Have you been also impressed with the all-new concept of chatting at Clubhouse? Looking to create a social audio app like Clubhouse? But how much does it cost to create a voice-streaming app and what features do you need to include in the app to achieve success?

Here in this blog, we have covered everything from estimating the average cost to creating a social audio app like Clubhouse, its features, tech stacks, and monetization strategies. 

In recent years, Clubhouse-like audio streaming apps have taken the central stage. Though this app concept was introduced during COVID-19 when people were bound to follow social distancing, the impact of this app has made it survive the shift back to normal life as well.

Social audio apps like Clubhouse allow users to participate in live audio conversations. Unlike traditional social media apps that just focus on text, images, and videos, these apps revolve around voice-based communication. 

Users can join “Virtual Rooms” where they can listen to discussions silently, participate in conversations, and even host their audio sessions on various topics.

“As per reports, Clubhouse has over 10 million weekly active users as of 2024, which has significantly increased from 600,000 back in Dec 2020. Moreover, Clubhouse boasts over 9 million monthly downloads.”

This audio-sharing app has created a strong in the domain of social media apps that has forced budding entrepreneur to take a look at developing similar apps. And biggest examples are Facebook and Twitter which have immediately grabbed the trend and introduced new functionalities that allow users to add an end-number of listeners to their audio chat session. 

Are you too planning to create a social audio app like Clubhouse? Hire a top mobile app development company in USA that helps you customize the app with voice streaming features and even upgrade the existing social media app with all new features. Let’s connect now!

Social Audio Streaming App: Key Statistics, Revenue and User Growth

With the reports saying that the global voice recognition tech market is expected to hit $50 billion US dollar by 2029, it is worth saying that the demand for Voice technology in mobile applications will be a new trend.

And planning to create an app that conducts voice-based chat sessions with support for other features will be a great idea. Though it involves an effort and cost to create a social audio app, therefore it is worth taking a thought on that.

Let’s get into the big picture…

According to the reports, the number of users on social apps is 5.07 billion, spending over 2 hours and 24 minutes each day. It means that 63.2% of the total population is using any one of the social apps. 

Users back in 2023, using the voice search feature was around 125.2 million which is already up from 115.2 million in 2019. Considering the increasing demand for voice-integrated apps, it is fair enough to say that Clubhouse like Audio-based social media apps has a bright future. 

If you are finally looking to hire an Android app development company in USA to create a social audio app then take note of what exactly makes Clubhouse so successful and popular…

But What’s Making Clubhouse So Popular?

Clubhouse’s popularity stems from its unique approach to social media. By focusing on real-time voice conversations, Clubhouse seems to be a more authentic and engaging platform that allows users to connect on a deeper level without the distractions of videos or text. 

So here are some highlights of Clubhouse’s popularity that make it a game-changer in the landscape of social media.

• Real-time voice conversation that engages users with live authentic discussions.
• Exclusive access to discussion room which is initially based on invite-only.
• It boasts high-profile users and leading tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. 
• Offering great networking opportunities to professionals and connecting thought leaders in various industries.
• It has a simple interface and allows users to easily navigate the chat rooms and join discussions without any hassle. 

Now you know what exactly makes it a popular choice in the domain of social media, but the ultimate goal is to make money with an app. So how do Clubhouse-like voice streaming apps make money and how it can be a profitable option for you…

Let’s get into that…

How Do Social Audio Apps Make Money?

Whether you are a bootstrapper or a leading enterprise, the ultimate goal of developing an app is to generate revenue for your business. 

Revenue generation is a tricky thing especially when it comes to social media apps. In the case of Clubhouse, they haven’t revealed the monetization strategy and offering it for free as of now.

However, Clubhouse provided content creators with a potential way to make money through their creativity. One such way is giving “tips” to the creators if users enjoy listening to the show. The best part is, that 100% money goes to the creators and keeps them motivated to generate high-quality content solely for Clubhouse.

Apart, here are like few more options that you can opt for to make money off of such platforms include:

• Charging a commission fee for the donations made to the creators.
• Charging fees for providing your platform for placing advertisements for third-party businesses.
• Organizing offline events and selling tickets through this platform.
• Using a subscription model for revenue generation and providing access to premium features based on the monthly/quaterly and yearly plans. 

So these are the few quick ways you can choose to make money. Rest by choosing to hire the top mobile app development company in California, you can better customize the app with such features and functionalities that open up new revenue generation streams. 

How To Create A Social Audio App Like Clubhouse?

So now we are at the core of the blog to learn how to create a social audio app like Clubhouse. Creating a custom voice chat app involves certain steps that may seem complex to many. But I’d suggest, not to cross a 20 minutes blog to everything about the voice chat app development as the ultimate approach to app development is customized by our experts. 

So you can simply choose to fill out the form to directly discuss your app idea and requirements with our tech expert over a 15-minute free consultation call. 

Still, if you are looking for an in-depth guide to creating a voice chat app like Clubhouse then consider this:

Step 1: Identify the Target audience and Market

You may have a dollar app idea and have hired top mobile app developers, but what if it doesn’t have any users? That’s where it’s important to know your audience and their needs. For this, you can refer to asking these questions:

• Are you targeting casual chatters, business professionals, or specific groups with common interests?
• What exactly do they expect from your apps?
• What is the most popular OS they are using – iOS, Android, or cross-platform?
• Are there any specific trends that they need to follow to win the competition?

Step 2: Evaluate Your Competitors

Take a deep look at your competitors like Clubhouse and analyze what features and tech stacks they are using in the app to make it stand apart in the industry. You need to prioritize the features that address the changing requirements and the choice of technologies that make your app run smoothly.

The general tech stack you can refer to for the voice chat app development are:

• Programming Languages: Java/Kotlin (Android), Objective-c/ Swift (iOS), React Native/Flutter (Cross-Platform)
• Cloud Platform: AWS, Microsoft Azure
• Frontend Development: WebSocket, WebRTC
• Backend Development: Node.js, Python
• Database: MongoDB, MySQL
• AI/ML: PyTorch, TensorFlow
• Voice Activity Detection: WebRTC VAD
• NLP: spaCY, NLTK

Step 3: Choose a Reliable App Development Company

Once you finalize the features and tech stack to create a voice chat app, it’s time to hire mobile app developer in USA with expertise in those technologies. 

To create a social audio app like Clubhouse, you need a team of experts that includes a project manager, 2 backend developers, 2 front-end developers, a UI/UX Designer, and a QA engineer. 

Now why we are concerned about hiring a reliable software development company in the USA?

While thinking of choosing the consultancy, you must partner with the right tech professionals as they will be your navigator through the complex landscape of app development.

“And Xicom is one app development company working with a brilliant track record and can be a quick troubleshooter. Moreover, being in this industry for more than 20+ years, they adopt the best and shortest coding practices to ensure your app reaches its destination successfully.”

Step 4: Test and Launch Your App

Once you get your app coded, now it’s time to test the app for potential bugs to ensure smooth and hassle-free performance. From checking buttons to making sure the voice chats flow seamlessly, in-depth testing catches the potential issues before they are caught by users. 

After, that ask your tech partner to launch it on the app store and follow the guidelines.

Unique Features To Create Social Audio App

Features and functionalities are the heart and soul of any app. But at the same time, features can be a budget eater too. So in that case, it is worth looking to hire a mobile app development company in Dallas that can help prioritize the unique features that fit the app requirement and budget limits.

Here are the top features and functionalities that you can refer to create a social audio app:

• User Signup: Let users get register their profile using email ID, mobile number, or social media account. Once they sign up for the account, let them create a profile by adding their specific details such as name, interests, and more.

• Real–time Voice Rooms: Provide access to real-time chat rooms by allowing them to directly join, create, and participate in live audio discussions.

• Moderation Tools: Provide hosts with the tools to manage speaker settings, more participants, and moderate discussions to ensure a flawless experience. 

• Invite–Only Access: Make sure to implement an invite system to create exclusivity and build buzz around the app.

• Clubs and Communities: Allow users to create or join clubs around specific topics, fostering ongoing discussions and networking.

• Personalized Feed: Now this would be one of the most important features that can be used as a perfect marketing tool. To create this feature, consider leveraging the AI algorithm that helps in tracking user behavior and interest. Based on gathered data, offer a tailored feed that aligns with the user’s interest, showing relevant voice-chat rooms and clubs.

• Schedule Events: Let users schedule and promote upcoming discussion events related to various trending topics. Using this feature, users can conduct the event on the app or promote the events organized at various locations. 

• Push Notifications: Notify users about important events, room activities, or invitations to join live conversations. 

• Search Box: Let users filter the chat rooms that align with their interests, using the robust search functionality.

• Recording and Replay: Provide an option to record and replay sessions (it will work with the permission of the room host). It provides value beyond live discussions and allows users to enjoy the session over again.

• Integrating it with Social Media: Allow users to share rooms, events, or profiles on other social media platforms to drive engagement.

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Social Audio App?

An estimated cost to create a social audio app can vary from $20,000 to $50,000+ depending upon the various factors like features, functionalities, UI/UX design, tech stack, complexity of your app, choice of app development team, and more. 

The cost of social media app development can further increase or decrease depending on the overall app complexity and your unique business requirements. Simply put, the more complex your app requirements are, the higher the app development cost and timeframe are.

Let’s give you a rough idea about the cost and time estimation required to develop a social media app based on the complexity.

• A simple basic app will take around 3 months and may cost between $10,000 to $15,000+.
• A medium-level app with all functionalities will take around 6 months and cost between $15,000 to $25,000+.
• The advanced app version with all the modern functionalities would take around 9 months and app development costs can go beyond $45,000+. 

Now further app development costs can be affected by the social media app categories that fall under social media application. They are developed with various features and that is reflected in the final cost estimation. So every business has different requirements, and there is no standard app that fits all. Therefore, there is no standard app development cost. 

For real estimations, it is worth booking a free 15-minute consultation slot with experts to discuss your requirements. 

Conclusion

With this blog guide, hopefully, you have gained an understanding of how voice-chat apps are gaining momentum in this social media landscape and attracting millions of user’s interest. People got addicted to these newly discovered audio-based chat apps. An app provides a platform where users can talk about almost anything with experts and amateurs and be able to freely share their thoughts. 

The possibility of social media app’s success is high in the future. But it all depends on the fact of hiring a mobile app development company in San Francisco and their skills in transforming the app into a product. Xicom is a leading platform that helps you customize the voice chat app and allows startups to tap into this thriving booming market.

For more details, you can drop a query below or contact us!

FAQs

If you still have doubts about developing a social audio app like Clubhouse, then consider our FAQs section explaining all the potential queries that our clients usually ask.