The 9 Best TikTok Alternatives

With the future of the popular video-sharing app TikTok uncertain, many users are wondering which is the best alternative to TikTok. TikTok’s vast, unique mix of creators and ingenious algorithm is difficult to replace, but several apps are poised to take its place.

The best alternatives to TikTok provide similar features, including short-form video, chat, and shopping, and use innovative algorithms to personalize the content you see. As users and creators move to these other apps, you’ll be able to reconnect with the content and communities you love. Here are our top TikTok alternatives to keep you engaged, informed, and entertained.

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9 Alternatives to TikTok

9. Favorited

Favorited is a relatively new app, but it’s a promising TikTok alternative website for fans of live streams. Like TikTok, you can swipe through live streams on the Watch tab, or use the Discover tab to find new creators based on whether they’re chatting or battling. There’s no option to add pre-recorded videos – everything is live.

It offers great monetization tools for creators, including the ability to add links to live streams and receive virtual gifts. Sign-up is straightforward, and you can join with your phone number or email. 

Pros Creators earn 70% of revenue (vs 50% on TikTok) Excellent user engagement elements like badges, points, and gifts Popular in the US, the UK, and Jamaica

Cons No pre-recorded videos Smaller user base than TikTok Fewer well-known creators

8. ZigaZoo

ZigaZoo markets itself as a safe TikTok alternative for kids. It functions just like TikTok, with a home feed and a discover tab, but it’s completely geared toward younger users and creators. ZigaZoo users can find their friends, explore their interests, develop creative skills, and participate in challenges and giveaways.

As a parent, you create an account for your child with your email, then enter your child’s age and interests to personalize the feed. If your child wants to post content, you must grant them access by verifying their account with a private photo of yourself and your child.

Pros Vigorous parental controls and safety settings Some content includes celebrity and educational organization partnerships All videos are reviewed by humans to ensure kid-friendly content

Cons Not for older teens or adults Limited content library compared to TikTok Lots of advertisements for in-app purchases

7. Triller

Triller is a short-form music video platform. You’ll see lots of dance videos, as well as comedy, health and wellness, and lifestyle videos set to music. It functions similarly to TikTok, with a home tab and a search tab, plus AI-powered video editing features and live-streaming.

You can scroll Triller without an account, but you’ll need one to interact with other users and receive personalized recommendations. Signing up is similar to TikTok, requiring you to provide and certify your phone number or email.

Pros The audio tab makes it easy to check out trending music Promotes new creators, making it easier to reach new audiences Easy-to-use video editing tool

Cons Small audience and creator base; sometimes there’s no one on live Content may be inappropriate for kids or teens Can be glitchy, especially with uploading content

6. Lemon8

Made by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, Lemon8 functions like a mix of TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram. It’s more niche than TikTok as its focus is lifestyle, but its photo and video editing features are of the same quality. If you’re a fan of the inspiration, advice, and tips you can find from some TikTok creators, Lemon8 is a great alternative. You can easily sign up via your TikTok account.

Pros Inspiring mix of aesthetics, advice, and social features Similar algorithm to TikTok means more personalized content Rapidly increasing user base as people switch from TikTok

Cons Could get caught up in TikTok bans Fewer niches compared to TikTok Lower post interaction than TikTok

5. Clapper

Clapper looks and feels a lot like TikTok. It’s a short-form video app with a Home tab featuring videos it thinks you’ll like, as well as a Discover and Search tab. The app has live video functionality and a wide variety of creators covering just about every topic and type of video. Unlike TikTok, Clapper is totally ad-free, and creators can monetize their content by selling products or memberships through the platform.

If you’re looking for a TikTok alternative in the USA, you might prefer Clapper, which is based in Texas. You can create an account using your phone number or email or sign up via your Apple, Google, or Facebook account. 

Pros Great community-building features, like Clapper Groups, Clap Backs, and Clapper Radios Videos can be up to 3 minutes Focus on community, free speech, and authenticity

Cons Lots of reposted and stolen videos Less personalized algorithm than TikTok Lower quality content than on TikTok, with more engagement baiting

4. Snapchat

Snapchat is for more than sharing disappearing photos with your bestie. Its Spotlight tab acts similarly to TikTok, allowing you to scroll through short-form videos from other users, creators, and businesses. Snapchat is especially popular with celebrities, so you might prefer it if you’re a pop culture fan. To start watching, you’ll need to create an account with your phone number.

The Spotlight tab doesn’t let you leave comments, which could be a negative if you like the community aspect of TikTok. However, you can like, share, or mark that you’re not interested in a video to help personalize content. Snapchat also has a Discover tab that allows you to find creators to follow. 

Pros Useful lenses and tools for creating and editing videos High-quality content Large user base with the option to monetize via Snapchat revenue sharing

Cons Most content is geared toward younger users Lack of comments means less community-building Less intuitive interface than TikTok

3. YouTube

Many people already cross-post TikTok videos to YouTube Shorts, which means you’ll find many of your favorite creators on the platform. YouTube Shorts’ algorithm has improved in recent years, making it easier to find YouTubers you may not have come across before and content in niches you’re actually interested in. 

For creators, YouTube’s huge user base presents the opportunity to reach new audiences. The platform offers basic video editing tools, though these aren’t as advanced as TikTok’s creative suite. Plus, you probably already have a Google and YouTube account, so it’s easy to access. 

Pros Huge, diverse user base and content Excellent creator tools, including analytics and monetization Videos can be up to three minutes long

Cons Less emphasis on community than on TikTok Views on Shorts may not translate to long-form video views Creators must have at least 1,000 followers to monetize Shorts

2. Instagram 

Instagram is the primary social media platform for many creators, although Instagram Reels are just one part of the platform. Instagram has a large audience with a wider demographic than Tiktok, but a smaller Gen Z audience. There’s a bigger emphasis on polished content rather than viral, attention-grabbing trends. 

For creators, Instagram’s video editing toolkit may be appealing since it’s similar to TikTok’s suite. Users can also comment, save, like, and share content, just like on TikTok, meaning it’s easy to engage with your community. You can create a new account with your email or phone number, or by logging in with your Facebook account.

Pros Different content options, including photos carousels and Stories Audio library includes user-uploaded sounds, similar to TikTok Reels are shown across all Instagram tabs for more reach

Cons The algorithm prioritizes paid ads, which can mean less engagement Maximum video length is 90 seconds (compared to 10 minutes for TikTok) Limited audio library with more copyright restrictions

1. RedNote (Xiaohongshu)

Hundreds of thousands of TikTok users have downloaded Xiaohongshu, which translates to Little Red Book – shortened by many to RedNote. The app looks and feels much like TikTok. You create an account with your phone number and select from a variety of interests. You can scroll through videos recommended for you or check out the Trending tab.

While RedNote previously featured mainly Mandarin-language videos, as more American TikTok users have moved over, many Chinese users have begun creating content in English. American users calling themselves “TikTok refugees” are also adding videos. Much of the latest content on the app feels reminiscent of TikTok, with everything from vlog-style videos to comedic skits to educational content.

Pros Instagram-like functionality with photos, videos, and text-only posts, plus shopping within the app Algorithm focuses on user interests, making it easier to reach new audiences Monetization available through in-app shopping and sponsorships

Cons Heavily moderated and censored compared to other TikTok alternatives User base is primarily women, which skews the content mix Lack of data transparency for Americans, as terms and conditions are in Mandarin

Why You Should Use a VPN to Access Social Media

A VPN may help you maintain access to your favorite social media sites even when you access them on restricted networks, such as office and school networks. Thanks to powerful encryption that hides your online activity, a VPN helps you bypass these network restrictions so you can unblock websites and social media apps. This works best if you access social media websites in a browser.  

VPNs also help keep you safe while you browse. All social media platforms, from TikTok to Instagram, collect your data. If you’re logged into your account, some data tracking is inevitable. However, VPN encryption can stop third parties, like advertisers, your ISP, and the government, from tracking your activity. VPNs scramble your internet traffic and send it through a private server to prevent outsiders from snooping on you.

This also adds a layer of protection when you use public Wi-Fi. While these networks are convenient for scrolling, they’re typically unsecured, making them easy targets for hackers looking to steal personal information. A VPN safeguards your information, locking your data up and hiding it from any lurking criminals. 

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