Messaging & Groups

What’s inside

A messenger with one-to-one and group conversations, photo messages, typing indicators and read receipts. New messages arrive as notifications, and unread counts are always accurate.

Made for a family, a class of parents, a team or crew and any group that has outgrown a chat app.

chat · groups · realtime · push

Things only you can supply

The app works in preview the moment it lands, these are for when you want it live, and you can do them any time from the workspace.

• Add your Android notification key — Notifications on Android need one file from Firebase — about two minutes on the app's notifications page.
• Add your Apple push key — Notifications on iPhone need one key from your Apple developer account — about three minutes on the app's notifications page.

Common questions

Is the Messaging & Groups template really free?

Yes. Making Messaging & Groups yours costs no credits and there is no card to enter. You get the whole finished app: screens, backend, sign-in and a live preview, yours to build on. Building the same app from scratch would cost about 30 credits.

What is inside Messaging & Groups?

A messenger with one-to-one and group conversations, photo messages, typing indicators and read receipts. New messages arrive as notifications, and unread counts are always accurate. It comes working with Direct messages, Group chats, Photo messages and Push notifications.

Who is Messaging & Groups for?

A family, A class of parents, A team or crew and Any group that has outgrown a chat app. If that is you, making it yours is free and it installs on your phone once it's built, then you change it in plain English. For iPhone installs through Glassly, connect your own Apple developer account (standard fee $99/year, paid to Apple). Android installs from a link, subject to device permissions and developer verification. Publishing on Google Play needs your own developer account ($25 once, paid to Google).

What does Messaging & Groups not do?

As shipped, it does not make voice or video calls, reach people who are not in the app and restrict sign-up to invited family members by default. Each of those is something you can ask for in the chat afterwards; changes use credits.

How does Messaging & Groups get onto my phone?

A web preview opens in the browser the moment your app exists, and you can press one button for a real install. On Android you get an install page with a link and a QR code, and the link always serves the newest version. On iPhone, Apple only lets apps install through a developer account, so that path asks you to connect your own.

Can I change Messaging & Groups after I make it mine?

Yes. You describe changes in plain English in your app's chat and they are built into the app: screens, backend and all. Changes use credits that track what the computing costs. People often ask for things like: Turn it into a support inbox where a business answers its customers, Make it a family app with a shared photo thread and a calendar and Turn it into a team app with channels per project.

What do I need to set up myself?

Nothing to start: the app works in preview the moment it lands. For when you want it live, these are yours to supply: Add your Android notification key and Add your Apple push key. You can do each one any time from the workspace.