Cost of Developing a Music Streaming App in 2025
By idea2appAdmin
June 5, 2025
Table of Contents
In the past couple of years, streaming music online has dramatically increased. New players provide a contemporary, interactive, and user-friendly experience. What is the cost of developing an application for music streaming? This is among the frequently asked questions. This blog will discuss the cost to create a music streaming app.
The market for music streaming is anticipated to generate $2.9bn during 2024. The market is projected to increase at 4.70% per year from 2024 until 2027, taking the total market to $33.97 billion in 2027. The data shows that the demand for music streaming apps will rise.
Because of this, many companies are considering investing in developing music streaming apps. If you’re among those looking to build an app that streams music and want to know more about the costs of developing it, you should read this blog to the end.
We will talk about the complexities of creating an application for music streaming cost, features, and costs features. You require a strong approach to developing a music streaming app to develop a music app. Companies should know the rapidly changing technological environment to ensure their apps’ performance.
Companies must consider the app’s complexity, price, and time frame to complete the development of a music streaming app. Before beginning any project, it’s essential to comprehend the cost to build a music streaming app. An app developer for mobile devices can assist businesses in creating an app that is suited to their requirements and budget. So, let’s begin.
To understand the reasons you should develop an app for music streaming or get into the international music streaming industry, it is essential to know the progress that they have made. The best way to accomplish this is by analyzing reliable research and study data. So, let’s jump right into the details.
According to reports, the worldwide streaming music market 2020 was $18.9 billion. The figure was $10.1 billion for the US. In addition, Spotify is the most popular streaming platform and app, closely associated with Apple Music. Also, it has the largest music streaming customers, with 165 million users by 2020.
YouTube beats all of them in terms of use, with 2 billion daily active subscribers. Spotify has only 381 million. The American radio market is involved in the internet and boasts the largest digital share of 13.7% of radio advertising. In addition, it is the case that the American radio market on the internet has huge shares in the audio market online, and average listeners spend more than 16 hours a week.
Do you have a sense of the amount of money that music streaming apps generate? The data only shows one thing: potential. The market for music streaming apps is growing, and users are using these streaming services. If you can find an effective method to make money from your mobile music streaming app and promote your app’s audio streaming MVP, The ball is yours!
The App Developer might not be able to estimate the total cost initially because prices fluctuate depending on the features. Developing a mobile app can be a lengthy and complex process that may take longer. The most effective OTT app developers typically charge per hour by the level of complexity and timeframe.
The current hourly rate is between $30 and $40, which is affordable for this type of app. The costs also include the cost of UX/UI developers, Quality Assurance, and the Testing Team, as they are just as important as the backend developers. The cost of developing on-demand mobile music streaming apps depends on the user’s location.
For instance, app development companies charge between $50 and $250 per hour, while those in Western Europe and Eastern Europe charge from $30 to $170 and $20 to $150, respectively. The cheapest option is Asia, where mobile application development firms can complete tasks for $10-$80 per hour. So, the cost to build a music streaming app is about $20,000 for iOS and $30k for Android.
Continuous advancements will make developing on-demand music streaming app less expensive in the near future. To make it a profitable investment, investing more in features that other apps do not have today is necessary, and then launching the App at the appropriate moment to reap the benefits.
The cost of creating an app that streams music typically depends on its primary elements, including capabilities, the platform used for the app’s launch, and the technology stack utilized to develop it.
Based on the factors above, the estimated cost of creating new apps that stream music to Android and iOS could range from $35,000 to $250,000.
The cost can differ depending on what is available, the technology that will be used, and the overall complexity of the program. Let’s take a look at these factors impacting the cost to make a music streaming app in greater detail below:
The user interface style is one of the most crucial elements of a music streaming application because it will affect the level of engagement between your users and the length of time they spend on the application. That means that all app elements must be tested and redesigned several times to deliver the best user experience, which could result in higher costs.
Making the right choice for your mobile application is essential to its success within the huge ecosystem. Modern technology can make a business more efficient while achieving the highest return on investment.
Most streaming music apps on platforms like Android and iOS are built using fundamental frameworks and technology that are simple to comprehend and use.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand that incorporating modern technology into the music streaming application will enhance its performance and UX and add attributes that make it stand out from other apps.
The level of complexity of an app directly influences its cost. For instance, a complex application with a huge feature list will cost more than a simpler one with a lower index. Let’s estimate the price of music streaming apps for Android and iOS in terms of complexity.
The size of the team hired to develop music streaming apps for Android and iOS directly impacts the price of music streaming services. Establishing an internal team to create applications is a daunting task. When you are considering hiring a team and starting with a blank slate, it’s usually recommended to outsource your application to a team of developers. This gives you the full knowledge of a professional for a much lower price.
The minimum amount of people needed to create an app that is similar to Spotify:
The size of the agency will influence the overall budget for app development. For instance, when you want to hire an agency within the region in Asia or Africa, the cost per hour for development is significantly lower than that of companies in Europe or the US. Here’s a rough estimation of the development rate in various regions around the globe.
Utilizing third-party services within your music streaming app could enhance its performance and increase its value to users. This could include payment gateways, social media sharing, alternative analysis tools, and music licensing. While these tools are useful, they can also increase the overall development costs.
If you are budgeting, it is essential to keep track of both periodic and one-time costs associated with these integrations before you begin the process. A successful integration of third-party applications can increase your app’s competitiveness and help make users feel more relaxed overall.
App development isn’t a process that happens once. It needs ongoing monitoring to ensure that the music streaming application is operating smoothly. Regular maintenance and updates are crucial to meeting customers’ needs and providing features that are compatible with modern technology.
The software’s life span depends on its use of the latest technology and components compatible with today’s market conditions.
The cost of app maintenance for music streaming is the sum of the investment in creating your music streaming application. A well-maintained application will give the best user experience, and the most efficient app can attract and retain customers.
The features you choose to incorporate into the application for streaming music will determine how much it will cost you to make it. Along with increasing users’ satisfaction and engagement, having an app with numerous options will provide an edge over your competitors. Before we get into the details of the features you can incorporate into your music streaming application, here’s a summary of the estimated cost:
When estimating the music streaming app development cost, it is essential to consider the obvious and hidden fees that could significantly impact the final cost. Knowing these hidden costs is crucial to creating a realistic budget for your app. Here are a few oft-forgotten aspects that could affect the development cost:
Before you can allow songs on the platform, you’ll need to obtain the right to stream artists and their music. This is usually a matter of negotiating licenses with record labels or music distributors. The cost of licensing can be wildly different and is a significant expense that can quickly increase based on the size of your music collection.
Music streaming apps manage large amounts of personal information, making them susceptible to privacy regulations, such as GDPR for Europe and CCPA for California. Ensuring compliance with these regulations requires additional security measures and possibly an attorney, which could raise the cost of development.
Although the initial app may target a smaller user base, you must consider the infrastructure costs involved with expanding the app as well as the number of users you have.
Integrating advanced features such as voice control, high-quality audio streaming, or AI-driven music recommendations can dramatically improve user experience, but it can also increase development costs.
The cost to market and launch an app may be equal to or even greater than the cost of development. This covers everything from promotion activities and advertising to the beta test and feedback loops based on early users.
Answering the query, “How much will music streaming app development cost?” is discovered by analyzing various aspects, including what features will be integrated into the app, the platforms used to launch the app, and, finally, the exact location of the development firm.
The cost of developing music apps for Android and iOS could vary from $45,000-$250,000. The cost could rise or decrease based on several significant factors, like the app’s feature list, the technology stack used, and the overall level of complexity.
Many who attempt to develop an app for streaming music realize that it can quickly become lengthy and costly. There are various methods to make it affordable without impacting its quality. Here are a few suggestions to develop and create an app for streaming music cost-effectively:
Choosing skilled music app developers who can deliver top-quality work while staying within your budget is crucial. Be sure to ask for instances and case studies of their previous work to give you an impression of their skills. Be sure to select the right music streaming app development company that will aid you in saving cash in the future.
Instead of creating a fully-fledged music streaming application, begin by creating a minimum viable product (MVP) that includes just the necessary features. This will help you reduce development costs and get your application to market quicker.
Create your app to be adaptable to include new features and functions as the number of users increases. This could save you money on development costs in the long run by eliminating the need to build the application from the ground up.
A positive user experience is vital to the performance of any online music application. Make sure you create a simple, friendly interface that’s easy to use and navigate. This will allow you to keep customers and attract new ones.
At Idea2App, we are an internationally renowned audio and video application design business and offer cutting-edge solutions to your needs. With years of experience in the field, we have gained vast expertise in the development of secure, robust, scalable, and feature-rich music apps.
We have a team of developers who can integrate advanced features such as offline playback, continuous streaming support for multi-platforms, and much more.
Integrating these features is vital to enhancing the user experience. Whether it’s a robust backend infrastructure, customized UX/UI designs, or licensing and compliance, we’ll make sure everything is.
We’re committed to providing high-performance and affordable app development solutions. Work with us to reap the benefits of post-launch assistance and development from end-to-end, innovative technology, and more.
Developing a music streaming program does not have to cost a fortune. With open-source platforms, white-label options and strategic outsourcing, you can dramatically reduce expenses while delivering an excellent, reliable service that is scalable and affordable. Using efficient technology and intelligent licensing strategies, in conjunction with cloud-based infrastructure, you can further reduce your budget and allow you to build an efficient platform with no expense.
The bottom line is that balancing cost-saving strategies and an excellent user experience is the key to creating a viable music streaming service. This strategy not only reduces development costs but also positions your company for expansion and profit.
A cost to create a music streaming app is anywhere from $30,000 to $250,000. The cost depends on several factors, such as complexity, difficulties, and features, as well as the team members’ locations and experiences, cloud costing, third-party libraries and billing, and so on. Contact our experts for an accurate estimate of costs and plan development.
Using open-source technology, you can cut costs by utilizing white-label solutions, outsourcing development to countries with lower costs, and prioritizing features that are essential in the initial launch.
Investing in the development of music streaming apps can help businesses access a market in high demand by providing a customized, user-friendly music experience. A custom application offers different ways to earn money, including advertisements and subscriptions, as well as an established user base through features like playlists curated with offline access and social sharing. In delivering on users’ expectations for premium listening and discovering, companies can gain an edge over competitors in attracting users and building a long-lasting income stream in the ever-growing digital music industry.
Future music streaming apps are more exciting, particularly with AI-based personalization, immersive experiences like Blockchain spatial sound, and so on. In the future, music streaming apps will be more ingenious.