Case study · Social · Live streaming
SnapLive
Stream, battle, scroll.
SnapLive is a native Android social app that combines live streaming, PK battles and virtual gifting with a short-video feed, playlists, AR face filters and voice and video calls.
- Product
- Social live streaming
- Platform
- Native Android
- Video
- Agora RTC
- Backend
- Laravel API
01 — The challenge
Users split their time between live apps and short-video apps. Bringing both into one product means heavy real-time video, AR effects and a smooth feed — on mid-range Android phones and within Google Play’s fast-moving rules.
02 — What we built
A native Kotlin and Java app with Agora for low-latency live video, AR face filters, a For You / Following / local feed and a gift economy, backed by a Laravel API. We keep it compliant with Play requirements — Billing v8, edge-to-edge and ANR fixes included.
03 — Inside the product
Everything it does.
Live streaming
Low-latency live rooms powered by Agora, with viewers, comments and follows.
PK battles
Head-to-head host battles with live scores, win/lose results and gift boosts.
Virtual gifting
Animated gifts, recharge and a coin economy that rewards creators.
Short-video feed
For You, Following and local feeds with likes, comments, saves and shares.
Playlists
Creators organise episodes into themed playlists for binge viewing.
AR face filters
Real-time beauty and AR effects while recording or going live.
Voice & video calls
One-to-one calls between fans and creators, right inside the app.
Play-ready
Kept current with Google Play — Billing Library v8, edge-to-edge UI and stability fixes.
04 — Screens
A closer look.
05 — Built with
06 — What it delivers
- Live and short-form video in one app keeps users in one place
- Multiple engagement hooks: battles, gifts, playlists and calls
- Native performance for real-time video and AR on everyday phones
- An app that keeps passing Google Play’s evolving requirements
07 — Social media app development
Social media app development, like TikTok — plus live
Want to build a social media or short-video app like TikTok? SnapLive is a native Android app we built that combines a For You feed, playlists, live streaming, PK battles, virtual gifts, AR face filters and voice and video calls.
We handle the hard parts — real-time video, AR effects, smooth feeds on everyday phones and Google Play compliance — and back it with a scalable API and admin.
What you get when we build yours
- Short-video feed with For You, Following and local tabs
- Live streaming, PK battles and virtual gifting
- AR face filters and beauty effects
- One-to-one voice and video calls
- Creator profiles, playlists and monetisation
- Google Play compliance and performance tuning
Social media app development — questions
Straight answers about social media app development, based on building SnapLive.
Can you build an app like TikTok?
Yes. SnapLive includes a TikTok-style short-video feed, live streaming, PK battles, gifting, playlists and AR filters. We can build a similar app for your audience or market.
Native or cross-platform for a video app?
For heavy real-time video and AR, native Android (Kotlin) gives the best performance, which is how SnapLive is built. For many social apps React Native or Flutter work well and cover iOS too — we recommend the right option after scoping.
Can you add AR filters and effects?
Yes. SnapLive uses real-time AR face filters while recording and going live, integrated through a native AR SDK.
Do you keep apps compliant with Google Play?
Yes. We keep SnapLive current with Play requirements such as Billing Library v8, edge-to-edge UI and stability (ANR) fixes, and do the same for client apps.
How do social video apps make money?
Through virtual gifts and recharges, creator subscriptions, ads and premium features. We build the wallet, payments and admin reporting for whichever model you choose.
How much does a social media app cost?
It depends on features and platforms. Book a free scoping call and we will give you a fixed quote and timeline.
Let’s talk
Building a social or video app?
We design, build and launch products like SnapLive — and we can build yours.
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