TikTok will be banned in the United States on Sunday, January 19. Many were hoping this wouldn’t come to pass, but the ban will go through unless ByteDance sells the social media app to an American-based company. The ban, created on national security grounds, does ahead even after the Supreme Court heard arguments from TikTok creators and ByteDance’s legal team. They argued that banning the app was not only a violation of First Amendment rights, but also puts small businesses in jeopardy. Influencers who made TikTok their primary source of income will lose $1.3 billion within the first month of the ban.
There is a glimmer of hope that TikTok will stay active in the U.S., as Senator Ed Markey has introduced the “Extend the TikTok Deadline Act,” which will give the platform a stay of execution for 270 days. That’s nine more months before it gets banned or divested into another company. However, if the ban does go through, ByteDance will shut down U.S.-based TikTok servers, and users who log into the app will get a message that redirects them to a website about the ban.
While content creators and TikTok users are figuring ways to get around the ban through VPNs, others are downloading their data from TikTok and scrambling to find a new home for their content. And there are plenty of platforms to choose from. Here are some TikTok alternatives for you to check out.
RedNote
The top TikTok alternative users are flocking to in droves is RedNote. Known as Xiaohongshu, which translates to “Little Red Book” in Mandarin, referring to a collection of quotes from Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong, RedNote is China’s version of TikTok that combines elements from ByteDance’s video app with Instagram while giving it a layout similar to Pinterest.
Unlike TikTok, which was banned in China to begin with, RedNote is heavily censored, as moderators will suspend or ban any user who talks about politics or other sensitive topics on the platform. There is a language barrier you may have to get through, as most of the posts on the site are in Mandarin. Even so, Chinese users have been very welcoming of American users, most of whom have called themselves “TikTok refugees,” which would make for an interesting cultural exchange.
Lemon8
Another app owned by ByteDance, Lemon8 that is modeled after RedNote, as it combines elements from Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Most of the content on the platform focuses on lifestyle topics targeting women, including beauty, fashion, food, decor, travel, and even tips on where to find remote work.
Like TikTok, you’ll be able to edit pictures and videos using its in-app library of templates, stickers, filters, and fonts without having to switch to another editing app, like Canva, to do so, which helps you save time. The “For You” page is curated personalized posts that are based on interests you select when creating your Lemon8 account.
For the past year, ByteDance has been promoting Lemon8 on TikTok after a ban on the latter app in the U.S. began looming over the company’s head, going so far as to integrate TikTok into Lemon8 in November 2024 so that users can link their profiles between the two platforms and find their TikTok followers there. Since Lemon8 is owned by ByteDance, the TikTok ban may apply to this platform as well, but we’re not sure if that will happen. In the meantime, it’s still available as an alternative to TikTok.
Snapchat
Long before TikTok, there was Snapchat. Snapchat was originally known for allowing users to share photos and videos that disappeared after a day, as well as its collection of silly filters.
However, Snapchat is also a viable TikTok alternative these days. That’s because it has evolved past those disappearing snaps and now features plenty of short video content that doesn’t vanish. Snapchat features Snap Originals, which is premium content for Snapchat users that contains unscripted shows, documentary series, serialized dramas, comedies, and more.
This is in addition to Snapchat’s other social aspects, like the ability to make your own snaps (disappearing photos and videos) and Stories. The Spotlight section is also good for discovering new content, just like you do on TikTok’s For You Page.
Instagram Reels
Like Snapchat, Instagram was around long before TikTok. It, too, has evolved over time, and in 2024, it introduced Instagram Reels, which has a similar UI to TikTok.
Reels are short-form videos that are capped at 90 seconds in length, and you can make them from a single video clip or a series of clips stitched together. Reels can also have visual effects and music applied to them.
But it can be a little diffficult to find just Reels in the Instagram app if you don’t know where to look. In short, you’ll have to navigate to the Reels tab, which is represented by the little clapperboard icon. Once you use Instagram enough, Reels will show up in your main feed as well.
In addition to Reels, Instagram has traditional posts of photos and videos, plus Instagram Stories, which are similar to Snapchat’s disappearing pics and videos. You can also direct message others. If you see an interesting product, you can even shop directly with Instagram.
YouTube Shorts
At this point, who doesn’t already have the YouTube app on their iPhone or Android phone? It’s the world’s largest video-sharing website, and yes, it has its own version of vertical video shorts, just like TikTok.
YouTube Shorts can be found in the YouTube app itself, in addition to your regular YouTube content. With YouTube Shorts, content ranges from 15 to 60 seconds, is vertically oriented, and is very easy to create. To make your own Shorts, all you need is your smartphone camera and a YouTube account.
Once you’ve had your short-form video fill, you can resume watching regular YouTube video content as well without having to switch to a different app. If you already spend a lot of time on YouTube, this is likely the most natural TikTok alternative for you.
Triller
For those who like to watch videos from their favorite celebrities, Triller is a great alternative to TikTok. Big names like Justin Bieber, Tyga, Josh Richards, Charli D’amelio, Noah Beck, and more can be found right on Triller.
If you want to create your own short-form videos, Triller is great for that, too. It has powerful built-in video-editing software after starting in 2015 as a video-editing app. The music synchronization is also fun to play with, allowing you to make some cool music videos quickly and easily. Triller also has integration with Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services, so you can import your existing library into the app.
Triller has plenty of exclusive and trending content to keep you entertained as well. And if you need inspiration, Triller has plenty of it. It may not be the most well-known TikTok alternative, but it’s certainly worth a look.
Zigazoo
TikTok is more popular with the younger generation, but like other social media, it could be considered unsafe. If you want a healthier TikTok alternative for your kids, then give Zigazoo a look.
Zigazoo is a newcomer to the short-form video space that’s aimed at the younger generation. You’ll find lighthearted and fun videos in Zigazoo, and all content has to undergo a strict moderation review before it can be viewed by others. There is also no commenting feature, which eliminates one way people can bully others online.
When browsing content in Zigazoo, it’s based on challenges or educational prompts, and this also applies to creating content. If you want to create content, there are many different effects, sounds, and filters available.
