
YouNow is a consumer-focused live-streaming platform where individual creators and small teams broadcast live video to a public audience, interact with viewers in real time via chat and virtual gifts, and monetize attention through tips and subscriptions. The platform runs on web and mobile (iOS and Android) and emphasizes short-form, frequent broadcasts, social discovery, and in-stream interaction.
YouNow positions itself as an audience-facing social broadcast network: creators build recurring audiences through scheduled or ad-hoc streams, viewers discover broadcasts based on tags, location and trending pages, and the platform provides a set of moderation and monetization features designed for independent creators rather than large-scale broadcast operations.
Typical users include solo creators (music performers, commentators, casual streamers), small creator collectives, and brands experimenting with live formats. The platform supports both casual viewing and creator-centered features like virtual gifting, badges, basic analytics and replay publishing.
YouNow includes a mix of broadcasting, discovery, engagement and monetization features designed for creators and their audiences:
The feature set is designed around frequent, interactive broadcasts rather than production-grade multi-camera workflows. For creators seeking advanced studio capabilities, YouNow is typically paired with external tools like encoders or production apps.
YouNow lets individuals and small teams broadcast live video to an audience and convert attention into revenue through virtual gifts and tipping. Creators go live from the mobile app or web client, engage viewers through chat and in-stream interactions, and can build a repeat audience via followers and scheduled shows.
The platform manages the in-app economy (coin purchases, gifts, and payout processing), handles stream distribution and basic recording for replays, and provides discovery mechanics so new viewers can find active creators. It also includes tools for community moderation and basic audience analytics that creators use to refine content and schedule broadcasts.
Beyond pure streaming, YouNow supports short broadcasts and community-driven formats (music performances, talk shows, Q&A, creative demonstrations), making it useful for creators who want lightweight production and an integrated payment flow without self-hosting or complex streaming infrastructure.
YouNow offers these pricing plans:
YouNow also sells virtual currency and gift packs for viewers:
Check YouNow's current pricing for the latest rates and enterprise options.
YouNow starts at $0/month for basic use and viewing. Paid creator tiers begin at $4.99/month for additional creator tools and revenue-share improvements.
YouNow costs $0/year for the Free Plan. Annual plans for creators are available and typically provide a discount: the Creator plan is $49.99/year and the Pro Creator plan is $149.99/year.
YouNow pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $14.99/month for individual creator plans, with enterprise pricing available on request. Additional costs come from in-app coin purchases by viewers (common pack sizes include $1.99, $4.99, $9.99, $19.99) and any third-party production tools creators choose to use.
YouNow is used for live social broadcasting where creators want direct, monetizable engagement with viewers. Typical uses include music performances, talk shows, live commentary, Q&A sessions, casual social streams and co-hosted interviews.
Creators use the platform to build recurring audiences, accept direct tips and gifts during broadcasts, and convert live interactions into ongoing fan relationships. Brands and small media projects use YouNow for product demos, micro-events or influencer-led promotions where a personal live connection matters.
From an operational perspective, YouNow is also used as a low-friction entry point for creators who do not want to self-host streaming infrastructure: the platform handles ingest, distribution, monetization and simple analytics so creators can focus on content.
YouNow's strengths include a mobile-first experience and integrated monetization. The in-app gifting economy makes it straightforward for creators to earn directly from viewers without external payment flows, and the mobile discovery model helps new creators surface to potential followers quickly.
Another pro is the simplicity: easy setup, integrated replay publishing, basic analytics and a modest moderation toolset help small teams run shows without a production crew. Push notifications, follower feeds and tag-based discovery also increase repeat viewership.
On the downside, YouNow is not a production-grade platform: it lacks advanced multi-camera switching, professional encoding features and comprehensive enterprise CDN controls that larger broadcasters require. Creator payout terms and revenue share models can vary and typically include platform cuts and processing fees.
Moderation and community controls are functional but more limited than those on large social platforms; creators with high moderation demands may need external moderation tools or a dedicated staff. Finally, while discovery is helpful for new creators, saturation in popular categories can make audience growth incremental without cross-promotion.
YouNow's basic functionality is available at no cost for viewers and broadcasters: anyone can create a public broadcast and participate in chat without an initial subscription. For creator-focused paid tiers, YouNow commonly offers promotional trials or introductory offers for first-time subscribers (for example a 7-day trial for the Creator or Pro Creator tiers) to test enhanced analytics and revenue features.
A free trial typically unlocks higher revenue shares and advanced analytics for a limited period; after the trial ends users are billed the recurring monthly or annual rate unless they cancel. Trial availability and length can change with promotions and regional variations, so creators often check the app or account dashboard for current offers.
Yes, YouNow offers a free plan that allows users to view broadcasts, create public streams, join chat and purchase virtual gifts. The Free Plan is sufficient for casual creators and viewers; paid creator tiers add improved monetization terms, analytics and priority support.
YouNow provides developer-facing integration points for extending broadcasts, embedding players, and automating workflows. Key API capabilities include:
Developers commonly use the API to embed live players on external sites, automate payout or bookkeeping processes, sync audience data to CRM systems, and build custom moderation dashboards. For official developer documentation and endpoint specifics, consult YouNow's developer resources on their site and the platform's technical support pages.
YouNow is used for live social broadcasting and audience monetization. Creators use it to run real-time shows, take tips and gifts from viewers, and build recurring live audiences through chat-driven interaction and replay publishing.
Yes, YouNow supports creator monetization through virtual gifts and tipping. Viewers purchase coins or gift packs (common price points include $1.99, $4.99, $9.99, $19.99) and send gifts during broadcasts; creators receive payouts according to platform revenue-share terms.
YouNow starts at $0/month for basic use. Paid creator tiers begin at $4.99/month with options for annual billing at reduced rates such as $49.99/year for the Creator plan.
Yes, YouNow offers native iOS and Android apps. Mobile apps provide camera controls, push notifications, follower feeds and the same virtual gifting economy found on the web client, optimized for mobile-first broadcasting.
Yes, YouNow provides embeddable players and RTMP ingest options for external sites. Creators and partners can embed live players on their own domains and use RTMP or SDKs to send higher-quality video from desktop encoders.
YouNow includes moderator roles, block lists and keyword filters. These controls let creators and appointed moderators remove messages, ban users, and suppress specific words to maintain a safer chat environment during live streams.
Yes, YouNow provides basic creator analytics. The dashboard shows metrics such as concurrent viewers, follower growth, and gift revenue summaries; paid creator tiers gain access to more detailed engagement and monetization reports.
Yes, YouNow supports scheduled broadcasts and metadata. Creators can schedule shows, set titles and tags, and notify followers through the app so audiences know when to return for live events.
Yes, with enterprise options available. Brands and media partners typically use the Enterprise plan for multi-channel management, dedicated support, and custom discovery or integration needs under negotiated pricing.
YouNow publishes API and integration details on their official site. Developers looking to embed players, subscribe to monetization webhooks, or automate broadcast workflows should consult YouNow's developer pages and technical support resources for current endpoint and SDK information.
YouNow hires across product, engineering, moderation operations, community management and marketing roles; positions range from mobile engineering to creator partnerships. Careers at live platforms often focus on experience with video streaming protocols, moderation tooling and real-time systems. Candidates typically find listings and application instructions on the platform's corporate pages or LinkedIn presence.
YouNow runs partner and affiliate programs for creators and brands that want to promote the platform or integrate referral workflows. Affiliate arrangements commonly include referral earnings for driving new paying users or creators, and partner programs for agencies and talent managers that operate multiple channels. Check the platform's partner portal for program terms and payout schedules.
YouNow reviews appear across app stores (Google Play, Apple App Store), creator forums, social media groups, and independent review sites that focus on live-streaming tools. For aggregated user feedback and recent platform changes, check app store ratings and creator communities, and read technical blog posts or case studies from creators who use the platform.