How much does mastering a song cost?
A freelance mastering engineer usually charges about $50 to $200 per song. Famous studios charge $160 to $600 or more. AI mastering costs far less: a monthly subscription, often with unlimited songs, from €4.99 a month.
Mastering prices in 2026
| Option | Per song | Per album / month |
|---|---|---|
| AI mastering subscription | A few euros per song or less | €4.99 to about $40 a month, often unlimited |
| Freelance mastering engineer | About $50 to $200 | About $500 to $2,000 |
| Top mastering studio | About $160 to $600+ | Several thousand dollars |
| Mixing and mastering together | About $150 to $700 | Quoted per project |
Ranges from public engineer listings and pricing guides, checked October 2026. Prices change and vary by country; check each provider before you buy.
What 4 songs a month really cost
Engineer
$200–$800
at $50–$200 per song
Top studio
$640+
at $160+ per song
MixMasterAI
€4.99
unlimited songs
What changes the price
- Experience and credits. Engineers with major-label credits charge the most.
- Revisions. Most prices include one to three rounds of changes; more costs extra.
- Stem mastering. Mastering from groups of stems instead of one stereo file usually costs more.
- Formats. Vinyl, CD and Dolby Atmos versions are separate jobs.
- Album work. Matching ten songs to each other adds time, though many engineers give album discounts.
- Turnaround. Rush delivery in 24 hours often costs more.
Is paying for mastering worth it?
Unmastered songs usually sound quieter, thinner and less even than the songs playing next to them on Spotify. Mastering fixes that, so some form of it is worth doing before any release.
For singles, demos and AI songs, AI mastering gives you a release-ready master for a fraction of the price, and you can hear it before paying. For an album or a big release, budget for an engineer. Read AI mastering vs human mastering to decide.
Master unlimited songs for €4.99 a month
Questions
How much does it cost to master one song?
With a freelance engineer, usually about $50 to $200. At a famous studio, $160 to $600 or more. With an AI mastering subscription, the cost per song drops to a few euros or less, because you can master as many songs as you like each month.
How much does it cost to master an album?
A 10-song album with a freelance engineer usually costs about $500 to $2,000. Many engineers give a discount for albums, and album mastering includes matching the loudness and tone across all songs.
Why do mastering prices vary so much?
Price follows the engineer's experience and credits, the studio and its equipment, the number of revision rounds, and extra formats like vinyl, CD or Dolby Atmos. Rush jobs and stem mastering usually cost more.
Is cheap mastering worth it?
For demos, singles and AI songs, an AI master is usually the best value: it's consistent, instant and you can try several versions. For an album or a label release, a good engineer is worth the money.
What does MixMasterAI cost?
You can master a song and listen to the result before you join. The membership is €4.99 a month for unlimited mastering and 24-bit WAV downloads, on the website and in the Android app. Cancel anytime.