With the introduction of video streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Hotstar, Disney+, the interest people had in TV has mostly faded away. And there might come a time where television broadcasts might completely disappear. Actually, it has already started since Smart TVs are replacing traditional TVs.
It isn’t wrong to say that the platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., are currently ruling the world of entertainment. They have thousands of content to entertain people. Besides, most TV shows, series, and movies are now available in these apps exclusively. That is why people are rapidly switching to such platforms.
And among these platforms, Netflix is the leading video OTT (Over-the-top) service with 203.66 million subscribers worldwide and $24.996 billion in revenue in 2020. And this trend is increasing every year. Its craze isn't stopping anytime soon. So, it is normal for ideas like building an app like Netflix to pop up.
If you are thinking of developing an app like Netflix, then stay with us till the end. This article concentrates on what to consider and how much it costs to build an app like Netflix.
Why is Netflix so successful?
Let's see why Netflix is so popular and successful among users globally.
Ads free: It is an ad-free platform for premium users. You get to watch your favorite shows without any interruption. However, free account users must watch ads.
Unique and original content: Netflix is known for its original tv shows, series, and movies.
Wide range of shows: It has thousands of content to choose from.
30 days of free trial: The users can watch unlimited content for 30 days for free no matter what subscription plan they choose. After the trial period is over, they can cancel their plan without paying anything. Users can either continue to use the service or drop it.
Cross-platform: It is available in different platforms like Android, iOS, browsers, smart TVs etc.
Uninterrupted service: Netflix gives its service to the users 24*7.
High-quality content: Netflix is best known for providing high-quality content to its users.
Multi-region support: Netflix is now available in almost every region of the world.
Multi-currency support: You can pay Netflix subscription through different payment methods.
Why should you build an app like Netflix?
Let's see some reasons for developing a Netflix-like app.
- Increasing demand for video streaming platforms
- Value of the content the platforms provide
- Increasing use of mobile for streaming videos
- Ease of use and access
- Uninterrupted service
- The power of choice for the users
- Absence of Netflix alternatives in your region (local apps)
- Lastly, revenue generation and profit maximization
Who should you target?
What can you do to make your app unique in its own way? Other than the features of Netflix, you might consider some special traits. For example:
- One part that Netflix lacks is the absence of shows, series, and movies in local languages. Mostly, you will find them in English only. So, you can target the users who are looking forward to watching such content.
How Netflix works?
To build an app like Netflix, first, you should understand how it works. You might want to know how Netflix provides the ability to users to watch the content of their choice.
It uses a content delivery network to provide users a wide range of tv shows, series, and movies.
Before using the Netflix service, first, you need to sign up and choose your plan. Netflix offers three subscriptions: basic, standard, and premium. Choose one that is best for you. Then, the app is all yours. You can watch any video present on the platform.
How do you make an app like Netflix?
Before developing an app like Netflix, you should consider these steps.
Choose your market niche.
First, you have to define your market niche. You should decide what type of content to focus on. There are many options like movies, sports, fitness, education, cartoons, documentary, video games, etc.
Decide the content type.
You should figure out what type of content you are going to distribute and how. Are you going to stream the videos from distributors, or are you going to make your own?
Also, you can stream the content on a contract basis.
Choose the platform
You should decide on a platform to launch on. For mobile, are you going to release your app on Android or iOS? It is a crucial decision you need to make. You will find users who use different operating systems. Also, some people love using browsers, tablets, etc. So, you should consider these as well.
Monetization model
Now, you should choose the revenue models for the app. You can consider these revenue models:
- Subscription: One way to generate revenue is through subscription. It is a common and the best strategy.
- In-app ads: Another popular method is in-app ads. You charge companies or users some form of fee for displaying ads within the app.
- Pay-per-view: In this strategy, the users only pay for those videos they want to watch.
Focus on your audience
Now, target a group of users. Are you targeting a local audience or international, or both?
You can find your audience through social media, YouTube, email listing, etc.
Factors that affect the total cost
Here are the factors that will affect the total development cost of developing an app like Netflix.
Features: It is a no-brainer that features are the main reason that affects the development cost. The more the features, the higher the price and vice versa. So, it is best to add only core features in the initial version of the app.
Platform and technology: Whether you are developing your app for Android or iOS, it affects the development cost. The technology you use, like third-party app integration, payment gateway, API, etc., is also an essential factor.
Netflix technology stack consists of:
- Application and data: Python, Node.js, React, Java, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon S3, Amazon EC2, Flask, Amazon RDS, Cassandra, Amazon DynamoDB, Hadoop, Oracle, Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, Amazon EMR, Presto, CloudBees, Pig, winjs, Atlas-DB
- Utilities: Amazon SES, Urban Airship, Falcor
- DevOps: GitHub, Git, Jenkins, Gradle, Apache Mesos, AWS CloudTrail, Sumo Logic, Express Gateway, LogicMonitor, Crittercism, Dynomite, Boundary, Vector
- Business Tools: G Suite, Confluence, OneLogin, HubCommander
Region: The cost of developers depends upon the area they are located in. The charging fee in the USA varies from the UK, Australia, Ukraine, etc. So, it depends on who you are hiring.
The development team to build an app like Netflix will include:
- UI/UX Designer
- Project Manager
- Android Developer
- iOS Developer
- WebApp Developer
- Backend Developer
- Quality Analyst
Note: We usually charge $30/hr.
Features to consider
The core features to keep in mind when building an app like Netflix are:
Registration: For users to use the app securely.
Profile Management: For users to update their contact details, payment options, subscription, watch history, download history, etc.
Push Notification: To reach out to the users and update them about the availability of new shows, subscription plans, new offers, etc.
Subscription and Payment: The users must be able to choose a subscription plan. Also, your app should have a secured payment gateway. It is better to add more payment options.
Review and Ratings: The users should be able to provide ratings and reviews to the videos they watch.
This feature also makes it easier for the users to watch a particular show based on reviews and ratings. This allows the app to recommend similar shows to the users based on his/her watch list and ratings.
Search Shows: You can consider making it easier for the users to get their favorite shows quickly. For that, they should be able to search for the shows they want.
Multi-language support: The users should be able to use the app in the language they prefer. Some users don't understand English. So, you can keep this feature in mind if you are targeting users worldwide.
Multi-device support: The users should be able to use the app on different operating systems, like Android, iOS, browsers, etc..
Download option: The users should be able to download the content on the app itself. This feature allows users to watch videos offline.
Comments: The users should be able to leave a comment on the content.
Video resolutions: The users should be able to choose the video resolution.
Settings: It helps the users to have complete control over the videos they watch and apply other settings, like language preferences, dark mode, customize subtitles, playback, membership details, etc.
Copyright protection: To protect the content from being misused.
Admin Panel: To manage the content, users, offers, etc.
Total development cost estimation
The total development cost mainly depends on the features you are considering on your app.
And here is a rough estimation of how much it costs to build an app like Netflix. The cost you see here is based on our region Asia;the average price is $30/hr.
Total development cost (Android+iOS+Browsers+BackEnd)
| Features | Time (hr) | Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | 143 | 4,290 |
| Profile Management | 112 | 3,360 |
| Content Search | 130 | 3,900 |
| Subscription and Payment | 85 | 2,550 |
| Copyright Protection | 48 | 1,440 |
| Comments and Chats | 350 | 10,500 |
| Review and Ratings | 115 | 3,450 |
| Push Notifications | 130 | 3,900 |
| Multi-language Support | 90 | 2,700 |
| Multi-device Support | 50 | 1,500 |
| Settings | 210 | 6,300 |
| Admin Panel | 500 | 15,000 |
| UI/UX | 160 | 4,800 |
| QA | 205 | 6,150 |
| Total | 2328 | 69,840 |
The total development cost of developing an app like Netflix will be $69,840.
We also provide services like marketing, SEO, and content writing which will cost you extra.
The above price varies depending on features.
Also, for additional features, like multi-region support, the cost will increase.
If you are looking forward to building an app like Netflix, then feel free to contact us. We will be more than happy to help and work with you. Besides, we provide a free consultation service to make it easier for businesses to eliminate their confusion.
Why choose Truemark Technology?
Recently, we worked on a similar project, Reduct.Video.
More about the project in our portfolio.
What is Reduct.Video about?
"Reduct.Video transcribes your team's recordings and allows everyone to search, edit, and share video as easily as text. It helps hundreds of businesses like Spotify, Facebook, Autodesk, and Superhuman quickly edit hours of recordings into short, shareable videos."
Perks of working with us:
- Free consultation service
- Delivery on time with quality
- Weekly reporting
- Daily standups
- Effective communication and presentation
- Customer-focused
If you need an estimation for your own app like Netflix, then contact us. We look forward to working with you and making your app a reality.