What real-time messaging actually requires
- Persistent real-time connections (so messages arrive instantly)
- Delivery and read receipts, typing indicators, presence (online/last seen)
- Media sharing — images, video, voice notes, documents
- Group chats with their own delivery and permission rules
- Optional: voice/video calls and end-to-end encryption
Why the cost varies so much
A basic one-to-one chat MVP can start around $15,000 – $30,000. Add reliable group messaging, media, push notifications and presence and you are into a larger build; add voice/video calling and end-to-end encryption and it grows again. Calls and encryption in particular are specialist work — treat any quote that includes them casually with caution.
Scope the MVP to your actual use case
Most businesses that want "a chat app" don't need to rebuild WhatsApp — they need messaging inside their product (support chat, in-app conversations, a community feature). Scoping to the messaging your users actually need, rather than cloning a global consumer app, is what keeps the budget sane.
Need messaging or a chat feature in your product? Tell us the use case and we'll scope it and price it — free.
Ready to build it?
Tell us what you have in mind and get a free, no-obligation time & budget estimate — usually within 48 hours. We work with clients worldwide.