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As of 2024, the market valuation of Discord platform stands at $15 billion approximately
These days, people use Discord to share files and multimedia, make audio and video chats, and do nearly all of the functions offered by Zoom and Skype. The originapps al purpose of Discord’s creation was to enable communication and coordination with other games. To the surprise of the developers, nevertheless, it became extremely popular in a number of community verticals.
In this article, we will read a step by step guide on apps like discord app development. We will also cover other relevant topics like what is discord app, how to use discord, how does it work, and how does discord make money. We will also list 10 top discord alternatives and the app development cost to build an app like discord.
Discord app is a free messaging platform that allows people to connect via calls and messages. The platform allows users to chat directly or by creating servers (just like groups) and add people in it. The servers can be compared to people chatting in one large conference room, but virtual. Each server has sub-channels in it where only selected members join; it can be either private or public.
In 2015, the famous messaging app Discord—which was first created for gamers—entered the market. Later on, as it became more and more popular, it grew to incorporate a variety of communities outside of gaming. Users can set up private servers on which they can have voice, text, and video chat conversations.
Discord App Market Size and Data Stats
| As of 2024, Discord has approximately 614 million registered users and 196.2 million monthly active users |
| Currently, the market valuation of Discord platform stands at $15 billion approximately |
| In 2023, Discord generated more than $207 million in revenue through its premium subscriptions |
| Discord has secured about $484 million in funding & investments until July 2023 |
| Interestingly, about 80% users on the Discord app are males while only 20% are females |
| An average users spends more than 5 hours on discord, majorly in replying or joining channels |
| Minecraft, a server in Discord, has approximately 1.3 million members and is the largest server on the platform |
Discord can be accessed with a mobile app, desktop browser, or both. Discord refers to a chatroom as a “Server,” which users can create or join.
Users can invite friends to join groups they’ve been invited to or start their own private chat server. They can then use text or voice chat to communicate with other users of that server or chatroom. Additionally, there are open servers that anybody can use.
Each server can be divided into “Channels,” which are smaller areas akin to chat rooms. Additionally, various individuals may have varying levels of access permissions to these servers and channels. It can include the capacity to upload files and photographs to the channel as well as the authority to ban other users.
Although the mobile and browser versions of Discord offer many of the same features as the desktop version, they lack the share-screen feature, which lets users broadcast their desktop or individual windows to other users.
In order to keep chats secret, members can also send each other direct messages.
In 2023, Discord made over $200 million and currently has more than 614 million subscribers. The platform makes money through a variety of sources, including –
The Discord platform offers its users free access to its essential functions, but for a membership price, members can also benefit from a premium model that offers more functionality and faster servers. Discord Nitro Classic costs $4.99 per month, whereas Discord Nitro costs $9.99 per month. The subscriptions are based on each price-tier scheme.
The premium plan has more customization options for avatars and emojis, faster upload speeds, a higher upload limit, and HD video chat capabilities. Packages referred to as “server boosts” on the platform include these advantages.
When the Discord platform first launched, it offered members access to an exclusive game distribution service. But after the service fell short of their goals, they made the decision to shift course and teamed up with game developers to let them promote their games on the Discord platform in return for a distribution charge, which is a 10% commission.
The business also runs an online store where a variety of products are sold, such as keyboards, gaming accessories, apparel, souvenirs, and other items.
While the platform’s essential features are free to use, users have the option to buy extra features like stickers and emojis.
A new feature that will enable the platform to sell virtual tickets for live events hosted by server moderators in different platform concentrators is presently being tested.
The company’s revenue was mostly derived from multiple investment rounds, the most recent of which raised $995.4 million in revenue in March 2022.
| S. No | Discord Alternatives | Downloads | Rating | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |   Slack | 10M+ | 3.9 | Android | iOS |
| 2 |   Chanty | 10K | 4.4 | Android | iOS |
| 3 |   Steam Chat | 5M+ | 2.0 | Android | iOS |
| 4 |   Microsoft Teams | 100M+ | 4.5 | Android | iOS |
| 5 |   Skype | 1B+ | 4.1 | Android | iOS |
| 6 |   Element | 1M+ | 4.1 | Android | iOS |
| 7 |   Telegram | 1B+ | 4.2 | Android | iOS |
| 8 |   Teamspeak | 1M+ | 3.9 | Android | iOS |
| 9 |   Troop Messenger | 10K+ | 4.4 | Android | iOS |
| 10 |   TimeCamp planner | 500+ | 5.0 | Android | iOS |
Slack is a central location for team communication and collaboration that unites users, information, and resources. Teams can stay organized, link all of their software tools, and collaborate more successfully to complete tasks more quickly with its assistance.
Slack allows users to share files, track project progress, and create channels for certain discussions or subjects, and more. It also allows users to send reminders for tasks and deadlines. Thousands of other apps are integrated with Slack, which makes it simple to expand conversations even further!
Chanty is a platform for collaboration that offers tools like task management, file sharing, video calls, and chat to keep users engaged and productive. Users may instantly receive comments from others, offer projects, and communicate ideas with others using Chanty.
Furthermore, all correspondence is conveniently kept in one location for easy access at any time. Users can be informed when there are new messages, task updates, or crucial files by using its notifications system. This guarantees that everyone is aware of the most recent developments!
Users can converse with one another via the Steam platform’s voice chat feature, Steam Chat. It offers numerous ways to communicate, including group chats, phone and video chats, and more. Users can speak with numerous people at once by joining public chat rooms in addition to private messaging.
Many personalization choices are available on the site, including the ability to make unique avatars and add friends for convenient communication. Users can access and interact with their friends’ list on the platform by integrating Steam Chat with other Steam services.
Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based platform for collaboration created by Microsoft with the goal of making it simple for staff members to interact and work together inside a company. Users can connect to one central hub and exchange files, chats, and tasks with others.
Users of the service can search for material and conversations within their organization and build channels for particular subjects or teams. Microsoft Teams is an effective application that helps users stay connected, organized, and productive thanks to its various features. It can be used to bring people together, share knowledge, and work together on projects in any kind of corporate or educational setting.
With the Skype software, users may have free audio and video chats. In addition, it offers screen-sharing, file-sharing, video conferencing, and instant messaging. Users can communicate while on the go by using the Skype mobile app. The app is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones.
It is suitable for both private and professional communications. Advanced capabilities like conference calling, voicemail, and call forwarding are also available on Skype. Additionally, Skype credits or subscriptions can be used to make inexpensive international calls.
Element is an instant messaging network that allows users to send and receive text messages, photos, and other types of data. The program supports both audio and video calls and lets users establish and join their own chat groups.
The platform is accessible through web browsers on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows. Although it is free to use, premium plans offer more features like more storage and customization possibilities.
An app for communication with privacy-focused features is called Telegram. Because the platform uses strong encryption, all messages are protected from hackers. In order to prevent individuals from viewing sensitive communications after a certain amount of time, you may also set them to self-destruct.
However, Telegram offers more than just privacy features. Up to 200,000 people can join chat groups you create, which is sufficient for all except the largest communities. It’s an excellent alternative for file sharing because you can upload files up to 4GB.
The use of Telegram is free. Additionally, a premium plan is available that grants access to features like enhanced conversation management, quicker downloads, stickers, and 4GB file uploads.
For gamers, Teamspeak is a decent substitute for Discord. The device, which is utilized in professional competitions, specializes in VoIP-powered voice or video communion.
There are several options available to users that make it appropriate for advanced play.
Echo cancellation and background noise reduction allow for clear communication during gameplay. Furthermore, you maintain control over who can join channels and have conversations by deciding who is allowed to speak.
For those looking for a high-end audio and video solution, Teamspeak is a solid choice. A yearly license for one virtual server with 64 slots starts at $55.
Troop Messenger is a feature-rich chat tool made to facilitate more effective teamwork among users. For remote and virtual teams, it’s an all-in-one messaging and collaboration solution with features like file sharing, group chat, task management tools, chatbots, customized integrations, and more.
Users may easily stay connected and collaborate in real-time. Additionally, the site has an effective search feature that enables users to locate files and messages fast, keeping them organized and informed about the most recent talks.
TimeCamp Planner is a free task and basic project management tool that offers collaboration and communication tools to boost team output. It is the ideal fusion of specialized team communication tool and project management software. Perhaps for that reason, a lot of teams, including Wondersauce, Blitzmetrics, Arizona State University, and many more, already use it as a potent Discord substitute.
Any user is able to make a personalized profile. Once the user has successfully registered, they may easily join or create servers. The user also has the option to add several friends and family members at once.
Depending on the category, servers offer both public and private chat rooms. The most important kind of servers is focused on video games. Still, a plethora of other servers also service other niches.
The building blocks of a server are similar to micro threads. A single server can handle up to 500 channels concurrently. Channels help organize the servers, in general.
The roles of facilitator, timekeeper, and leader assist in managing the servers.
The majority of messaging apps hold off on alerting users when they send a text. Discord’s notification settings are, however, very adjustable. You can silence discussions or block unfamiliar users.
Holding simultaneous video calls with 10 to 40 other people is easy for users.
When utilizing the screen share functionality, Zoom and Discord operate in exactly the same way. Screen sharing is a useful tool that helps companies and organizations share papers and presentations with staff members more rapidly.
Discord’s live-streaming feature is highly attractive to gamers. With the help of this function, participants can play simultaneously with up to 50 other players and go live immediately.
Bots are computer programs that help automate tasks. With the Discord app, players can use the “Medal Bot” to record live games. To create a unique app, you may also employ chatbot development services.
Users may easily incorporate more social media networks into Discord by using its app integration function. Applications such as SoundCloud, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch can be integrated.
First and foremost, you need to fully understand your target audience through in-depth market research before you can design an app like Discord. Sort your findings into two main groups, i.e. demographics and behavior.
A SWOT analysis is one tool you may use to find out more about each of these aspects. SWOT assessments assist you in identifying the benefits and drawbacks of your competitors. The next step is to translate each of those factors into your app so that it differentiates itself from the competition when you’ve completed your data analysis.
You need a strong team to build apps like Discord and shine in the market. An ideal team includes QA testers, UX/UI designers, project managers, support & maintenance team, and iOS and Android app developers.
Talk about your business objectives and mobile app ideas with the chosen company, as well as the features and functionalities you would want to see in a chat app similar to Discord. A top mobile app development company advises choosing the right criteria while creating a messaging app similar to Discord.
Choosing the appropriate front-end and back-end development frameworks and programming languages is the next stage in developing an app similar to Discord. Selecting the right databases to hold user information and messages would also be beneficial. Lastly, request that the infrastructure and cloud service providers used to host the application be chosen by your social networking app development company.
Making a minimal viable product (MVP) is the next step after selecting the technological stack. You can test the app’s functionality and technical performance with an MVP. The primary advantage of developing an MVP product is that it provides an early, feature-light version of the final product.
The MVP also solicits feedback and pinpoints areas that require improvement. By releasing an MVP version of your product, you may also solicit feedback from users. In this manner, you may add new features or change programs like Discord for Android to suit the needs of your consumers.
Users adore beautiful design; as a result, prioritize navigation while creating user interfaces (UIs) that are effective and intuitive. Request that the mobile application design business provide a responsive app that functions across a variety of displays and gadgets. It is imperative to give accessibility and inclusivity top priority when making design decisions.
Notably, you can also consult with the developers for the latest app development trends and make the best of market.
Backend developers focus on many aspects including databases, backend logic, APIs, architecture, and servers to make sure your apps, like Discord, run properly. Server-side functionality for data storage, message routing, and user authentication will be developed by a Discord app developer.
Furthermore, real-time WebSocket connection communication is required. Your mobile app development solutions provider will create an app similar to Discord and then create a database structure that efficiently maintains user profiles, server setups, and messages.
Frontend development is important because it bridges two critical domains: backend development (which handles the workings, content, management areas, and statically driven data of an app like Discord) and application design (which defines the program’s vision, feel, style, and personality).
For both online and mobile applications, a seasoned app development business will design client-side user interfaces. They will also employ responsive design and interactive features to ensure easy navigation. Then, your service provider integrates APIs for communication in real time and data retrieval.
The most important stage in creating an app similar to Discord is testing and quality assurance. It ensures that a product will function as expected under various circumstances. Testing and quality assurance (QA) find and repair errors early in the app development cycle, saving time and money while improving user experience.
Every function, including messaging, audio and video conversations, server management, and so on, needs to be thoroughly tested. Make sure to request usability testing from your mobile app development company to guarantee smooth user interactions and easy navigation. Another well-known business will employ automated testing strategies to swiftly identify and fix errors.
It’s the last phase of creating a Discord app. The software will be installed on production servers or cloud computing platforms by your app development company. It also handles increasing user loads and keeps an eye on performance and scalability. Using analytics tools to gain additional insight into user behavior and interaction is the most effective approach to accomplish this.
| Languages & Frameworks | Electron, React Native, Stylus, JavaScript, Python, HTML5, Java, , Kotlin, Swift, Go, C++, Scala, Objective-C, Rust, Elixir, Flask, TypeScript |
| Development | Babel, Webpack, XGBoost |
| Libraries | React, Stata |
| Application Hosting | Cowboy |
| Data Stores | Apache Spark, Apache Hive, Google Cloud Storage, MongoDB, Cassandra, Kafka, Airflow, Apache Beam, Google BigQuery |
| Application Utilities | TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras |
| Marketing and Sales Tools | Zendesk |
| Back Office | Greenhouse, NetSuite, SAP, Sage Intacct |
| Analytics | Tableau, Looker |
The price to develop a software similar to Discord depends on a number of variables, including how many features an app like Discord has, Project design, scale, and structure, frameworks and platforms, delivery timeline, revenue stream, and financial planning, app development company location, the developer’s skill set, years of experience, technical prowess, and many more.
Discord is a chat tool that is well known for its complexity, so creating a state-of-the-art version would cost a lot of money. A basic app with few features typically costs between $20,000 and $50,000 to design, whereas a sophisticated and comprehensive version may cost $50,000+.
Discord and other social media apps are widely used throughout the world. Consequently, developing iOS apps for Discord is a great method to expand your business and set yourself apart from rivals.
So, this was all about the instant chatting app Discord and the guide to build similar alternatives to Discord. We have covered the basic information such as what is Discord, how does discord work, and how the platform makes money. We have also gave a detailed guide to build an alternative to discord, the tech stack required, some must features to include, and the app development cost to build a similar app. You can refer to the top apps like Discord available in the market for your reference or can consult our industry expert here.
The time required to build apps like Discard varies and depends upon several factors such as developer experience, technology & app development tools required, number of platforms, and more. The average app development time lies between 4 and 8+ months but the exact time can be determined after understanding the exact project requirements.
Apps like Discord can opt for several monetization models including in-app purchases, premium plans for extra features, API access & data licensing, merchandising, brand collaborations, and Adsense monetization.
The average app development cost to build apps like Discord is $20,000 to $50,000, depending upon the complexity. The cost can go higher or lower based on your requirements and the exact estimate can be provided upon initial discussion.
Manish Jain is the co-founder and Managing Director at Konstant Infosolutions. He is responsible for the overall operations of the company and has played a major role in bringing Konstant up from its humble beginnings and, with his immense energy and drive, transforming it into a globally trusted name in IT solutions.
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