What if TikTok disappeared tomorrow? While the platform has seen astronomical growth since coming onto the scene in 2018, social media platforms come and go all the time. MySpace (in its original format), Vine, Google+... all gone. And who knows what will really happen to the app if Microsoft ends up buying it. What will TikTok influencers and brands advertising on the platform do to reach the Gen Z and Millennial audiences that flock to the app?
There’s never been a better time to check out alternatives to the popular short-form video-sharing app. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best TikTok alternatives you should try out now, you know, just in case.
10 Best TikTok Alternatives
ByteDance first launched Douyin for Chinese users in September 2016. It launched for iOS and Android users in most markets outside of China in 2017, but it wasn’t until it merged with Musical.ly (then four years old) on August 2, 2018, that TikTok was born and became available worldwide.
As of 2024, TikTok has more than 1.6 billion active users worldwide, with almost 149 million users in the United States. It offers TikTok creators access to a massive library of music and sounds as well as some great video editing tools and the usual suspects you find in social media apps—voice changers, filters, effects, and more.
But TikTok isn’t the only app of its kind available. In fact, there are several video editing and sharing apps out there. Here are 10 of the best TikTok alternatives you should get to know.
Compatibility: iOS, Android Instagram Reels is a powerful alternative to TikTok, benefiting from Instagram’s extensive reach. Reels is integrated within the Instagram app, which might make it feel less dynamic compared to TikTok’s community-driven vibe. Nevertheless, Reels allows creators to create multi-clip videos up to 90 seconds long, offering easy-to-use text, AR filters, and audio tools, as well as the option to upload videos from their gallery. For Instagram influencers who already have an established following, Reels is a top choice for leveraging their existing audience. Even without Reels, Instagram remains a strong competitor to TikTok, offering features like short-form videos, hashtags, Stories, and live streaming. Compatibility: iOS, Android YouTube has established itself as a top contender in online video, and its “Shorts” feature has shown it can rival TikTok and Instagram Reels. With the ability to create vertical videos up to 60 seconds long, YouTube Shorts has rapidly gained prominence in the realm of short-form content. Its success is driven by YouTube’s extensive global reach and advanced algorithm, which efficiently connects users with their favorite content. Furthermore, Shorts provides creators with monetization opportunities, making it a strong alternative to other platforms. Users also enjoy access to a broad selection of licensed music and sound effects, enriching their video creation process. Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows Snapchat’s been around for a while and, perhaps due to TikTok’s own popularity, has seen a boost over the past year or so. Snapchat users can create short-form videos that disappear. The platform can also be used for direct messaging, photo sharing, and much more. While not a perfect TikTok alternative, Snapchat offers a lot in terms of short-form video content and has 238 million daily active users, making it a strong social media platform with wide reach. Snapchat’s been around for a while and, perhaps due to TikTok’s own popularity, has gotten a bit of a boost over the past year or so. Snapchat users can create short-form videos of up to 60 seconds that disappear. The platform can also be used for direct messaging, photo sharing, and a lot more. While not a perfect TikTok alternative, Snapchat does have a lot to offer in terms of short-form video content and has 238 million daily active users, making it a strong social media platform with wide reach. Compatibility: iOS, Android Triller seems to be the app that celebrities gravitate toward to record and edit their videos, probably because the app is so easy to use. You just record your video and the app basically does everything for you. With Triller’s video editing tools you can cut and trim videos, add filters, or, à la Snapchat, draw over the videos to step up the creativity. While you can collaborate with friends, Triller isn’t a social media platform. You can use it to edit your videos and share the videos to your social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Compatibility: iOS, Android Funimate is incredibly versatile. You can create video loops, easily add slow-motion effects, combine multiple videos into a compilation, and a lot more. Like TikTok, the app has a huge library of music and sounds you can use to create fun lip-syncing videos. There are more than 20 video effects at your disposal, and you can add text or stickers to your videos quickly. With Funimate, you can also collaborate with friends by picking a song and merging the videos into a single clip. It’s not quite TikTok’s Duet or React functionality but it’s still pretty fun. Funimate is a great alternative to TikTok, but if you want access to advanced features, you’ll need to pay for them. Compatibility: iOS, Android KWAI is a social short-form video app that features content across several categories: lip-sync, blogging, beauty, comedy, prank, magic, and dance. KWAI is another app that rewards creators—the more followers you have, the better the rewards are! To keep creators engaged on the app, KWAI regularly hosts contests and challenges that creators can participate in, making it easy to keep up on viral trends as they’re happening. And, KWAI has a “stories” feature like Instagram and Snapchat where you can share stories for up to 48 hours. Compatibility: iOS, Android Likee is a global platform for creating and sharing short videos, available for free with outstanding live streaming features. This app combines short video creation, video effects, and live streaming into one user-friendly package. With a powerful personalized feed and numerous video effects, you can easily discover trending videos, create perfect content, watch live streams, and broadcast your own live sessions. Likee boasts an active community where you can connect with other creators and explore new videos. Best of all, Likee allows you to share your videos across all your social media platforms for maximum exposure. With over 100 million users worldwide, more people are choosing Likee for entertainment, self-expression, and social connections. Compatibility: iOS, Android VideoShow, sometimes called Music VideoShow, lets users record and edit videos up to one minute in length. It has tons of music options available in-app along with millions of videos from other creators to draw inspiration. While its feature set isn’t as robust as TikTok and some of the other apps on this list, VideoShow is just about the easiest app to use. If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key than TikTok, or you want to play around until you become a TikTok influencer, VideoShow deserves a long look. Compatibility: iOS Video Star lets you create fun and engaging music videos using its large library of popular songs. If straight-up music videos aren’t your thing, you can add slow-motion effects, play the entire video in reverse, and add other cool effects. Video Star also has some of the effects that make TikTok so powerful, like green screen, cloning, and more. The app gets great reviews from its users, but it’s important to note that the app only allows users to create music videos; it doesn’t support vlogging or other video formats. Compatibility: iOS, Android Okay, yes, its website is ugly. But MuStar is a TikTok alternative worth taking a look at. MuStar has an even larger collection of songs than TikTok. The video effects are also pretty similar. Where the two differ is in the user interface (UI). MuStar offers a more intuitive user experience that makes it easier to find videos and use its features.1. Instagram Reels
2. YouTube
3. Snapchat
4. Triller
5. Funimate
6. KWAI
7. Likee
8. VideoShow
9. Video Star
10. MuStar
TikTok Alternatives… Just in Case
Social media platforms can disappear in a moment. While TikTok seems safe, it’s been in the news quite a bit since mid-2020 and has been banned by a couple of governments, most notably India where the app had more than 200 million users. Check out the TikTok alternatives on this list to find the app that works best for you, your brand, and your followers. You know, just in case.
But, let’s be real, TikTok is the best at what it does. That’s why it’s enjoyed the exponential growth it has over the past couple of years. It has a large, engaged community and an algorithm that is just about psychic with its accuracy. If you’re looking for the best platform for short-form video content, TikTok is where it’s at.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are TikTok’s competitors?
TikTok has a number of high profile competitors. TikTok’s competitors include Instagram Reels, YouTube, Snapchat, Triller, Funimate, KWAI, Likee,VideoShow, Video Star, and MuStar. While the platform has seen astronomical growth since coming onto the scene in 2018, social media platforms come and go all the time.
How does Triller compare to TikTok?
Triller is a popular alternative to TikTok. It seems to be the app that celebrities gravitate toward to record and edit their videos, probably because the app is so easy to use. You just record your video and the app basically does everything for you. With Triller’s video editing tools you can cut and trim videos, add filters, or, à la Snapchat, draw over the videos to step up the creativity. While you can collaborate with friends, Triller isn’t a social media platform. You can use it to edit your videos and share the videos to your social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).
What company owns TikTok?
ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming owns TikTok. The company resisted the sale of TikTok in 2020 to large Western investors. The company has General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital among its backers. ByteDance was valued at $353 billion. ByteDance first launched Douyin for Chinese users in September 2016.
Is TikTok bad or harmful?
TikTok has said that the platform is “deeply committed” to child safety with “zero tolerance” for behavior that does lead, or may lead, to child abuse or sexual exploitation.
Can I monetize my content on these alternative platforms?
Yes, platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels offer monetization options for creators, enabling them to earn from their content.
Do these TikTok alternatives provide similar editing tools?
Yes, most alternatives like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Snapchat Spotlight offer a variety of editing tools, including filters, text, AR effects, and music integration.
How can I get more views on these alternative platforms?
To get more views, use relevant hashtags, create engaging and high-quality content, post consistently, and engage with your audience through comments and interactions.
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