InstantChat
A complete Android messaging app, as source code.
- Price
- $29
- Sales
- 61
- Last update
Rated 4 out of 5 from 4 ratings on CodeCanyon
Price and sales figures are those published on the CodeCanyon listing.
Interface illustration — see the listing for screenshots.
Overview
What InstantChat is
InstantChat is a complete, buildable Android chat application delivered as source code. It implements the parts of a messenger that take longest to get right: real-time message delivery, local persistence and ordering, delivery and read indicators, presence, media handling, and push notifications.
It runs on Firebase with a Realm database on the device, so there is no separate server to rent or operate before the app works. One-to-one voice and video calling is handled through Sinch.
It is aimed at developers and studios who need a messaging product for a client, an internal team tool, or a community app, and who want to own and extend the code rather than rent a hosted chat SDK.
Who it is for
- Android developers who need a working messenger as a starting point
- Agencies delivering a chat product on a fixed budget and timeline
- Teams that need to own and modify the messaging source code
Built with
- Android
- Kotlin
- Java
- Firebase
- Realm Database
- Sinch
- Gradle
Features
What is already built
Every capability listed here is implemented in the product as published on CodeCanyon.
Messaging
One-to-one and group chat
Direct conversations and group conversations are both implemented end to end.
Real-time delivery indicators
Sent and received states update in real time as messages move between devices.
Message actions
Copy, forward and delete messages, including deleting a message for everyone.
Last seen presence
Contacts show a last-seen timestamp alongside the conversation.
Media and voice
Voice messages
Record a voice note in the conversation and send it inline.
Image, video and audio sharing
Send and receive media attachments directly inside a chat.
File and contact sharing
Share arbitrary files and contact cards through the built-in file manager.
Voice and video calls
One-to-one audio and video calling, handled through the Sinch service.
Platform
Phone number authentication
Sign-in is handled by Firebase phone authentication.
Push notifications
New messages raise a push notification, and notifications can be muted per conversation.
Firebase and Realm
Firebase provides the backend and Realm provides on-device storage, so no separate server has to be purchased.
Material Design interface
The interface follows Material Design components and patterns.
Interface
InstantChat on screen
A look at how the product is put together.
This is an illustration of the InstantChat interface, not a screenshot. Full screenshots and a live preview are published on the CodeCanyon listing.
Technical
Requirements and specifications
Taken directly from the marketplace listing. Anything the listing does not state is left out rather than guessed.
- Platform
- Android
- Listed software version
- Android 9.0
- Language
- Kotlin (fully converted in the latest update)
- Backend
- Firebase — no separate server purchase required
- Local database
- Realm
- Calling
- Sinch (one-to-one audio and video)
- Authentication
- Firebase phone authentication
- Build system
- Gradle
- Category
- Mobile › Android › Full Applications
- Files included
- .apk
- .db
- .java
- .xml
Getting started
From download to running build
The short version. The full prerequisites, configuration notes and troubleshooting live in the documentation.
Unzip the download and open the project folder in Android Studio.
Let Gradle sync and resolve dependencies on first open. The project uses a current Gradle setup as of the October 2022 update.
Create your Firebase project, register the app's package name, and add the generated google-services.json to the project.
Enable phone authentication in the Firebase console.
Add your Sinch credentials so voice and video calling can connect.
Build and run on a device or emulator, then sign in with a real phone number to verify the authentication flow end to end.
InstantChat documentation
What ships with InstantChat, the services it depends on, and how to get from download to a running build.
Open the documentationQuestions
InstantChat FAQ
Answers drawn from the marketplace listing and the product's own dependencies.
Do I need to buy or run a separate server?
No. InstantChat uses Firebase for its backend and a Realm database on the device, so the listing does not require you to purchase an external server. You will need to create and configure your own Firebase project.
Which Android versions does it target?
The marketplace listing records the software version as Android 9.0, and the most recent update (15 October 2022) added Android 12+ support.
What is actually included in the download?
The listing states the download contains .apk, .db, .java and .xml files — the buildable application source alongside a compiled APK.
How are voice and video calls handled?
One-to-one audio and video calling is provided through the Sinch service, which you configure with your own credentials.
Is the app written in Java or Kotlin?
The codebase was fully converted to Kotlin in the latest update. Java and XML files are still listed among the included file types.
What licence do I get?
The licence is whichever Envato licence you select at checkout on CodeCanyon — a Regular or Extended licence. The licence terms are set and enforced by Envato, not by GrandCoders.
Releases
Release history
Updates are distributed through CodeCanyon and are free for the licence you already hold.
Latest update
- Android 12+ support
- Updated to the latest Gradle implementation
- New file manager system
- Full conversion of the codebase to Kotlin
Get InstantChat on CodeCanyon
A full one-to-one and group messaging application for Android, built on Firebase with a Realm local database. Voice messages, media sharing, calls, receipts and push notifications are already implemented — you start from a working messenger, not an empty project.
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