TikTok has revolutionized short-form video content, becoming a platform for creators, brands, and audiences. Its popularity has set new standards for creativity, engagement, and community building. While it’s simply entertainment for users, for many creators, it’s a source of income – in some cases becoming a person’s primary income. Unfortunately, for US-based creators, that time has come to an end. The USA TikTok ban is about to come into full effect and disrupt the social industry massively – but don’t fear the worst – I have some TikTok alternatives you can try out!
TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms to date, despite being much newer than its rivals. It has over 1.5 Billion users which makes it the 5th largest behind Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and also the largest platform owned outside of the US.
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1. REDnote (Xiaohongshu)
You’ve probably heard of REDnote by now, it’s the main platform that ‘TikTok refugees’ are flocking to. Although it’s been around a while (2013) with some 300 million users (mostly from China), its user base in the USA is quickly growing. There’s some irony here as the US ban on TikTok was due to the worry of China spying on Americans – yet REDnote is a China-based app, and at the time of writing this, is the number one app on the appstore in the USA.
So what’s it like? Well, REDnote positions itself as ‘the perfect alternative that combines the best of TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest’. This is quite accurate – as you can see below, the layout is very similar to Pinterest, and the rest is similar to Instagram and TikTok.

The content is focused heavily on China and its culture, but the app can be changed to English and promote a growing international audience. I expect the app to shift even more to accommodate a global audience, especially as the company itself is promoting itself as the platform to switch to:

Otherwise, you will find similar content types, such as beauty tutorials, food content, tech reviews, and the regular TikTok favourites you would expect. It also has the ability to run live streams and sell directly through the app. If you can get through the initial culture barrier and work with the platform – it could be the next TikTok in the USA.
2. Instagram Reels
I don’t think that Instagram Reels needs a huge introduction. For most creators, it’s the place to simultaneously post videos from TikTok, reaching a different audience. Creators also encourage their TikTok audience to follow their Instagram channels, almost as a backup, and this was happening before the ban came into effect. I would argue that Instagram is probably the closest alternative to TikTok. It focuses on short-form videos, allows continuous scrolling, the opportunity to go live, and also shop.

I think the algorithm, user interface, and content recommendations are more effective on TikTok. But this is an alternative solution – not a comparison. At least creators and users don’t have to worry about Instagram being banned.
3. YouTube Shorts
YouTube, again needs no introduction, it’s one of the largest social platforms in the world. Similar to Instagram, YouTube jumped on the bandwagon when TikTok exploded in popularity and tried to compete with ‘Shorts’ – which is the same concept of short-form videos that you can interact with and scroll continuously. TikTok was ultimately more popular here, but YouTube Shorts has been on the rise increasing from 30 Billion views a day to 70 Billion in the space of 2 years.

Although YouTube is mainly focused on long-form videos, using Shorts is a great way to grow your subscriber base and build an audience. The benefit here is that you can then focus on long-form content that can be monetized – without having to try and push your audience somewhere else to earn.
4. Snapchat Spotlight
Snapchat, like YouTube and Instagram, is another popular name in social media, but its focus has always been on personal/instant interactions and sharing content with close friends. When TikTok’s popularity exploded, Snapchat responded with Spotlight – a feature focused on short-form, scrollable videos. Spotlight combines short-form content with Snapchat’s signature augmented reality (AR) filters, making the content fun and interactive. A unique feature here is Snapchat’s viral content awards, where the platform pays out to top-performing videos, giving creators an extra incentive to post content.
Spotlight is a great option for those who want to focus on fun content with Snapchat’s AR tools and build a more personal audience. While Snapchat’s main focus remains on its more well-known features, Spotlight has over 375 million active users and is a great alternative to TikTok.
5. Triller
Triller is one of the go-to platforms for music and dance creators, and it’s made a name for itself by focusing on what TikTok started – but with a twist. It still centres around creating short-form videos, but Triller has a huge focus on music. For example, it has features like automatic AI-powered editing that syncs your moves to the beat of the music. Another top feature of Triller is its integration with Spotify and Apple Music, making it easy to find and use music.

If you love the music and dancing aspect of TikTok, Triller is ideal. With 65 million active users, it’s a smaller platform compared to TikTok, but it’s definitely an alternative to consider.
6. Likee
Likee is a platform built for creators who love experimenting with effects and making their videos stand out. It’s packed with over 300 unique effects, making it perfect for lip-syncing, dance challenges, and entertainment content. While it doesn’t have the massive user base of TikTok, one of Likee’s biggest advantages is its ability to share content directly across multiple platforms, so creators can utilize multiple audiences. Additionally, for creators, Likee has a solid monetization system that is similar to TikTok, allowing users to gift and send bonuses.

Although it’s a smaller platform, if you have something unique to offer, it could be worth the switch. Smaller doesn’t necessarily mean less engagement!
To get this app, search for ‘Likee’ on your Google PlayStore or Apple AppStore.
7. Lemon8
Lemon8 is actually owned by BytedDance (who own TikTok) and is the perfect mix of Instagram and Pinterest, combining short-form videos with photo-sharing. It has 12.5 million active users, so it’s not as big as some of the other platforms, but it’s a great option for creators of lifestyle content – which is the platform’s ‘niche’. You can access the app through your TikTok account too, so it’s much easier to transition. As it’s owned by the same company and runs in the same way – you have access to a suite of creative tools and editing abilities – similar to TikTok.
While it’s a great TikTok alternative to consider, remember it’s owned by the same company and has the potential to get banned in the future.
8. Fanbase
Fanbase is a subscription-based platform that is a jumble of many different platforms. It accommodates short-form videos in a separate part of the app and is more geared towards building a loyal audience. Unlike other platforms, it allows creators to monetize their content directly through subscriptions. While it’s still growing, Fanbase is a great alternative to TikTok for creators who want more control over how they earn.

One thing you don’t have to worry about here is factors that affect monetization – as your subscriptions will always cover you regardless of how your content performs.