How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like Bigo Live?

Creating a successful app like Bigo Live can be a real game-changer, but let’s get down to the question on everyone’s mind: How much does it cost to develop an app like Bigo Live?

Well, if you’re aiming for an engaging, feature-rich live streaming app, you're looking at an average development cost ranging between $40,000 and $200,000. Yes, it's a wide range, and the cost depends on several factors, like app complexity, features, and the development team's location.

But remember, you’re not just creating an app; you’re setting up a revenue-generating powerhouse! Let's dive in to discover what makes Bigo Live unique and the features, costs, and processes involved in building a similar app.

What is Bigo Live?

Bigo Live is a popular live-streaming app that enables users to broadcast their lives, talents, and interactions with a global audience in real-time. Founded in 2016, this platform has quickly gained massive popularity, especially among millennials and Gen Z, for its interactive, entertaining, and community-driven experience.

The app allows users to share their activities, talents, and even host live events, connecting with fans, friends, or anyone across the globe. Not only does it provide a space for sharing, but it also fosters social interactions through its unique, feature-packed experience. From live game streaming to virtual "gifts" and interactions like video chats and comments, Bigo Live empowers users to engage and grow their fan base, making live streaming a fun and rewarding experience.

What makes Bigo Live unique is its wide range of interactive features, which we’ll delve into next. Whether you’re looking to showcase talents, connect socially, or even earn from live broadcasts, Bigo Live provides an immersive platform that resonates with modern social trends.

Features of Bigo Live App

Here’s a look at some of the standout features of Bigo Live that make it an engaging and popular app.

If you’re aiming to create a similar experience via on-demand app development, these features can be essential to attracting and retaining users:

• Live Broadcasting – Stream live videos to a global audience, showcasing talents or hosting events.
• Virtual Gifting – Viewers can send virtual gifts as a token of appreciation, which can be converted into earnings.
• Guest Live Feature – Hosts can invite viewers or friends to join their live sessions, making it more interactive.
• Video Chat Rooms – Group video chat options for engaging with multiple users at once.
• Real-Time Commenting – Allows viewers to interact with hosts and other viewers through live comments.
• Gaming Streaming – Enables live streaming of gaming sessions for fans to watch in real-time.
• Beauty Filters – Built-in filters and effects to enhance video quality and appearance.
• PK Live Battles – Hosts can challenge each other in live battles, with viewers voting for their favorite.
• Event Hosting – Organize special events or shows, allowing users to schedule and promote them.
• Fan Base Building – Enables content creators to build a fan base and keep followers updated on new broadcasts.
• Location-Based Discovery – Helps users find nearby live streams based on location.
• Notification System – Alerts followers whenever their favorite broadcasters go live.
• Profile Customization – Users can create personalized profiles to attract more followers.
• Monetization Options – In-app purchases and other monetization strategies for creators.
• Leaderboard Rankings – Shows rankings for top broadcasters, adding a competitive edge.

Why Develop an App Like Bigo Live?

Creating an app like Bigo Live isn’t just about joining the video streaming trend; it’s about tapping into a highly interactive and profitable market. Here are three compelling reasons to develop a similar app, backed by real stats:

1. Growing Demand for Live Streaming Content

Live streaming is booming, with the market expected to reach $247 billion by 2027. Users are increasingly interested in real-time, authentic interactions, and apps like Bigo Live cater to this demand by offering an immersive platform.

2. High User Engagement

The average user spends 2.5 hours daily on mobile apps, with streaming apps occupying a large portion of that time. Apps like Bigo Live are designed to be highly engaging, keeping users coming back for more through interactive features like live chats, virtual gifting, and social connections.

3. Revenue Potential through In-App Purchases

In-app purchases from virtual gifts and other monetization strategies make apps like Bigo Live a lucrative venture. The app’s model enables content creators to earn directly from their audiences, boosting retention and encouraging frequent use. Bigo Live itself generated over $300 million in revenue in 2023, showcasing the earning potential for similar apps.

So, that’s a big reason to develop such an app, with this out of the way, it’s time to forward to next section.

Average Cost to Develop an App Like Bigo Live

The cost to develop an app like Bigo Live generally falls between $40,000 and $200,000. This price range varies based on the complexity, design, and number of features integrated into the app. Here’s a quick look at estimated costs based on app complexity:

For a feature-rich app like Bigo Live, expect costs on the higher end, especially with interactive features like virtual gifting, live commenting, and real-time notifications. Additionally, integrating video streaming functionalities and maintaining high-quality video performance in app development can impact costs significantly.

This range gives you a ballpark idea, but the final price depends on multiple factors, which we’ll cover in detail in the next section.

Factors That Affect Cost to Develop an App Like Bigo Live

Creating an app like Bigo Live involves a detailed breakdown of cost factors, each influencing the final development budget. Below are the main factors, with cost estimates and percentage impacts on the overall Bigo Live clone app development cost.

► App Platform (iOS, Android, or Both)

The choice of platform plays a significant role in the cost to develop an app like Bigo Live. Developing a cross-platform app (both iOS and Android) typically increases costs by 30–40% due to additional code and testing requirements.

► User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design

A captivating UI/UX design enhances user retention but can significantly affect the cost to create a streaming app like Bigo Live. Complex, custom designs increase the budget by 25% on average.

► Core Features

Incorporating essential features like live broadcasting, real-time comments, and profile customization adds to the cost to develop a video streaming app like Bigo Live. Here’s a breakdown of some key core features.

► Advanced Features

Unique features such as location-based streaming, PK battles, and leaderboards make an app like Bigo Live highly engaging but also add to the Bigo Live like app development cost. Each of these features adds thousands to the budget.

► Backend Infrastructure

A robust backend is critical for real-time streaming, impacting the cost to make an app like Bigo Live. For scalable options, the cost rises as more server capacity is needed to handle high traffic volumes.

► Security Features

Security is non-negotiable for user trust. Including advanced data encryption, end-to-end protection, and authentication adds to the Bigo Live clone app development cost.

► Third-Party Integrations

Cost to build an app like Bigo Live also includes third-party tools, such as payment gateways, chat APIs, or analytics. These integrations typically cost $1,000–$5,000 per service, depending on the API’s complexity.

► Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)

Testing ensures a bug-free experience, vital for any successful app. QA usually adds 15% to the cost to develop a Bigo Live-like app.

► Maintenance and Updates

Post-launch maintenance for an app like Bigo Live is critical and typically requires an annual budget of 15–20% of the initial development cost.

► Marketing and Promotion

Marketing efforts add another layer to the cost to create an app like Bigo Live. Effective promotion can start around $5,000, with more intensive campaigns reaching upwards of $20,000.

This detailed breakdown should provide clarity on each aspect influencing the cost to make a streaming app like Bigo Live. Shall we continue with the Development Process section?

Bigo Live Clone Development Process

Building an app like Bigo Live requires a structured, step-by-step approach to ensure all essential features are developed, tested, and integrated seamlessly. Here’s a brief overview of the development process, broken down into key stages:

Step 1: Market Research & Planning

The first step is understanding the target audience, competitors, and trending features within live streaming. This research lays the groundwork for your Bigo Live clone app development and helps in defining unique selling points.

Step 2: Defining Requirements

After research, requirements are gathered, detailing all the features (core and advanced), design expectations, and technical specifications. This helps streamline the development of a video streaming app like Bigo Live.

Step 3: UI/UX Design

Creating user-friendly and visually appealing designs is crucial. During this stage, designers craft the wireframes, user flows, and final UI that align with the branding and make the app intuitive for users.

Step 4: Backend and Frontend Development

This stage includes building the core backend infrastructure to support live streaming, handling user data, and integrating features like chat and notifications. Simultaneously, frontend developers create a responsive and interactive user interface.

Step 5: Integration of Streaming Technology

Integrating real-time streaming protocols (like RTMP) is essential in this stage to enable seamless broadcasting and viewing. The quality of this technology directly affects the cost to develop a Bigo Live-like app due to the high processing and server requirements.

Step 6: Testing & Quality Assurance (QA)

Testing is conducted to ensure the app performs well under various conditions. This includes functionality, load, security, and usability testing to guarantee a smooth user experience.

Step 7: Deployment

After all tests are passed, the app is deployed to app stores. This involves meeting app store guidelines and ensuring compatibility across different devices.

Step 8: Maintenance & Updates

Post-launch, regular updates are essential to fix bugs, introduce new features, and keep the app competitive. This phase typically requires continuous support to retain user engagement and keep up with evolving trends.

This development process usually spans between 5 to 9 months for a Bigo Live clone app with basic to advanced features.

How Long Does It Take to Develop an App Like Bigo Live?

Creating an app like Bigo Live with its comprehensive live-streaming and interactive features typically takes between 5 to 9 months. The exact timeline depends on factors such as app complexity, feature set, and team expertise. Below is a breakdown of each phase with estimated time requirements:

The more advanced and interactive the app, the longer the development process will take. For a basic version, you might expect around 5 months, while a fully featured Bigo Live clone could require up to 9 months. Efficient project management can also streamline the process, ensuring the app launches on schedule.

Here’s How to Drive Revenue in Your Bigo Live Clone

Once your Bigo Live clone app is up and running, monetization becomes key to ensuring profitability and long-term growth. Here are some effective ways to generate revenue and the potential earnings each method offers:

♦ In-App Purchases (Virtual Gifts)

 Users can buy virtual gifts to send to broadcasters, creating a revenue stream for both the app and the broadcasters. This model has proven lucrative, with similar apps generating millions in revenue annually from virtual gifting.

♦ Subscription Plans

Offering premium features through subscriptions can provide users with an ad-free experience, exclusive filters, or priority access to popular streams. Subscriptions can range from $4.99 to $19.99 per month, providing a steady revenue stream.

♦ In-App Ads

By integrating non-intrusive ads, you can monetize user activity without disrupting the experience. This is common among Bigo Live-like apps targeting free users. Ads can be video-based, banner-style, or rewarded ads.

♦ Pay-Per-View Events

Hosting exclusive events or streams where users pay to view can drive additional revenue. This feature is particularly popular for concerts, game streams, or influencer collaborations.

♦ Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

Partnering with brands that align with your user base can offer substantial revenue. These partnerships may involve product placements, co-branded events, or sponsored content.

This combination of revenue models can make your Bigo Live clone app highly profitable.

Dotstark – Here to Help You

When it comes to creating a successful app like Bigo Live, you need a partner who understands the ins and outs of video streaming app development. That’s where Dotstark comes in. As a video streaming app development company with a proven track record, we specialize in bringing innovative, feature-rich apps to life.

Our expert team will guide you through every stage, from planning and development to launch and post-launch support. We focus on delivering a top-notch user experience, helping you attract users and generate revenue with ease. If you're ready to bring your app idea to reality, Dotstark is here to help you succeed!

Conclusion

Developing an app like Bigo Live offers a fantastic opportunity to tap into the booming live-streaming market. While the cost to develop an app like Bigo Live may seem significant, the potential for high user engagement and multiple monetization options makes it a rewarding investment. From understanding your app’s essential features to the development process and factors affecting costs, each step brings you closer to launching a successful app.

Whether you're looking to create a basic version or an advanced Bigo Live clone, having the right partner can make all the difference. With Dotstark’s expertise, you’re well-equipped to turn your idea into a profitable reality.

Ready to create the next big live-streaming app? Start your journey today!