Custom OTT App Development: Cost & Features — Devstringx
In India, the expected size of the OTT industry by 2030 is over %12 billion dollars. You must also know that it is already a multi-billion dollar industry, even though it has not been a decade since it became popular in India. From these stats and many more, you can imagine how much of the potential it has in the upcoming years. Moreover, it is one of the reasons why there is a high demand for OTT platform development.
If you also want to join the legacy of the OTT business, two of the most common doubts you may have can be the OTT app development cost and what features you have in your app. These doubts are common because an OTT app is one of the apps where you need to be better than what is already in the market. So, let’s answer your questions in this blog.
What is an OTT app?
An OTT or Over the Top app is a service where videos can be streamed online with the help of an internet connection. Before the internet wasn’t as famous as today, cable service providers used to provide channel subscriptions home to home.
However, these subscription-based cable services are outdated, and OTT has taken over significantly. Even major channels like Zee and Sony have launched their OTT platform to retain viewers. However, two of the most famous OTT apps today are Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Most OTT platforms offer subscriptions along with free-to-watch content. On the technology side, you need to set up servers or cloud storage to allow user data and content to be browsed on your platform.
05 Must-Have Features in an OTT App
If you want to build your own OTT app and launch it for the audience, you should have some features that make it successful. This list contains some really important features that help the app.
1) Search Feature
Starting with one of the best and most important features: the Search feature. This feature is important because that’s what’s different from the cable connection. Adding a search feature allows the user to search all the content available on the platform. However, when you add it to your OTT platform, you should make it more advanced. You can integrate sorting and filtering features with your search feature. It will make searching for the content easier. For instance, if your audience wants to search for shows for under 18 people, you can add a filter feature where they can select “under 18”, and it will show you all the “under 18” content.
2) User Profile
A user profile feature is also important for two reasons. Firstly, it lets you gather information about your users, such as their names, phone numbers, etc. Secondly, it helps the users to know about their subscription and track it, like when they recharge last time and when their plan will expire. Additional features like letting users add their preferences can also help you personalize your users’ expenses. For example, if you add a feature that lets your users choose what content genres they want to see, you can target them with their preferred content.
3) Smart TV Compatibility or Screen Mirroring
This feature makes sense, while OTTs are popular for providing content to small smartphone screens. It allows the users to either download the app on their smart TV or mirror the content from a smartphone to the smart TV. You can provide your OTT app easily on smart TVs by developing an app for the smartTV OS. But if you don’t want to develop an app, add a screen mirroring feature to let users enjoy the content on a bigger screen. For screen microjoule Cast SDK module for Android smart TV for screen mirroring and AirPlay for Apple TVs.
4) Multi-Channel Payment Integration
In a country like India, there have been a lot of advancements in online payments. Today, Indians can pay with UPI, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Net Banking, etc. Hence, you should have a multi-channel payment integration. You tie up with many gateways to facilitate payments on your app. Moreover, to facilitate UPI payments, you can integrate apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, Bhim UPI, etc.
5) Multilingual Support for Navigation and Content
If you want your OTT app to succeed in multiple countries, then multilingual support is the key. Try to add support for the languages of the countries you want to operate in. Multilingual support can be provided in two ways. Firstly, you must support multiple languages in the app’s UI. This will make app usage easy.
However, if you also want to provide content in multiple languages, you’ll have to partner with local production houses to launch their content on your OTT app.
How much is the OTT App Development Cost?
Now, let’s discuss the cost of developing an OTT platform. To estimate the cost, you should know about these factors that significantly affect the cost of OTT app development.
1) Developers
Firstly, which company you choose to develop your app can increase or decrease the cost of the app development. Simply put, a well-known developer may charge you higher, but it is only worth it when you get that value out of it. So, in that case, you must look at how expert developers and designers are present in that firm.
2) Technology Stack
Next up, the technology stack also affects the OTT app development cost. An OTT app must have a multi-page multi-page design as you must add a new page for every new content on your platform. So, the tech stack must also be able to support that. For both the backend and front end, you need some qualities. For example, the backend must deliver content flawlessly, the user authentication must be done correctly, and the payment processing should be flawless and accurate. On the other hand, the front end must be responsive and user-friendly. As per these requirements, the tech stack will increase your costs, as when the tech stack has to be advanced, the developers also charge a higher fee.
3) Security Features
The security of users’ and payment information is a concern when developing an OTT app. You can’t compromise on the app’s security. Hence, security features and encryption will absolutely affect the OTT app development cost.
Considering these factors, a basic app can cost you up to ₹10 lakhs. However, if you need a better app with some advanced features, then the cost may touch the mark of ₹20 lakhs or above.
But for a full-fledged OTT platform that not only has all the features from basic to advanced but can also be scaled in the future, you will have to pay at least ₹50 lakhs or above.
Key Takeaways
- The OTT industry in India is projected to exceed $12 billion by 2030, showing significant potential for future growth.
- Key features for an OTT app include a robust search function, user profiles, smart TV compatibility, multi-channel payment integration, and multilingual content.
- Basic OTT app development costs around ₹10 lakhs, while advanced apps can cost ₹20 lakhs or more. A full-featured platform can exceed ₹50 lakh.
- Costs are affected by the choice of developer, technology stack, and security requirements.
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Originally published at https://www.devstringx.com on May 29, 2024
