But here’s the harsh truth: you can’t break in with just an “app.” You need something strategic, grounded, and holistically built. An app like DoorDash in the US or Zepto in India!

We’ve been in the trenches developing custom on-demand service platforms, and here’s what we’ve learned: it’s way more complex than it looks. However, that doesn’t mean you drop the idea. It means you partner with a mobile app development company that brings real experience — the kind that leaves you impressed and excited.

At Unified Infotech, we get the difference between cobbling together an app over a weekend and building one that performs like DoorDash. Here’s your no-BS, end-to-end guide to building something that actually works.

Behind the Big Talk: Understanding What You’re Actually Building 

According to Statista.com, revenue for platform-to-consumer delivery is now $70,741 million. And, it’s projected to swell and reach $346.81 billion by 2030. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, experts expected 8.2% growth annually.

Given the numbers, the on-demand delivery avenue seems to be a lucrative one. However, it’s important to understand what you’re looking at before diving into the code and architecture behind it.

You’re creating a complex, multi-layered ecosystem that connects very different types of users who all have completely different needs and expectations. You’ve to consider customers wanting food on their tables — they want real-time tracking, easy payment, and a strong customer resolution center (where they can complain).

Along with customers, you’ve to think about restaurants who are already stressed running their kitchens, and now they need to manage online orders on top of walk-ins. They need simple interfaces, clear order notifications, and reliable payment processing.

Lastly, you’ve to pay attention to the needs of your delivery partners, one of the most complex user groups to pay attention to. They’re independent contractors trying to make money, so they need super efficient routing, transparent earnings calculations, and tools that help them maximize their income. They’re also the face of your brand to customers, even though they technically don’t work for you.

Each of these groups have uniquely different mobile usage patterns, different tolerance thresholds, and different expectations for support. Safe to say, you’ve to walk a path strewn with challenges, and this is where our guide comes to help.

The Three-Pronged (Or Three-App) Strategy to Building a DoorDash Clone App 

One of the prerequisites of starting a delivery business like DoorDash is getting a hold of personas you’re catering to — and building three separate apps that work together as one. Each of these apps is a different product altogether.

The Customer App is your marketing face. It needs to be intuitive, aesthetic, and fast. Your menus must be neatly laid out; your search needs to be lightning fast; and your checkout flow must be frictionless.

The trickiest part about customer apps is the fundamental need to balance features with simplicity.  Everyone wants to add more filters, more customization options, more everything. You’re responsible for addressing your market’s peculiar needs without throwing off ease of use or overwhelming the user. What we’ve learned as an experienced application development company is that the best converting customer apps are almost boringly simple. Search, browse, add to cart, checkout, track. Period.

The Restaurant App (or dashboard) is all about buttery flow, speed, and efficiency. Restaurant staff are busy, stressed, and work against the clock. Your app must have a clear hierarchy; your interface should be easy to navigate; every tap needs to have a clear purpose.

The biggest mistake we see is making restaurant interfaces too fancy. Anyone who provides custom mobile app development services must understand that people at restaurants are running a kitchen. They need big buttons, clear text, and obvious status indicators. They must make sure everything is readable even with greasy fingers on a tablet screen.

The Driver App is the most complex because it needs to work reliably in all kinds of conditions. It’s running GPS constantly, managing multiple orders, handling payment processing, and doing all of this while the user is driving. The app needs to work smoothly even when switching between multiple other apps (maps, music, phone calls).

The Architecture A Delivery App Like DoorDash Needs

We’ve seen many delivery app features that miss the mark because developers build them with a typical e-commerce mindset. The real-time nature of enabling a food delivery model creates unique challenges that you need to plan for from day one.

1. Use Microservices But Don’t Go Overboard

We’ve seen mobile app development teams build 50 different microservices for their MVP and then spend the next three months just to get them talking. That’s where failure waits to sweep you off. Start with 5-7 core app-based delivery services. Focus on user and delivery management system, restaurant management, order processing, real-time tracking, and notification service. You can integrate services as you scale.

2. Solidify Your Database Strategy

If your database goes down during the dinner rush, you’ve 500 angry customers and 50 confused all at once. Plus, your business attracts bad name. It’s recommended that you use a powerful database solution like PostgreSQL for your main transactional data. It can handle complex queries well and has excellent ACID compliance. But for real-time location tracking, you’ll want something like MongoDB for the geospatial queries.

3. Emphasize Real-Time Everything

WebSocket connections for live order updates, push notifications for status changes, and real-time location tracking. Tools like Socket.io that allow real-time, bidirectional communication can help you weave reliability into your communication and handle connection drops gracefully. 

Key Insight: You need offline-first architecture for your driver app. Drivers often work in areas with spotty cellular coverage, and you can’t have them losing orders because they drove through a dead zone. Build your driver app to queue actions locally and sync when connectivity is restored.

4. Remember the Cloud

Cloud infrastructure is where everything business-critical lives and breathes. We recommend moving to AWS Cloud because of its mature ecosystem. You get EC2 for computation; RDS for databases; S3 for storage, and Lambda for serverless architectural functions. Alternatively, you can try Google Cloud, and more so if you’re planning heavy machine learning integration into your app for route optimization. Azure is a top choice if you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem. The key is picking one and sticking with it. Multi-cloud sounds cool in theory but it’s a nightmare to manage in practice.

5. APIs are the glue

APIs hold your entire ecosystem together. You’ll be integrating with mapping services for routes, payment gateways for transactions, SMS services for notifications, and probably a dozen other external services. Design your API architecture to be resilient because external services will go down, rate limits will be hit, and timeouts will happen. Build retry logic, circuit breakers, and fallback options into everything.

6. Invest in robust routing algos

Routing algorithms are where the big things happen, and honestly, it’s exactly where most apps either win or fizzle out. You can start simple with Google’s Directions API, but as you scale, you’ll want to build your own optimization engine. Machine learning helps, but don’t overcomplicate it early on. Start with basic factors like distance, traffic, and driver availability, then gradually add more sophisticated variables like historical delivery times and driver preferences.

7. Put your mind to payment processing

Payment processing integration is non-negotiable, and security here is the cornerstone. Stripe Connect is my go-to because it handles the complexity of multi-party payments without me having to become a payments expert. The platform takes its cut, restaurants get their portion, drivers get paid, and everyone’s happy. Just make sure you’re PCI compliant and never, ever store raw credit card data.

Functional Requirements Behind Building a Delivery App Like DoorDash

Wondering which features your on-demand delivery app needs? Here’s everything you should consider.

Customer-Facing Features

1. User Registration and Authentication

• Users should be able to register using email/phone with OTP verification, ensuring account security from day one. The registration flow needs to be frictionless. Too many steps and you’ll lose customers before they even place their first order.

• Support third-party login integration (Google, Apple, Facebook) because nobody wants to remember another password. Apple Sign-In is mandatory for iOS apps anyway, and Google/Facebook logins can reduce registration abandonment by up to 40%.

• Implement user type management with Premium and Standard tiers where Premium users get benefits like free delivery, priority support, and exclusive restaurant access. This creates a revenue stream beyond commission fees.

• Add comprehensive profile management allowing multiple delivery addresses (home, work, friends), saved payment methods with tokenization, dietary preferences, and notification settings. The more data you collect upfront, the better you can personalize the experience.

2. Restaurant Discovery and Browsing

• Integrate intelligent filter-based browsing based on location radius, cuisine preferences, rating thresholds, and realistic delivery time estimates. The key is showing only restaurants that can actually deliver to the user’s location within a reasonable timeframe.

• Ensure advanced filtering system that goes beyond basic categories: vegetarian/vegan options, gluten-free items, halal certification, spice level preferences, and price ranges. Each filter should show result counts to prevent dead-end searches.

• Multi-level sorting capabilities including distance-based (nearest first), price-based (most affordable to premium), delivery speed (fastest delivery), customer ratings (highest rated), and promotional offers (biggest discounts) help users be able to combine multiple sorting criteria.

• Curate detailed restaurant pages featuring high-resolution photos, comprehensive rating breakdowns (food quality, delivery speed, packaging), customer reviews with photos, operational hours including holidays, delivery fees, and minimum order requirements.

• Interactive menu browsing with item categorization, detailed descriptions including ingredients and allergen information, multiple photo angles, customization options, and real-time availability status works like wonder. Out-of-stock items should be clearly marked to prevent order failures.

3. Shopping Cart and Order Management

• Intelligent cart management with persistent storage across sessions, quantity adjustments with real-time price updates, item customization options (size, spice level, add-ons), and smart suggestions for complementary items. The cart should remember user preferences and suggest reorders from previous purchases.

• Dynamic pricing calculation that’s transparent and updates in real-time, showing itemized costs including base price, customizations, taxes, delivery fees, service charges, and surge pricing during peak hours. Users hate surprise charges at checkout.

• Comprehensive order customization allowing special cooking instructions, delivery preferences (leave at door, ring bell, call upon arrival), contact alternatives, and specific timing requests. These details prevent 80% of delivery issues.

• Streamlined order placement with estimated delivery time based on real-time kitchen load, driver availability, and traffic conditions. Show confidence intervals – “25-35 minutes” is better than “30 minutes” when you’re not sure.

• Detailed order history with easy reordering, receipt access, delivery photos, and rating prompts. Include search functionality so users can find that Thai place they ordered from three months ago.

4. Payment Processing

• All-inclusive payment method support including credit/debit cards with tokenization, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal), bank transfers, UPI payments, buy-now-pay-later options, and cash on delivery where applicable. Each market has different payment preferences, so flexibility is crucial.

• Secure payment flow with authorization-first, capture-later approach to prevent charging customers for unfulfilled orders. This is especially important when restaurants might reject orders due to high volume or ingredient unavailability.

• Intelligent tip handling with context-aware suggestions based on order complexity, weather conditions, delivery distance, and time of day. Late-night orders in bad weather deserve higher suggested tips. Allow custom tip amounts and post-delivery tip adjustments.

• Automated refund processing for common scenarios like cancelled orders, missing items, or excessive delays. Build rules-based refund logic that can handle 90% of cases without human intervention, but always provide escalation paths.

• Payment method management with easy addition/removal, default payment selection, and expired card notifications. Store minimal data using tokenization and comply with PCI-DSS requirements.

5. Real-Time Order Tracking

• Granular order status updates that actually mean something to customers: “Restaurant confirmed order,” “Cooking started,” “Driver assigned,” “Driver at restaurant,” “Order picked up,” “Driver en route,” “Driver nearby,” and “Order delivered.” Each status should include estimated time to the next milestone.

• Live driver location tracking with privacy considerations – show general location and movement direction without exact GPS coordinates. Update every 10-15 seconds to balance accuracy with battery usage and data costs.

• Intelligent push notifications that don’t overwhelm users. Only send notifications for actionable updates or when customer intervention might be needed. Include rich notifications with order details and estimated delivery times.

• iOS Live Activities integration for always-visible tracking without opening the app. Plus, delivery confirmation workflow with photo proof for contactless deliveries, digital signature capture for handed-off orders, and immediate receipt delivery.

6. Coupons and Promotions

• Flexible coupon system supporting percentage discounts, fixed amount discounts, free delivery, buy-one-get-one offers, and restaurant-specific promotions. Each coupon should have configurable minimum order amounts, maximum discount caps, and user eligibility criteria.

• Automatic discount application based on order value, first-time user status, loyalty tier, or geographic location. Smart promotion engine that maximizes customer value and profitability.

• Personalized promotional campaigns using machine learning to identify the right offer for each customer. High-value customers might get exclusive restaurant access, while price-sensitive users get discount codes,

• Referral program with two-sided incentives where both referrer and referee get benefits. Track referral success rates and lifetime value to optimize rewards. Include social sharing integration for easy referral link distribution.

• Seasonal and event-based promotions that tie into local events, holidays, or weather conditions. Rain discounts, game day specials, and holiday promotions can significantly boost order volume during specific periods.

7. Customer Support and Feedback

• Integrated customer support with multiple channels including in-app chat with real-time agent availability, callback scheduling, and ticket status tracking. Most issues should be resolvable within the app without external communication.

• Intelligent automated refund system that can process common issues like late deliveries (>45 minutes), missing items, incorrect orders, and food quality complaints. Set clear criteria and refund amounts to handle 90% of cases automatically.

• Comprehensive rating system for both restaurants and delivery experience with separate ratings for food quality, packaging, and delivery speed. Allow photo uploads with reviews. 

• Proactive issue reporting with pre-defined categories like “missing items,” “cold food,” “wrong order,” “delivery issues,” and “payment problems.” Include photo upload capability for evidence and faster resolution.

• Self-service help center with searchable FAQs, video tutorials, and escalation paths. Most users prefer self-service options before contacting support, so make common solutions easily discoverable

Restaurant Partner Features

1. Restaurant Onboarding and Profile Management

• Comprehensive restaurant registration with business verification including tax ID validation, food license verification, insurance documentation, and bank account verification for payouts. This prevents fraud and ensures legitimate business partnerships.

• Menu management system with bulk upload capabilities, real-time availability toggles, preparation time settings per item, and seasonal menu adjustments. Restaurants should be able to update their entire menu in minutes, not hours.

• Operational hours management with special holiday scheduling, temporary closures for maintenance, and automatic status updates. Include integration with restaurant POS systems where possible to sync real operational status.

• Rich restaurant profile creation with high-quality photos, compelling descriptions, chef backgrounds, story telling, and unique selling propositions. This helps restaurants differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.

• Document management portal for license renewals, health department certificates, insurance updates, and compliance tracking. Automated reminders for expiring documents prevent compliance issues.

2. Order Management System

• Real-time order notifications with customizable sound alerts, visual indicators, and notification persistence until acknowledged. Orders should never be missed due to notification failures.

• Time-bound order acceptance with automatic rejection after 2-3 minutes to prevent customer wait times. Include escalation to nearby restaurants if the primary choice doesn’t respond.

• Dynamic preparation time estimation based on current kitchen load, item complexity, and historical performance. This feeds into customer delivery estimates and driver dispatch timing.

• Order ready notifications that trigger driver dispatch and customer updates simultaneously. Include photos of prepared orders for quality verification and customer confidence.

• Comprehensive reporting dashboard showing daily sales, peak hours analysis, popular items, customer feedback trends, and performance metrics. Data should be actionable, not just informational.

• Allow real-time edits for items, quantities, and add-ons before preparation begins. Include automated refund logic, inventory adjustment, and driver notification to reduce confusion and ensure smooth operations.

3. Menu and Financial Management

• Provide instant on/off toggles for menu items when ingredients run out, bulk menu updates for price changes or seasonal adjustments, promotional pricing tools with start/end date scheduling, and menu organization with drag-and-drop category management.

• Include inventory integration suggestions and low-stock alerts based on ordering patterns. Create menu A/B testing capabilities to optimize item descriptions and pricing for better sales performance.

• Build comprehensive financial dashboards showing real-time earnings with detailed commission breakdowns, daily/weekly/monthly revenue summaries, payout schedules with automatic bank transfers, tax reporting assistance with downloadable documents, and performance metrics including average order value trends and customer rating impacts on earnings.

Driver Delivery App Features

• Enable streamlined driver onboarding with 24–48 hour background checks, document uploads, vehicle info, and insurance verification for quick activation.
  
• Provide self-paced video training covering safety, customer service, delivery best practices, and include assessments to ensure quality and compliance.
  
• Use intelligent order assignment based on driver location, traffic, vehicle type, success rate, preferences, and fair earning opportunities.
  
• Offer detailed performance tracking with earnings breakdown, tips, completion rates, customer ratings, and personalized suggestions to boost efficiency, while ensuring satisfaction of delivery drivers. 

Administrative Features

• Centralize user management with intuitive dashboards for customers, restaurants, and drivers — covering verification, behavior tracking, support history, compliance, and earnings monitoring.
  
• Streamline admin operations with automated workflows, bulk action tools, and audit trails that log every change made by platform administrators or support staff.
  
• Implement secure role-based access controls and encryption protocols to manage sensitive data and restrict access to critical admin functions based on roles.
  
• Build real-time analytics dashboards showing trends in order volume, revenue growth, user engagement, and regional performance to guide business decisions.
  
• Develop a complete support infrastructure with live chat, ticket routing, refund tools, escalation workflows, and satisfaction tracking to ensure service quality.

Non-Functional Requirements of Building an App Like DoorDash

How Much Does It Cost to Build an On-Demand Food Delivery App Like DoorDash or Zepto?

Bringing an app to life with the complexity, rigor, and scale of DoorDash isn’t something you can achieve on a lean budget. The process is cost-intensive; however, with the right app development partner like Unified Infotech, you can get started while navigating the cost barriers efficiently.

Here’s the complete cost breakdown we’ve arrived at after delivering multiple delivery platforms.

1. MVP Development will run you $150K to $300K if you’re building custom with a good development team. This includes basic customer, restaurant, and driver apps with core functionality. You can cut costs by using more template solutions, but you’ll sacrifice differentiation.

2. Ongoing operational costs are significant and often underestimated. Cloud infrastructure typically runs $2K to $10K monthly depending on your user base. Payment processing fees are usually 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Map API costs can get expensive quickly. Budget at least $500 monthly even for modest usage.

3. Customer acquisition costs in competitive markets can be brutal. We’ve seen CACs of $15 to $50 per customer depending on the market and competition level. Retention is crucial because most delivery apps lose money on the first few orders from each customer.

4. Driver incentives and bonuses can eat up a lot of your budget, especially during launch when you’re trying to build supply. Budget for sign-up bonuses, delivery bonuses, and surge pricing during peak times.

What Pitfalls Should You Avoid?

Making mistakes is inevitable. However, if you can learn from others’ mistakes, there’s one way you can avoid your app development project from going downhill. Let us share some painful lessons we’ve learned, so that you can avoid making them. 

1. Underestimating restaurant onboarding complexity: We thought restaurants would just upload their menus and start taking orders. In reality, menu digitization is complex, restaurants need training on the platform, and ongoing support requirements are the key to streamlined growth.

2. Building too many features too early: Our first delivery app had loyalty programs, group ordering, scheduled deliveries, and a dozen other features that nobody used. Focus on nailing the core experience first. Other fancy, peripheral features can come in the matrix as you scale.

3. Ignoring driver economics: We built a platform where drivers could theoretically make good money, but in practice, after gas and car maintenance, they were barely breaking even. Unhappy drivers provide poor service and quit quickly. Ensure you’ve a well-built delivery ecosystem and an agile response and resolution center.

4. Inadequate customer service planning: When things go wrong with food delivery, customers are hangry and want immediate resolution. We underestimated how much customer service volume we’d have and how quickly we’d need to resolve issues.

5. Poor testing of edge cases: The happy path where everything works is easy to test. But what happens when restaurants run out of ingredients, drivers get in accidents, or customers move between ordering and delivery? These edge cases will break your app if you don’t plan for them.

Wrapping Up

Building a delivery app like DoorDash is definitely doable, but it’s more complex than most people realize. Our advice? Start small, focus on one market, and nail the basic experience before adding fancy features. The key to success isn’t having the most features. Instead, it’s having the most reliable service. Customers will forgive a simple interface, but they won’t forgive cold food or long waits.

The delivery space is big enough for multiple winners, and the more good platforms there are, the better the entire ecosystem becomes for everyone involved.

The post How to Build an On-Demand Delivery App Like DoorDash? appeared first on Unified Infotech.

Ta-dum!

VoD or Video on Demand streaming applications were on their way to becoming musthaves much before the pandemic. But, post 2020, adoption of such apps have exploded. 

Why? All because people want to forget about their worries with some shows, movies or serials.

According to sources, the global video streaming market is projected to reach $416.84 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 21.5% as compared to 2024. This is driven by the explosion of digital content consumption, with Netflix alone having over 260 million subscribers globally.

The vast expansion of Netflix has drastically changed the entertainment experience and expectations, with users inclining towards instant streaming and consuming content more conveniently than before. Not just consumers, but entrepreneurs and enterprises alike have understood the demand and the potential of such video-streaming applications and are eagerly exploring how to build on-demand video apps like Netflix. 

But What Makes a Cloud-based Video Streaming App Like Netflix Shine?

There is no doubt that Netflix has revolutionized the video streaming experience for users of all age groups. Unlike traditional television, apps like Netflix offer user-centric features and meaningful advantages that keep their audience happy and loyal. 

Mentioned below are some of the advantages that apps like Netflix offer that truly set them apart.

1. More Convenient 

Forget old-school TV shows and movie telecasts, Netflix is here to save the day!

Unlike traditional programs, Netflix has allowed users to consume content without obligations, and when it’s convenient to them. 

These apps let the user decide what to watch, when to watch, which show to pause, when to discontinue or renew subscriptions or watch two movies simultaneously. 

With this power, users can stream multiple awesome shows and movies without worrying about the geographical locations, time zones, past episodes or missed gossip.  

2. Expansive Library

Netflix boasts a vast library of thousands of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and serials that form the heart and soul of the application. This repository offers an abundant and practically never-ending supply of consumable video content, where, for example, users can watch a movie like The Godfather from the 1970s as well as a TV show like Breaking Bad from the 2010s at once. 

Netflix’s proprietary content recommendation system (more about it later) enhances this process further by offering personalized video recommendations to the users. This elevates Netflix and other video-on-demand (VoD) apps from the normal television era and improves user experience levels across the demography.

3. Connectivity in a Click

Why wouldn’t users want to use an app that plays shows on a click and streams movies as smoothly as a hot knife through butter? 

Netflix has the simplest login and needs only a stable broadband connection to function.

It remains  one of the primary apps that is pre-installed on various stock devices such as iPads, smartphones and tablets. 

Even at low internet bandwidth, Netflix optimizes its functions via dedicated microservices to offer the best possible experience. This is why Netflix-ers chill.

4. Multi-device Login, Multi-device Fun 

Another major advantage of apps like Netflix offer is multi-device video streaming – the ability to log in and consume data from the applications via multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets and PCs. 

This allows users to watch their favorite shows and movies remotely from any device and location, as long as they are logged in to their account. 

Can you imagine the level of power viewers have in their hands now? No content on Netflix is inaccessible if you have even the tiniest compatible device. 

Apps Like Netflix: Who Else Shares Top Spot

The video streaming arena is bursting at seams – every day, new on-demand video apps are being developed to ride the user-focused content-driven terrain. 

With its overreaching popularity, Netflix has inspired its peers and competitors to launch solutions in the industry with the help of mobile app development that pertain to the same ideas and ethics. With dozens of well-established OTT platforms besides Netflix, the rivalry is now on the source and originality of the content, its quality, and the ease of accessibility for it. 

But where does Netflix stand?

Netflix pioneered the subscription-based streaming model and now operates in over 200 countries with more than 260 million subscribers. It spends over $17 billion annually on content production and licensing, streaming both original productions and blockbuster movies and shows from around the world. Bam!

Below are some of the most popular competitors for Netflix. If you want to build an app like Netflix, be sure to check what it offers differently from its rivals.

• Disney+: Notable for complete collections of Pixar and Disney movies, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and DC.
• Amazon Prime: Available in 200 countries globally; integrated with Amazon services.
• HBO Max: Home to award-winning content from HBO Originals, DC Comics, Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network.
• Hulu: A Video app combining next-day TV, originals, and live streaming under one subscription.
• Hotstar: Available in India, this app gives way to live sports and news, movies, and global entertainment in multiple languages.
• Apple TV+: Sleek, story-first streaming with critically acclaimed originals and cinematic production quality.

Top Netflix-like App Features That Turn Heads

Now that we know why Netflix is a success and how many competitors it has, it’s time for us to know what truly sets it apart from everyone else. Let’s dive into the top features and functionalities of Netflix-like video streaming app development.

• User Registration and Profile Management: This feature allows easy and intuitive user registration and login via email, phone or social media; support multi-user scenarios for household members; enable SSO verification for improved user retention rates.
  
• Search and Filters: With smart search features and filter options like genre, language, content type, duration, etc., users find desired content in the vast library; implement auto-complete and personalized recommendations based on user patterns.

• Multi-screen and Multi-device Compatibility: This ensures the video streaming app works seamlessly on various display systems like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs.

• Recommendation Engine: This integrates a top-notch, AI-powered content suggestion plug that works based on user behavior, demographic interests, ratings, and preferences.

• User Watchlist and Continue Watching Feature: This allows users full access over what to watch, allowing them to save their favorite content to viewing lists to resume watching later across any device.

• Subscription Plans and Integrated Payment Gateway: This feature enables multiple subscription plans and allows users to choose video quality, number of devices allowed, content type, etc.; this also enables a payment gateway integration with fast and secure platforms like Stripe, PayPal, etc.

• Multi-language App and Content: This ensures a multi-language app for faster adoption among different demographics, with a content repository that supports multiple languages, enabling increased content consumption.

• Offline Downloads: This feature allows users to download their desired content within the app and watch it on the go, even with low or no connectivity.

• Ratings and Reviews: This ensures users leave reviews and feedback on their experience, helping you build strong social proof with users-focused decisions.

• Related Watch: This feature offers related content (to any past content) to watch and increase engagement; suggest relevant follow-up content to continue the audience hook.

• Admin Panel: This allows users have full control of their app and its access with seamless user management, ensuring space for content uploads and analytics to learn from user behavior.

Netflix Clone App Development – How to Build An App Like Netflix?

Rome was not built in a day, and neither was Netflix. 

Developing video streaming apps like Netflix is more than just coding – it is about understanding user demands and engineering scalable solutions that last for years. Video streaming app development is all about the user, and not just the hardcoded dev-side. 

To achieve such quality and adoption, every step of the development process needs to be planned and mapped organization-wide; from concept to final deployment, strategic insights and intuitive thinking pave the way for such video streaming app development.

Below is a step-by-step guide for building an app like Netflix.

Step 1: Market Research and Niche Selection

Wouldn’t it be easier if you knew what your audience wanted in the first place?

Before starting any development, conduct extensive market research to understand who you want your audience to be and what they want. A deep understanding of the target audience is crucial when building such customer-facing apps. 

With a myriad of video content overflowing everywhere, it is important to consider interest and specific niches for better app adoption. For example, even though Netflix boasts a wide array of content, platforms like Crunchyroll, Shudder and CuriosityStream took advantage of pioneering in particular niche, namely anime, horror and science, to gain relevant users.

With a clear niche and target audience persona, video streaming app development companies can find it more convenient to build solid roadmaps for their app, develop necessary and coveted features, and position the brand to attract returning customers from the start.

What questions can you ask yourself?

• Who is my audience? What content do they love? What do they don’t?
• What are the video streaming gaps in the current market that I can fill?
• What do my users expect from my app? What are their regional preferences? 

Step 2: Core Features

You now know what your audiences love and prefer and what experience they expect from the app. With this insight, it is time to develop the key features in the app. 

At its core, any live video streaming platform like Netflix will have the following features that must be implemented to offer a smooth and impactful user experience:

• User creation and profile management
• Login and authentication
• Search / Browse / Explore
• Search Filters
• Video playback with seek option
• Saved lists or playlists
• History

However, it’s important to consider special features and functionalities that can make your app stand apart, like AI integration and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities, offline downloads, video quality selection, preview thumbnails, subtitles, etc. 

Step 3: Monetization Strategies

With the features in place, it’s time to evaluate what’s on the plate and introduce a befitting business model for the organization.

Revenue is, after all, what fuels future growth and innovation.

Like Netflix, app development companies can use a fully paid, subscription-based pricing model where the users have to pay to watch any content. 

Companies can also use a freemium model where the user gets to view basic content for free and has to pay for premium shows and movies. This has a higher adoption rate as it does not mandate payment early on.

For monetization, app developers can follow either of the following 3 models:

• AVOD (Ad-supported Video-on-Demand): Free video streaming with intermittent ads e.g. Tubi, YouTube.
• SVOD (Subscription Video-on-Demand): Fixed subscription fees and tiering on a monthly and annual basis, e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime
• TVOD (Transactional Video-on-Demand): Pay-per-view pricing for specific content e.g. Apple TV+, Google Play Movies

Choosing the right business model helps organizations in live streaming app development by creating a suitable roadmap that is aligned with the business goals and budget, promising to scale and expand over time. 

Step 4: Designing the Perfect UI/UX

Just imagine – you want millions of people to use your app and consume content, but it does not appeal to the audience, neither in convenience nor in design. How would you expect your app to achieve mass adoption?

Awesomeness is the center of the entertainment industry and what proves to be the differentiating factor for any binge-worthy app is the user interface and experience it offers. Netflix, over the years,has developed and revamped its app design to bring forward visually immersive and stunning content, intuitive navigation, and use of microservices for optimized screen times, search and recommendations. 

When designing a video streaming app, follow the most loved and UI elements and leverage user muscle memory data to implement features; develop the app interface that is recognizable and easily accepted with little components that make the difference. 

Mobile streaming app developers can use tools like Figma and Adobe XD to create interactive app prototypes for early testing. When aiming for top-notch user experience and retention:

• Use a dark tone for viewing comfort.
• Implement known icons for action items.
• Enhance search with thumbnail preview, suggestion carousels, tags and filters.
• Enable smooth scroll and vertical/horizontal or grid layout.
• Enable details like run time, episodes, year of release, ratings, video quality, etc. on content selection or hover.
• Design a clean video player with all necessary controls for subtitles, language, quality, forward/backward or seek, total time and time remaining, etc. 

Step 5: The Backend Development Process

Remember Joker asking Batman,“What happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force?”

The backend is pretty much the same, where amazing design meets reliable coding and the foundations of a great app are laid down. 

The backend is the engine that makes the whole app run smoothly, handles large data loads, responds to user inputs and provides relevant information and content to multiple users at once. For video streaming apps like Netflix, appropriate backend development is crucial to strengthen the infrastructural backbone of the app as well as make it scalable and secure in the future. 

Some of the key backend functionalities that a Netflix clone app should have are:

• User Authentication
• Streaming Engine Integration – Adaptive bitrates, segmented delivery
• Video Content Management – Uploads, categorization, releases
• Role-based Access
• Subscription and Billing Logic
• Event logging and analytics for insights 

Although frontend and backend seem similar, there are major differences that set them apart. Developers can use technologies like Node.js, Python and Java with REST APIs or GraphQL to transfer data and information between the frontend and backend. This ensures that the app is reliable and ready to handle millions of concurrent users and user requests simultaneously, without even the slightest jitter.

Step 6: Video Hosting and Content Delivery Network (CDN) Setup

The era of video buffering is over – no one likes to wait for video loading and long intervals. 

For video streaming platforms like Netflix, offering the best possible video output is pivotal to increased user satisfaction. To bring this to life and provide seamless and streamlined video streaming, development companies need to integrate Content Delivery Network or CDN with their app. This fetches the video content from the nearest server to the user’s location and helps avoid unnecessary lag.

To ensure a fast and responsive video experience and allocate video quality based on bandwidth, developers are recommended to use video compression and formats like H.264 or H.265, and protocols such as HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)

For CDN implementation, developers can have two options:

• One option is to use reliable third-party platforms like Cloudflare, Amazon CloudFront or Akamai.
• Another option is to host your live video streaming app directly on your own cloud infrastructure using tools like AWS S3 + Elastic Transcoder or Google Cloud Video Intelligence.

Step 7: Video Content Licensing or Original Creation

Coming to the fun stuff now!

Ever wondered what a video streaming platform would look like without any engaging video content? It would look empty!

Video content is the heart and soul of any app like Netflix. Even with the best design and unparalleled user experience, if your app does not offer engaging, relatable content to the users, the app fails. 

Netflix users spend a total of 50,000 hours of viewed content every 6 months, and it’s growing. From movies from Paramount, Disney and Marvel to originals like The Squid Game and Stranger Things, seamless video streaming has enabled users with more content at much more convenience. 

Depending on the strategies and business model you have selected, there are two ways to go about video streaming:

• Licensed Content: This refers to movies and shows from renowned studios, production houses, distributors and content creators. For example, a license for the Star Wars franchise or the Harry Potter franchise; this method involves legal contracts and rights reservations from both parties; licensing content brings the whole pack of global content to the user’s device.

• Creating Originals: This refers to movies and shows created under the application brand name and available exclusively on your video streaming application. For example Dark and Extraction on Netflix, The Tomorrow War on Prime Video. With insights from user data, these Originals are user-tailored and are targeted to succeed; this method is generally more expensive, considering the production expense and post-production marketing, however, it strengthens the brand presence and offers something no one else has.

It’s also important to consider the protection and security of the video content your app is handling and bringing to your business. DRM or Digital Rights Management solutions like Google Widevine, Apple FairPlay and Microsoft ReadyPlay can help organizations protect their licensed and original content safely, away from piracy, leaks and corruption.

Step 8: AI-Powered Recommendation Engine

Personalization is at every step and what makes Netflix users stay with it is its hyper-personalized, AI-driven recommendation engine. Unlike most other video streaming platforms, Netflix uses its own set of microservices to fetch and recommend relevant video content based on user preferences, watch history, audience behavior, releases and ratings.

App development companies aiming to build apps like Netflix need to aspire for a better and more intuitive user experience via AI-powered content search and recommendations. Tools like Amazon Personalize and TensorFlow can be used to implement live video streaming features like:

• Content-based and collaborative filtering
• Personalized homepage based on interest and history
• Trending, top-grossing and popular content carousel
• Search improvements like voice search, auto-complete, suggestions

Step 9: QA and Testing

Once your video streaming app is ready with features and functionalities, it is time to test the app thoroughly before launching it in the market. Proper quality assurance and testing are pivotal to subsequent development and success. This testing ensures you have a smooth and seamless app at launch.

When testing apps like Netflix, perform:

• Functional Testing: Are all features working as intended?

• UI Testing: Is the design consistent and user-friendly?

• Load Testing: Can your system handle thousands of concurrent users?

• Security Testing: Are there any vulnerabilities in payment or data access?

Automation tools like Selenium, Appium and Postman can help in the test process for app responsiveness, browser compatibility and connectivity speeds.

Step 10: App Launch and Scaling

Congratulations!

Your stunning video streaming app is ready for the users. But the journey has just begun. 

Don’t rush into a product launch. Rather, build an MVP or a beta version of your app with all the core features and functionalities and allow access to limited users to test app adoption, response and feedback. With this feedback, you can now enhance your app accordingly and make a full-blown product launch.

After launching your app, ensure to:

• Gather valuable feedback and insights into user behavior and adoption trends via in-app surveys and analytics.
• Work on fixing bottlenecks and in-app bugs.
• Introduce new features incrementally based on user feedback.
• Scale your app infrastructure with growth in user base and content consumption.
• Implement strategies like digital marketing, influencer campaigns, paid ads, social media promotions and referral schemes to increase adoption and popularity.

App developers and business owners should know that building a video streaming platform is never really done. It needs constant development and innovation to stay on top of things. With changing and evolving user trends and interests, it is evident that video streaming apps like Netflix will need to constantly iterate their development process to be in tandem with user expectations and market demands.

Tech Stack For Building an App Like Netflix

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Netflix App?

The cost to build a Netflix clone app generally ranges between $60,000 to $200,000+, depending on factors such as features, complexity, architecture, team location and platform compatibility (iOS, Android, web). To get an accurate estimate of how much a Netflix-like app development can cost, it is imperative to define the scope of the application, consult with leading mobile app development companies with requirements and assess components that affect cost directly.

• The feature set allows developers to choose their desired features like user profiles, AI recommendations, offline mode, etc., and play a direct role in cost assessment.
• The design complexity of the app further impacts the cost when comparing basic UI with advanced.
• Backend development ensures a scalable business model with cloud hosting and AI-recommendations – the tech stack, frameworks and 3rd-party integration incur cost.
• Outsourcing, offshoring or nearshoring a dev team also plays a pivotal role in managing cost, for example, nearshoring from Canada or Europe will incur more cost than offshoring high-quality experts from India or Eastern Europe.

How Long Will It Take To Develop a Netflix-style Platform?

The below chart will help you clearly understand the timeline required to either build an MVP or a full-scale app like Netflix.

How Can I Make My Streaming App Better than Netflix? 

While Netflix has set the bar high in live video streaming market, there are still tricks you can carry up your sleeves. Sustenance and success in a Netflix dominant industry in not just about being better than Netflix, it is about understanding the unmet needs of the users quickly and catering to them.

Below are some useful ways you can make your video streaming app stand out from Netflix and the crowd: 

• Select a Content Niche: Specify target audience and push relevant content for user loyalty
• Offer Unparalleled User Experience: Develop a cleaner, faster UI with essential features and customizability
• Content and Pricing Localization: Offer content experience, intuitive pricing and multi-lingual support to local market and regional demographies.
• Out-of-the-Box Features: Implement innovative features that keep your audience hooked, like real-time chats, watch parties, interactive episodes, AI-recommended playlist, etc.
• Creator Monetization: Allow individual creators to upload, manage and monetize their content based on user interaction. 

Where To Get Content For a Netflix-like App?

For a Netflix-style app to succeed, it is crucial to have a stunning repository of video content that is engaging, interesting and relevant. Business owners can look for content sourcing or generation to build that library of content. This can be achieved through:

• Content Licensing, where the video platforms buy rights from studios, production houses, distributors and cretors to stream shows and movies.
• Original Content Production, where the video platform invests in collaborating with studios to create exclusive content (series or movies) that help in building brand identity and user retention.
• User-Generated Content (UGC), where the video platform allows known creators and influencers to upload their content, engaging in community-driven media

Building Apps Like Netflix? Here’s How We Can Help You

Netflix is an inspiration for many and why not?

The transition from television to on-demand high-quality video streaming has transformed the entertainment industry and user expectations on a whole different level. This has created a super opportunity for app development companies to enter the video-on-demand streaming and OTT platform industry. 

Developing a Netflix clone app, however, is not just a fancy idea  – it is a flexible and scalable, technology-driven business model that promises success. Video streaming platforms aren’t a one-size-fits-all model and the adoption depends on how well the app performs under heavy load, how personalized the content feels and how engaged the users are on the platform. 

Business owners need to bring out their concoctions of innovation, strategy and product execution to all parts of the development process, from planning the app and selecting the niche to designing the UI and implementing AI recommendations. 

Here Is Where Unified Infotech Can Step In

With more than 15 years of experience in building out-of-the-box solutions, Unified Infotech is a pioneer in building custom video streaming apps that are scalable, secure, and user-focused. We help businesses bring their vision to life — whether it’s a full-scale Netflix alternative or a niche OTT app with tailored features. 

Our mobile app development service offers everything from product strategy, UI/UX design, and cloud infrastructure setup to AI integration and post-launch optimization. With a deep understanding of media tech, cross-platform performance, and user retention strategies, we make sure your platform not only launches but also leads.

The post How To Build An App Like Netflix – Benefits, Features and Method appeared first on Unified Infotech.

Since its inception, mobile devices have reduced the human labor involved in daily tasks, like remembering phone numbers, postal codes and important information regarding people or work. Among all the other productivity tools, digital notebook apps gained significant interest among users, helping them organize and remember tasks, information and thoughts easily

– be it a grocery list, business plans, weekend to-dos, a song, a recipe or practically anything else. 

Within this segment, note-taking apps like Evernote have emerged as top contenders for their users. With its clean and intuitive interface, powerful features and functionalities, cross-platform compatibility and user-centric innovation, Evernote stands as the benchmark of digital note-taking apps. Evernote users trust the app to remember sensitive information and useful data due to its simplicity and accessibility. 

With growing times, the need and demand for these note-taking apps have risen significantly. If you are trying to build a note-taking app like Evernote, you are at the right spot! 

Read along this comprehensive guide to understand what it takes to build an app like Evernote, followed by a 9-step guide on how to build one, from planning to launching your app.

What is Evernote? What are Its Key Features?

Before building an app like Evernote, it is crucial to understand what it’s made of, the features and functionalities, what makes it successful and what the projected growth is. With these requisites in place, companies can carve their product roadmap efficiently to build digital note-taking apps like Evernote.

Currently valued at around USD 1 billion, Evernote is one of the most popular and widely used digital note-taking apps in the global market, with over 225 million users as of 2025 (source). It is a smart and intuitive note-taking app that allows users to capture a ton of digital information as text, photos, videos, audio notes, etc., from any device, organize them using tags and notebooks and search notes within the app. Available for both iOS and Android, Evernote offers a powerful text editor with formatting features, multimedia compatibility, OCR abilities, tagging systems and cross-platform sync.

Below is a list of the core note-taking app features that any digital notebook app must have.

• Note Creation: Ability to create rich-text notes and annotations with formatting and font options, checkboxes, bullet and numbered lists, images, stickers, and attachments.
  
• Search: Dynamic search functionality compatible with text, images and text within images using OCR.
  
• Organized Information: Available elements like notebooks/work boards, tags, colors and filters to help users segregate and categorize notes and easily retrieve when needed.
  
• Multiple Device Sync: Cross-platform note-taking apps, allowing seamless information sync across multiple devices, including mobile, wearables, desktop and web apps.
  
• Offline Access: User access to notes even in offline mode and no connectivity.
  
• Inter-team and Intra-team Collaboration: Ability for users to share notes, workbooks and information internally and externally with others.
  
• Security: Two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, password protection, secure cloud storage, etc., to be implemented.

But What Makes Evernote Successful?

• What works for Evernote primarily is its freemium model and the user delight it offers. It has strategically put the needs of its users first and delivered accordingly, retaining long-term users.
  
• Evernote offers a set of flexible and robust features that truly make note-taking a breeze for diverse workflows. It is compatible with rich-text notes, OCRs, document scans, web clippers, email integration and audio notes in mobile apps, which makes everything easier.
  
• Evernote’s integration of analog-digital data using Moleskine notebooks helped developers bridge two worlds and establish brand loyalty and usefulness.
  
• Evernote is known for its cross-platform compatibility and works seamlessly on any logged-in device. It boasts strong offline capabilities that help users access and edit notes on the go, anywhere, anytime.
  

Because of this, Evernote witnesses a whopping 8 million notes generated every year, with more than 20,000 organizations using it on a daily basis.

A 9-step Guide to Building Digital Note-Taking Apps Like Evernote

Step 1: Market Research, Planning and Strategies

Before initiating any note-taking app development, thorough market research and planning are required. It is important for companies to understand the requirements and preferences of the audience they want to target. 

Identifying these, along with the core features, enables organizations to build a clean and progressive roadmap for the future. It can also bring forth potential gaps in the current app and developers can find ways to better it. 

Key steps in the market research process include:

• Market surveys, interviews and meetups with potential customers to analyze their top needs
• Top competitor research, e.g., Google Keep, OneNote, Notion
• Unique Selling Point (USP) establishment
• User persona creation with user journey mapping

Step 2: The Right Tech Stack

To successfully proceed with the note-taking app development, choosing the right technologies is of utmost importance – 

This stack will define the scalability, maintenance and performance of the app. 

Compatibility across technologies will ensure a smoother user experience and reduce friction. Below is a suggested tech stack for a note-taking app like Evernote:

Step 3: UI/UX Designing

Ever thought about how your users would react to your note-taking app if it looked nothing like one?

Establishing user experience and resonance is the key contributor to the success of any mobile app. A clean and smart user interface allows for enhanced user engagement and defines the app in its own unique way. Apps like Evernote follow specific design guidelines to achieve robust and acceptable UI/UX designs that not only attract but also retain. 

After all, users should feel at home when they try to list something down rather than succumb to a new app.

Some key design principles for note-taking app development are:

• Minimalist Design: Focus more on content and conversion than design and iteration
• Easy Navigation: Provide upfront navigation tools, search bar, sidebars and tab-based navigation
• Clean Typography: Ensure enough spaces between elements and easily accessible and readable text.
• Quick Actions: Add, share, delete, edit and tag notes and notebooks in a click.
• Responsiveness: Ensure app responsiveness and smooth user experience across multiple devices

App developers can create wireframes, mockups and prototypes to validate the design externally and internally. Tools like Figma, Sketch and Adobe XD can be of great help for designing a surreal UI.

Step 4: Backend Development

Backend development is where design meets code. Being under the hood, the backend development is what lays the foundation stone in any app development. 

Also called the server-side, the backend handles all data processing, storage, authentication and core business logic. It is what makes the app run seamlessly even under a great surge or overwhelming data load. Load balancing and auto-scaling are often implemented to enable the app to handle huge volumes of data from multiple users simultaneously. 

Key responsibilities of the backend development process for a note-taking app like Evernote include:

• User authentication and authorization using OAuth or JWT
• Create, Read, Update, Delete (CRUD) operations
• Media upload and cloud storage integration
• End-to-end encryption
• Real-time sync via Firebase or WebSockets

Step 5: Frontend Development

Frontend refers to the visual interface and whatever a user sees and interacts with on an app. 

It is the attire and face value of how a web app looks and functions. 

While backend developers focus on making the app more robust and reliable from the server end, frontend developers focus on making the usability and engagement on the app more real and relatable by using components like buttons, checkboxes, listing items, colors, tags, flags, sharing options, and other interactive features. 

For note-taking apps like Evernote, the frontend is a deal-maker or breaker, depending on how users respond to the offerings and UI.

Frontend app developers can use React to create interactive and dynamic user interfaces for note-taking apps based on style, preferences and affinity – the possibilities are endless.

Below are some of the key components for building an app like Evernote:

• Notebook and Tag Manager
• Note Editor
• Search Bar
• Settings
• Dashboard
• Share Options
  

Step 6: Core Features Implementation

Once your backend and frontend development stack is ready, technologies and UI/UX designs sorted, it is time to finalize the core features for a note-taking app like Evernote. Gather your developers and create a roadmap for the development process. Below is a table showing how to approach and implement each essential feature:

Step 7: App Testing and QA

App testing ensures proper feedback and checks on the features and functionalities. Think of it as a test lap before an actual F1 Grand Prix. This testing makes sure your note-taking app works seamlessly across devices and scenarios. 

Testing and QA have many aspects to them. However, for apps like Evernote, below is a table that lists the primary types of app testing.

Establishing a CI/CD pipeline can be beneficial in automating testing processes, allowing issue flagging early in the development cycle.

Step 8: Deployment and App Launch

Congratulations! You have successfully built an app like Evernote. Now its time to bring it to the world. 

Once your note-taking app development and testing is done, and you are confident with the app functionalities, it is time to launch the app in the market. 

Companies can start with a beta version to collect feedback and act on them, before doing a full-blown launch. It is advised to implement A/B testing in the app for new features and use data analytics to study the trends and user preferences. This data can further be used by developers to refine app features and iterate based on usage patterns.

Key steps in deploying your newly developed note-taking app:

• Host the frontend
• Deploy the backend on AWS
• Use data management software to secure and allocate resources
• Set up CDN and caching

Step 9: Post-launch Support and Feedback

Launching the app is not the end; it is the beginning.

Companies must understand that for note-taking apps like Evernote, app launch is just the primary touchbase; as users use the app on an everyday basis, the real work begins after user adoption, where continuous support, keen monitoring and intermittent enhancements play a big role. 

To gain long-term success from your app development and launch, these post-launch efforts are needed to identify gaps, eliminate bugs, understand user behavior and trends, learn about user requirements and accordingly elevate your app based on real-world data. 

Aspiring companies in this domain must implement:

• Live/AI chatbox and helpdesk integration for customer queries
• Feedback forms and survey sheets for user insight and preferences
• In-app Analytics for user behavior tracking
• Regular and consistent updates based on real user input.

What Is The Cost to Build an App Like Evernote

When building note-taking apps like Evernote, the cost of developing a digital notebook app varies depending on several factors. Business owners and developers will need to consider the selected features that are to be implemented, the complexity of the app, its design and content, the platform on which the app will be developed, the allocated tech stack, and the development model (in-house or outsourced) to accurately determine the cost and budget for building an Evernote-like app.

There are, however, tiers to the cost when it comes to digital notebook app development. Features like rich-text editor, OCR scans, offline mode, AI tags and cloud sync are bound to increase the development costs manifold. This is where partnering with pioneer app development companies like Unified Infotech can help you – ensure performance, clarity and scalability in no time. Below is a rough estimate of the cost range of Evernote-like app development:

How Can We Embed AI Features in an Evernote Clone App?

Artificial Intelligence has changed the game of online note-taking apps. From new features to cool superpowers, AI introduction in the digital notebook landscape has brought forward new expectations and needs of the users. Below are some smart ways companies can embed AI in their note-taking app:

1. AI-recommended Smart Search: Enable NLPs to allow users to search notes by their meanings and definitions, rather than particular keywords.
   
2. AI-powered Speech-to-Text Translation: Develop features that seamlessly convert audio notes and recordings into editable and shareable text.
   
3. Auto-tagging and AI-enabled Categorization: Allow notes to be auto-tagged and categorized with labels based on content theme and context with the power of AI.
   
4. Reminders and Nudges: Allow your app to suggest AI-powered insights on when to revisit a note or create follow-ups based on due dates and usage patterns.
   
5. AI-powered Summarization: Employ AI tools to generate Too Long, Didn’t Read texts and quickly summarize long notes, intricate information and MoMs. 

Companies interested in building digital note-taking apps like Evernote can use APIs from OpenAI, Google Cloud and AWS to build preferred language models for their app, or develop their own custom model that offers more control and authority over the application and its features. These AI features within the app not only enhance the UX of the platform but also add customer retention and a competitive advantage into play. 

Read more: AI in Web Design

How Much Time Will It Take To Build A Note-taking App Like Evernote?

Just like the cost, the time taken to build an app like Evernote varies substantially, generally depending on the scope, app complexity and resource availability. For example, if you are planning to launch a lean MVP with core features, development is achievable in 10-12 weeks; whereas a feature-rich, full-blown note-taking app with collab tools and AI integration might take anywhere from 6 months to a year.

Plan for iterative development, agile processes and modular approaches to enable faster time-to-market, concept validations and confident scalability.

Below is a general timeline breakdown for note-taking app development:

Bonus Info! How to Monetize a Digital Notebook App Like Evernote

• Offer a Freemium model, where basic features are free and advanced features are in the premium tier.
• Enable in-app purchases for separate features individually, like themes, fonts, OCR, etc.
• Establish a solid subscription plan for cloud storage, 24/7 support, and tools.
• Allow non-intrusive sponsored content and ads for free plan users.
• Implement enterprise licensing where you offer your app with team plans for businesses.

Final Thoughts

Building a note-taking app like Evernote is a rewarding but complex project. It requires the right mix of user-centric design, robust backend architecture, and innovative features to stand out in a crowded market. By following this guide, from ideation to launch, you’ll be well-equipped to create an app that not only competes with industry giants but also delivers genuine value to your users.

Unified Infotech is a pioneer in mobile app development, and over the 15 years has helped numerous organizations bring their vision into reality. Whether you’re an indie developer or a tech startup, now is a great time to tap into the growing demand for digital productivity tools. We at Unified are here to help you ideate and develop your desired app with ease. 

Remember, the most successful apps are the ones that evolve continuously based on user needs and feedback.

The post How to Build a Note-Taking App Like Evernote? appeared first on Unified Infotech.

But it can only be profitable if done right! 

When trying to replicate a social media application like Instagram, businesses must aim at combining a smooth and seamless user experience with intuitive and addictive visual-first features – photo uploads, likes, shares, comments and a never-ending feed scroll.

Below is a breakdown of what Instagram encompasses, followed by a 10-step guide on how to create a photo-sharing app like Instagram.

What Goes Into Building a Social Media Application Like Instagram?

Businesses around the world are replicating Instagram and developing apps to engage with and capture as many users as they can. Many developers have successfully built Instagram Clone Apps using technology like Flutter, React Native and Firebase; apps like Snapchat, VSCO and 500px have also taken heavy inspiration from Instagram but added their own flavor.

At its core, Instagram is more than just a photo-sharing and editing app – it is a visual storyboard. It combines actions like photo-sharing, photo editing, video uploads, user interactions, short videos, etc., under one roof and offers unparalleled quality of service. For individuals and businesses alike, Instagram is becoming one of the most profitable and adopted social media marketing tools of all time. 

Key Features of a Social Media Application Like Instagram

With a ton of features and offerings, Instagram has cracked the code of what the new-age users want. Below are some of the defining features of Instagram that every app developer should know to make an app like Instagram.

User Profiles

User profiles become the digital identity of users on any app. This forms the first level of personalization, control and affinity towards using a social media platform. With the option to add profile photos, usernames, personal bios, links, etc., users feel they own the platform and are far more comfortable with uploading photos and videos. 

When users feel they are in their own separate space, they can explore the app and its features freely. 

Social media app development companies can also enhance their custom social app by providing additional privacy features for media views, comments and shares – a replica of Instagram’s public/private toggle.

Photo and Video Uploads

Any application like Instagram, at its core, is primarily a photo/video sharing and editing app. Hence, the feature of uploading media to the platform is foremost. Any social media application like Instagram must allow users to:

• Upload new photos or videos directly from their smartphone
• Capture photos and videos directly from the app
• Upload multiple files at once

Make sure your app supports images and videos in varied formats such as .JPG, .PNG, .MP4, .MOV, etc., to engage with more content. Mobile app development companies can use cloud storage like AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, Google Cloud Storage, etc., for quicker and more scalable media handling.

Filters and Editing

Since its inception, Instagram filters have revolutionized the photo upload experience. Users, no matter how unique or pretty, want to visualize themselves in places and in forms that are out of this world. 

Snapchat understood this and made a filter-heavy app for its users. 

With the power to edit original photos and videos, users can engage more deeply with the application and create exceptional content. 

When developing such social media applications, users must be able to:

• Crop, rotate, resize and redesign the image or video
• Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, depth, sharpness, highlights, etc.
• Apply any desired filter from the library.

Developers can add custom filters in the mobile app, based on Instagram’s unique ones like Clarendon, Juno or Lark and use image processing libraries like PhotoEditor SDK or OpenCV to build it.

Engagement Through Likes, Comments and Shares

For social media apps like Instagram, likes, comments and shares from other users are the engines of engagement. This is how it works for Instagram, and for you if you plan to create a similar image-based social media app. When a user posts an image or a video, other users should be able to engage with the content by liking, commenting and sharing it – likes reveal real appreciation, comments initiate interactions and shares show content relevance and reach. 

Elements like likes and comment counts, use of emojis and GIFs, interaction insights, external shares, etc., should all be part of the application development process for such social media platforms. Developers should also consider implementing tools like Hive, Microsoft Azure Content Moderator, AWS Rekognition + Comprehend, Google Cloud Vision + Perspective API, etc., to prevent spam, abuse, harassment or content toxicity in the app.

Real-Time Feed Scroll

Endless scrolling through user-generated content via feed is a typical characteristic of photo-based social apps. Any application like Instagram will surely need to develop this feature – this is what makes the users stick to the app, and be motivated to not just consume but create content as well. 

Developers can choose between two feed models to offer to the users:

• Algorithmic Feed: Personalized content based on user preferences, engagements and interests
• Chronological Feed: Newest to oldest content

The content on the feed must include photos, videos, stories, status, GIFs, stickers, etc. If monetization is in the plans, sponsored content and ads would be a good inclusion. Users will need to have live updates and infinite scrolls on the apps; using tools like Firebase Realtime Database or Socket.io, developers can ensure a live feed every time.

Ephemeral Content – Stories and Status

Ephemeral content refers to those stories, status and temporary content that disappear after 24 hours. Social media applications have made it a routine to show ephemeral content – they engage more users, create a sense of FOMO, make users share content more due to limited availability and much more. Mobile application development frameworks must incorporate elements and configurations that support ephemeral content to drive more audience to user-generated posts.

Stories or status content should support images, video, GIFs, audio notes, written or text content and everything else users would want to communicate in. To make things more interesting and engaging, components like stickers, emojis, tags, mentions, polls, music, check-ins, etc., should also be available. Developers can use Cloud Functions to auto-delete past content.

In-Built Messaging

Direct messages or DMs are quite common in image-based social media apps. Users tend to connect with other users for personal interactions. This not only increases the amount of time spent on the app, but also instills social affection towards meaningful conversations. Any app trying to replicate Instagram’s messaging system must offer one-to-one private chats and group chats to share photos, videos, reactions, text messages, emojis, and other interactive elements. Developers can go a step forward by enabling advanced features like:

• Typing indicators
• Personalized stickers and emojis
• Message sent and seen status
• End-to-end encryption and data privacy
• Voice and video calling

Companies can use tools like SendBird, Twilio Chat API and Stream Chat to enable DMs in any image-based social media app.

Push Notifications

One major motivator for user engagement and retention is Push Notifications. Companies have to understand that users are not just going to sit on social media apps to check their and everyone else’s updates every day – they need relevant content and they need it to be sent to them. Push notifications enable timely alerts of updates or uploads to users who can then check out the notifications. By giving real-time pings on new likes and followers, tags, messages, story views, replies, mentions, etc., image-based social media apps can increase user affinity towards their product exponentially. Developers can use OneSignal or Firebase Cloud Messaging for Android and iOS.

Explore or Search

The ability to search, explore and find users and content has been core to social media. What to be social about if you can’t meet new people or see new things? 

Apps like Instagram must have a search feature that allows users to find people, posts, hashtags, locations and topics that they want. The aim for mobile app development companies should be to find ways to make users engage more with their app – after all, the more users explore content, the more they consume and engage with it. The search feature should be packed with:

• A discovery algorithm that brings forward relevant, trending and tailored content
• An autocomplete suggestions plug that makes search faster and more convenient.

Admin Control

Most importantly, security and control over the app are crucial. Users must be granted full access and control over all features and functionalities to ensure the app and its content remain safe, secure, and operational. Admin controls should offer features like:

• User role access
• Activity logs access
• Suspicious activity or login alert
• Content moderation
• Warn, ban, block, and report users
• Dashboard and analytics tracking for user count, crashes, top content, trending tags, etc.
• Promotional content and ads management 

Developers can utilize custom dashboards or tools like Firebase Console and Strapi to create visually stunning admin panels and establish controls.

Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Social Media Platforms like Instagram

Picking the correct tools and technology can make or break your app. As a custom mobile app development company, you want something scalable, secure, and easy to develop.

Below is a proven tech stack for building an Instagram-like app.

Building a Social Media App like Instagram: A 10-Step Guide

Step 1: Conduct Market Research and Define Niche

Before diving into the app development process, understand the market dynamics completely to avoid any prior losses; it is impossible to decide and choose how to make a social networking app like Instagram without understanding the current market situation of image or photo-based applications. 

Market research is the best way to understand what kind of audience you are dealing with. Try and ask yourself the following questions when conducting market research:

• Where and how will you launch your app?
• Who are your Competitors?
• How do users interact with your competitors?
• What features do the users like and dislike?
• What niche audience are you targeting?
• What unique pain points will your app solve?
• What are the demographics of similar apps?

Start with conducting surveys and polls and analyzing app store reviews and comments. This will help developers bridge gaps between features that still exist. By answering these questions, companies will be able to have a clear understanding of what they need to build an app as appealing and lovable as Instagram.

Step 2: Decide Core Features

Once you are done with the market research and know what your users will love, it is time to finalize the features of the app. At its core, for any app to be inspired by Instagram, it has to be a mix of content sharing, content discovery and networking. Be it a beta solution or an MVP, Instagram-like apps should include features like:

• User registration, profile creation and management
• Content upload (text, photo, video, etc.)
• Infinite news feed
• Likes, comments, shares – engagement hooks
• Search, explore and hashtags
• Reels, stories, short videos
• Messages
• Notifications
• Filters

With the correct features, app development companies can target and acquire authentic users and streamline further dependencies. 

Step 3: The Right Tech

As mentioned above, choosing the right tech stack is essential for mobile app development for apps like Instagram – these apps need to process and handle a huge amount of data, all while keeping the app secure and the performance high. As crucial as features are, choosing the right technology stack is not far behind. Every project, every product, the expectations, the features, all are different and copying Instagram’s tech won’t cut the queue for developers. React Native and Flutter both can be avenues to develop mobile apps, depending on what the stakeholders aim at. Refer to the table above to choose your appropriate tech stack.

Step 4: Design a User-Centric UI/UX

In a time when users buy what they see, creating a user-first design approach is of the essence. In mobile app development, companies cannot undermine the importance of app design – creating an intuitive and clean interface, much like Instagram, can go a long way. Developers need to focus on both the User Interface (UI) and the User Experience (UX) to define the visual representation of the app, as well as the user flows and how users interact with and navigate through it, respectively.

To build a UI/UX like Instagram, custom mobile app development companies should focus on:

• Minimalist design
• User-focused features
• Visual-first layout
• Easy navigation
• Smooth transitions, animations

Developers can use tools like Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, etc. to build phenomenal UI/UX. When designing for iOS and Android, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and Google’s Material Design Guidelines.

Step 5: The App Development Process

After you have finalized the top features that you are going to implement and the appropriate tech stack, it is time for the real deal – mobile app development. This is where great design meets exceptional coding, turning visualization into an interactive design. 

To create an app like Instagram, developers need to work on both the frontend and the backend development. Though they may seem similar at first, frontend and backend cater to two very different aspects of the development process – the frontend helps in building what the users see and interact with, whereas the backend serves as the engine that powers everything from under the hood. 

Developers need to follow agile development practices such as sprint-based development cycles, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) and version control platforms like Git. Tools like Jira and Trello are heavily used for sprint planning; developers can team Jira with Slack (for communication) and Figma (for designs) to create seamless and shared workboards that keep the processes on track. It is also recommended to segregate the development cycle into phases, such as:

• Authentication
• Media uploading
• Feed algorithms
• Chat system
• Admin dashboard

For your help, here are the top frontend frameworks you can use for your website.

Step 6: Cloud Storage Integration and Media Optimization

Image-based social media apps like Instagram rely heavily on the use and storage of media in the form of photos, videos, stickers, GIFs and more. This data takes a lot of storage space and bandwidth, often hindering performance if not attended to. Developers must keep in mind the ways they can optimize content and its storage – they can use AWS S3 or Google Cloud Storage for file storage, FFmpeg for video compression, ImageKit or Cloudinary for image optimization. This, nonetheless, ensures a faster app loading and a smoother and cleaner user experience.

Step 7: Implement Security and Privacy

When developing social media platforms, you are dealing with millions of user-generated data points. Security in such apps has become a great concern that influences their usage, reach and potential. Being as non-negotiable as the app itself, social app security is something companies would want to consider from Day 1.

During the development process, ensure your social media app has:

• End-to-end encryption for messages
• Two-factor authentication
• GDPR Compliance
• Secure APIs with OAuth 2.0

With these in place, the app can build more trust among the users and increase its chances of adoption.

Step 8: Test Out Your App

Testing an app before launch is one of the most essential steps to follow. Run your app via the QA modules to understand how the features and functionalities work. With this initial feedback, developers can understand what to change, modify or remove altogether. QA testing should cover areas like:

• Functional testing
• UI/UX testing
• Performance testing
• Security and penetration testing
• Device/browser compatibility

Tools like Selenium, Appium, TestFlight, Firebase Test Lab, etc., can be used to test the mobile app in relevant environments.

Step 9: Launch MVP for Feedback

Once you are done and satisfied with your app testing, it is time for you to bring the app to the market. Build and launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that has the core features of the app. Let users and stakeholders test and use the product – this provides valuable and real human reactions and patterns. Implement A/B testing for new features and use analytics to decipher the trends and user preferences. Use this data to further refine the app functionalities and iterate based on the usage patterns. 

Step 10: Scale and Monetize

Congratulations. Your app is ready and available to your customers. Thousands use it and they love what they see. But what’s next? Once you have built your perfect social media application like Instagram, it’s not time to sit idle. Think of methods to scale your app and monetize it to drive increased usage and revenue. 

For scaling, developers can use the microservices architecture that enables them an independent development, auto-scaling servers for automatic allocation and CDN and caching for app functionality. To monetize the app, developers can implement promotional and sponsored content, ads, in-app purchases, a freemium pricing model with premium features, influencer-brand connections and e-commerce integration.

Final Thoughts

Building an app like Instagram is an ambitious yet achievable goal with the right strategy, team, and technology. By following the abovementioned steps and best practices, companies can ensure a well-thought-out mobile app development process and streamline their operations. 

Unified Infotech is a pioneer in mobile and web app development with over 15 years of experience in the domain. If you want to build an app like Instagram, feel free to connect with us and share your vision. From seamless consulting and project understanding to streamlined delivery, we ensure your app is built and functions the way you want to.  

Looking to create a social platform like Instagram and disrupt the visual-sharing landscape, contact us today and witness how we can bring your dreams into reality.

The post How to Build an App like Instagram – Comprehensive Features and a 10-Step Guide appeared first on Unified Infotech.

Precap: Knowing Your Battlefield

The telehealth industry is moving full steam ahead, and honestly, it isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Innovations continue to trickle in, with apps like Amwell and Practo emerging as forerunners in the space, making access to health systems more seamless and accessible.

In number-speak, the global telehealth market is projected to reach over $659 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of around 24%. In 2024, over 116 million people signed up for doctor consultations online, twice as many as in 2019. By 2028, that number is expected to climb to around 130 million, covering about 1.6% of the population.

These stats speak for themselves. For businesses, there’s never been a better time to jump on the bandwagon and develop a telehealth app like Amwell that could be their golden ticket.

But is this such an easy feat? Not really! The healthcare sector operates on a mercurial landscape of regulations, technologies, and patient needs. Before jumping the gun, it’s important you understand the critical considerations that can make or break your app. 

If you’re toying with the idea of building a custom telehealth app but feel overwhelmed by the maze of legal and technical hurdles, we’re breaking it all down for you. As an industry leader in custom healthcare app development, we’ve curated an ultimate guide that lights up your path to building mobile healthcare applications like Amwell, step by step. 

Understanding Amwell and Practo: What Makes Them One of a Kind?

Selecting Amwell or Practo wasn’t a shot in the dark. It’s a well-calculated move to help you understand who you’re competing against. Let’s take a look at what makes these platforms the gold standard in the healthcare and fitness industry.

Let’s take the case of Amwell. Launched in 2006, Amwell has built its reputation as an advanced, feature-loaded health consultation app, making patient-doctor interactions seamless, personalized, and cost-effective, with a focus on urgent care and specialty consultations. Practo, on the other hand, has created a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem that includes appointment booking, health records management, and even medicine delivery.

The secret sauce? Both Amwell and Practo have figured out how to solve real-world problems that patients and care providers face every day. Long wait times, inconvenient appointments, limited access to specialists — these apps tackle these pain points head-on while maintaining the quality of care that people expect from traditional healthcare settings.

Now that you know who you’re vying against, your first step involves asking the right questions:

• Who are your target users? 
• Are you focusing on general consultations like Amwell?
• Are you targeting specific medical specialties? Maybe you want to carve out a niche in mental health, dermatology, or pediatric care?
• What kind of post-consultation care will your platform offer—follow-ups, telemedicine and e-prescriptions, or health tracking?

Look at what your competitors are doing right, but more importantly, identify what they’re doing wrong. Maybe their user interface feels like a walk through the early internet, or perhaps they’re missing key features that users desperately want. These gaps are your opportunities to shine.

What Features are Essential in a Telehealth App?

Let’s talk about the features that users absolutely expect from a modern telehealth app. Think of these as your non-negotiables:

1. User Registration and Profile Management should be smooth as butter. Nobody wants to spend 20 minutes filling out forms just to book an appointment. Implement social login options, make the onboarding process intuitive, and allow users to easily update their information whenever needed.

2. Doctor Discovery and Booking is where the magic happens. Users need to be able to find the right healthcare provider quickly and easily. This means robust search filters, detailed doctor profiles with qualifications and reviews, real-time availability, and a booking system that actually works without glitches.

3. Video Conferencing is obviously the heart of your app. But here’s where many apps fall short. The video quality needs to be crystal clear, the connection needs to be stable, and the interface needs to be so simple that even your grandmother could use it without help. Consider implementing features like screen sharing for document review and chat functionality for quick questions.

4. Prescription Management is crucial for user retention. Doctors should be able to write and send prescriptions directly through the app, and patients should have easy access to their prescription history. Integration with local pharmacies for prescription fulfillment can be a major differentiator.

5. Payment Integration needs to be secure, seamless, and support multiple payment methods. Think credit cards, digital wallets, insurance integration, and even installment options for expensive treatments.

6. Health Records Management allows users to maintain their medical history, upload test reports, and share relevant information with their healthcare providers. This creates continuity of care that’s often missing in traditional telehealth interactions.

Advanced Features That’ll Give You an Edge

Getting the basics right is important, but integrating advanced features rooted in next-gen technologies is a boss move. Any mobile app development company can vouch for that. However, if you’re new to the game, here’s a look at the advanced features you should focus on.

1. AI-Powered Symptom Checker can help users understand their symptoms before they even book an appointment. This not only provides value to users but also helps doctors prepare for consultations more effectively.

2. Multi-language Support opens up your app to diverse populations. Healthcare is deeply personal, and people feel more comfortable discussing their health in their native language.

3. IoT Device Integration allows users to connect wearable devices and health monitors, providing doctors with real-time health data. This is particularly valuable for managing chronic conditions.

4. Appointment Reminders and Follow-ups reduce no-shows and improve patient engagement. Smart notification systems that adapt to user preferences can significantly boost user retention.

5. Family Account Management lets users manage healthcare for their entire family from a single account. This is especially valuable for parents managing their children’s healthcare needs.

Which Technology Stack Should You Choose to Build Telehealth Apps?

Choosing the right technology stack is like choosing the foundation for your house – get it wrong, and everything else becomes shaky. Here’s what you need to consider:

1. Frontend Development options include React Native or Flutter for cross-platform mobile development, or native development using Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. React Native tends to be more cost-effective and faster to market, while native development offers better performance and platform-specific features.

2. Backend Development requires robust, scalable solutions. Node.js with Express.js offers excellent real-time capabilities perfect for chat and video features. Python with Django provides strong security features crucial for healthcare applications. Java with Spring Boot offers enterprise-level scalability and reliability.

3. Database Management needs to handle sensitive health data securely. PostgreSQL offers excellent ACID compliance and complex query capabilities. MongoDB provides flexibility for storing diverse health data formats. Whatever you choose, ensure it supports encryption at rest and in transit.

4. Video Calling Integration is where you’ll likely want to leverage existing solutions rather than building from scratch. WebRTC provides excellent customization but requires significant development effort. Third-party solutions like Twilio Video, Agora, or Zoom SDK can get you to market faster with proven reliability.

5. Cloud Infrastructure should prioritize security and compliance. AWS offers comprehensive HIPAA-compliant services with excellent scalability. Google Cloud Platform provides strong AI and machine learning capabilities that can enhance your app’s features. Microsoft Azure integrates well with existing healthcare systems and offers robust compliance tools.

How Do We Ensure HIPAA or GDPR Compliance?

Healthcare regulations can be a nightmare, but they’re absolutely critical to get right. The consequences of non-compliance aren’t just financial; they can completely destroy your reputation and shut down your business.

Crucial Compliance Regulations to Consider

1. HIPAA Compliance in the United States requires that all patient health information is protected through administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. Ticking off all the boxes for HIPPA compliance means encrypted data transmission, secure server infrastructure, employee training programs, and detailed audit logs of who accesses what information and when. 

2. GDPR Compliance for European users requires explicit consent for data processing, the right to data portability, and the right to be forgotten. Your privacy policy needs to be crystal clear about what data you collect, how you use it, and how users can control their information.

3. FDA Regulations might apply if your app provides diagnostic capabilities or integrates with medical devices. Understanding whether your app qualifies as a medical device software is crucial for determining your regulatory pathway.

4. State and Local Regulations vary significantly, especially around telemedicine licensing requirements. Doctors typically need to be licensed in the state where the patient is located during the consultation, which can complicate multi-state operations significantly.

Essential Security Standards You Must Meet

1. Data Encryption should be implemented at every level. Use AES-256 encryption for data at rest, TLS 1.3 for data in transit, and consider end-to-end encryption for video consultations and sensitive communications.

2. Authentication and Authorization need to be robust but user-friendly. Implement multi-factor authentication for healthcare providers, biometric authentication options for patients, and role-based access controls to ensure users only see what they’re supposed to see.

3. Audit Logging is required for compliance and helps you identify security issues quickly. Log all access to patient data, maintain detailed consultation records, and implement real-time monitoring for suspicious activities.

How to Develop Telehealth Apps Like Amwell?

The development process for a telehealth app is more complex than your typical mobile app, mainly because of the regulatory requirements and the critical nature of healthcare services. Here’s how to approach it systematically:

1. Planning and Discovery Phase:

The planning phase should take 2-4 weeks and involve gathering detailed requirements, planning technical architecture, analyzing compliance needs, and creating wireframes. Users might want to know specific regulatory requirements like HIPAA compliance for the USA and security measures such as encryption and biometric authentication. Consider market analysis to understand competitors like Teladoc and Doctor on Demand.

2. MVP Development:

MVP development typically takes 4-6 months, focusing on core features like user registration, video consultations, and appointment booking. Users may seek insights on advanced features to plan for, such as AI-driven symptom checkers or integration with wearables, and cost estimates ranging from $30,000 to $55,000 for a basic app. For more advanced features, costs can exceed $90,000.

3. Testing and Quality Assurance:

Testing is critical, including functional, security, usability, and compliance testing. Users might want to know about specific testing for HIPAA compliance, such as penetration testing, and the importance of involving both patients and providers in usability testing. esting costs can be significant, especially for security and compliance, with users potentially spending additional resources on third-party audits. The evidence leans toward ensuring that video consultations are stable and secure, as downtime can affect patient care.

4. Deployment and Launch: 

Deployment involves app store submissions, server setup with scalable cloud solutions like AWS, and implementing monitoring tools. Users may value insights on ensuring multi-platform accessibility and setting up customer support systems, including in-app chatbots.

5. Post-Launch Optimization:

Post-launch, monitor user behavior, gather feedback, fix bugs, and continuously improve based on data. Users might be interested in scalability strategies, adding features like multilingual support, and monetization options like subscription models or in-app purchases.

Monetization Strategies

Users might be interested in revenue models such as:

• Subscription-based access to specialists for ongoing guidance.
• Charging per telehealth session to encourage regular use.
• Partnering with insurers for transaction fees.
• Offering in-app medication purchases for commissions.
• Selling premium content like diet programs or exercise regimens.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Telehealth App?

Let’s talk numbers, because we know cost is a factor that can spark or silence your enthusiasm. The cost of app development for healthcare varies dramatically based on the feature set you’ve set your heart on, the target platforms you’re planning to use or scale on, and the development approach you’re confident about. 

Nevertheless, we’ve shared an estimate for developing a telehealth app to help you budget well.

1. MVP Development: Building a minimum viable product (MVP) typically costs between $80,000 to $200,000, depending on complexity and the development team you choose. This includes basic consultation features, user management, and essential security measures.

2. Full-Featured App Development: The cost can range from $200,000 to $500,000+ for comprehensive platforms with advanced features like AI integration, complex EHR integration, and multi-platform support.

3. Ongoing Costs: Your telehealth app will require regular updates and patches to operate at full capacity, so factoring in ongoing costs is non-negotiable. These costs are significant and often underestimated. Plan to allocate 15–20% of your initial development cost annually for maintenance, security updates, compliance monitoring, and feature enhancements.

4. Infrastructure Costs: These costs depend heavily on your user base and usage patterns. Cloud hosting, video streaming, and data storage costs can range from a few hundred dollars monthly for small user bases to tens of thousands for large-scale operations.

Team Building: How to Assemble Your Dream Squad and What Roles to Hire For?

Building a telehealth app requires a diverse team with specialized skills. Here’s what you need:

1. Healthcare Domain Experts who understand medical workflows, regulatory requirements, and clinical processes. This might be a healthcare consultant, medical advisor, or team member with clinical experience.

2. Mobile App Developers with experience in healthcare applications. Look for developers who have worked with HIPAA compliance, healthcare APIs, and understand the unique challenges of healthcare app/software development.

3. Backend Developers skilled in building scalable, secure server infrastructure. Experience with healthcare data management, API development, and cloud infrastructure is essential.

4. UI/UX Designers who understand healthcare user experience. Healthcare apps require a different approach to design than typical consumer apps, focusing on clarity, accessibility, and trust-building.

4. Quality Assurance Engineers with healthcare testing experience. Testing healthcare apps requires understanding of clinical workflows and compliance requirements.

5. Legal and Compliance Specialists who can navigate healthcare regulations and ensure your app meets all necessary requirements.

Thinking hiring telehealth app developers can be a costly affair? Share your requirements with the mobile app development team at Unified Infotech and build an online medical consultation app like Amwell or Practo while saving hundreds of dollars. 

Get in touch right away!

How Long Will it Take to Build and Launch a Telehealth App?

Developing a telehealth app typically requires 3 to 6 months for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), with timelines extending to 9 to 12 months or more for a fully featured solution. The duration depends on factors such as app complexity, feature set, platform choices (iOS, Android, web), and compliance requirements. 

Key Development Phases

1. Discovery & Planning (2–4 weeks): Define the app’s purpose, target audience, and core features.

2. Design (2–3 weeks): Create user-friendly interfaces for patients, providers, and administrators. 

3.Development (8–16 weeks): Implement core functionalities like video consultations, appointment scheduling, and secure messaging.

4. Testing & Compliance (2–4 weeks): Ensure the app meets quality standards and complies with regulations like HIPAA or GDPR.

5. Deployment & Feedback (1–2 weeks): Launch the app and gather user feedback for future enhancements.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Learning from others’ mistakes can save you months of development time and thousands of dollars. Here are the most common pitfalls I see in telehealth app development:

1. Underestimating Compliance Requirements is probably the biggest mistake. HIPAA compliance isn’t just a checkbox – it requires ongoing effort, documentation, and monitoring. Budget significantly more time and money for compliance than you think you need.

2. Ignoring Healthcare Provider Workflow leads to apps that look good but don’t work in real clinical settings. Spend time shadowing healthcare providers, understanding their daily workflows, and designing your app to fit into their existing processes rather than forcing them to change.

3. Poor Video Quality can make or break your app. Users expect high-quality, reliable video connections. Invest in robust video infrastructure and test extensively across different network conditions and devices.

4. Overlooking Scalability is a common problem as apps grow. Design your infrastructure to handle growth from day one. It’s much easier to build scalability in from the beginning than to retrofit it later.

5. Inadequate Customer Support is particularly damaging in healthcare apps where user issues can be urgent. Plan for 24/7 customer support capabilities and train your support team on healthcare-specific issues.

Conclusion: Your Next Steps

The telehealth market is huge and growing, but success requires more than just a good idea. It requires dedication, significant investment, and a deep commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. If you’re ready for that challenge, the opportunity is massive.

The future of healthcare is digital, and there’s still plenty of room for innovative solutions that truly serve patients and providers. Whether you’re building the next Amwell or creating something completely new, focus on solving real problems, maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance, and never forgetting that behind every user interaction is a real person seeking help with their health.

Ready to get started? The journey ahead is challenging, but the potential impact makes it absolutely worth it.

The post How to Build a Telehealth App Like Amwell or Practo? appeared first on Unified Infotech.

These user interfaces are becoming crucial parts of modern mobile app development services as they enable a more intuitive, hands-free and personalized interaction. With VUI in play, mobile app development is moving towards a more convenience-oriented and user interaction-driven approach, combining voice capabilities with everyday apps to offer a better customer experience.

What is Voice User Interface (VUI)?

Voice User Interface, or VUI, is a mobile interface that allows users to use and interact with the application through voice, speech or audio commands. Unlike traditional Graphical User interfaces (GUI), which are dependent on visual elements or textual commands to fetch output, VUI leverages the understanding, processing and response of audio or voice commands to execute actions, gather information and facilitate communication. Siri, for example, is a brilliant use case for VUI, where the application receives input in an audio format, processes it and responds with relevant information as a voice chat, all while reducing the time and friction of using the app. By providing a hands-free and eyes-free interface, VUI is changing the way users interact with systems and applications.

Like any other interface, VUI is built on a complex construct of layers and frameworks that need to work in tandem for efficient voice interactions. With the correct implementation and integration of VUI, web and mobile apps can deploy out-of-the-box voice-centric solutions that enhance their customer experience and improve engagement. Core components of voice user interface design include:

• Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR): Converts audio/voice commands into readable text
• Natural Language Understanding (NLU): Interprets user intent from audio/voice commands
• Text-to-Speech (TTS): Converts text responses into audio/voice replies for the user

Together, these 3 elements are responsible for creating seamless voice interactions between users and systems that mimic, and are digitally closest to, human interactions.`

Key Principles of Voice User Interface (VUI)

Designing and developing Voice User Interfaces is very different from traditional user interfaces. The transition from sight to audio is not just about replacing buttons and elements; it is about creating new conversations that are aligned, relevant and helpful. As user queries shift from information to intelligence, user behavior mapping and customer expectations become key pillars in building VUI, and certain practices can help organizations strengthen the development process. Below are some key principles to follow when creating a user-friendly and intuitive Voice User Interface (VUI) for mobile apps.

Natural Language and Simplicity

When developing VUI, keeping the language simple and easy to understand is of the essence. Both users and the app should be able to comprehend and converse in everyday language, not just exact phrases. 

For example, the app should be able to understand simple things like “What’s my ETA to home?” or “What’s my to-do’s?”, rather than rely on specific details like “Navigate my route to 6 Metrotech Center” or “What are my household work for today?”

User Memory Load Minimization

People forget things! Voice user interfaces should be aimed at reducing mental efforts, not adding to them. Ideally, it should mimic a human so much so as to allow the audience to use it as its external memory. Companies should avoid implementing codeword-based or specified prompts like “ To confirm booking, say ‘option 2’ ” or “To continue, repeat your last answer”. People tend to bounce away from remembering stuff and this often attracts unnecessary friction when developing a voice user interface for mobile apps.

Quick Response Feedback and Error Handling

Nobody wants to wait to listen to someone to give them a response. Humans, by nature, are very impatient beings, and when it comes to technology, we assume the best. In a voice user interface setup, quick and clear communication is extremely important. The user must always know what is happening within the system, whether it is gathering data, making a decision, giving out some information, or being stuck somewhere. 

For example, voice cues like “Can you please repeat that, sorry?” or “Your timer is set for 15 minutes.” can give clear indications to the users if the action has been followed or if there have been any issues. With prompt feedback and error messages, VUI makes the user feel in control of the app, and able to use it as desired.

Context Awareness and Personalization

Voice interactions are one of the most primary and needful abilities of humans. For a user interface to be built for voice and audio interactions, maintaining emotions, context and personalization are key to success. If a voice user interface does not have any one of the 3, it may sound vague, rude, or outright stupid. Mechanical voice responses are things of the past and talking without context is just not a thing anymore. When a user asks about a football match that happened “that night when I was stuck at work”, they expect the system to understand the context, related to the football match and the specific day, and respond for exactly that match. 

It is imperative for voice user interfaces to be more personal and human in their responses, since they are perceived by our auditory senses and are much more equipped for context and perception building. After all, what we hear is what we remember!

Benefits of Voice User Interface Design in Mobile Apps

The integration and amalgamation of voice UI design in mobile apps has brought about a wave of new features, functionalities and advantages that benefit both the user and the application experience. Below are some of the major benefits of introducing voice UI design in mobile apps.

The Power of Accessibility

With the digital landscape outgrowing expectations every day, the introduction of Voice-enabled mobile applications and conversational UI for mobile apps has transformed the entire landscape. Breaking down traditional barriers and being available more conveniently, voice UI is catering to users with disabilities, especially those challenged with vision impairment, motor skill impairments and temporary/permanent disabilities. Rather than relying on visual, textual and touch interactions, users can now execute actions and gather information just by using voice commands.

Convenience at Each Step

Ever feel like you needed to do something but could not because your hands, eyes or mind were occupied by something? 

Voice-enabled mobile apps allow users to interact with and initiate actions on applications when their hands and eyes are preoccupied, like setting a timer while finishing off todos or asking for navigation while driving, without even touching the phone. With convenience being a prime facilitator of mobile app adoption, voice user interface offers exactly what the users want – voice-enabled multitasking, reduced friction and completed tasks.

Speed of Execution

Speaking is significantly faster than reading, typing or tapping on multiple screens. A well-developed voice UI design allows users to complete actions and tasks more quickly, streamlining navigation and reducing the number of steps required, making voice UI for mobile apps increasingly useful for on-the-go scenarios and time-sensitive tasks. For example, asking voice-enabled mobile apps to book a cab while you do the packing is far more convenient and less time-consuming than taking out your phone, opening the cab booking app, searching and booking a cab altogether. With voice user interfaces (VUI), interaction and friction between users and apps are diminished, which exponentially enhances productivity and user experience.

Engaging Conversations and Experiences

Voice user interfaces are aimed at offering intuitive and personalized experiences to users that feel more engaging and natural. Voice UI design often tends to align with how normal people communicate in day-to-day life and mimics the tonality, avoiding unnecessary jargon and technical terms. 

This form of conversational UI for mobile apps transforms static user commands into dynamic, human-like conversations, by adopting conversational language, a welcoming approach and a more user-friendly experience. These metrics, in turn, increase the overall usage and session duration of the apps, maintaining user retention and emotional callback for the future. For example, a user is more likely to return to a VUI-enabled app that remembers its name and addresses accordingly than one that doesn’t.

Challenges in Voice User Interface Implementation

Despite its numerous advantages, voice user interfaces still pose certain challenges in the web app development industry.

Speech Recognition Inaccuracy

Voice UI in mobile apps is still in a very rudimentary state and the technology needed to scale it up is not very polished either. When it comes to voice commands, VUI apps generally suffer from accent changes, unclear speech, fillers and background noises. These hinder performance, with voice output either being irrelevant or deviated.

Overcomplicated Voice Commands

Specified words and phrases and overcomplicated language, create unwanted friction at each level of voice UI. Users don’t tend to remember stuff and developing a VUI that initiates actions based on niche commands can not only prove to be counterproductive but also make the users bounce back. 

Privacy Concerns

Since VUI is a voice-based technology and is used in an open-world scenario, users are generally conscious of their surroundings, what they say and what people hear. Private information, plans and data are spoken out loud and the unwanted spread of information leads to complications. Subsequently, users are also conscious of how their voice-based commands are being stored or misused in the AI-powered environment. This privacy issue is one of the challenges that companies have yet to figure out.

Design Intricacy

Voice User Interfaces (VUI) are built on non-visual, contextual conversations that are very different from graphical user interfaces. With no screens to display the information or data, voice user interface design relies on creating meaningful, human-like interactions that not only execute actions but also offer assurance. 

Speech Pattern Testing

In pursuit of launching a new voice-enabled mobile app, companies often surpass real-world speech pattern testing. With each human and their interaction being unique, it is important for VUI apps to understand the emotion, intent and tone of the voice commands. Humans don’t talk like robots, no one does. Companies need to test their voice-enabled mobile apps with real users to understand and learn how people normally speak. With this feedback, voice user interfaces can evolve from a response to real communication.

Real-world Use Cases for Voice User Interface

Google Maps Voice Commands

With the voice-enabled Google Maps, users can communicate with, navigate and control the app without even touching the phone. It is like driving and asking your friend for directions – no fuss, just info.

Amazon Alexa

Alexa is Amazon’s very own voice-enabled home assistant that lets users execute actions based on audio commands, as desired. With a singular voice user interface, Alexa allows users to control smart home aspects, play music, set timers and even converse, all without a touch.

Spotify Voice Search

Spotify has gone a level up when it comes to consumer engagement, retention and music discovery – with its voice-enabled music search, users can now hum or sing a song to search it. This reduces the unnecessary friction of memorizing every song every time someone wants to hear it.

Google Assistant

Much like Alexa, Google Assistant also allows for a voice-enabled, conversational experience when it comes to understanding scenarios and executing tasks. In addition to controlling smart home apps, music and timers, Google Assistant can also initiate audio/video calls, send emails, read out notifications and weather updates and whatnot! 

Starbucks Voice Ordering App

With Starbucks’ voice-enabled app, customers can now order their favorite coffee with just a voice command, making repeat actions faster and smoother.

The Future of Voice User Interface (VUI)

Voice user interfaces have already seen a surge in demand and the potential of the emerging technology. With AI and machine learning in play, voice user interfaces are set to expand and become more context-aware, multilingual and personalized. Deeper integrations with AR/VR technologies, smart home devices, wearables and mobile apps will create enhanced omnichannel voice experiences that cater not only to information but to intent. 

For mobile app developers, Voice UI is a tool to deliver smarter and superior customer experiences packed with convenience, agility and inclusivity. By adopting upcoming UI/UX trends and best practices, companies can attune their tech accordingly and future-proof their mobile app strategies to stay ahead of user expectations.

At Unified Infotech, we specialize in building future-ready mobile apps with seamless Voice UI integration. Whether you’re looking to enhance accessibility, boost engagement, or streamline user interactions, our expert team can help you design voice-first experiences that resonate with your audience.

Ready to elevate your app with a seamless voice user interface? Contact us today to explore how we can bring your vision to life.

The post The Ultimate Voice User Interface (VUI) Guide for Mobile App Development appeared first on Unified Infotech.

With the right strategies up your sleeve, you can successfully cap mobile app development costs while still ensuring a high-impact app that resonates with and delights your target markets.

The global mobile app market is booming — valued at $260.85 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $407.31 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.4%. Yet many businesses face budget leaks and overruns, with studies showing that 62% of app projects exceed their initial budget due to unclear goals or scope creep.

As you scroll further, our guide will outline six practical strategies that have helped your business peers cut mobile app development costs by a wide margin. It’ll also dive into:

• The key factors affecting the cost of building a mobile app
• The exact formula for calculating mobile app costs
• And much more!

So, let’s get to the crux — fast.

Why Cost Management Matters in App Development

Before diving into the sure-shot strategies, let’s set the stage. 

At present, there were over 4.1 million apps across iOS and Android stores in 2023, and that number has steadily grown to approximately 5.8 million in 2025. Seeing these numbers, it’s tempting to think app development is cheap, but it really isn’t.

Even the simplest of apps can cost $40,000 – $60,000, while complex ones often exceed $100,000. Without proper planning, the cost of mobile app development easily spirals, putting your business at a deep risk.

For instance, a PMI study discovered that over 45% of software projects, including mobile apps, stray from the budget due to poor requirement planning or lack of iterative processes. However, there’s always a way out!

If you know the right cost-saving strategies to tap into, you can prevent your budget from derailing, and we’re here to open the vault of valuable insights for you.

How to Calculate the Mobile App Development Cost?

Now, that’s a tricky question!

We tell you why. Different companies operate differently. Cost changes in proportion to where a company operates and how much it produces/sells. Let’s walk you through the key factors that greatly affect the cost of mobile app development. 

Key Factors Affecting Mobile App Development Costs

1. App Complexity: Simple apps (e.g., a basic informational or productivity manager app) will cost less than complex ones (e.g., apps with  integrated payment systems, real-time tracking, or complex user interfaces). The more aspirational you’re, the more features and integrations you’d choose, the higher the development time and costs would go. 

2. Platform Choice: Developing for both Android and iOS platforms will jack up the cost compared to a single-platform app. Cross-platform app development using frameworks like Flutter can help cut costs, but it may still require extras. 

3. Development Team: The size and expertise of the team you’re willing to work with can influence the cost. Highly skilled developers or specialized teams will typically charge higher rates due to their expertise.

4. Location: Labor costs vary based on the geographic location (e.g., North America vs. Eastern Europe or India). Trying offshoring, however, might offer cost savings. Offshore app development teams can help drive down costs, but there may be trade-offs in terms of communication and time zones.

5. Design & User Experience: Custom design and UX work require a larger budget, especially for apps targeting premium experiences. Well-designed apps that emphasize user experience tend to require more resources for design, prototyping, and testing.

6. Post-launch Support: Don’t forget ongoing maintenance, updates, and bug fixes. Setting a budget aside for long-term support makes sure your app’s fully functional and up-to-date. 

A Basic Formula to Estimate Mobile App Development Cost

App development costs are rarely fixed — they shift depending on features, tech stack, and more. Yet, we’ve built a formula that can help CTOs and tech leaders like you to come up with an estimate.

*Hourly Rate
Rates vary by region and team expertise, typically ranging from $25 to $200+ per hour.

*Development Hours
Development time depends on app complexity: simple apps may take 500-800 hours, while complex ones can require 1,500-5,000+ hours.

*Additional Costs

• Design and User Experience (UX/UI).
• Backend development and integration (databases, servers).
• Testing and QA.
• Deployment and app store fees.
• Post-launch support (maintenance, updates).
• Emerging technologies integration.

6 Strategies to Reduce Mobile App Development Costs

Here’s a clear breakdown of six effective ways to save money on your app project. Each strategy is explained simply, with practical benefits and how UIPL can help you implement it.

1. Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

An MVP is often mistaken for a prototype, but the two serve different business agenda. It’s a stripped-down version of your app with only the core features needed to test your idea with real users. Think of it as a pilot episode for your app that’s enough to hook your audience without filming the whole season. Building an MVP typically costs $5,000–$10,000, compared to $50,000 or more for a full-featured app. It lets you launch quickly, gather user feedback, and make improvements without sinking funds into untested features.

• Why it works: By focusing on essentials, you validate your concept early, reducing the risk of costly redesigns. For example, apps like Dropbox started as MVPs, proving demand before scaling up.

2. Embrace Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform development means building one app that runs on both iOS and Android using a single codebase, with tools like Flutter or React Native. It can cut costs by up to 30% compared to developing separate native apps for each platform. You save on development time and maintenance while reaching both iOS’s 2 billion and Android’s 3 billion users.

• Why it works: A shared codebase means less coding and faster updates, ensuring a consistent experience across devices. It’s ideal for startups or businesses targeting broad audiences.

3. Leverage No-Code and Low-Code Platforms

No-code and low-code platforms, like Bubble or Adalo, let you build apps using drag-and-drop interfaces, reducing the need for traditional coding. These platforms can slash development time by up to 50%, with affordable pricing models that minimize reliance on expensive developers. They’re ideal for non-technical founders or small teams.

• Why it works: You can prototype and launch apps quickly, aligning features with your business needs from day one. Many successful startups use these tools to test ideas before scaling. 

4. Outsource to Cost-Effective Regions

Outsourcing means hiring developers from regions like India, where hourly rates are lower—$40–$60 compared to $50–$250 in the US. Lower labor costs can significantly reduce your budget, especially for large projects, while freeing up your in-house team for core tasks.

• Why it works: When managed well, outsourcing delivers quality results at a fraction of the cost. However, choosing reliable partners is crucial to avoid delays or quality issues. Partner with Unified Infotech to outsource mobile app development cost and empower your business with high-quality, cost-efficient solutions. We take the guesswork out of outsourcing and follow a rigorous vetting process that ensures you work with top-tier developers in cost-effective regions, delivering seamless execution and high-quality apps.

5. Utilize Open-Source Tools and Templates

Open-source tools, like Flutter, React Native, or Android Studio, are free software supported by developer communities, available for anyone to use or customize. They can reduce costs by up to 55% compared to proprietary software, as you avoid licensing fees and benefit from community-driven updates.

• Why it works: These tools are flexible, reliable, and backed by large communities, ensuring your app stays secure and up-to-date without extra costs.

6. Implement Agile Methodologies

Agile is a development approach that breaks your project into small, manageable “sprints,” with regular feedback to guide progress. By catching issues early, Agile reduces costly rework and keeps your project aligned with user needs, minimizing budget overruns.

• Why it works: Its flexibility allows you to adapt to changes without derailing your budget, ensuring every dollar spent adds value to your app.

Additional Insights to Boost Savings

Besides these six expert-backed strategies, you can consider these tips to further optimize your mobile app development budget.

• Reuse existing code: Libraries or pre-built modules can speed up development, saving time and money.
• Simplify design: Clean, minimal designs reduce development complexity and testing needs.
• Use cloud services: Pay-as-,you-go models, like AWS or Google Cloud, cut infrastructure costs compared to building your own servers.
• Use automation: Automated testing tools like Selenium catch bugs early and speed up software development lifecycle, lowering rework expenses.
• Try open-source tools: Free tools like React Native and Flutter build robust apps, slashing licensing fees.

Quick Guide: Cost-Saving Strategies in Mobile App Development

Here’s a table summarizing the strategies and their benefits for easy reference:

UIPL’s Value Proposition

At UIPL, we take a holistic approach, balancing these surefire tactics with our core strategies to maximize savings while building your app. What sets us apart is our collaborative guiding beliefs. 

We’re not just a development firm. We work as an extension of your team — anchored to the values of reliability and trust — and build cost-effective, high-performance apps.

With the mobile app market soaring toward $407.31 billion by 2026, now’s the time to launch your app affordably and effectively. UIPL’s proven strategies—MVP focus, cross-platform builds, no-code solutions, smart outsourcing, open-source tools, and agile processes—ensure you get a high-quality app without the hefty price tag.

The post 6 Proven Ways to Reduce Mobile App Development Costs appeared first on Unified Infotech.

Well, you are not alone! 

Hundreds of software development leaders around the world face this crucial choice – to employ microservices or move forward with a serverless architecture. By experience, we know the right  architecture can be a deal-maker or breaker on your solution performance, UI/UX and scalability. However, in this debate on microservices vs. serverless, both the methodologies offer their unique set of benefits and serve completely different requirements. 

While microservices are preferred by applications requiring more hands-on management, server control and backend infrastructure, serverless architecture is popular among apps needing quick development/deployment with the aim of scaling rapidly. With a myriad of software development tools around every corner, it is a choice that requires careful planning and accurate goal mapping.

Below we have summarized an in-depth analysis and comparison on the microservices vs. serverless dilemma, aimed at helping you choose what is right for your next project.

What are Microservices?

Microservices architecture is a software development methodology that builds an application as a combination of small, loosely dependent, but inter-connected services. Each individual service is responsible for carrying out a specific functionality within the framework and is developed, deployed and scaled independently. Each of these services perform or add to certain functions that collectively contribute to the overall experience that the application offers, be it from web, mobile or any other source.

In essence, microservices is a software development approach that enables building large-scale applications via smaller, more manageable independent components. The microservices approach allows each function to scale autonomously and redefine the application without disrupting the core architecture, its processes and the performance. Being highly focused with its self-contained processes, microservices are designed to reengineer operations efficiently, without any downtime or server issues. 

Think of it as a team of highly efficient developers – each developing singular entities perfectly, that combine to make the whole application run. Global companies like Netflix, Amazon and Spotify are known to use and develop microservices to stay fast, flexible and ahead of the competition. 

Key Benefits of Microservices

Independent Development / Deployment Cycle

One of the primary advantages that microservices development approach offers is the flexibility to build, test, and deploy each service separately. This approach allows various teams to work on various parts of the application simultaneously, accelerating development time and reducing time-to-market for new feature releases and updates.

Fault Isolation

Another major benefit of microservices approach for software development is improved and more effective fault isolation. Unlike monolithic applications, where single system failures can bring the entire application down, microservices contain the fault within one service and isolate it from the rest of the application, enabling systematic maintenance and repair. This approach makes sure that the failure in one service does not affect the rest of the application, minimizing system-wide disparity and improving stability.

Easier, More Flexible Scaling

When working in a microservices architecture, it is way easier to scale an application based on the feature demand, as each individual service (working together to run the application) can be independently scaled and deployed. This comes in handy for applications that work with varying and uneven workloads and usage patterns across different functionalities, allowing business owners to allocate resources optimally for each microservice.

What is Serverless?

Serverless architecture approach of custom software development is an innovative cloud computing model that enables developers to write code and build applications without having to manage the underlying (backend) infrastructure. In this environment, a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) takes care of the entire provisioning, scaling and maintenance processes needed to run the app, allowing developers to focus more on writing impactful code.

When working in a serverless architecture, each function is developed as an event-based trigger, working only when a specific action has been taken. Development scales automatically and is cost-effective in a serverless environment, since most of the provisioning and management is automated, and payment is required only when a service has been used. 

Amazon’s AWS Lambda is one of the most renowned tools for serverless development approach, followed closely by Azure Functions and Google Cloud Functions. By accurately leveraging the serverless approach, businesses can enhance their overall performance and  efficiency, reduce operational costs and enable quick adoption to ever-changing market trends.

Key Benefits of Serverless

Scalable and Flexible

One of the primary benefits of employing serverless architecture is the ease of resource allocation in response to the demand generated. These platforms automatically allocate the computing resources based on data. This means that as the demand grows and the application needs a ramp-up, the infrastructure automatically scales to meet the needs, without any manual intervention. 

Cost Efficient

When working in a serverless environment, users only pay for the exact computing resource that has been used, rather than paying for and maintaining the entire pre-allocated resource stack. This results in significant cost savings, especially for applications and solutions that have variable workloads or fluctuating usage patterns.

Accelerated Time-to-Market

In a serverless environment, there is no need to maintain and manage server infrastructure by developers. This freedom helps  the tech team focus deeper into building features and writing the code. With this seamless process, time-to-market for new feature updates and product iterations is  significantly reduced, making the application/solution readily available for launch.

Want to talk about which architecture to choose? Contact us and we will reach out to help you!

Key Differences Between Microservices vs. Serverless

Even though microservices vs. serverless is a huge debate, and the two methodologies are compared all the time, there are certain parameters that conclude they are very different from one another, under the hood. Below is a detailed comparison on microservices vs. serverless.

Infrastructure Maintenance Responsibility

When it comes to microservices vs. serverless approach, infrastructure management plays a crucial role. In the case of microservices, the development usually requires a more hands-on approach and is dependent on the dev team of the organization, be it in-house or outsourced. This team is responsible for managing, monitoring, deploying, supporting and maintaining the infrastructure, whether deployed on containers or virtual machines. All the aspects of the architecture, from framework and computing to security are also managed by the development team.

In case of serverless, maintenance and management of infrastructure and IT resources is taken care of by a third-party Cloud Service Provider (CSP). With all internal processes and server maintenance being taken care of by the third-party service provider, developers focus on curating meaningful code that lasts, reduces project costs, avoids recruitment expenses and eliminates hardware investments / storage costs altogether.

Cost Model

When the cost question comes in, microservices vs. serverless pose very different offerings. When it comes to microservice architecture, they are generally less cost-efficient due to their billing models. Developers might know that the initial stages in developing microservices are costlier than serverless – the development requires several teams and members to work on specific components and amalgamate them via APIs. Since the internal development team is directly involved in a microservices approach, development, support and maintenance costs are higher. There is, however, more control and autonomy, with no interference from 3rd party vendors and risks of potential vendor lock-ins.

In a serverless architecture, the costs are generally lower since these functions are billed according to the number of events that triggered the code deployment, and the majority of the resources and server maintenance are taken care of by external cloud service providers. In this case, serverless architecture follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where payment is charged only when the code is executed. Developers and the tech team are required only to write specific codes and code elements, which are then automatically deployed. With no need for server and hardware experts, serverless development architecture reduces the go-to-market time, overall costs, and development complexity.

Development / Deployment Strategy

Development/deployment strategy for microservices vs. serverless also differs vastly. In microservices, each service is developed, tested, and deployed independently as containerized services using platforms like Docker and Kubernetes. This gives granular control to the Dev team but also demands full involvement. It offers more customization to the development cycle but also requires more coordination, expertise, and time from the tech team.

Serverless, on the other hand, are functions that are developed and deployed as event-triggered services aimed at rapid development and deployment cycles with higher agility and less complexity. In this approach, server management and underlying infrastructure are handled by a CSP, which allows the applications to be automatically packaged, deployed, and scaled. The pipeline is also simplified; however, flexibility limitations around execution environment customization and runtime do occur.

Scalability

In the scalability arena, both microservices and serverless models are considered highly scalable. Both these models allow the addition of new users to software solutions while achieving high performance. The difference, however, comes in the level of control vs. the level of automation offered by the two architectures.

In microservices, each function can be scaled independently, on demand – this means that microservices need manual and/or semi-automated scaling processes for each service, generally employing autoscaling container orchestration, giving the developer more control. In serverless, scaling for each individual function is automatic and based on triggered events, without any prior setup required. This is especially useful for applications with inconsistent traction and event-based triggers.

Vendor Lock-in

When it comes to microservices, the architecture offers greater portability and flexibility across cloud-native platforms, especially when using containerization standards like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes microservices. This flexibility enables the adoption of multi-cloud strategies easier and shifts providers with minimal work.

In serverless architecture, the approach often depends on provider-specific services such as AWS Lambda or Azure Functions. These third-party integrations streamline the development cycle but can lock the business in a specific ecosystem. This makes migration of serverless applications more complex due to proprietary configurations and APIs, usually involving rewriting code, new event model adaptations, and reconfigurations.

Granularity and Scope

Granularity in software development refers to how much smaller or finer a system can be broken down into individual working services or components. In the context of microservices vs. serverless, both are considered to be more granular than at least monolithic architecture. There are, however, subtle differences that make or break the deal. 

In microservices architecture, the applications can be easily broken down into smaller modular functions, each responsible for carrying out a specific task in the larger workflow. These independently deployable services provide greater control and scope as it directly affects the wider ecosystem of the organization. 

Serverless architecture, on the other hand, takes granularity one step ahead – into individual functions. Here, each function is designated to execute a specific action only on an event-based trigger, and can be developed, maintained, and scaled independently. This precise granularity enables efficient scaling and cost control – however, certain complexities do arise when managing and handling multiple functions for larger, more bulky workflows.

Complex Applications vs. Short-term Services

The microservices vs. serverless debate has its roots in the execution model and strategies as well. At their core, these two models offer completely different strengths. Microservices are designed, developed, and deployed for persistent applications that will need to run in the long -term. Here, microservices can constantly operate to handle various complex and evolving business requirements, provide better scalability and flexibility, and help organizations build an enterprise-grade ecosystem.

Serverless architecture, on the other hand, is designed for applications that need efficiency and quick response. Services in this model are event-driven and only an external input can trigger the function, meaning no processing without input. This makes serverless an on-demand model and eliminates unwanted CPU usage, reducing associated costs and overheads.

Runtime in Microservices vs. Serverless

Microservices generally run on dedicated virtual machines and are built for larger applications with heavier workflows and longer duration tasks. They process greater quantities of data and need reliable operational capacity. Since the functions are maintained by the internal Devops team, there are no limitations to the execution runtime of the functions, storage used, or RAM. Developers can expend as much resources as they want until their services are executed.

Serverless functions, on the other hand, come with strict runtime limitations set by the specific providers. Since all the infrastructure and server maintenance is the responsibility of the CSP, developers need to abide by the limits. For example, AWS Lambda limits the execution runtime to 15 minutes, whereas some other provider can offer something else too. By design, these functions are intended for short-term processes and reduce RAM usage.

Want to talk about which architecture to choose? Contact us and we will reach out to help you!

Microservices Vs. Serverless Use Cases

Microservices

Microservices is generally employed when the app in question is set to undertake larger tasks and perform heavier duty execution with multiple independent features. Microservices architecture is ideal for larger enterprise platforms and solutions needing custom architecture and SaaS products with tons of business logic.

Large-scale eCommerce Platforms

Allowing different teams to work simultaneously and independently across product catalogs, payments, user accounts, order fulfillment, etc., microservices enable scaling of each service separately based on demand.

Streaming Services

Audio and video streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify, who process data in real-time, also use microservices to efficiently handle user preferences, playback management, billing, content recommendations, and subscriptions individually. 

Fintech and Banking Services

Certain fintech and banking services also deploy microservices for a more secure and independent model of system, which handles user authentication, fraud detection, customer service, and transaction processing.

Enterprise SaaS Products

Large-scale business software like ERP, CRM, POS, project management tools, etc., heavily use microservices to develop manageable, customizable services, which ensures customer reliability and compliance without hurting the system.

Supply Chain Management and Logistics Systems

SCM systems and logistics need microservices to individually develop, scale and track inventory management, fleet management, order tracking, delivery scheduling, etc. which allows for greater flexibility and control.

Serverless

The serverless architecture is typically used when the application in question needs to get market ready quickly without the hassle of infrastructure management. It is ideal for building MVPs and applications with smaller APIs, automation scripts, and event-based triggers.

Event-driven Architecture / Applications

Serverless architecture is perfect for applications that execute functions based on certain triggers like file uploads, user clicks, database updates, etc. 

Real-time Data Processing

Applications that work on real-time data processing and rendering also use the serverless approach to development, as consuming, filtering, and analyzing streaming data (IoT sensor data) becomes way easier and faster.

Scheduled Tasks

Serverless is great when periodic, repetitive tasks like database backups and email reports need to be executed without the need for managing server infra.

Mobile and Web Apps Backend

Serverless is often used for mobile and web apps where the services need to handle APIs, multiple authentications, notifications, and user management. Here, businesses and developers need not worry about server maintenance, just focus on code.

Chatbots and Voice Assistants

To develop lightweight, quick response apps like bots and virtual assistants, serverless play a niche role and manages user messaging and voice commands promptly.

Microservices vs. Serverless – What is The Right Fit For Your Business ?

With all that we have talked about, it is evident that when it comes to microservices vs. serverless, the question is not about choosing the better option, but choosing what is the right fit for your business needs. Both microservices and serverless approaches offer their own unique advantages and come with their innate limitations. The borderline?

• Choose microservices when you need full control and transparency, high resilience, and maximum flexibility.
• Choose serverless when you need rapid development and deployment, low maintenance, and overhead and easier scalability.

Unified Infotech – Your Top Partner for Microservices vs. Serverless Development

We know choosing between these two is not easy. While both the architectures offer their set of unique advantages, they both come with their considerations as well. We understand the core granular differences between microservices and serverless and how each can seem enticing and yet not suited to the needs.

Microservices are great for longevity, durability and consistency but incur significant server, infrastructure, maintenance and overhead costs. It requires skilled Devops to handle business-critical complexities and generally has a longer development cycle. 

Serverless are perfect when quick deployment, independent scaling and internal support is not in need. However, various limitations and constraints come into play from the CSP – vendor lock-in, runtime and execution limits, cold start latency and monitoring issues. Even though the development cycle is shorter, with less control over the infrastructure, fine-tuning of server, scaling and network policies is restricted.

So what should you choose?

Here is where Unified Infotech can help you! 

With our experience of over 15 years in the custom software development and web development and design industry, we understand the dilemma of choosing the right architecture for your next project. Unified Infotech can vouch to put its best foot forward and employ the best suited architecture for your application stack on a whole. With our analytical skills and expert knowledge in the domain, we can accurately map your business needs with the technical goals and growth plans of the organization to suggest the architecture that works the best.

We have expertise in:

• Scalable microservices using Kubernetes, Docker, and cloud-native apps / tech.
• High-tech serverless apps on Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud
• CI/CD pipelines for quick development and deployment
• Best-in-class security and compliance
• Proven custom software development and deployment methodologies

Partner with us today and witness a transformed tomorrow! Acquire strategic guidance and insights on high-performance development; learn how to support and scale your business perpetually and keep innovating to suit your needs, no matter which architecture. 

Talk to us and learn how a tech partner can adapt to your business requirements and not loiter around the bush. We answer the Call.

Need to know more about us – here is how we work and who we are!

The post Microservices vs. Serverless: Which One Should You Choose? appeared first on Unified Infotech.

But those legacy applications? They’re a revenue killer.

The truth is, if your company continues clinging to outdated tools and technologies, it’s cooking up a recipe for disaster. Legacy applications not only hamper efficiency but also limit performance scalability, sending your business into a growth nosedive.

Fortunately, hiring legacy application modernization services can unlock real business opportunities.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to spot the signs that your business needs legacy modernization. You’ll also learn:

• What legacy applications are.
• Why updating them can save the day.
• The six loud-and-clear signs that your tech has passed its expiration date and you must modernize your legacy apps and systems.

Ready? Set. Go!

What are Legacy Applications?

Let’s start with the basics. A legacy application is any software, hardware, or IT infrastructure that’s outdated but still in use.

Case in point: mainframe computers from the 80s, applications coded in languages like COBOL, or even that CRM your company adopted back in 2005. These are classic examples of legacy apps and systems — built for a different era, tackling problems that existed in the past, not today.

While statements like “legacy applications don’t work at all” might not hold true, it’s critical to optimize or replace them to prevent your business from being dragged down. 

They might still function, but these are often rigid, slow, and incompatible with modern demands, making them a liability in a world where agility and scalability are non-negotiable.

What is Legacy Application Modernization?

Legacy application modernization is the process of updating or replacing outdated software, hardware, or IT infrastructure to meet modern business demands. These applications, often decades old, were once effective but now fail to meet the hyper-competitive demands of today, including speed, security, and scalability.

However, modernizing software systems and applications doesn’t necessarily mean scrapping everything; it requires a strategic, tailored approach. A legacy system upgrade list might include:

• Migrating to cloud platforms
• Rewriting code in current language
• Integrating with advanced technologies like AI or IoT
• Enhancing interfaces while preserving core functionality

The overarching objective of legacy application modernization strategies is clear: to optimize performance, reduce operational costs, and ensure compatibility with today’s digital ecosystem.

A McKinsey survey revealed that 75% of executives acknowledge that legacy systems hinder growth and innovation, underscoring the urgency for modernization initiatives. Application and software modernization is often hailed as an “indispensable enabler” of business continuity, equipping organizations to adapt swiftly, enhance security, and remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic landscape.

6 Telltale Signs Your Business Needs Legacy Modernization Services

So, the real question is: how do you know if your business software app’s due for an upgrade? Here are six signs that become the harbinger of truth. 

1. Your System’s Slower Than a Dial-Up Modem

If your employees are twiddling their thumbs waiting for screens to load or processes to finish, you’ve got a problem. Legacy applications weren’t built for today’s data volumes or user expectations. A 2023 study by IDC found that 68% of businesses with outdated IT report significant delays in day-to-day operations. Customers don’t have patience for lag either — slow apps or websites can tank your reputation fast. Modern systems, especially cloud-based ones, are built for speed and scale. If your tech feels like it’s stuck in the past, it’s time to make the switch.

2. You’re Spending More on Maintenance Than Innovation

Legacy applications are money pits. The older they get, the more it costs to keep running. Constant patchwork, workarounds, and paying through the nose for specialists who still know how to tackle old systems or technologies. A 2025 Deloitte survey pegged maintenance costs for legacy infrastructure at 60-80% of some IT budgets—money that could’ve gone to new features or taking growth projects off the ground easily. Modernization gives a respite, enabling an IT ecosystem built for speed and scale and freeing up cash for innovation instead of Band-Aids. If your IT team’s stuck with the outdated applications — and your business efficiency seems to have hit rock bottom — that’s a sign.

3. Security’s a Nightmare

Cybersecurity isn’t optional anymore—it’s a make-or-break priority. Legacy applications, however, are sitting ducks. Many lack modern encryption, can’t handle multi-factor authentication, or haven’t been patched in years because vendors stopped supporting them. IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report says businesses with outdated systems are 2.5 times more likely to get hit by a breach. Take the 2023 Equifax hack—old software played a big role in exposing 147 million people’s data. If your app’s security feels like a game of Russian roulette, modernization should be a part of your business agenda.

4. Integration’s a Headache

Today’s businesses thrive on connectivity—think CRMs syncing with marketing platforms, or supply chain software talking to analytics dashboards. Legacy systems, though, don’t gel well with modern tech. They’re often silos, built before APIs were a thing, and forcing them to integrate is like jamming a square peg into a round hole. A 2024 Forrester study found that 73% of companies with legacy applications struggle to adopt new tools like AI or automation because of compatibility issues. If your team’s spending more time on manual data entry than actual work, modernization can neutralize the roadblocks.

5. You’re Losing Talent (and Customers)

Younger employees expect slick, intuitive tools—not “dinosaur” interfaces that offer a steep learning curve to navigate. A 2025 LinkedIn report showed that 41% of IT professionals have left jobs partly due to outdated applications and systems. Speaking of customers, they can feel it too. If your app crashes, your website’s lags, or your service’s a let-down, they’ll jump ship to a competitor with avant-garde tech, so plan for modernizing. NOW! 

6. You Can’t Keep Up With the Market

Business moves fast these days—new competitors, shifting regulations, customer demands emerging or fluctuating overnight. Legacy applications aren’t built for that kind of agility. They’re rigid, hard to update, and slow to scale. Take the rise of AI-driven personalization—companies like Amazon are killing it because their tech can pivot fast. If your system takes six months to roll out a small change, you’re toast. A 2024 McKinsey report found that businesses with modernized infrastructure are 50% more likely to seize new market opportunities. If you’re watching rivals leapfrog you because your tech can’t keep pace, that’s the final nail in the coffin.

Final Thoughts

Legacy applications might’ve gotten your business this far, but holding onto them tightly can derail your business. Modernization can fix what’s broken and set your company up to win in the long run. 

If your business system were in its last legs, the signs would be clear: sluggish performance, ballooning costs, security gaps, integration woes, unhappy talent, and a business that can’t pivot fast enough. If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to call in legacy application modernization services. 

Is your business ready to take the leap? Connect with Unified’s experts today.

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