In a surprising turn of events, the brief ban on TikTok has failed to deter its users, who have instead flocked to Chinese rival apps. In the lead up to the ban, which lasted only a day, several video apps rose through the ranks and now dominate the App Store's Top Charts. RedNote, a Chinese app listed as Xiaohongshu on app stores, became the No. 1 app in the U.S. last week, followed by video apps like Clapper, Flip, and others.

According to estimates from app store intelligence provider Appfigures, RedNote, Flip, and Clapper saw a massive growth spurt last week, with RedNote gaining 818,000 new U.S. installs across the App Store and Google Play during January 2025. Clapper, a TikTok alternative aimed at teens and adults ages 17 and up, gained 646,000 downloads on the App Store and Google Play in the U.S. Likee, a short video app, is No. 2 on the U.S. App Store and No. 3 on Google Play, with a total of 283,000 downloads during January so far.

The surge in popularity of these Chinese apps is seen as a signal to U.S. lawmakers and Meta alike that users would rather join another Chinese app similar to TikTok than return to Instagram Reels. Despite TikTok's restoration of service, the app stores aren't yet hosting it for download, as app marketplaces still have to abide by U.S. law. However, both app stores' top charts continue to reflect the shift to other TikTok alternatives.

In Apple's U.S. App Store, video apps including RedNote, Likee, Clapper, and Flip hold the No. 1, 2, 4, and 10 spots in the Overall Top Charts as of Monday morning. Favorited, an app dedicated to livestreams, is No. 15. Social network Bluesky also just added an optional custom video feed, although its app has dropped out of the top 10 position it held last week on the U.S. App Store.

Interestingly, language learning app Duolingo also reported a 216% spike in U.S. users trying to learn Mandarin last week, likely due to RedNote's popularity. The app is localized in Mandarin, which may have contributed to its massive growth.

VPN apps also saw a brief surge in popularity after the TikTok ban went into effect, as U.S. users tried to install VPN apps to work around the restrictions. Although this effort was unsuccessful, VPN apps like VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy, VPN – Fast VPN Super, and Nord VPN saw significant growth, climbing hundreds of spots in the top charts.

As the app store charts are likely to soon shift again as U.S. users realize they can return to TikTok, it remains to be seen whether these Chinese rivals will be able to maintain their newfound popularity. One thing is certain, however: the brief ban on TikTok has failed to deter its users, who have instead found alternative platforms to express themselves.

The implications of this shift are far-reaching, with potential consequences for Meta's Instagram Reels and the broader social media landscape. As the dust settles, one thing is clear: users are hungry for alternatives, and Chinese apps are more than happy to fill the void.