It was only a matter of time before the next social media revolution swept the nation and changed the game for content creators across the country. TikTok burst onto the scene in 2017 with a robust app and an astute marketing strategy that put the power of content creation in the hands of the masses.
TikTok has been banned in India since January 2021; in this article, we explore the different TikTok alternatives and their importance to influencer marketing campaigns.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Before we proceed further with this article,
It’s necessary to ask: “What is TikTok? Why did it become such a huge deal?”
TikTok: The Origin
TikTok is a short-form video creation and social-sharing app. The videos, usually lip-synched memes of trending pop culture songs, are generally 15 seconds long but can go up to 1 minute.
A user-friendly interface, various editing tools, an expansive library of songs, and integrated sharing features have made TikTok one of the hottest social apps in the world.
In 2017, Beijing-based tech startup ByteDance launched TikTok. In the same year, ByteDance acquired Shanghai-based social video app Musical.ly for around $900 million.
In 2018, TikTok absorbed Musical.ly and its entire user base. By June, TikTok’s monthly users reached 500 million in over 150 countries and regions. In 2019, the figure reached 800 million.
TikTok has been downloaded over 1.9 billion times worldwide on all devices, with 44% of those occurring in 2019. 467 million of those downloads were in India alone.
Source: Oberlo
In 2020, TikTok usage peaked in India with over 119 million active users until June 29th, when the Indian Government imposed a ban on the app along with 58 other China-based apps.
So what is happening in India now?
Emboldened by the success of TikTok and its sudden removal, numerous short-video social apps have entered the scene to varying degrees of popularity. Here are 11 who have done a great job in TikTok Alternatives limiting the effects of TikTok’s absence in the Indian market.
Tik…Tok.. lost its time in India.
Top 11 TikTok Alternatives
Instagram Reels
Instagram launched Reels in India soon after the TikTok ban. Reels, an added feature of Instagram rather than an independent app, can be accessed at the bottom of the home screen of the Instagram app.
It has nearly the same features and functionality as TikTok but with the convenience of being in the same place where you create your regular posts.
With Instagram having over a billion monthly users since 2018, Reels is the frontrunner in TikTok Alternatives in India to fill the gap left by TikTok.
Youtube shorts
Youtube launched shorts in September 2020 same as instagram reels after the Tik Tok ban in India. Since then, content creators have used the feature to make thirty-second videos on Youtube.
Youtube shorts have gained a lot of popularity, and accomplished YouTubers are also very active on youtube shorts. Many new creators joined youtube for shorts, and the platform is growing exponentially.
The platform is yet to be monetized, but Youtube is taking steps to monetize shorts in 2023 by making shorts part of the Youtube partner program.
MX TakaTak
Another rising star among the TikTok alternatives list is MX TakaTak. An android app is known for its video editing and dialogue dubbing features created by MX Media and Entertainment.
This fun video maker allows you to create and share a variety of video formats across various top social networking channels.
Apart from that, MX TakaTak also lets you recreate the hook steps of popular songs. Equipped with the latest features such as multi-language content, beauty cam, rich music library and more, this app is undoubtedly quickly rising in popularity among Indian content creators.
Chingari
Chingari is one of the apps that drew lots of attention after TikTok was banned in India. Currently, it has more than 10 million downloads on Google Play Store.
The app has an easy-to-use interface and three main sections – Videos, News, and The Game Zone.
The Game Zone allows you to play numerous quizzes and mini-games such as Sudoku, Cut The Rope, etc. And it rewards you with points or Paytm cash when you play.
Chingari has the usual social video app features such as filters, song options, video speed, video timer, GIFs, status videos for WhatsApp, and much more.
Mitron
Mitron is another Indian app that raised TikTok Alternatives to fame in the fervor that followed the ban of TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps.
An easy-to-use app, Mitron features simple video editing tools with the option to add sounds, filters, and timers to your videos.
While viewing videos posted by others, you can swipe right on a video to easily bring up that creator’s profile and follow them with a tap.
While featuring a simple user interface, Mitron has limited song choices compared to other apps.
Bolo Indya
Bolo Indya is a short video app that is gaining immense popularity. It currently has more than 1 million downloads in the country. This video-sharing app allows users to create and edit short videos in multiple local languages.
The app aims to empower Indians to discuss ideas, exchange views, and gather information through the power of social video while negating any language barriers.
Bolo Indya is leading the charge for making social media a more knowledgeable place with videos across topics such as health, travel, food, general knowledge, etc. and encouraging conversations around the same.
Moj by Sharechat
ShareChat, an Indian social-networking app, launched Moj the day TikTok’s ban came into effect. The app features all the necessary short-video tools, such as effects, filters, stickers, timers, music, and more.
The app has a similar interface to Instagram and allows you to easily watch other creators’ videos without logging in. While this feature is convenient for those wishing to remain anonymous, you still need to sign in to create and share your videos.
Roposo
Roposo is a short video social app owned by InMobi and has over 50 million downloads on Play Store.
Available in 10 different languages apart from English, the app features a clean interface for smooth interaction and video uploading.
Roposo offers a plethora of editing options, including filters, GIF stickers, time-lapse, slow motion, and a whole lot of lighting tweaks.
One prominent feature of the app is that it allows you to download videos to watch later. Super-convenient for those who travel often.
Triller
Arguably one of the most popular alternatives to TikTok Alternatives, Triller is an entertainment platform designed for creators. The app lets users create short videos and allows groups to collaborate on video creation with an auto-editing algorithm.
The platform has over 100 filters that help users personalize their videos to the most significant degree possible.
Similar to TikTok, users can access trending tracks or use their audio when making videos. But a winning feature is that the videos can be shared directly from the app on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, an authentic social media experience.
Dubsmash
Way before TikTok came into the picture, Dubsmash introduced the trend of lip-synched videos with popular songs and soundbites in India. Once only a video-editing app, Dubsmash now boasts robust social sharing features.
The app helps mix your videos with pre-recorded audio, known as dubs, lip-syncing to songs and famous lines from movies, and many more creative ideas.
One of the most popular entertainment platforms with over 100 million downloads, Dubsmash is a firm favorite alternative to TikTok Alternative, having been the original app to introduce the concept of combining videos of yourself with famous music and audio.
Trell
Trell is a popular social-video lifestyle app known primarily as a travel and living genre video app.
Now videos are categorized into different categories making it easy for you to fill your feed with the content of your preference.
An exciting feature is the Trell Shop section, where you can buy products made by fellow users. There is also a blog section for publishing written content instead of just using the platform for making short videos.
Josh by DailyHunt
Dailyhunt, one of India’s most prominent local language discovery platforms, introduced its short video app known as Josh in light of TikTok’s ban.
Operating in stealth mode over the past couple of months, Josh has reached over 50 million downloads, 1 billion video plays per day, and 23 million daily active users.
Targeting India’s vast local language market, Josh is a strong candidate to replace TikTok Alternatives in India.
TakeAway
To the ones who miss TikTok, worry not. The 11 alternatives discussed above would suffice the features and familiarity that you would find on TikTok.
Let us know in the comments below which alternative you love among the above. Unfortunately, if we have missed any of the efficient alternatives feel free to let us know in the comments below.
