Before I tell you about the prices I found for each website's custom song service, I thought I'd share a bit of research to see if spending $200+ on a gift for someone is worth it. I struggle a bit with gifts, so this was helpful for me personally.
Take a look at this poll I conducted on Reddit.
Source: Reddit PollPeople, undoubtedly love receiving gifts that are deemed "experiences" or "enjoyable", rather than material objects that sit around. So, I felt pretty good about the song idea from the beginning.
Is this an experience they will enjoy?
YES.
Okay, perfect, moving on.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT MAKE GIFTS PERFECT:
according to NY Post poll of 2,000 respondents.
Is this a gift that they'll like?
YES.
OK! It checks my boxes for a worthy gift (an experience they'll enjoy, and is unique and meaningful).
So.. what does it cost?
Disclaimer: With my research, I chose the top 5 websites that offer personalized songs for people. Then, I went through the process of creating a custom song for someone (in this case, my wife). But while doing so, most of the companies offer add-on services, which can really differentiate them from each other. So, for all fairness, I tried to create identical orders for each website.
SWY charges a flat rate for their songs of $179. And, when comparing these guys to the rest of the field, their price point is the best, and a good value, based on the song options and musician talent (based on reviews I have read, and having known a friend who purchased a song with them).
They have a small team of 6 full-time musicians, and you can choose between male and female vocalists. The submission form is straightforward, and you are prompted to provide a story or a few details about the person you know, whom the song will be made for.
Good to Know! Songs are delivered within 1-week, but they offer rushed song delivery (4-days) for an extra $60.
Tune River charges anywhere from $179 to $247 for their songs. You can select various artists or types of songs, and are able to add a picture of yourself to the song (presumably this will be on the song cover art!?).
The cost for Songheart is $195 but that is with a 24-hour delivery of your song. If you choose to have their preferred artist, Scotty James, write and record your song, then the cost jumps dramatically to $299. They do offer a cheaper song for 30-day delivery at $115, which is a good value. However, I don't know who Scotty James is and felt like that was pretty expensive.
*They also offer Soundblocs, which are an add-on that are made up of polished acrylic glass, that cost anywhere from $59 to $99, and showcase your song. If you add a soundbloc, then the cost of your song, even if delivered in 30-days is > $200. So, the cost really varies here.
Songfinch has a very elaborate website, and the song submission process is sophisticated, but complex. It took me close to 30 minutes to submit the details of which artist I wanted (they have over 1,000!), the tempo, the story, the style, the feeling, the occasion, and more. If you have the time, then this is a great option.
The cost varies, but you begin at $199, and depending on the delivery of your song, it can vary between +$25 to +$75, depending on when you want your song delivered. 7-Days is free, but anything sooner will cost you $25 per day, with the soonest available delivery being 4-days out ($274).
If you want your song any earlier than a week, then I still recommend Songs With You for the value of rush delivery. That being said, the price depends on your urgency for the song. It's best to purchase your song in advance.
Songlorious has fairly complex pricing. You can say it's tiered, but in many ways. The price you actually pay increases as you go through the prompts. The price I started at was $180, but then as I got through to the type of genre, the price increased to $220. Then, as I progressed further, it went up again based on the delivery date.
The delivery prices range from free to $80, free being 6+ days out, then $40 for 5-day delivery, and $80 for 3-day delivery.
In short, my song ended up being $335 for 5-day delivery, BEFORE any add-ons. Their add-ons include Chords (+$20), Cassette-Shaped USB (+$59), and streaming your song (+45).
Songs With You | Tune River | Songheart | Songfinch | Songlorious | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost of a song? | $179 |
$179-$247 |
$195+ |
$199+ |
$180-$335+ |
Rush Delivery Available | |||||
Site Experience | |||||
Final Score based on experience rating + pricing rating |
4.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
When comparing these sites, there are really no losers. Each have their own musicians, site style, submission options, and prices or add-ons. For the reasons I listed above, this is a phenomenal option for gifting, and I recommend you choose the one which suits your interests the most. It truly is special gift!