For many centuries, music has played a key role in human life and how we enjoy it has shifted with the development of technology. Since digital platforms have emerged, people all over the globe turn to music apps for their favorite music.
Although, deciding on the right platform(s) is very important when making a music streaming app—iOS, Android or both.
As every platform is different, your choice should depend on who your audience is, what resources you can afford, what features you require and your long-term plans. Here, we will compare iOS, Android and cross-platform development to provide you with the information you need to choose wisely.
An overview of the process of making music apps.
Music apps are becoming very popular right now. Song lovers can find millions of songs on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music, organize them into playlists and have a personalized way to listen. Since more people are using music streaming, it is important for any app to be distinctive and meet the needs of users.
You’ll first have to choose the operating system you’ll develop your music app for when you start this process. The platform decision determines the development process, user engagement and what marketing and money-making strategies you use. You should analyze both the pluses and minuses of the options you have in mind.
We should take a closer look at how iOS, Android and cross-platform development differ and which one might suit your music app.
The process of developing Apps for Music on iOS
Why Is iOS a Good Platform for Your Music App?
Devices such as the iPhone, the iPad and the iPod are all powered by iOS which Apple developed. Smooth rates of use, strong security and excellent quality apps are some of its main features. Apple Music and other popular music streaming apps are made for iOS and sometimes they are only available there.
Main advantages iOS has for creating music apps.
- Its interface is easy to understand and very efficient on iOS. Because the operating system is well-managed, Apple apps run smoothly and seamlessly on all their devices.
- Apple users show a greater level of loyalty and stay involved with their devices. Anyone focused on the iOS audience stands to increase sales from users who are consistent purchasers of apps and content.
- On average, iOS users earn more money and are more tempted to buy apps or subscriptions. As a result, you can charge users for additional features, subscriptions and special content.
- For an app that requires using Siri, Watch or CarPlay, iOS makes it easier and more efficient for developers to get the apps working with these features.
Problems Faced by developers when Building Music Apps for iOS.
- Even though iOS users are usually very loyal, they make up a smaller sector of the global smartphone user group than the Android users. It could restrict your app’s ability to reach people from different countries.
- Because Apple has strict rules for reviewing apps, it can be tricky to get your app approved in the App Store. Apple takes 30% of every in-app sale which may reduce the amount of money you make.
For Which Reasons Would You Choose iOS?
If you aim to reach rich people who usually buy music subscriptions or app products, choosing iOS is a smart move. When connecting with Apple services or wanting a smooth experience, you should make iOS development your main goal.
Developing Music Apps Using Android Technology
Here are some reasons to make Android your top choice for your music app.
All over the world, Android is the top mobile operating system, supplying devices made by Samsung, Google and Huawei. You can reach more people when you develop an Android music app, mainly since Android devices are more popular in some emerging regions.
Important Aspects of Android for Apps Related to Music:
- With a big size of the global market for smartphones, Android can connect with many people. You can use Android to connect with more people, especially those in places where owning an Android device is more convenient financially.
- More flexibility: with Android, you can customize and use a range of features for apps. Android allows you to use more open-source tools and connect more deeply with outside services.
- Getting an app on Google Play Store tends to be faster and allows more flexibility than getting an app on the Apple App Store. You can launch the app sooner because there’s no need to develop all the modules yourself.
- It’s often less expensive to develop for Android than iOS, mostly when you’re aiming for a large worldwide crowd.
Possible roadblocks in Android for Music Apps:
- There is a lot of fragmentation in Android, since many devices run different versions of the OS. As a result, your app might not function the same on every device and it will be difficult to ensure that it works everywhere.
- Concerning money, although Android has a large user base, most people on Android are reluctant to pay for apps unlike iPad owners. So, it might be necessary for you to count on ads and the freemium approach to earn income.
- Security Concerns: Because of their numerous vulnerabilities, Android phones are considered less safe than iOS phones. If your app deals with private user details, it becomes necessary to apply strong security systems to keep your users protected.
What Are the Reasons to Go with Android?
To reach a big audience, target Android users and this means utilizing Android development. When you need plenty of individual touches, want to include services from third-party developers or save on development, Android is the better choice for your music app.
It refers to building applications that work on various operating systems.
Why Should You Develop Your Music App for Cross-Platform?
You can make a single app that functions on both iOS and Android without having to build two separate apps. You save both time and money by adopting this approach and writing code using tools such as React Native, Flutter or Xamarin before deploying it everywhere.
The main advantages of working with cross-platform development:
- You can develop both your iOS and Android versions at the same time with less work and expense. Such an approach can really help those businesses and startups working with small budgets.
- You can distribute your app on iOS and Android at almost the same time because you only need to code it once.
- A Similar Experience: Working with multiple platforms becomes easier since cross-platform frameworks ensure there is no difference in the user experience. This becomes important for apps such as music streaming apps since both iOS and Android devices require them to work just as smoothly.
- Updating a cross-platform app is easier since you need to make only one set of changes which handles iOS and Android updates at once.
Problems Associated with Building Software for Multiple Platforms
- Although cross-platform options have made great improvements, apps that demand advanced animations or shiny visuals could still run into performance problems such as in music apps with rich sound and images.
- These types of apps may miss out on some native capabilities that belong to both iOS and Android. Special features may require your music app to offer unique solutions for every platform.
- It saves time to use a common codebase for different systems, but it can be challenging to resolve problems connected to the hidden abstraction used by the platform.
When is It Necessary to Choose Cross-Platform?
Developing for multiple platforms saves you resources and allows you to target both iOS and Android fans from a single place. If you have a broad crowd in mind and don’t require native features, creating apps for multiple platforms might be fit for you.
What you need to do next is to select the right platform for your music app.
The right platform for you will be affected by your target customers, budget, available features and the longer-term plans you have. This short summary will help you decide which to choose.
- Go with iOS when you are focused on the Apple user base and emphasize providing a top-notch user experience that is likely to bring greater revenue.
- If you aim to develop software for people worldwide and like having more flexible development options with fast time-to-market, choose Android.
- Use Cross-Platform when your budget is small and you aim to reach users from iOS and Android at the same time, since it helps you work and maintain the app more quickly.
If you do not know which Music Streaming App Development Company to use, a professional can give you helpful advice. They are skilled at explaining the differences between platforms and giving tips that match what you are looking for.
Conclusion
Picking between iOS, Android or development for all platforms is very important for the success of your music app. Selecting the right platform can greatly help you achieve your goals, keep costs down and ensure your visitors have a great time on your site. Analyzing what is good and what is not so good about each choice will enable you to select the system that fits your aims.
Making a decision on which platform to use is mainly guided by your development objectives and how much you can afford. Using the information in this blog, you will be able to decide what’s best for your music app and set it apart from others.