What’s Included
Validate demand and willingness to pay for a simple subscription video streaming service.
Key Features
- Browse and search a video catalog.
- Stream video online.
- Create accounts and manage basic profiles.
- Subscribe through one monthly paid plan.
- Internal content upload and publishing workflow.
Platforms
- Native mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Who It’s For
- US consumers seeking on-demand video content.
Out of Scope for This MVP
- Content rights must be secured before launch.
- US hosting, payments, privacy, and app-store compliance.
- No offline downloads in the MVP.
- None.
Full Cost Breakdown
Every line item below is a real feature from the PRD, priced in hours and USD at our AI-accelerated delivery rate. Totals are rounded to the nearest $10.
| Feature | Category | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The system shall allow a visitor to create an English-language consumer account using the minimum information required for account access and service operation. | Account Registration | 6 | $330 |
| The system shall allow registered users to sign in and sign out securely from supported mobile applications. | Authentication | 7 | $390 |
| The system shall allow authenticated users to view and update essential account details and profile preferences. | Profile Management | 5 | $280 |
| The system shall display a catalog of published, rights-cleared videos to authenticated users. | Catalog Browsing | 7 | $390 |
| The system shall allow authenticated users to search published catalog content using English-language metadata. | Catalog Search | 5 | $280 |
| The system shall display video details including title, description, artwork, duration, and other rights-cleared metadata. | Video Details | 4 | $220 |
| The system shall allow authenticated users to stream available videos online on supported mobile devices. | Video Playback | 15 | $830 |
| The system shall enforce entitlement and content-rights rules before allowing a user to stream subscription content. | Content Access Control | 11 | $610 |
| The system shall allow authenticated users to purchase one monthly paid subscription plan using the applicable Apple and Google in-app purchase systems. | Subscription Purchase | 18 | $990 |
| The system shall validate subscription purchase status and grant or revoke access to subscription content accordingly. | Subscription Entitlements | 15 | $830 |
| The system shall provide subscribed users with subscription status, plan, billing, renewal, and cancellation information. | Subscription Management | 7 | $390 |
| The system shall allow authenticated users to initiate account deletion within the app and through a functional web pathway. | Account Deletion | 14 | $770 |
| The system shall provide access to the privacy policy within the app and on relevant application store listings. | Privacy Information | 3 | $170 |
| The system shall allow authorized internal Content Operations Users to upload video content for preparation and publication. | Content Upload | 15 | $830 |
| The system shall support verification that video content, metadata, artwork, and promotional assets are rights-cleared before publication. | Content Rights Validation | 10 | $550 |
| The system shall allow authorized internal Content Operations Users to publish and unpublish catalog content. | Content Publishing | 9 | $500 |
| The system shall send relevant account, subscription, and essential service notifications to authenticated users. | Service Notifications | 10 | $550 |
| The system shall allow users to manage applicable notification preferences. | Notification Preferences | 5 | $280 |
| The system shall restrict Content Operations capabilities to authorized internal staff accounts. | Authorization | 6 | $330 |
| Delivery Overhead | |||
| Planning | 43 | $2,370 | |
| Project Management | 35 | $1,930 | |
| Testing | 21 | $1,160 | |
| DevOps | 17 | $940 | |
| Design & Frontend Build | 52 | $2,860 | |
| AI Tokens | 0 | $570 | |
| Security | 21 | $1,160 | |
| Risk (10% Contingency) | 37 | $2,040 | |
| Total | 398 | $22,550 | |
Estimate Assumptions
- Estimates cover base feature development across Flutter mobile, managed backend APIs, and the Next.js admin or web surfaces where specified.
- RevenueCat, Apple, Google, OneSignal, Firebase, Supabase, and the video provider expose standard SDKs or APIs and are configured by the project team.
- Video encoding, DRM, CDN provisioning, legal policy drafting, store submission, and operational content entry are excluded from these requirement hours.
- Account deletion retention rules, notification channels, exact profile fields, and content rights review states will remain limited to MVP scope.
- Testing, release engineering, NFR implementation, project management, design, and QA overhead are excluded and estimated separately.
Risks That Could Change This
- Video provider selection, DRM requirements, encoding workflows, and protected playback behavior may materially increase playback effort.
- Apple and Google billing review or platform-specific purchase edge cases may extend subscription implementation.
- Account deletion across related records and third-party services may require additional retention and compliance handling.
- Rights validation workflow details are underspecified and could expand admin screens, approvals, or audit requirements.
- Cross-device entitlement consistency depends on timely and reliable store and RevenueCat synchronization.
User Stories
The full set of user stories behind this estimate, grouped by the person using the app.
As a Visitor, I want to create an account so that I can access the streaming service.
English-only registration for US consumers. Collect only information needed for account access and service operation.
As a Registered User, I want to sign in and sign out so that I can securely access my account.
Use standard mobile authentication patterns. Password recovery is assumed to be available if required for basic account access.
As a Logged In App User, I want to manage my basic profile so that my account information remains current.
MVP profile management is limited to essential account details and preferences.
As a Logged In App User, I want to browse the video catalog so that I can discover available content.
Catalog content is rights-cleared and published by the internal team. Categories or basic content metadata may be used for discovery.
As a Logged In App User, I want to search the video catalog so that I can find specific content efficiently.
Search is English-only and limited to the available catalog metadata.
As a Logged In App User, I want to view video details so that I can decide whether to watch the content.
Details may include title, description, artwork, duration, and other rights-cleared metadata.
As a Logged In App User, I want to stream available videos online so that I can watch content on demand.
Online playback is included in the MVP. Offline downloads are excluded. Playback depends on secured content rights and supported mobile connectivity.
As a Logged In App User, I want to subscribe to one monthly paid plan so that I can access subscription content.
In-app purchases use the applicable Apple and Google payment systems. Pricing, billing frequency, auto-renewal, cancellation, and benefits are disclosed.
As a Subscribed User, I want to manage my subscription so that I can understand and control my recurring plan.
Provide access to subscription-management information and cancellation through the applicable platform flow.
As a Logged In App User, I want to delete my account so that I can control my personal data.
Account deletion is available in the app and through a functional web pathway. Associated data is deleted subject to clearly disclosed legal or operational retention requirements.
As a Logged In App User, I want to review the privacy policy so that I understand how my data is collected and used.
Privacy information is accessible in the app and on the relevant store listings. Disclosures cover account, profile, analytics, notifications, playback, and device data as applicable.
As a Content Operations User, I want to upload video content so that approved content can be prepared for publication.
Only internal staff can upload content in the MVP. Content rights must be verified before publication.
As a Content Operations User, I want to publish and unpublish catalog content so that the available library remains current and rights-compliant.
Publishing is an internal workflow. Promotional assets, metadata, and streamed content must be rights-cleared before release.
As a Logged In App User, I want to receive relevant service notifications so that I remain informed about my account and subscription.
Notifications are limited to essential account, subscription, and service updates for the MVP. Users can manage applicable notification preferences.
Requirements
Functional and non-functional requirements the estimate above is priced against.
The system shall allow a visitor to create an English-language consumer account using the minimum information required for account access and service operation.
Registration is limited to US consumers for the MVP.
The system shall allow registered users to sign in and sign out securely from supported mobile applications.
Password recovery is included where required for basic account access.
The system shall allow authenticated users to view and update essential account details and profile preferences.
MVP excludes advanced profile features and multiple-profile management.
The system shall display a catalog of published, rights-cleared videos to authenticated users.
Catalog browsing may use categories and basic content metadata.
The system shall allow authenticated users to search published catalog content using English-language metadata.
Search scope is limited to available catalog metadata.
The system shall display video details including title, description, artwork, duration, and other rights-cleared metadata.
Displayed fields may vary by content record.
The system shall allow authenticated users to stream available videos online on supported mobile devices.
Offline downloads are excluded from the MVP.
The system shall enforce entitlement and content-rights rules before allowing a user to stream subscription content.
Playback requires valid subscription access and supported connectivity.
The system shall allow authenticated users to purchase one monthly paid subscription plan using the applicable Apple and Google in-app purchase systems.
Pricing, billing frequency, auto-renewal, cancellation, and benefits must be disclosed.
The system shall validate subscription purchase status and grant or revoke access to subscription content accordingly.
Entitlements must remain consistent across supported user devices.
The system shall provide subscribed users with subscription status, plan, billing, renewal, and cancellation information.
Cancellation shall use the applicable platform management flow.
The system shall allow authenticated users to initiate account deletion within the app and through a functional web pathway.
Data deletion is subject to disclosed legal or operational retention requirements.
The system shall provide access to the privacy policy within the app and on relevant application store listings.
Disclosures cover account, profile, analytics, notifications, playback, and device data as applicable.
The system shall allow authorized internal Content Operations Users to upload video content for preparation and publication.
External or user-generated content uploads are excluded from the MVP.
The system shall support verification that video content, metadata, artwork, and promotional assets are rights-cleared before publication.
The detailed legal review workflow is not otherwise specified.
The system shall allow authorized internal Content Operations Users to publish and unpublish catalog content.
Only published and currently valid content shall appear in the user catalog.
The system shall send relevant account, subscription, and essential service notifications to authenticated users.
Promotional notifications are excluded from the MVP.
The system shall allow users to manage applicable notification preferences.
Preference options depend on supported notification channels.
The system shall restrict Content Operations capabilities to authorized internal staff accounts.
Role-based access control is required for upload and publication workflows.
The system shall target API response times below 200 milliseconds for standard requests under expected MVP operating load.
Excludes video startup and third-party platform response times.
The backend shall use a managed database service capable of scaling with the catalog, user, entitlement, and operational data volumes.
Supabase managed database is the assumed implementation baseline.
The system shall provide application performance monitoring and diagnostic telemetry for supported mobile clients and backend services.
Firebase Performance Monitoring is the assumed mobile monitoring solution.
The system shall protect authentication credentials, personal data, subscription information, content entitlements, and administrative functions against unauthorized access.
Encryption, secure session handling, and least-privilege access are expected.
The system shall support disclosed data collection, account deletion, and retention handling consistent with the published privacy policy and applicable obligations.
Retention exceptions must be documented and communicated to users.
The system shall preserve subscription entitlement integrity and prevent unauthorized content access during normal service and third-party payment interruptions.
Graceful handling of delayed or unavailable store validation is required.
The mobile applications shall comply with applicable Apple App Store and Google Play requirements for digital subscriptions, privacy, account deletion, and content access.
Digital subscription purchases use platform billing unless an approved exception applies.
The system shall support the agreed current versions of iOS and Android mobile platforms and their standard notification and in-app purchase capabilities.
Exact OS versions and device coverage remain project configuration decisions.
Requirements Assumptions
- The MVP targets English-speaking US consumers and supports iOS and Android mobile applications.
- Only one monthly paid subscription plan is required; tiers, coupons, family sharing, trials, and add-ons are excluded unless later approved.
- Apple and Google in-app purchase services are the payment integrations; no direct card processor is assumed for in-app digital subscription purchases.
- Video content is hosted and delivered through a secured streaming solution, but the specific provider and encoding architecture are not specified.
- Content is rights-cleared by internal staff before publication, and no public content submission workflow is required.
- Account deletion removes associated data except for legally or operationally required retention, which will be documented separately.
- A managed backend and database are required; Supabase is the baseline assumption from the requirements rules.
- Firebase Performance Monitoring is assumed for mobile observability; additional logging, alerting, and analytics requirements require confirmation during solution design.
- Standard email or platform authentication and notification services may be used; provider selection is not specified.
- Offline playback, casting, live streaming, recommendations, watch history, favorites, social features, and advanced analytics are outside the MVP scope.
Technical Specification
The reference architecture and stack this estimate is built on.
Build iOS and Android applications with Flutter and Dart, using Riverpod for state management and Material Design 3 for the UI system.
Supports registration, authentication, profile, catalog, playback, subscriptions, notifications, and account deletion.
Use Supabase Auth with JWT-based sessions for account registration, sign-in, sign-out, password recovery, and authenticated mobile access.
English-language US consumer accounts; use secure token storage and session refresh.
Implement role-based authorization for app users, subscribed users, and authorized internal Content Operations Users.
Enforce server-side authorization for content upload, rights validation, publishing, and unpublishing.
Provide a managed backend using REST APIs with optional edge functions for business workflows, entitlement checks, content operations, and notifications.
Use HTTPS with TLS 1.2+ and JWT/OAuth 2.0-compatible authorization.
Use Supabase-managed PostgreSQL for users, profiles, catalog metadata, content rights, subscriptions, entitlements, notification preferences, and operational records.
Apply relational integrity, migrations, backups, and least-privilege database access.
Provide a Next.js, React, and TypeScript web admin panel for authorized staff to upload, review, rights-validate, publish, and unpublish content.
Use Shadcn/ui and Tailwind CSS; restrict access through backend RBAC.
Integrate a secured video hosting and delivery solution supporting online mobile playback, protected content access, and entitlement-aware playback authorization.
Provider, encoding pipeline, DRM requirements, and CDN configuration remain implementation decisions.
Integrate RevenueCat with Apple App Store and Google Play billing for one monthly subscription plan, including purchase validation and cross-device entitlement synchronization.
Expose plan, billing, renewal, cancellation, and subscription status information.
Use OneSignal and Firebase Cloud Messaging for essential account, subscription, and service notifications, with user-configurable preferences.
Promotional notifications and campaign automation are excluded from the MVP.
Host web applications and admin panels on Vercel, use Supabase for managed backend services, and define separate development, staging, and production environments.
Production secrets, databases, storage, and third-party credentials must be isolated per environment.
Use GitHub Actions for backend and web deployment pipelines and CodeMagic for mobile build and store-release workflows.
Automate unit, integration, and end-to-end testing before deployment.
Protect credentials, personal data, subscription information, entitlements, and administrative functions using encryption, secure sessions, HTTPS, tokenization where applicable, and least privilege.
Support published privacy disclosures, account deletion, retention exceptions, and applicable platform and privacy compliance.
Implement Firebase Performance Monitoring and Crashlytics for mobile diagnostics, plus backend structured logging, error tracking, health checks, and operational alerts.
Google Analytics may support approved product analytics; analytics collection must follow privacy disclosures.
Support agreed current iOS and Android versions, standard notification and in-app purchase capabilities, graceful payment-provider outages, and consistent entitlement state.
Exact OS versions, device coverage, availability targets, and recovery objectives require project configuration.
Technical Assumptions
- The MVP targets English-speaking US consumers on iOS and Android.
- Flutter/Dart, Riverpod, Next.js, React, TypeScript, Supabase, Vercel, GitHub Actions, and CodeMagic are the baseline technologies.
- Supabase Auth and managed PostgreSQL are the assumed authentication and database services.
- The MVP includes one monthly subscription plan using Apple and Google platform billing through RevenueCat.
- A secured third-party video streaming provider will be selected; offline playback, casting, and live streaming are excluded.
- Content Operations Users are internal staff, and all content, metadata, artwork, and promotional assets are rights-cleared before publication.
- Development, staging, and production environments will be isolated with separate secrets and service configurations.
- Data residency, backup retention, disaster recovery targets, and regional availability remain to be finalized.
- Firebase Performance Monitoring and Crashlytics are assumed for mobile observability; backend monitoring tooling remains an implementation choice.
- No direct card processor, external creator uploads, recommendations, watch history, favorites, social features, or advanced analytics are included in the MVP.
Spotify App Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to build an app like Spotify or Netflix?
About $22,550 for this MVP, based on 398 hours of AI-accelerated development. A consumer streaming service offering a rights-cleared, primarily video catalog curated and published by an internal team. English-only native mobile MVP with online playback and discovery. It's a custom build - you own the code and the IP, not a licensed template.
What's included in this streaming platform cost estimate?
Browse and search a video catalog., Stream video online., Create accounts and manage basic profiles., Subscribe through one monthly paid plan., Internal content upload and publishing workflow.. None.
Does this estimate include hosting or ongoing maintenance?
No. This is the one-time cost to build the MVP. Hosting scales with your user count - see our hosting and maintenance pricing for typical ranges, or use the app cost calculator to estimate hosting and retainer costs by year.
Can I get a quote for my specific streaming platform idea?
Yes. This estimate assumes the scope above; a different feature set, market, or integration list changes the price. Use ChatStack for a free, structured estimate tailored to your exact requirements.
Spotify and Netflix are registered trademarks of their respective owners. App Developer Studio is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Spotify and Netflix. This estimate describes the cost of building a custom, independently-owned app with a comparable feature set, not a clone, license, or use of their brand or code.
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