Build vs Buy: The Real Numbers
A transparent cost comparison for AI music platforms considering audio provenance infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
At volumes under 500K certificates/month, Audiverify saves £500K-£800K in the first year compared to building your own system. Even at 1M/month scale, Audiverify remains cost-competitive for the first 18-24 months while eliminating all development risk and time-to-market delays.
| Factor | Use Audiverify | Build Your Own |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Costs | £0No setup fees | £500,000 - £750,000Development & infrastructure |
| Time to Launch | 2-4 weeksAPI integration only | 9-12 monthsFull development cycle |
| Annual Maintenance | £0Included in pricing | £300,000+Team, servers, updates |
| Per Certificate Cost | £0.40 - £0.55Volume discounts available | £0.37Variable costs only |
| Legal Liability | Neutral 3rd PartyWe carry the risk | Full LiabilityYou are responsible |
| Compliance Updates | AutomaticGDPR, AI Act, etc. | ManualOngoing legal costs |
| Engineering Focus | 100% on core productNo distraction | Split focus6-12 months diverted |
| Monthly Volume | Price/Certificate | Annual Cost | Year 1 Savings vs Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000/month | £0.55 | £66,000 | £734,000 |
| 50,000/month | £0.50 | £300,000 | £500,000 |
| 100,000/month | £0.45 | £540,000 | £260,000 |
| 500,000/month | £0.42 | £2,520,000 | £280,000 |
| 1,000,000/month | £0.40 | £4,800,000 | £0 (break-even at 24mo) |
* Savings calculated against £500K development + £300K annual maintenance for building your own system.
50K/month Scale
Year 1 TCO
Year 2 Cumulative TCO
500K/month Scale
Year 1 TCO
Year 2 Cumulative TCO
1M/month Scale
Year 1 TCO
Year 2 Cumulative TCO
Core Features
- SHA-256 audio fingerprinting
- Public verification URL
- PDF certificate
- Timestamped proof
- ISRC assignment
AI & Detection
- ACRCloud audio recognition
- AI-generated content detection
- Derivative work detection
- Conflict scanning
- Release monitoring
Enterprise Features
- Webhook integrations
- Batch API (100 certs/call)
- Claims & dispute system
- CWR export
- Dedicated support
Ready to Talk Numbers?
Get a custom quote based on your actual volume projections. We'll build a detailed TCO model specific to your use case.
All figures based on 2026 market rates. Build costs assume mid-range enterprise development with compliance, security, and provenance features.
Contact us for a detailed breakdown specific to your requirements.