Mobile appDating & live streamingOriginal by BIGO Technology
Likee is a platform that makes short video creation fun and easy. Users shoot videos in seconds with a rich library of effects, filters and music, and the recommendation algorithm delivers those videos to a relevant audience regardless of follower count. Trends and hashtag challenges trigger content creation, while live streaming and gifts give creators a way to earn and keep them on the platform.
To build something similar you need a mobile app with a camera and effects engine, video encoding and CDN delivery, a recommendation algorithm that learns from viewing behaviour, comment and like systems, a live streaming module and a content moderation panel. Music licensing, age rules because of the young user base and automated content scanning are issues that must be solved from the beginning.
How Likee works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
User app
Users watch short videos, shoot with effects, share, comment and watch live streams.
Creator dashboard
Content creators track video performance, follower statistics and live streaming earnings.
Moderation and content panel
The team reviews automatically flagged videos, and manages trends, hashtag challenges, the music library and effects.
Critical features of a product like Likee
Real-time effects engine
Face tracking, AR masks, beauty filters and background replacement are applied live in the camera preview.
Video editor
Clip trimming, speed control, text, stickers and music sync are done inside the app; the output is encoded on the device and uploaded.
Recommendation algorithm
A model that learns from watch time, rewatches, likes and shares builds a personal feed for each user.
Trends and hashtag challenges
Challenges opened from the panel are featured on the discover page and ranked by participation and engagement.
Licensed music library
Users can add only licensed tracks to videos; track-level usage reports are kept.
Live streaming and gifts
Creators go live and receive virtual gifts from viewers; the earnings appear in the creator dashboard.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Age-checked sign-up, profile and follow
- A vertical video feed, likes and comments
- Shooting and uploading with basic filters and music
- Rule-based recommendations and a discover page
- Reporting, automated scanning and a moderation panel
Later releases
- AR effects and an advanced video editor
- A machine-learning personal recommendation model
- Trends and hashtag challenges
- Live streaming, gifts and creator earnings
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 34 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 221 person-days for the full scope and 131 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Video / voice calls | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Email / SMS notifications | First version |
| Ratings and reviews | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
| AI features (LLM, RAG, recommendations) | Later release |
| In-game economy / LiveOps | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €750 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Video infrastructure and cost
Every uploaded video is transcoded into several qualities and delivered from a CDN; because storage and traffic costs grow quickly, the encoding and caching strategy is critical.
The recommendation engine
A good feed needs a system made of real-time event collection, candidate generation and ranking layers; start with a rule-based approach while data is scarce.
Moderation, age and music rights
Because of young users, age rules, automated video scanning and a fast takedown process are essential; do not launch without licence agreements for music use.
Business model
Revenue comes from three sources: video ads placed between feed items, the share taken from tokens and gifts sold in live streams, and hashtag challenges sponsored by brands. Later, a collaboration marketplace that connects creators with brands can be set up. At the start, leaving a large share of revenue to creators to attract them speeds up growth.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Likee
Most people searching “build an app like likee” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Likee name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Likee?
A first version with video shooting, a feed, likes, comments and moderation can be ready within a few months. AR effects, a learning recommendation model and live streaming are added in later phases.
How is music use handled?
For tracks added to videos you need licence agreements with music rights organisations and record labels. Using royalty-free music libraries at the start is a practical solution; this is not legal advice.
Could there be copyright or trademark problems?
The short video and effects business model is free to implement. The name, logo, interface design, content including effects, and code cannot be copied; proceed with an original brand and design.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build an app like Likee?
Choose a team with mobile camera, video encoding and recommendation system experience. Be sure to ask how they forecast infrastructure cost and what their moderation plans are.
