Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Telegram Clone with Adalo

Why Adalo Works for Building a Messaging App

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This cross-platform capability is essential for a Telegram clone, where users expect seamless messaging whether they're on their phone, tablet, or desktop browser.

For messaging apps, app store distribution isn't just convenient—it's critical. Native publishing means your users can download directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play, enabling push notifications that keep conversations active and users engaged. Without native push notifications, a messaging app simply can't compete. Adalo handles this complexity for you, so you can focus on building features your users will love.

Why Adalo Works for Building a Messaging App

Adalo is an AI-powered app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This cross-platform capability is essential for a Telegram clone, where users expect seamless messaging whether they're on their phone, tablet, or desktop browser.

For messaging apps, app store distribution isn't just convenient—it's critical. Native publishing means your users can download directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play, enabling push notifications that keep conversations active and users engaged. Without native push notifications, a messaging app simply can't compete. Adalo handles this complexity for you, so you can focus on building features your users will love.

This comprehensive tutorial walks you through creating a functional messaging application using Adalo's app platform. While Telegram handles messaging at massive scale, you'll learn to build a production-ready clone with group chats, media sharing, user profiles, and real-time communication. Adalo's agnostic builder lets you publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android, all without writing a line of code or rebuilding. If your plan is mass distribution through the app stores' vast marketplaces, this is a great option.

Why Build a Telegram Clone Without Code

Building a messaging app with traditional development can range from $17,500 to over $200,000 depending on complexity and the development team. With Adalo's AI-powered app builder, you can launch an MVP while learning essential app development concepts.

The Power of No-Code for Messaging Apps

Visual app builders eliminate technical barriers:

• Speed: Build functional chat features in days, not months
• Cost: Start with unlimited test apps on Adalo's free tier
• Learning: Understand database relationships and user flows visually
• Iteration: Make changes instantly without recompiling code

Adalo empowers makers to bring messaging app ideas to life through its drag-and-drop builder and built-in relational database. Over 3 million apps have been created on the platform, processing 20 million requests daily. The visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," making complex database-driven apps accessible to non-technical founders.

Understanding the Trade-offs

Before starting, know the key limitation: Adalo doesn't support native real-time messaging. You'll need to implement workarounds using manual refresh, push notifications, or third-party WebSocket components like PragmaFlow. For true real-time experiences like Telegram's instant delivery, traditional development or platforms like FlutterFlow may be better suited—though FlutterFlow is a low-code platform designed for technical users who must also source, set up, and pay for their own external database.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your Adalo Project

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Navigate to Adalo.com and click "Sign Up"
2. Choose "Mobile App" (recommended for messaging apps)
3. Name your app (e.g., "Telegram Clone")
4. Select "Start from Scratch" to build from the ground up

Time Required: 5 minutes

Step 2: Install the User Chat Feature Template

Rather than building from scratch, save 20+ hours by starting with Adalo's pre-built template:

1. Click "+" icon in the screens panel
2. Select "Feature Templates"
3. Choose "User Chat template"
4. Click "Install"

This provides:

• Pre-configured chat list screen
• Conversation thread screen
• New message screen
• Basic database schema with Users, Messages, and Conversations collections

Time Required: 10 minutes

Step 3: Configure Your App Theme

1. Click the Settings icon in the left sidebar
2. Select "Branding"
3. Choose your primary color (Telegram uses #3390EC)
4. Select secondary color for accents
5. Pick a clean, modern font
6. Upload your app logo and icon

Building Core Functionality: Users and Chat Features

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

The template includes a basic Users collection. Expand it for Telegram-like features:

1. Click Database icon in left sidebar
2. Select "Users" collection
3. Add these properties (click "+ Add Property" for each):
   • Username (Text) - Unique identifier like @username
   • Phone Number (Text) - For authentication
   • Bio (Text, Multiline) - User description
   • Profile Picture (Image)
   • Last Seen (Date & Time)
   • Online Status (True/False)
   • Push Token (Text) - For notifications
   • Blocked Users (Relationship: Many-to-Many with Users)

Critical Detail: Following the documented WhatsApp schema ensures your relationships work correctly from the start.

Step 5: Build the Messages Collection

The template provides a basic Messages collection. Enhance it:

1. In Database, click "Messages"
2. Add/verify these properties:
   • Message Type (Text) - Values: "Text", "Image", "Video", "Audio", "File"
   • Text Content (Text, Multiline)
   • Media File (File or Image)
   • Read Status (True/False)
   • Delivered (True/False)
   • Deleted (True/False)
   • Sent At (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Edited At (Date & Time)
   • Reply To (Relationship: Many-to-One with Messages) - For message replies
   • Sender (Relationship: Many-to-One with Users)
   • Conversation (Relationship: Many-to-One with Conversations)

Step 6: Create the Conversations Collection

This is the core of your messaging structure:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Conversations"
3. Add these properties:
   • Type (Text) - Values: "Individual", "Group", "Channel"
   • Name (Text) - For group chats
   • Group Photo (Image)
   • Last Message (Relationship: One-to-One with Messages)
   • Last Message Time (Date & Time)
   • Unread Count (Number)
   • Created By (Relationship: Many-to-One with Users)
   • Created At (Date & Time - Automatic)

Step 7: Create the Participants Collection

This bridges Users and Conversations for group functionality:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Participants"
3. Add properties:
   • User (Relationship: Many-to-One with Users)
   • Conversation (Relationship: Many-to-One with Conversations)
   • Role (Text) - Values: "Member", "Admin", "Owner"
   • Joined At (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Muted Until (Date & Time)
   • Archived (True/False)
   • Pinned (True/False)
   • Last Read Message (Relationship: Many-to-One with Messages)

This structure allows many-to-many relationships between users and conversations—essential for group chats.

Step 8: Set Up Database Relationships

1. In Conversations collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Participants" (through Participants collection)
• This creates: A Conversation can have many Participants; A User can be in many Conversations

2. In Messages collection:

• Verify relationship to Conversations: Many-to-One
• Verify relationship to Users (Sender): Many-to-One

3. In Participants collection:

• Verify relationships are bidirectional
• Each Participant links one User to one Conversation

Pro Tip: The relational database visual mapper shows color-coded lines connecting collections. Verify all lines appear correctly. With Adalo 3.0's infrastructure overhaul, paid plans now have no record limits—your messaging app can scale without hitting database caps.

Implementing Message Sending and Display

Step 9: Customize the Chat List Screen

The template provides a "Chats List" screen. Enhance it:

1. Select the List component showing conversations
2. Configure the filter:
   • Participants > User > Contains > Logged In User
3. Set sort order:
   • Last Message Time > Descending
4. Customize what displays for each conversation:
   • Image: Conversation > Group Photo (or other user's profile picture for 1:1)
   • Name: Conversation > Name (or other user's name)
   • Last Message: Conversation > Last Message > Text Content (first 50 characters)
   • Time: Conversation > Last Message Time (formatted)
   • Unread Badge: Conversation > Unread Count (visible only if > 0)

Step 10: Build the Message Input Element

In the conversation thread screen:

1. At bottom, add Form component
2. Connect to Messages collection
3. Add Text Input field:
   • Placeholder: "Type a message..."
   • Property: Text Content
4. Add Image Picker button for media:
   • Property: Media File
   • Icon: Camera or paperclip
5. Add Send Button:
   • Icon: Paper plane
   • Style: Circle, positioned right

Step 11: Configure Message Sending Actions

When the Send button is clicked:

1. Create a new Message:

• Text Content = Form input
• Sender = Logged In User
• Conversation = Current Conversation
• Sent At = Current Time
• Delivered = True
• Read Status = False

2. Update the current Conversation:

• Last Message = Created Message
• Last Message Time = Current Time

3. Clear the form input

4. Refresh the messages list (workaround for real-time)

Step 12: Display Conversation Threads

In the conversation screen's messages list:

1. Add Custom List component
2. Filter:
   • Conversation = Current Conversation
3. Sort by:
   • Sent At > Ascending (oldest first)
4. For each message, display:
   • Text: Message > Text Content
   • Image: Message > Media File (if exists)
   • Time: Message > Sent At (formatted as "HH:MM")
   • Read Receipt: Double checkmark if Read Status = True
   • Sender Name: Message > Sender > Username (for group chats)
5. Add conditional visibility:
   • Align left if Sender ≠ Logged In User
   • Align right if Sender = Logged In User
   • Different background colors for sent vs received

Step 13: Implement Manual Refresh

Since Adalo lacks native real-time:

1. Add Button at top of messages list:
   • Icon: Refresh circular arrow
   • Label: "Pull to refresh"
2. Button action: Refresh List (reloads messages)
3. Enable "Load Items as User Scrolls" in list settings
4. Set refresh interval using Countdown Timer (5-10 seconds)

Alternative: Install PragmaFlow WebSocket component for true real-time messaging without manual refresh.

Advanced Clone Features: Groups, Avatars, and More

Step 14: Add Group Chat Creation

1. Create new screen "New Group"
2. Add Form connected to Conversations:
   • Group Name (Text Input)
   • Group Photo (Image Picker)
   • Type = "Group" (hidden field, auto-set)
3. Add Multi-Select List of Users:
   • Filter: All Users except Logged In User
   • Checkbox for each user
4. Submit button action:
   • Create Conversation
   • For each selected user: Create Participant (User = selected, Conversation = created conversation)
   • Create Participant for Logged In User with Role = "Owner"
   • Navigate to new conversation

Step 15: Implement Group Management

Create "Group Settings" screen:

1. Show group details:
   • Group Photo (editable)
   • Group Name (editable by admins)
   • Created By and Created At
2. Add List of Participants:
   • Show User > Profile Picture
   • Show User > Username
   • Show Role (Admin/Member)
3. For group owners/admins:
   • Button: "Add Participants" → Multi-select users screen
   • Button: "Remove" next to each member (admins only)
   • Button: "Make Admin" (owners only)
4. For all members:
   • Toggle: "Mute Notifications"
   • Button: "Leave Group" → Delete own Participant record

Step 16: Add User Profiles and Avatars

Create "User Profile" screen:

1. For own profile:
   • Form to update Logged In User:
     • Profile Picture (Image Picker)
     • Username (Text Input)
     • Bio (Multiline Text Input)
     • Phone Number (display only)
2. For other users' profiles:
   • Display only (no edit):
     • Profile Picture
     • Username
     • Bio
     • Last Seen (if not blocked)
   • Button: "Start Conversation" → Create or navigate to 1:1 conversation
   • Button: "Block User" → Add to Blocked Users relationship

Step 17: Enable Media Attachments

Enhance the message input:

1. Add File Picker button next to text input
2. On file selected:
   • Set Message Type based on file extension (image/video/audio)
   • Upload to Media File property
   • Display preview before sending
3. In message display:
   • For images: Show inline with click to fullscreen
   • For videos: Show play button overlay
   • For audio: Show audio player controls
   • For files: Show filename and download button

Consider installing marketplace components for enhanced media handling:

• Audio Player component
• Video Player component
• File Preview component

Step 18: Implement Push Notifications

Enable notifications on Professional plan or higher:

1. In app settings, enable Push Notifications
2. Request permission on signup:
   • Action: "Request Notification Permission"
   • Save Push Token to user record
3. Configure notification triggers:
   • When message created AND Conversation > Participants contains Recipient:
     • Send notification to Recipient > Push Token
     • Title: Sender > Username
     • Body: Text Content (first 100 characters)
     • Sound: Enabled
4. Set up notification actions:
   • Tap notification → Navigate to conversation

Testing and Iteration

Step 19: Add Test Data

Create realistic test scenarios:

1. Add 5-10 test users with varied usernames and profile pictures
2. Create 3-4 individual conversations
3. Create 2-3 group conversations with different member counts
4. Populate conversations with 20-50 messages each
5. Test with various message types (text, images, files)

Step 20: Test Core Functionality

Systematically verify:

1. User authentication: Signup, login, logout
2. 1:1 messaging: Send, receive, media attachments
3. Group chats: Create, add members, remove members, leave group
4. Notifications: Receive when app backgrounded
5. Read receipts: Mark messages as read when viewed
6. Filtering: Blocked users don't appear in chats
7. Performance: Load times with 50+ messages

Step 21: Optimize Performance

With Adalo 3.0's infrastructure overhaul, the platform is now 3-4x faster than before. Paid plans have no database record caps, so you won't hit the storage walls that plagued earlier versions. However, good practices still matter:

1. Enable pagination on message lists:
   • Load 50 messages initially
   • "Load Items as User Scrolls" for older messages
2. Compress images before upload:
   • Use TinyPNG or similar
   • Target <1MB file size
3. Archive old conversations:
   • Add "Archive" action that sets Archived = True
   • Filter chat list to hide archived
4. Implement message deletion:
   • Set Deleted = True rather than deleting record
   • Filter to hide deleted messages

For apps expecting high-volume traffic, Adalo's modular infrastructure can scale to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users. The Team plan includes Xano integration for external database flexibility when needed.

Step 22: Gather Feedback from Beta Users

Before public launch:

1. Share test app link (Adalo preview) with 10-20 users
2. Create feedback form:
   • Rate overall experience (1-5 stars)
   • What features are missing?
   • What's confusing?
   • What works well?
3. Monitor app analytics:
   • Which screens have highest drop-off?
   • Average session duration
   • Most-used features
4. Iterate based on insights

Publishing Your Messaging App

Step 23: Prepare for App Store Submission

Required accounts:

1. Apple Developer Program: $99/year
2. Google Play Developer: $25 one-time
3. Adalo plan: Minimum Starter plan ($36/month billed annually) for publishing

Prepare assets:

• App icon (1024x1024px)
• Screenshots for App Store (5-8 images)
• Privacy policy URL (required)
• App description (4,000 characters max)
• Keywords for App Store Optimization

Step 24: Configure Publishing Settings

In Adalo's publishing section:

1. Navigate to Publish → iOS
2. Enter Apple Developer credentials
3. Upload app icon and launch screen
4. Configure app settings:
   • Display name
   • Bundle ID (reverse domain: com.yourcompany.appname)
   • Version number (1.0.0)
   • Privacy policy link
5. Repeat for Android:
   • Package name
   • Signing key generation
6. For Web App:
   • Choose custom domain or Adalo subdomain
   • Enable responsive design

Step 25: Submit to App Stores

iOS submission:

1. Click "Publish to App Store"
2. Adalo builds your app (15-30 minutes)
3. Review in TestFlight first
4. Submit for App Store review (typically 24-48 hours)
5. Monitor status in App Store Connect

Android submission:

1. Click "Publish to Google Play"
2. Adalo generates APK/AAB
3. Upload to Google Play Console
4. Complete content rating questionnaire
5. Submit for review (typically 1-3 days)

Common rejection reasons: Review app store guidelines to avoid issues with content policies, privacy requirements, or functionality.

Step 26: Launch Your Web Version

Fastest path to users:

1. Navigate to Publish → Web
2. Choose publishing method:
   • Adalo subdomain (yourapp.adalo.com) - Free
   • Custom domain ($10-45/year) - Starter plan required
3. Click "Publish Web App"
4. Live in 2-3 minutes

Benefits: No app store approval wait, instant updates, works on all devices with responsive design.

Scaling and Maintaining Your Adalo Chat App

Step 27: Monitor App Performance

Track key metrics:

1. User growth: Active users per day/week/month
2. Message volume: Total messages sent daily
3. Database size: Current storage usage
4. App uptime: Adalo reports 99%+ availability
5. Crash reports: iOS/Android native crash analytics

Use external tools:

• Google Analytics (via custom code)
• Mixpanel for user behavior
• Sentry for error tracking

Step 28: Plan for Database Scaling

Adalo's internal database on paid plans now has unlimited records—a significant change from earlier versions. Storage allocations by plan:

• Free: 500 records
• Starter: 5GB storage, unlimited records
• Professional: 25GB storage, unlimited records
• Team: 125GB storage, unlimited records

When approaching storage limits:

1. Archive old data: Move messages older than 90 days to external storage
2. Integrate Xano: Team plan includes free Xano Starter plan (a $29/month value)
3. Implement data retention: Auto-delete messages after 1 year (optional)
4. Optimize media storage: Store images/videos on AWS S3, save URLs only

Step 29: Leverage Integrations for Features

Extend functionality without code:

1. Zapier: Automate workflows
   • New user signup → Send welcome email via Gmail
   • Inappropriate message flagged → Create ticket in Zendesk
   • Daily summary → Post stats to Slack
2. Stripe: Monetize with premium features
   • Subscription for unlimited groups
   • Pay to remove ads
   • Premium sticker packs
3. Airtable: Sync user data for analysis
4. Firebase: Advanced push notifications

Step 30: Update Without Disrupting Users

Adalo's publishing model:

1. Make changes in editor
2. Test in preview environment
3. Click "Publish" when ready
4. Updates deploy in 2-5 minutes
5. Users get updates on next app open (no App Store review needed for most changes)

Exception: Major functionality changes or new permissions may require App Store re-review. Plan accordingly. Unlike Bubble's web wrapper approach where mobile updates require separate republishing, Adalo's single codebase means one publish updates web, iOS, and Android simultaneously.

Why Adalo for Building Your Messaging App

Choosing the right platform determines your app's success. Adalo stands out for messaging applications for several reasons.

Speed to Market

With Adalo's feature templates, you start with working chat functionality instead of a blank canvas. The User Chat and Group Messaging templates include production-ready database schemas, saving 60-80% of initial development time. What would take 4-6 months with traditional development becomes a 2-4 week sprint.

Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.

Magic Start, Adalo's AI feature, generates complete app foundations from descriptions. Tell it you need a messaging app for a fitness community, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically. Magic Add lets you describe features in natural language—"add a feature for users to share workout photos in group chats"—and the AI implements them.

True Cross-Platform Publishing

Build once, publish everywhere. Your Telegram clone deploys to iOS, Android, and web from a single codebase. Unlike Bubble (which wraps web apps for mobile, introducing potential performance issues at scale) or Glide (which doesn't support App Store publishing at all), Adalo generates native mobile apps that perform like traditionally coded applications.

Visual Database Builder

Adalo's relational database removes the complexity of SQL. You visually map relationships between Users, Messages, and Conversations with colored lines showing connections. The platform prevents common structural errors that plague coded apps—no syntax bugs, no migration headaches.

X-Ray, Adalo's performance analysis feature, identifies potential issues before they affect users. It highlights database queries that might slow down as your user base grows, letting you optimize proactively rather than reactively.

Cost-Effective Scaling

Start free with unlimited test apps, then scale affordably. At $36/month (Starter plan, billed annually), you get published apps, custom domains, and unlimited usage—no surprise bills from usage-based charges. Compare this to Bubble's $59/month starting point with Workload Units that can spike unpredictably, or FlutterFlow's $70/month per user plus the cost of sourcing and maintaining a separate database.

When your user base grows, Adalo's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users. The Team plan includes Xano integration for external database flexibility, keeping your app performant without rebuilding.

Community and Support

Access Adalo's community for peer assistance, browse showcase apps built by other makers, and hire verified Adalo Experts when you need professional help. The App Academy offers free courses on advanced topics like database design and performance optimization.

Known Limitations to Consider

Transparency matters. Adalo doesn't support:

• Native real-time messaging (requires PragmaFlow add-on or manual refresh)
• End-to-end encryption (messages accessible on Adalo servers)
• Background location tracking (location updates only when app open)
• Code export (vendor lock-in consideration)

For internal business communication, community apps, or booking platforms with messaging, these trade-offs are acceptable. For consumer chat apps competing with WhatsApp or Signal, consider the real-time limitations carefully.

FAQ

Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?

Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase—the hardest part of launching an app handled automatically. Paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges, so you won't face surprise bills as your app grows.

What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?

Adalo's drag-and-drop interface combined with AI-assisted building through Magic Start and Magic Add lets you create functional apps in days rather than months. The platform handles the App Store submission process directly—you click publish, Adalo builds your app, and submits it for review. Most apps go live within 24-48 hours of submission.

Can I easily build a messaging app like Telegram without coding?

Yes, with Adalo's AI-powered app builder, you can build a functional messaging application with features like group chats, media sharing, user profiles, and push notifications. The pre-built User Chat feature template saves 20+ hours of development time by providing a pre-configured chat list screen, conversation threads, and database schema right out of the box.

Does Adalo support real-time messaging for chat apps?

Adalo doesn't support native real-time messaging out of the box, but you can implement workarounds using manual refresh, push notifications, or third-party WebSocket components like PragmaFlow. For most internal business communication, community apps, or booking platforms with messaging features, these solutions work well and provide a functional user experience.

How much does it cost to build a messaging app with Adalo compared to traditional development?

Traditional messaging app development can cost between $17,500 to over $200,000, while Adalo offers a 96-98% cost reduction. You can start free with unlimited test apps, then publish your app starting at the Starter plan ($36/month billed annually). All paid plans include unlimited usage with no surprise charges.

Can I publish my Adalo messaging app to both iOS and Android?

Yes, Adalo allows you to build once and publish to iOS, Android, and web from a single codebase. Unlike web-only or PWA-only platforms, Adalo generates native mobile apps that can be downloaded directly from the Apple App Store and Google Play, which is essential for messaging apps that rely on push notifications to keep users engaged.

What database features does Adalo offer for building a chat app?

Adalo provides a visual relational database builder that lets you map relationships between Users, Messages, and Conversations with color-coded lines showing connections. Paid plans have no record limits—your messaging app can scale without hitting database caps. X-Ray identifies potential performance issues before they affect users.

How does Adalo compare to Bubble for building messaging apps?

Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase, while Bubble wraps web apps for mobile, which can introduce performance issues at scale. Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited usage, while Bubble starts at $59/month with Workload Units that can spike unpredictably. Adalo also publishes one update to all platforms simultaneously.

How does Adalo compare to FlutterFlow for messaging apps?

FlutterFlow is a low-code platform designed for technical users who must also source, set up, and pay for their own external database—a significant learning curve and additional cost. Adalo includes a built-in database with unlimited records on paid plans, starts at $36/month versus FlutterFlow's $70/month per user, and requires no coding knowledge.

Can I migrate from another platform to Adalo?

While Adalo doesn't offer automated migration tools, you can export data from most platforms and import it into Adalo's database. The visual database builder makes it straightforward to recreate your data structure. For complex migrations, Adalo Experts can help with the transition.