How do you Develop a Mobile App Like Beli?

Ever wish your food app knew your taste better than a review site?

That’s the magic of Beli.

It’s not your typical “top-rated” restaurant app. Beli is personal. It tracks what you like, shows where your friends are eating, and helps you discover spots you will enjoy—no more endless scrolling or second-guessing.

Instead of random reviews, it gives you real recommendations, from people you trust. Smart, social, and stylish—it’s how food discovery should feel.

Imagine building a mobile app like Beli—fun, engaging, and tailored for today’s foodies. It requires excellent design, smooth UX, and the right tech.

That’s where iCoderz steps in. We turn smart app ideas into real, scalable mobile solutions.

In this blog, we will explore what makes Beli unique, the key features needed to build a similar app, and the steps to develop an app like Beli.

Let’s dig in and build something delicious!

What is Beli?

• Beli is a restaurant recommendation app made for people who really love food. 
• Instead of showing places based on ads or influencers, it gives you real suggestions based on your own taste. 
• You can keep track of where you eat, rate restaurants, and get personalized recommendations. 
• Beli highlights eateries that friends you trust enjoy visiting. 
• The system derives its suggestions through actual user input.
• Beli assists users in discovering enjoyable dining spots with its recommended places.

What Are the Benefits of Building a Mobile App Like Beli? 

1. Personalized User Experience

• The app gives food suggestions based on what each person likes.
• It learns from what users eat, rate, and prefer, then shows places that match their taste.
• This makes users more likely to enjoy their dining choices.

2. Higher User Engagement

• Features like “friends’ favorite places” or “food logs” involve users more.
• They can share their food experiences and see what their friends like.
• This keeps users active and makes the app fun to use regularly.

3. Data-Driven Recommendations

• The app gets smarter the more people use it.
• It tracks visits, ratings, and favorites to give better suggestions each time.
• This helps the app understand what users like and keep improving.

4. Boosts Local Businesses

• It helps small or hidden restaurants get attention.
• Because the app shares real user reviews, it sends more people to local spots.
• This supports the food scene and helps new places grow.

5. Community-Driven Trust

• Users trust food picks from friends more than ads.
• When suggestions come from people they know, users feel more confident.
• This trust helps build long-term loyalty to the app.

6. Scalable Monetization Options

• There are many ways to make money with this kind of app.
• You can add premium features, show food ads, or offer restaurant deals.
• This means the app can grow and earn more over time.

7. Increased Retention with Lists & Wishlists

• Users can save places they love or want to try later.
• These saved lists bring them back to the app again and again.
• It helps them remember their favorite spots and explore new ones.

What are the Must-Have features for building an app like Beli?

To build an app as engaging as Beli, you need a mix of smart tech, smooth design, and features users will love.

Here are the essential features to develop an app like Beli:

Smart Restaurant Recommendations

• The core of the Beli experience.
• Use algorithms and past user behavior (e.g., dining history, preferences, and meal ratings).
• Suggest restaurants that match the user’s unique taste, not just the highest-rated spots.

Food Diary and Rating System

• Let users log where they have eaten and rate each spot.
• Over time, this builds a personal food journal to understand preferences.
• Based on real feedback, not paid promotions, creating a more authentic experience.

Friend-Based Social Discovery

• Add a social layer by allowing users to follow or connect with friends.
• Users can see where their friends eat, what they love, and what they recommend.
• It’s food discovery with trust and personal connection.

Tasty Visuals & Personal Highlights

• High-quality photos of dishes and restaurants help users make quicker, confident decisions.
• Allow users to showcase their personal highlights (e.g., favorite spots, go-to dishes, or badges for food habits).

Lists & Wishlists

• Let users save places they’ve visited or want to go.
• Makes planning easier for date nights, foodie adventures, or vacation meals.
• Keeps users coming back to explore and tick off new places.

Geo-Location Integration

• Use real-time GPS to recommend nearby restaurants.
• Whether at home or traveling, suggest places based on current location.
• Convenient and perfect for spontaneous cravings.

Developing a mobile app like Beli involves several critical steps, each requiring careful planning and execution.

What are the key steps to developing a mobile app like Beli?

A mobile application like Beli requires the following essential steps:

1. Market Research & Competitor Analysis

• The initial step requires analyzing the main users, their desired features, and existing challenges.
• Analyze competitors such as other social commerce or lifestyle apps.
• Study features, user reviews, pricing models, and competitors’ marketing strategies.
• Use tools like Google Trends, App Annie (now data.ai), and Sensor Tower to gather relevant data and insights.

• Find market vacancies to build your distinctive market position.

2. UI/UX Design with Clean, Fun Aesthetics

• Design a clean, intuitive, and engaging user interface.
• Apply shiny colors and energetic elements to match the lively brand identity of Beli.
• Design a navigation system that is simple for users of all age ranges.
• The design will benefit from usability tests combined with user feedback collection.

3. Choosing the Right Tech Stack

Select scalable and secure technologies for long-term growth.

Frontend:
Use React Native or Flutter for cross-platform development — or go with Native App Development if your project demands platform-specific performance.

Backend:
Consider Node.js, Django, or Firebase for server-side logic.

Databases:
Use MongoDB or PostgreSQL for managing user data.

Cloud Services:
Choose AWS or Firebase for reliable hosting and data storage.

4. Mobile App Development (Frontend & Backend)

• Using the selected framework, create the front-end layer according to the finished UI/UX design requirements.
• Build the backend with secure APIs, authentication, and database management.
• Implement third-party interface connections that include payment gateways and map APIs.
• Ensure parallel development of frontend and backend for smooth integration.

5. Quality Testing Across Devices

• The testing process should evaluate all features to ensure proper functionality.
• Test the application’s speed and responsiveness through performance testing.
• Execute usability testing to assess the user experience.
• Ensure compatibility across multiple devices, screen sizes, and platforms (iOS/Android).
• The testing process should combine automated with manual testing methods.
• Security tests need to be performed to defend user information privacy.

6. App Store Launch & Marketing

• Prepare for submission to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• Follow all platform guidelines and optimize metadata (title, description, keywords).
• Create visually appealing app previews and screenshots.
• Launch a marketing campaign targeting your core audience via:
  • Social media platforms
  • Influencer partnerships
  • SEO techniques and app landing pages
• Implement referral or reward-based growth tactics to boost installs.

Conclusion – Don’t Just Read—Take Action with iCoderz!

So, are you going to keep reading or start building your app? 

You now have all the know-how to create an app like Beli. 

Time’s ticking, and your competitors are already on the move!

Why Choose iCoderz to Build a Mobile app like Beli?

• Proven experience in food and social app development
  
• Scalable backend systems & delightful UI/UX
  
• End-to-end development: From Idea to Launch
  
• Transparent pricing & flexible engagement models
  

Let’s get ahead of the competition. Contact us today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1) What is the cost of developing a Beli-like mobile app?

Ans: The cost to develop a Beli-like mobile app depends on several factors, such as design complexity, features, and the tech stack. A basic MVP costs between $20,000 and $40,000, but a full-featured version exceeds $60,000. The final cost varies based on platforms, third-party integrations, and development timelines.

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