Intelivita

Social Media App Development Company

Intelivita develops social media and community apps for startups, creators and member organisations across the UK.

We build new social networks from a first release to a full product, and upgrade or rebuild existing social apps for iOS, Android and the web.

Discuss Your Social App ProjectView Social Projects
CSLSAMSUNGBBC STUDIOSoxitecMicrosoftAkzoNobel
Strategy
UI/UX Design
Development
Testing
Launch
Support
Growth

What social media app development services do we offer?

We offer six services that take a new social app from first plan to ongoing support, and an existing app from audit to rebuild.

Social App Discovery and Planning

Audience • First-release features • Scope • Fixed price

We define who the app is for, what users will do in it and which features the first release needs. You get a written scope, a fixed price and a timeline, so you can decide whether to go ahead.

Social App UI and UX Design

User journeys • Wireframes • Figma prototypes

We design the sign-up, profile, feed and posting screens as a clickable Figma prototype. You can test it with potential users and change the design before development starts.

Social Media App MVP Development

Posting • Following • Messaging • First release

We build the smallest version that tests your core idea, such as whether people will post, follow and reply to each other. You launch it, see how people use it and decide what to build next.

Custom Social Media App Development

iOS • Android • Web • Admin panel

We build the full product you have specified, for iOS, Android and the web, with the back end and admin panel it needs. Choose this when your requirements are clear or your MVP has proved the idea.

Social App Upgrades and Migration

Code audit • Upgrades • Rebuilds • Data migration

We assess the code, performance and usability of your existing social app, then fix, upgrade or rebuild it. When we rebuild, we move users, posts and connections to the new app so people keep their accounts.

Social App Maintenance and Support

Bug fixes • Security updates • OS updates • New features

We fix bugs, apply security updates and update the app for new iOS and Android versions. Support plans start from £400 per month.

What types of social media apps can we build?

We build social apps around one audience and the main thing they do together. The types overlap, and many products combine two or more.
Interest Based Community AppsProfessional Networking AppsCreator and Membership Community AppsPhoto and Video Sharing AppsPhoto and Video Sharing Apps
01

Interest-Based Community Apps

For people who share a sport, hobby, health condition or local area. Users join groups, post updates and ask each other for advice.
02

Professional Networking Apps

For a profession, industry body or alumni group. Users find each other through profiles and a member directory, then connect, message and join discussions.
03

Creator and Membership Community Apps

For creators and membership businesses that charge for access. Members pay to see exclusive content and talk to the creator and to each other.
04

Photo and Video Sharing Apps

For audiences who share visual content. Users post photos and short videos, follow other people and react in a feed.
05

Fan and Event Community Apps

For sports clubs, publishers and event organisers. Fans follow news, join discussions and get updates before and during events.

Which social and community apps have we developed?

These projects show the social and community features we have built: profiles, matching, forums, community posts, reviews and messaging.

Healthcare · Peer community

A dedicated peer support and community platform helping people living with a stoma find others with shared experiences through mutual matching, private messaging and forums.

Feature: Peer Matching · Mobile App · Web Admin Panel

Ostique Connect
Ostique Connect peer support and community mobile app screens

Fitness · Member community

A fitness and wellness community app bringing members together around monthly workout challenges, habit tracking and interactive social leaderboards.

Feature: Member Community · iOS App · Android App · Admin Portal

My Fit Month
My Fit Month member community fitness app screens

Home services · Marketplace

A two-sided home services marketplace connecting homeowners with verified tradespeople, featuring instant messaging, job quoting and reviews.

Feature: Direct Chat · Mobile Apps · Web App

FabQuote
FabQuote homeowner and tradesperson marketplace chat

What features can your social media app include?

We choose features around what your users need to do in the first release; the rest can follow in later releases. None of these is mandatory.

User Profiles and Connections

Users sign up with an email address or phone number, add a photo and bio, and choose who can see their profile. They follow other people, send connection requests or match with people who share their interests.

Posts and Content Feeds

Users publish text, photos and videos. The feed shows posts from the people and groups they follow, newest first or ordered by interest.

Groups and Discussions

Users join public, private or paid groups and reply in threaded discussions. Group owners approve new members and pin important posts.

Messaging and Notifications

Users message each other one-to-one or in groups. Push notifications tell them about replies, messages and mentions, and they choose which alerts they receive.

Photo and Video Sharing

Users upload photos and videos from their phone, view them in the feed and delete them at any time. The app compresses uploads so they load quickly.

Memberships and Paid Content

Users pay a subscription or a one-off fee to join a group or see members-only content. On iPhone and Android, digital purchases go through Apple and Google in-app purchase where their rules require it.

Moderation and Administration

Users report posts and block accounts. Your team reviews reports, removes content and suspends accounts in a web admin panel. Apple and Google require reporting and blocking in apps with user-generated content.

How do we develop your social media app?

We develop your app in five stages. Each stage ends with something you review and a decision you make before the next one starts.
01

Define the Audience and First Release

We agree who the app is for, what users will do in it and which features the first release needs. You receive a written scope, a fixed price and a timeline, and approve the scope before design starts.
02

Design and Test the User Journeys

We design the key screens as a clickable Figma prototype that you can test with potential users. You approve the design before development starts.
03

Build the App and Administration Tools

We build the iOS, Android and web apps, the back end and the admin panel in one-week sprints. You review working features at the end of each sprint and give feedback.
04

Test Functionality and Performance

We test sign-up, posting, uploads, messaging, notifications, reporting and blocking on real iOS and Android devices. You approve the release once testing is complete.
05

Launch and Plan Further Releases

We submit the app to the App Store and Google Play under your accounts and respond to review feedback. You receive the live app, the code and handover documentation, and decide which features to build next.

Why choose Intelivita for social media app development?

You can check each point below before you commit: our projects, how we scope and price work, how often you see progress, what you own and what support you get from our app development team.

Relevant App Development Experience

We have built profiles, matching, forums, community posts, member chat and reviews for Ostique Connect, My Fit Month and FabQuote. Clients rate Intelivita 4.8/5 on Clutch from 52 verified reviews.

Defined Scope and Project Milestones

Each phase has a written scope, a fixed price and milestones before work starts. We price any change to the scope before doing it.

Regular Demonstrations and Project Updates

We work in one-week sprints and show you working features at the end of each one.

Clear Ownership and Handover Terms

You own the source code and designs, and the App Store, Google Play and hosting accounts are in your name. At handover you receive access to the code repositories and the documentation another team needs to take over.

Testing Against Agreed Requirements

We test each feature against the requirements agreed in the scope, on real iOS and Android devices, before you approve the release.

Support After Launch

Support plans from £400 to £2,000 per month cover bug fixes, security updates and new iOS and Android versions.

What our clients say

“What stood out most about Intelivita was their ability to operate as a true delivery partner rather than just a development vendor. They combined strategic input with hands-on execution, helping shape the product while also building it.”

Verified Clutch review

Frankie Cieslik

Frankie Cieslik

Director, CTO, LocalLinked Ltd

“Intelivita has developed an app that can dynamically display research questions and support a participant through all stages of their research journey.”

Verified Clutch review

Jordan Doust

Jordan Doust

Data Manager, University of Edinburgh

“What stood out most about Intelivita was the balance between professionalism and personal approach, which made the entire development process both efficient and enjoyable.”

Verified Clutch review

Nicholas Boundy

Nicholas Boundy

Executive, FabQuote

What should you know before starting your social app project?

Answers on cost, timelines and the decisions to make before you commission a social app.

How much does social media app development cost?

Most social app projects at Intelivita cost £4,000–£120,000+, priced as a fixed fee for each agreed phase. Design and a clickable prototype usually cost £4,000–£20,000, development £8,000–£100,000+, and support after launch £400–£2,000 per month. The first consultation and proposal are free.

What determines the development cost?

The number of platforms, the size of the first release, your feed, messaging and media requirements, memberships and payments, integrations with your other systems, the admin and moderation tools, the testing scope, and whether we migrate data from an existing app.

What does your project estimate include?

Design, development, testing and app store submission for the agreed scope, including the admin panel. Third-party fees and changes to the scope are priced separately, before any work on them starts.

What will you pay after launch?

Hosting and media storage, paid to your cloud provider and rising with users and uploads; third-party services such as push notifications, email, SMS verification codes and video; Apple and Google developer accounts; and a maintenance and support plan (£400–£2,000 per month), if you choose one.

How long does it take to develop a social media app?

A simple first release usually takes 8 to 12 weeks, a moderately complex app 3 to 6 months, and an advanced platform 6 to 9 months or more. The timeline depends on the scope, the number of platforms and how quickly decisions are made.

Should you choose custom development or an existing community platform?

Choose an existing platform if its features, branding and per-member fees suit you. Choose custom development when you need features it does not offer, control over who can join, connections to your other systems, or ownership of the app and its data.

Should your first release support iOS, Android or both?

Usually both, because users invite friends who use either platform. Flutter or React Native builds both apps from one codebase, which costs less than two separate apps; we use native Swift and Kotlin when the app needs it.

Can we develop your app in phases?

Yes. You can start with a first release and add features in later phases. Each phase has its own scope and fixed price.

Can we work with your existing development team?

Yes. We can work alongside your developers, take over part of the app or review their code.

Who will manage community moderation after launch?

Your team does. We build reporting, blocking, filters and a moderation queue; your team reviews reports, sets community guidelines and decides when to remove content or accounts. If UK users can share content with each other, the Online Safety Act 2023 applies, and you are responsible for the risk assessments Ofcom expects.

What information do we need to prepare a proposal?

Who the app is for, what users will do in it, the platforms you need and your budget. A short description is enough to start; we work out the detailed features with you during discovery.

Ready to discuss your social media app?

Tell us who the app is for, what users will do in it, the platforms you need, the scope of the first release and your budget. You do not need a full specification; we work out the details with you during discovery.

Discuss Your Social App Project