Source-backed analysis9
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
9 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Bigo Live Review
Entertainment live-streaming app: singing, chat, games and virtual gifts for streamers
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Bigo Live suits people who enjoy interactive live streams such as singing, chatting and streamer-versus-streamer PK, and those who want to try streaming. The trade-offs: it is an 18+ app, virtual gifts cost real money, and Trustpilot shows only 2.0/5 with frequent complaints about moderation and support.
Best for: Adults who like watching and interacting with streamers through comments and gifts
Skip it if: People under 18: the User Agreement sets the minimum age at 18
Pros
- Free to watch and stream, with voice chat, multi-guest rooms (up to 11 people) and Live PK per Google Play
- Besides the iOS and Android apps, the bigo.tv website lets you browse streams by region
- Large scale: 500M+ downloads on Google Play and 4.5/5 on both the US App Store and Google Play
Cons
- Trustpilot shows only 2.0/5 from 986 reviews, with complaints about moderation, bans and slow support (Bigo has not recently invited reviews, so the sample may be skewed)
- Virtual gifts cost real money, with packs up to 129.99 USD, and purchases are non-refundable
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Cons
- Common Sense Media rates it 17+, flags a lot of sexual content and says AI-based age checks are imperfect
Best for
- People who want to try live singing, chatting or gaming, even without showing their face
Skip it if
- People who do not want to spend on virtual gifts or who need tightly moderated content
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What Bigo Live is
Bigo Live is a live-streaming app from BIGO Technology, based in Singapore. According to TechCrunch, Bigo earns revenue when viewers send virtual gifts to streamers, which can be cashed out. The Google Play description says users watch live streams covering chatting, dancing, singing and gaming, and respond with virtual gifts and live comments. Google Play also claims over 700 million users in more than 150 countries and regions, a figure supplied by the company itself.
Key features
Per Google Play, the app offers Live Streams to browse by category, Multi-guest Live for up to 11 people to watch YouTube videos and play games, Audio Live for voice chat, Live PK for head-to-head contests, and Go Live to start streaming in one tap in game, audio or multi-guest mode. The App Store page adds filters, stickers and a virtual pet. The bigo.tv homepage lets you browse streams by region such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil.
Cost and terms
The app is free to download. Viewers buy Diamonds to send gifts; on the US App Store the in-app packs range from 0.29 USD to 129.99 USD. Under the User Agreement only people aged 18 or older may buy Diamonds, send and receive gifts with monetary value, and earn and withdraw Beans. All purchases are final and non-refundable. The homepage promotes a 25% recharge discount, but no VND price list was found.
More analysis
Who it fits and what to weigh
Bigo Live fits adults who enjoy interactive entertainment streaming. Points to weigh: Trustpilot at 2.0/5 with complaints about moderation, accounts and support; Common Sense Media rates it 17+ and flags sexual content; money spent on gifts is not refundable. For game streaming, Twitch or Kick are other options; for social short video, TikTok is a different direction.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Miễn phí
PersonalFree
Watching and streaming are free. Sending gifts to streamers requires buying Diamonds in the app; on the US App Store the purchase packs range from 0.29 USD to 129.99 USD.
- Free plan limits
- The app is free to download and watch. Buying Diamonds for gifts is optional; under the User Agreement only people aged 18 or older may buy Diamonds and Gifts.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The User Agreement (updated 17 January 2025) says all sales of Diamonds and Gifts are final, Bigo does not offer refunds, and Diamonds cannot be exchanged for cash.
Privacy
The privacy policy (updated 16 June 2025) says Bigo collects registration details (date of birth, phone or email), profile data, content you post, payment and transaction data, GPS location with permission, contacts when Discover Friends is enabled, device identifiers, browsing and search history, and advertising IDs. Facial data is processed offline only to create effects, is not used for other purposes without your explicit consent, and is not used for advertising or shared with third parties. Data is used for operation, personalisation, content review, advertising and detecting under-age users. If your profile is public, content can be seen by anyone and by third parties such as search engines. Bigo states it has not sold personal information as defined under California law. Data is kept as long as the account exists; after a deletion request Bigo may still retain some data for legal reasons or fraud prevention. Data may be transferred to and processed in Singapore. The policy says Bigo does not knowingly collect information from people under 18.
Bigo Live alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Bigo Live free?
Downloading and watching are free. Sending gifts to streamers requires buying Diamonds in the app, with packs from 0.29 USD to 129.99 USD on the US App Store.
What age is Bigo Live for?
The User Agreement sets a minimum age of 18, and the US App Store shows 18+. Common Sense Media rates it 17+.
Can I get a refund for Diamonds?
No. Per the User Agreement, all sales of Diamonds and Gifts are final and Bigo does not offer refunds.
Who owns Bigo Live?
The developer is BIGO Technology Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. In March 2019 YY bought the remaining 68.3% of Bigo for about 1.45 billion USD, per TechCrunch; the parent company is now called JOYY.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.0
- Features
- 7.5
- Value for money
- 6.0
- Performance
- 6.0
- Support
- 5.0
- Privacy & security
- 5.5
Why this score
iOS, Android and web; the US App Store and Google Play both show 4.5/5, but Trustpilot is 2.0/5, with remarks about a hard-to-navigate, frequently changing interface.
Why this score
Live streaming, voice chat, multi-guest rooms of up to 11, Live PK, games, filters and effects, plus virtual gifts. No tool stands out against other live-streaming platforms.
Why this score
Free to watch, but all purchases are non-refundable and packs go up to 129.99 USD. There is no subscription, though the model relies on gift spending.
Why this score
No independent streaming-quality data. Trustpilot reviewers report frequent stream drops, especially on mobile data.
Why this score
Support is by email at [email protected] and via Help & Feedback in the app. Bigo replies to 98% of negative Trustpilot reviews, usually within a week, yet users still report slow handling, ignored abuse reports and account bans with no clear explanation.
Why this score
The policy lists data types and says it does not sell data under California law. Marked down for broad collection (location, contacts, device IDs, facial data), use for advertising, and retention after deletion for legal reasons.
What users say
- App Store (United States)4.5/5 · 234,000
- Google Play (United States)4.5/5 · 6,520,000
- Trustpilot2.0/5 · 986
Sources
- Vendor-providedBigo Live homepageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedBigo Live privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedBIGO LIVE User AgreementNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- pressTechCrunch: YY buys out Bigo (2019-03-04)Nov 10, 2026
- pressVOV: Singaporean live-streaming service faces punishment (2016-06-29)Nov 10, 2026
- review-siteCommon Sense Media: Bigo Live parents' guideNov 10, 2026
- review-siteTrustpilot: bigo.tvNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- BIGO Technology Pte. Ltd. (JOYY)
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- Launched
- 2016
- Category
- Entertainment
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- Japanese
- Korean
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Russian
Integrations
- YouTube
Support
Change history
- Update.The Bigo Live Privacy Policy is last updated.
- Update.The BIGO LIVE User Agreement is last updated.
- Company.YY completes the purchase of Bigo's remaining 68.3% for about 1.45 billion USD.
Full change history (5)
- Company.YY buys a stake in Bigo and the right to acquire a majority.
- Update.A Vietnamese regulator says Bigo Live shows signs of online trade that breaks local rules and sends the developers a letter asking them to address it; no penalty had been imposed.
About the author
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