What Lizhi does

Lizhi (荔枝FM), operated by Guangzhou Lizhi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (广州荔支网络技术有限公司), is a Chinese consumer audio platform founded in 2010 and headquartered in Guangzhou. The company operates a mobile-first podcast creation and audio sharing application available on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, complemented by a web client and a dedicated Host Management Platform (主播管理平台) at nj.lizhi.fm. Its positioning — '人人都是播客' (everyone can be a podcaster) — targets individual creators producing voice programs with integrated background music mixing (MP3/m4a), podcasts, and live audio rooms. The platform also operates the 荔枝播客 (Lizhi Podcaster) sub-brand at lzpipi.com to reinforce its podcast positioning.

Technically, Lizhi is built as a multi-SDK composition rather than a vertically integrated stack: real-time audio and live streaming are powered by Agora (Video 3.x SDK) and WebRTC, instant messaging by Rong Cloud (RongIM), identity by Tencent (WeChat OpenSDK, QQ Connect), Weibo, Geetest, and three Chinese carrier one-click login SDKs, payment by Alipay (App Payment, Security, Face Authentication), Tencent (QQ Wallet, WeChat Pay), and Apple Pay, cloud storage by Aliyun OSS and Qiniu, and push notifications via dedicated SDKs for Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu, OPPO, and vivo. The platform also integrates a third-party analytics and risk control layer — Sensors Data, TalkingData, QuestMobile, Tingyun, AppsFlyer, Bugly, Taku Ad, Shumei, and Tencent Guangdiantong — for user behavior analytics, performance monitoring, ad attribution, and fraud detection.

Lizhi monetizes through a freemium virtual currency model: users purchase 货币 (gold coins) to send virtual gifts to live streamers and tip creators, with revenue shared between the platform and content hosts. Additional monetization flows include live-streaming virtual gifts and direct tipping. The company holds multiple China-specific licenses (Net Culture License 粤网文[2025]2003-182号, ICP filing 粤ICP备12026999号-31A, Value-Added Telecom License 粤B2-20120522, and Internet Religious Information Service License 粤(2023)0000133号) and operates a published self-review committee (自审制度) plus algorithm transparency disclosures covering recommendation, information retrieval, and personalized recommendation systems in line with Chinese content regulation. The platform has no disclosed enterprise customers, B2B contracts, funding rounds, parent company, or headcount figures.

Name

Lizhi

Legal name

广州荔支网络技术有限公司

Website

https://lizhi.fm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lizhi (荔枝FM) is a Chinese consumer audio platform founded in 2010 that lets individual users record, edit, publish, and live-stream podcasts via a mobile app, monetizing through virtual currency, virtual gifting, and tipping transactions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Guangzhou

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Virtual Currency (Gold Coins): Users purchase gold coins (金币) to unlock premium features, send virtual gifts to hosts, and access exclusive content. The platform takes a transaction fee on these purchases.
2. Live Streaming Virtual Gifts: Audience members send virtual gifts to hosts during live streams, with revenue shared between the platform and content creators.
3. Live Streaming Tipping/Donations: Direct tipping functionality during live broadcasts where users can financially support their favorite hosts, subject to platform oversight and compliance with regulatory requirements.
4. Payment Processing Services: Platform integrates with third-party payment services including Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Apple Pay for processing user transactions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lizhi FM (\u8354\u679dFM) is a voice-interactive mobile and web application that integrates audio recording, editing, storage, listening, and sharing for podcast creation and live audio streaming. Individual users (host/\u4e3b\u64ad) record voice programs with background music, publish them to the platform, and monetize through virtual gifts and tipping, while listeners discover and stream content via the app. Founded in 2010 and operated by Guangzhou Lizhi Network Technology Co., Ltd., the platform combines creator tools, a host management backend, and a live broadcasting room experience.

Product overview

Lizhi is a podcast creation and audio sharing platform (audio-first social platform) operated by Guangzhou Lizhi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (广州荔支网络技术有限公司). Founded in 2010, the platform consists of the core 荔枝FM mobile and web application (Android/iOS/WP), which serves both as a podcast hosting and creation tool for individual creators (播客) and as a live audio streaming platform. Creators use the 荔枝 App to record voice programs with background music mixing (supporting MP3/m4a), publish podcasts, and host live rooms; listeners use the app to discover, stream, and subscribe to content. The 主播管理平台 (Host Management Platform) at nj.lizhi.fm serves as the creator backend for playlist management, topic submission, and analytics. The sub-brand 荔枝播客 (at lzpipi.com) reinforces the podcast positioning. The platform also offers social features including a 'dynamics' feed (dynamic posting with images, text, and audio), and virtual currency (金币) for in-app purchases and creator earnings/withdrawal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lizhi FM (\u8354\u679dFM) A podcast creation, hosting, and live audio streaming platform available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and web. Provides voice recording with background music mixing (MP3/m4a), podcast publishing, live broadcasting rooms with interactive audience features (virtual gifting, voice chat), a dynamics social feed, and a creator management backend. Targets individual Chinese-speaking content creators and listeners.
• Lizhi Podcast (\u8354\u679d\u64ad\u5ba2) A sub-brand and domain of the Lizhi audio platform (also accessible at lzpipi.com) emphasizing podcast creation and hosting under the 'podcaster' (播客) branding. Operates as part of the broader Lizhi FM offering.
• Host Management Platform (\u4e3b\u64ad\u7ba1\u7406\u5e73\u53f0) The creator backend dashboard for Lizhi podcasters and live hosts, accessible at nj.lizhi.fm. Provides tools to record programs, manage playlists (播单管理), submit content to topic collections (专题征集投稿系统), view audience analytics, and access earnings and withdrawal functions. Targets individual hosts operating on the Lizhi FM platform.
• Lizhi App (Mobile Application) The native mobile client application for the Lizhi FM platform on iOS and Android (and historically Windows Phone). Provides the full suite of consumer-facing features: voice recording with background music mixing, live audio streaming, social dynamics feed, podcast discovery, virtual gifting, and account management. It is the primary touchpoint for both individual hosts and listeners.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration37 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WeChat (Tencent)coreTechnology or IntegrationWeChat OpenSDK integrated for WeChat authorization login, WeChat sharing functionality, and WeChat Pay integration for in-app purchases. Operated by Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems.
• QQ (Tencent)coreTechnology or IntegrationQQ Connect SDK integrated for QQ account authorization login and QQ sharing functionality. Provides OAuth-based third-party login capability.
• Alipay (Ant Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationAlipay App Payment SDK and Alipay Security SDK integrated for payment processing and user identity verification. Also includes Alipay Face Authentication SDK for KYC verification.
• Shengwang (Agora)coreTechnology or IntegrationVideo 3.x SDK provides real-time audio/video communication capabilities for voice chat rooms and live streaming features, enabling interactive audio experiences.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Penguin FM (企鹅FM): Tencent's audio platform offering podcasts and live audio within the QQ Music ecosystem - operates inside the same Tencent ecosystem that Lizhi depends on, creating both direct competitive overlap and partnership dynamics.

Direct peers

• Qingting FM (蜻蜓FM): Established Chinese audio streaming platform focused on podcasts and audiobooks, founded 2011 - directly comparable to Lizhi in offering UGC podcast hosting, audiobooks, and live audio streaming to Chinese consumers.
• Ximalaya FM (喜马拉雅): China's largest podcast and audio platform offering audiobooks, podcasts, and live audio streaming - the most direct and largest competitor to Lizhi in the Chinese podcast market with overlapping creator monetization and listener base.

Broad incumbents

• Douyin (TikTok China): ByteDance's short video platform that has aggressively expanded into live audio rooms and audio content - a much broader incumbent with dominant creator acquisition capabilities that competes for audio creator attention and user engagement time.
• NetEase Cloud Music: Major Chinese music streaming platform that has expanded into podcasts and live audio features - competes with Lizhi in the broader audio content space with a larger user base and stronger brand recognition among younger Chinese consumers.
• Tencent Music Entertainment (TME): Dominant Chinese music streaming platform (QQ Music, Kugou, Kuwo) that has expanded into long-form audio and podcasts - a much larger incumbent with significantly greater scale that competes with Lizhi in audio content distribution and creator monetization.
• Spotify: Global audio streaming leader with major podcast investments and creator tools - serves as the international benchmark for podcast/audio platforms and represents the comparable model for ad-supported and subscription-based podcast monetization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lizhifm

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lizhi