China’s social media landscape is massive, diverse, and uniquely shaped by local preferences and regulations. With over one billion social media users, the country represents the world’s largest digital market. Understanding which platforms dominate by daily active users provides crucial insight for marketers, businesses, and anyone interested in China’s digital ecosystem.
Here are the top 10 Chinese social media platforms ranked by daily active users, based on the most recent available data.
1. WeChat (微信)Daily Active Users: Data not publicly disclosed, but estimated at 800+ million based on monthly active user behavior
WeChat isn’t just a messaging app—it’s a comprehensive ecosystem that Chinese users rely on for nearly everything digital. Created by Tencent, WeChat has over one billion monthly active users who spend an average of 80 minutes per day on the platform. The app integrates messaging, mobile payments, e-commerce, public services, and Mini-Programs that function as apps within the app. With approximately 954 million users accessing Mini-Programs monthly in 2024, WeChat has become essential infrastructure in daily Chinese life, from paying utility bills to ordering food delivery.
2. Douyin (抖音)Daily Active Users: 400-755 million (2024)Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has become one of China’s most influential social platforms. By early 2024, the platform reached 755 million monthly active users and 400 million daily active users, with approximately 78% penetration of China’s internet population. Users spend over two hours daily scrolling through short-form videos ranging from comedy and cooking to educational content. Beyond entertainment, Douyin has evolved into a major e-commerce platform, with over 480 million consumers actively shopping during promotional events like the 11.11 festival.
3. Kuaishou (快手)Daily Active Users: 400+ million (2024)
Kuaishou distinguishes itself through its focus on grassroots authenticity and content from everyday people. By late 2024, the platform had around 736 million monthly active users and over 400 million daily users, each spending more than two hours daily on the platform. The platform’s recommendation algorithm rewards engagement and loyalty rather than viral content, cultivating what’s known as “Laotie” culture—deep bonds between creators and audiences built on trust. Kuaishou is particularly strong in China’s lower-tier cities and rural areas, making it ideal for brands targeting value-conscious consumers.
4. Weibo (微博)Daily Active Users: 260 million (Q4 2024)Often described as China’s Twitter, Weibo is the country’s leading microblogging platform. In December 2024, Weibo reported 260 million daily active users and 590 million monthly active users. Launched in 2009, Weibo combines features of Twitter and Facebook, supporting multimedia posts, comments, and microblogs. The platform is particularly popular for entertainment content, celebrity gossip, news updates, and interactive marketing campaigns. Despite competition from short-video platforms, Weibo maintains its position as a key platform for real-time information and trending topics.
5. Bilibili (哔哩哔哩)Daily Active Users: 103 million (Q4 2024)Bilibili is China’s premier video platform for Gen Z audiences, originally focused on anime, comics, and gaming (ACG) content but now encompassing diverse categories. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the platform reached 103 million daily active users and 340 million monthly active users. Users spend an average of 99-102 minutes daily on the platform, engaging with content through Bilibili’s signature “bullet chat” feature that allows real-time comments to scroll across videos. The platform achieved a major milestone in Q4 2024 by reporting its first quarter of GAAP profitability.
6. Xiaohongshu (小红书 / Little Red Book / RED)Daily Active Users: Estimated 100+ million based on monthly user activityXiaohongshu, also known as Little Red Book or RED, reached approximately 320 million monthly active users by 2025, up from just over 300 million in 2024. The platform combines Pinterest-style inspiration with Instagram-like community engagement, creating a trusted space for product discovery. Users post “notes” featuring photos, short videos, and text reviews across categories including beauty, fashion, travel, and food. In late 2024, the platform experienced over 600 million daily searches, demonstrating its evolution from an inspiration hub to an active shopping platform. The user base skews young, urban, and female, though male adoption is steadily rising.
7. QQ (腾讯QQ)Daily Active Users: Estimated 150-200 million based on monthly active user patternsLaunched by Tencent in 1999, QQ is one of China’s longest-standing social platforms. As of 2024, QQ continues to have over 600 million monthly active users. While WeChat has overtaken QQ as Tencent’s dominant social app, QQ maintains a strong user base, particularly among younger audiences aged 12-29 and users in lower-tier cities. The platform offers desktop and mobile versions with features including instant messaging, gaming, online communities, music streaming, and mobile payments.
8. Zhihu (知乎)Daily Active Users: Estimated 25-30 million based on monthly active user patternsZhihu, China’s answer to Quora, is a knowledge-sharing platform where users ask questions, provide detailed answers, and engage in thoughtful discussions. In the third quarter of 2024, Zhihu reported 81.1 million monthly active users and 16.5 million average monthly subscribing members. The platform attracts highly educated users, with most holding bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Zhihu stands out for its focus on long-form content and expert knowledge rather than entertainment, making it particularly valuable for B2B brands and expertise-led fields.
9. Baidu Tieba (百度贴吧)Daily Active Users: Data not publicly disclosed; estimated at 20-30 millionBaidu Tieba is a community forum platform similar to Reddit, where users discuss diverse topics from celebrity gossip to product reviews. As part of China’s largest search engine ecosystem, Tieba benefits from integration with Baidu’s search functionality. While specific daily active user numbers aren’t regularly published, the platform remains one of China’s major community discussion spaces.
10. Youku (优酷)Daily Active Users: Estimated 15-25 million based on registered user activityYouku, often called the “Chinese YouTube,” is a video streaming platform with over 251 million registered users. Approximately 80% of Youku users are between 18 and 40 years old. While it faces strong competition from newer short-video platforms, Youku maintains relevance as a destination for longer-form content including TV shows, movies, and documentaries.
China’s social media landscape is dominated by super-apps like WeChat and short-video platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou, which have transformed how Chinese consumers discover content, shop, and interact online. Several trends stand out:
Mobile-first usage: The vast majority of Chinese social media consumption happens on mobile devices, with users spending significant daily time on their preferred platforms.
E-commerce integration: Nearly all major platforms have integrated shopping features, from WeChat’s Mini-Programs to Douyin’s live-streaming commerce.Video dominance: Short-form video platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou have surged to the top, reflecting global trends toward video content.
Diverse demographics: Different platforms attract distinct audiences—Bilibili targets Gen Z, Kuaishou reaches lower-tier cities, while Zhihu attracts educated professionals.For brands looking to enter the Chinese market, understanding these platforms and their user bases is essential. Each platform offers unique opportunities depending on target demographics, content style, and marketing objectives.
Sources:
Statista reports on Chinese social media usage (2024-2025)
ChoZan comprehensive overview of Chinese social media platforms (August 2025)
Sekkei Digital Group guide to Chinese social media platforms (August 2025)
Official financial reports from Weibo Corporation (Q1-Q4 2024)
Bilibili Inc. financial reports and ESG Report (2024)Zhihu Inc. financial reports (Q3 2024)
GeeksforGeeks Chinese social media platforms overview (August 2025)
Meltwater analysis of top Chinese social media platforms (October 2025)
DFC Studio guide to Chinese social platforms (June 2025)