20 Tiktok Alternatives: The Ultimate Guide for 2025
In a Reddit group discussing the best TikTok alternatives, the standout response is often: none. This clearly shows your love for TikTok, even as its future in the U.S. stays uncertain for some time. After briefly going dark following a critical deadline, TikTok made its comeback.
If you’re feeling lost in this ongoing TikTok saga, don’t worry! We’ve put together the most important milestones and latest updates:
While we wait for a final answer to the question—can we keep enjoying TikTok dances in the U.S. or not?—it’s a good idea to explore the alternatives out there.
20 Top TikTok Alternatives at a Glance
Here’s a complete list of TikTok alternatives to help you explore your options – including some lesser-known gems you might not have heard of before.
Lemon8
“A lifestyle community powered by TikTok”
Lemon8 combines Pinterest and Instagram, focusing on lifestyle content. Despite its launch in 2020, it’s only recently gained traction, largely due to the TikTok ban debates in the US. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is heavily promoting this app as its next big thing.
The app includes basic features such as uploading content, interacting with users, and adding friends.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Longer captions: Encourages real storytelling and more meaningful engagement rather than just endless scrolling. | 🔴 Potential ban risk: Could face a ban along with TikTok due to its parent company, ByteDance. |
| 🟢 Aesthetic appeal: Perfect for lifestyle influencers looking for a visually pleasing and curated platform. | |
| 🟢 Feed control: Offers greater control over your feed’s appearance, providing a welcome contrast to TikTok’s rapid video-driven experience. |
RedNote (Xiaohongshu)
“Share life, connect the world”
RedNote is a Chinese social media platform that merges short-form videos, live streaming, and lifestyle content. Often compared to a combination of TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, it offers a mix of entertainment and e-commerce.
With a global audience exceeding 300 million monthly active users, on RedNote you can share product reviews, lifestyle advice, and personal stories. Shopping is incorporated into its design.
Launched in 2013, this TikTok alternative has become one of China’s top social platforms, boasting a valuation of over $3 billion.
Pros and Cons of Rednote
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Short-form videos & community chat: Engages users with trending sounds, hashtags, and community-based chats. | 🔴 Limited international reach: Rednote has less global exposure compared to TikTok, but the user base is steadily growing. |
| 🟢 Diverse content: Covers topics like beauty, fashion, and travel, creating a dynamic and engaging community space. | 🔴 Privacy concerns: Data storage policies in China raise potential privacy issues for users. |
| 🟢 Simplified experience: Streamlined music and video features make it feel less overwhelming than TikTok. |
✨ Tip: Want to get started on Rednote? Check out our guide to kick off your journey:
YouTube Shorts
It appears to be one of the safest and most popular TikTok alternatives. Users appreciate the ability to pause videos, but many still find it falls short compared to TikTok. You’re likely familiar with YouTube’s answer to our ever-shortening attention spans: YouTube Shorts. If you’re already using YouTube Shorts or planning to start, be sure to explore how you can schedule your YouTube videos with Metricool.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Vast content library: Offers a wide variety of content to explore and enjoy. | 🔴 Lower discoverability: Can be less discoverable compared to TikTok’s algorithm-driven “For You” page. |
| 🟢 User-friendly: Simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for anyone to use. | |
| 🟢 Wide audience reach: Ideal for creators aiming to connect with a large, diverse audience. |
Instagram Reels
In the same vein, Instagram Reels continues to establish itself as a compelling alternative to TikTok. Known for its ease of use and integration with Instagram’s existing features, Reels allows users to create, share, and discover short-form videos. This format is particularly appealing to content creators, brands, and influencers looking to maximize engagement within Instagram’s ecosystem.
Pros and Cons of Instagram Reels:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Seamless sharing: Easily share across Instagram Stories, Explore, and the main feed to maximize reach. | |
| 🟢 Editing features: Offers a wide variety of editing tools, audio tracks, and AR effects for creative flexibility. | |
| 🟢 E-commerce integration: Perfect for businesses with Instagram Shopping, making it easier to drive sales directly through content. |
✨ Want to master Instagram Reels? Discover our ultimate guide:
Clapper
“Be heard. Be seen. Be valued.”
Clapper is a Texas-based, adults-only app alternative to TikTok that has recently jumped to #3 in Apple’s U.S. App Store.
Launched in 2020, it’s gaining much awaited momentum, especially with recent TikTok ban discussions. With over 10 million monthly active users, Clapper promises unfiltered, ad-free content and freedom for creators without algorithmic interference.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 No ads, no algorithms: Focuses on authentic local connections without the distractions of ads or algorithm-driven content. | 🔴 Limited reach: Small user base limits exposure and networking opportunities (for now). |
| 🟢 Audio-only feature: Supports up to 2,000 listeners and 20 speakers, creating space for dynamic discussions. | 🔴 Minimal moderation: Lack of strict moderation can lead to questionable or inappropriate content. |
| 🔴 Limited video features: Offers fewer video editing tools compared to TikTok, which may restrict creative options. |
Learn more about the Clapper app in our article:
Likee
“Explore what you like”
Likee lets you create short-form videos with cool editing tools and share them with a global audience. Launched in 2017 by Singapore-based Joyy, the app has 100 million users from all over the world.
Besides video-sharing, you can enjoy livestreams as well. Creators can use AR filters in their videos and live streams. It has an extensive music library and monetization features: as a creator you can earn money using SuperLikes from your followers.
However, reviews suggest some content may not be suitable for younger users, despite its 12+ rating.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Video editing & AR filters: Comes with built-in editing tools and fun AR filters for easy content creation. | 🔴 Limited engagement: Engagement rates may be lower compared to TikTok’s highly interactive platform. |
| 🟢 Monetization options: Offers opportunities for creators to earn money through their content. | 🔴 Privacy concerns: No private profile option and ongoing bot issues can raise privacy and security concerns. |
Yubo
“Yubo is all about chilling. Meet like-minded people, or find a group to hang with. Then kick back and feel your vibeeee.”
Yubo, Yubo is a French app, launched in 2015, is designed to help Gen Z make new friends online. It has attracted 80 million users so far.
By removing likes and follows, Yubo aims to empower young people to present their authentic selves and build genuine connections.
Safety is a priority for Yubo, with advanced verification features like face recognition and age estimation.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Youth-focused: Designed for socializing among young people aged 13-25, fostering a vibrant community. | 🔴 Niche appeal: Primarily attracts Gen Z, which may limit its broader audience reach. |
| 🟢 Livestream communication: Livestreams are the primary interaction method, creating real-time engagement opportunities. | |
| 🟢 No likes or follows: Eliminates traditional social metrics, focusing on authentic interactions rather than social validation. |
Neptune
“Revolutionizing Social Media—Power Back to The Creators”
Nepture is a female-founded TikTok alternative from the U.S. that promises a “new era of social media”, prioritizing genuine interactions and creator uniqueness. Neptune’s marketing strategy frames the app as a TikTok alternative, but better. It blends TikTok and YouTube, supporting both short and long-form content. Currently in beta, its public release is set for spring.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Customizable feeds: Emphasizes quality content over follower counts—“focus on the art, not the numbers.” | 🔴 Still in development: Yet to launch, with a waitlist currently open for beta testers. |
| 🟢 No algorithms: Content visibility is based on quality and impact rather than algorithms or follower numbers. | |
| 🟢 Fair monetization: Offers transparent and fair monetization options for creators. |
Snapchat Spotlights
“Less social media. More Snapchat.”
Spotlight is Snapchat’s answer to TikTok. It features entertaining videos, a trending section, and keyword-based search. While popular among younger audiences, it may not appeal as much to older users.
All in all, however—another interesting TikTok alternative for short and fun content.
Highlights:
🟢 Trending content and searchable hashtags.
🟢Funny videos in the spotlight, no serious stuff.
🔴Mostly caters to Gen Z, limiting its audience.
Triller
“We see ourselves as the adult version of TikTok”
Triller, based in the U.S., boasts 65 million active users. Known as the “adult version of TikTok,” it’s particularly popular with music artists and offers over 250 million downloads.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Music-driven content: Designed for artists and creators who want to showcase their music-centric content. | 🔴 Smaller user base: Has fewer users compared to TikTok, which may limit audience reach. |
| 🟢 Tailored for a mature audience: Similar to TikTok, but with a focus on a more mature and refined audience experience. |
Fanbase
“Be you. Without limits.”
Fanbase, founded in 2020 in the U.S., describes itself as a next-generation social creator hub that allows users to monetize their content from day one.
The mission behind its foundation was to value Black creators, whose content is often undervalued on traditional social media platforms. This subscription-based TikTok alternative is, unlike other apps, ad-free and doesn’t suppress content. It features short-form videos, images, long-form videos, Stories, livestreams, and audio rooms.
Users can post both free and exclusive content, with subscription prices ranging from $2.99 to $99. Each “love” a post receives equates to one cent for the creator.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Versatile content support: Offers photos, videos, audio chats, live streaming, and even long-form content, giving creators flexibility. | 🔴 Limited reach: Still relatively unknown, which may make it harder to grow an audience. |
| 🟢 Content importing: Allows easy importing of content from Instagram and TikTok, simplifying cross-platform sharing. |
Zigazoo
“The World’s Largest Social Network For Kids!”
Zigazoo, founded in 2020 in the U.S., describes itself as a safe, positive social media app designed for children. It is educator-created and human-moderated, ensuring a bully-free environment. Users can participate in video challenges with celebrities, brands, and kid creators. Based on its target audience, it’s rather an interesting fact in the tech space, rather than a viable TikTok alternative.
Highlights:
🟢No text comments; users respond with emojis, stickers, or video responses, promoting positive interactions.
🔴Offers in-app purchases like Zigabuck bundles.
Favorited
Favorited, founded in 2021 in the U.S., is a live-streaming TikTok alternative that enables creators to engage with their followers in real-time, similar to TikTok Live. It offers features like gifting, interactive games, streaks, and leaderboards.
The app provides a 70/30 revenue split for creators, which is more favorable than TikTok’s 50%. Users need at least 100 followers to start their own streams but can join existing streams without restrictions. Founded in the U.S., Favorited has 1.3 million users.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Gamified live-streaming: Offers a fun and engaging live-streaming experience with gamified elements. | 🔴 Limited reach: Still not widely known, which can restrict audience growth and engagement. |
| 🟢 Higher revenue share: Provides a more generous revenue share for creators compared to other platforms. | |
| 🟢 Interactive content: Focuses on collaborative and interactive content, boosting engagement and community building. |
Fable
“Welcome home, Bookworms and bing-watchers”
Fable, founded in 2021 in the U.S., is a social reading app that connects book lovers and binge-watchers. Users can join book clubs, discuss their favorite reads, and discover new content. The platform aims to foster a community of readers and provide a space for thoughtful discussions. Since its niche content, it’s also not the strongest TikTok alternative.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Curated book recommendations: Offers personalized and thoughtful book suggestions for readers. | 🔴 Niche content: Focuses on a specific area, which may limit its audience appeal. |
| 🟢 Community-driven discussions: Encourages lively and insightful conversations among readers. | |
| 🟢 Mental wellness focus: Promotes mental wellness through reading, offering a positive and enriching experience. |
Flip
“Watch, create, earn”
Described as “The Shopping Social Network”, Flip combines social media and e-commerce, allowing creators to share product reviews and monetize their content. Users can watch videos, shop for products, and share their experiences, creating an interactive shopping community. Due to its strong focus on shopping, Flip (founded in 2016 in the U.S.,) cannot be considered a fully-grown TikTok alternative either.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Seamless video and shopping integration: Combines video content with shopping, creating a smooth and engaging experience. | 🔴 Shopping focus: The platform’s heavy emphasis on shopping may not appeal to all users, especially those seeking non-commercial content. |
| 🟢 Affiliate marketing opportunities: Provides creators with the chance to earn through affiliate marketing. | |
| 🟢 User-generated content: Prioritizes authentic content created by users, fostering a genuine and relatable community. |
Loops
“Capture. Share. Loop.”
Loops, founded in 2020 in the UK, is a TikTok alternative that emphasizes authentic content sharing. It encourages users to capture real-life moments and share them with their community, fostering genuine connections.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 User-friendly interface: Simple and intuitive for quick, spontaneous sharing. | 🔴 Less well-known: Still gaining traction, which may limit audience reach and exposure. |
| 🟢 Real-life content: Focuses on authentic, real-life content rather than overly curated posts. | |
| 🟢 Community-building: Aims to create a space for genuine connections based on authenticity. |
Faves
“Save and organize your videos from anywhere without using your storage.”
Founded in 2022 in the U.S., Faves is a video-saving and organizing app designed for users who want to keep their favorite online content in one place. Instead of taking up device storage, Faves allows you to save videos directly to your account for later viewing.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Cloud-based storage: Saves videos in the cloud, freeing up valuable device space. | 🔴 Less well-known: Still not widely recognized, which may limit visibility and user base. |
| 🟢 Multi-platform support: Allows saving videos from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more, all in one place. | |
| 🟢 Organizational tools: Offers tags, playlists, and categories for easy video management and access. |
Funimate
Founded in 2014 in Turkey, Funimate is a creative video editing and sharing app that allows users to make professional-looking edits with ease. It’s popular among content creators for its unique visual effects and user-friendly interface, making it a favorite for lip-sync videos, dance challenges, and short stories.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Advanced video effects: Over 100 effects for creative and professional video editing. | 🔴 Heavy focus on video editing: Primarily centered on video editing, which may not appeal to those looking for a broader content creation experience. |
| 🟢 User-friendly interface: Easy-to-use with features like text animations, transitions, and overlays to enhance videos. | |
| 🟢 Creative community: Strong community engagement with daily challenges to spark creativity. | |
| 🟢 Platform integration: Seamlessly integrates with TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for easy sharing. |
Douyin
Founded in 2016 in China, Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok, launched by ByteDance before TikTok became a global phenomenon. While Douyin shares a similar interface with TikTok, it operates as a separate app tailored for the Chinese market. It offers localized content, integrations with e-commerce platforms, and features that cater to its audience’s preferences.
Pros and Cons of the Platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 E-commerce integration: Allows users to shop directly within the app, creating a seamless shopping experience. | 🔴 Market-specific content: Primarily tailored to trends and content specific to the Chinese market, which may limit global appeal. |
| 🟢 AI-powered recommendations: Sophisticated content suggestions driven by ByteDance’s advanced AI, ensuring relevant content. | |
| 🟢 Live-streaming & monetization: Provides live-streaming features with monetization options for creators. |
Facebook Reels
As Meta’s other short-form video platform, Facebook Reels serves as a TikTok alternative, however, with less traction. Launched to capture a broader, slightly older audience, it integrates easily into the Facebook ecosystem, making it accessible for brands and creators already active on the platform.
Pros and Cons of Facebook Reels
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Facebook ecosystem integration: Seamlessly connects with Facebook, making it easier for brands and creators already using the platform. | 🔴 Less traction: Struggles to gain the same popularity as TikTok, limiting audience growth. |
| 🟢 Targeted at an older audience: Appeals to a slightly older demographic, offering a new space for creators to engage with a different audience. |
We hope this comprehensive list of TikTok alternatives helps you find a platform that feels like a safe haven in times of uncertainty around TikTok’s future in the U.S. Whether you’re looking for creative expression, community building, or simply a fun way to pass the time, there’s likely an option here that suits your needs.
