features of Instagram App<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Pinned Chats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everyone will be on your priority list, especially when you send out direct messages. To keep the important contacts easy to access, you can pin their chats in your chat window, making it easy to connect instantly, without having to scroll through the contacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Instagram Feeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You will see every photo, and video content from the accounts you follow. Interestingly, you will also see the content relevant to the interests and categories based on the accounts you follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>9. Email Login<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram makes it easy to login to your account. You can simply login once with your email account and your device can remember you credentials, making access to your account effortless, unlike apps wanting to login everytime you need to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>10. Profile\/User Bio<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone wants to exhibit the best side of them on their profiles. People can personalize their profiles with their own pictures, custom avatars, a short and catchy description about them, and highlights of your posts\/ reels on the front-page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>11. Comments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>People who like your content would want to add their ideas to your posts. Or you may want to do so on others&#8217; content. The comment feature helps on this. People can use it to engage with the content, as appreciations, inquiries, criticisms or adding values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>12. Post Likes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some posts make you smile. You simply would like to show your appreciation or a sign that you like the content. In this case, you can just double tap on the content and like it. Now based on this action, Instagram understands that you like the content and will start suggesting similar posts &amp; reels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>13. Push Notifications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What if you are waiting for an important notification and you need to see it only if you access the app. Not convenient right? This is where Instagram comes with a feature where the alerts are displayed on the notification pane of your device, so you can simply click on it and get straight to the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>14. Professional Dashboard<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a feature for Content creators and Influencers who use a Business account in Instagram. This dashboard contains key metrics like follower count, engagement on posts, likes, comments and views, giving a detailed analysis of how well their content is performing among target audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well these features are already available in Instagram, which means, people could use this platform for communication. But, are these just sufficient?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not at all! People look for more modern features with growing needs for networking, socializing and collaborating!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>So what other features can you add?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Let\u2019s get you a list:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regularis-style-regular custom-table-one\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Core\/Essential Features<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Advanced Interaction Features<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Chat Management<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1. Real-Time Messaging<\/td><td>Topic-based Chat<\/td><td>Customization<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Private and Group Chats<\/td><td>Video Conferencing<\/td><td>Full Source Code Ownership<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Message History &amp; Backup<\/td><td>Upload Huge Files<\/td><td>White-labeling Option<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Basic Notifications<\/td><td>Live Streaming<\/td><td>Multi-Language Support<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Presence Indicators<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/voice-call-solution.php\">Voice Broadcasting<\/a><\/td><td>End-to-End Encryption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. File and Media Sharing<\/td><td>Geolocation Sharing<\/td><td>Message Logging and Auditing<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Typing Indicators<\/td><td>Threaded Conversations<\/td><td>User Authentication and Authorization<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Read Receipts and Delivery Status<\/td><td>Chatbot Integration<\/td><td>Roles and Permissions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9. Push Notifications<\/td><td>Rich Media Support<\/td><td>Analytics and Reporting<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10. Profanity Filters<\/td><td>Message Reactions and Emojis<\/td><td>Custom Metadata and Tags<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11. Chat Moderation Tools<\/td><td>Integration with Other Services<\/td><td>Cross-Platform Support<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12. Chat Export<\/td><td>Real-time Chat Translation<\/td><td>Advanced UI Customization<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/chat-features.php\">1000 more engaging features<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, checking most of these features lets you build a social app that engages people, even better than Instagram. In other words, you can build the future of social media!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Integrate_Chat_into_an_App_Like_Instagram_5_Steps\"><\/span><strong>How to Integrate Chat into an App Like Instagram? [5 Steps]<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This section is exclusively for Developers who\u2019d love to build a custom social media app like Instagram, the easiest way.&nbsp; In this project, we\u2019ll explain the steps to build the app in Android using MirrorFly\u2019s custom chat SDK.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e3ebfa\"><strong>Why MirrorFly? <\/strong><br>Because building a social media app is a regular development process, but building a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/messaging-for-social-platforms.php\">customizable one<\/a>, that\u2019s only possible with MirrorFly. Hey, there\u2019s more, we\u2019ll talk about it at the end of this article, now lets focus on the development steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Get the License Key<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Register for an Account<\/strong>: Contact MirrorFly team and activate your account.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Log In to Your Account<\/strong>: Use your credentials and login to your account.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Retrieve Your License Key<\/strong>: Go to the &#8220;Application Info&#8221; section in your dashboard to locate your license key. You will need to use this key to activate and use the SDK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/create-chat-app-like-instagram-using-mirrorfly.webp\" alt=\"develop a video chat app like instagram\" class=\"wp-image-18048\" width=\"800\" height=\"387\"><figcaption>Get The License Key &#8211; Develop an app like Instagram<\/figcaption>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Set Up Your Android Project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"750\" height=\"330\" class=\"video-content\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2TRMB6R2xQA?si=Jvracukn0kuN6tA-\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Create or Open a Project<\/strong>: Open Android Studio and either create a new project or use an existing one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add Gradle Configurations<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For <strong>Gradle 6.8 or higher<\/strong>, add the required code to settings.gradle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>dependencyResolutionManagement {\n    repositories {\n        mavenCentral()\n        google()\n        jcenter()\n        maven {\n            url \"https:\/\/repo.mirrorfly.com\/release\"\n        }\n    }\n}<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For <strong>Gradle 6.7 or lower<\/strong>, add the code to root build.gradle. (Refer to the Gradle documentation for detailed version updates.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>allprojects {\n    repositories {\n        mavenCentral()\n        google()\n        jcenter()\n        maven {\n            url \"https:\/\/repo.mirrorfly.com\/release\"\n        }\n    }\n}<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Include Dependencies<\/strong>: Include the required dependencies in the app\/build.gradle file to integrate and enable the SDK&#8217;s functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>dependencies {\n   implementation 'com.mirrorfly.sdk:mirrorflysdk:7.13.11'\n }<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Resolve Library Conflicts:<\/strong> Add the following line to the gradle.properties file to prevent conflicts between the imported libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>android.enableJetifier=true<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5.<\/strong> <strong>Update Permissions<\/strong>: Update your AndroidManifest.xml file to include the necessary permissions for the SDK, such as those for network access and data storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>&lt;uses-permission android:name=\"android.permission.INTERNET\" \/&gt;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Initialize the Chat SDK<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Basic Setup<\/strong>: In the onCreate() method of your project&#8217;s Application class, initialize the ChatManager class and configure it with the required parameters for setup.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>ChatManager.initializeSDK(\"LICENSE_KEY\", (isSuccess, throwable, data) -&gt; {\n            if(isSuccess){\n                Log.d(\"TAG\", \"initializeSDK success \");\n            }else{\n                Log.d(\"TAG\", \"initializeSDK failed with reason \"+data.get(\"message\"));\n            }\n        });<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Application Registration:<\/strong> Connect the MyApplication class to your project by specifying it in the &lt;application&gt; tag of your AndroidManifest.xml file using the android:name attribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>&lt;?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\"?&gt;\n&lt;manifest xmlns:android=\"http:\/\/schemas.android.com\/apk\/res\/android\"\n    package=\"com.example.uikitapplication\"&gt;\n\n    &lt;application\n        android:name=\".MyApplication\"  \/\/ Add this line.\n        android:icon=\"@mipmap\/ic_launcher\"\n        android:label=\"@string\/app_name\"\n        android:roundIcon=\"@mipmap\/ic_launcher_round\"\n        android:theme=\"@style\/AppTheme\"&gt;\n        &lt;activity android:name=\".MainActivity\"&gt;\n            &lt;intent-filter&gt;\n                &lt;action android:name=\"android.intent.action.MAIN\" \/&gt;\n                ...\n                &lt;category android:name=\"android.intent.category.LAUNCHER\" \/&gt;\n            &lt;\/intent-filter&gt;\n        &lt;\/activity&gt;\n    &lt;\/application&gt;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: User Registration and Server Connection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>1. <strong>User Registration<\/strong>: Use the provided method to register a user in either the sandbox or live environment. Configure the setIsTrialLicenseKey parameter appropriately to toggle between trial and live modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>FlyCore.registerUser(USER_IDENTIFIER, (isSuccess, throwable, data ) -&gt; {\n        if(isSuccess) {\n            Boolean isNewUser = (Boolean) data.get(\"is_new_user\"); \/\/ true - if the current user is different from the previous session's logged-in user, false - if the same user is logging in again\n            String userJid = (String) data.get(\"userJid\"); \/\/Ex. 12345678@xmpp-preprod-sandbox.mirrorfly.com (USER_IDENTIFIER+@+domain of the chat server)\n            JSONObject responseObject = (JSONObject) data.get(\"data\");\n            String username = responseObject.getString(\"username\");\n        } else {\n           \/\/ Register user failed print throwable to find the exception details.\n        }\n   });<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>2. <strong>Connect to the Chat Server<\/strong>: Once registration is successful, the SDK will automatically establish a connection to the chat server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5: Handle Messaging and Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>1. <strong>Send a Message<\/strong>: Use the dedicated method to send one-to-one text messages to other users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>TextMessage textMessage = new TextMessage();\ntextMessage.setToId(TO_JID);\ntextMessage.setMessageText(TEXT);\n\nFlyMessenger.sendTextMessage(textMessage, (isSuccess, error, chatMessage) -&gt; {\n    if (isSuccess) {\n        \/\/ you will get the message sent success response\n    }\n});<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Receive Messages:<\/strong> Implement the MessageEventsListener to observe incoming messages. The listener triggers only when a new message arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>ChatEventsManager.setupMessageEventListener(new MessageEventsListener() {\n            @Override\n            public void onMessageReceived(@NotNull ChatMessage message) {\n              \/\/called when the new message is received\n            }\n\n        });<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Track Connection Events<\/strong>: Set up ChatConnectionListener to monitor the status of the server connection and handle callbacks accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>ChatManager.setConnectionListener(new ChatConnectionListener() {\n    @Override\n    public void onConnected() {\n        \/\/ Write your success logic here to navigate Profile Page or\n        \/\/ To Start your one-one chat with your friends\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public void onDisconnected() {\n        \/\/ Connection disconnected\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public void onConnectionFailed(@NonNull FlyException e) {\n        \/\/ Connection Not authorized or Unable to establish connection with server\n    }\n\n    @Override\n    public void onReconnecting() {\n        \/\/ Automatic reconnection enabled\n    }\n});<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> <strong>Prepare User JID<\/strong>: Generate unique JIDs (Jabber IDs) for users to identify them within the chat system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>FlyUtils.getJid(USER_NAME)<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>For further details on advanced features like callback listeners, message events, and troubleshooting, refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/docs\/\">official documentation.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_Does_It_Cost_To_Make_An_App_Like_Instagram\"><\/span><strong>How Much Does It Cost To Make An App Like Instagram?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are 2 ways to build a social media app like Instageam: from scratch without an API and using an API like MirrorFly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cost-to-make-an-app-like-instagram.webp\" alt=\"cost to build\" class=\"wp-image-18048\" width=\"800\" height=\"387\">\n<figcaption>Cost To Buid An App Like Instagram<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>I will break down the cost of both the scenarios:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Development from Scratch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Development using Chat SDK<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Development from Scratch<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regularis-style-regular custom-table-one\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cost Estimate (USD)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1. UX\/UI Design<\/td><td>$5000 &#8211; $7500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. User Registration &amp; Authentication<\/td><td>$3000 &#8211; $4000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Real-Time Messaging<\/td><td>$10500 &#8211; $11000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Group Chat Functionality<\/td><td>$5000 &#8211; $6000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Voice Calling Feature<\/td><td>$10000 &#8211; $11000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/video-call-solution.php\">Video Calling Feature<\/a><\/td><td>$9000 &#8211; $11000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Multimedia Sharing<\/td><td>$4000 &#8211; $5000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Backend Development<\/td><td>$25000 &#8211; $40000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9. Testing &amp; QA<\/td><td>$5000 &#8211; $7500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10. Deployment &amp; Maintenance<\/td><td>$2500 &#8211; $5000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Total Estimated Cost<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Approximately $54000 to $62000 for a single platform (iOS or Android). If you want to develop for both platforms simultaneously, the cost may double.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Development using SDK<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Using an SDK like MirrorFly can significantly reduce development time and costs due to pre-built functionalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regularis-style-regular custom-table-one\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cost Estimate (USD)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1. UX\/UI Design<\/td><td>$2500 &#8211; $5000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. User Registration &amp; Authentication<\/td><td>$1500 &#8211; $2000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Real-Time Messaging (SDK)<\/td><td>$1500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Group Chat Functionality (SDK)<\/td><td>$1500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/sip-voip-solution.php\">Voice Calling Feature (SDK)<\/a><\/td><td>$1500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Video Calling Feature (SDK)<\/td><td>$1500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Multimedia Sharing<\/td><td>$2000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Backend Development<\/td><td>$10000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9. Testing &amp; QA<\/td><td>$2500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10. Deployment &amp; Maintenance<\/td><td>$2500<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Total Estimated Cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Approximately $26,500 to $32,500 for a single platform when using SDK.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Comparison of Both Costs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regularis-style-regular custom-table-one\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Aspect<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Development from Scratch<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Development with SDK<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1. Total Estimated Cost<\/td><td>$54000 to $62000<\/td><td>$26500 to $32500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Development Time<\/td><td>Longer due to building features<\/td><td>Shorter due to SDK integration<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Customization Level<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Moderate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Maintenance Complexity<\/td><td>Higher<\/td><td>Lower<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating an Instagram-like app with chat and video features can have a wide range of costs depending on the approach. Building from scratch is costlier and takes longer but offers full customization. Alternatively, using an SDK like MirrorFly cuts costs and speeds up development, providing ready-to-use features right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Choose_MirrorFly_To_Build_An_App_Like_Instagram\"><\/span><strong>Why Choose MirrorFly To Build An App Like Instagram?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The question comes with interesting answers along with important facts. While<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-a-social-media-app\/\"> building a custom social media app<\/a> like Instagram may sound overwhelming, the entire gets easier and effortless with MirrorFly\u2019s custom communication solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why do we claim it as a fact?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because <strong>MirrorFly <\/strong>is,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>100% customizable: <\/strong>You can build everything like Instagram, but with a twist. You can configure any or every feature, just as per your business needs, without any kind of restrictions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data Ownership:<\/strong> A few solutions take up control over your app data just because you use them to build your app, but MirrorFly does not &#8211;&nbsp; it gives full control over every piece of information.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On-premise Hosting: <\/strong>Well, you can self-manage your app, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/on-premises-chat-server.php\">deploy on any server <\/a>&#8211; on your own hardware, cloud, private cloud or any data center you prefer.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Upload Large Files: <\/strong>Instagram-like apps may require users to upload photos\/ videos, sometimes at size or format that they prefer. MirrorFly supports your app to be compatible without any restrictions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customizable Security: <\/strong>Your app\u2019s safety in your hands completely. MirrorFly does not limit with setting up just regular security encryptions. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/chat-security.php\">customize privacy and security<\/a> just as you prefer.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And there\u2019s a lot more reasons why you should go for MirrorFly as your social media chat app solution provider. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/contact-sales.php\">discuss them all in detail with our team<\/a> and understand them better, before you start with the development process. We hope this article covered everything you need to know about building an app like Instagram. If there\u2019s anything else you need to know about this, please let us know in the comments below. Until then, happy developing!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"cta-wrapper-two\">\n<summary class=\"cta-heading-two\">Build A Social App Like Instagram With <span class=\"highlight\"> Activity Feeds + Communication APIs<\/span> In Next 48 Hrs<\/summary>\n<p class=\"cta-content-two\">We&#8217;ve built a white-label video, voice, feed, stream, SIP, and chat solution just for you. See for yourself how our solution works for different use cases.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/request-demo.php\" class=\"self-host-cta-btn\">Talk to Us!<\/a>\n<!--\n<ul class=\"cta-wrapper-list-two\">\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/mirrorfly\/assets\/images\/tick-icon.svg\">\nHire Development Team\n<\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/mirrorfly\/assets\/images\/tick-icon.svg\">\nHost on your Own Server<\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/mirrorfly\/assets\/images\/tick-icon.svg\">\nComplete Data Ownership<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n-->\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/mirrorfly\/assets\/images\/saas-cta-bg.webp\" class=\"cta-image-thumbnail-two\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity custom-seperator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Further Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-a-social-media-app\/\">How to Build a Social Media App in 2026 &#8211; An Ultimate Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-dating-app\/\">How to build a dating app with real-time chat and video calls?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-video-conferencing-app-like-zoom\/\">How to create a video conferencing app for Android and iOS?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/create-an-app-like-tiktok\/\">How to build an app like TikTok for Android and iOS?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/steps-to-build-a-healthcare-chat-app-like-practo\/\">How to make an app like Practo?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-a-chat-app-like-discord\/\">Build Gaming Chat App like Discord 2026<\/a><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity custom-seperator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n  \"name\": \"How To Make An App Like Instagram in 5 Simple Steps? 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And building an app like Instagram is even more fun [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":36405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1272],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-talks"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Make a Social Media App Like Instagram? [10 Steps]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to create an app like Instagram? With MirrorFly SDK make your app with customizable chat, video, feeds &amp; more features. Learn more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-an-app-like-instagram\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Develop a Social Media App Like Instagram?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Want to create a social networking app like Instagram? We\u2019ll walk you through 5 easy steps and show you how to launch your app in the next few hours.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/build-an-app-like-instagram\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MirrorFly Blog - Chat API And Messaging SDK for your Mobile and Web Apps\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorFlyofficial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-09T11:17:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-13T13:13:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mirrorfly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/create-an-app-like-instagram_mirrorfly.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"418\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Atchaya Jayabal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How Much Does It Cost to Develop App like Instagram?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"This article teaches how to make a social media app like Instagram. 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