What Bigo Live does

Bigo Live is a global live video social platform operated by Bigo Technology Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-incorporated subsidiary of Huanyu Group (NASDAQ: JOYY). Founded in 2015, the platform enables live broadcasting, real-time chat rooms, and live gaming content across mobile (iOS/Android) and web (bigo.tv), localized in 20+ languages. Its core product surface spans Bigo Live (main live streaming), Bigo Live Gaming (PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Free Fire, Mobile Legends, League of Legends, and 40+ other titles), Bigo Live Show (entertainment streams), and Bigo Muslim (a specialized module offering prayer times, Qibla direction, Quran access, and prayer recording). The platform serves two primary user segments: approximately 10 million creators in MENA who monetize via virtual gifting, subscriptions, and brand partnerships, and a viewer base of roughly 40 million weekly viewers in MENA alone — part of parent JOYY's 272.1 million global social product MAU.

The business model is anchored on virtual gifting, where viewers purchase and send digital gifts to streamers during live broadcasts with the platform taking a transaction fee, supplemented by recurring subscriptions and brand/sponsored content around esports and live events. AI-generated virtual gifts represented over 30% of virtual gift consumption by January 2026 and contributed to paying-user growth of 1.5% QoQ. Distribution is primarily self-serve through mobile app stores and the bigo.tv web platform, supported by event marketing (notably as global broadcast partner for Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025), community-driven creator programs, and multi-language content.

At the parent level, JOYY reported $2.12 billion in full-year 2025 revenue and $581.9 million in Q4 2025 revenue (up 7.7% QoQ and 5.9% YoY), with live broadcast revenue — the segment most directly tied to Bigo Live — reaching $394.4 million in Q4 2025, growing for the third consecutive quarter. Bigo Live operates across Southeast Asia, MENA, North America, and China, with regulatory exposure including Indonesia's Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026 banning children under 16 from owning accounts, effective March 28, 2026.

Name

Bigo Live

Legal name

Bigo Technology Pte. Ltd.

Website

https://www.bigo.tv/

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bigo Live is a global mobile-first live streaming platform operated by Singapore-based Bigo Technology Pte. Ltd. (subsidiary of NASDAQ-listed JOYY), serving approximately 10 million creators and 40 million weekly viewers in MENA alone via virtual gifting, subscriptions, and esports partnerships, localized in 20+ languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Streaming Platform

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Generalist Live Streaming Platforms (Multi-Category) (MPACACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gaming-Focused Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAB)

Keywords

• Live streaming platform
• Virtual gifting
• Mobile broadcasting
• Social video chat
• Creator monetization

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Virtual Gifting: Primary monetization model where viewers purchase and send virtual gifts to streamers during live broadcasts. The platform takes a transaction fee from each gift. AI-generated virtual gifts have become a significant growth driver, representing over 30% of virtual gift consumption.
2. Subscriptions: Recurring subscription model for premium features and benefits for dedicated viewers and fans.
3. Brand Partnerships: Brand partnerships and sponsored content opportunities, particularly around esports and live events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bigo Live operates a global, mobile-first live video streaming platform that enables content creators to broadcast live streams and viewers to interact through chat rooms and virtual gifting. The platform supports live entertainment, live gaming content, and faith-based modules, monetizing primarily through virtual gift transactions, subscriptions, and brand partnerships.

Product overview

Bigo Live is a live streaming platform operated by Bigo Technology Pte. Ltd., offering a unified product ecosystem centered around live video streaming with integrated gaming content and chat functionality. The core platform (Bigo Live) serves as the main offering, supported by specialized vertical modules including Bigo Live Gaming for game streaming content and Bigo Muslim for faith-based features. The platform also provides a mobile application for on-the-go access and supports virtual gifting as a monetization mechanism, including AI-generated virtual gifts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bigo Live A live streaming platform offering live video streams, live gaming content, and online chat rooms. Users can watch live streams, interact with streamers, and engage through virtual gifting.
• Bigo Live Gaming A dedicated section within Bigo Live for live game streaming, featuring popular games including PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Free Fire, Mobile Legends, League of Legends, and 40+ other titles.
• Bigo Live Show Live entertainment streams and shows broadcast on the Bigo Live platform, featuring various content creators and performers.
• Bigo Muslim A specialized section providing Muslim prayer times, Qibla direction, Quran access, and prayer recording features for the Muslim community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Paying users increased 1.5% quarter-on-quarter driven by AI features and refined operations
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 December 2025Bigo Live serves as a global broadcast partner for the Games of the Future 2025 Abu Dhabi, an esports event powered by ADNOC. The platform provides live broadcasts, replays, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content across all disciplines, including Dota 2 competitions. Bigo Live is part of a growing network of international broadcast partners including ESR TV and Likee, covering audiences in the US, Latin America, and mobile-first platforms globally.
• Phygital InternationalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 December 2025Bigo Live partnered with Phygital International as part of the GOTF OTT Platform broadcast network for the Games of the Future 2025 Abu Dhabi esports event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inke: China-based live streaming platform with virtual gifting monetization. Comparable core product and business model, though primarily serves the Chinese market.
• Twitch: Amazon-owned live streaming platform with strong gaming content and creator subscriptions/cheering monetization. Comparable live streaming + virtual gifting model and global creator/viewer base.
• Nimo TV: Mobile-focused game live streaming platform with strong Southeast Asia, Latin America, and MENA presence. Directly comparable to Bigo Live Gaming's offering for mobile esports streamers.
• Tango Live: Mobile-first live streaming and social platform with virtual gifting, with particular strength in MENA, Southeast Asia, and other emerging markets — a near-direct competitor to Bigo Live in geography and product.
• Likee: Short-video and live streaming platform also part of the JOYY/Huanyu ecosystem, sharing distribution and tech with Bigo Live. Operates as a sibling product in the same live streaming + gifting category.
• TikTok Live: ByteDance-owned live streaming vertical inside TikTok with virtual gifting, creator monetization, and multi-language global reach. Directly comparable product, business model, and target audience to Bigo Live.

Broad incumbents

• YouTube Live: Google-owned live streaming offering inside YouTube with Super Chat gifting monetization. Competes with Bigo Live in live creator economy but as part of the dominant global video platform.
• Facebook Live: Meta-owned live streaming product embedded in the larger Facebook social network. Overlaps with Bigo Live in live video and creator monetization but is one feature in a much broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• Trovo: Tencent-backed mobile live streaming platform focused on gaming content. Smaller-scale emerging competitor with overlapping use cases (mobile gaming livestreaming, creator monetization).

Regional players

• Kwai: Short-video and live streaming platform dominant in Brazil and parts of Latin America/SEA. Comparable live streaming + gifting model but primarily competes in different geographies than Bigo Live.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Bigo Live