Alternative Apps To Try Now That TikTok Has Been Banned

It's been a story six months in the making, and TikTok has decided to call the US government bluff and learned the hard way. As of Sunday, TikTok has been banned in the US, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy short-form videos and social media.

Despite creators having half a year to prepare just in case, setting up shop on alternative platforms and promoting it as a fallback, they thought this day would never come, and now the TikTok tears are flowing.

The ban was not only for your garden variety influencer or mediocre meme account but for businesses too; the app generated billions of impressions per day and watch time, and many used that ecosystem to funnel users to their site, while others were selling directly via TikTok shop.

Now that these creators, businesses, and users are stranded and US-based content that dominates the app no longer filters through, the rest of the app will feel a little drier, so indirectly, this ban does even affect those users in countries where TikTok remains live.

Now that the doors have shut, there's a scramble for a place to call home, and there are many TikTok alternatives out there that offer similar features and content. You can be sure today is a day for exploration and experimentation, and some of your contacts and favourite accounts are set up on these alternative platforms just in case the ban is not lifted once Trump gets into office.

Over 100 million TikTok users in the US cannot access the app due to the federal ban now in effect, so where do you think they'll be going now that they have all this free time on their hands?

Here are some of the best TikTok alternatives:

Since the ban went into effect, searches for TikTok Alternatives have been on the rise not only in the US but globally in case other countries follow the US or feel pressured by the move.

These are a few TikTok alternatives out there trying to carve out a niche for themselves now that people are actively looking for alternatives. If you're looking for a new way to create and share short-form videos, be sure to check out one of these apps.

Triller

Triller is a video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short-form videos. It has a similar interface to TikTok and offers many of the same features, such as filters, effects, and music.

• Try Triller

Byte

Byte was another video-sharing app that allowed users to create and share short-form videos. It has a minimalist interface and focuses on user-generated content, it later merged with another TikTok competitor called Clash and shut down. 

Vero True Social

Vero True Social is a social media app that allows users to share photos and videos. It focuses on privacy and community.

• Try Vero

Clapper

Clapper is similar to TikTok. It's a short-form video app that has seen an uptick in downloads since Congress began debating banning TikTok. However, it doesn't have the same youthful appeal as TikTok and other alternatives, which might be on purpose — it is strategically appealing to Gen X and Gen Y users.

• Try clapper

Little Redbook/Rednote  (also known as Xiaohongshu)

Some of the "TikTok refugees," as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app, is being chosen in protest of the TikTok ban, they feel as if this is a middle figure to the US government as they're giving their data to another Chinese owned company.

Xiaohongshu is a niche player and is a cross between Instagram and TikTok. It is a lifestyle social media app that allows users to post short videos, photos, and texts. It also includes functions like live streaming and shopping.

• Try Redbook

Sticking to the mainstream

If you're not interested in booting up a whole new app and starting from scratch, you could dust off the old Instagram or Gmail account and head to US-owned properties like Meta and Alphabet.

These mainstream platforms will almost certainly stand to benefit if TikTok goes away, despite the newfound competition, even if only to be used to complain about the ban.

Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels is a new feature that allows users to create and share short-form videos. It is similar to TikTok and offers many of the same features.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is another new feature that allows users to create and share short-form videos. It is also similar to TikTok and offers many of the same features.

Nostr

If you really want to venture into the unknown but want to prevent future rug pulls by your government or any single company, you might want to consider using a protocol instead of a platform. Nostr is an open-source protocol used to build social media apps on top of it.

The beauty of nostr is if one app fails, you can take your account to another nostr client along with your content so you NEVER have to start from zero again.

At the moment, the nostr app that will give the closest experience to TikTok would be Primal.net. However, you would need to tweak your feed and do a lot of the heavy lifting yourself in terms of following users and seeking out content. There is no algorithm, so you are your own curator.

If you think this is the route for you, consider the following:

• Consider your interests. What kind of videos do you like to watch?
• Think about your budget. Some TikTok alternatives are free, while others require a subscription.
• Tip creators. Nostr doesn't have big money behind it, so consider tipping creators and even developers if you think the ecosystem brings you joy.

Read reviews

Every app will have pros and cons; you're never going to replace TikTok for a like-for-like experience, so see what other users say about the different TikTok alternatives that will work for you.

I don't want TikTok alternatives, I want TikTok

If a Temu knockoff of TikTok is not your vibe, and you're not keen on supporting Silicon Valley-based apps, you can spend a bit of money and pretend you're logging in from another country.

To access TikTok using a VPN, you need to download a VPN app and install it on your device. Then, connect to a server in a country where TikTok is not blocked.

This will mask your IP address and make it appear as if you are located in that country. Once you are connected to the VPN, you should be able to access TikTok as normal.

This might not always work with the App, especially if you're using an App tied to your US app store for Apple or Google; they can likely see that you're spoofing your location.

The VPN might only be helpful if you log into TikTok via the web browser, side-load the app, or set up a non-US-based app store account.

Time to touch grass

I hope this helps!

And if it doesn't, maybe you should consider the fact you're emotionally tied to an app as something you need to work on; maybe some time away from doomscrolling will do you some good.

Use this as a jumping-off point to put the phone down and touch some grass; who knows?

You might find that it isn't half bad.

Contact us

If you want to know more about digital marketing or feel this entire TikTok thing is too much of a bother and you need it sorted by experts, then we’re happy to assist. Simply contact us, and we can sort out your social media migration.

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Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have a little extra time to dive deeper down the rabbit hole, why not check out the following posts about TikTok

• Demystifying TikTok Metrics for Brands (Especially Small Businesses)
• How Brands Can Leverage TikTok Challenges
• How To Setup TikTok Ad Tracking
• How To Run Ads For Your Business on TikTok

Tags: TikTok, Social Media Marketing