The social network app development market is crowded with apps offering similar features. This makes it imperative to develop an app that offers something unique to stand out. One such app is Vero.
What makes Vero stand out is its commitment to providing an ad-free experience for its users. When other social media apps are bombarded with ads, Vero prioritizes a clean user experience.
But how does an app like Vero manage to generate revenue while being Ad-Free? That’s exactly what we’ll find out.
In this blog, we’ll learn about the essential features you need to implement and the steps you need to follow to create a social media app like Vero.
Essential Social App Features
The features you provide are key to attracting new users and making your app stand out. Here are some essential social app features you need to implement for social media app development.
In-App Editor
Most people aren’t pro editors with access to advanced editing software to make their posts attractive. That’s why prominent social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and even YouTube offer in-app video and photo editors. They allow users to trim, crop, color grade, add filters, text, animations, music, and transitions to their posts.
An in-app editor is a must if you want to give your social network app a fighting chance in 2024.
In-App Communication
Communication is an essential part of a social networking app that allows users to connect with each other. While there are many ways to facilitate communication, a mandatory feature is personal or direct messaging.
You can also offer additional features such as voice and video calling, group chats, and conferencing to enhance the user experience.
User Profile Customization
Profile creation is a user’s pathway to building a social presence. This includes the user name, profile photo, and a short bio, which are omnipresent across all social media apps.
AI-Powered Personalized Recommendations
A hyperpersonalized experience is the key to retaining users in 2024. An AI-powered recommendation engine can analyze user location, search history, behaviour, and interactions and predict exactly what the user is interested in.
Automated Content Moderation
AI can also be used to instantly detect explicit content and block it from being posted. It has the power to detect banned words, vulgar images, and videos. You don’t need a large content moderation team that is prone to human error.
AR Filters
Almost every other social media app today offers AR filters. They’re the buzz currently, as they allow users to try out unique things with their posts.
Cost to Create a Social Media App Like Vero
The cost of mobile app development depends on a variety of factors, especially the hourly rate of your developers and the complexity of your app. The more complex your app is, the longer it will take to develop, resulting in increased costs.
The complexity of your app is determined by the features you want to implement and its scope.
While it’s hard to pinpoint a number, here’s a rough breakdown of social network app development costs:
| Feature | Development Cost (Estimated) | Notes |
| User Authentication & Authorization | $10,000 – $15,000 | Secure login and access control |
| User Profile Management | $15,000 – $25,000 | Creation, editing, and deletion of user profiles |
| News Feed | $20,000 – $30,000 | Displaying posts, updates, and multimedia content |
| Geolocation Services | $10,000 – $20,000 | Integration for location-based features |
| Push Notifications | $8,000 – $12,000 | Alerts and updates for users |
| Social Sharing | $10,000 – $15,000 | Share content on other social platforms |
| Analytics and User Insights | $15,000 – $25,000 | Collect and analyze user behavior data |
| Monetization Features | $25,000 – $50,000 | Ads, in-app purchases, premium subscriptions |
| Multi-language Support | $10,000 – $15,000 | Localization for various languages |
| Cross-Platform Development | $20,000 – $40,000 | iOS, Android, or both platforms |
| Cloud Storage Integration | $15,000 – $25,000 | Store and retrieve user-generated content |
| Data Encryption and Security | $20,000 – $30,000 | Ensure data privacy and protection |
| Feedback and Reporting System | $12,000 – $18,000 | Users can report issues and provide feedback |
| Social Media Integration | $15,000 – $25,000 | Connect with other social media platforms |
| Real-time Activity Updates | $18,000 – $30,000 | Instant updates on user activities |
Keep in mind that the actual number will change depending on your project scope. Feel free to get in touch with our business analysts to understand how much your specific social network app development will cost.
Vero-Like Social Network App Development Steps
Now that you know the essential features you need to implement, let’s look at the steps you’ll need to follow to create a social media app.
Define Your Target Audience
This step is critical when developing a social media app like Vero. As Vero is focused on an ad-free experience, its target audience is different from other popular social media applications.
You have to target people who are frustrated by ads and are looking for a clean, alternative experience. This step will guide the entire development process.
Create a Monetization Strategy
Ads are the primary way in which social media apps generate revenue. But, as that is no longer an option, you’ve got to look for alternate pathways. Here are some of them:
Subscription Model
Many people are willing to pay for a subscription if it saves them from those annoying ads. You can charge a monthly or yearly fee from your users to keep your app running.
Paid App
Instead of recurring payments, you can charge a one-time fee from users.
In-App Purchases
You can allow users to purchase additional in-app items. This could be some amazing filters, stickers, editing options, music, or more.
Set a Project Timeline
Based on the features you want to implement and the scope of your app, create a realistic timeline for your project. A mobile app can take anywhere from months to even years to develop. If you want an app on an urgent basis, prioritize the most essential features and create a timeline for rapid development.
Design Mockups
If you have the skills and necessary resources, try to design some mockups for your app idea. Focus on showcasing your app’s color theme, fonts, alignment, and structure. This will help you present your app idea in a much better way. The mockups will serve as a basis for the social media app development project.
Approach a Top Social Network App Development Company
Once you have the project scope, timeline, and possibly mockups in place, it’s time to approach a development company. As a top mobile app development company, WDI has developed multiple successful social media applications for businesses.
If you want to develop a social media app like Vero, we have the technology and resources to do so.
Get in touch and let’s discuss your project!
