How do I get started to create an app like Netflix and Spotify?

Spotify company has managed to turn free music into $10 billion in profits. About 140 million people have been taking advantage of the Spotify service, and more than 50 million of them belong to paying subscribers. Impressive, right?

Would you like to follow the lead? We’d be happy to help!

We will give you a comprehensive guide on how to make an app like Spotify. So, let’s go deeper...

What is the Spotify app?

Spotify is a unique music streaming service which in some ways turned out to be a pioneer. Yes, yes, it was Spotify that provided us with the opportunity to listen to music most conveniently, online... and we no longer need to download songs to our devices and thus overload their memory. It’s undoubtedly an advantage.

So you can enjoy your favorite musical tracks legally, comfortably, and inexpensively (and sometimes even free of charge). This music player is available in the US, in most European and a few Asian countries. And it’s quite popular in Australia and New Zealand. So it can not be said that Spotify has captured the whole world, but it is undoubtedly close to the goal.

Would you like to know how to create a music app similar to Spotify? As usual, it all starts with a great idea! And Spotify is not an exception in this respect.

A unique idea

People have been listening to music not for years and decades, but for centuries. And Spotify decided to use the love for music in its favor… moreover, it has changed the approach to the whole process and improved it completely.

Do you want, in turn, to develop a music streaming app like Spotify? Then, ask yourself (and try to find the answer!): what does your user need? What services will he appreciate in the first place? Perhaps, other applications of the same type did not take into account a few significant factors, so that you may make use of these omissions in your favor.

By the way, Spotify tries to do its best to avoid such omissions and respect the interests of users, because these interests are a keystone of the music app creation process. That's why Spotify…

• launched a browser version of Spotify at the end of 2012, and such a step made the service available to those who cannot install the program.
• created a mobile app in 2009.
• canceled certain time limits for streaming music (until January 2014, such restrictions existed).
• did a great job to make the sound quality as good as possible.

Now it's time to study the process of the interaction in detail. It’s highly important if you’re willing to build a music app like Spotify.

How can one start using the Spotify app? Take a considerable look at the whole process, because such a small analysis comes in handy if you decide to make a music streaming app - in this case, you'll need to find out the best way to organizing a user flow.

1. Web-version:

• • A user must visit the Spotify website and register via Facebook or email.
  • It is necessary to choose the format of using the service because in addition to the free Spotify version there are 2 paid ones. A free account has several limitations.
  • The user can now download Spotify to his computer. This action will save him from having to visit the website every time he wants to use Spotify.

1. Spotify app:

• • The user is welcome to visit the application store (iTunes or Play Store) and download the streaming music application following the instructions.
  • The user does not need to have the downloaded application on the mobile device if there is a Wi-Fi connection. He can listen to music right from the website.

How to make a music streaming app like Spotify?

Okay, you are willing to earn on music streaming services like Spotify. It means you need to have detailed instructions on how to create a music app, with all the potential pitfalls.

Features of music streaming services like Spotify:

#1. Registration system

Make sure it's as simple as possible and does not require extra clicks - it's annoying the user. And a good way to simplify the registration is described below.

#2. Profile

Each user should have his own page containing all the necessary personal information (name, gender, date of birth, musical preferences. etc). You'll need such information to anticipate the user's desires and provide him with what he dreams about.

#3. Individual offers

Taking advantage of the personal users’ information we’ve just talked about, you get a great opportunity to offer people musical novelties that would possibly interest them. Spotify has chosen this very way to increase user loyalty: its "Discovery" feature regularly offers you a new playlist that includes music compositions matching your preferences (as Spotify knows, you haven’t listened to these music compositions yet).

#4. Push Notifications

Wanna know how to develop a music streaming app able to be in demand? Be sure to provide such a feature. Its task is to remind a user about itself, give tips, notify about news and discounts - in other words, it should advertise your service very gently.

#5. A variety of music content

A person who uses apps similar to Spotify hopes to have access to different music tracks. Also, he’ll definitely appreciate the chance to add and create his own playlists. So it's really important to provide him with these possibilities.

#6. Tracks Search

A search bar is a must to join the ranks of leaders, become an app like Spotify.

#7. Messages

Spotify app allows users to initiate a conversation through personal messages inside the service itself. It's not the key feature but an interesting one. And it's obviously worth being considered.

#8. Social resources integration

Don’t forget to cooperate with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other resources of the sort to make an app like Spotify. Users love such a feature, especially since the autumn of 2011 when Spotify began to cooperate more closely and actively with Facebook, these companies became partners.

#9. Other fun Spotify music app features

• Fantasize, what else can bring your users some happiness.

Factors to consider:

#1. Uniqueness comes first

We’ve already written how important to come up with a bright idea. Don’t rush, give the Idea factor maximum attention. It’s significant because you’re striving to figure out how to make a music streaming app able to become a source of high income.

#2. UI/UX

The app interface plays a key role in improving the efficiency of the streaming music program. The factor of visually appealing design allows attracting and retaining the people’s attention.

The perfect interface is:

• user-friendly
• intuitive
• laconic
• modern

Our Agile experts are well versed in quality and effective UI/UX design. Proof of their high expertise is these examples of great UI/UX designs of music applications (players). Look, enjoy, and be inspired!

#3. Copyright & Legality

We all want our services and talents to be paid for and we hate if the result of our labors has been stolen. Artists are the same people, they also find such a state of affairs desirable.

#4. Monetization

If you're serious about converting your music into a source of income, find your own way to monetize the Spotify app clone. Don’t feel like creating the Freemium model? Think of something else!

#5. Advertising method

Take a pattern by Spotify!

Before launching a US version of the product, Spotify owners diligently warmed the curiosity of Americans. First of all, they took advantage of the same principle which came in handy when they tried to win the loyalty of Europeans.

#6. Platforms

When there is only a limited budget at your disposal, you can first develop a music streaming application for one platform of your choice. Though, if you want to succeed, that's not enough! Wait until your mobile program starts to generate revenue, and continue its further improvements. And if you initially worked with the iOS platform, later you'll need to think about covering Android devices either.

The cost of developing a Spotify clone

Now we have to think over the cost to create a music app. Of course, we cannot show you a catalog or tell you how much you should pay (at least, with certainty), because the price is not a universal value, it won’t work this way.

#1. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

You have various options to reduce your spending on app creation, one of them is a Minimum Viable Product (at least, as a preliminary step). What does it mean? It’s quite easy: create a product with simplified functionality, such as:

• Registration
• Profile
• Updatable music database
• Search by database
• Musical advice based on the user's tastes (Spotify app calls it "Music Discovery")

#2. Location of your app development company

When choosing the agency, try to find specialists who have sufficient experience to make a high-level application. However, the experience is not the only factor that forms the final price of the company assistance. The location of the experts is of great importance too. The diagram below visually explains what we mean, it’ll help you sort the issue out when planning your app development.

As you see, Eastern Europe seems to be the best option. Of course, you may apply to Indian developers, but, unfortunately, their code is often unclear.

Now let's summarize the budget ceiling needed to create music apps similar to Spotify.

• MVP model: from $50,000 to $80,000
• Support for different platforms:
  • iOS: from $80,000 to $1,20,000 (or even higher)
  • Android: from $95,000 to $1,50,000 (not a limit, though)
  • both platforms: $1,50,000 - $1,90,000. And again, the price will increase as the functionality of your Spotify app clone becomes more complex.

Now you have all the necessary information about the cost to create a music app. Use it wisely.