Estimating the cost of the music app can be a difficult task. However, you can get an idea by going through the step-wise music app development cost-estimating process.
Do you know that the development of a music app even for a small business can cost you thousands of dollars?
A mid-way to deal with the cost of music app development starts with getting awareness on the same. Then put your hands on making a budget for your music app.
The current blog can act as a guide for you to decide the cost and prepare a budget for your music app. Further, it will help you to select the website that you can go through for developing your music app.
Music Streaming App Market Statistics
The trend of music streaming apps is increasing at a fast pace due to the increasing demand and interest in listening to music.
- The total revenue made by music streaming apps is $43.3 billion in 2022.
- The average listening time spent on these apps in listening to music has been enhanced in the past five years and has reached 20.1 hours per week in the year 2022.
- The number of music streaming subscribers has increased from 68 million to 616.2 million in the year 2022. Thus, it has been found that there is a 10X increase in the number of music listeners.
- The music streaming revenue could increase by $30 billion by the year 2025 as per the above graph.
- This creates space for music streaming apps and a need to identify the cost of creating a music app.
- It can be stated that Spotify has become one of the top music streaming platforms by the end of 2nd quarter of the year 2022.
What is the Average Music Streaming App Development Cost?
The cost of music app development can range from $15,000 to $65,000. To have a guide on the cost of building a music app, you can refer to the table below.
| App Complexity | Deadline Features | Cost Structure | Cost Estimation |
| Moderate | Medium | Subscription-based (Free with ads, Premium) | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| High | High | Subscription-based | $55,000 – $65,000 |
| Moderate | Medium | Subscription-based (Free with ads, Premium) | $30,000 – $45,000 |
| Moderate | Medium | Subscription-based (Free with ads, Premium) | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| High | High | Subscription-based | $55,000 – $65,000 |
| Moderate | Medium | Subscription-based (Free with ads, Premium) | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| Low | Low | Subscription-based (Free with ads, Premium) | $15,000 – $25,000 |
The above table specifies the cost based on the app’s complexity, deadline features along with cost estimation. It can help you to get an idea of creating an app like Spotify. Music streaming app development cost can impact your budget to retain your customers.
To become one of the largest music streaming platforms, it is important to navigate how much the music streaming app costs.
If you are looking for an accurate cost estimate, you can contact our mobile app development company, Nimble AppGenie.
Well, this answer resides in the table above. You have to identify the complexity of the app. Then you need to decide on the deadline features along with the cost estimation and cost structure.
Step-wise Cost to Develop a Music Streaming App
It is essential for you to decide on the music streaming app development budget for evaluating the cost of building a music app.
| Step-Wise Procedure | Budget Item | Estimated Cost Per Item | Notes to Implement | Time Needed Under Each Process |
| 1. Planning and research | Market analysis and research | $1000-$5000 | The cost of the research can vary based on different factors such as market trends, competition in the market, and target market identification. | 3 weeks |
| Gathering the potential requirement | $500 – $2,000 | The cost may include conducting meetings with the potential stakeholders including internal and external stakeholders, and presenting documentation. | ||
| Planning for the project | $1,000 – $3,000 | This comprises managing and developing a roadmap for the concerned project by allocating the resources and defining clear objectives to attain within the project. | ||
| 2. Design | UI/UX design | $3,000 – $10,000 | The cost of the design totally depends on the design of the app which also comprises of user interface design. | 4 Weeks |
| Graphic Designing | $500 – $2,000 | The cost of graphic designing also includes virtual assets. | ||
| 3. Development | Frontend development | $10,000 – $30,000 | The frontend development cost depends on the multiple features comprising media playback and authentication. | 12 Weeks |
| Backend Development | $15,000 – $40,000 | Within the development, the cost comprises developing server-side logic and integration with third-party services. | ||
| API Development | $5,000 – $15,000 | Here the cost includes developing an API for exchanging data within the app and with external systems. | ||
| 4. Testing & Quality Assurance | Mutual Testing | $2,000 – $5,000 | At this cost, testing the bug, their usability and compatibility across the devices can be identified. | 4 Weeks |
| Automated Testing | $3,000 – $8,000 | Here, the cost includes setting up automated frameworks along with scripts for streamlining testing operations. | ||
| 5. Launch & Deployment | App store deployment | $500 – $1,000 | Within the deployment, the cost is incurred for publishing the app on platforms including Google Play, and Apple App Store. | 2 Weeks |
| Marketing & Promotion | $5,000 – $20,000 | The cost of marketing and promotion differs from the diversified marketing channels that are being selected for promotion. | ||
| 6. Maintaining and updating the app | Regular Updates & Maintenance | $2,000 – $5,000/month | Fixing bugs and updating the app to keep the app functional with the latest technology advancements is important in this phase of identifying on-demand music app development costs. | Ongoing |
Popular Music Apps and Their Development Cost
In order to identify the Spotify like app development cost, you need to know how other music streaming apps decide their development cost and what their range to develop an app is.
Key Takeaway
1. Spotify
For estimating the how much does music streaming app cost like Spotify, mobile app developers need to identify and inculcate the cost.
Although Spotify is able to track it, they are developing a user-friendly interface with an engaging user experience. The cost for app development like Spotify ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 or more, which is a rough estimate.
2. SoundCloud
SoundCloud comes under the design of complex app development. It also includes a user-friendly interface with both the frontend and backend development functionalities. It can cost around $60,000 to $80,000, in order to develop an app like SoundCloud.
Designing the app as SoundCloud Music ranges from $10,000 to $50,000. While a rough estimate for its development can range from $50,000 to $300,000.
SoundCloud app development has resulted in generating tons of revenue for the brand. Moreover, you can make more profits via your music streaming app, through identifying the target audience.
3. Pandora
The company is a subsidiary of SiriusXM. It is among the largest ad-supported audio streaming services. It is the leading audio platform in the U.S. entertainment streaming service industry. The cost to develop a music app like Pandora can range from $50,000 to $300,000 or more.
Pandora’s app includes user-friendly features. This assists their user in making their own playlist, without any complexity of making an app. The cost of making an app like Pandora can also include the licensing cost, testing and quality assurance, marketing, and promotion costs.
4. YouTube Music
YouTube Music is among the music streaming services which is being developed by the American video platform. It is a subsidiary platform of Google. The service provided by the YouTube Music Company is user-friendly and also helps users to explore different songs.
The cost of developing a YouTube Music app ranges from $70,000 to $500,000. This is due to the complex features and the reliable services that the app offers to its users. You can decide the cost of building a music app by looking forward to the features and complexity that an app like Pandora offers.
5. Apple Music
Apple Music allows its users to stream over 100 million songs. New subscribers get a one-month free or six-month free trial after they purchase the monthly subscription.
Analyzing and evaluating the cost of making Apple Music, can be estimated through the features that they provide to their users. The development cost of Apple Music ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 or more. Due to setting up the servers, its complex infrastructure and its scalability to run on different platforms impact its development cost.
Factors That Affect Music Streaming App Development Cost
We know you must be struggling to find the cost to create a music streaming app. With a list of factors that can impact On-Demand music app development cost, you can decide on music streaming app cost estimation.
1. Complexity
On-demand app development doesn’t always have to be complex. All you need is a platform that is user-friendly.
So, while creating the music app, all you need is to make it easy for your users to stream their favorite music.
You can make the music app AI-driven, with all the music recommendations that your customer may need. However, a more complex app can cost you a higher development cost.
Decide the complexity by filtering the type of complexity level that you want to develop in your music app.
| Complexity Level | Description of Level | Cost-estimation |
| Low Complexity | Basic features- including user authentication, search functionality, and simple music playback. | $20,000 to $50,000 |
| Medium Complexity | Features include social sharing and personalized playlists | $20,000 to $60,000 |
| High Complexity | Advanced features such as AI-driven music recommendations | $30,000 to $65,000 |
2. App Platform
You need to decide on the app platform in order to estimate Spotify-like app development Music Streaming App Development Cost Guideosts. The platform for the app should be agile, which can enable the user to download it easily.
Hiring mobile app developers can assist you in this process to decide on mobile app development costs. You can choose from multiple app platforms by identifying Cost to Develop a Music Streaming App like Spotify.
It may also require separate development efforts for each platform. A cross-platform development framework can help you determine the cost of music app development. The table lists the cost estimate for the music app on Android, iOS, and hybrid scale.
| App Platform | Description | Cost Estimation |
| Android App Development | Android app development includes Java and languages such as Kotlin. | $20,000 to $65,000 |
| iOS App Development | It includes the programming in Swift and also by using Xcode. | $25,000 to $ 60,000 |
| Hybrid App Development | The hybrid app development framework includes React Native and Flutter. | $15,000 to $30,000
|
3. App Features
The core features of the app that need to be considered depend on your demand for creating a music app that matches the customer’s preference. Estimation of creating an app like Spotify and its cost range can also vary depending on the features they adopt.
Here is a list that can help you decide on the type of app features with their cost estimates.
| App Features | Description | Cost-Estimation |
| Basic Features | Music playback, user authentication, user profile management, and playlist management. | $15,000- $40,000 |
| Improved Features | Personalized playlist, offline listening mode, Lyrics integration. | $15,000 – $50,000 |
| Advance Features | Live streaming of music events, User-generated content, and integration with smart devices or wearables. | $30,000 – $65,000 |
A video streaming app development feature can also cost you high, although you can be able to manage it within advanced features of your cost to build a music app.
4. Design
The design makes your app representable. A well-designed user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) can help in increasing user engagement.
You can add custom graphics, transitions, and animations in order to rank it within the professional app. It requires an additional design cost and effort.
Your music app may also contain an accessibility feature, to address the needs of the users with disabilities. This feature can also add to advanced feature designing costs.
Designing the app (developing UI/UX interface) may cost you $10,000 – $50,000.
5. Team Size and Location
The size and location of the team developing your music streaming app also have an impact on the cost. The teams located in the regions with a high living cost can charge you more.
On the other hand, a large team can help you speed up the process of creating the music app but can charge more. You can interact with multiple app development companies; can compare their on-demand music development cost, for better results.
Here, you need to decide the team based on the time and budget that you have for the on-demand app development.
The team size and its hiring method for the type of team development can be defined in the table below. The team can comprise of in-house teams, outsourcing, and staff Augmentation.
| Role | Responsibilities | Hiring Range (Per year) | Hourly Rate Range |
| Project Manager | Overseeing development, coordination, and communication | $60,000 – $150,000 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,200,000 – ₹3,000,000 (India) | $50 – $150 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹800 – ₹2,500 (India) |
| UI/UX Designer | Designing user interfaces and experience | $50,000 – $120,000 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,000,000 – ₹2,400,000 (India) | $30 – $100 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹600 – ₹2,000 (India) |
| Backend Developer | Server-side logic and database management | $60,000 – $150,000 (USA, Canada, UK) ₹1,200,000 – ₹3,000,000 (India) | $40 – $120 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹800 – ₹2,500 (India) |
| Frontend Developer | Implementing UI design, client-side logic | $50,000 – $120,000 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,000,000 – ₹2,400,000 (India) | $30 – $100 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹600 – ₹2,000 (India) |
| Mobile Developer | Developing native or hybrid mobile apps | $60,000 – $150,000 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,200,000 – ₹3,000,000 (India) (per platform) | $40 – $120 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹800 – ₹2,500 (India) (per platform) |
| QA Engineer | Testing the app for bugs, usability issues | $50,000 – $100,000 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,000,000 – ₹2,000,000 (India) | $30 – $80 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹600 – ₹1,600 (India) |
| DevOps Engineer | Setting up and maintaining development environments | $70,000 – $150,000 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,400,000 – ₹3,000,000 (India) | $50 – $120 (USA, Canada, UK); ₹1,000 – ₹2,500 (India) |
6. Maintenance
The ongoing maintenance of the app, updating the data, and fixing the bugs along with the technical support can add to your cost to create a music streaming app.
This can also help in keeping the app functional and to remain up-to-date. An app that is left updated can have a negative impact on your music streaming services.
A typical maintenance cost can range from 20% to 50% of your initial development cost annually. It can also add to the cost to create a music app. Here, you need to trust the team and the process of updating your music service app, in order to sustain the competition.
7. Tech stack
Your choices of programming languages, libraries, tools, and frameworks also have a great impact on the development cost of the music app.
The table below details the tech stack and their approximate cost of usage in creating your music app.
| Tech Stack | Description | Cost-Estimation |
| Backend development | Decisions based on computer languages. | $20,000 to $100,000 |
| Database | Include choices of MySQL, Enterprise-level DBMS, and real-time database. | $20,000 to $100,000 or more |
| Cloud Services | Selection of AWS and Microsoft Azure impacts the cost. | $500 to $5,000 per month |
| Frontend Development | HTML, Swift, or other frameworks, complexity to UI/UX. | $20,000 to $100,000 or more |
| Streaming Infrastructure | Services including Akamai, and Amazon CloudFront. | Pay as you go for plans |
| APIs and Integration | Cost to develop an app like Spotify, Apple Music, or Last. fm. | Depends on the selection of the API |
| Security and Compliance | SSL / TLS encryption services | May require additional cost |
| Development Tools and Libraries | Visual Studio code or Xcode. | $20,000 to $100,000 |
Hidden Factors of cost estimation for music app
In your previous head, you have gone through the factors impacting music app development costs.
However, that’s not the end of the factors, there are a few more.
Take a look at the hidden factors impacting the cost of creating a music app. This can assist you in identifying the design of the cost that you need to spend on developing a music app.
- Scope Creep: Adding features and changes that you can add further during creating the music app can enlarge the timeline. It can also result in increasing the cost of developing your music app. Thus, you need to be very specific while mentioning the requirements of your music app to the developer.
- Integration Complexity: Collaborating with third-party and third-party APIs, payment gateways, social media platforms, and music libraries can be more complex and costly.
It can add up to your expenses and can impact your media & entertainment app development services.
- Technical Debt: Urgent requirements and a hurry to develop an app can result in poor results. Rush developments can cost you high technical debt. It can again cost you additional testing and optimization expenses.
- Compatibility Issues: You need to ensure that your music app runs across different devices, irrespective of the screen size. It is important that the app is compatible with different devices that you target.
- App Security: Thinking about the user’s data safety is one of the important parameters that you need to ensure. You may need robust security measures to protect the data of the user.
- Legal Compliance: In order to get a license for your app, it is evident that the app complies with data protection laws along with copyright regulations. To achieve this compatibility, you may require additional legal as well as developmental services.
Nimble AppGenie is here to help as a music-streaming app development company
Until now, you might be wondering if developing a music app can cost you millions. Relax!
We are here to have your back.
With our special offers and the best prices, you need not worry about selecting the best team for your music app development.
We are the best music streaming app development company in the world. Our applications can help you beat the competition in the music streaming market and can improve your customer base. We hire mobile app developers to deliver you the best music app that you deserve.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be said that the cost to create an app like Spotify can be high. There are multiple factors that impact the on-demand music app development cost including complexity, maintenance, design, app features, and others.
Hidden factors can be scope creep, technical debt, and legal compliance, which can have a large impact on the cost to create a music streaming app.
Along with this, the price can vary from $15,000 to $65,000 for developing a music app with us.
So, what are you waiting for?
Contact us to start your journey to create the best music streaming app.
FAQ
For building the music streaming app, you are required to prioritize the user experience, need to identify your target audience, and have to consider legal compliance. It is important to decide the budget for the music app and to invest in its promotion to increase its download rate.
Generally, it can cost you $15,000 to $65,000, although it also depends on the features that you want in your music streaming app to make it more user-friendly.
It can take 6 months to 1 year or even more to develop a completely functioning music streaming app. Moreover, the process of maintenance and updating is never-ending.
Music app monetization may comprise Freemium, subscription-based models, white label solutions, and many others. You can check our mobile app monetization to gain more details.
Yes, developing a music app in the current market can be a beneficial factor.
Additionally, it depends on different factors including the market demand, monetization strategies, market competition, and the uniqueness that you can offer in your app to the customer.
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.
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