TikTok has warned of a looming shutdown in simply six days, because the Supreme Courtroom is at the moment weighing the legislation that may ban the app. So we thought it’s time to check out different platforms that might be able to fill the TikTok-shaped gap in our lives.
The legislation offers TikTok guardian firm ByteDance till January 19 to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban within the nation. TikTok is hoping for a pause to the legislation, but when that doesn’t occur, the app will successfully be banned within the nation.
There’s no 1:1 TikTok alternative, however there are some viable choices to contemplate that supply an identical expertise. Many corporations have spent the previous few years constructing out TikTok clones inside their very own merchandise, and a number of other newer corporations have regarded to problem the app’s dominance.
Right here’s a have a look at the completely different apps which can be value testing:
Instagram Reels
Instagram’s Reels product is arguably the most well-liked TikTok clone, and for good purpose. Lots of the movies are the identical, as creators usually share the identical content material that they submit on TikTok to Instagram Reels. Plus, a number of the trending sounds and subjects on TikTok finally make their method over to Instagram Reels. As a result of a number of the content material is identical, Instagram Reels may be the best choice for a TikTok different.
Nevertheless, on condition that TikTok’s algorithm is basically unmatched, Instagram Reels may not be capable of floor movies you’re all for on the identical degree that TikTok can. However, Instagram has spent the previous few years enhancing the Reels advice algorithm, so we will in all probability anticipate it to get even higher over time.
If a TikTok ban turns into a actuality, Instagram Reels may turn out to be the most well-liked dwelling for short-form video content material as a result of it already largely dominates the social media panorama and has many of the similar folks and varieties of content material as TikTok.
YouTube Shorts
YouTube is one other platform that has been constructing out and prioritizing its TikTok-like product. YouTube Shorts may be the very best TikTok different for you when you’re somebody who already spends a number of time on YouTube, or likes to search out new music on TikTok, on condition that YouTube Shorts has entry to YouTube’s huge library of songs and music movies.
YouTube Shorts has a bonus that different companies on this record don’t, which is an integration with a preferred long-form video content material platform. Hundreds of thousands of individuals around the globe already go to YouTube every single day to look at content material, so if TikTok had been to get banned, YouTube has the potential to turn out to be the go-to place for short-form content material as properly, particularly if fashionable TikTok creators select it as the brand new dwelling of their content material.
Sadly, the content material on YouTube Shorts usually isn’t as participating as it may be on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, because it typically options content material that has been reposted from longer YouTube movies. Nonetheless, you might seek for content material that you just wish to see and discover movies primarily based on hashtags or key phrases.
Snapchat Highlight
Snapchat’s Highlight feed is one other viable TikTok different when you’re searching for brief and entertaining content material. Not like TikTok and Instagram Reels, Highlight typically solely surfaces humorous and lighthearted movies. You possible gained’t discover political or information content material on the feed, which might be a promoting level for some customers.
Highlight encompasses a trending part the place you’ll be able to watch fashionable movies primarily based on completely different subjects and songs which can be having a second. Just like TikTok and Instagram Reels, you’ll be able to seek for content material primarily based on key phrases and hashtags.
Nevertheless, one of many greatest cons on the subject of Snapchat Highlight is that it has struggled to transcend its youthful customers. Provided that adults are extra possible to make use of a platform like TikTok or Instagram Reels, you may not discover the content material on Highlight as participating as a result of it principally caters to youthful audiences.
Triller
Triller, which began off as a TikTok competitor, might be an excellent different for people who find themselves primarily within the music and dance points of TikTok. It’s value noting that Triller has a a lot smaller consumer base than TikTok, so content material is considerably restricted.
Triller is already trying to make the most of the potential TikTok ban within the U.S. The corporate lately launched an internet site, SaveMyTikToks.com, to permit TikTok customers to avoid wasting their TikTok movies by transferring them to Triller’s platform, encouraging creators emigrate their content material to its app.
Plus, Triller lately employed ex-TikTok exec Sean Kim as its CEO to deal with an overhaul of the app. Kim beforehand served as TikTok’s head of product from 2019 to 2022, engaged on issues like its “For You” feed, creator monetization, the developer platform, third-party integrations, and extra. Triller’s addition of certainly one of TikTok’s prime skills may assist the platform construct out its service to be a better-positioned TikTok different.
RedNote
TikTok customers within the U.S. are already flocking to Chinese language short-form video app Xiaohongshu (generally known as RedNote in English). Launched in 2013, the app is China’s reply to Instagram.
The app encompasses a structure that’s just like Pinterest’s and boasts various social procuring options. It offers customers with a mixture of video and livestreaming options. RedNote contains a number of the kind of content material you see on TikTok, like magnificence tutorials and product critiques.
It’s not clear whether or not RedNote will maintain the curiosity it’s getting proper now. It’s additionally not clear whether or not the U.S. authorities will wish to crack down on the app resulting from its Chinese language possession if it’s capable of get a major American consumer base.
Lemon8
Within the months main as much as the TikTok ban deadline, the corporate has been selling its sister app, Lemon8. TikTok additionally lately began permitting customers to entry Lemon8 with their TikTok account.
The app is just like Instagram and Pinterest, because it lets folks share slideshows, picture collections, and browse content material via “Following” and “For You” feeds. Lemon8 provides entry to artistic instruments, filters, results, stickers, textual content templates, and extra.
Nevertheless, it’s value noting that Lemon8 may get tousled within the TikTok ban, particularly since lawmakers’ essential concern with TikTok is its Chinese language possession. Because of this, Lemon8’s presence within the U.S. stays unclear.
Likee
Likee is a short-form video app that, alongside the flexibility to share movies, options enhancing instruments and livestreams. The app boasts over 100 million customers from all around the globe.
Likee is large on AR filters, just like Snapchat’s, and lets creators use them of their movies and livestreams. Likee additionally options an in depth music library, so it might be good for individuals who use TikTok to search out new music.
As well as, the app has monetization options that enable creators to earn cash for his or her content material via SuperLikes from their followers. Nevertheless, as with the opposite smaller apps on this record, engagement on Likee is considerably restricted because it doesn’t have the identical quantity of attain as TikTok. After all, that would change over time.
Fanbase
Fanbase is a subscription-based social community that’s primarily a mixture of TikTok, Instagram, Patreon, Clubhouse, and Snapchat. The app options short-form movies, pictures, long-form movies, Tales, livestreams, and audio rooms. Whereas the app is free to make use of, you’ll be able to pay a subscription to get entry to unique content material.
What makes Fanbase a doable different to TikTok is the app’s “Flickz” feed. Like TikTok, Flickz features a feed for discovery and one other feed devoted to content material from creators you observe. You will discover all types of content material on Fanbase, together with movies on sports activities, cooking, music, humor, and extra.
The app was based with the mission of valuing and platforming Black creators, whose content material is commonly appropriated or undervalued on conventional social media platforms. Fanbase is an ad-free platform that guarantees to by no means shadowban or suppress content material.
Zigazoo
Zigazoo is a comparatively new short-form video platform geared toward younger customers and might be an excellent TikTok different for youths and teenagers. The app options lighthearted and playful movies and is taken into account a safer different to TikTok, because it doesn’t have a feedback characteristic and has strict moderation insurance policies.
The app lets customers flick thru or create brief movies primarily based on challenges or academic prompts. Zigazoo additionally options enjoyable dancing movies, which is certainly one of TikTok’s hottest content material classes. Like TikTok and Instagram Reels, the app contains completely different results, sounds, and filters for video.
Whereas the app isn’t a TikTok alternative for adults, it’s a fantastic different for youthful customers, particularly these with dad and mom who’re involved about TikTok’s potential hurt to youngsters and teenagers.
Favorited
Favorited is an a16z-backed social app that gamifies livestreaming. The app lets livestream creators work together with their audiences and earn cash via digital items from viewers. The app additionally encompasses a 70/30 income break up for creators, whereas TikTok has a 50/50 break up for dwell creators.
Favorited additionally lets creators hyperlink their digital shops. Nevertheless, in contrast to TikTok, Favorited doesn’t characteristic a discovery feed to assist folks discover new content material.
The app has 750,000 customers thus far this yr and is seeing 1000’s of latest signups per day. Sadly, the app doesn’t have a lot of a presence outdoors of the U.S., however in fact, that would change.
Clapper
Clapper is a short-form adults-only app that champions genuine expression and unfiltered interactions. The app has a 17+ viewers coverage and is thought for having restricted moderation, which might not be for everybody.
Clapper helps you to submit movies which can be as much as three minutes lengthy. The app options an audio-only characteristic that enables customers to create a room with as much as 2,000 listeners with 20 audio system. Plus, creators can create communities the place they will work together with their followers one-on-one.
The app is ad-free and is extra targeted on unfiltered content material, relatively than polished content material that’s designed to go viral. It contains some video enhancing options, however they’re fairly restricted when in comparison with what’s out there on TikTok. And, in fact, the app’s consumer base is sort of small, so there’s considerably restricted social interplay.
Fable
Fable is an effective app for TikTok customers who’re a part of the social community’s reading-focused BookTok neighborhood. The app options e-book golf equipment the place folks can focus on the books they’re studying, form of like they might on TikTok.
Sadly, Fable lacks the video facet, so it’s nowhere close to a whole TikTok different. As an alternative, it may present a method for BookTok creators and members of the neighborhood to proceed their discussions on one other platform.
Flip
Flip is a shopping-focused short-form video app that might be a fantastic platform for people who find themselves followers of TikTok’s ecommerce choices like TikTok Store. The app lets customers create and monetize their very own product critiques, and viewers can buy the merchandise they see in movies immediately throughout the app.
The app lets each shopper turn out to be a creator on the social community, as they will share their trustworthy critiques after which earn money primarily based on the engagement and gross sales their content material generates.
Loops
Loops is an upcoming short-form video app that’s a part of the fediverse, which is a community of decentralized social media platforms. It’s designed to be a privacy-focused different to TikTok.
The app is out there in beta by way of Apple’s TestFlight platform. Loops is fairly just like TikTok, as it’s going to enable customers to share, touch upon, and submit brief movies. Plus, Loops claims it is not going to promote or present consumer knowledge to third-party advertisers or use uploaded content material to coach AI fashions.
Because the app will likely be part of the federated net, distant customers from different platforms like Mastodon and Pixelfed can even be capable of observe customers’ Loops accounts. These distant followers can even be capable of like, touch upon, or share movies if their platform helps it.
Neptune
Nepture is an upcoming female-founded social community that guarantees to place content material creators first. The app has began to get buzz on social networks like TikTok and X by customers who’re questioning if it may turn out to be the subsequent TikTok. Their hopes aren’t random, as Neptune’s advertising technique frames the app as a TikTok different, however higher.
The beta model of the app is predicted to be launched both this month or in February. The general public launch for the app is predicted within the spring.
The corporate says that on Neptune, a creator’s content material will get seen not due to an algorithm however due to its high quality and affect. The app can also be going to characteristic customizable content material feeds and ghost metrics, which might enable customers to check out new concepts with out worrying in regards to the strain to carry out.
Tome
Tome is an upcoming iOS platform that might be a fantastic choice for people who find themselves a part of TikTok’s BookTok neighborhood. The app will launch on January 28, and is being marketed as a spot to share every part from memes, to fan artwork, to e-book suggestions.
Tome will characteristic a Tumblr-like feed that may present content material from folks you observe, because the app doesn’t use an algorithm to affect the content material you see.
The app is predicted to be a spot for folks to search out different readers and creators with related pursuits to speak about favourite books. Tome says it gained’t use consumer knowledge for advertisements and that customers’ fan artwork and content material gained’t be used to coach AI.
ReelShort
ReelShort is a brief film platform that gives entry to unique vertical TV miniseries.The app is nice for followers of TikTok as a result of it provides brief, participating movies. It options new TV miniseries added day by day, with tons of of latest episodes every month.
After all, ReelShort isn’t a direct TikTok competitor as a result of it options scripted exhibits, in contrast to movies from common people who find themselves simply sharing their lives and experiences on social media.
Faves
Faves is an app that lets folks arrange movies in a single place to view them at a later time with out clogging up a tool’s cupboard space. When a video is saved on Faves, it’s robotically saved on the cloud.
Whereas Faves isn’t a social community, individuals are utilizing it to avoid wasting all of their favourite TikTok movies so that they don’t lose entry to them. As an illustration, you might obtain your whole favourite TikTok recipes to make sure they’re secure if TikTok will get banned.
Bluesky
Whereas decentralized social community Bluesky isn’t a TikTok competitor, it’s value testing as a result of it offers customers extra management over their knowledge and expertise. The app is a superb different for individuals who wish to use one thing apart from Meta’s Instagram and Threads.
Just like X, Bluesky helps you to share textual content, movies, and picture posts. Blueksy additionally helps you to create and be part of customized feeds primarily based in your pursuits.
How one can obtain particular person TikTok content material
If you wish to save just a few of your favourite TikTok movies or photographs to your gadget, it’s fairly easy.
To obtain a video on an iOS or Android gadget, go to your TikTok profile web page, choose the video you need, and faucet the Share button on the fitting facet of the display. Then, select “Save video.” You may obtain photographs in the identical method.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that creators can management whether or not others can obtain their content material. Because of this some movies out of your Likes, Reposts, or Bookmark tabs could not have a obtain choice out there.
When you’ve got many movies to obtain, this course of will be time-consuming, as you’ll have to repeat these steps for every one. There are numerous third-party apps out there that enable for bulk downloads, however their reliability can range, so proceed with warning.
How one can acquire your TikTok knowledge
You can even request a replica of your TikTok knowledge, which can encompass your username, viewing historical past, remark logs, and privateness configurations. Nevertheless, TikTok warns that not all knowledge could also be out there for obtain, “especially if it impacts others’ privacy,” the corporate writes on its assist web page.
To request your TikTok data, navigate to your profile, faucet the Menu button on the prime to entry Settings, and go to Account. Select “Download your data” to pick out which knowledge you want to embody in your downloadable file and choose a file format: TXT or JSON. Lastly, faucet “Request data.”
When you submit your request, TikTok compiles an information file that you would be able to obtain from the app. Take into account that it’d take just a few days to arrange the file, however TikTok will notify you as soon as it’s prepared for obtain. Given the potential ban coming this Sunday, we advise you to do that as quickly as doable.
When your file is ready, faucet obtain within the app. It’ll be out there for as much as 4 days.
