If you’re a millennial, you probably remember that time when you had to wait for days or even weeks to get a reply back. Letters used to take forever, and we can just not forget the way SMS had character limits. Let’s not bring up dial-up either. We should just fast forward to today instead.
In 2025, we have a big blessing, and that’s real-time chat apps. They have made conversations instant and way more personal. You only have to wait a few seconds to get a reply back! Whether it’s sliding into a friend’s DMs at 1 a.m. or handling customer queries in seconds, chat apps are an amazing form of modern communication.
You probably have WhatsApp on your phone as your number one go-to for texting. You’re not alone. Three billion others are on the same boat as you. The reason is simple: WhatsApp allows people to text in real time and talk to their loved ones through just a few taps. But people, specifically Gen Z, are always on the lookout for something new. This is where you can make a chat app and update the game.
Because if you aren’t adding cool features and something valuable to your app, you’re kind of stuck in the past. So, if you’re even thinking of building an Android app, and you don’t include a chat feature… are you really building for today’s users? Let’s get into this and learn how to make one!
Why Should You Build An Android Chat App?
These days, everyone texts. Your friends, your boss, your mom who still double-texts with emojis… It’s the universal language now. And when it comes to devices, Android holds over 71% of the global mobile OS market share. That’s a huge open window of opportunity.
So if you’re planning to build a chat app, why not do it where most users already are? Android’s open-source nature provides flexibility and a massive user base for testing and growing your app.
Why Should An Android Live Chat App Be User-Friendly?
Android chatting apps can get popular quickly. And the secret to that is a user-friendly interface. Before you ask yourself “How to create realtime chat application in Android?” Consider this: Do you realize the importance of creating chat apps that are easy to navigate and use?
- 23% of people who have had a positive user experience are likely to share it with ten or more people.
- 94% of the first impressions on your app will be influenced by design.
- Poor performance is the reason that 90% of users have stopped using an app.
So yes, it’s more than important to create user-friendly interfaces because if your users are experiencing a bad UX, they’ll leave.
What Are The Steps For Android Chat App Development?
Android’s popularity is all thanks to its open-source nature. It enables developers to build flexible apps without being restrained by strict rules. Creating a real-time chat app isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. All you need is a clear plan and a little patience.
Step 1: Set Up the Development Environment
Before you build anything, you need the right tools by your side. Android Studio and Firebase will be the best combo for real-time features. Build chat app only after you have a clear plan for what functions you want your app to have. Do not start without a clear plan.
- Download and install Android Studio
- Set up a new project using Kotlin or Java
- Add dependencies like Firebase SDK, etc.
- Create your app’s package structure
Step 2: Design the UI
A clean and user-friendly UI is what makes users actually stay. When you start designing, keep usability in mind. Everything needs to be within easy thumb’s reach. Keep it minimal, but make it fun too. Don’t make it hard to find any basic options. We’re aiming to give the users an awesome ux, not a frustrating one.
- Design Login/Signup screens
- Add Chat Home screen
- Create a Chat Window for messages
- Don’t forget to include buttons for sending, emojis, etc.
Step 3: Define Features and Chat Logic
This is where your app starts to feel like an actual chat app. You’re setting up the rules of engagement here. How your users will talk and what they will see is all going to work according to how you’ll set it up here. It’s all about delivering a smooth messaging experience that your users won’t find anywhere else.
- Implement user authentication to manage logins
- Set up message sending and receiving logic
- Add read receipts and typing indicators
- Include media support
Step 4: Set Up Backend Infrastructure
As a developer chat app, you should know that a chat app will live and die by its backend. You need something that handles real-time data syncing and is scalable. It shouldn’t crash when 10,000 people text at once. In most cases, Firebase is the go-to choice here.
- Use Firebase Realtime Database or Firestore for real-time updates
- Structure data models for users and messages
- Set up Firebase Storage for media file uploads
- Configure security rules and database permissions properly
Step 5: Integrate Google Services and Toolkits
At this point, your app is coming together, but now it’s time to add the secret to an irreplaceable app.. Google’s ecosystem offers powerful tools to boost performance and engage users. Integrating these early when you create chat app will save you a whole lot of problems later.
- Add Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) for real-time notifications
- Use Crashlytics to track bugs and app crashes
- Set up Google Analytics to understand the users’ behavior
- Consider ML Kit for smart replies or text recognition features
Step 6: Test Your App
Before you let the world see your app, you need to make sure it actually works flawlessly. Testing helps you catch those weird crashes and random bugs that could kill user trust. Run your app on different devices and scenarios. This will make sure that when your users have the app in hand, everything goes smoothly.
- Test real-time messaging flow across multiple devices
- Simulate weak or unstable network conditions
- Run UI/UX tests on various screen sizes and OS versions
- Check for memory leaks and lags
Step 7: Launch it on the Play Store
Now, your app is ready for the Google Play Store. But launching is actually about presentation and first impressions. So, you may need to pause a little here. Make sure everything looks perfect and Play Store ready. Your “how to build chat app” journey is now ending with an impressive launch!
- Create a signed APK or App Bundle for release
- Write a catchy app title and Play Store description
- Add app screenshots and icons
- Submit the app and monitor reviews and downloads post-launch
Conclusion
How to create realtime chat application in Android isn’t that hard if you know how to code. But what would you do in a case where you don’t know how to? This is where you’ll need an expert developer and designer by your side. If you want your app to be successful, you can’t risk it.
This is where Linkitsoft comes in to save the day. We have a team of excellent frontend and backend developers. Our designers are amazing at creating user-friendly designs. The testers make sure there are no bugs. What else do you need? Let’s connect today and build the next big Android chat apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Features should be in my realtime Android chat application?
The basics that your chat app should have are:
- Instant messaging
- Notifications
- Typing indicators
- Read receipts
- Media sharing
- Profile customization
Can you design my Chat app’s interface?
Yes, we can! While we can’t literally draw it out here, we can give you a solid idea of how your UI should feel:
- Minimal and user-friendly
- Intuitive
- Easy to navigate
- Customizable
That’s exactly how we’ll design it.
How Much Time Does It Take to Build a Chat App?
It depends on how deep you want to go. A basic real-time chat app could take you 2–4 weeks if you’re working full-time. If you add in extra nd advanced features, that can stretch up to a few months, especially if you’re testing thoroughly and refining the UX.
Can I Monetize My Chat App?
Absolutely. You didn’t think you were going to build a chat Android app just for fun, did you?
- In-app purchases
- Freemium model
- Subscription plans
- Ads
- Business APIs or enterprise plans
Just make sure monetization doesn’t ruin the user experience. Keep it subtle, and let your users want to pay for more. If you’re asking “how to create a chat application that’s successful at making money,” just make sure it’s making your users want to pay for more.
Can you build my chat app for Android?
Of course we can! Linkitsoft is a software development company that only builds custom apps and solutions. We’ll help you decide what’s important for your app and what isn’t. We’ll create a whole plan for you, with you. Everything is possible when you have a good partner by your side.
