How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Shazam?

A music discovery app like Shazam has revolutionized the way people discover music, offering instant song recognition and personalized recommendations. The U.S. market is highly receptive to such innovative technologies, with millions of users relying on music apps for both entertainment and discovery. However, building an app like Shazam is no easy feat. It involves a complex combination of audio recognition technology, machine learning, real-time data syncing, and user-friendly interfaces, all while ensuring seamless integration with music platforms and strict data privacy regulations.

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The cost of building a music discovery app like Shazam can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the choice of platform, the complexity of features, and the necessary integrations. With specific regard to the U.S. market, developers need to understand the preferences of American users and adapt the app accordingly.

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This article will delve into the various elements that impact the app development cost, explaining why a music discovery app like Shazam requires significant investment in technology, design, and ongoing maintenance.

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Platform and Device Compatibility

The platform and device compatibility of a music discovery app like Shazam is a crucial element in determining development costs. The most common platforms for apps are iOS and Android, with each having distinct market share and audience preferences in the U.S.

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iOS vs. Android:

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• iOS: In the U.S., iOS users tend to have higher disposable incomes and are more likely to engage with premium features. As such, if you’re building an app like Shazam, focusing on iOS first can offer a faster return on investment, especially for premium features and in-app purchases.
• Android: While Android dominates the global market in terms of market share, it has a slightly lower market penetration in the U.S. than iOS. Developing for Android can take longer due to the wide variety of devices and OS versions in use. This increases development and testing time, and thus the cost.

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Cross-Platform Development:

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Many developers opt for cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter to create a single codebase for both iOS and Android. This approach reduces costs and development time, but it may not provide the same level of performance or customization that native apps offer. For a music discovery app like Shazam, the performance of the audio recognition engine is critical, so the decision to go cross-platform should be carefully considered.

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Expanding Beyond Mobile:

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For a comprehensive music discovery experience, you might also want to create a tablet or web version of the app. This is especially important if you want to cater to users who prefer to listen to music on larger screens, such as in-home entertainment settings. While this can increase development costs, expanding to other platforms can drive more users to your app.

Design and User Experience (UX/UI)

When it comes to music discovery apps like Shazam, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design are critical to the success of the app. U.S. users expect intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and fast interfaces that allow for seamless song recognition and browsing. A poor UX/UI design could deter users from using the app, negatively impacting retention rates.

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U.S. User Preferences:

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In the U.S., users typically prefer simple, intuitive designs with smooth transitions and animations. A minimalist design is popular, especially for apps that need to focus on content—like music discovery apps—rather than complex interfaces. However, the simplicity should not come at the cost of functionality.

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UX/UI Costs:

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Designing a visually appealing and user-friendly app requires collaboration between UI/UX designers, developers, and user testers. Costs will vary depending on the complexity of the design, the number of screens, and the level of customization required. More screens and detailed designs (e.g., personalized recommendations, charts, and playlists) will drive up the design costs.

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Integrations with Third-Party Services or External Systems

Integrating third-party services is essential for a music discovery app like Shazam. These integrations allow for functionality such as song identification, music streaming, and social sharing, all of which are integral to the user experience.

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Music APIs:

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To identify songs and provide access to full tracks, you'll need to integrate with services like:

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• Gracenote: For song recognition.
• Spotify and Apple Music: To allow users to listen to or purchase discovered songs.

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Each integration requires its own development and licensing agreements, which can contribute to the overall cost.

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Social Media APIs:

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Allowing users to share their discoveries on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter can drive app growth. Social media integration typically requires additional development resources and API usage fees.

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Payment Gateways:

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For any in-app purchases or subscriptions, you will need to integrate a secure payment gateway, such as Stripe or PayPal, to handle transactions. Depending on your revenue model, these integrations can add to the development and maintenance costs.

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Database & Back-End Infrastructure

For a music discovery app like Shazam, the backend infrastructure plays a vital role in storing user data, processing song recognition requests, and ensuring fast and secure transactions. The backend must be scalable and able to handle large amounts of data in real-time.

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Real-Time Data Syncing:

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Real-time syncing is essential for features like live song recognition, instant user feedback, and social sharing. Using cloud-based solutions like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure ensures that the app can scale quickly as user demand grows.

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Database Management:

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A robust database is required to store user profiles, music history, playlists, and user-generated content. The backend must also integrate with music databases to retrieve song information, making database management a critical part of the development process.

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Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Once the app is launched, ongoing maintenance and updates are essential to keep the app running smoothly and meet users' changing needs. Maintenance costs include bug fixes, feature updates, security patches, and compatibility updates for new iOS and Android versions.

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Legal and Compliance:

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If you are dealing with user data, you must ensure compliance with data protection laws such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). Regular legal updates may be required, especially as these regulations evolve.

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Team Expertise and Location

Building a music discovery app requires a diverse team of skilled professionals, including:

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• Backend developers skilled in database management and real-time data processing.
• Frontend developers for UI/UX design and integrating APIs.
• Machine learning experts for audio recognition and AI-based recommendations.
• Legal experts for ensuring compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant regulations.

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The cost will vary based on the experience and location of the development team. U.S.-based development teams typically command higher rates than offshore teams but also provide closer collaboration and a better understanding of the U.S. market.

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Hidden Costs & Miscellaneous Factors

QA & Testing: QA and testing are essential to ensure the app is stable, performs well under load, and provides a seamless experience for users. Security testing is also critical to protect user data.

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App Store Fees and Guidelines: Submitting an app like Shazam to the App Store or Google Play requires adherence to specific guidelines and the payment of fees (e.g., developer account fees, transaction fees for in-app purchases).

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Legal and Compliance Costs: Ensuring compliance with privacy and data protection regulations can involve significant legal costs, including drafting user agreements and updating privacy policies.

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What Makes This App Category Unique in Terms of Development

Building a music discovery app like Shazam requires blending cutting-edge technology with an intuitive user interface. The app must support real-time song recognition, integrate with streaming services, and comply with strict data privacy regulations. The US market has unique user behavior patterns and legal requirements, making it essential to partner with developers who understand these intricacies.

Want to bring your music discovery app to life? 

At Scrums.com, our expert team specializes in developing custom apps like Shazam that are user-friendly, secure, and compliant. Contact us today to get a tailored estimate for your app development project!