Bigo Live is a leading streaming platform that lets users connect with like-minded gamers while showcasing their talents and earning rewards in the process. With multiple factors in play when getting started with Bigo Live, some newcomers may quickly find themselves overwhelmed with its features, currencies, and streaming methods. Fortunately, learning everything about it once is enough to remember all the platform's necessities.
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Bigo Live is a social live-streaming platform. Like Twitch, Kick, and similar streaming platforms, Bigo Live lets users interact with others in real-time while broadcasting themselves in real-time for others to see. While Bigo focuses more on general gaming, that doesn’t mean users can’t find other stuff there. From music performances to casual chats and even lifestyle vlogs, the platform appeals to various niches. The Singaporean platform initially gained attention in Southeast Asia before expanding worldwide.
Short-form mobile-friendly content is king on Bigo Live, similar to TikTok. Though those thinking it’s an alternative for TikTok may be disappointed. TikTok uses an algorithm to push viral clips to audiences based on preference. On the other hand, Bigo Live focuses on real-time engagement. The platform fosters smaller but more interactive communities and makes it appealing to users who enjoy live social interaction rather than endlessly scrolling through videos. It also has a dedicated gifted system that users can streamline through services like LootBar.
Bigo Live stands out through collaboration features and competition between streamers. The Multi-Guest Stream feature sets Bigo Live apart from competitors. It's excellent for group discussions and interviews and can also be a good way for up to 12 people to stream together in a casual hangout.
Streamers can also grow their fanbase through the Family system. The Communities feature also lets users interact with people sharing the same interests, letting them make like-minded friends. Instead of creator-driven content like on Twitch or TikTok, Bigo Live keeps things community-focused through social interaction.
It also takes collaboration to the next level by introducing competitive elements, ensuring multiple creators can engagingly interact with each other. The Player Knockout feature lets two streamers compete to get the most virtual gifts and engagement on their live streams. It was added before TikTok's version, adding an exciting twist for creators and viewers. This gamified feature revolutionizes audience participation, letting viewers actively shape the outcome mid-stream.
Bigo Live also offers options for people who prefer privacy. The platform is naturally inviting for VTubers as it features built-in digital 3D avatars, helping those who don't want to disclose their actual face to others. If someone chooses not to engage publicly, they can utilize Private Video Calls.
Creating an account on Bigo Live is quick with a fairly straightforward process.
Open and select your preferred sign-in method. Choosing a social media platform speeds up the process by pulling in existing details for your account.
The app will then suggest some trending creators, helping to explore and get a feel for how the platform works.
Overall, Bigo Live's UI is fairly clean and navigating it is straightforward. Unlike platforms like YouTube gaming where there is a combination of regular videos, streams, shorts, and more, Bigo Live knows what to specialize in and zones in on that.
Unlike most other streaming platforms where users only have a single currency, like Bits on Twitch, Bigo Live does things a little different. The platform has three primary types of currencies newcomers should familiarize themselves with.
Arguably the most important Bigo Live currency is Diamonds. Since it’s the platform’s premium currency, gamers can use it to buy things like gifts for their favorite streamers, VIP memberships, and even participate in certain events.
There are two primary ways to acquire Diamonds in Bigo Live. The first is getting the currency for free, which includes things like inviting friends, participating in events, finishing daily tasks, and achieving fame as a broadcaster. The downside is that free methods don’t usually give many Diamonds, which can be a problem considering some virtual gifts can cost a lot.
That's where the more common method comes into play, which is buying Diamonds. Like every premium currency in online games, buying is the best way to acquire it in bulk. Users can go about this in multiple ways, including purchasing Diamonds from the app, website, or even a third-party platform. Trusted Bigo Live Diamond recharge services like LootBar streamline the process of acquiring Diamonds by offering multiple payment methods while ensuring the process is entirely transparent.
Diamonds are primarily used to purchase virtual gifts for streamers. From simple emojis to eye-catching animations, the more Diamonds users spend to donate virtual gifts to their favorite streamers, the more attention they get from the broadcaster and their community. It’s a way of being part of the action.
Some gifts can cost thousands of Diamonds, while others are fairly cheap. This ensures users have multiple ways to donate to streamers, whether on a budget or in the mood to splurge.
Some may assume that virtual gifts don’t do anything for the streamer, but that isn’t true. Those interested in streaming on Bigo Live will want to know about Beans, the currency streamers get when someone gets them virtual gifts. These Beans can be converted into real money that streamers can withdraw from their account, giving them a way to monetize their streaming hobby.
With all the know-hows out of the way, it's time to go through how users can start streaming on Bigo Live to start their streaming journey.
Open the app and click the blue live button at the bottom. Give the app microphone and camera permissions to ensure everything runs smoothly. Afterward, set an engaging title for your stream, privacy preferences, and relevant hashtags to help viewers with similar interests discover your stream.
You’ll need to choose your stream type before going live. You can select from a few options: Virtual Live for using an avatar, Multi-guest LIVE for streaming with friends, LIVE (Single) for solo broadcast, and Audio LIVE for voice-only.
Gamers can choose Game LIVE to start streaming their favorite game. Pick the game you want to stream and start broadcasting, and enable the Display over other apps option for a smooth experience.
After finishing the stream, Bigo Live will show you useful stats like viewer count, new fans, received gifts (beans), and top supporters. All this lets you track your engagement and see how your content performs.
While streaming from mobile is straightforward, the PC version has a dedicated tool called Bigo Live Connector. Here's how to start using this tool:
You can adjust the message toolbar, check session details, and interact with your viewers. Be mindful that switching your resolution from HD to SD gives you a warning, and exiting your game automatically updates your stream tag. This tool also provides a convenient way to track currencies, including bigo live diamond recharge through LootBar and virtual gifts loyal fans may have given.
All in all, Bigo Live may not be part of the mainstream streaming world like Twitch, Kick, and YouTube, but the platform has cultivated a dedicated user base thanks to its user-friendly approach. From ensuring streaming is straightforward to giving users multiple ways to show their appreciation to streamers, those who start using the platform will likely only need to worry about one thing, which is getting too addicted to it.
