How to Develop an App Like Mixcloud?

Have you ever thought about how apps like Mixcloud manage to grab millions of music lovers and creators? With more than 20 million subscribers, Mixcloud is not just another music app.

It is a thriving audio community built around live shows, DJ mixes, podcasts, and so on. It is where underground sounds meet global audiences.

As per Market Research Future, the market size of the music streaming industry is projected to reach $72.5 billion by 2035.

This growing demand signals a golden opportunity for entrepreneurs to invest in app development.

If you are one of the aspiring entrepreneurs who want to develop an app like Mixcloud, now is the time to take the leap.

In this blog, we will discuss the process to make an app like Mixcloud, along with core features, costs, and monetization models that can elevate your business to the next level.

About Mixcloud Music App & Market Size, Growth, and Stats

Mixcloud is a British music app that offers radio shows, DJ mixes, and podcasts.

Users can upload their radio shows, DJ mixes, or podcasts and promote their content through Mixcloud’s widget.

Mixcloud is not like other apps because its main focus is on its long-form audio content.

It is especially designed to host DJ mixes, radio shows, and podcasts. It is one of the best music streaming apps for live audio content.

All artists, like DJs, podcasters, etc, can broadcast their work. 

• According to Semrush, Mixcloud attracted 6.22 Million visitors in May 2025, and their average session duration was 11 minutes and 42 seconds. 

• As per Market Research Future, the market size of the music streaming industry is projected to reach $72.48 Billion by 2035.

• Statista shows that the revenue of the music streaming market is projected to hit 35.45 billion by 2025 end.

• The music streaming app users are projected to reach 1.2 billion by 2030. 

How Does the Mixcloud App Work?

The workflow of the Mixcloud app is essential to understand before you create a music streaming app similar to that.

So, here is the step-by-step working mechanism of Mixcloud as mentioned below. 

► Create an Account

First, users create a free account with their email ID or contact number. Once an account is created, users can set up their profile by adding a photo, name, and their music taste. 

► Discover and Follow Creators

Users can explore millions of DJs, radio shows, and podcasters. They can use the search bar or browse by genre. When they find the creator, they can tap follow on it. 

► Stream and Listen Anytime

Users can click on any mixes or shows to begin listening. Mixcloud streams content without the need to download.

They can listen in the background while using other apps. 

► Interact and Share

They can select their favorite track, leave comments, or even share mixes with friends. It helps support their favorite creators and connect with other fans.

Key Features of an App Like Mixcloud

Features are essential for making your Mixcloud streaming application successful. So, when you integrate features in your app like Mixcloud, choose wisely by doing research.

Here are some of the crucial features of an app like Mixcloud that you can take into consideration.

♦ User Panel Features

1] Simple Sign Up

Users can easily sign up or register in the application by filling in the details like email ID or contact number. To keep your users on the app, make the entry smooth and hassle-free. 

2] Profile Management

Users can build their profile with a DP, bio, and link to social media. Also, creators can highlight their work to their followers. 

3] Explore & Discover Content

Users can simply search by genre, trending topic, or what’s new. You can also provide a personalized section for them so they can add their favorites.

4] Follow Creators

You should allow users to easily follow their DJs or podcast creators. When they do this, they get notified whenever that person uploads something new.

5] Upload Audio Content

Creators can upload their mixes or shows with details. For example, title, description, tags, and cover image. It is vital for building their audience.

6] Audio Player

This feature must enable users to play, pause, skip, loop, and shuffle. Users can play it even if they switch to another app or local their phone.

7] Create & Manage Playlists

Your app must allow users to easily create their favourite song playlists and manage them. This can be helpful for long trips, study sessions, meditation sessions, and so on.

8] Push Notifications

Users get notified when creators upload new content, or when someone follows, likes, or comments on their uploads.

♦ Admin Panel Features

1] User Management

Admins can handle all users’ accounts, like approve or block users, and reset passwords. You can also check user profiles and control access.

2] Content Moderation

Admin can review uploaded audio, DJ mixes, and podcasts to make sure they follow the app’s guidelines. You can remove copyrighted content from the app.

3] Monetization Control

Admins can set subscription plans, handle ad placements, and check revenue from ads, subscriptions, or premium plans.

4] Report & Feedback Management

When users report content, admins can see and respond to these complaints. This helps keep the app safe and user-friendly.

♦ Advanced Features

1] AI-Based Recommendations

Nowadays, AI in music streaming apps is very popular. The Mixcloud clone app understands the users’ preferences by tracking their listening habits.

With AI-based recommendation features, you can suggest new DJ mixes, podcasts, and make it easier to find content that matches users’ tastes. 

2] Live Audio Streaming

Creators can go live and stream audio in real-time. Users can join these live sessions and enjoy the experience. It is best for live DJs.

3] Offline Listening

Premium users can download their favorite music and DJ mixes and listen to them in offline mode. It is best for when you travel, commute, or areas with poor internet connection. 

4] Creator Insights & Analytics

Artists can see who is listening to their music and DJ mixes, the duration, and the location. It helps them know their audience in a better way and improve their content. 

Steps to Develop an App Like Mixcloud

If you are thinking of creating an app like Mixcloud, it is essential to have a thorough expertise in it. It is not that easy to create. So, we have highlighted the main stages to develop an app like Mixcloud. 

Step 1: Research Your Target Audience

Before you start developing anything, it is really essential to know who you are building it for. If you are creating an app like Mixcloud, you need to know who your potential audience is. Are they casual music listeners? Podcast lovers or DJs?

Just spend some time analyzing what type of people use Mixcloud or SoundCloud apps. Also, what do they love the most about this app? What do they complain about? One thing you can do is explore social media, reviews, and forums. 

You can even ask people directly. This will help you shape your music streaming application in a way that fits your requirements.

The more you know about your future users, the better your music streaming app will be. 

Step 2: Define the Principal Features

Once you know your target audience, the next stage is to think about what feature you want in your app. Just make sure to not copy every feature of Mixcloud, but focus on the essential ones that your users will care about. 

For example, you might need user accounts, music or podcast uploading options, playlists, search features, and a way for users to follow each other. Just think of music streaming app features that your users need to get a better experience.

You can also sketch out a list of core things your app does on the first day. Now market extra ideas you might add later.

Just keep it simple, but of course useful, that is the sweet spot for a strong app start. 

Step 3: Create a Stunning UI/UX Design

Now that you know what features you need to integrate, it is time to focus on how it looks. This is where UI and UX come in. Simply put, UI is how your app looks, for example, buttons, colours, etc. UX is how easy and enjoyable your app is to use.

Let’s understand with an example. Just imagine you open an application and instantly know where to tap to play a song, that is called a good design.

So, now to make an intuitive music streaming app design, work with a designer to create a clean and modern layout.

Just make sure that everything is very easy to find, loads fast, and feels smooth. You should try to keep things uncluttered.

Especially, if your app will have audio players, track lists, etc. A well-designed and visually appealing app will make people want to keep coming back. 

Step 4: Develop an MVP Version

Here comes the main stage of building an app like Mixcloud. But before you create a full-fledged app, it is vital to begin with an MVP version. Your MVP should include core features as you defined earlier. Also, you should allow users to try it and give feedback.

For example, users must easily log in, upload or play audio, and follow other users. Do not just think about every little detail as of now.

The main idea is to launch fast with a working version, so you can see how people interact with it. You can always integrate advanced features later once you know what people really want.

Once your MVP version is developed, it is time to test it with the real users. 

Step 5: Test and Launch the App

Lastly, before you release your music streaming app like Mixcloud, just test it carefully. You can do a survey of a small group of users about your app and gather their feedback. Just look for bugs, crashes, or anything that slows down the app’s speed.

Also, see how people use it and notice if they get stuck anywhere. This stage will help you fix any bugs and errors present in the app before the actual launch. Once everything is tested, you can finally launch your app on the respective app stores.

Just remember, it is not the end. It is just the start. The real game begins from here. You need to promote and market your app on social media and invite users to join.

Also, it is vital to regularly maintain and update your music streaming app for a seamless performance.

Modern Technologies For Mixcloud App Development

Creating an app like Mixcloud requires the latest mobile app tech stack.

So, here is the essential table of a tech stack for an app like Mixcloud that you must check out.

Challenges in Developing an App Like Mixcloud & Their Solutions

Developing an app comes with so many challenges. It also applies to a music streaming application. When you develop an app like Mixcloud, you may face some challenges. But we have jotted down its solutions.

So, let’s check out. 

➤ Licensing & Copyright Issues

One of the biggest music app development challenges is managing music licensing and copyright laws. Since the app deals with user-generated music that often has copyrighted tracks.

You must make sure you are not breaking any legal rules. Without any pepper licences, your music streaming app can be taken down, or you can be fined.

Solution:

You can work closely with music licensing bodies, depending on your country. You should acquire streaming licenses and ensure that all content uploaded is legally allowed to be played.

Besides, you can also implement a copyright detection system that can flag unauthorized uploads.

➤ Creating a User-Friendly Interface

Making a user-friendly interface that works properly for both listeners and content creators is the next big challenge.

If the music streaming app is too complex, users might stop using it. Some features, like music discovery, uploading, playlist creation, and social sharing, need to be simple. 

Solution:

You should hire a good UI/UX design team. They will begin by creating wireframes and prototypes to test how users interact with your app. You can use feedback to improve the layout and navigation.

Besides, you can also include search filters, customized suggestions, and simple upload tools to keep a smooth experience.

➤ Build a Scalable Streaming Infrastructure

Streaming high-quality audio to millions of users at once requires a strong backend. If the infrastructure is weak, users can experience buffering, crashes, or slow load times. 

Solution:

You can use cloud services that allow you to scale your servers based on demand. Besides, you can use a CDN to speed up streaming by delivering content from the nearest server location.

These technologies ensure your music streaming app runs smoothly.

Cost to Develop an App Like Mixcloud

Are you looking for the music streaming app development cost? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Well, the average cost to develop an app like Mixcloud ranges from $20,000 to $150,000 and more.

However, it can vary depending on your business requirements. If it is simple, then your cost will be less, while a complex app can raise the cost to develop an app like Mixcloud.

Besides, there are some crucial factors that can affect the cost to create an app like Mixcloud.

Well, here are some of them:

• App complexity
• App size
• Platform choice
• Technology stack
• App design
• Development team’s location

Additionally, you can also measure the ballfigure estimate of Mixcloud app development cost with the below formula.

Total Mixcloud App Development Cost = Development Time * Hourly Developers Rate

Now, once you know the formula for measuring the cost, it is vital to first set a budget and do proper research before making a big investment.

How Long Does It Take to Develop an App Like Mixcloud?

The time to build an app like Mixcloud can take 3 to 12 months or more.

The actual time for building an application depends on the app complexity, features, development team size, and, of course, your project requirements.

Also, the type of application you want to create can affect the overall time. Let’s say you want to build an app like Mixcloud, but with basic features, it will take around 3 to 4 months.

However, if you want a complex music streaming application with customized designs and features, then the development time can go beyond 8 months.

So, you need to decide whether you want a simple app or a complex application because the cost will also be affected by the app complexity, which we are going to discuss in the next section.

How Does the Mixcloud App Make Money & What Strategies Does It Follow?

Mixcloud makes money mainly from subscription plans. However, there are other revenue streams from which Mixcloud earns money.

So, let’s discuss the main monetization strategies and how you will implement them.

► Subscription Plan

Mixcloud provides a feature called Mixcloud Select. Here, users can subscribe to support their favorite creators. Subscribers have to pay a monthly subscription fee, and a small portion of that money goes to the creators.

This provides a steady revenue stream for both the app and the creators. Many music streaming apps make money from the subscription model. Similarly, you can also offer a subscription plan.

You must enable users to subscribe to premium features for exclusive DJ mixes and songs.

Also, you can take a commission from each transaction, which helps you earn a huge revenue.

► Advertising Revenue

Mixcloud partners with brands for sponsored content, branded shows, and collaboration. They do not use a traditional ad display method. This way, they earn huge revenue without breaking the user’s experience with multiple ads.

In a similar way, you can collaborate with music labels, brands, etc, for customized sponsorships. You can integrate native advertising in your app for authenticity and add value to listeners.

► Licensing and Royalties

The next monetization strategy Mixcloud follows is paying music a licensing fee. They earn through special licensing deals for copyrighted music legally.

However, in return, they get access to exclusive content with labels that raise their value.

Just like Mixcloud, you can get licensing deals with music labels or artists. Besides, you can also offer them a promotion or exchange data for the right to stream.

How Nimble AppGenie Can Help You Develop an App Like Mixcloud?

Nimble AppGenie is a reputable mobile app development company that creates top-notch music streaming apps like Mixcloud. We have 8+ years of experience in developing apps with customized features.

Our expert team works closely with you to understand your precious mobile app idea and turn it into a working application. Additionally, we provide assistance at every step, from ideation to final launch.

Nimble AppGenie focuses on creating visually appealing apps that attract and retain users.

If you are planning to develop an app like Mixcloud, Nimble AppGenie can be your trusted partner to bring your vision to life. Book a free consultation call today!

Conclusion

As we all know, the music industry is booming and has big competition. But that does not stop you from becoming the next industry leader. Certainly, you can leave a mark, and to do so, you need to ensure you find your USP.

Hopefully, you understand our in-depth guide to develop an app like Mixcloud. If you are looking for a music streaming app development company, Nimble AppGenie is there to help you.

Our professional app developers are well-versed in their field, and you would not be disappointed.

FAQs

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.