How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App like MeWe?

With millions of new apps launching yearly, platforms like MeWe are making waves by offering users a privacy-first experience. 

Experts say nearly 4.8 billion people use social media, which offers a huge opportunity for those looking to create a new social platform like MeWe. 

However, building an app like MeWe that stands out in a saturated market takes more than just a good idea. 

As MeWe’s founder, Mark Weinstein, once said ‘Social media should empower people not exploit them'.

However, if you are firm on your app idea, it's time to ask, “How Much Does it Cost to develop an App like MeWe?” 

The Overall MeWe-like app development cost can be somewhere between $40,000 to $150,000 or more. 

This is just a ballpark figure, the cost can increase or decrease as per your needs. 

To know about the cost better, you’ll need to understand the factors involved that affect the price. This blog will help you in every possible way to know all about it. 

With that being said, let’s get started!

MeWe Explained: A Brief Overview

MeWe is not just your regular platform. 

MeWe, created in 2012 by Mark Weinstein is designed to be a unique social media network with a focus on people’s privacy and control of their data. 

This popular social media does not take and sell its users’ data, which differentiates it from most conventional social networks like Facebook or Instagram. 

Similar to Facebook, it has features such as News Feed, Groups, and private messaging but the platform fully supports freedom of speech. 

MeWe is the social networking site of the new generation because it emphasizes the aspects of openness and trust.

This is why investors want to dupe its success. 

To create an app like MeWe, it is important to know its workings, So, How does it work:

• • Install the App: Download and Install the app. 

  • Profile Creation: User can register and create a profile of their own with their basic information, photos, and profile preferences.

  • Connecting with Friends: Users can find friends and they can also friend other users to connect in their friend list.

  • News Feed: Enjoy your friends’ posts, group posts, photos, and videos without moderation and advertisements in a simple News Feed.

  • Groups and Pages: Promote your posts, comment on posts, and join or create groups/ pages where you or your target audience will benefit from the content shared.

  • Private Messaging: It also has private messaging, where you can freely converse with friends or other individuals without the bother of ads.

  • Content Control: Your data is fully owned and controlled so your posts and your information are never seen publicly.

  • No Ads or Data Mining: Further, MeWe does not contain advertisements, and there is no collection or sale of user data takes place at MeWe.

For anyone looking to make a social media app that takes the industry by storm, MeWe's success can be inspiring. 

Features to Have in MeWe Like App 

To make an App like MeWe, you need to create an experience like no other app can do. 

This is where incorporating the right features comes into play. 

Below are some key features to help you: 

• • Privacy-Focused User Profiles: Let users define and select what they are comfortable making public or sharing among friends and mutual contacts only.

  • Ad-Free Experience: Make a simple and unfussy interface through which users can freely communicate without interference from adverts.

  • News Feed with Customizable Controls: A list of activities, subscriptions, friends, groups, and pages that a user has an interest in and the option to hide anything.

  • Private Messaging and Group Chats: Safely provide sending/receiving messages, permanent one-to-one or group encrypted conversations allowing users to securely communicate.

  • Groups and Communities: Enable users to create and connect to topics of interest to encourage the formation of proper interest groups.

  • Content Sharing with Control: The users should be able to make updates, pictures, and videos with complete access to the privacy setting as well as who has the right to comment on the posts.

  • No Data Mining: Having assured the user data is not collected or sold to third parties, the environment will be trust-based.

  • Customizable Notifications: Greatly reduce the interference of notifications with users’ work by providing them with the means to choose which notifications they want to see.

  • Robust Reporting and Moderation Tools: Organize a clear mechanism for the reporting of unlawful content and make sure that the given platform remains rather civil than vulgar.

  • User-Driven Content Curation: Give people the tools to configure the content he or she likes to view so that this whole social networking is not overwhelming.

Having these features with a strong focus on privacy, will help create a social media app like MeWe that attracts users who are conscious of their privacy and offers a secure & enjoyable experience. 

What Separates MeWe from Other Social Media Apps? 

In a world of social media giants making a profit from selling user data and bombarding us with ads. MeWe offers a refreshing alternative. 

MeWe was designed to keep Confidentiality and users' data secure in Mind. As a result, it became a direct competitor to established giants like Facebook.

While Facebook thrives on data collection and targeted advertising, MeWe’s key selling point was its commitment to an ad-free experience and promise that its user's data will not be sold. 

This is what helped it to emerge as one of the best social media apps, offering a secure, user-driven online experience. 

In 2013, when 6 million Facebook data were exposed to a breach, MeWe immediately gained traction from users. 

Soon, what started as a social media app, turned into a movement of secure, user-driven online experience. 

Elements like this made MeWe a go-to platform for many. 

Before you jump into how to develop an app like MeWe, understanding what sets it apart will help you:

If you are still going forward with your vision, let’s bring our focus on cost to make an app like MeWe to understand the investment required.

What is the Cost to Develop an App like MeWe? 

Being an investor, it is important to know “How Much Does it Cost to Create an App like MeWe?”

The MeWe clone app development cost can be somewhere from $40,000 to $150,000. This cost can increase or decrease as per the changing demand. 

Below is just an estimate of the social media app development cost: 

There are lots of factors that affect the overall MeWe like app development cost. 

Want to know these factors? Let’s find out about them in detail:

Factors Affecting the Cost to Build a Social Media App like MeWe

From the features you chose to the complexity of the design, there are several factors that affect the overall cost of MeWe like app development. 

Below, we are going to break down some factors that highly affect the cost:

1. App Design 

The UI/UX design of your app is one of the first elements users notice. 

A clean, intuitive interface is what going to bring users back and encourage more user engagement. 

If you are working on minimalistic and basic design, it can keep the cost low, 

However, working on design with customization and layouts can increase the overall cost to build a social media app like MeWe. 

Suggestion: Prioritize simplicity in your design to avoid any unnecessary cost and complexity. Plus, Focus on clean visuals that align with your brand, this will impress users while keeping the cost within budget.

2. Features and Functionality

When considering how much does it cost to develop a social media app like MeWe, make sure to focus on features. 

The features that you integrate into your app, such as private messaging, news feed, and customizable profiles can impact the cost. 

Adding advanced features such as video streaming or AI recommendation, will increase the price.

The more complex the features, the higher the cost to clone MeWe app. 

Suggestion: Start with essential features and gradually add more advanced ones after launch to control costs. 

3. Platform Choice (Android/iOS)

Whether you want to go for an Android app development service & iOS app development service, or both, can greatly affect the overall MeWe-like app cost. 

If you opt for building different apps for different OS, it can increase the overall expense.

Native app development often has a higher cost to create an app like MeWe than cross-platform. The latter helps in saving time & money but may limit features. 

Suggestion: If your budget is tight, start with one platform and expand later. You can always launch on iOS or Android as per your target audience. 

4. App Development Team

Once you have an idea, the next is to find and hire dedicated developers. 

The expertise of the development team is another factor that affects the cost to make an app like MeWe. 

A skilled team will bring the technical know-how needed to create a secure, high-quality social media app. 

Depending on the location of your team, the cost to develop an app like MeWe can differ greatly.

Offshore teams tend to be more affordable, while local developers might charge more for their Services. 

Suggestion: Consider outsourcing development to save costs without sacrificing quality, but ensure clear communication and expectations.

5. Backend Infrastructure

The backend is a powerhouse of your app. 

For a social media platform like MeWe, robust backend architecture is important to handle user data, interactions, and large amounts of content. 

A strong backend increases the app’s scalability, reliability, and security. Besides that, it also increases the cost of MeWe clone app development. 

Suggestion: Choose a scalable cloud service to accommodate future growth without excessive upfront investment.

6. Privacy & Security Measures

With the growing threat of cyber-crime, security becomes an important to focus on.

Now, when considering how much does it cost to create an app like MeWe? Security becomes an important factor to add.

This includes data encryption, user authentication, secure payment options, and compliance with data protection regulations.

These features can drive up the overall cost, but they are necessary to protect your users and meet legal standards.

Suggestion: Invest in top-tier security features to build trust with users, especially for apps like MeWe where privacy is key.

7. Testing & QA

Quality assurance is critical to ensure that your app works smoothly without bugs or issues.

Testing different functionalities, security features, and the app’s performance across devices can benefit you but also add to the cost.

The more thorough the testing, the better the user experience, and remarkably the higher the cost to create an app like MeWe.

Suggestion: Allocate a portion of your budget to comprehensive testing before launch to avoid costly fixes later.

8. App Maintenance

Keeping your app up-to-date, fixing bugs, and adding new features is where app maintenance is of help.

Annual maintenance costs can be notable, especially if you want to keep your app as per the market requirements, and aligned with new updates. 

For MeWe like app development costs, you should keep aside the maintenance cost to ensure your app runs smoothly and remain competitive. 

Suggestion: Maintenance cost can be 15-20% of the total budget, make sure not to ignore it. 

We believe you got an overview of different factors and how they affect the cost to build a social media platform like MeWe. 

Enough about cost, let’s talk about different money-making models. 

Monetization Strategies For an App Like MeWe

Now, that you know how much does it costs to create an app like MeWe, it's time we talk about how your MeWe-like app will make money.

Here are some tried and tested models for you:

1] Subscription Model

Premium access to additional/advanced functions, enhanced privacy settings, and other features for a fee. 

This can be a monthly or yearly subscription, which helps to have a constant and rather stable income.

2] Freemium Model

Provide the bare minimum of content and service for free and make all extra content, features, or more elaborate tools require a fee. 

This approach affects user activation and sign-up and has the intrinsic possibility of being monetized.

3] In-App Purchases

Make money from offering in-app purchases of virtual goods and services. 

In the case of a social media platform, the rewards could be gifts, customized profile avatars, digital commodities, and access to specific features in secured groups or chats.

4] Donations and Crowdfunding

It is recommended to start using donations or create campaigns for collecting funds. 

Those, who appreciate privacy and care about your platform and its values, may be ready to invest in it and make it grow.

5] Partnerships and Sponsorships

Create affiliation with a brand or another app to provide a paid feature or some special offer in the given app. 

Such partnerships can provide the means for streams of income, without the need to use bothersome ads or the harvesting of personal information.

Build a MeWe like App with JPLoft’s Expertise 

So, you want to launch a new app like MeWe? JPLoft is right here to help. 

As a leading Social Media App Development Company, we have the expertise, tools, and resources to bring your social media app idea to reality. 

Starting from understanding your requirements to delivering a fully functional app, we take pride in being a one-stop solution for all your needs. 

So, got an idea? We are right here to help!

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is a great chance to enter the market with an app such as MeWe but it should target the audience with an emphasis on privacy, a user-oriented approach, and a tech-friendly environment.

Starting from cost to security aspects all the features should be properly designed.

As we have seen, with the right strategic direction, your application can go head to head with giants such as Facebook while respecting the user’s privacy as well as their data.

Want to start your project and make your idea come alive? JPLoft can help you at every stage of the construction of a safe and inspiring social media environment.