Heard of Douyin? It’s the original Chinese app that inspired TikTok. Douyin dominates the Chinese market with over 700 million users.
But don’t think of Douyin as just “TikTok for China.” It’s a completely separate platform, built for a different audience, with unique features like advanced e-commerce tools, localized video trends, and an entirely different content ecosystem.
In this guide, we’ll talk about “what is Douyin”, key features of Douyin, and how you can download and use it even if you’re outside of China.
What is Douyin?
Douyin is essentially the Chinese version of TikTok. Owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, it’s the most downloaded short video app and one of the country’s most influential social media platforms in China.
Launched in 2016, Douyin lets users create, edit, and share short, fun, and highly creative videos. While Douyin and TikTok share the same parent company, they operate as completely separate platforms: Douyin serves users in mainland China, while TikTok is geared toward international markets.
Who Uses Douyin?
Douyin boasts over 700 million monthly active users, with a large portion made up of Gen Z and millennials. It’s hugely popular across China, and many everyday users have built large followings or even become internet celebrities by sharing vlogs, daily moments, and lifestyle content.
Much like TikTok, Douyin’s powerful algorithm keeps users hooked by constantly recommending videos tailored to their interests and viewing behavior. The more you watch, the more you want to stay.
Key Features of Douyin
Douyin is more than just the Chinese version of TikTok. It is one of the most powerful apps in China for content creation, social interaction, and e-commerce. Here’s what makes it stand out:
1. Short Video Sharing
Douyin is built around short-form video. Users post everything from dance trends and cooking hacks to comedy clips and everyday vlogs. It’s fast, fun, and seriously addictive content that keeps people scrolling for hours.
2. Live Streaming
Live streaming is a major draw on Douyin. Creators go live to chat with fans, demo products, or host shopping events. It’s a go-to feature for building real-time engagement and it’s just as popular with brands as it is with influencers.
3. Built-In E-Commerce
Douyin blends content with commerce. Users can instantly purchase products shown in videos or live broadcasts without leaving the app. This built-in shopping experience increases conversion rates and makes impulse purchases easy and convenient.
4. Advanced Editing Tools
Creating polished videos is easy, even for beginners. Douyin comes packed with effects, filters, music, and editing tools, so anyone can create eye-catching content straight from their phone without fancy gear required.
5. Social Interaction
Likes, comments, shares, follows — Douyin offers all the social features you’d expect. But what really sets it apart is its algorithm, which helps content go viral and keeps users actively engaged across the platform.
Douyin is a combination of entertainment, e-commerce and social connection. It is not just a video app, but a complete digital ecosystem.
How to Download Douyin Outside China?
Want to try Douyin but don’t live in China? Don’t worry. Although Douyin is not officially available outside of mainland China, there are some easy ways to download it on your phone, whether you use iOS or Android.
1. Make sure your phone can run Douyin
- iPhone: iOS 11.0 or later is required.
- Android: Android 5.0 or later is required.
2. How to Download Douyin on iPhone (iOS)
Since Douyin is not available in the US App Store, you need to switch your Apple ID region to mainland China.
Option 1: Change your Apple ID region
- Go to Settings > Tap your Apple ID > Select Media & Purchases > View Account
- Select Country/Region and switch to China Mainland
- You will be asked to enter a Chinese address, which you can randomly generate using a free address generator.
- Restart the App Store, search for “Douyin” or “抖音”, and download it.
Tip: If you don’t want to add a credit card, select “None” when paying.
Option 2: Use a third-party app store
What if you don’t want to change the region of your Apple ID, you can download Douyin from a third-party app store that hosts Chinese apps. But make sure you download from a trusted source to avoid malware.
3. How to Download Douyin on Android?
For Android users, the operation is simpler and more convenient because there is no need to switch regions.
- Visit Douyin’s official website: https://www.douyin.com/
- Click the “Download Now” button to get the APK file.
- Once the download is complete, open it from the “Downloads” folder.
- Enable unknown sources: Go to “Settings” > “Security” or “Apps”.
- Switch “Install unknown apps” to “On” in your browser or file manager.
- Tap the APK file again and tap “Install”.
You can also choose a trusted APK site like Uptodown to download Douyin.
Bonus tip: Use a VPN
Douyin is designed for Chinese users, so if you are abroad, some content or features may not work properly. For the full experience, use LightningX VPN and turn on “One-click return to China mode” to connect to a server in China. It provides 2000+ nodes to help you smoothly access Chinese local applications such as Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Tencent Video, etc.
How to Get a Douyin Account?
Now that you have successfully downloaded Douyin, you can create an account. This is totally possible even if you don’t have a Chinese mobile number.
Step 1: Open Douyin
After launching the app for the first time, you will be prompted with the privacy policy in Chinese. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page and tap the button to accept and proceed.
Step 2: Choose your registration method
Option 1: Use a mobile number (need Chinese mobile number)
- Tap the “Me” tab in the bottom right corner.
- Enter your Chinese mobile number and tap “Verify and Login”.
- Enter the verification code sent via SMS.
- Tap “Login” and that’s it!
Foreign numbers sometimes work, but the success rate is not high.
Option 2: Register using a third-party app (no phone number required)
If you don’t have a Chinese number, try linking the following accounts: WeChat, QQ, Weibo to get a Douyin account. Simply select the corresponding icon on the login screen to authorize the connection.
Option 3: Use a virtual Chinese number
You can also use a virtual mobile number platform to purchase an available Chinese number to register a Douyin account. Platforms such as SMS-Man and MobileSMS.io provide temporary Chinese phone numbers for receiving verification SMS. Once verified, please complete the registration process within Douyin.
Step 3: Set up your profile
Once logged in, Douyin will prompt you to: choose a nickname, select your gender, and enter your birthday. Your Douyin account is now activated!
Step 4: Verify your account
If you want to use Douyin for more than just watching videos, but also want to unlock more features, such as linking to your store or placing ads, you can apply for official account verification.
- Visit the Douyin official verification page (currently available in Chinese).
- Choose a personal account, corporate account, or institutional account.
- Submit the required documents (may require an ID card or business license).
Douyin official account types:
- Personal account: influencers, creators, or any user.
- Corporate account: brands, companies, and e-commerce sellers (with built-in store function).
- Institutional account: schools, media, government agencies, etc.
How to Use Douyin Outside China?
If you have successfully downloaded and registered a Douyin account abroad, congratulations! You’ve just unlocked one of the world’s most dynamic social media platforms. Here’s a quick guide on how to get started and make the most of it.
1. Create and edit videos
You can record, edit, and post videos or pictures on Douyin.
- Segment Recording: Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to start creating. You can record a new video or upload clips and photos from your camera roll.
- Filters & Effects: Hit “Special Effects” or “特效” in the lower-left corner of the recording screen to explore a wide variety of visual effects.
- Add Music: Tap “Select Music” or “选择音乐” at the top to browse trending songs and soundtrack your video.
- Editing Tools: Once you’ve recorded your content, the editing page offers tons of features from speed control and transitions to text overlays and beauty filters.
2. In-app shopping
Unlike TikTok, Douyin is tightly integrated with e-commerce. You can shop as you scroll.
- Product Links in Videos: Many creators add shopping links below their videos — just tap to view and buy the featured products.
- Live Shopping: Creators often go live to demo and sell products in real time, think of it as QVC meets Instagram Live.
- Douyin Pay: Douyin uses its own payment system. If you’re outside China, you’ll likely need a local Chinese bank card to make purchases.
3. Promote your brand with Douyin ads
If your business is looking to tap into the Chinese market, Douyin is the perfect choice for you.
- Use Ocean Engine: This is Douyin’s advertising platform, where you can run targeted ads based on age, gender, location, and interests.
- Collaborate with KOLs: Team up with KOLs (influencers) who can integrate your product into their content and add direct shopping links.
4. Track your growth with analytics
Whether you’re a casual user or building a following, Douyin gives you tools to measure your performance. You can view video data, rules, official events, and more in the Creator Center.
Tip: Douyin is an app for Chinese users, so most of the interface is in Chinese. You can use tools like Google Lens to translate the text on the screen to navigate smoothly.
Douyin vs. TikTok: What are the Difference?
Douyin and TikTok are both short video apps developed by the Chinese company ByteDance, but they are not the same product. Here are the main differences between Douyin and TikTok.
1. Audience and Market
Douyin is only for Chinese users. You need a Chinese phone number to sign up, and everything from content to features is customized for the Chinese market. TikTok is the global version of Douyin, available in more than 150 countries. They operate independently and do not share content or user data.
2. Content Style and Focus
Douyin leans heavily into practical and informative content. You’ll find everything from educational tutorials and cooking tips to finance explainers and in-depth product reviews. TikTok is more focused on entertainment, think viral dance challenges, comedy skits, trending sounds, and short, fun videos.
3. Video Length
Douyin currently supports videos up to 3 minutes long (180 seconds), while TikTok allows users to upload videos of up to 10 minutes.
4. E-commerce Integration
Douyin has a fully integrated shopping experience. Users can: watch live broadcasts, view products, buy them instantly without leaving the app, track orders, communicate with sellers, and manage returns. TikTok has not yet released this feature, but TikTok Shop is being promoted in the United States and Europe.
5. Live Streaming
Douyin’s live streaming feature is more advanced and more visible. You can access live streaming from the top of the app, banner ads, or by searching by category. Users can also do picture-in-picture live streaming on Douyin, shop directly during live streaming, etc. TikTok is mainly displayed through the “Live” tab or randomly on the “Recommended for You” page.
6. Mini Programs (Douyin Only)
Douyin’s platform has built-in mini programs, similar to WeChat. These mini programs include: food delivery, taxi hailing, hotel reservations, mini games, brand stores, etc. These tools allow users to operate without leaving Douyin. TikTok does not currently integrate these features.
7. Algorithms and Search
Douyin’s algorithm tends to prioritize verified creators, professional content, and influencers with established credibility.
TikTok’s algorithm is more egalitarian. It favors engaging content regardless of who made it, giving smaller creators a better chance to go viral and build an audience from scratch.
8. Content Standards
Douyin strictly abides by the Chinese government regulations, strictly restricts political content, malicious hype, violent content, and focuses on “positive energy”. TikTok has greater creative freedom and richer content.
Read more: Is TikTok Getting Banned? 3 Ways to Unblock and Use TikTok
FAQ about Douyin
1. Is Douyin and TikTok the same?
No, Douyin and TikTok are not the same. They are two separate apps developed by the same company. Douyin is for Chinese users, while TikTok is for international users. They have different content, features, and rules.
2. What is Douyin used for?
Douyin is primarily used by Chinese users to create and watch short videos, live stream, shop through live streams, and promote brands or products.
3. Can a foreigner use Douyin?
Yes, foreigners can use Douyin. You can download it outside of China and even sign up with an international phone number, but full access to the platform’s features generally requires a Chinese phone number and a valid Chinese ID for verification.
