How to Build a Music App Without Coding
From streaming platforms to creation tools, learn everything you need to create a music app. Discover which type fits your vision, understand licensing requirements, and explore the fastest path to launch.
Founder, Natively
The global music app market is projected to reach $76.42 billion by 2035, growing at 7.2% annually. Whether you want to create a music app for streaming, discovery, or creation, the opportunity has never been greater. This guide covers everything from app types to licensing, helping you understand exactly what it takes to build a music app without writing code.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple app types — streaming, players, discovery, creation, and social music apps each have different requirements
- Licensing complexity — commercial music streaming requires ASCAP, BMI, mechanical, and master licenses; alternatives exist for simpler apps
- Native audio support — React Native/Expo provides background playback, offline downloads, and lock screen controls
- Cost varies dramatically — from $5/month for development to $100k+ for commercial music licensing
- AI makes development accessible — platforms can generate complete music apps with audio features in hours
Music App Market 2026
Sources: Business of Apps, Statista
Why Build a Music App in 2026?
Music consumption has fundamentally shifted to mobile. According to Grand View Research, the music streaming market alone will reach $108 billion by 2030. But music apps extend far beyond streaming — there are opportunities in discovery, creation, education, and social experiences.
The good news: you no longer need a development team or months of coding to enter this market. AI-powered no-code app builders can generate complete music apps with native audio capabilities, making it possible for entrepreneurs and creators to launch their vision quickly.
Key Market Insights for 2026
Growing Segments
- ●Podcast and audiobook integration (up 23% YoY)
- ●AI-powered music creation tools
- ●Social music sharing features
- ●Lossless and spatial audio
User Expectations
- ●Offline playback is mandatory
- ●Background audio with lock screen controls
- ●Cross-device sync and continuity
- ●Personalized recommendations
Types of Music Apps You Can Build
Before diving into development, it is important to understand the different categories of music apps. Each has unique requirements, licensing considerations, and technical challenges. Use the interactive selector below to find the right fit for your idea.
Find Your Music App Type
Select a category to see requirements and costs
Select an app type above to see detailed requirements
Music Streaming Apps
Apps like Spotify or Apple Music that stream licensed music catalogs. These have the highest licensing costs but largest market.
- Examples: Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL
- Complexity: High (licensing)
- Revenue: Subscription + ads
Audio Player Apps
Apps that play user-owned music files or local audio. No licensing required for the music itself.
- Examples: VLC, Poweramp, foobar2000
- Complexity: Medium
- Revenue: Premium features, one-time purchase
Music Discovery Apps
Apps focused on helping users find new music through recommendations, social features, or curated playlists.
- Examples: Shazam, SoundHound, Last.fm
- Complexity: Medium
- Revenue: Affiliate, premium features
Music Creation Apps
Apps for making music — from simple beat makers to full DAWs. Complexity varies widely based on features.
- Examples: GarageBand, BandLab, Koala Sampler
- Complexity: Medium to Very High
- Revenue: Freemium, in-app purchases
Podcast & Audio Apps
Apps focused on spoken audio content including podcasts, audiobooks, and radio. Simpler licensing than music streaming.
- Examples: Pocket Casts, Audible, Overcast
- Complexity: Medium
- Revenue: Subscription, content sales
Music Social Networks
Platforms combining music with social features — sharing, collaboration, and community around music.
- Examples: SoundCloud, Audius, BandLab
- Complexity: High
- Revenue: Creator subscriptions, tips
Essential Features for Music Apps
Regardless of your app type, certain audio features are expected by users. Modern native mobile apps built with React Native and Expo can support all of these capabilities.
| Feature | Why Important | Technical Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Background Playback | Users expect music to continue when switching apps | react-native-track-player or expo-audio |
| Offline Downloads | Essential for commutes, travel, areas with poor signal | Local file storage + background downloads |
| Lock Screen Controls | Play/pause/skip without unlocking phone | Native media session integration |
| Gapless Playback | Seamless album listening, live recordings | Audio buffer pre-loading |
| Audio Quality Options | Data saving vs audiophile quality choices | Multiple bitrate encoding (128-320kbps, FLAC) |
| Playlist Management | Personal organization and curation | Database with user accounts |
Audio Library Comparison
According to Expo documentation, the expo-audio library provides cross-platform audio playback with background support. For more advanced features like queue management and remote controls, react-native-track-player is the industry standard.
expo-audio (Built-in)
- + Works in Expo Go
- + Simple API
- + Web support
- - Basic queue handling
react-native-track-player
- + Advanced queue management
- + Lock screen controls
- + Background playback
- - Requires dev build
Platforms That Support Audio Features
Not all app development platforms handle audio equally. For music apps, native capabilities matter — webview-based solutions often struggle with background playback and offline support.
| Platform | Background Audio | Offline Support | Lock Screen | Native Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natively (React Native/Expo) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FlutterFlow | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✓ |
| Adalo | Limited | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Glide | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bubble (Web) | ✗ | ✗ | N/A | ✗ |
Why Native Matters for Music Apps
Web-based or hybrid approaches face fundamental limitations with audio. Browsers restrict background playback, offline storage has limits, and there is no access to system media controls. For a professional music app experience, native development using React Native or Flutter is essential. This is why platforms like Natively focus on generating true native code rather than webviews.
Understanding Music Licensing
Music licensing is often the most complex and expensive part of building a streaming app. However, many music app types do not require commercial licenses at all. Understanding the requirements for your specific app type is crucial.
⚠️ When You Need Licensing
Requires Commercial Licenses
- ✗Streaming major label music
- ✗Playing copyrighted recordings
- ✗Radio-style broadcasting
- ✗Background music for businesses
No Commercial Licenses Needed
- ✓Playing user-owned music files
- ✓User-generated content platforms
- ✓Creative Commons / royalty-free music
- ✓Music creation tools
Types of Music Licenses (US)
1. Performance Rights (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC)
Covers public performance of musical compositions. Required when streaming music to users. In 2026, songwriters receive about 15.3% of streaming service revenue through these licenses.
2. Mechanical Rights (MLC, Harry Fox Agency)
Covers reproduction and distribution of compositions. The Mechanical Licensing Collective administers blanket licenses for streaming services in the US.
Rate: ~$0.091 per stream or 10.5% of revenue
3. Master Recording Rights (Record Labels)
Covers the actual recorded version of songs. Must be negotiated directly with record labels or through aggregators. This is typically the most expensive license.
Typical rate: 50-70% of streaming revenue
Licensing Alternatives for Smaller Apps
Royalty-Free Libraries
Services like Epidemic Sound or Artlist offer pre-cleared music. Cost: $15-50/month.
Independent Artists
Partner directly with indie artists who own their masters. Revenue share model.
User-Generated Content
Let users upload their own music (like SoundCloud). Requires DMCA compliance.
Development Options: Build vs Buy
You have several paths to creating a music app. The right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and technical requirements. Here is how the main approaches compare for music-specific features.
Traditional Development
- ✗4-8 months development time
- ✗$40,000-$150,000+ cost
- ✗Requires hiring dev team
- ✓Full customization possible
- ✓Complex audio processing
AI-Powered Development (Natively)
- ✓Hours to working prototype
- ✓From $5/month
- ✓No coding required
- ✓Full source code ownership
- ✓Native audio capabilities
Build Your Music App with AI
Describe your music app idea in plain English and get a working native app with audio playback, playlists, and offline support. Full code ownership, no lock-in.
What AI Can Generate for Music Apps
Included with AI Generation
- ✓Audio player with background playback
- ✓Playlist creation and management
- ✓Offline download capability
- ✓User authentication and profiles
- ✓Search and discovery features
- ✓Lock screen and notification controls
You Still Handle
- →Music content and licensing
- →Audio file hosting (CDN)
- →DRM for protected content
- →Music metadata and catalogs
Complete Cost Breakdown
Costs vary dramatically based on your app type. An audio player app costs a fraction of a commercial streaming service. Use the calculator below to estimate costs for your specific scenario.
Music App Cost Calculator
Estimate first-year costs for your music app
Traditional Development
With Natively
Notes:
- •No music licensing required for user-owned content
Cost Comparison by App Type (First Year)
| App Type | Traditional Dev | With Natively | Licensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Player | $25,000-$50,000 | $60-$600 | $0 |
| Podcast App | $30,000-$60,000 | $60-$600 | $0-$5,000 |
| Music Discovery | $40,000-$80,000 | $60-$600 | $0-$10,000 |
| UGC Platform | $50,000-$100,000 | $60-$600 | $5,000-$20,000 |
| Commercial Streaming | $80,000-$200,000 | $60-$600 | $50,000-$100,000+ |
* Licensing costs are annual and scale with usage. Development costs are one-time (traditional) or annual subscription (Natively).
Sources: Purrweb, Appinventiv
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of music apps can I build without coding?
You can build various music apps without coding including music streaming apps, audio player apps, music discovery platforms, podcast apps, music creation tools with pre-built instruments, playlist curators, and music social networks. AI-powered platforms like Natively can generate complete native apps with audio playback, offline downloads, and background playback features.
How do I handle music licensing for a streaming app?
Music licensing requires multiple licenses: mechanical licenses for reproducing compositions (via The MLC or Harry Fox Agency), master recording licenses from record labels, and performance rights licenses from PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Alternatives include using royalty-free music libraries, Creative Commons content, or building a platform for independent artists who own their masters.
Which platforms support audio features for music apps?
React Native with Expo supports comprehensive audio features through expo-audio and react-native-track-player libraries. These enable background playback, lock screen controls, offline downloads, and streaming. Natively builds apps using React Native and Expo, providing full access to these native audio capabilities without coding.
Can I build a music creation app without coding?
Yes, you can build music creation apps with pre-built instruments, beat makers, and simple recording features using no-code platforms. However, professional-grade DAW features require custom development. For simpler music creation tools like beat pads, samplers, or music notation apps, AI app builders can generate the necessary interface and audio functionality.
How much does it cost to build a music app?
Traditional music app development costs $40,000-$150,000+ depending on complexity. With AI-powered platforms like Natively, you can build a music app starting at $5/month. However, if streaming commercial music, licensing costs ($50,000-$100,000+ annually) remain the same regardless of development approach. Apps using royalty-free or user-generated content have much lower ongoing costs.