Are you looking to create a music streaming and video sharing app like TikTok? If yes, then probably your first question is “how much does it cost to create a successful app like TikTok? Well, there is no straightforward answer to these questions as things are interrelated with multiple elements. Hence this blog guide is created to answer all your questions.

Introduction to Developing TikTok Type Music Streaming and Video Sharing App

While there are hundreds of applications dedicatedly developed for music streaming, photo editing, video sharing, TikTok has taken the momentum and encompassed all entertainment apps. The attractive, addictive and controversial video-sharing app has made headlines after headlines over the last couple of years. The way TikTok is allowing millions of users actively using this platform to showcase 15-30 sec short videos, an app is successful in keeping its users glued to it. In fact, TikTok has become an excellent source of entertainment. 

TikTok app usage is burgeoning without showing any sign of going down. Therefore, it becomes a perfect alternative version of an online content sharing app by offering various music, filters and some other features. Sometimes TikTok content seems funny, sometimes cringe, but all in all, it’s highly addictive. 

With that said, many business enterprises and startups are looking to create an app like TikTok to promote their brand.

Before you dig deep into the facts, let’s have a look at the table of content.

Let’s drill straight into the details of each point for better understanding…

How Does TikTok Attract And Retain Its Users?

Since its inception in 2018, TikTok has taken the world by storm. With 1 billion monthly active users in 2022 making 3 billion installations generating a revenue of $19 billion gross profit in 2020, undoubtedly businesses are in shock about what exactly is fueling TikTok. Before you hire mobile app developer to get straight into the app development process, make sure you know the strategy behind TikTok’s Success.

Here are a few factors that Set TikTok On Boom

• User onboarding and profile creation are simple and quick to complete with social media accounts like Instagram or Facebook.
• It boasts a unique app interface that is highly simple and easy to access.
• TikTok embraces innovative features and functionalities that make it highly popular.
• Allowing users to create and share videos on different concepts to different communities and groups.
• The choice of creating a video by choosing from hundreds of music songs and advanced editing tools. 
• Possibility of personalizing the content by applying viral stickers and accessing various options to control video speed. 
• Fast and easy content creation process with simple editing and uploading features.
• Such industry giants and celebrities have put their faith in this app for brand promotion and to reach millions of users. 
• Money earning option for users is the biggest attraction for the users. 

These are the few characteristics of the TikTok app that make it successful and inspire businesses to create a video sharing app like TikTok. If you are also planning to create a music and video streaming app like TikTok, then let’s check out how to make it stand out in the thriving market.

Main Features and Functionalities of Creating an App Like TikTok

TikTok is much more than a video sharing app and offers all such attractive functionalities including sending likes, resharing content, downloading videos, music and more. However, at the same time, the TikTok app also provides advanced functionalities that help you transform the user experience. 

So let’s understand the list of features and functionalities that help you create the best alternative to the TikTok app. 

Must-Have Features To Create an App Like TikTok

• Create and Edit Profile: Tiktok app allows users to create a profile and edit it with a profile image. Make sure you hire an app developer to make the login screen highly engaging, easy to access so that users will pay attention and save time on signing it with a social media account.
• Short Video Uploading: With this feature allow users to upload pre-recorded videos that are upto 15 seconds to their app. 
• Video Editing Tools: Provide the functionality of editing videos by using in-app editing tools like rotate it or crop it, change the playback speed or share it with friends. 
• Video Effects: To make videos highly engaging and attractive, TikTok allows users to edit videos using effective tools of video effects. Using this toolkit, users can change the colour of their eyes, even lip-syncing videos, add stickers, animations, add slow-motion effects and more. 
• Live Streaming Option: Using this premium feature of the music streaming and video sharing app allows users to on-air their video content. 
• Add Reactions: To respond to videos and music streaming, TikTok allows users to add their reactions in the form of emojis. 
• Social Sharing: Provide the ability to share content on various social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and more. 
• Add Music: Allow content creators to access an in-app TikTok library and apply lip-syncing background music from the hundreds of options.
• QR Code Scanning: Add the feature to allow users to subscribe to video app creators by simply scanning a code. 
• Geolocation: Using this feature, app users can find active bloggers nearby creating short videos and broadcast streams. 

These are the few main features of developing a music streaming mobile app which may take around 4 to 6 months for development. But the question is how to make it work flawlessly?

Let’s understand the main tech stack of developing a mobile app like TikTok.

TechStack Required To Create a Video Sharing App Like TikTok

With a highly engaging and seamless user interface, TikTok has grabbed the global attention of the users. If you are also looking for creating a music streaming and video sharing app like TikTok then you need to hire an app development company that understands your requirements. Also, make sure they have the right app development team that can handle the complexity of the app. Further, here are the few technologies that enable you to build an app that work like a well-oiled machine. 

• Frontend: React Native
• Backend: Python, JAVA, C#, PHP, Erlang
• Android App Development: Java, Objective C
• iOS App Development: Swift, Kotlin
• Hybrid App Development: React Native, Flutter
• Database: Postgres, Schemaless on top of MySQL
• Cloud Storage: Google Cloud Storage, Azure, AWS
• Media Server Configuration: Google Cloud Storage, Azure, AWS
• Video/Audio Transcoding: Amazon, Elastic Transcoder, FFMPEG

These are the recommendations for basic app development, but the complex app version may require an advanced choice of technologies. It may also take higher time in app development. 

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Video Sharing Mobile App Like TikTok?

How much does it cost to build an app like TikTok is one of the most often asked questions from business investors. Before you get confused and trust all those low budget estimations, keep in mind that there is an online calculator that provides the estimation without knowing the app specifications. 

The app development cost is greatly influenced by several factors such as several technologies, features, functionalities, the complexity of the app design, operating platforms and more. The cost to create an app like TikTok can be as low as USD20,000 and will be as high as USD30,000+. It all depends upon your business requirements and the hourly cost of the app developer and how much time it will take to create an app. 

Once done with the specification of the app development, you can track app development costs by calculating the number of hours it takes to build an app. Then further multiple those hours with the hourly cost of the developer. The hourly cost of the developer can make a big difference in your app development cost as it varies from USD 20 to USD 50+ per hour depending upon the skills, experience and expertise of the developer. 

Before you may make a final decision and take these estimations as the final price, keep in mind that app development cost can vary depending upon such factors. Therefore we always recommend booking a free consultation slot without experts to get real estimations and get project details.

Conclusion

Considering market statistics and survey reports, it is fair enough to say that social media apps are booming to the next level among all age groups. Using the mechanism of most popular and trendsetter video creating mobile apps, you can make a strong entry into the social media domain. For that, you need to hire a flutter app development company to transform yours into a fully functional app. And one of the best choices of software app development companies in USA/India that has a track record of developing many video sharing apps for both Android and iOS devices. We hold the expertise and experience of transforming mobile app ideas into result-oriented solutions. If you have any queries, then you can contact us or drop a query. 

FAQs

How long does it take to build an app like TikTok?

The average time to create a music streaming and video sharing app like TikTok depends upon the complexity of features and its functionalities. But MVP solutions can be developed within 4 to 6 months whereas advanced app versions may take 9+ months.

How to monetize an app like TikTok?

There are multiple ways to make a profit from your app but adding in-app advertisements and offering subscription plans will be potential ways to make money.