The Most Popular Chat App in China, Ranked

Choose the chat app you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 06:32
In a bustling urban center in China, a conversation unfolds effortlessly over a popular chat application, seamlessly connecting family members across diverse cities. Such apps have become embedded in the daily rhythms of millions, serving not only as platforms for personal connection but also for business exchanges, planning, and crucial updates. The right app can significantly enhance these interactions by offering superior features and reliability. As these chat applications evolve, it becomes increasingly important to identify which ones best meet the users' needs. By actively participating in voting for your preferred app, you contribute to a community-driven ranking that helps illuminate the most effective tools for communication. Your input ensures the most commendable apps gain visibility and are more widely adopted, enhancing connectivity for all users.

What Is the Most Popular Chat App in China?

  1. 1
    61
    votes
    WeChat is the most popular chat app in China, with over 1 billion monthly active users. It offers a wide range of features, including messaging, voice and video calls, payments, and social networking. It is widely used for personal and business communication in China.
    WeChat is a multi-purpose messaging, social media, and mobile payment app developed by Tencent. It was released in January 2011 and quickly became one of the most popular apps in China.
    • Messaging: WeChat allows users to send text, voice, and multimedia messages individually or in groups.
    • Social Media: Users can share moments, photos, and videos on their timeline, comment on others' posts, and follow celebrities or official accounts.
    • Voice and Video Calls: WeChat offers high-quality voice and video calls, supporting both one-on-one and group conversations.
    • Mini Programs: It provides a platform for third-party developers to create small applications within WeChat, offering various services and features.
    • Mobile Payment: WeChat Pay allows users to make mobile payments, transfer money, pay bills, order food, book flights, and more.
  2. 2
    22
    votes

    QQ

    QQ is a popular chat app in China owned by Tencent. It has over 800 million monthly active users and is widely used for messaging, voice and video calls, and social networking. QQ also offers a range of features, including games and online shopping.
    QQ is a popular multi-platform messaging app in China that allows users to send messages, make voice and video calls, share photos and files, play games, and more. It is known for its wide range of functionalities and user-friendly interface.
    • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
    • Messaging: Text messaging, voice messages, video calls, group chats
    • File Sharing: Photos, videos, documents
    • Stickers: Extensive library of stickers and emojis
    • Games: In-app games and integration with gaming services
  3. 3
    22
    votes
    DingTalk is a chat app developed by Alibaba Group for business communication. It offers features such as messaging, voice and video calls, and project management tools. It is widely used for remote work and team collaboration in China.
    DingTalk is a popular chat and collaboration app in China that is widely used for communication and project management in both corporate and educational settings. It offers a range of features including messaging, video conferencing, task management, document sharing, and more. DingTalk is known for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other business applications.
    • Messaging: Real-time chat and group messaging
    • Video Conferencing: High-quality video and audio calls
    • Task Management: Create and assign tasks, set deadlines
    • Document Sharing: Collaboratively edit and share files
    • Attendance Management: Track employee attendance
  4. 4
    20
    votes
    Momo is a social networking app that also offers messaging and voice and video calls. It is widely used for making new friends and finding potential partners in China.
    Momo is a popular chat app in China that allows users to connect and interact with each other. It offers various features and functions to enhance user experience in communication and social networking.
    • User base: Momo has over 100 million registered users in China.
    • Messaging: Users can send text messages, voice messages, photos, and videos to their contacts.
    • Group Chat: Momo supports group chats with up to 500 participants.
    • Moments: It has a social networking feature similar to Facebook's timeline, allowing users to post and share updates, photos, and videos.
    • Nearby Users: Users can discover and connect with people nearby based on location.
  5. 5
    10
    votes

    Baidu Tieba

    Baidu
    Baidu Tieba is a forum and chat app developed by Baidu. It allows users to create and join forums on various topics and communicate with other users via messaging. It is widely used for online discussion and information sharing in China.
    Baidu Tieba is one of the most popular chat apps in China. It is a community-based platform where users can create and join forums according to their interests. Baidu Tieba allows users to discuss various topics, share information, and interact with a large user base.
    • Available Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
    • User Base: Over 300 million registered users
    • Forum Topics: Covering a wide range of interests and categories
    • Real-time Messaging: Allows users to chat and interact in real-time
    • Rich Media Support: Users can share text, images, videos, and audio files
  6. 6
    11
    votes
    Youku is a video streaming app that also offers messaging and social networking features. It is widely used for watching and sharing videos in China.
    Youku, also known as Youku Tudou Inc., is a leading online video platform in China. It allows users to upload, watch, and share a wide range of videos including movies, TV shows, music videos, and more.
    • Launch Date: December 2005
    • Headquarters: Beijing, China
    • Monthly Active Users: Over 500 million
    • Video Content: Movies, TV shows, music videos, etc.
    • Ownership: Alibaba Group
  7. 7
    7
    votes
    Douyin, also known as TikTok outside of China, is a short-video app that also offers messaging and social networking features. It is widely used for creating and sharing short videos in China.
    Douyin is a popular social media platform and short video app in China. It allows users to create, share, and discover short video clips, ranging from lip-syncing to comedy skits and more. The app offers various creative tools, effects, and filters to enhance videos and engage with the community. Douyin has gained tremendous popularity for its user-friendly interface and entertaining content.
    • User base: Over 600 million active users in China
    • Video length: 15 seconds to 1 minute
    • Content creation tools: Filters, effects, music, and more
    • Discovery algorithm: Personalized recommendation system
    • Engagement features: Likes, comments, shares, and duets
  8. 8
    7
    votes
    Weibo is a microblogging app that also offers messaging and social networking features. It is widely used for sharing news, information, and opinions in China.
    Weibo is a popular social media platform in China that allows users to share their thoughts, images, videos, and more. It combines features of microblogging, blogging, and social networking, making it a comprehensive platform for sharing and discovering content.
    • Launch Date: August 14, 2009
    • Users: Over 500 million active users (as of Q3 2021)
    • Monthly Active Users (MAU): Approximately 530 million (as of Q3 2021)
    • Daily Active Users (DAU): Approximately 229 million (as of Q3 2021)
    • Content Types: Text posts, images, videos, live-streaming, and more
  9. 9
    10
    votes
    Zhihu is a Q&A platform that also offers messaging and social networking features. It is widely used for asking and answering questions on various topics in China.
    Zhihu is a popular online community platform commonly known as the 'Quora of China'. It allows users to ask and answer questions, share knowledge, and engage in discussions on various topics.
    • User base: Over 160 million registered users
    • Question and answer format: Users can ask questions and receive answers from the community
    • Knowledge sharing: Users can share their expertise and insights with others
    • Topic diversity: Wide range of topics available for discussions
    • Following system: Users can follow topics, questions, and other users to stay updated
  10. 10
    0
    votes
    Xiaohongshu, also known as RED, is a social e-commerce app that also offers messaging and social networking features. It is widely used for shopping and sharing product reviews in China.
    Xiaohongshu, also known as Little Red Book, is a popular social e-commerce platform in China. Originating as a community-based platform for sharing overseas shopping experiences, it has evolved into a comprehensive app that combines social networking, content creation, and online shopping.
    • Platform: iOS, Android
    • Category: Social networking, E-commerce
    • Launch Year: 2013
    • Number of Users: Over 300 million
    • Main Features: Product reviews, shopping recommendations, social sharing, community discussions

Missing your favorite chat app?

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Ranking factors for popular chat app

  1. Growth rate
    A rapidly growing user base can be an indicator of increasing popularity. Tracking the growth rate of users over time can provide insight into which apps are gaining or losing popularity.
  2. User engagement
    How frequently and for how long do users interact with the app? High levels of engagement indicate that the app is not only popular but also has features that keep users interested and coming back for more.
  3. Features and functionality
    What chat functionalities and additional features does the app offer? Some popular features include group chats, voice and video calls, file sharing, and social media integration. Apps that offer a wide range of features and tools tailored to the needs of Chinese users are more likely to be popular.
  4. Ease of use
    A simple and user-friendly interface that caters to both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy users is important. Apps that are easy to navigate, understand, and use have a greater chance of becoming popular.
  5. Security and privacy
    With increasing concerns about data privacy and security, users are likely to prefer chat apps that offer end-to-end encryption and other security measures to protect their personal information and conversations.
  6. Localization
    Chat apps that are tailored to suit the linguistic, cultural, and social preferences of Chinese users will have an advantage in terms of popularity. This includes apps that support the Chinese language, local content, and cultural norms.
  7. Government regulations and censorship
    In China, chat apps need to comply with government regulations and restrictions, which could impact their popularity. Apps that are widely used but banned or restricted by the government might see a decline in usage and popularity.
  8. Integration with other popular apps and platforms
    Apps that can be easily integrated with other popular platforms, such as e-commerce and social media networks, can boost their popularity and adoption among users.
  9. Reputation and brand recognition
    Chat apps that originate from well-known and trusted companies or that have received good reviews and press coverage are more likely to become popular among users.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular chat app in China. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or chatapp is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 4348 views
  • 166 votes
  • 10 ranked items

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Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each chatapp once every 24 hours. The rank of each chatapp is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular chat app in china

China is one of the largest and most diverse markets in the world, with a population of over 1.4 billion people. In recent years, the country has seen a surge in the popularity of chat apps, with millions of users logging in to these platforms every day. The competition among chat app providers is fierce, with each trying to offer unique features and services to attract and retain users. Some of the most popular chat apps in China include WeChat, QQ, and DingTalk, which offer a range of services such as messaging, voice and video calls, and social networking. These apps are not only used for personal communication but also for business purposes, making them an essential part of everyday life in China. In this article, we will explore the most popular chat app in China and what sets it apart from the rest.

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