What's in this Spotify clone
An audio app needs a catalog listeners are allowed to play and a player that behaves predictably when the phone is locked. Start with independent recordings, lessons or spoken-word content you control. Discovery and collections can be simple. Rights, playback continuity and clear ownership of the catalog are more important than copying a large music service’s recommendation system.
Features to build
A proposed scope for your own app, not a list of features in a prebuilt project.
| Feature | What to implement |
|---|---|
| Audio catalog | Show track titles, creator attribution, duration and collection artwork so listeners can choose without starting every recording. |
| Now playing | Provide play, pause, seek and queue controls with a clear indication of the current track and loading state. |
| Collections | Let listeners create playlists and reorder tracks, including a useful state when a recording is no longer available. |
| Creator pages | Group recordings by artist or presenter and explain the context of the catalog in an original biography. |
| Search | Support title and creator searches, with readable empty results and optional topic filters for spoken-word libraries. |
| Listening progress | Save the position in longer recordings and let listeners restart deliberately rather than losing progress on navigation. |
How to make an app like Spotify
- Choose one audience and a core task from the feature table. Give the app its own name and visual identity.
- Select Use this prompt to open it in Superapp, create the first version and review the complete flow with sample content.
- Connect the services the app needs, replace sample data and test permissions and failures before inviting users.
Build Spotify clone features with this prompt
Your starting prompt
Build an original app for this audience and workflow on the platform I select in Superapp: iPhone or web.
The hard parts
Background playback changes how the player is owned by the app. Navigating away from a track should not destroy the audio session, and a phone call should interrupt playback sensibly. Licensing may cover streaming without covering downloads or redistribution, so do not add offline access casually. A catalog also needs a removal process: a withdrawn recording should stop appearing in new searches while existing playlists explain why the item cannot play.
Take it from prototype to real app
Test headphones, lock-screen controls, interruptions and resuming a long recording after closing the app. Use short and long tracks to check seeking and duration displays. Verify a playlist containing a removed item and a queue that reaches its end. Start with a modest catalog whose rights and metadata are known. Monitor playback reliability and repeat listening before introducing collaborative playlists, personalized ranking or a promise of unlimited offline storage.
Three niche variations
Independent label
Build an audio app for an independent record label using its approved catalog. Include artist pages, album credits, playlists and a persistent player. Let listeners save favorite releases and browse by genre. Keep downloads disabled until the label confirms those rights, and use original artwork supplied by the artists.
Guided audio walks
Create a listening app for local history walks. Organize recordings by route and stop, show transcripts and save playback progress. Let walkers download a route only after offline rights are confirmed. Include a map overview but keep playback usable without continuous location tracking or a live GPS connection.
Language listening library
Make an audio practice library with short dialogues, transcripts and playback speed controls. Group lessons by topic and ability level. Let learners save a practice queue and resume a dialogue. Use licensed voices and explain regional pronunciation differences in the lesson notes rather than claiming one universal accent.
Spotify clone app: what it costs
Budget separately for development and operation. The agency figure below describes its stated scope; a Superapp subscription buys a creation tool, not the same managed delivery service.
Development options
Published prices checked November 8, 2026. These are not quotes for your project.
| Approach | Published price | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| RaftLabs | $65,000–$95,000 | Niche audio streaming MVP; licensing separate |
| Superapp Pro | $25/month | Creation subscription; usage and external services are separate |
Sources: RaftLabs cost estimate and Superapp pricing. Request a project-specific estimate covering audio catalog, now playing, collections, creator pages, search, listening progress. Hosting, provider usage, content and ongoing support can add costs.
Publish for iPhone or the web
Choose your platform in Superapp before starting. For a web app, test the published site in desktop and mobile browsers. For an iPhone app, test on devices and prepare an App Store submission.
Spotify clone for iPhone: will Apple approve it?
Approval is not guaranteed. Apple requires originality; review guideline 4.1.
The icon identifies the reference app. It is not branding for your project or a claim of affiliation. Choose an original name, artwork and purpose, then test the complete release with the content and services your users will actually encounter.
SoundCloud clones
A SoundCloud-inspired version adds creator uploads and publishing tools to the listening catalog. Give creators upload status and rights controls, and budget for reviewing public submissions instead of assuming every recording is approved.