A podcast and audio platform,
built for listeners who leave the app open
Audio has its own rules: background playback that survives a locked screen, RSS feeds that actually validate on every podcast app, scrubbing that feels instant. We build to those rules, with transcription and live rooms layered on a solid player core.
What it is and who needs it
A podcast and audio platform has its own set of hard requirements that a generic media player does not meet: background playback that survives a locked screen and app switching, scrubbing that feels instant even on a long episode, and an RSS feed that has to validate correctly against the specific parsing quirks of Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other apps, not just a generic RSS spec. This is for a media brand or community building a dedicated listening experience, or a product adding a live audio-room feature to an existing app.
What is inside
Audio hosting and delivery built for background playback on mobile from the start, since this is the single most common complaint about a homegrown audio player and the easiest thing to get wrong by treating audio like a video player with the picture removed. RSS feed generation tested against the actual parsing behavior of major podcast apps, not just validated against the generic spec, because a feed that is technically valid can still fail silently in a specific app. Live audio rooms where needed, built on WebRTC for low-latency joining, since a room that takes several seconds to connect loses the spontaneity that makes live audio worth having. Automated transcription, which does double duty as accessibility and as a search index into episode content, both of which audiences increasingly expect. Episode analytics down to completion rate and drop-off point within an episode, not just a download count that tells you nothing about whether anyone actually listened.
How we build it
We build and test background playback against real mobile OS behavior early, since this is where a platform’s audio experience either feels native or feels broken, and it is much harder to retrofit than to build correctly from the start. RSS feeds get tested against actual podcast app behavior, submitting a test feed to the apps your audience actually uses rather than trusting a generic validator. Live audio rooms, when in scope, are load-tested for the join-time experience specifically, because that first few seconds is where a user decides whether the feature feels alive or clunky. We draw on our own content and video pipeline work across brands, which means transcription and episode-processing decisions come from direct production experience, not a first attempt. We test background playback behavior specifically across both iOS and Android’s differing audio session handling, since this is the detail that separates a podcast app that feels native from one that quietly stops playing when a user switches apps. Weekly builds let you actually listen through the player on a real device throughout development, not just review a screenshot. We also test scrubbing on a genuinely long episode early, since a player that feels instant on a five-minute clip can lag noticeably on a two-hour recording if the seeking logic was not built with that length in mind.
Timeline and price
| Tier | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| MVP | from $2,500 | Core flow, one platform or chain, ready to test with real users |
| Production | from $5,500 | Full feature set, handover docs, agency keeps running it with you |
| Full control (handover-ready) | from $9,500 | Same scope, built and documented for your own team to run with zero dependency on us |
Timeline: 3 to 5 weeks for an MVP; production builds typically run longer depending on integrations.
What you own at the end
The application source, your hosting and CDN accounts, and the RSS feed under your own domain, all set up in your name. Episode audio, transcripts and analytics data live in your own storage and database. Nothing about distribution depends on a platform that could change its terms. Transcripts and episode metadata live in your own storage, so search indexing or a future redesign never has to start from scratch.
Related
Part of our custom development work. See related builds: streaming video platform, online community platform, media publishing platform. On the technical side: audio rooms and podcast hosting, speech to text text to speech. Related case study. Ready to scope yours? Get in touch and we will send back a written plan with a fixed price.
FAQ
How much does a podcast or audio platform cost?
Hosting, RSS distribution and a web/mobile player with background playback starts at $2,500. Adding live audio rooms, transcription and dynamic ad insertion runs $5,500 to $9,500.
How long does it take?
3 weeks for hosting, RSS and a solid player. 4 to 5 weeks when live audio rooms or transcription are included.
What is the stack?
Audio storage and a CDN for delivery, an RSS generator tested against Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others' actual parsing behavior, WebRTC for live audio rooms, and a speech-to-text service for transcription.
Who owns the platform and the audio library?
You. Hosting and CDN accounts are set up in your name, the RSS feed is under your domain, and the application source is in your repository.
What support is included after launch?
30 days of fixes as real listener traffic surfaces playback or feed edge cases, plus a handover document on the RSS and transcription pipeline. Ongoing episode processing support is available as monthly work.