10 of the Best TikTok Alternatives in the Event of a TikTok Ban
Posted on December 30, 2024 | Updated on December 30, 2024
TikTok is one of today’s most popular social media apps, but a looming ban threatens its future in the U.S. As the decision date draws nearer, it’s time to consider TikTok alternatives should they be necessary.
These alternatives are important for both TikTok users and the businesses that advertise there. Some companies have amassed over a million followers in mere months on the app, highlighting its value as a way to reach new audiences. And with video accounting for 80% of online traffic, creating video content in particular can ensure brands are reaching their target audiences in the manner that most consumers are looking to engage with.
While TikTok’s future may still be uncertain, there are several alternatives. Here are 10 of the best ones.
1. YouTube Shorts
One of the most obvious alternatives to TikTok is YouTube Shorts. YouTube has been a dominant force in social media long before TikTok was even around, so many users are already on it, even if they don’t use its short-form feature yet.
YouTube’s reach and name recognition are its biggest strengths. It also functions almost identically to TikTok, making it an easy switch. However, Shorts have a 60-second time cap, which some users may not like after migrating from TikTok’s much longer maximum video length.
Download YouTube on iPhone | Download YouTube on Android
2. Instagram/Facebook Reels
Meta’s Reels feature on Instagram and Facebook is another promising TikTok alternative. Reels have a longer time limit than YouTube shorts — 90 seconds instead of 60 — and work seamlessly between both Facebook and Instagram, enabling easy sharing. Videos also get 400% more engagement than text-only Facebook posts, which is hard to overlook as a business.
Despite its ease of use and broad reach, Reels isn’t a perfect TikTok replacement. It has a reputation among current TikTok users as a space in which older people post and reshare TikTok-originated content weeks after the content was trending on users’ TikTok for-you pages (FYPs).
As such, many younger people might not find Reels a convincing alternative.
Download Facebook on iPhone | Download Facebook on Android
Download Instagram on iPhone | Download Instagram on Android
3. Snapchat
While it’s not a one-to-one replacement, Snapchat could see a boost in the wake of a TikTok ban, too. Snapchat’s Discover feature provides users with personalized content in the form of short, TikTok-like videos from publishers and creators. The algorithm suggests content based on user interests in a similar manner to the TikTok algorithm that the app’s users are used to.
Many young audiences already use Snapchat, which gives it an edge. However, unlike TikTok, Snapchat Discover is more focused on publisher-generated content and may not offer the same level of community interaction that TikTok is known for.
Download Snapchat on iPhone | Download Snapchat on Android
4. Triller
Triller is a more direct TikTok alternative, featuring built-in editing tools, music clips and an endless feed much like what it’s imitating. It’s so similar that it saw a 1,227% spike in daily installs the week after the White House threatened to ban TikTok back in 2020. While it’s still less widely known than YouTube Shorts or Reels, that download hike shows potential.
The biggest upsides to Triller are its similarities to TikTok, AI-powered editing automation and extensive music support. However, its smaller user base and music-centric focus may mean slower growth compared to other TikTok replacements.
Download Triller on iPhone | Download Triller on Android
5. Lemon8
Lemon8 is a photo-centric, community-focused app that promotes itself as a cross between Pinterest and Instagram. While it primarily centers around sharing photos, it supports video content, too — a feature which will likely see more use as more users migrate from TikTok to the app. Its community features also enable easy sharing and help you reach your target niche.
One of Lemon8’s biggest strengths is also its biggest weakness — it’s owned by ByteDance, the parent company behind TikTok. On the upside, that means Lemon8 can integrate TikTok accounts for a quick, seamless switch of platforms. On the other hand, though, the app could potentially someday face a similar fate if the government bans TikTok, although lawmakers haven’t explicitly named it in their criticisms of ByteDance.
Download Lemon8 on iPhone | Download Lemon8 on Android
6. Likee
Likee is another app that’s seen a growing user base amid the looming TikTok ban. Like TikTok, it offers and endless feed of short-form videos, along with built-in editing tools and livestreaming features if you want another way to engage followers. Using the app feels a lot like using TikTok, making it a natural replacement.
As easy-to-use and engaging as Likee can be, it’s come under fire from some users for a lack of safeguards. Some say it’s too easy for young audiences to come across inappropriate or harmful content on the platform, which could hinder its future growth.
Download Likee on iPhone | Download Likee on Android
7. Funimate
The creative side of short-form video content takes center stage in Funimate. It features an impressive array of editing tools for a free service, although the free version puts a watermark on videos edited in-app. That editing power has made it popular as a way to create TikToks before posting them, so the app already boasts over 40 million users worldwide.
Ads and paywalls make Funimate a slightly more frustrating experience than some other alternatives. However, it could be a profitable place to capitalize on after a TikTok ban, as many TikTok creators are already familiar with the platform.
Download Funimate on iPhone | Download Funimate on Android
8. Zigazoo
Zigazoo is a more niche alternative to TikTok, focusing on younger audiences. On the surface, the app is nearly identical to TikTok in that it lets users create and scroll through short-form videos. However, it has far more safety features, including monitoring by real people, comment restrictions and a lack of direct messages.
Removing DMs and restricting comments does make Zigazoo a less appealing app for adult users and will limit engagement. However, those same features make it a safer space for kids, so it’s a valuable service for parents of businesses marketing to families.
Download Zigazoo on iPhone | Download Zigazoo on Android
9. Saving TikToks Before the Ban
As a last resort, you can also save TikToks before the ban takes effect to view after the fact. This won’t let you see any new content, but it’s a useful strategy for keeping recipes or other videos you’ve already seen but may need to refer to later.
The Faves app is a cloud video storage app that offers an easy way to save your favorite videos — or even whole TikTok collections — from TikTok, as well as other platforms.
Alternatively, you can save content directly on the TikTok app and transfer it to your phone or cloud storage. Keep in mind, though, that this method may put a watermark on everything and only works when creators enable downloads.
Download Faves on iPhone | Download Faves on Android
10. Using a VPN to Reach TikTok
Depending on how a ban proceeds, you may be able to still use TikTok after it’s banned. Virtual private network (VPN) apps like ExpressVPN, Nord VPN and SurfShark let you route your traffic through servers in another country, allowing you to access region-locked content. All users would need to do is connect to the VPN, and then open TikTok once connected to a foreign server.
There are a few caveats here. First, a VPN would only work in some scenarios — namely, if the ban doesn’t remove TikTok entirely and users already have it installed before the ban. How the government enforces the restriction would also impact whether a VPN works. Personalization features may also suffer, as locations wouldn’t be accurate.
It’s Time to Consider TikTok Alternatives
As the final decision on the TikTok ban approaches, both consumers and businesses should consider alternatives to the app. Take the time to experiment with a few and find one that works for you so you know where to go if TikTok becomes unavailable in the U.S. With so many options available, short-form video content isn’t going anywhere, even if its most prominent platform does.
About The Author
Eleanor Hecks is the Editor-in-Chief of Designerly Magazine, an online publication dedicated to providing in-depth content from the design and marketing industries. When she's not designing or writing code, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her husband and dog in their RV, burning calories at a local Zumba class, or curled up with a good book with her cats Gem and Cali.
You can find more of Eleanor's work at www.eleanorhecks.com.