Did you know Telegram had over 1 billion monthly users in March 2025? The platform ranks as the 7th most downloaded app on both iOS and Android, and its dominance in the messaging world keeps growing.
The numbers tell an amazing story. Telegram gained 1.8 million new users, while experts predict the global messaging app market will hit $150 billion by 2030. Anyone looking to create an app like Telegram can tap into a market that will grow from 2.7 billion users in 2023 to more than 3.5 billion by 2026.
The success factors have evolved dramatically. Messaging apps used to compete with emojis, stickers, and UI elements. Security now guides the way forward. Recent studies show that 80% of users prefer apps with end-to-end encryption and strong data protection. This fundamental change explains Telegram's massive user base of 700 million active users and its Premium subscription success with 15 million worldwide users.
Creating a messaging app like Telegram takes technical expertise, careful planning, and deep user insight. Modern users just need a platform that delivers messages quickly and provides robust security features.
This piece will show you the key components, technical requirements, and development steps to build a standout messaging app in today's competitive market. Let's head over to what makes Telegram successful and how you can apply these insights to your project.
What Makes Telegram a Standout Messaging App
Telegram stands out from other messaging apps thanks to its unique features. Let's look at what makes it special and why these elements matter if you want to develop an app like Telegram.
Cloud-based architecture
The life-blood of Telegram lies in its cloud technology. Users can access their messages from any device whenever they need them. This setup lets people sync across platforms smoothly without losing any conversations when they switch phones.
The cloud-based system brings:
- File sharing capacity of up to 2GB
- Message access from multiple devices at once
- Data safety during device changes
End-to-end encryption
Security remains the life-blood of Telegram's appeal. Telegram offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE) through its "Secret Chats" feature, though it's not on by default.
E2EE scrambles data so only someone with a specific key can read it. Telegram's system keeps the encryption key saved on users' devices. Messages get encrypted on the sender's device and decrypted only on the recipient's device.
Secret Chats add extra privacy with self-destruct timers, blocked message forwarding, and no traces on Telegram's servers. Users get full control over their message privacy this way.
In spite of that, Telegram didn't support E2EE for group chats or desktop clients as of 2020. This fact matters if you plan to build an app like Telegram with detailed security features.
Massive group and channel support
Telegram shines at handling large-scale communication through:
Supergroups that support up to 200,000 members each. These groups work great for building big communities.
Channels with unlimited subscribers that work as broadcasting tools for public messages. Channel owners can make them private or public, and search engines can find public ones.
Gigagroups blend channels and supergroups by removing member limits but let only admins post.
The platform also offers detailed permissions for admins and users, live stats for channels with 500+ subscribers, and features like polls to boost user participation.
Bot ecosystem and automation
Telegram's groundbreaking aspect might be its extensive bot capabilities. The platform creates a rich ecosystem for automation with bots that can:
Handle payments through simplified processes Run HTML5 gaming platforms with multiplayer features Let users log into websites and apps without signing up Support business mode for professional accounts
Developers can create bots in almost any programming language using the bot API, with live communication through webhooks. This automation potential offers great value to businesses wanting to develop an app like Telegram.
Telegram bots have changed industries from e-commerce to customer service. Big retailers like Zara use bots that help users browse catalogs and buy items right in the platform. The gaming world has grown too, with bots like GameHub reaching over 5 million monthly active users.
Understanding these core parts of Telegram helps developers see what makes the platform successful and apply these ideas to their own messaging apps.
Essential Features to Build an App Like Telegram
A messaging platform needs carefully picked core features that users look for in today's communication apps. Successful platforms like Telegram show us what your app needs to stand out.
Real-time chat and media sharing
Messages must be delivered right away. This forms the heart of any messaging app. Your messaging setup needs to handle and send messages within milliseconds to create a smooth user experience.
When you develop app like Telegram, you need these key messaging parts:
- Pub/Sub messaging architecture that supports both one-to-one and group conversations
- File sharing capacity of at least 2GB per file
- Support for various media types including stickers, photos, and videos
Adding typing indicators and read receipts makes the experience more interactive. These small details affect how users see your app's quality. Studies show apps with typing indicators create 182% higher average session rates.
Voice and video calling
Voice and video features turn a basic messaging app into a complete communication platform. Telegram's approach has end-to-end encryption for calls, making them secure and private.
Here's how to add calling features:
Start with the call setup process. The initiator must generate encryption keys (SRTP master secrets) for each recipient device to protect the call content.
Next, set up peer-to-peer connections where possible to keep call quality good even on poor networks. This helps reduce server load too.
Last, add features that make calls better. HD video quality, screen sharing, and call recording make your app more useful. Group calls should support 30-40 people at first.
Push notifications and message status
Push notifications keep users coming back even when they're not using your app. Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) is a reliable way to send notifications across platforms.
Good notifications make a big difference:
- Push alerts boost engagement by up to 88%
- Individual-specific notifications increase conversions by about 27%
- Rich media like images can raise engagement by about 57%
Your notification system should have:
- Custom notification sounds and vibration patterns
- Rich notifications with images and action buttons
- Silent notifications for background content updates
Message status indicators (sent, delivered, read) help users know what's happening. This means tracking message states across devices and updating them instantly.
Multi-device sync and cloud storage
Making devices work together smoothly is probably the biggest technical challenge. Telegram has mastered this, letting users check messages from many devices at once.
The technical side involves:
Cloud storage keeps messages available instead of just saving them on devices. Users can access everything while keeping encryption intact. Each extra device connects on its own to your service while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
Your app server needs to store encrypted copies of everything that all devices can reach. The key part is keeping all information encrypted with changing keys that only the user's devices know.
Cloud storage also helps when users switch phones. They expect to keep their chat history when changing devices. Automatic backup and sync features should run quietly in the background to make this happen.
Design a Standout Messaging Interface
Users expect seamless typing indicators and read receipts. Let's create a UI/UX design that keeps your users engaged.
Advanced Capabilities to Consider
A successful messaging app needs more than basic features. Advanced security, user management, and platform flexibility determine if your app will stand out in today's competitive market.
Secret chats and disappearing messages
Users want more control over their digital footprint, making privacy-focused messaging a must-have feature. Messages that self-destruct after a set time give users better privacy over their conversations.
Secret chat functionality should include:
- End-to-end encryption to block message forwarding
- Self-destruct timers from 1 second to 1 week
- Message content that leaves no server traces
- Screenshot blocking for extra security
The difference between "self-destruct" and "auto-delete" features matters. Self-destruct timers start when recipients view messages, while auto-delete counts down right after sending. Users pick their privacy options based on this difference.
Admin tools and moderation
Community management needs strong admin controls. Group admins need tools to handle members, watch content, and maintain community rules. Moderation becomes vital as platforms grow, with 1.8 billion people engaging in Facebook groups monthly.
Essential moderation tools include:
- User management to mute or ban disruptive users
- Content monitoring and filtering systems
- Clear role hierarchies for access control
- Activity monitoring through moderation dashboards
Good moderation keeps users on the platform longer. People stay where they feel safe, making moderation key to lasting growth.
AI-powered content filtering
AI moderation works better than old keyword systems. Modern content filtering uses neural multiclass classification models to spot harmful content in many categories.
Your Telegram-like app should filter:
- Hate speech and fairness issues
- Sexual or explicit content
- Violent language
- Harmful user prompts
The setup needs both pre-moderation and in-flight checks. Your system should analyze messages in real-time without delays.
Image sharing needs automatic scanning for inappropriate content. This approach protects users across all message types.
APIs for third-party integrations
Connecting your platform to external services adds more features. Third-party integrations link your app with Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct, and WhatsApp.
Strong API access lets users:
- Create bots in any programming language
- Process payments in chats
- Log into websites without signing up
- Manage professional accounts with business tools
Good API setup helps your app grow. Pick vendors who can handle lots of active users and connections to keep things running smoothly.
These advanced features help your messaging app compete with big players. The technical work needs careful planning, but users expect these sophisticated features in modern apps.
How to Create an App Like Telegram: Development Steps
Building a messaging app from your vision needs a step-by-step development approach. Your concept can become a working messaging platform through several calculated steps that work together. Let me show you how to make this happen.
Define your product scope
Note that good planning will save you countless hours of fixes later. Start with market research to spot gaps and opportunities. Major platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal serve billions of users worldwide.
Your scope definition should:
- Identify target audience segments by age, location, and interests
- Analyze messaging app usage patterns of different groups
- Collect feedback on existing apps' weak points
- Choose between an MVP or full-featured product launch
List must-have features versus nice-to-have ones and prioritize development. This clarity helps control costs and set realistic timelines.
Design system architecture
Technical specifications emerge from your vision during the architecture phase. You should focus on:
- User experience design: Build wireframes and prototypes to show the app's interface and flow
- Database structure: Pick database types that match performance needs
- Security protocols: Select effective encryption algorithms to protect user data
Your encryption choice will affect user privacy long-term. Security experts say "selecting an effective encryption algorithm can do wonders for reinforcing the security of user data".
The choice between cross-platform or native development comes next. Cross-platform cuts costs and maintenance, but native apps perform better and access platform-specific features better.
Develop frontend and backend
Coding starts after planning wraps up. Backend development often uses:
- Node.js with Express.js framework
- Python with Django framework
These backends link to databases like PostgreSQL or MongoDB, while WebSockets or MQTT handle live communication.
Frontend development options include:
- JavaScript/TypeScript with React.js, Vue.js, or Angular
- React Native or Flutter for cross-platform mobile development
"Frameworks like Flutter and React Native enable development teams to make great strides in a short period," which speeds up development without quality loss. These frameworks pack essential UI components that create the easy-to-use experience users want.
Test and deploy
Good testing prevents launch day problems. A full testing phase will give you a quality product. Quality assurance must check:
- Bug-free functionality in all features
- Smooth user experience throughout the app
- Message delivery and notification performance
- Security protocol effectiveness
App store submission prep follows testing. This means getting all assets ready, completing store listings, and following platform rules.
Quick deployment needs separate environments:
- Development environment for active work
- Staging environment for trusted testers
- Production environment for end users
On top of that, each environment needs its own project identifiers to avoid mix-ups during development.
Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Performance
Your choice of tech stack will make or break your messaging app's performance, scalability, and user experience. The right components lay the groundwork that lets your app handle millions of users without slowing down.
Frontend frameworks for cross-platform apps
The right frontend framework helps you save development time and gives users a consistent experience on all devices. Here are some cross-platform options that stand out if you want to develop an app like Telegram:
React Native works great for mobile-focused messaging apps and delivers near-native performance. Companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Skype rely on React Native for their mobile apps. You can reuse code thanks to its component-based architecture, but you'll need different codebases for web platforms.
Flutter lets you use a single codebase for all platforms with Google's Dart language. The unique rendering engine in Flutter gives you pixel-perfect UIs on every device without depending on platform-native components. This makes it a great fit for apps that need custom, complex interfaces with smooth animations.
Ionic gives you the freedom to use Angular, React, or Vue frameworks. You can build both hybrid mobile apps and Progressive Web Apps from one codebase. This framework shines if you need your web and mobile features to match.
Backend languages for real-time messaging
Your server-side language choice affects how well your app handles multiple users and delivers instant messages. Here's what matters most:
Node.js leads the pack for real-time applications in 2025. The event-driven architecture lets you handle millions of users at once. This makes it perfect for building an app like Telegram. Node.js and Express.js team up to process data quickly through the V8 engine.
Go (Golang) handles tasks simultaneously through lightweight goroutines. Google created Go as an open-source language with automatic garbage collection that works great for high-performance messaging platforms. Developers love its simple syntax and concurrency model for chat applications.
Erlang excels at large-scale messaging apps that need to handle lots of connections. WhatsApp picked Erlang because it handles multiple processes so well. The language keeps things reliable by automatically restarting processes that fail.
Databases for high concurrency
Your database choice affects everything from storing messages to managing user relationships. These options work well for apps with many users:
ScyllaDB processes tons of data with minimal delay, which works great for real-time chat. This NoSQL database can handle millions of operations each second and respond in milliseconds.
PostgreSQL works great with structured data that has complex relationships. It manages friend lists and chat relationships efficiently, and performs well with message history searches when set up right.
MongoDB lets you store documents without strict schemas. This flexibility works great for chat messages, user profiles, and other data that might change over time.
Security protocols and encryption
Security makes or breaks messaging apps, especially since 80% of users want strong data protection.
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) keeps message contents private from everyone except the participants. You can use the Signal Protocol like WhatsApp does, or create custom solutions like Telegram's MTProto protocol.
Transport Layer Security (TLS) keeps client-server communications safe. TLS 1.3 gives you the best protection available for data in transit.
Authentication methods like multi-factor authentication, biometric checks, and token-based systems add layers of protection. These keep unauthorized users out even if passwords get compromised.
You can add extra security by blocking screenshots of sensitive chats and rotating session keys regularly.
Node.js, Go, or Erlang? Make the Right Choice.
Selecting the wrong stack impacts scalability. Our architects will help you build a foundation that handles millions of concurrent users.
Cost to Build an App Like Telegram
The cost to develop an app like Telegram helps you plan your project with a realistic approach. Your financial investment will vary between $100,000 and $500,000 for a full-featured application, depending on several factors.
Factors that influence cost
Your messaging app's complexity and scope will affect development costs. Simple messaging features cost less compared to advanced functions like cloud sync, multi-device login, or encrypted calls.
Your budget depends on the platform choice. iOS and Android development can double your workload because each needs different coding languages and frameworks. Flutter or React Native can cut costs but might compromise performance for complex messaging features.
Development costs vary by your team's location:
- North America: $100-$150 per hour
- Europe: $60-$95 per hour
- Asia/South America: $18-$50 per hour
MVP vs full-featured app
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) offers a smart way to start app development. A Telegram-like MVP costs between $40,000 and $70,000 and includes core functionality with simple security and usability features.
Full-featured messaging apps with voice/video calls, file sharing, and enhanced customization cost from $80,000 to $200,000 or more.
Key differences between these approaches include:
- MVPs focus on speed and validation (3-6 months, $25K-$75K)
- Full products deliver completeness (6-18 months, $100K-$500K+)
MVPs reach users 4-12 months faster than full products. This early market entry becomes vital for messaging apps to build their user base and secure more funding.
Estimated development timeline
A Telegram-like app needs 5-12 months to build, based on its complexity. Development happens in clear phases:
Planning and discovery need 4-6 weeks. This stage sets technical requirements and functional specifications.
MVP development takes 16-24 weeks. Teams build and test core messaging features during this time.
Testing and launch require 4-6 weeks. Teams ensure the app works well across devices and platforms.
Market launch usually takes 7-11 months. Complex, feature-rich applications need more time.
How CISIN helps optimize cost
CISIN's mobile app development team uses smart strategies to deliver value within budget. They analyze requirements thoroughly to separate essential features from future additions.
"By focusing on core functionality first, we help clients launch faster while still delivering exceptional user experiences," explains CISIN's lead mobile architect.
CISIN suggests budgeting for maintenance costs (15-20% of the original development cost yearly). This planning prevents surprise expenses after launch.
Their hybrid development model combines expert architects with global talent, saving 35-40% in costs while maintaining security and performance. This balanced approach helps clients build an app like Telegram that meets both budget and quality goals.
Monetization Strategies for Messaging Apps
Your messaging app's profitability depends on smart monetization strategies. Users need to become paying customers to ensure success when you develop app like Telegram.
Freemium and subscription models
A freemium model provides basic features at no cost while premium features come with a subscription fee. This approach works well since users can try the app before spending money. Most SaaS companies see freemium conversion rates of 2-5%, while companies like Spotify and Slack achieve rates above 30%.
Subscription pricing offers these options:
- Flat rate: Single consistent price for full access
- Tiered subscriptions: Multiple pricing levels with different features
- Per-user billing: Best suited for team collaboration apps
In-app purchases and stickers
Users can buy extra features through in-app purchases while core features remain available. Sticker sales bring substantial revenue to messaging apps, LINE's monthly sticker store revenue exceeds $20 million.
Stickers drive user engagement and create opportunities for brands. Burberry's successful campaign featured LINE's characters and generated revenue through sticker sales. These digital items need minimal development investment but create steady revenue streams.
Sponsored content and ads
Advertising can blend naturally into messenger platforms. Facebook's click-to-message ads create billions in revenue by connecting users with businesses through Messenger. Ad placement plays a crucial role, ads appear on the home screen while sponsored messages reach users who've interacted with your company before.
Business tools and enterprise plans
Enterprise solutions offer significant revenue potential. Microsoft's business messaging solutions cost $12.50-$22.00 per user monthly, and Google Chat targets organizations that need team collaboration features.
Challenges in Telegram-Like App Development
Building large-scale messaging platforms presents major hurdles for developers. Let's get into the biggest challenges you'll face when you develop app like Telegram.
Handling live concurrency
Live messaging systems must manage massive concurrent connections without slowing down. Performance isn't just about reducing delays - it's about minimizing variations. Users experience unpredictable behavior when there's too much inconsistency.
Strong infrastructure needs fault tolerance with redundancy at regional or global levels. Many developers choose Platform-as-a-Service solutions because building custom fault-tolerant systems demands substantial resources.
Ensuring data privacy and compliance
Protecting user communications creates complex technical challenges. Many messaging apps offer encryption, but all but one of these apps implement true end-to-end encryption where user devices store the keys.
Regulatory pressure grows for businesses in a variety of industries. Financial services companies need SEC Rule 17a-4 and FINRA Rule 3120 compliance, which requires them to preserve electronic communications. Various statutes require government agencies to respond to records requests.
Cross-platform consistency
Multiple platform development brings UI/UX complications. Different screen sizes, resolutions, and input methods make consistent interfaces tricky to maintain.
Platform conventions might clash with your brand identity. You'll need to decide between forcing your style everywhere or adapting to feel "native". Budget smartphones might lag with heavy UI elements that run smoothly on laptops, which makes this problem worse.
User acquisition and retention
Apps see steep drops in retention rates after installation. High-performing apps keep only about one-third of their users. Retention rates usually settle at 7% by day 30.
iOS users stick around longer than Android users. Android retention falls to 24% on day 1 and 6% by day 30. iOS maintains better numbers with 27% on day 1 and 8% by day 30.
Overcome Technical Hurdles with CISIN
From handling live concurrency to optimizing costs, our hybrid development model ensures high quality within your budget.
Conclusion
The messaging market today presents a great chance to build an app like Telegram. This piece explores what you need to create a platform that can compete among giants in this space.
Your app needs simple features users expect - real-time messaging, cloud-based architecture, and strong encryption protocols. Secret chats, AI-powered moderation, and third-party integrations will make your app stand out from basic alternatives.
A successful development process starts with clear product scope, reliable system architecture, and the right tech stack to optimize performance. You might want to think about whether an MVP approach works better than launching a complete product right away.
Project costs are a vital factor in planning. Development typically costs between $100,000 and $500,000 based on complexity, with projects taking 5-12 months. All the same, partnering with experienced social media app development teams like CISIN helps optimize these costs while maintaining quality.
Note that technical hurdles will surface during development. Real-time concurrency, data privacy compliance, cross-platform consistency, and user retention create challenges you'll face. With proper planning, these obstacles become easier to handle.
Your monetization strategy needs equal focus. Freemium models, subscription plans, in-app purchases, and enterprise solutions are a great way to get revenue flowing. Your target audience and market position will determine the best approach.
Billions of users worldwide look for secure, feature-rich messaging platforms. Security drives adoption more than surface-level features, creating space for well-designed apps to succeed.
Building an app like Telegram is challenging but offers exceptional potential if you invest in quality development. Tomorrow's successful platforms will balance breakthroughs with reliability while delivering the security that modern users expect.
