How much does a custom song cost?

A custom song costs about $100 to $400 from an online songwriter service, which usually takes one to three weeks. An independent musician who writes and records a full production for you often quotes $500 or more. An AI song service like YourMelody charges $6.99 for a full song that's usually ready within five minutes. Writing and recording it yourself costs nothing but time. The gap comes down to people's hours, who sings, how many revisions you get, and what rights come with the song.

Prices side by side

These are ranges people quote in public, not offers. Prices change, so check the provider's own page.

What people actually pay

When people compare custom song services in 2025 and 2026, these are the kinds of prices that come up:

• Around $200 for the basic tier of an online songwriter service, often with a wait of one to three weeks.
• $250 to $400 for a first dance song. The most common complaint at this price isn't the singing; it's lyrics full of rhymes like love and above, with no time left for a revision before the wedding.
• $500 or more for a first dance song from an independent musician, and extra for parent dances.

Musicians who take commissions price a full production higher. A common estimate from musicians is $250 to $500 to write a custom song and another $500 to $800 to record it. One full production can easily take ten hours or more: a couple of hours of writing, four to six of recording and several of mixing.

A common rule of thumb is that a $50 song is probably a template and a $500 song is probably the real thing. That works for human services, but not for AI. An AI song for $6.99 can be fully original, and a $100 song can be made with AI without anyone telling you. Before you pay, ask who writes the words and who sings.

What drives the price

Hours of work. A songwriter reads your story, writes the lyrics, sets them to music, sings, records and mixes. That's often ten or more hours for one song. AI does the same steps in minutes.

Length. Some services price by length, with a short jingle costing much less than a full three-minute song. Check how long the song you're paying for is.

Who sings. A house singer costs less than an artist you choose by name. A singer who performs live at the wedding is a separate fee, often with travel.

Revisions. Some services include one round of changes, some charge for more, and some can't fit one in before your date. If the words matter to you, ask how many changes are included and how long each takes.

Speed. Most human services need a week or more. If your date is in three days, ask whether faster delivery is possible and what it costs.

Rights. A gift is personal use. A song for a business, an ad or a release on streaming services needs commercial rights, which cost extra or aren't offered. Ask who owns the copyright.

Extras. A lyric video, a framed print, a vinyl pressing or a plaque with a QR code is sold on top of the song. You can make a lyrics print or a QR card yourself for the cost of printing. See how to present a song as a gift.

What you get for $6.99 here

• About three minutes of questions about the person: their name, a moment you share, something they always say.
• Lyrics written by AI from your answers. You read every line, change any of them, or ask for a rewrite in one sentence, all before anything is sung.
• Two versions, sung by an AI voice in the style you pick: acoustic pop, piano ballad, country, rock, hip-hop and more.
• A free preview of your first song: 40 seconds of each version, sung with their name and your words, not a stock demo.
• After you pay, both versions as full-length MP3s, the lyrics, and a private gift link. We email you when the song is ready, usually within five minutes.
• Sung in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German or Italian. If the name comes out wrong, we sing it again for free, once per song.
• One payment, no subscription. Packs bring the price per song down: 2 songs for $11.99, 5 for $24.99.

What you don't get: a human singer, a live performance, or rights to sell or stream the song. It's for personal use: play it at the party, send it to family, post it on your own accounts. If you need more, a songwriter or an independent musician is worth the price. Our AI song or songwriter guide compares them.

Before you pay, whoever you buy from

• Can you hear it first? Some services show nothing until you've paid; some play a short clip. Ask whether the clip is your song or a demo.
• How many changes are included, and how long does each take?
• What file do you get? An MP3 plays anywhere. A streaming link can disappear.
• Is it a subscription? Some AI music apps bill monthly. A gift should be a one-time payment.
• Who owns it, and what can you do with it? Personal use covers almost every gift.
• What if you don't like it? Read the refund policy before you pay. Songs are made to order, so a finished song often can't be refunded just because you changed your mind. That's true here too, which is why hearing your own song first matters. Our policy covers failed songs, names sung wrong and technical problems.
• Hiring a musician directly? Agree the price, the deadline and the number of revisions in writing, and pay a deposit rather than the whole fee upfront.

Which price makes sense

• A first dance with a live singer, booked months ahead: a songwriter or a local musician. A few hundred dollars is fair for that.
• A song you'll release, or one for your business: a songwriter, with a written agreement on commercial rights.
• A birthday on Saturday, an anniversary tonight, a thank-you to your mom: an AI song. For $6.99 you get a full song with their name and your details, and you choose the words.
• You play guitar and have two weeks: write it yourself. A rough song in your own voice beats any service, if you finish it.

Whichever you choose, the song will only be as good as what you put in the form. Our guide on what to write shows how.

Questions

Is there a free custom song?

You can write one yourself for free. With YourMelody, your first song's preview is free: 40 seconds of each of the two versions, sung with their name and your words, before you pay anything. The full song is $6.99.

Why do songwriter services cost $100 to $400?

You're paying for a person's time: writing lyrics around your story, setting them to music, singing, recording and mixing, often with one revision. Named artists, longer songs, faster delivery and commercial rights cost more.

Is a $6.99 AI song worse than a $200 song?

It's a different product. The $200 song has a human singer and usually takes a week or more. The $6.99 song has an AI voice, is ready in minutes, and you control every word before it's sung. In both cases, the details you give decide whether it lands.

Do I pay extra to change the lyrics?

No. You read the lyrics before the song is sung, change any line yourself, or ask for a rewrite in one sentence, like "mention our dog Biscuit in the chorus". You pay only when you unlock the full song.

Who owns a custom song?

It depends on the agreement. Gift services usually give you personal use, and some sell commercial rights on top. Songs made with YourMelody are licensed for personal use; see the License.

How long does a custom song take?

Human services usually take one to three weeks. An AI song is usually ready within five minutes of finishing the questions, which is why it works as a last-minute gift.