How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like TikTok: All Features and Cost Estimation

How much did it cost to make TikTok? This question has become increasingly in demand with the growing popularity of TikTok and its giant capitalization. Such success attracts entrepreneurs, and it's the reason why the topic of the development cost of an app like TikTok is so popular. But the simple answer doesn’t exist. The point is that overall cost depends on various factors, which can dramatically affect the final amount of expenses.

So, we’ve written an article where you can find aspects impacting the final cost to develop an app like TikTok, ready-made estimation, full development process for the TikTok app, its features, and technology stack.

TikTok has inspired a lot of entrepreneurs to explore how to create a social media website. It's a video-sharing platform that lets users create and share videos online. It enables TikTok users to upload videos and film content. After that, the videos can be edited as the application provides many editing effects, filters, and more. Moreover, TikTok is a perfect app platform for showing talents and sharing knowledge with a broad audience. The TikTok platform has become popular in a short time and is not going to stop in its progress.

TikTok has revealed all the details about creating For You and Suggestions fields. How does TikTok create a For You page? The system analyzes several factors like user interactions, video information, device, and account settings. Based on this information, TikTok recommends individual content for each user. Also, before using the app, users need to choose the categories they’re interested in. If the user doesn’t select categories, TikTok shows the most popular videos.

Let's delve deeper into the impact of these personalization tactics by looking at some quick stats. Here's a glimpse into TikTok's user base, demographics, and engagement metrics:

• According to Business of Apps 2025 data, TikTok has been downloaded more than 4 billion times on the App Store and Google Play.
• SOAX reported that the average age of its users is between 18 and 24. Linearity states that 54.4% of them are female and 45.6% are male.
• Users tend to spend an average of 52 minutes daily on TikTok.
• Wallaroo claims that TikTok is available in 175 countries.

These impressive user numbers and engagement metrics clearly show that TikTok has captured a global audience. That’s why creating your own TikTok-like app can bring a lot of benefits, such as high monetization potential, rapid audience engagement, and business growth. TikTok-like-app can help you enter new markets, integrate with e-commerce, interact with brands, and much more. But it's important to understand the cost of TikTok-like social media development.

So now, to understand how much does it cost to make an app like TikTok, let’s dive deep into the factors affecting it.

When considering the cost to develop an app like TikTok, you need to know several factors that can completely impact the app development. Let’s discuss more precisely the most essential factors impacting the TikTok app development cost.

There are two mobile platforms — iOS and Android. So, which platform to choose? The answer is that you need applications for both platforms. Yes, it will increase the overall TikTok app development cost, but it’s necessary to cover all mobile users. However, if you have a lack of app development budget, you can choose one platform depending on your target audience and their preferences. For instance, Instagram was first launched on iOS. The Android version was released a year and a half later.

Additionally, it’s curious that, in general, iOS development tends to require 20% or even 30% less time in comparison to Android. It happens because more devices run on Android. As a result, it’s necessary to provide support for various screen resolutions and OS versions.

However, you can try to develop a cross-platform app, for example, by using the Flutter app development services. This option implies that you develop an app that is universal both for iOS and Android devices. Such an approach appears to be more profitable in terms of the cost of the media app and its time frame, as such a solution takes nearly 50% less time to create.

Users are quite demanding these days. User-friendly and intuitive UI/UX design can assist in driving new users and gaining their trust and loyalty. And now, we’ll take a closer look at the estimated time and cost involved in design for both iOS and Android versions of your TikTok clone app.

There are two main cooperation models — outsourcing vs. in-house developers. Each option has advantages and disadvantages that impact the TikTok app development cost.

In-house development tends to be more expensive since there are such expenses as hardware and software purchases, taxes, rent, and more. However, the communication process is much better.

On the other hand, IT outsourcing, particularly offshore software development, has become popular these days. Vendors offer various hourly rates depending on their location, so you can choose the reliable app development company that fits your budget. For instance, Estonia (Central and Eastern Europe) is the most cost-efficient IT provider in Europe.

Software developers from Estonia charge from $50 - $80 per working hour while delivering high-quality service. The cost-effectiveness is proven by the fact that 20% of world-known tech companies such as Apple, Skype, Microsoft, Bosch and others have offices in Estonia. Flexible tax rates enable global companies to build effective business models. The avoidance of double taxation agreements with many countries allows you to reduce operating costs without legislative risks.

Let’s find out the average hourly wages of software engineers in the most popular outsourcing regions and make your choice.

Understanding the team needed to build a TikTok-like app is crucial in answering “How much does it cost to build an app like TikTok?”. By knowing which specialists to hire, you can clearly identify the expenses you must cover to provide yourself with a development team.

Let’s find out more about the team composition you may need to build an app like TikTok:

• Business analyst
• Solution Architect
• Project manager
• UI/UX designer
• Android developer
• iOS developer
• Back-end developers
• QA engineer

Cleveroad, as an outsourcing mobile app development company specializing in social media app creation, can offer a solution combining affordability with the extensive expertise of the IT specialists you can get. Our dedicated development team services ensure you can access the specific skillset needed for your project, like those required for building a TikTok-like app, without the overhead costs of an in-house team.

A lot of modern technologies can be used to create an app like TikTok. Depending on the choice of technology for each development part, such as mobile, web, or AWS architecture, the TikTok app development cost can be different.

For instance, when in iOS app development, the choice between Swift and Objective-C can impact both TikTok app cost and overall app complexity. Swift is a more modern and intuitive language that allows faster development and increases overall chances of app maintenance. It can reduce expenses. On the other hand, Objective-C is more established and compatible with older systems and requires more effort to write and debug, but can potentially increase development costs.

It’s difficult to consider the precise technology stack you need because each technology for an app like TikTok depends on your unique goals, project requirements, future app features, and more. But, to give you a hint, we have listed the technology stack for TikTok-like apps that we also use while developing social media applications:

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are established to provide consumers with more control over their private data.

• GDPR compliance. If you make an app like TikTok for the EU market, you need to follow GDPR. It protects users’ personal data. Additionally, there are high fines in the case of noncompliance.
• CCPA compliance. You need to consider when developing an app this law if you make software for California residents. CCPA tends to offer users more control over their personal data.

Note that even if you decide to make a TikTok-like solution, your product will have unique aspects that may influence the final app development prices. However, the average cost to develop an app like TikTok may vary between $50,000-$100,000+.

Below, you can find the approximate time and cost to develop app like TikTok. All the estimates are based on the average rate in Central Europe — $50 per hour.

It may be time-consuming and expensive to develop a TikTok clone. However, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) version of the app (the solution with only core features like those given below) will cost you less and allow for getting feedback from your target audience and deciding what features to develop further. Additionally, finding an answer to building a Minimum Viable Product gives you a clearer understanding of the cost to develop an app like TikTok and more chances to get investments. A working product makes stakeholders trust you. Lets take a look at the main TikTok app features.

Empower users to personalize their profiles and express themselves creatively. This can include allowing them to change profile pictures and usernames, add bios, link to external profiles, and choose from a variety of profile layouts or color themes. The more customization options you offer, the more users feel connected to their virtual space within the app.

Thanks to the upload video feature, users will be able to seamlessly record, edit, and share videos within the app. Consider allowing uploads from the device's gallery or directly capturing them within the app. Integrate basic editing tools like trimming, adding filters and effects, and music overlays to enhance user creativity and encourage video creation.

Users should have the capability to edit the video on the app. There can be some basic options like flipping, speeding up the video, and more. However, it’s also possible to add an opportunity to turn on ‘beauty’ mode. It makes the users’ skin more smooth. Implementing such advanced video editing features can significantly affect how much does it cost to build an app like TikTok, as they require robust development and processing capabilities to ensure a seamless user experience.

Filters & effects are essential to attract and engage users in a TikTok-like app. This feature lets users express themselves creatively by transforming the look and feel of their videos. Consider offering a diverse range of filters, from subtle color adjustments to artistic effects, alongside trendy and interactive effects that encourage user participation and challenges. It will keep users coming back to explore new creative possibilities.

This core feature allows users to express appreciation for videos through "hearts" (similar to likes on other platforms). They can also engage in deeper conversations by leaving comments directly on the video. Additionally, users can revisit videos they've heard by accessing a dedicated "Liked Videos" tab within their profile, making it easy to rediscover content they enjoyed.

To gain more users, you can offer sharing options. It stands for the ability to share their publications on other social media like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Additionally, TikTok offers to connect the user’s profile to other social networks.

To keep users posted, it’s necessary to add a push notification function. You need to inform the users about comments on their videos, likes, or any other updates. Usually, tools implemented during the development phase for notifications are Google Cloud Messaging (Android) or Apple Push Notification Service (iOS). However, adding such features can influence the cost to develop an app like TikTok because real-time notifications and seamless social media integration require additional development and backend infrastructure.

Admin panel offers multiple functions like user management (e.g., edit, delete, or block users). Additionally, it can assist in counting posts of a particular user, providing data about new users, etc. An admin panel is also needed for content validation. If some unwanted content appears, you can easily remove it.

Let's look at the amount of time it takes to develop the main parts of a TikTok app below.

It’s enough to have only basic features when you make an app like TikTok. However, the more users you gain, the more advanced and unique functions your application should have, which can also influence the TikTok app development cost. There are some advanced features that you can implement if you start TikTok-like app development:

• Video preview before registration. TikTok allows looking through some popular videos before signing up. As a result, new users can look through the content. However, to comment or like, it’s necessary to sign up.
• Location-based content. The app also allows locating the device. According to this data, the app offers content posted by other users in the same location. Additionally, users can add their current whereabouts to the video.
• Real-time analytics. This function provides an opportunity to see the live viewers and broadcasters on the graph. Additionally, it offers data about the number of comments and hearts.
• AR filters. Some augmented reality filters can change the hair or eye color, add objects over the head (e.g., dog’s ears, flowers), and more.

This technology is becoming more and more popular these days. So, it’s a good idea to integrate this technology into your application. By the way, we’ve developed an amazing AR library. If you are curious, you can check our GitHub profile to study our ARFaceDetection.

To structure your strategy, let’s dive into the must-have steps to build an app like TikTok you should consider before starting the full-fledged development process.

While working on TikTok app development, it is vital to cooperate with specialists from a media app development company with a high level of expertise in social network engineering, particularly those with experience understanding TikTok algorithms. Their expertise can help avoid project task delays and a lack of essential knowledge critical to a successful app. The choice of vendor will also affect the cost to develop an app like TikTok through their unique approach to development, both increasing overall costs and, with the right approach, significantly reducing them.

You need to research and find an IT vendor with experience in your business domain that increases your product's chances of success. Also, you should pay attention to the vendor’s portfolio and their client reviews on platforms like Clutch, which show their work approach and quality of services. Moreover, check the models of cooperation they offer to be sure you can get a convenient development process for you from an IT partner.

For a smooth and successful TikTok app development and launch, it’s crucial to define your niche market share and demand clearly. Let’s see what exactly should form your strategy.

First, define who is most likely going to be interested in your product. This process tightly engages the analysis of the data of the existing user base. Using surveys, you can define their primary needs, interests, and behavioral patterns. Also, it may be helpful to find out your average user's actual needs and pain points. Knowing this, you can solve the most widespread problems, improving users' loyalty and retention. Additionally, understanding these factors will help to estimate how much does it cost to build an app like TikTok, as catering to specific user demands may require additional features.

As in any pre-planning process, TikTok-like app development requires deciding on the correct resource management. But, sure enough, unpredictable conditions happen. However, if you have a strict and systematized financial strategy created specifically for your business, it will be much easier to avoid pitfalls and can positively influence risk minimization.

A well-chosen visual concept can ensure users' attraction to your product. The more simple yet functional and convenient your app’s design will be after UI/UX design services rendering, the more users would like to return to your solution. The primary aspect of a robust design is fast and easy access to information the user seeks to reach.

Answering the question “How to build a minimum viable product?” – a TikTok-like app version with basic features with the vendor's app developers – is a great way to understand how to speed up the time-to-market process and reduce the overall cost of developing the app. This method allows you to test the product and receive feedback, ensuring its usability. Moreover, keeping the TikTok app development cost in check is crucial at this stage because focusing on essential features helps allocate the budget efficiently without overspending on unnecessary functionalities.

MVP helps to focus on the essential functionality, not investing in unnecessary features. Also, a fast launch lets you get users’ feedback and gather valuable insights for further improvements. Nevertheless, MVP is a powerful tool for attracting investors, as they can see the potential of the app idea to meet market demands.

During the release phase, software engineers place the final product in public digital marketplaces (AppStore, Google Play) after you understand how to publish the app to app stores. The team also handles all necessary project materials and files. Then, you decide on the release date and agree on ongoing app maintenance and support check-up frequency.

Congratulations! The TikTok app development has finished, and your software has already been uploaded to digital marketplaces. However, you still have the important task of generating excitement and spreading awareness among your target audience. Consider leveraging TikTok usage to create fun and engaging videos that showcase your app's features and benefits. This can be a great way to reach a broad audience and drive downloads. Additionally, understanding how much does it cost to make an app like TikTok is essential when planning your marketing budget, as promotional efforts can also impact overall app development expenses.

There are several ways to make it work for you:

• App Store Optimization (ASO). To raise your solution in the results search of an AppStore, optimize keywords and visual elements like the design of the interface and logo to make it more visible.
• Social Media Promotion. You can promote your TikTok-like app through other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, engaging targeted ads.
• Influencer marketing. An effective way to promote your product is to collaborate with bloggers and influencers who can show and promote your product to their followers.
• Content marketing. Make blog posts, videos, and other pieces of visual content that can represent your product's functionality and benefits.

To make your TikTok-like app successful in terms of new user engagement, you have to show that it is worth it. An excellent way to do so is to gather users' reviews based on their experience utilizing the solution. Also, you can perform different surveys on social media platforms. After receiving feedback, you can consider adding more advanced functionality to your social media solution to satisfy evolving users' needs.

Understanding how much does it cost to build an app like TikTok requires evaluating not only the development costs but also the potential return on investment from various monetization strategies. So, let's take a closer look to the main revenue models for successfull TikTok app development.

Advertising is TikTok's primary revenue stream, accounting for a significant portion of its overall earnings. The platform offers various advertising solutions for businesses to reach their target audience, including:

• In-feed ads. These ads appear seamlessly within the user's For You Page (FYP), blending in with organic content. Businesses can target these ads based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
• TopView ads. These ads take over the entire screen when a user opens the app, providing high-impact exposure for brands.
• Branded hashtag challenges. TikTok collaborates with brands to create branded hashtag challenges, encouraging users to create and share videos related to a specific theme or product.
• Branded effects. Brands can create custom AR filters and effects that users can incorporate into their videos, increasing brand awareness and engagement.

Many social media platforms like TikTok make money by successfully implementing in-app purchase systems. These systems allow users to buy virtual items, like gifts for creators, during live streams. These gifts are displayed prominently, providing creators with a revenue stream and encouraging them to produce engaging content that keeps users coming back for more. This concept can be a valuable consideration when you build an app like TikTok, where fostering a creator economy can be crucial for user engagement and platform growth.

TikTok's success isn't just about ads and gifts. They've cleverly tapped into the power of user-generated content (UGC). Creators with large followings can partner with brands for sponsored posts. This creates a win-win: creators earn money, and brands reach highly engaged audiences. This organic monetization strategy is a powerful way to build a thriving ecosystem. If you are thinking about TikTok app development cost, you should consider UGC partnerships can impact your long-term profitability. TikTok benefits indirectly as this activity keeps users on the platform, creating more content and attracting more users.

Another potential revenue stream, and one that many platforms are exploring, is a subscription model. TikTok could offer premium features or exclusive content to users who pay a monthly fee. This could include things like ad-free viewing, early access to new features, or exclusive filters and effects. Also, you should remember that understanding the cost to develop an app like TikTok is crucial when considering the potential of a subscription model and how it might contribute to long-term revenue projections. Such a model can provide a predictable and recurring revenue stream, diversifying the platform's income and reducing reliance on advertising alone.

Considering all the factors mentioned in the article, the estimated time and cost to develop an app like TikTok may range between 1,441 hours and 2,466 hours for one or two platforms, respectively.

Let's take a closer look at the breakdown of these development hours. This table details the estimated time required for each work type, providing a clearer picture of the resources needed for building a TikTok-like app. As you can see, significant effort goes into areas like iOS and Android development, along with features development and quality assurance.

Having the development time, let’s find out the final cost to create an app like TikTok. You should add back-end development time and iOS or Android development hours, depending on the chosen solution. After that, you need to multiply the time by the team’s hourly rate.

To create an app like TikTok with basic features, you need at least $72,050 for one platform (iOS or Android) and $123,300 for two platforms (iOS and Android).

Cleveroad is a professional provider of custom social media digital solutions based in Central Europe - one of the most famous outsourcing destinations due to its cost-effectiveness. Working for over twelve years as a social media app development company, we have been helping domain startup businesses, SMBs, and enterprises acquire new technologies that boost user engagement providing a great social media experience.

So why exactly should you address your Tik Tok app development to Cleveroad? We offer various significant benefits:

• Our specialists have wide experience in developing custom social media solutions, including social networks, media sharing platforms, dating, messaging apps, and more
• A free Solution Workshop stage from our team to connect your business needs with technological implementation in a robust social media app
• On-demand IT services: social media app creation from scratch, UI/UX design, IT consulting, DevOps services, etc.
• Accredited with ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications, we are a dependable technology partner providing social media software engineering services and IT consulting
• Your social media app project will be managed by a project management office to ensure that the intended results are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with company needs.
• A profound expertise in integrations into social media networks: Google Maps, Open Street Maps, Noonpayments, Stripe, Blockchain, NFC, Twilio, WebRTC, etc.

Besides, in 2024, we're ranked 7th in the top 1000 by Clutch. Our experts keep this level and are always ready to accomplish your product’s vision and provide detailed analysis and quality results.

Our team has hands-on experience in delivering various social media projects and we would like to present you with one of the most vibrant examples.

Our customer, an Australian company, came up with the idea of creating a Mobile Platform Connecting Enthusiasts of Team Sports nearby and bring them to the same environment.

At first, the client wanted to create two separate solutions: for leagues to stay connected during the gaming season and for booking games for a one-off fee with no additional obligations. However, later on, we agreed on integrating both options into a single solution, creating a team-sports players ecosystem.

As a result, our client got a sports service system for merging fans of team sports. The system contained the functionality essential for users to find local sports leagues, book places to play, and register for a season. The solution delivered allowed the company to expand the target audience and improve user retention rates, leading to increased revenue within the Subscription business model.

We believe that the delivery of our app for sports fans appears to be a successful example of experience in the social media niche, considering the opinion of our client: