How Much Does It Cost To Build A Streaming App Like Peacock TV In 2025?

In today’s digital entertainment landscape, video streaming platforms have completely transformed how audiences consume content. One such popular OTT platform is Peacock TV, which offers a mix of TV shows, movies, sports, and exclusive originals. With the rise of online content consumption, entrepreneurs and media houses are increasingly exploring how to build a streaming app like Peacock TV.

However, before starting development, it’s essential to understand the streaming app development cost and the factors influencing it. From app features to UI/UX design, backend infrastructure, and region-based pricing, every element contributes to the total cost. This guide will provide you with a Peacock app cost breakdown, regional comparisons, ways to reduce development expenses, and why choosing the right mobile app development company can make a difference.

What is Peacock TV?

Peacock TV is an American over-the-top (OTT) streaming service owned by NBCUniversal, launched in July 2020. It offers both free (ad-supported) and premium subscription plans, allowing users to watch movies, TV shows, news, sports, and exclusive Peacock Originals.

Its unique value lies in blending live TV with on-demand content, making it a hybrid platform catering to diverse audiences. With user-friendly navigation, personalized recommendations, and high-quality streaming, Peacock has become a strong competitor to Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

For startups and businesses, developing a Peacock-like streaming app means creating a platform that delivers a smooth streaming experience, engaging UI/UX, and scalable architecture to handle millions of viewers.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Building a Streaming App Like Peacock TV

Platform Choice (Android, iOS, Web)

The cost depends on whether you build for Android, iOS, web, or all three. Developing for multiple platforms requires separate coding, testing, and optimization, increasing overall expenses. Cross-platform frameworks can reduce costs, but native development ensures better performance and user experience, which may justify the higher price for a premium streaming app like Peacock TV.
 

UI/UX Design Complexity

An engaging and intuitive UI/UX design is crucial for user retention. Highly customized designs with animations, interactive elements, and smooth navigation demand more design hours and skilled designers, increasing costs. Pre-made design templates can lower expenses, but they may not provide the unique branding and premium feel required for a high-quality streaming platform like Peacock TV.
 

Features & Functionality

The number and complexity of features—such as advanced search, AI-powered recommendations, offline viewing, and multi-device synchronization—directly impact development costs. Each feature requires planning, coding, testing, and integration, which adds to the budget. Prioritizing essential features initially can help manage costs, while advanced functionalities can be added in later updates to scale the app over time.
 

Backend Infrastructure

A powerful backend is the backbone of a streaming app, handling user data, content storage, streaming speed, and security. Building a robust backend requires investment in servers, databases, APIs, and cloud hosting. Scalability is essential to handle growing users, and advanced backend setups like AWS or Azure can increase both performance and development costs significantly.
 

Third-Party Integrations

Integrating payment gateways, analytics tools, push notification services, and content delivery networks (CDNs) adds convenience for users but also increases costs. Each integration requires licensing fees or subscription charges, plus developer time for setup and testing. Choosing the right balance between essential integrations and budget-friendly options can help control expenses without compromising app performance.
 

Development Team Location

Where your development team is based has a major influence on costs. Developers in the USA or Western Europe charge $80–$150/hour, while equally skilled teams in India or Southeast Asia may charge $25–$50/hour. Outsourcing to regions with lower labor costs can significantly reduce your streaming app development cost while maintaining high quality if you choose an experienced company.
 

Content Licensing & Storage

If your streaming app offers licensed movies or shows, purchasing rights can be one of the largest expenses. Additionally, storing high-quality video content requires scalable cloud storage solutions, which add recurring costs. Opting for a mix of original content and licensed titles can balance expenses while still offering users a diverse and engaging viewing experience.
 

Testing & Quality Assurance

Testing ensures your app runs smoothly across devices, operating systems, and network conditions. QA involves functional, performance, security, and usability testing, all of which require dedicated resources and time. Skipping thorough testing can lead to post-launch bugs, poor reviews, and higher maintenance costs, making it an essential but sometimes underestimated part of the budget.
 

App Maintenance & Updates

Ongoing maintenance keeps your app compatible with OS updates, bug-free, and secure. Regular feature upgrades and security patches require developer hours and technical support, creating recurring costs. Typically, annual maintenance expenses are 15–20% of the initial OTT platform development cost, ensuring your app continues to deliver a smooth and reliable user experience over time.

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Essential Features of a Peacock-Like Streaming App

User Registration & Profiles

Allow users to sign up quickly using email, phone, or social media accounts. Multiple user profiles under one subscription enable personalized recommendations for each viewer. This feature enhances family or shared account experiences by keeping watch history, preferences, and recommendations separate, ensuring a customized viewing journey for every user on the streaming platform.
 

Advanced Search & Filters

A robust search engine with filters by genre, release year, language, and cast helps users find content quickly. Advanced search algorithms enhance user satisfaction by delivering accurate results. Integrating predictive search suggestions based on popular queries and viewing history can make navigation smoother, encouraging longer watch times and improving overall app usability.
 

Content Categorization

Organized content sections like Movies, TV Shows, Live TV, Sports, and Kids help users navigate effortlessly. Categorization improves discoverability and makes browsing more intuitive. Implementing sub-categories and featured collections, such as “Trending Now” or “Editor’s Picks,” ensures users always find something engaging to watch, keeping them hooked on your streaming platform longer.
 

Personalized Recommendations

AI-driven recommendations enhance engagement by suggesting shows and movies based on watch history, ratings, and genre preferences. This increases viewing time and subscription retention. By continuously learning user behavior, the system refines its suggestions, making the platform feel more tailored and relevant to each viewer’s unique tastes and preferences over time.
 

Multiple Streaming Quality Options

Offering adjustable streaming quality—such as 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 4K—ensures a smooth viewing experience for users with varying internet speeds. Adaptive bitrate streaming automatically adjusts quality to prevent buffering. This flexibility enhances user satisfaction, reduces abandonment rates, and ensures consistent performance across different devices and network conditions.
 

Watchlist & Favorites

A watchlist feature allows users to save movies or shows for later viewing. Favorites help users easily revisit preferred content. This personalized library encourages repeat engagement and keeps users invested in the platform, as they can conveniently access saved titles without having to search for them repeatedly.
 

Offline Download Feature

Premium subscribers can download content to watch without an internet connection. This feature is essential for travelers and users in areas with unstable networks. Offering adjustable download quality and expiration settings helps optimize storage space, ensures content protection, and improves user convenience, increasing subscription value and retention rates.
 

Secure Payment Gateways

Integrating trusted payment systems like PayPal, Stripe, or Razorpay allows safe subscription payments and in-app purchases. Offering multiple payment options, including credit/debit cards, UPI, and digital wallets, caters to a broader audience. Strong encryption ensures user data security, boosting trust and encouraging more users to subscribe.
 

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Peacock-Like Streaming App?

The cost to build a Peacock-like streaming app depends largely on the complexity, features, and technology stack you choose. Below is an estimated cost breakdown for Basic, Mid-Level, and Advanced versions:

Regional Cost Comparison (India vs USA vs Other Countries)

The cost to develop a streaming app like Peacock TV varies significantly depending on the development team’s location. Hourly rates differ across regions due to labor costs, expertise levels, and market conditions.

• India – $25–$50/hour. Total cost: $20,000 – $100,000+. India is one of the most cost-effective options, offering skilled developers and quality output at competitive prices.
   

• USA – $80–$150/hour. Total cost: $120,000 – $200,000+. Higher labor costs and operational expenses make the USA the most expensive region for app development.
   

• Eastern Europe – $40–$80/hour. Total cost: $70,000 – $130,000. Offers a balance between cost and quality, making it a popular outsourcing destination.
   

• Southeast Asia – $20–$40/hour. Total cost: $35,000 – $70,000. Ideal for budget-conscious startups, but quality can vary based on provider.

How to Reduce the Cost of Streaming App Development

Start with an MVP

Launch a Minimum Viable Product focusing on core features. This approach reduces initial costs, speeds up time-to-market, and allows you to gather user feedback before investing in advanced features, ensuring resources are used effectively for high-demand functionalities.
 

Use Pre-Built OTT Solutions

Leverage ready-made OTT app frameworks or templates to cut down on development time and expenses. These solutions can be customized to fit your brand while avoiding the need for building every feature from scratch, resulting in faster delivery at lower costs.
 

Outsource to Cost-Effective Regions

Hiring developers from countries like India can significantly lower costs without compromising quality. Experienced outsourcing companies offer skilled teams, advanced tools, and proven workflows at competitive rates, making them a budget-friendly alternative to expensive in-house or onshore teams.
 

Limit Initial Platforms

Instead of launching on Android, iOS, web, and smart TVs simultaneously, start with one or two platforms. This staged approach reduces upfront costs, simplifies testing, and allows you to refine the product before expanding to other devices and operating systems.
 

Prioritize Essential Features

Focus on must-have features for your first release, leaving advanced capabilities for later updates. This not only lowers initial development costs but also helps in validating the app concept with real users before committing to full-scale investment.
 

Adopt Scalable Cloud Hosting

Using cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud eliminates the need for costly server setups. Pay-as-you-go models ensure you only spend on the resources you use, with the flexibility to scale as your user base grows.

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Why Choose IMG Global Infotech for OTT App Development?

At IMG Global Infotech, we specialize in creating high-quality, scalable, and feature-rich OTT platforms like Peacock TV that deliver an exceptional viewing experience. With over a decade of expertise in mobile app development and a proven track record in video streaming solutions, we help businesses bring their OTT vision to life.

Our team of skilled developers, designers, and project managers works closely with you to understand your goals and create a custom solution tailored to your brand. From UI/UX design to backend architecture, content delivery networks (CDN) integration, and advanced security measures, we ensure your app is built for performance, reliability, and user engagement.

We offer:

• Custom OTT Platform Development to suit your unique business model.
   

• Affordable Pricing with flexible hiring models.
   

• End-to-End Services from concept to post-launch maintenance.
   

• Cutting-Edge Technologies like AI recommendations, adaptive streaming, and cloud hosting.
   

• Global Client Experience, delivering successful apps across industries.
   

Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, IMG Global Infotech is your trusted partner to hire mobile app developers who can transform your OTT app idea into a competitive, revenue-generating platform.

Conclusion

The cost to build a streaming app like Peacock TV in 2025 depends on multiple factors - features, platform choice, design complexity, backend infrastructure, and the development region. While basic versions may start around $20,000, advanced, fully-featured OTT platforms can exceed $100,000+. Choosing the right development approach, such as starting with an MVP and outsourcing to cost-effective regions like India, can significantly optimize your budget.

With the OTT industry growing rapidly, now is the perfect time to invest in a Peacock-like streaming app. Partnering with an experienced mobile app development company like IMG Global Infotech ensures you get a high-performance, scalable, and user-friendly platform that engages viewers and drives revenue.