Songlorious Review: Cost, Turnaround, and Alternatives
Songlorious is worth it if you want a real songwriter to record an original custom song and you have several days plus a gift-sized budget. You fill in a brief about the person and the occasion, an artist writes and records it, and it arrives days later. It is the wrong fit when the occasion is close, the budget is small, or you would rather hear a few versions and pick one — those cases point to an instant service instead.
What is Songlorious?
Songlorious is a custom song service that pairs you with a human songwriter. You choose an occasion, describe the person and the story, pick a rough genre and mood, and an artist writes and records an original track from that brief.
It is one of the better-known names in the category, helped by a Shark Tank appearance in season 13 that still drives a lot of the searches for the brand. The model is straightforward: you are commissioning a musician, not operating a tool.
What happened with Songlorious on Shark Tank?
Songlorious pitched on Shark Tank in season 13, and that episode is why a large share of people searching the name arrive curious rather than ready to buy. The exposure put custom songs in front of an audience that had not known the category existed.
For deal specifics and what has changed since taping, go to the show's own coverage and to Songlorious directly — those details get reported inconsistently second-hand, and the terms are not what determines whether the product suits your occasion.
How much does Songlorious cost?
Songlorious is priced as a gift rather than as software, with tiers that vary by song length, how quickly you need it, and whether you want extras like a video or a faster turnaround. Rush delivery generally costs more.
Pricing moves, particularly around the holidays, so check the current figures on their own site before planning around a number. The useful comparison is not the exact price but the shape of it: you are paying a musician for a one-off commission, and that is a different order of cost from a subscription service.
How long does Songlorious take?
Days, because a person writes and records it. Faster turnaround is usually available at a higher price, and queues lengthen in December when the whole category is busiest.
The planning rule is simple: if the occasion is inside a week, either pay for the rush tier and confirm the timeline first, or use an instant service. Do not assume a standard order will land in time for something this weekend.
What is good about Songlorious?
The strengths are the ones you would expect from a human-songwriter model, and they are real.
- •A songwriter can hold a messy personal story and decide what belongs in the song.
- •Genre and vocal choice are handled by someone who understands both.
- •Difficult subjects — grief, illness, long reconciliations — get treated with care rather than taken literally.
- •You get one deliberate keepsake, which is what a milestone occasion usually calls for.
What are the drawbacks?
None of these are defects; they are the cost of commissioning a person. They are also the reasons people end up comparing it to something else.
- •Price. It is a gift-sized purchase, which rules it out for ordinary occasions.
- •Time. Days, more in December. It cannot rescue something you forgot until tonight.
- •One version. There is no hearing three takes and choosing your favourite.
- •The brief. Writing several paragraphs about your own relationship is harder than it sounds, and the song's quality depends on how well you do it.
Songlorious vs Songfinch: how do they differ?
Less than the search volume for the comparison suggests. Both are human-songwriter platforms, both take a written brief, both deliver one original recording after several days, and both are priced as premium gifts.
Choose between them on the details that actually vary: current price for the tier you want, the stated turnaround on the day you order, and whether you prefer either one's genre range or sample songs. If you are torn between them, the more useful question is usually whether you want this model at all.
| Songlorious | Songfinch | Memories Made Music | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who writes it | Human songwriter | Human songwriter | Instant, from your photo |
| You supply | A written brief | A written brief | One photo |
| Turnaround | Days (rush costs more) | Days | About a minute |
| Versions | One | One | As many as you like |
| Pricing shape | Per-song gift price | Per-song gift price | $0.99 for three, then $9.99/mo |
What are the alternatives to Songlorious?
Songfinch is the closest like-for-like swap — same model, same trade-offs. If what you actually want is out of the commission model entirely, the alternative is an instant service.
Memories Made Music takes one photo instead of a written brief, writes original lyrics from what is in the picture, and records a 2 to 3 minute song with real vocals in about a minute. Trying it is $0.99 for three songs across seven days. It does not give you a songwriter's judgment; it gives you speed, a price that lets you make several and choose, and nothing to write.
Who should buy from Songlorious?
The split is clean.
| Buy from Songlorious if | Look elsewhere if |
|---|---|
| The song is the entire gift | The song is one part of a bigger gift |
| You have a week or more | The occasion is in a few days |
| A gift-sized budget is fine | You want to spend a few dollars |
| You have the story written out | You would rather start from a photo |
| You want one definitive version | You want options to choose from |
Frequently asked questions
Is Songlorious worth it?
Yes, if you want a human songwriter, have several days, and are comfortable with a gift-sized price. No, if the occasion is close or the budget is modest — the model cannot be both fast and cheap.
Was Songlorious on Shark Tank?
Yes, it pitched in season 13, which is why much of the search interest in the brand comes from people who saw the episode rather than from people already shopping for a custom song.
How much does Songlorious cost?
It is priced per song as a gift, with tiers depending on length, speed, and extras. Pricing changes, so confirm the current figure on their site before planning around it.
How long does Songlorious take to deliver?
Days, with faster options at a higher price and longer queues in December. If you need something inside a week, confirm the timeline before ordering or use an instant service.
What is the difference between Songlorious and Songfinch?
Very little structurally — both are human-songwriter platforms taking a written brief and delivering one recording after several days. Compare them on current price, stated turnaround, and sample songs.
Is there a faster alternative to Songlorious?
Yes. Instant services finish in about a minute. Memories Made Music makes an original song from one photo with real vocals for $0.99 to try three.
Need it sooner than days? Three songs from a photo cost $0.99.
Make your song →About the author
Chris Taylor — Chris built Memories Made Music, the studio that turns a photo into a complete, original song. He works hands-on with the writing, recording, and mixing behind every track.