Mobile appMessaging & callsOriginal by LY Corporation
LINE is one of the leading apps that turned messaging into an emotional experience with cute characters and stickers. Stickers are not just decoration; they form a digital product economy of their own, and independent artists can design and sell packs. Thanks to official accounts, a news tab and in-app services, LINE is a platform at the centre of daily life in some countries.
Building something similar means adding to an encrypted messaging and calling infrastructure a sticker and theme store, a creator portal where artists upload content, an official account and chatbot platform, a news feed and an optional wallet. Digital product sales are subject to app store rules, and if you add payments and money transfers you must work with a licensed payment institution.
How LINE works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Mobile app
The end-user app for messaging, stickers, official accounts and the news feed.
Creator portal
The portal where artists upload sticker and theme packs, submit them for approval and track sales.
Official account panel
The panel where businesses message followers, hand out coupons and set up chatbots.
Admin panel
The panel that manages store approvals, revenue sharing, news content and reports.
Critical features of a product like LINE
Sticker and theme store
Animated and sound stickers and app themes can be bought and sent as gifts.
Independent creator programme
Artists design packs and, once approved, receive a share of sales revenue.
Official accounts and coupons
Brands send coupons, campaigns and segment-based messages to followers.
Chatbot API
Businesses automate booking, ordering and support flows through bots.
News and content tab
Selected stories from publisher partners are shown inside the app.
Keep and notes space
Users store messages, photos and links in a private space of their own.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Messaging, groups and calls
- Free and paid sticker packs
- Adding friends (QR and ID)
- Following official accounts
- In-app purchase
Later releases
- Independent creator portal and revenue sharing
- Chatbot API
- News tab
- Wallet and payments with a licensed partner
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 211 person-days for the full scope and 136 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 |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Real-time messaging | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| Video / voice calls | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Marketplace integration (Amazon, etc.) | Later release |
| Content management / blog | First version |
| Third-party API integration | First version |
| Multi-language | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €700 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Content approval and copyright
Packs uploaded by creators must be checked for copyrighted characters and inappropriate content.
Store commissions
Digital product sales are subject to app store commissions, and creator revenue sharing must be calculated accordingly.
Building a character brand
The sticker economy depends on beloved characters, which is more a creative and marketing investment than a software one.
Business model
The main revenue comes from sticker and theme sales, official account subscriptions and message packages for businesses, and news and feed advertising. The share taken on independent creator sales and licensing of popular characters add further income. If a payment service is added, you can work with a licensed payment institution partner and share the transaction fee.
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 LINE
Most people searching “build an app like line” 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 LINE 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 LINE?
A first version with messaging, a sticker store and official accounts can be ready in a few months. The creator portal, chatbot and news tab are added in later phases.
How are sticker sales handled?
Selling digital content is subject to in-app purchase rules on the App Store and Google Play. Pricing and the creator share should be planned after store commissions are deducted.
Will there be copyright or trademark issues?
The messaging and sticker business model is generally free to use, but the name, logo, characters, design and code cannot be copied. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build this kind of app?
Choose a firm with a strong design team and experience in real-time messaging, in-app purchases and content stores.
