I want to build a chat app with messages, live chat, phone, video chat and live streaming, I want to further extend it to have group video chat. I’m not sure where to start? I’m not a developer but I’ve understanding of technologies. I want to know what tools I can use to achieve my goal. Any help?
It is not going to be an easy job. There are no single SDK/solution which fits your bill. You will have to use multiple SDKs/solution to achieve this. It is going to be a nightmare for sure. Be prepared to spend some money as not all of the features you want are available for free. I know an agency which has expertise in building chat/phone app. DM me and I’ll introduce you to them.
Building a chat app involves the following steps:
- Choose a Tech Stack – Use Flutter, React Native, or Swift/Kotlin for mobile development. Backend options include Node.js, Firebase, or Django.
- Set Up Authentication – Implement email, phone, or social login.
- Database & Storage – Use Firebase Firestore, MongoDB, or MySQL to store messages.
- Real-time Messaging – Use WebSockets or Firebase Realtime Database for instant communication.
- UI/UX Design – Ensure a clean, intuitive interface with chat bubbles, notifications, and attachments.
- Security – Implement end-to-end encryption for privacy.
- Testing & Deployment – Test across devices before launching on App Store/Google Play.