Apps Like TikTok: The 5 Best Alternatives in 2024

Short-form video apps like Snapchat and Likee will make you forget about TikTok

By
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson
Writer
  • Rutgers University
  • Central Michigan University
Dave Johnson has been writing about tech since 1990. He's the author of over 2 dozen books and his writing has appeared in Wired, PCWorld, Business Insider, and many other publications.
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Updated on February 28, 2024
Reviewed by
Jessica Kormos
Jessica Kormos
Reviewed by Jessica Kormos
  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
TikTok

TikTok has suffered security and privacy concerns while it has come under the glare of government scrutiny. If you're worried about whether it'll continue to be a viable service, the good news is that it isn't the only short-form video-based social media platform out there.

Here are the five best alternative apps you can use instead of TikTok so you don't get caught up in the drama.

01
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Best for Original Content: Snapchat

Three views of the Snapchat app
What We Like

  • Send videos up to 60 seconds.

  • Can edit with text and doodles.

  • Can watch Snap Originals.

What We Don't Like

  • No iPad app.

  • Feels cluttered.

Snapchat was doing the video thing long before TikTok had its moment. The app lets you create short videos, though they're designed to disappear after a short time, so they don't have the same staying power or impact as a TikTok video. This, however, does offer significantly more privacy.

Snapchat allows you to add text and doodles to your video creations. You can also use the magic eraser tool, instant touch-up features, and music picker to make your videos pop with very little effort.

In addition to making your own Snaps, the app has a Stories and a Spotlight page for watching other people's videos, plus Snap Originals for premium videos created expressly for Snapchat users. While not exactly TikTok fare, they include unscripted shows, docuseries, and even serialized dramas and comedies.

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02
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Alternative with the Largest User Base: Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels
What We Like

  • Can string together clips.

  • Augmented reality creates excellent effects.

  • Record from both cameras at once.

  • Same effects available in Stories.

What We Don't Like

  • Finding Reels is challenging.

Instagram is no newcomer to the social media world, and users have been able to post videos for years. You have the option to post live videos, add video to an Instagram Story, and now there's a new feature called Instagram Reels.

Reels lets you record and edit video montages up to 90 seconds long made from a single video or a series of clips. You can add a soundtrack from a library of options and add a suite of visual effects.

Finding Instagram Reels in the first place is a challenge, and unless you use it all the time, you'll probably forget it's there. Once you find it, though, it works roughly the same as TikTok and it's a good alternative since it shares the same effects and editing tools as Instagram Stories. In addition, you can explore Reel's augmented reality tools that combine graphics with video. 

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03
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An Alternative That Covers All the Bases: Likee

Three views of the Likee app
What We Like

  • TikTok like interface.

  • SuperMix makes video creation a cinch.

  • Excellent community and lots of videos.

What We Don't Like

  • Too many notifications.

If you're looking for something that covers all the bases, Likee is a good choice. It makes it easy to record short, TikTok-like videos, but you can also go live and do Facebook Live-style long-form video.

You get a slew of editing and filter options, beauty enhancements, and a countdown timer for hands-free recording. One of the nicest features of Likee, though, is the app's emphasis on music. Not only is there a solid library to choose from, with categories like dance, children, modern music, pop, and rap.

The app has a thriving community and a lot of content to browse, so whether you're creating or consuming, there's something here for you.

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04
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Best for Celebrity Content: Triller

Three screens from the Triller Android app
What We Like

  • Lots of celebrity content.

  • Super easy video creation.

  • Select music or use your own.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited editing and effects.

Triller is popular and growing fast, thanks in part to several celebrities, both musicians and comedians, who call it home. There's an enormous number of celebs here, including Justin Bieber, Mike Tyson, and Cardi B. Between the big names and enormous community of creators, there's no shortage of content.

That might be because the app is so easy to use. It features top videos, includes a Following and a For You page like TikTok, and lets you browse by DIY, comedy, art, sports, and other categories.

From there, social videos can include video clips from your camera roll and filters, but no other effects, text, or stickers. To make a music video, you select a track from Triller's generous library or a song from your phone. It's fast, easy, and fun. 

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05
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Most Powerful Video Editor: Funimate

Funimate Android app
What We Like

  • Powerful video editor.

  • Filters and effects.

  • AI tools.

What We Don't Like

  • Heavy-handed ads and in-app purchases.

Funimate would be a little more fun if it didn't lean so hard into trying to monetize you. When you install the app you get the option to customize the ad experience, and many of the app's core features are behind a paywall. In fact, you're offered the opportunity to upgrade to the Pro version frequently, and you need to watch ads to use certain features.

If you can put all that aside, Funimate is a great short-form video creator, as evidenced by many of the sophisticated-looking creator-community videos you can browse within the app.

In addition to shooting your own videos, there are also some AI tools. One lets you make AI versions of celebrities and another will animate your still photos.

You can select from Funimate's music library or your own songs, and it's one of the few apps that has its own surprisingly powerful video editor if you choose to use it. 

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