Custom Live Streaming App
Development Services

The infrastructure decision you make in week one, Agora, Twilio, or in-house WebRTC, determines whether your platform scales affordably or becomes a cost problem at 50,000 users. Most teams make it without realising it's a decision at all.

We're an official Agora partner and have built WebRTC platforms with sub-200ms latency and HLS broadcast systems for 100K+ concurrent viewers. The architecture decision, the cost model of each option, and the monetisation structure are all designed before sprint one starts, not when scaling becomes a problem.

  • WebRTC sub-200ms latency for interactive sessions (auctions, live Q&A, group video) or HLS broadcast for 100K+ concurrent viewers, chosen for your use case, not a default

  • Monetization architecture (subscriptions, pay-per-view, virtual gifts, advertising) designed alongside the content layer, not bolted on after launch when billing breaks on edge cases

  • Official Agora partner: we recommend the infrastructure that fits your cost model and use case, not the platform we're certified on

  • 12 to 14 weeks to production-ready: not a prototype, not a staging environment, not an MVP that can't handle real traffic

Recognition

Sound familiar?

  • Paying per-minute for managed streaming infrastructure that was affordable at 1,000 concurrent users but becomes the largest line on your cloud bill as you scale past 20,000?

  • Live event peak, a concert, a sports final, a product launch, where the platform falls over at the moment that matters most because it was built for average load, not the spike?

In short

RaftLabs builds custom live streaming platforms including WebRTC apps with sub-200ms latency, HLS broadcast systems supporting 100K+ concurrent viewers, OTT platforms, sports streaming apps, and enterprise video products. As an official Agora partner with 9+ years of experience, we deliver production-ready streaming products in 12 to 14 weeks with monetisation and room to grow built into the architecture from the first sprint.

Companies we've built for

Vodafone
Nike
Microsoft
Cisco
T-Mobile
Aldi
Heineken
GE

Why live streaming platforms matter

Active live streaming users globally
3.2B
Increase in live streaming consumption year-over-year
90%
Hours of live content watched monthly across platforms
5.4B+

Problems we solve in live streaming

  1. 01
    Problem

    Your platform works fine at 500 concurrent viewers but falls apart above 10,000 because it was never designed for broadcast scale

    Solution

    The jump from low-concurrency testing to production scale is where most streaming platforms fail. HLS delivery for thousands of concurrent viewers requires CDN configuration, adaptive bitrate encoding, and a manifest management layer that a WebRTC-first build doesn't include. When the first major event hits and the player buffers for 30% of viewers, retrofitting broadcast-scale delivery into a system designed for small groups costs as much as a rebuild. Architecture designed for your target concurrency from sprint one avoids the failure at scale.

  2. 02
    Problem

    Your live events generate revenue but you have no monetisation infrastructure: access is free or manually gated, and you can't sell pay-per-view or subscriptions

    Solution

    A streaming platform without monetisation is content distribution. Pay-per-view event access, subscription tiers for a VOD library, tipping and virtual gifts for interactive streams, embedded advertising slots: each requires billing infrastructure, entitlement management, and a checkout flow designed for impulse buying. When monetisation is added after launch, you're retrofitting billing logic into a platform that wasn't designed for it. The billing architecture and the access control model need to be designed together from the start.

  3. 03
    Problem

    Your interactive stream has good content but viewer engagement is passive because the platform has no tools for audience participation during the broadcast

    Solution

    Live streaming engagement metrics for interactive platforms (polls, Q&A, reactions, co-viewing) run 3 to 5 times higher than passive broadcast. According to Restream's 2024 Live Streaming Statistics report, live video generates 37% more engagement than pre-recorded content, and viewers spend three times longer watching a live stream than an equivalent on-demand video. When the platform has no audience participation layer, viewers watch but don't connect. Building interactive features on top of a passive streaming architecture requires adding a real-time messaging layer that wasn't in the original design. Platforms built with WebRTC for interactivity alongside HLS for broadcast delivery from the start can serve both audiences.

  4. 04
    Problem

    Your content library has no discoverability features so viewers watch the live event and then leave instead of staying for on-demand content

    Solution

    Live streaming platforms with VOD libraries need recommendation systems, search, and category browsing to retain viewers between live events. When recordings are uploaded in order without metadata, tagging, or surfacing logic, the library is a flat list. Viewers don't browse flat lists. Content discovery features, a recommendation engine, search with filter, curated collections, and watch history keep the audience on the platform between events and drive subscription retention.

Our live streaming app development services

  1. Live event broadcasting platform

    When you're streaming a paid event, sports match, concert, or webinar, there's no room for buffering, delays, or crashes.

    We build live event streaming platforms designed to handle peak traffic, real-time engagement, and large audiences. Thousands of users can log in at once and get smooth, real-time streaming.

    Best for: Event organizers, sports leagues, concert venues, webinar hosts, and conference platforms.

    What you get:

    • Multi-camera live streaming (WebRTC under 200ms or high-throughput HLS)
    • Real-time chat, Q&A, polls, and reactions powered by Agora
    • Infrastructure built to handle traffic spikes during ticketed events
    • Automatic recording with instant VOD availability
    • Simulcasting to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch

  2. OTT platform development

    Building an OTT platform is more than streaming video. It's building a complete subscription-based content business.

    We develop end-to-end OTT platforms with production-ready streaming infrastructure, content management, secure monetisation, and cross-device apps, all designed to increase retention and recurring revenue.

    Best for: Media companies, content networks, subscription streaming services, entertainment platforms offering premium content.

    What you get:

    • Custom OTT apps for Web, iOS, Android, and Smart TV
    • Video CMS with bulk upload, transcoding, metadata, and publishing workflows
    • Subscription management with Stripe integration and automated billing
    • DRM-secured offline viewing (Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay)
    • Advanced analytics to track watch time, retention, churn, and conversion

  3. Video on demand (VOD) platforms

    A successful VOD platform isn't about having thousands of videos. It's about helping users find the right content instantly.

    We build intelligent VOD platforms trained on your content metadata and viewing behavior. They improve content discovery, personalise recommendations, and increase viewer retention from day one.

    Best for: Educational platforms, entertainment services, digital media libraries, and corporate training platforms.

    What you get:

    • Content recommendations using collaborative and content-based models
    • Resume playback and "continue watching" synced across devices
    • Advanced search with genre, language, duration, and custom filters
    • Parental controls with PIN-protected profiles
    • Content analytics to track completion rates, replay behavior, and engagement

  4. Live sports streaming apps

    Live sports streaming demands ultra-low latency, broadcast-quality video, and infrastructure that can handle massive traffic spikes, especially during peak match moments.

    We build high-performance sports streaming apps designed for real-time delivery, pay-per-view reliability, and large concurrent audiences without buffering or delays.

    Best for: Sports leagues, team apps, sports media companies, and pay-per-view (PPV) platforms.

    What you get:

    • Sub-200ms streaming via WebRTC or high-throughput HLS (2 to 4s delay)
    • Multi-angle camera switching with synchronized streams
    • Real-time stats and scoreboard overlays via API integration
    • Instant replay and dynamic highlight clipping within seconds
    • Infrastructure tested to handle 10x expected peak viewers

  5. Webinar and e-learning platforms

    The difference between an average online course platform and one that drives real learning outcomes is engagement.

    Most standard webinar platforms see low completion rates. Interactive learning platforms with quizzes, live Q&A, polls, and breakout sessions significantly improve course completion and knowledge retention.

    We build e-learning platforms where live streaming and interactivity are deeply integrated, so learning stays engaging.

    Best for: Educational institutions, online course creators, corporate training providers, and certification programs.

    What you get:

    • Live classes with synchronized screen sharing and presentation mode
    • Breakout rooms (up to 50 sessions) powered by Agora
    • Real-time quizzes, polls, and live Q&A
    • Automatic session recording with smart chapter markers
    • Completion tracking, quiz analytics, and certificate generation with LMS sync

  6. Social live streaming apps

    A successful social streaming app depends on one thing: creator monetization. If creators can't earn, they leave and their audience follows.

    We build social live streaming apps where revenue tools, engagement features, and growth analytics are built in from day one, helping you create a sustainable creator ecosystem.

    Best for: Creator platforms, influencer networks, community apps, and social commerce businesses.

    What you get:

    • One-tap go-live streaming for instant audience reach
    • Virtual gifting with customizable revenue split and live animations
    • Paid creator subscriptions with exclusive content and private chat
    • Live shopping with product tagging and in-app checkout
    • Creator analytics: earnings breakdown, top supporters, churn rate, and stream performance

  7. Gaming and esports streaming

    In gaming, latency isn't a technical detail. It's the product experience. If chat reactions lag behind gameplay, the platform feels broken.

    We build gaming and esports streaming platforms with ultra-low latency as the foundation, delivering real-time interaction, community engagement, and monetization tools from day one.

    Best for: Gaming platforms, esports organizations, tournament hosts, and game publishers.

    What you get:

    • 1 to 3 second low-latency streaming (low-latency HLS)
    • OBS, XSplit, and RTMP-compatible stream overlays and widgets
    • Live community chat with emotes, badges, and moderation tools
    • Subscriptions, donations, and streamer payout dashboards
    • Real-time tournament bracket and match overlay integration

  8. Enterprise video streaming

    Enterprise video platforms require more than streaming quality. They require security, compliance, and full visibility into who accessed what content.

    We build secure enterprise video streaming solutions where authentication, access control, encryption, and audit tracking are built into the core architecture.

    Best for: Corporations, government agencies, regulated industries, and large distributed organizations, B2B SaaS.

    What you get:

    • Enterprise SSO (SAML 2.0 / OIDC) with Okta, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and Google Workspace
    • Role-based access control with department-level and time-based permissions
    • End-to-end encrypted streaming with DRM protection
    • Immutable audit logs (who watched, when, duration, IP, device)
    • Native integration with Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Zoom

FAQs

Live streaming delivers content in real-time as events happen, while video on demand (VOD) allows users to watch pre-recorded content at their convenience. We build platforms supporting both.

The typical cost of developing a live streaming platform depends on complexity:

  • Minimum Viable Product (MVP): USD 10,000 to 20,000 for basic live streaming with 1 to 2 core features, simple UI, suitable for early adopters, turnaround 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Full-featured platform: USD 20,000 to 40,000 for multi-feature streaming, custom design, 3rd-party integrations, ready for scaling, turnaround 12 to 14 weeks.
  • Advanced platform: Custom quote for highly complex requirements like AR/VR integration, AI features, or next-gen streaming experiences.

We implement industry-standard protocols including WebRTC, RTMP, HLS, MPEG-DASH, SRT, and CMAF based on your latency and quality requirements.

We use WebRTC for ultra-low latency (under 200ms), optimise CDN delivery, implement edge computing, and use adaptive bitrate streaming to minimise buffering.

Yes, we offer ongoing support including monitoring, updates, feature improvements, and infrastructure optimisation.

What clients say

What our clients say

Three-year average engagement. Founders and operators describing the work in their own words. No marketing varnish.

Dr. J. Ayo Akinyele
Dr. J. Ayo Akinyele
USA flagUSA
President, Co-Founder

I was pleased with RaftLabs team quality, consistency and execution.

01 / 02

Case studies

Related services

  • Custom Software Development, Custom live streaming platforms, interactive broadcast tools, and video delivery infrastructure built for your concurrency and monetisation model
  • AI Agent Development, AI content moderation, real-time captioning, viewer engagement analysis, and automated highlight generation
  • Business Process Automation, Automate stream scheduling, subscriber notifications, VOD processing, and revenue reconciliation workflows

Talk to us about your live streaming platform.

Tell us your target concurrent viewer count, monetisation model, and interactivity requirements. We'll scope the right WebRTC and HLS architecture for your use case.

  • Scope and cost agreed before work starts. No surprises. No obligation.
  • Working prototype within 3 weeks of kickoff.
  • Pay by milestone. You see progress before each invoice.
  • 60-day post-launch warranty. Bug fixes, UI tweaks, and deployment support. No retainer.
  • All conversations are NDA-protected.