From RollingStone: As the looming Jan. 19 deadline draws ever nearer for TikTok to be banned in the United States, it looks like we collectively have to decide which new doomscrolling app will reign supreme. While it’s been a good(ish) run, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled to uphold a law passed last April that demanded TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations, or face a nationwide ban — and as of right now, it looks like it’s going to stick.
TikTok is currently hoping for an extension to look for a buyer that will keep the platform operational in the U.S. (and no, it probably won’t be Elon Musk). But if that doesn’t happen, the app will go dark, and millions of users will be left searching for a new short-form video spot to call home. While there’s no app that can perfectly capture TikTok’s je ne sais quoi, from its blend of shopping content and unhinged memes, to its scarily accurate algorithm, top TikTok alternatives have spent years trying to replicate similar features (and vibes).
Best TikTok Alternatives 2025
Facing digital excommunication (and international users feeling like they’re “losing the town drunk“), we’re going to have to jump ship somewhere. In lieu of standing outside TikTok’s offices with a boombox blasting “Nothing Compares 2 U,” we’ve rounded up the best TikTok alternatives to fill the void in 2025 (and beyond).
Triller
Triller may have explicitly started off as a TikTok competitor, but that’s just what makes it a crowd-pleasing alternative for former TikTok users. Unlike other apps who are simply opening their arms wide to the displaced fanbase, Triller is seriously gunning for the top spot — not only did they recently hire ex-TikTok exec Sean Kim as CEO (you can thank him for helping develop TikTok’s famous “For You” feed), but they’ve also recently launched SaveMyTikToks.com to help facilitate an easy content transfer for creators. It’s currently got less content than other short-form video apps, but with Triller’s video-saving features (and an emphasis on music and dance content), it’s well-positioned to become the migratory home for TikTok’s top talent.
To read the full article, visit RollingStone.
