Here Are Top 5 Alternatives To TikTok As It Looks Ahead At Delistment From App Stores

As TikTok faces its looming removal from app stores, here are top five alternative apps that could rise in popularity among users.

Starting January 19, the TikTok app will be removed from app stores, cutting off user access to updates unless a buyer steps forward to acquire it.

Source : Unsplash/Jonathan Kemper

The possibility of a permanent TikTok ban is no longer just a rumour for the app's 170 million users in the United States. The Supreme Court has confirmed its decision to uphold a law that would effectively prohibit TikTok nationwide. Starting January 19, the app will be removed from app stores, cutting off user access to updates unless a buyer steps forward to acquire it. President-elect Donald Trump had requested the court to extend the deadline, aiming to pursue a political resolution, but the ban remains in place.

As TikTok faces its looming removal, here are five alternative apps that could rise in popularity among users.

Top 5 Alternatives To TikTok

RedNote

RedNote, a Chinese app, has seen a dramatic surge in popularity, currently holding the top spot in the Apple App Store’s “Top Free Apps” category. Known as Xiaohongshu in Mandarin, RedNote is valued at over $17 billion and has drawn comparisons to platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram due to its similar content-sharing features. The app, which operates entirely in Mandarin, is often described as a Chinese equivalent of Instagram.

While RedNote's popularity continues to climb, some users have pointed out the irony of TikTok enthusiasts transitioning to another Chinese app. This shift has sparked discussions online about the potential national security concerns surrounding RedNote in the wake of the TikTok ban.

Instagram

Instagram Reels is probably one of the closest match to TikTok in terms of features and functionality. Instagram explains that Reels allows users to record and edit videos with a maximum duration of 90 seconds, offering creative tools that closely align with what TikTok provides. Given the looming TikTok ban, experts anticipate that Instagram Reels could see a significant surge in popularity, as many TikTok users are likely to migrate to the app in search of a similar experience. This potential influx of users may further solidify Instagram's position as a leading platform for short-form video content.

YouTube

YouTube Shorts is seen as a strong alternative to TikTok, leveraging YouTube’s position as the largest video-sharing platform. It offers similar features for creating and sharing short-form videos, now allowing uploads up to three minutes long, compared to its original 60-second limit. This extended duration gives creators more flexibility while maintaining the quick, engaging format that appeals to audiences. With its massive user base and established credibility, YouTube Shorts is well-positioned to attract TikTok users looking for a replacement.

Clapper

Ranked third among the top free apps, Clapper is a social media platform that has emerged as a strong competitor to TikTok, particularly appealing to adults, especially those from Generations X and Y (Millennials). The platform enables users to create and share short-form videos as well as host live streams, providing a similar experience to TikTok in terms of content creation. What makes Clapper stand out, however, is its US-based operations—its headquarters are located near Dallas, and, as reported by Deadline, the platform stores all user data on a cloud system situated in the United States. This could offer added reassurance to users concerned about data privacy and security.

Lemon8

Touted as a "lifestyle community," Lemon8 is currently the second most popular free app on the Apple App Store, following RedNote. Launched in the US in 2023, the app incorporates elements from TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, offering users the ability to edit and share both photos and videos. Lemon8 is owned by ByteDance, the same parent company behind TikTok. Due to this connection, there is a possibility that Lemon8 could also be affected if a ban on TikTok is enforced, as it shares similar features and ties to the same corporate entity.