Developing an App Similar to Threads: Procedure, Characteristics, and Expenses
The cost to develop a text-based social media app similar to Instagram's Threads can vary significantly, ranging from $45,000 to $300,000 or more. This wide range is influenced by several factors, including app complexity, features, development team location, platform choice, and maintenance costs.
App Complexity
The complexity of the app plays a crucial role in determining the cost. Simple apps with basic text posting and interaction can cost between $45,000 and $90,000 and take about 3 to 6 months to develop. Moderately complex apps with enhanced features like advanced moderation, user profiles, and richer interactions can cost $100,000 to $200,000 with a timeline of 7 to 9 months. Highly complex apps integrating AI for content curation, advanced security, scalability, and cross-platform support may cost $220,000 to $300,000 or more, requiring over 9 months.
Features and Functionality
Common social media app features, such as user registration, profile management, feeds, notifications, chat, search, admin panels, moderation tools, and AI-driven personalization, can impact the cost. More features mean more development time and higher costs.
Development Team Location
Hourly rates vary significantly depending on the location of the development team. Rates in the USA/UK can be as high as $100–$200/hour, while Eastern Europe ranges from $40–$80/hour, and India/Asia offers rates as low as $20–$50/hour. Outsourcing to lower-cost regions can help reduce expenses without necessarily sacrificing quality.
Platform Choice
Developing natively on both iOS and Android doubles the effort compared to a single platform, increasing the cost. Hybrid or web-based apps can be less expensive but may limit the user experience.
Design and User Experience
Investing in appealing and intuitive UI/UX impacts the budget, generally costing $5,000 to $15,000 depending on complexity and quality.
Maintenance and Post-Launch Costs
Ongoing costs for app updates, bug fixes, and server upkeep typically run several thousand dollars per year.
If you're considering developing an app like Threads, Appinventiv, a dedicated social media app development company, offers consultation and project estimates tailored to your custom needs.
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- The integration of artificial intelligence for content curation and advanced security in a social media app similar to Threads can lead to higher development costs, ranging from $220,000 to $300,000 or more, as seen in highly complex app development.
- Utilizing social-media platforms like Twitter or Facebook for entertainment purposes can be free, while developing a proprietary, text-based app like Threads, especially with elaborate features such as AI-driven personalization and advanced moderation, involves significant costs, with estimates ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 or more.
