RedNote Rises as TikTok Stumbles (For a Day)

In true TikTok fashion, the app's U.S. ban was a drama-packed, blink-and-you-missed-it saga. Lasting barely a day, the ban had creators posting tearful goodbye videos and "find me on RedNote" updates, only for TikTok to come back online faster than you could say "for you page." But the brief chaos was enough to let some underdog apps steal the show, with Chinese competitors like RedNote, Clapper, Flip, and Likee shooting to the top of the App Store charts—and they're still holding their ground.


RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu on app stores, rose to the occasion, and… it conquered. Claiming the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store last week, it's still sitting pretty at the top even after TikTok's return. The app reeled in 700,000 new U.S. users in just a few days, proving it's not just a backup option but a serious contender. Some TikTokers even used their switch to RedNote as a loud-and-clear message to U.S. lawmakers and Meta: they'd rather migrate to another Chinese platform than settle for Instagram Reels.

Even though TikTok is back online, downloading the app is still off the table in the U.S., thanks to ongoing legal restrictions. Despite President-elect Trump's hints at extending the deadline for the ban, app stores have no choice but to stick to the rules. In the meantime, alternatives like RedNote, Likee, Clapper, and Flip continue to dominate the App Store's top rankings.

Data from app analytics firm Appfigures highlights just how wild last week was for these rising stars. RedNote, Clapper, and Flip saw their daily downloads jump from the low thousands to tens of thousands practically overnight. RedNote led the pack, racking up 818,000 new U.S. installs in January alone. The app's Chinese-language interface even triggered a 216% surge in Mandarin learners on Duolingo, because apparently, nothing inspires language acquisition like trying to figure out a new social platform.

Bluesky, another social app, also saw a slight boost, adding nearly a million new users and reaching 28.29 million overall. However, it couldn't maintain its momentum in the top 10, now landing at No. 13 on the App Store.

For now, it's clear that TikTok's brief disappearance stirred the pot just enough for other apps to shine. Whether these alternatives can hold onto their newfound fame—or if TikTok will reclaim its crown—is the drama we'll all be tuning into next.

Want to read this in Spanish? Spanish Version >>