How To Build A Video Chat App In 2025 (Development Guide)

The growing reliance on digital communication tools has significantly changed how we work and interact. With many people now using video chat apps for both professional and personal purposes.

The digital landscape of communication is rapidly evolving, so the decision to build a video chat is a smart move to enter into the high demand market.

According to a study, 22% of the American workforce is expected to work virtually remotely by 2025, highlighting the increasing need for effective video call solutions.

Moreover, 52% of American adults have reported using live video chat for telemedicine with their healthcare providers, showcasing the rise of on demand telehealth video calls.

This trend has been further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has driven widespread adoption of virtual and hybrid work models, as well as increased reliance on live video calls.

The global video conferencing market, valued at USD 28.61 billion in 2023, is expected to nearly double, reaching USD 60.17 billion by 2032, growing at an annual rate of 7.8%.

This article will help you understand how to create an optimal video chat application to thrive in this evolving landscape and achieve business success.

Types Of Video Chat Applications

Video Conferencing Apps

Video conferencing apps enable users to communicate via video and audio calls over the internet. These apps often have screen-sharing, messaging, and document-sharing features.

Many rely on video conferencing apps for remote work, telemedicine, and virtual education. Here are some popular examples of video conferencing apps:

Skype

Features: Allows users to make voice and video calls. You can send instant messages and share photos and files with other Skype users. Available on different platforms, including desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Zoom

Features: Allows users to hold meetings, webinars, and video conferences with up to 1000 participants. The app offers a variety of features, such as screen sharing, recording, and virtual backgrounds.

Google Meet

Features: It is a video conferencing platform that is part of the G Suite suite of productivity tools. It allows users to hold meetings and video calls with up to 250 participants. It offers features like screen sharing, recording, and integration with other G Suite tools.

Microsoft Teams

Features: It is a collaboration platform with a video calling feature. The app allows users to hold meetings and video calls with up to 250 participants. It offers features like screen sharing, recording, and integration with other Microsoft tools.

To develop video conferencing app solutions, consider such essential features like screen sharing and recording capabilities. Understanding user needs is crucial when you develop video conferencing app functionalities.

Video Calling Apps

These applications enable users to make video calls over the internet to other users, either one-on-one or in a group. These apps often allow people to create small conferences.

WhatsApp

Features: It is a messaging app that allows users to send and receive text messages, photos, and videos. The voice and video calling feature permits users to make voice and video calls over the internet. The app is available on different platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.

Facebook Messenger

Features: It is a messaging app that is part of the Facebook social networking platform. It allows users to send and receive messages, photos, and videos with other Facebook users.

It includes a voice and video calling feature that allows users to make voice and video calls over the internet. You can use the app on various platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.

FaceTime

Features: It is a video calling app exclusive to Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. It allows users to make voice and video calls over the internet.

The features include group calls and integration with other Apple apps. The app is pre-installed on all Apple devices and does not require a separate download or installation.

Here’s a helpful tip: When you build a video calling app, ensure it is compatible with multiple devices and includes essential features like group calls and media sharing. To build a video calling app that stands out, focus on user experience and seamless integration.

Live Video Chat and Live Video Call Apps

These applications enable users to engage in live video chat and live video calls, providing real-time interaction over the internet. These apps are often used for both personal and professional purposes.

Instagram Live

Features: Allows users to broadcast live videos to their followers and interact with them through comments and reactions in real-time. Live video chat is integrated with other Instagram features, enhancing user engagement.

Facebook Live

Features: Users can stream live videos to their friends, followers, or the public, and engage with viewers through comments. Live video call features are integrated, allowing real-time interaction.

On-Demand Video Apps

On-demand video apps provide users with the ability to access video content or connect with service providers instantly or at a scheduled time. These apps are often used in telehealth, professional consultations, and customer support.

Healthcare Apps

Teladoc

Features: Connects patients with doctors for virtual medical consultations through on-demand video calls. Offers features such as appointment scheduling, medical records access, and prescription services.

Gal3n

Features: Provides a comprehensive platform for virtual primary care across various industries. Utilizes on-demand video technology to connect patients with healthcare providers, ensuring improved access to medical care.

Professional Consultation Apps

Clarity.fm

Features: Allows users to book and conduct calls with experts in various fields via on-demand video sessions. Offers features such as payment integration and session recording.

Vidyard

Features: Designed for businesses, Vidyard supports video hosting and provides tools for on-demand video streaming and video engagement.

These apps are transforming how people access and receive care, providing convenience and efficiency through on-demand video capabilities.

Live Stream Video Chat and Live Stream Video Call Apps

These apps combine the broadcasting capabilities of live streaming with the interactivity of video chat, enabling users to engage in live stream video chat and live stream video calls.

Twitch

Features: Primarily used for live streaming video games, but also supports live stream video chat and interactions with viewers through chat.

YouTube Live

Features: Allows users to stream live videos and engage with viewers through live stream video calls and chat, enhancing the interactive experience.

Entertaining Apps

These are video conference apps that entertain users. These apps allow users to chat while playing games, watching movies, listening to music, and other forms of media.

Teleparty

Features: Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) is a browser extension that allows users to watch movies and TV shows together in sync. It includes a group chat feature so friends can discuss what they're watching in real-time.

While it primarily focuses on synchronized streaming, it enhances the social viewing experience with a shared chat room. The extension is compatible with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers.

Discord

Features: Discord is a communication platform designed for gamers. The app allows users to connect via voice, video, and text. It also offers a variety of customization options and integrations with other gaming platforms. The app is available on iOS, Android, and desktop devices.

These apps enhance the social experience by combining live video chat with interactive and entertainment features, making virtual interactions more enjoyable and engaging.

Thus, to make video call app features stand out, incorporate unique elements like integrated games or customizable chat options. By focusing on these features, you can make video call app experiences more engaging for users.

Let's now see how to develop a video chat or video call app.

How to Build A Video Chat App/Video Calling App in 6 Steps

As a proficient software development company and with the experience of successfully delivering video chat solutions, we’ve created a six-step process for creating a video chat app.

Building a video chat app that people want to use requires more than just connecting cameras and microphones. You need strategic planning, smart technical decisions, and relentless focus on user experience.

Here are 6 steps that will be involved in creating a video chat app.

1. Define Your App's Purpose and Target Audience
2. Decide on the Feature Set
3. Choose a Suitable Tech Stack
4. Design the User Interface (UI/UX)
5. Test and Validate Thoroughly
6. Deploy and Launch

1. Define Your App's Purpose and Target Audience

Before investing months of development time and resources, you need a compelling reason for your app to exist. Every successful app begins with a clear understanding of its purpose and audience.

This foundational step sets the direction for all subsequent decisions. To define your app’s purpose, ask yourself why users would choose your video chat solution over existing options.

1.1. Clarify the Core Purpose

Start with the problem your app will solve. Are you targeting a specific industry, such as healthcare, education, or business? The purpose directly influences the complexity, feature scope, and compliance requirements.

For example, healthcare apps must comply with regulations like HIPAA, while educational apps may need features like virtual whiteboards and breakout rooms

1.2. Understand the Audience Behavior

Identify the primary use case. Are you building it for personal use (consumers), business users, corporate professionals, doctors, gamers, or for your enterprise communication?

Understanding your target audience’s needs, behaviors, and pain points is essential. This helps you shape everything from design decisions to feature priorities.

1.3. Research the Competition

Analyze your competitors or existing video chat platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, to identify what works and what doesn’t. Look for gaps in the market where your app can offer something unique.

Finally, validate your concept with potential users. Use surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback and refine your vision. This early validation helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures your app will resonate with its intended audience.

2. Decide on the Feature Set

Once you know your audience, you can decide which features are essential for your video chat app. Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that includes only the essential features needed to deliver value and test your concept with real users.

Once you start with only limited features, you can slowly add features depending on budget, resources, and user preferences, moving forward in the development process.

2.1. Basic Features

One-on-One Video Calls: This is the most basic function of a video chat app. It enables two users to connect via real-time video and audio, crucial for personal communication, consultations, or interviews.

Group Video Calls: This feature allows multiple users to join the same video session. It’s essential for team meetings, webinars, or classrooms.

Text Chat (During Calls) : Along with the video calling functionality, you might also need to include the feature for users to chat. It lets users send messages while on a call, useful for sharing links, typing notes, or communicating quietly.

Screen Sharing: This feature is essential for business collaboration and technical support. It gives users the ability to share their screen with others. It's critical for presentations, product demos, online classes, or walkthroughs during meetings.

Basic Call Controls: This feature gives users control over how they participate in a call and manage the call as per their personal privacy. These include mute/unmute, video on/off, leave call, and volume adjustments.

User Authentication: This feature helps to verify the identity of users before they can access the app.It helps protect private communication and can be implemented using email/password, social logins, OTPs, or Single Sign-On (SSO) depending on your target audience.

2.2. Advanced Features (For Better UX, Engagement, and Differentiation)

Call Recording: This feature allows users or hosts to record meetings or conversations for later viewing. This is especially important for webinars, and training sessions.

Push Notifications: It helps users stay informed and engaged by sending the alerts to users about scheduled calls, incoming messages, or connection when they’re not actively using the app or offline.

AI-powered transcription: It helps users take meeting summaries and key takeaways without manual efforts or documentation.

Integration with CRM or EHR systems: You can sync your video chat app with your existing business systems. This integration helps to streamline workflows and centralize data.

3. Choose a Suitable Tech Stack

You have to figure out what technologies and tools will be used that align with your video chat app development.

Your technology choices from front-end to back-end determine your app's performance, development speed, and ability to scale for years to come.

To some extent, the technologies you choose will depend on which features you’re adding and who you are building for.

To give you an idea of what a video chat app development tech stack looks like, and what we use at RaftLabs to create a video chat app.

3.1. Frontend Technologies

Choose your framework based on the platforms you’re targeting, and your frontend must handle real-time video streams, dynamic UI updates, and responsive design across all devices.

React.js or Vue.js - for web-based applications

• Excellent for applications with frequent real-time updates

• A large ecosystem of video handling libraries

• Virtual DOM optimizes performance for dynamic interfaces

• Strong community support and extensive documentation

Flutter - Cross-platform with single codebase

• Native performance on both iOS and Android

• Excellent for smooth animations and responsive interfaces

• Reduces development time and maintenance overhead

• Growing ecosystem of video communication libraries

Native Development - Maximum performance and platform integration

• Access to all device capabilities and platform-specific features

• Best performance for resource-intensive video processing

• Platform-specific user experiences that feel natural

• Requires separate expertise and codebases for each platform

3.2. Backend Technologies

Video chat apps have unique requirements that make some backend technologies much better choices than others to handle Real-Time Communication.

Node.js - Excellent for real-time applications

• Event-driven architecture handles concurrent connections efficiently

• Extensive WebSocket support for real-time communication

• Rich ecosystem of video processing and API libraries

• Great for applications with many lightweight connections

Python - Robust and developer-friendly

• Excellent frameworks like Django and Flask

• Strong libraries for data processing and system integration

• Clear syntax reduces development bugs

• May require optimization for high-concurrency scenarios

Choose based on your team's expertise. A technology your team knows well will typically result in faster development and fewer bugs than theoretically superior options.

3.3. Video Processing Solutions

This is where most video chat apps succeed or fail. Video processing is complex, and building it from scratch usually results in poor performance and reliability.

Most video call applications are developed using WebRTC, which is an open-source project built and maintained by Google, Mozilla, Opera, and others.

It allows you to build real-time communication software in your browser and is standardized at the W3C & IETF levels.

WebRTC - Industry standard for browser-based communication, It is a peer-to-peer protocol that supports real-time video and audio communication.

• Works directly in browsers without plugins

• Handles complex networking challenges like NAT traversal

• Adaptive bitrate streaming adjusts to network conditions

• Requires expertise in networking and connection management

You can either build on top of open-source WebRTC or use SDKs provided by:

Third-party APIs (Agora, Twilio, Vonage)

• Proven infrastructure with global low-latency networks

• SDKs for multiple platforms reduce development time

• Enterprise-grade reliability and scalability

• Ongoing costs and potential vendor lock-in considerations

3.4. Database and Storage

A robust database and efficient storage system is the backbone of your video chat app.

They ensure your app can securely manage users, sessions, messages, and media files, while scaling smoothly as usage grows.

PostgreSQL or MySQL (Relational Databases) : Best for apps needing structured, relational data with clear relationships and well-suited for most video chat applications and offer strong data integrity, indexing, and querying capabilities.

MongoDB or Firebase (NoSQL Databases): Better for flexible data models or when speed and scalability are prioritized over strict relational data. Ideal for real-time messaging features, session data, or storing JSON-like documents.

3.5. Storing Media and Large Files

If your app includes features like call recording, file sharing, or profile images, you’ll need scalable and cost-effective storage solutions:

Amazon S3 (AWS): It offers highly durable, scalable object storage. Ideal for storing recordings, screenshots, or file attachments.

Google Cloud Storage and Azure Blob Storage: Alternatives with similar capabilities and regional availability.

Cloudflare R2 or Backblaze B2: Cost-effective S3-compatible solutions for reducing storage expenses without sacrificing reliability.

3.6. Infrastructure and Hosting

The infrastructure you choose determines how reliably, securely, and cost-effectively your app runs at scale.

It covers everything from hosting your backend and frontend services to routing video calls and scaling your servers in response to user traffic.

Cloud Providers

Use a trusted cloud platform that offers compute power, storage, security, and scalability out of the box:

Amazon Web Services (AWS): Offers EC2 (compute), S3 (storage), RDS (databases), and Elastic Load Balancers for auto-scaling.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Known for strong AI and networking capabilities, ideal if you're using WebRTC or AI-based call quality analysis.

Microsoft Azure: Preferred by enterprise apps, especially those integrated into Microsoft ecosystems (like Teams or Outlook).

These platforms handle infrastructure provisioning, uptime, monitoring, and scaling, reducing your DevOps overhead.

4. Design the User Interface (UI/UX)

Once you have your features, you need to consider the design and workflow. A good video chat application will have an attractive user interface and provide a positive user experience.

Here are some important things to focus on while designing the UX/UI:

4.1. Prioritize Simplicity

Create a video chat app that is easy to use, even for first-time users. Users should accomplish their goals with minimal taps or clicks.

Avoid complex navigation or unnecessary distractions. Keep your interface clean with only essential controls visible during a call.

Streamlined user flows:

• Joining calls - One-tap entry from notifications or links to join the calls

• Starting calls - Quick access to recent contacts and favorites

• Managing calls - Easy to manage for participant addition and removal

• Accessing features - Screen sharing and recording without hunting through menus

4.2. Design for Video-First Experiences

The video streaming of your video chat app should dominate your interface; it should support the video experience without competing for attention or blocking important visual information.

Prioritize Video Quality Display

• Participants' faces are the primary visual element

• Controls overlay video without blocking important areas

• Interface adapts gracefully to different numbers of participants

• Clear visual indicators show who's speaking and connection status

Handle Orientation Changes Smoothly

• Portrait mode for casual one-on-one conversations

• Landscape mode for group calls and screen sharing

• Seamless transitions without disrupting ongoing calls

• Optimized layouts for each orientation

4.3. Create Responsive Layouts for Every Device

Your video chat app interface must work effectively across the huge range of devices as users will use to access your app.

Design with a mobile-first mindset but ensure a responsive layout for tablets, desktops, and large monitors.

Device-specific optimizations:

• Mobile - Touch-friendly controls, vertical video layouts, battery optimization

• Tablet - Balanced layouts showing more participants simultaneously

• Desktop - Full feature access, multiple monitor support, keyboard shortcuts

• TV screens - Large text, simple navigation, remote control compatibility

Test on actual devices with real network conditions. Slow connections and older hardware reveal usability issues that high-end development machines hide.

4.4. Build for Accessibility From the Start

Video chat apps can be particularly challenging for users with disabilities, but thoughtful design makes them accessible to everyone.

Accessibility essentials:

• Visual accessibility - High contrast ratios, clear typography, visual indicators for audio cues

• Motor accessibility - Keyboard navigation, voice commands, customizable control placement

• Hearing accessibility - Captions, visual speaking indicators, vibration notifications

• Cognitive accessibility - Simple navigation, clear error messages, consistent interface patterns

5. Develop Your Video Chat App

Now, it's time to bring your video chat app to life. The development of a video chat app is where your planning and design become a working application.

Video chat apps require special attention to real-time performance and network resilience.

5.1. Start With Solid Foundations

Your foundation determines everything else about your app's reliability and scalability. Your core infrastructure of the video chat app must handle authentication, data management, and basic communication flawlessly.

User Authentication and Security

• Secure account creation and login systems

• Password recovery and account management

• Two-factor authentication for sensitive use cases

• Session management across multiple devices

Database and Data Management

• User profiles, contacts, and call history

• Optimized queries for common operations

• Privacy-compliant data handling and deletion

• Scalable architecture for growing user bases

Basic Communication Protocols

• Signaling servers for WebRTC connection establishment

• Reliable message delivery for call coordination

• Graceful handling of network interruptions

• Clear status feedback for connection states

5.2. Master Real-Time Communication

This is where video chat apps live or die. Real-time communication must work reliably under diverse network conditions.

This is the most technically challenging part of video chat development and requires careful attention to detail.

WebRTC Implementation Best Practices

• Robust connection establishment with multiple fallback options

• TURN servers for users behind restrictive firewalls

• Adaptive bitrate streaming based on network conditions

• Automatic reconnection for temporary network interruptions

Audio and Video Quality Optimization

• Noise cancellation and echo suppression for clear audio

• Video encoding optimized for different device capabilities

• Bandwidth adaptation that prioritizes audio over video quality

• Low-latency processing to minimize conversation delays

Network Resilience

• Graceful degradation when bandwidth becomes limited

• Clear user feedback about connection quality issues

• Automatic quality adjustments that maintain conversation flow

• Manual override options for users who understand their network conditions

5.3. Security That Protects User Privacy

Video chat apps handle sensitive conversations and personal information. Security must be comprehensive and correctly implemented.

Security breaches can destroy user trust and potentially expose private communications.

Security essentials:

• End-to-end encryption - Protect conversations from interception

• Secure data transmission - All communication encrypted in transit

• User data protection - Comply with privacy regulations and user expectations

• Access controls - Prevent unauthorized account access and call joining

Use established security libraries rather than implementing cryptographic functions yourself. Security implementation errors can be catastrophic and difficult to detect.

5.4. Implement Comprehensive Error Handling

Real-world networks are unreliable, and your app must handle these realities gracefully with clear user communication and automatic recovery wherever possible.

Error handling strategies:

• Connection failures - Automatic reconnection with user feedback

• Device issues - Fallback options when cameras or microphones fail

• Network problems - Quality adjustments and clear status indicators

• System errors - Helpful messages that guide users toward solutions

6. Test and Validate Thoroughly

Testing video chat applications requires specialized approaches that go beyond traditional software testing.

Your app must work reliably on every device and platform combination your users might encounter.

6.1. Functional Testing

The functional testing involves testing each feature to ensure it works properly and across all possible user actions.

The things to check such as One-on-one and group video calls, mute/unmute, chat messages, screen sharing, call joining/leaving, push notifications, and more features that work properly.

QA engineers try to simulate different user scenarios by using tools like TestRail or Zephyr can help you organize and track test cases.

6.2. Cross-Platform and Cross-Browser Testing

Compatibility issues can cause users to drop off before they even join a call. You must ensure your app behaves consistently across all target devices and environments.

It's important to ensure the app is working consistently in Android, iOS, web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge), tablets, and desktops, without any problems.

Use emulators, simulators, or real device farms (like BrowserStack or LambdaTest) to test app performance across platforms.

6.3. Load and Performance Testing

Check how your app performs under heavy usage or at scale, such as handling multiple concurrent calls, 100+ participants in a single call, to know whether the servers are crashing or slowing down.

This simulates real scenarios like webinars or company-wide meetings. If the backend isn’t ready to scale, users will experience lag, dropped calls, or total outages.

Use tools like JMeter, Locust, or Artillery to simulate traffic. Test your video infrastructure with high concurrent sessions and bandwidth.

6.4. Security and Privacy Testing

Ensure that communication in the video chat application is secure and data is protected from unauthorized access.

Check encrypted video and chat data, secure login, access control for private calls, role-based permissions, protection from URL tampering, and secure media file storage.

Perform penetration testing, vulnerability scans (using tools like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite), and conduct code audits. Use ethical hackers or security consultants if needed.

6.5. Beta Testing

Before public launch, release a beta version to a limited user group that helps to understand the real usage behavior, performance issues in uncontrolled environments, common support queries, or confusion points in the UI.

So, early feedback gives you time to fix major issues, improve UX, and optimize features based on real-world insights.

7. Deploy and Launch

Once your app is tested and validated, it's time to launch. But deployment involves more than just pushing code to a server.

Cloud Infrastructure Setup: Use cloud providers like AWS, GCP, or Azure for reliable, scalable hosting. Configure autoscaling for traffic spikes and regional hosting for lower latency.

CI/CD Pipelines: Set up Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab. This ensures your code is tested and deployed smoothly with every update.

Monitoring and Logging: Deploy tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or New Relic to monitor app health and performance. Set up logging systems to track issues and errors in real time.

Ongoing maintenance is essential. Keep your tech stack updated, monitor for security threats, and scale your infrastructure as your user base grows.

By staying proactive, you can ensure your video chat app remains reliable, secure, and enjoyable for users.

Also, check out our Media and Entertainment App Development Services if you need help building your desired product.

MVP Features of a Video Chat App?

An MVP for your video chat app will enable users to utilize essential functions such as:

Consumer/Personal Communication Apps

• Initiating and participating in 1-1 or group video and audio calls

• Recording the calls

• Chats and Emojis

Business Communication Apps

• Initiating and participating in 1-1 or group video and audio calls

• Recording the calls

• Chats and Emojis/Text messaging.

• Meeting rooms

• Audio/Video Settings

• Security features

Let us learn the basic features a video call app’s MVP should possess.

Audio and video calls: The ability to initiate and partake in audio and video calls with other users is a video call app's primary feature.

Text messaging: Including a text messaging feature in the MVP allows users to communicate in real time, even if they cannot speak or have their cameras turned off.

Call quality: Ensuring good call quality is essential for user satisfaction. The MVP should prioritize call stability and minimize dropped calls and audio/video lag.

User authentication: Users should be able to create an account and log in with a unique username and password to access the app.

Contact list: Users should be able to easily add and view their contacts within the app and initiate calls with their friends and colleagues effortlessly.

Group calls: The MVP should allow users to initiate and participate in group calls with multiple users.

Call scheduling: For business use, it could be helpful to have a feature that enables users to schedule video calls ahead of time.

User interface: The MVP should have a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and understand.

Device compatibility: The MVP should be compatible with various devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Advanced Features of a Video Chat App?

Here are some advanced features that a video chat app may include:

Video and audio quality options: Users should be able to adjust the quality of their video and audio streams to suit their network connection and device capabilities.

Screen sharing: This feature permits users to share their screens with other participants in the call. It can be beneficial for presentations or collaborating on a document.

Meeting scheduling and calendar integration: Some apps include features for scheduling and organizing meetings and integrating with calendar apps like Google Calendar or Outlook.

Security and privacy controls: A video chat app must offer robust security and privacy controls, such as end-to-end encryption and setting passwords for calls.

Text chat and file sharing: Many video chat applications allow users to send text messages and share files.

Virtual backgrounds and filters: Some apps offer the ability to use virtual backgrounds or apply filters to your video stream to enhance the appearance of your video call.

Recording and transcription: Some video chat applications can record calls and provide transcriptions of conversations.

Integration with other apps and services: Most video chat applications can integrate with other apps and services, such as project management tools or CRM systems.

Virtual noise cancellation: This feature reduces or eliminates background noise during video calls, making it easier for participants to hear and understand each other.

Custom emojis and stickers: They allow users to add personalized and expressive details to their conversations through images or graphics.

Including these advanced features can significantly enhance the functionality and user experience of a video chat app. In the competitive landscape of video call app development, offering such capabilities can set your app apart. By focusing on user needs and incorporating these features, you can achieve success in the video call app development market.

Tech Stack for Video Chat App Development

List of Team Members to Create a Video Chat App

Project manager

The project manager is responsible for the overall planning and execution of the project, including setting milestones and deadlines, coordinating team members, and communicating with stakeholders.

UX/UI designer

The designer will design the interface and user experience and conduct user research and testing. They also create the visual design, including the layout and branding of the app, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.

Front-end developer

A front-end developer is responsible for implementing the UI design and building the app's user-facing features using technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Back-end developer

A back-end developer is responsible for building the app's server-side functionality, integrating any required APIs or databases, and handling data storage and security.

Quality assurance (QA) engineer

The QA engineer ensures the app's reliability by testing it, verifying that it performs as expected, and identifying and reporting any issues or bugs.

DevOps engineer

A DevOps engineer is responsible for maintaining the app's infrastructure and ensuring smooth deployment and operation, including monitoring and debugging any issues.

These roles are also necessary for building a video conferencing app. These team members ensure all aspects of the app are covered, from planning and design to development, testing, and deployment.

Their combined expertise guarantees the creation of a robust, user-friendly, and reliable video chat or conferencing app.

Cost Of Building A Video Chat App/ Video Call App

The cost of building a video chat app/ video call app will depend on various factors, such as

• Complexity

• Number of features

• Platforms

• Development team's size

• The team’s experience.

A basic video call app may cost around US $15 to $25K. A more complex app with additional features and integrations may cost more than $50K.

Here’s a practical breakdown of the typical cost components for developing a video chat app. Each section highlights key features and estimated price ranges to help you plan your budget.

It's a good idea to consult with a software development company to get a more accurate estimate based on your specific requirements.

Monetization Strategies for Video Chat App

There are several ways to monetize a video call app.

Subscription model: Users pay a monthly or annual fee to access the app's features. It is a common monetization model for video call apps that offer a premium service.

Freemium model: These apps are free to use. But, users will have to pay for additional features or to remove ads.

In-app purchases: Users can purchase other features or virtual items within the app.

Advertising: The app displays ads to users, and the developer earns revenue based on the number of ad impressions or clicks.

Partnering with businesses: The video conferencing app can offer paid business-oriented features or integrations, such as support for enterprise-grade collaboration tools or integration with CRM systems.

Offering paid services: The app can offer paid services such as professional consulting or support directly or through partnerships with other companies.

Choosing the right monetization strategy for your app is crucial, as it will influence the development and marketing efforts needed to create and grow the app.

RaftLabs Capabilities to Build a Video Chat Application

Relevant case studies

Voice chat web app for scalable decision-making

The goal was to create a high-quality software as a service product that could address all communication, engagement, and task management needs without requiring employees to use multiple tools.

Through agile development and ongoing customer feedback, we were able to develop a product that significantly streamlines the work of hybrid teams by replacing a range of tools with a single solution.

Click here to learn more about the project>>

Hybrid remote working app

The aim was to create high-quality software as a service product that could address all communication, engagement, and task management needs without requiring employees to use multiple tools.

Utilizing our expertise in developing software as a service product for remote team engagement and audio-video communication, we created a comprehensive app that combines communication, engagement, task management, and productivity features specifically designed for hybrid-remote teams.

Click here to learn more about the project>>

Final thoughts on Video Chat app development

The cost of building a video chat app will vary based on various factors. Choosing the right monetization strategies can make your video chat app a profitable product.

If you want to develop a video chat app, RaftLabs can assist you in bringing your app idea to fruition.

Our team of experienced professionals has the necessary skills and expertise to define the scope and features of your app, design a user-friendly interface, and build a robust and scalable backend.

We will also support you with testing and deployment to help you launch and grow your app successfully.

Please reach out to us to understand how we can help you build the video chat app of your dreams.

Riya Thambiraj

•

Creative content writer at RaftLabs

Riya has a knack for making complex tech easy to grasp, writing about SaaS innovations, AI developments, and cutting-edge IT trends.