Affordable Songwriting: 7 Ways to Get a Song Written Without a Big Budget

What is the most affordable way to get a song written?

It depends on what the song is for. If you are an artist who will release the song, the most affordable path is usually co-writing or hiring a newer freelance songwriter, with the credits and rights agreed in writing. If the song is a personal gift, for a birthday, a wedding or an anniversary, a personalized song service is usually the cheapest and fastest option, and some let you hear the song before you pay. And if you have time and want to learn, writing it yourself costs nothing but effort.

Below are seven affordable songwriting options, what each is best for and what to watch out for. A note before you read: we run a personalized song service, which is one of the options. We have tried to describe the others fairly.

1. Write it yourself with free tools

The cheapest option is to write the song yourself. Free music software, a phone for voice memos, a rhyme dictionary and a simple chord progression are enough to start. It takes time, and the first songs are rarely great, but you keep every right. Our step-by-step guide on how to write a song covers structure, chords, melody and lyrics, and modern songwriting explains how songs are written today.

Best for: people who want to learn and have weeks rather than days.

2. Co-write with a friend or local musician

Many musicians are happy to co-write, especially when they share the credit. You bring the idea, the story or the lyrics, they bring the melody and chords. Local open mics, music schools and online songwriting communities are good places to meet co-writers.

Best for: artists who want a song they can release and can share the songwriting credit.

3. Work with music students

Students on songwriting, composition or production courses often look for real projects for their portfolio, and their rates are usually well below those of established writers. Ask a local music school or university music department whether they connect students with paid projects.

Best for: small budgets with some flexibility on timing. Agree in advance on credits and on what the student can use in their portfolio.

4. Hire a freelance songwriter online

Freelance marketplaces such as AirGigs, SoundBetter, Upwork and Fiverr list songwriters at a very wide range of rates, from low-cost beginners to experienced professionals. Some budget listings come with conditions, for example that the writer is credited as a songwriter. Read the listing carefully: some offer lyrics only, some lyrics and melody, some a full produced demo with vocals. Our comparison of a custom song vs. hiring a musician on Fiverr goes into the details.

Best for: artists and creators who need a specific style and can brief a writer well.

5. Hire a lyricist only

If you can sing or play, you can save money by hiring someone for the lyrics only and writing the melody yourself, or the other way round. Splitting the job makes each part cheaper and keeps you involved.

Best for: musicians who are strong on one side of songwriting. Many lyricists also offer feedback on your existing lyrics, which costs less than a new song.

6. Use a human custom song gift service

Several companies employ songwriters and singers who write personal songs for gifts. You fill in a questionnaire, and a few days or weeks later you receive a finished song. They cost more than AI services and take longer, but a human writes and sings every song. See how much it costs to hire someone to write a song for a closer look at what these services charge and include.

Best for: personal gifts when you have time and a bigger budget. Order well ahead of the date, because popular services get busy before holidays.

7. Use an AI personalized song service

AI song services write lyrics from your story and produce a full song in minutes. They are the most affordable way to get a finished, produced song for a personal occasion. With Cantarova you choose a style from 14 genres, add a name and a few memories, review and edit the lyrics for free and listen to 4 free 45-second previews before you pay anything. The full song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics, delivered as an MP3 with a gift page and a lyrics PDF. These songs are made as personal gifts, yours to keep for personal use; they are not meant for commercial release.

Best for: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and other personal gifts, especially at the last minute.

What drives the price of a song

• Scope: lyrics only, lyrics and melody, or a fully produced recording with vocals.
• Experience: established writers with credits charge more than newer writers.
• Rights: buying all rights to a song costs more than a shared credit or a personal-use license.
• Revisions: the number of rounds of changes included in the price.
• Speed: rush delivery usually costs extra with human writers.
• Vocals and production: a professional singer, live instruments and mixing add to the cost of any recorded song, often more than the writing itself.

Rights and credits to agree on first

If you plan to release the song, settle these points in writing before anyone starts:

• Songwriting credit and splits: who is credited as a writer and what share of the song each person owns.
• Work for hire or license: whether you own the song outright or receive a license to use it.
• Publishing and royalties: who collects the songwriter and publisher income if the song earns money.
• The recording: who owns the demo or master recording, which is separate from the song itself.

For a personal gift, none of this is usually a problem, but it is worth knowing what a service's terms allow.

Red flags when hiring a cheap songwriter

• No samples: a writer who cannot show finished songs in your style is a gamble at any price.
• Vague deliverables: "a song" can mean a lyric sheet or a mixed recording. Get it in writing.
• Unclear rights: if the listing does not say who owns the song, ask before paying.
• Full payment up front for big projects: for larger jobs, milestone payments through the marketplace protect both sides.
• Copied lyrics or melodies: a song that borrows heavily from a hit can cause problems later if you release it.

Questions to ask before you hire anyone

1. What exactly will I receive: lyrics, a melody, a demo or a finished recording?
2. How many revisions are included, and what does an extra round cost?
3. Who owns the song and the recording when the job is done?
4. Will you be credited as a writer, and do you expect a share of royalties?
5. How long will it take, and what happens if the deadline is missed?

How to brief a songwriter so you pay once

• Share two or three reference songs for the style and tempo you want.
• Write down the story or message in plain words, with names and specific details.
• Say what the song is for: a release, a video, an event or a gift.
• Agree on the deliverables and the number of revisions before you pay.

A clear brief is the cheapest way to avoid paying for a second draft. Our guide to writing a good song brief has a checklist.

Which affordable option should you choose?

For a song you will release, choose co-writing, a music student or a freelance songwriter, and get the rights in writing. For a personal gift, choose a gift song service: a human one if you have weeks, an AI one if you want it today and want to hear it before paying. Ready to try the fastest route? Create a personalized song and hear the previews for free.