Home / Build an App / Social Media App

Build your app · social & live

Build a social media app, the real-time kind.

Feeds, stories, reels, live video, real-time chat and moderation — native and fast, the full system behind an Instagram or TikTok-style app. We built Dentalk end to end, so real-time isn't a stretch for us.

Before posting “need a social app developer” and sifting bids — get a real plan first, in 2 minutes, free.

Native
iOS & Android
Live video
Broadcast & co-host
Real-time
Chat & feeds
Safety
Moderation built in

Real-time is where social apps break

A feed is easy. Live video with co-hosts, low-latency chat, reels and presence at scale is where teams without the experience fall apart. When you build a social media app, that real-time layer — plus the moderation and safety tooling a social platform needs from day one — is the make-or-break core. We shipped all of it in Dentalk: feed, stories, live broadcasting, group video and an integrated marketplace, native on iOS and Android.

Skip the Upwork lottery

A generic “build me a social app” post attracts price-sorted bids from strangers who've never built live video. Instead, tell our free tool what you're building and get an instant blueprint — features, MVP timeline, honest cost — then a firm quote from a team that has actually shipped a real-time social app.

What it takes

What a social media app takes.

01

Feeds, stories & reels

A fast native feed, stories, short video and rich profiles with follows.

02

Live video streaming

Broadcasting with co-hosts, viewer interaction and low latency.

03

Real-time chat

One-to-one and group messaging, presence and notifications.

04

Creator & content tools

Uploading, editing, discovery and creator features.

05

Moderation & safety

Reporting, content moderation, roles and trust & safety tooling.

06

Monetisation

In-app purchases, subscriptions, gifting or an integrated marketplace.

Stack

Swift (iOS) Kotlin (Android) Live video (real-time) Real-time backend Cloud media & CDN Moderation tooling

Apps like this we can build

Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat — or a niche community.

Whether you want a broad social app or a focused community for a specific audience, the real-time core is shared and we've built it. We'll advise honestly on what's genuinely hard, what it costs, and how to sequence it so you launch something real rather than half of everything.

Instagram-style TikTok-style short video Snapchat-style Niche community app Live-streaming app Creator/marketplace social
Free · 2 minutes · no signup

Get your social app blueprint.

Answer a few quick questions and get an instant, tailored plan for your social app — features, a phased timeline, an MVP recommendation and the tech stack. Then get it built.

Get your blueprint

Why Ambizent

We've already shipped a real-time social app.

Most studios have built feeds; few have built live video, group calls and a marketplace in one product and put it in the stores. We did, with Dentalk. So we can tell you honestly what's hard, what it costs, and how to sequence it — and build the real-time core without learning on your budget.

FAQ

Social Media App: common questions.

How much does it cost to build a social media app? +

It depends on scope — live video and real-time chat make it more than a simple app. Our free blueprint tool gives you a tailored plan and honest cost sense in 2 minutes, then a firm quote. We're typically a fraction of big-agency cost.

Can you build an app like Instagram or TikTok? +

Yes — feeds, reels, live video, chat and moderation are our core strength (we built Dentalk). We'll advise on which features to launch with and which to add later.

How long does it take to build a social media app? +

A focused MVP with the core feed and real-time features can be built in weeks to a few months depending on scope. The blueprint gives you a realistic phased timeline.

Do you include moderation and safety? +

Yes — reporting, moderation and role controls are part of the build. A social platform needs trust & safety tooling from day one, not later.

Native or cross-platform for a social app? +

For real-time social apps we usually recommend native for performance, but we'll advise honestly based on your budget and goals.

Related

More apps we build.

Let’s build

Have something to build? Let’s scope it.

Tell us the problem. We’ll tell you, honestly, how we’d solve it — and whether we’re the right team to do it.