Bitmoji

The dominant personalized avatar platform in Western social messaging, deeply integrated into Snapchat's ecosystem and advertising products

Bitmoji, now part of Snapchat (a product of Snap Inc.), is a personalized avatar creation platform that enables users to design cartoon representations of themselves and use them as stickers, emoji, and animated characters across messaging apps and social media. Originally launched by Bitstrips, the platform was acquired by Snap Inc. in 2016 for approximately $100 million, marking a pivotal moment in the integration of personalized digital identity into social communication. Following the acquisition, Bitmoji became deeply embedded in the Snapchat ecosystem, powering features such as Bitmoji Stories, Bitmoji fashion partnerships, and avatar-based advertising experiences. Brands and marketers have leveraged Bitmoji's reach to create sponsored avatar outfits and branded sticker packs, making it a unique touchpoint for consumer engagement within Snapchat's advertising platform. The avatars also extended to third-party platforms including Snapchat's gaming experiences and keyboard integrations. In 2026, Snap retired the standalone Bitmoji app, consolidating all avatar and sticker functionality directly into Snapchat. This move underscored Bitmoji's role as a core identity layer within Snapchat rather than an independent product. Bitmoji remains significant to Snap's advertising and engagement strategy, as personalized avatars drive user expression, time-on-platform, and branded content opportunities for marketers targeting Snapchat's predominantly younger audience.