12 apps like TikTok to try in 2025
Read our list of 12 apps like TikTok and get inspired.
TikTok is one of the most popular apps out there — it’s fast-paced, fun, and offers creators the chance to make a living doing what they love. But what about other apps like TikTok?
How do apps like TikTok make money?
TikTok monetization has flourished over the past few years. According to Epidemic Sound’s own research, TikTok was the top social media platform for generating income in 2024 — not bad at all.
Other apps like TikTok help creators monetize in a similar fashion, via subscriptions, advertising revenue sharing, and more.
12 best apps like TikTok
Today, we’ll cover a dozen apps similar to TikTok, dig into their monetization options, and consider what else they bring to the party.
Here’s our list of apps like TikTok, from household names to hidden gems:
- Instagram Reels
- Facebook Reels
- YouTube Shorts
- Snapchat
- Lemon8
- RedNote
- BlueSky
- Likee
- Triller
- Fanbase
- Clapper
- Roposo
1. Instagram Reels
When Instagram Reels debuted back in 2019, the similarities to TikTok were clear. Insta’s short-form function lets users create content that’s brief, often soundtracked, and viewable in an infinitely scrollable feed.
Reels are naturally pre-recorded, and sit nicely in the wider Instagram monetization program. However, the Instagram algorithm favors watch-time, likes, and shares: areas often dominated by brands and big-name influencers. For that reason, it doesn’t have the same “anyone can go viral” appeal as the TikTok algorithm.
2. Facebook Reels
Given that Facebook and Instagram share the same parent company, Meta, Facebook Reels works in a similar fashion to Instagram Reels. The main difference here, though, is the audience — Facebook targets a generally older demographic than TikTok.
3. YouTube Shorts
YouTube’s short-form arm launched in 2021, and has since become an integral part of the platform. Shorts’ bite-sized, vertical experience is similar to TikTok, allowing established YouTubers to chop up and redistribute their longer videos.
YouTube Shorts doesn’t support live streaming, but it has a robust monetization program which works a treat for established YouTubers. That said, the Shorts algorithm favors users with an existing fanbase and track record, making it tougher for new creators to break through.
4. Snapchat
At a glance, the Snapchat Spotlight feed works and looks a little like TikTok. However, newcomers may find Snapchat’s user experience a little chaotic in comparison, and might struggle to reach the same audience.
Snapchat supports monetization and live streaming. Earning money with Spotlight content makes the rest of these platforms look like a walk in the park, though — you need at least a million Spotlight views in any given month.
5. Lemon8
Apps similar to TikTok don’t get any more similar than, well, apps owned by TikTok’s parent company. Lemon8 is another ByteDance app, dealing more in lifestyle-themed content — it’s TikTok-style with a Pinterest-adjacent feel, or a throwback to old-school Instagram. Lemon8 encourages longer captions and storytelling, as opposed to TikTok’s scroll-heavy focus.
As both apps are integrated, users can log in to Lemon8 with their TikTok details. As of 2025, Lemon8 doesn’t support monetization or live-streamed content, but there’s more than enough to get stuck into.
6. RedNote
If we’re talking new apps like TikTok, RedNote’s made a lot of buzz lately. As with other apps on this list, it shares a lot with “old” TikTok, pairing licensed music with user-generated video. But in the cold light of day, it has more in common with Instagram.
At the moment, live streaming is limited to RedNote creators with a valid Chinese ID. Those without such an ID can still watch live-streamed content, but can’t host their own. There’s currently no way to monetize RedNote-based content, other than teaming up with brands.
7. BlueSky
The unofficial alternative to Twitter/X partially fits the “apps like TikTok” description, too. BlueSky started as a text-based social media app, but has since introduced video. Third-party developers have gone so far as to create BlueScreen: a vertical-video, scrollable feed for BlueSky video content.
BlueSky doesn’t support live streaming and is currently ad-free, but plans to roll out monetization options during 2025. It’s gained popularity over the past year or so, but its jack-of-all-trades approach makes it feel a little scattered for professional content distribution. It also lacks a primary algorithm, potentially making it harder for creators to reach new audiences.
8. Likee
Likee takes more than a few of its cues from TikTok and Snapchat, giving users a filter- and AR-heavy, vertical-video experience. Live streaming and monetization are possible through this handy little app, but as the audience is much smaller than TikTok, the chance to earn a living shrinks.
9. Triller
Triller is similar to old TikTok, back in the Musical.ly days — the main focus is music. In fact, track selection comes before content creation in Triller, meaning users generally match their video to a song.
This makes Triller ideal for lip-syncing snippets and challenges, but does impose limitations. The platform’s music-based approach means that it misses out on specific memes or TikTok trends, because it can’t realistically cover the same amount of ground.
Triller also supports live streaming. The app refreshed its look and monetization program in February 2025, making it more accessible to earn on-platform than before.
10. Fanbase
Fanbase is a wide-reaching blend of concepts from TikTok, Patreon, and Instagram. The app deals in short- and long-form content, both live and recorded, hinging its appeal on a “monetize from day one” promise. That sounds appealing, but therein sits the problem — it’s perfect for creators, but perhaps not so great for viewers or fans.
Even basic actions such as hitting the “Like” button require viewers to part with cash. Paywalling everything can work if you’re an established content creator or brand, but for nano- and micro-influencers, Fanbase might be a bit of a stretch.
11. Clapper
Clapper is a short-form video platform that shares a little DNA with apps like BeReal, encouraging users to publish unfiltered, “real” content. Unlike BeReal, Clapper supports live streaming and video content, and provides monetization via tiered membership subscriptions.
12. Roposo
If you’ve ever used TikTok Shop, you’ll be familiar with Roposo’s offering. The app revolves around a smooth, upbeat ecommerce journey, covering categories as broad as music to comedy. Roposo has a sizable following in India, but hasn’t made much of a mark elsewhere — its retail-centric experience doesn’t match TikTok’s broader appeal, either.
We’ve only covered a dozen, but there are tons more apps like TikTok. Why? Because it’s a formula that works — of course everyone else wants to get in on the action. While each of the apps we’ve listed have their merits, none of them deliver a like-for-like TikTok experience.
See what works for you, play around with different formats, and create content to suit your audience, rather than a specific app.
And, regardless of the platform on which you publish content, you’ll need to use music. After all, the soundtrack can make or break your content — why let one needle-drop derail your project?
Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best.
You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.
It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.
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