If you’ve ever wondered, "How much does it cost to build an app like Deezer?" you’re in the right place.
A ballpark figure for Deezer-like app development cost can fall between $30,000 to $80,000+.
Music streaming apps are more popular than ever, and Deezer is a major player in this growing market.
You may be thinking about launching your own music app like Deezer or something with a unique twist. But before you dive in, understanding the cost to develop a music app is essential.
In this guide, we’ll break down all the factors you need to consider, including the cost to create a music streaming app like Deezer and how you can optimize your app’s development.
Let’s dive in!
What is the Deezer Music Streaming App?
With a huge music library, customized playlists, and podcasts, Deezer is one of the top music streaming apps in the world.
Customers from 180+ countries can access music and listen to their favorite music easily. The app is available on Android & iOS.
Deezer is a popular option for music fans due to its elegant layout, excellent audio quality, and features like offline listening and personalized suggestions.
If you're looking to develop a music app with comparable features, then building an interesting platform that customers can enjoy every day should be your goal.
Deezer has the right blueprint for that. However, analyzing what is the cost of Deezer-like app development is dependent on a number of variables. Let's investigate that.
Growing Market Stats of the Deezer Market
There is no second thought that the market for appsic apps is growing at a huge rate.
In fact, apps like Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music are dominating the scene. The streaming scene is set to churn billions of dollars in revenue in the coming years, making it one of the most lucrative industries today.
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Music streaming accounts for 84% of the total revenue in the music industry.
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The music streaming sector experienced a growth of over 10% in the past year.
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Global revenue for music streaming currently stands at $17.5 billion.
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Paid music streaming contributes to 23% of all music streaming revenue.
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A staggering 78% of people listen to music via a streaming service.
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Over 600 million people are subscribed to a music streaming platform.
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Around 47% of Deezer’s subscribers get their subscriptions as part of a larger package.
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Deezer boasts more than 9.6 million total subscribers.
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France is home to 33.98% of Deezer's user base.
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A majority, 61.66%, of Deezer’s audience are male.
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The largest group of Deezer’s users, 31.42%, are aged between 25 and 34.
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Deezer reports an impressive 91% subscriber satisfaction rate. (Deezer)
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Deezer users spend anywhere between 30 to 60 hours listening to music each month.
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Deezer offers 90 million HiFi music tracks for its users.
This amazing growth is the reason why so many people are looking for the cost to create an app like Deezer.
Speaking of which, if you’re interested to understand more about it then go ahead and download the music app to truly appreciate its brilliance for yourself.
Moving on, let’s find out the cost to develop an app like Deezer.
Cost to Create an App like Deezer
So, “How Much Does it Cost to Create an App like Deezer?”
The Cost to Develop a Music Streaming App like Deezer goes from $30,000 to $80,000+.
Just like any other music app development cost, the cost can vary based on different factors. The features, intricate designs, and tech stacks are needed.
Plus, you should budget more if you want to develop a music app like Deezer with advanced features.
However, you can lower the initial cost by choosing an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) or simplifying some features.
Keep in mind that you are paying for more than just development, you are also paying for design, testing, licensing, and server expenses.
Component |
Estimated Cost (Total) |
Details |
Development |
$15,000 - $40,000 |
Cost depends on the complexity of features and tech stack. |
Design |
$5,000 - $10,000 |
UI/UX design care is based on the complexity and customization of the user interface. |
Licensing |
$3,000 - $5,000 |
Licensing fees for music vary depending on agreements with record labels. |
Server Costs |
$2,000 - $5,000 |
Hosting the app, managing data, and scaling the platform for optimal performance. |
Testing & Quality Assurance |
$2,000 - $5,000 |
Ensuring that the app works seamlessly across all platforms and fixing any bugs or issues. |
Maintenance & Updates |
$3,000-$10,000 |
Ongoing costs for keeping the app up-to-date, adding features, and addressing any issues. |
Factors Affecting The Cost to Develop an App like Deezer
Several Factors affect the overall price. This is why it’s challenging to analyze the overall app development cost.
With that being said, we are about to discuss those factors affecting Deezer like app development costs.
Let’s get right into it:
1. Design
Starting with Music App Design.
One of the most common factors that affect the cost to create a music streaming app like Deezer, yet often overlooked is its “UI/UX Design".
The work of design starts with app wireframes and prototypes, a simple design may cost less but advanced customization with unique elements, layouts, and animations can increase the cost.
Factor |
Description |
Cost Impact |
Wireframes & Prototypes |
Initial designs and wireframes that map out user flow and app navigation. These early models help visualize the app's structure and interactions. |
High-quality wireframes may increase the overall design cost depending on iterations and complexity. |
UI/UX Design |
Visual design and user interface elements, such as icons, buttons, and lay contribute to the overall user experience. |
A polished, intuitive design for multiple platforms will raise costs, especially with custom designs. |
Animations & Interactivity |
Adding animations and interactive elements to enhance user engagement, such as transitions, button effects, and visual feedback during interaction. |
Custom animations can be expensive due to the time and effort required to develop seamless interactions. |
Mobile/Tablet Design |
Adapting the app design for different screen sizes and devices to ensure it looks great on any platform (iOS, Android, etc.). |
Designing for multiple platforms increases costs due to the need for additional adjustments and testing. |
User Feedback & Iterations |
Incorporating user feedback and refining the design accordingly to improve the user experience before finalizing. |
Multiple rounds of feedback and design revisions can increase design time and costs. |
2. App Development
App Development is where you turn your app idea into a solution.
Developing core features including music streaming, playlists, user profiles, and search functionalities takes some time and effort but not much cost.
But, adding advanced features can increase the cost to build an app like Deezer, this may include voice search, AI in dating apps, social sharing, etc.
Similarly, integrating various third-parintegrationsion does have the same effect.
We recommend having a well-established plan for the features you want in your app to save time in app development.
Factor |
Description |
Cost Impact |
Core Features Development |
This includes building the essential functions of the app, such as streaming music, playlist management, user profiles, and search functionalities. |
The complexity of the core features significantly affects the cost, especially if additional features are included. |
Advanced Features |
Features like offline listening, social sharing, voice search, and personalized recommendations require more development time and effort. |
The more features you add, the higher the development costs due to additional coding and integration work. |
Cross-Platform Development |
Building the app for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and Web, to ensure a consistent experience across devices. |
Developing for multiple platforms increases costs due to the need for separate codebases or cross-platform frameworks. |
Backend Integration |
The process of integrating the app with a backend server to handle music streaming, user data, and other necessary cloud-based services. |
A strong backend setup requires higher costs for server management, database setup, and security integration. |
Third-Party Integrations |
Integrating third-party services like payment gateways, music streaming APIs, or social media logins adds complexity to the development process. |
Each integration requires custom work, which can increase development time and costs. |
3. Backend Development
Backend development is the powerhouse that keeps your app running smoothly.
Having a strong backend is important for setting up the servers storing and managing all user's data.
It includes database management to make sure users' playlists, preferences, and music libraries are always at their fingertips. Doing all this surely spikes the cost to create a music streaming app like Deezer.
Besides, one other element that we can’t overlook is App Security. It’s important to keep sensitive data such as securing financial information and personal accounts safe from threats.
Factor |
Description |
Cost Impact |
Server Setup |
Configuring and setting up servers to handle app data, music storage, and user requests efficiently. |
The complexity and scale of server setup (cloud-based vs. on-premise) affect the overall cost. |
Database Management |
Building and maintaining a database that stores user data, playlists, song libraries, and more. |
More complex databases with higher security or larger data handling increase costs. |
APIs & Integrations |
Developing and integrating APIs for smooth interaction between app features and external services, such as music licenses or payment gateways. |
API development costs increase with the number of integrations required and their complexity. |
User Authentication & Security |
Ensuring that user data is secure and managing login systems, including OAuth or other authentication methods, is essential. |
Security measures for handling sensitive data can significantly increase the backend development cost. |
Scaling & Performance |
Making sure the backend can scale as user traffic grows while maintaining fast and reliable performance. |
High scalability and performance demands lead to higher infrastructure and maintenance costs. |
4. Licensing Fees
One of the largest ongoing cost to create a music streaming app like Deezer is securing licensing fees for music content.
To stream music legally, you’ll need to negotiate agreements with record labels and artists, which often comes with a hefty price tag.
Without paying these fees, you can’t offer the popular music apps people love, making licensing an important part of the business.
It’s not just a one-time cost- these fees are recurring, so budget planning is key as you grow your platform.
Factor |
Description |
Cost Impact |
Music Licensing Agreements |
Agreements with record labels and artists to legally stream their music content on your platform. |
Licensing fees can vary greatly depending on the size of the library and the artists' popularity. |
Royalties |
Ongoing payments to artists based on how often their music is streamed. |
High-traffic apps incur higher royalty costs, making this an ongoing and substantial expense. |
Content Delivery Network (CDN) |
Using a CDN to distribute music content worldwide for quick and reliable access. |
CDNs ensure optimal performance but can increase operational costs due to data delivery requirements. |
Subscription Licensing |
If the app offers paid subscription services, licensing agreements may include additional clauses or pricing for premium content. |
Subscription tiers may require distinct licenses for exclusive or premium content. |
Legal Fees |
The legal costs of negotiating, drafting, and managing licensing agreements, ensuring compliance with international and local regulations. |
Legal fees may increase depending on the complexity and scope of the licensing negotiations. |
5. Testing & Quality Assurance
Before you launch your music streaming app, app testing is a must to ensure that everything works flawlessly.
From bug fixes to performance checks, quality assurance ensures that your app runs smoothly, without any issues that could frustrate users.
By catching potential issues early, you’ll save yourself from costly fixes down the road and create a polished product that users love.
This comes with a considerable cost to create a music streaming app like Deezer.
Factor |
Description |
Cost Impact |
Functional Testing |
Verifying that all app features (playlists, music streaming, search) work as expected and that there are no bugs or malfunctions. |
More testing and iterations to perfect the app's functionality can increase the total cost. |
Usability Testing |
Gathering feedback on user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure the app is intuitive and easy to use. |
Costs rise with the number of test users and feedback cycles involved in refining the app's design. |
Cross-Platform Testing |
Testing the app’s compatibility across various devices and operating systems (iOS, Android, Web). |
Testing across multiple platforms and devices adds significant time and effort, impacting costs. |
Security & Compliance Testing |
Ensuring that the app meets security standards and complies with data protection regulations, such as GDPR. |
Extra security testing to prevent data breaches can increase QA costs. |
Performance Testing |
Verifying how the app performs under different conditions, like high traffic or varying internet speeds, to ensure smooth operation. |
Performance testing on different network conditions or during peak usage can increase costs. |
6. Maintenance and Updates
Development is just the beginning, the work continues with app maintenance and support services.
After launch, maintenance and updates are important for keeping the app running smoothly and users happy.
Think of it as giving your app a regular tune-up.
Each time a new device or operating system comes out, or a bug is found, you’ll need to adjust your app as per that. When analyzing the Deezer-like app development cost, consider to factor in maintenance.
Factor |
Description |
Cost-Impact |
Regular Updates |
Ongoing improvements like bug fixes, performance upgrades, and new features to keep the app fresh. |
Regular updates keep users engaged but come with recurring development and testing costs. |
Server Maintenance |
Ensuring the app can handle increased traffic, managing user data, and keeping servers secure. |
An increased user base means more server power, which adds to your hosting and data management costs. |
App Compatibility |
Ensuring the app stays functional on new operating systems and devices. |
Frequent updates may be needed to keep up with OS updates, leading to added development expenses. |
Feature Enhancements |
Adding new features or improving existing ones to meet user expectations and stay competitive. |
More features lead to higher development, testing, and maintenance costs to ensure smooth integration. |
Security & Compliance |
Regular security patches and updates to stay compliant with licensing laws and data protection regulations. |
Security updates and legal compliance require ongoing investment to protect user data and avoid fines. |
7. Development Team Location
When bearing in mind the cost to develop an app like Deezer, one of the huge factors to include is the development team's location.
Developers from different countries offer amazing and quality work, but all come with a different price. Why? Simply because of economic conditions and cost of living.
Hire mobile app developers from countries like Western Europe/Asia as they offer more cost-friendly service without compromising quality.
Factor |
Description |
Cost-Impact |
North America/Europe |
Premium rates due to high living costs and top-tier development expertise. |
Higher costs but access to experienced developers and clear communication. |
Eastern Europe |
Affordable yet skilled developers with competitive rates. |
Moderate costs for quality work, offering a good middle ground for budget-conscious projects. |
Asia/Latin America |
Cost-effective with skilled developers who deliver quality at a lower rate. |
Lower development costs but require careful selection to ensure the right expertise. |
Smart Ways to Lower the Development Cost of a Deezer-like App
Creating a music app like Deezer looks like an exciting journey, but, the cost of Deezer-like app development can be heavy.
Here are some of the effective strategies to reduce the cost to make an app like Deezer.
► Kick Off with a Lean Version of Your App
One of the huge challenges in developing music apps is balancing the complexity of features with the need for cost efficiency.
This is where MVP helps, an MVP centers around the app for the most fundamental features of your app.
Launch it with only the must-have features, which will allow you to gain traction faster, obtain invaluable feedback from your users, and restate that feedback based on actual usage.
This tremendously reduces upfront investments since you do not have to push expensive features early on.
The most efficient suggestion to reduce your cost to develop an app like Deezer is to validate your idea before further development.
► Leverage Open-Source Solutions
Many open-source tools and frameworks provide ready-made solutions that speed up the development process in the app-building package.
A decent number of libraries/tools are built for music apps, which can save you loads of time and effort.
These will allow you to minimize your hours spent developing and bring down the cost to create an app like Deezer without sacrificing quality.
► Outsource the Development to Economically Viable Regions
Outsource from a mobile app development company based in regions with lower labor costs-Eastern Europe, Asia -which may be a great way to keep your project within budget.
These areas have some of the best developers in the world, whose fees are a fraction of what you would expect for such in North America or Western Europe.
But ensure to select for your project a team with adequate experience in designing and building music apps, as that should trigger some checkpoints in your quality assurance.
► Prioritize the Must-Haves
Instead of steadily trying to replicate all the functionalities of Deezer, stakeholders targeting the most beneficial features ensure added value for users.
Prioritize walking with evolving music trends like streaming in real-time, personal playlists, and offline access-these should be the lifeblood of a music app.
Such a position makes sure that your efforts do not throw you way off course regarding budget but simultaneously provide a great user experience.
► Scale Cloud Services
Using a scalable cloud framework to meet the increased needs of a growing user base demands.
While your cloud user gets the billing for every single resource usage, you can scale up the infrastructure of your app with ease.
Thus, one can totally eliminate the cost of heavy service purchases in the beginning and steadily scale up their app without costs when it pops up.
► Leverage No-Code and Low-Code Platforms
The no-code and low-code platforms are magic bullets for faster and cheaper ways of developing a great product.
These allow you to make an app and launch it with no learning curve for advanced coding; therefore, the process is quicker and cheaper.
Although these offer poor levels of customizability when compared to traditional development, they are great at allowing you to test out ideas or create MVPs quickly.
How Deezer-like Apps Make Money?
People invest in app development to enjoy good revenue, and this holds true for those who develop applications like Spotify.
To your luck, Apps like Deezer have different music app revenue streams. But, not every model works for every platform.
To simplify things for you, here are some monetization strategies for music apps that can help you earn better:
A] Subscription Plans
Deezer offers both free and paid subscriptions, this is also a common model to create an app like Spotify and many others.
So, it is tried and tested, paid plans offer ad-free listening, offline access, and higher-quality audio. You can replicate this model and charge a user a monthly or annual fee.
B] Advertisements
In this model, Paid & Free users often hear ads between songs in this model.
You can integrate this mobile app monetization model into your app to make money where you show users some relevant ads and make money through user impressions on the ads.
C] Affiliate Marketing
Another way to recover your cost to build an app like Deezer and make some revenue is “Affiliate Marketing”.
By promoting music-related products or events within your app, you can earn commissions from affiliate marketing. This could include promoting concert tickets, albums, or music merchandise.
D] In-app Purchases
In-app purchases are slowly becoming user favorites too, just paying for what they want.
You can offer premium features, such as access to exclusive tracks, higher-quality audio, or additional customization options, for a fee.
How JPLoft Can Help You Make an App like Deezer?
Looking for a top music streaming app development company? We are right here.
JPLoft is focused on developing apps like Deezer, and we find ways in which we can drive your vision into a successful solution.
With our rich experience in building the music streaming platform, our expert developers and designers will guide you from the initial planning stage to the stage of launch.
Developing a music app has never been as budget-friendly, with a clean user interface packed with all the latest features being our forte.
Whether a clone app for Deezer or a unique project with new features, we've got it all covered.
Conclusion
There are several components that define the cost to create an app like Deezer.
These include the different phases of developing the app, such as designing the app, working on the backend, licensing fees, and ongoing marketing.
Nevertheless, as you make decisions regarding the breakdown and your focused features, you will align your platform with your fixed aim and budget.
If that is your case, connect to JPLoft immediately before your journey into the music streaming world, for expert guidance on cheap development options.
We will help you make that app like Deezer or be the innovator in alternative ways!
FAQs
Developing an app like Deezer costs roughly around $30,000 to $80,000+, based on different aspects like features, design, licensing, and technology stack utilized. If advanced features must be added, and are expected to handle a wide range of users, definitely, this range can increase.
Yes, you can always reduce costs by adopting a more prudent approach while you create your model. You get to launch the app as MVP focusing on basic functionality and adding better features down the road.
Essentially, there are a few kinds of costs involved in the ongoing lifecycle of an app: regular server maintenance and licensing fees, setting up and managing subscriptions, fixing bugs, making regular updates, and distribution of customer support.
There are various ways to make money out of any music app: Subscription plans (compressed along with free & premium), advertisements, affiliate marketing, and in-app purchases (offer premium features or exclusive content).
The overall time it would take to develop a Deezer-like application may depend on the ease of its application. Normally, it can take anywhere between 3 to 9 months depending upon the features, design, and efficiency of the development team.
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