Detailed Introduction to the Top 5 Most Popular Overseas Apps in 2025

1. TikTok

Core Features:

A globally influential short-video platform that blends creativity and entertainment, leveraging algorithmic recommendations for content delivery.

Users can upload and watch short videos, participate in challenges, engage in live streams, and utilize AR effects and music libraries for content creation.

Market Performance:

User Base: Over 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs), spanning all age groups, with particularly high penetration among teenagers and young adults.

Regional Distribution: Dominates Southeast Asia and the United States, with fluctuations in India due to policy restrictions, though global influence continues to grow.

Commercial Ecosystem: TikTok Shop achieves a global gross merchandise value (GMV) of $33.2 billion, with AR try-ons and personalized recommendation algorithms enhancing conversion rates, solidifying its position as a core platform for social commerce.

User Reviews:

Reshapes the advertising landscape through "content-driven comebacks," with users more willing to spend on short videos, efficiently occupying fragmented time.

Controversies: Data privacy and content moderation issues have raised regulatory concerns in some countries.

2. Facebook

Core Features:

A comprehensive social platform supporting news feeds, groups, live streams, and Marketplace functionality.

Its advertising system enables multi-dimensional targeting by location, interests, and behaviors, achieving a click-through rate (CTR) of 2.5%.

Market Performance:

User Base: 3.065 billion MAUs, covering all age groups, with India (314.6 million) and the United States (175 million) as core markets.

Commercial Value: 81% of U.S. users obtain brand information through the platform, making it ideal for broad audience reach and brand exposure.

Ecosystem Expansion: Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger form a matrix, reinforcing its monopoly on social relationships.

User Reviews:

Strong social relationship chains, but lacks product innovation, risking user loss among Generation Z.

High advertising precision, though user acceptance of in-feed ads is declining.

3. WhatsApp

Core Features:

An international mainstream instant messaging app prioritizing security and privacy, supporting end-to-end encryption and cross-platform usage.

WhatsApp Business offers automated replies, product catalogs, and payment features, with user open rates three times higher than emails.

Market Performance:

User Base: Approximately 2 billion MAUs, with over 90% penetration in Europe, South America, and Africa.

Commercial Applications: Private domain communities drive a 40% increase in repeat purchases for high-ticket products.

Localization: Supports multilingual switching and adapts to regional payment methods.

User Reviews:

Stable messaging functionality, but lacks social entertainment features, with user loyalty dependent on communication needs.

Business version favored by foreign trade enterprises, though competitors like Telegram and Signal divert or split the user base some privacy-focused users.

4. YouTube

Core Features:

The world's largest video-sharing platform, covering movies, TV series, documentaries, tutorials, and more.

Supports personalized recommendations and multi-device synchronization, with advertising systems like TrueView improving advertising delivery efficiency.

Market Performance:

User Base: Over 2 billion MAUs, widely used across all age groups, with Generation Z accounting for 60%.

Commercial Ecosystem: YouTube Shorts (short videos) complements long-form content, with advertising revenue leading global streaming platforms.

Technological Edge: High-definition resources and personalized recommendation algorithms reinforce user retention.

User Reviews:

Unmatched content diversity, though rising ad loads have sparked dissatisfaction among some users.

A thriving creator economy, though ongoing controversies surround revenue-sharing policies (e.g., ad revenue splits).

5. Instagram

Core Features:

A photo and short-video sharing platform focused on visual content, supporting Reels (short videos), Stories (ephemeral content), and shopping tags.

"Instagram Shop" enables product tagging and one-click purchases, with shopping tag click-through rates reaching 4.5%.

Market Performance:

User Base: Over 1 billion MAUs, with Generation Z comprising 60% of users. High activity in India, the U.S., and Brazil.

Commercial Value: Reels generate 2.3 times higher engagement than static posts, ideal for content commerce and KOL collaborations in fashion, beauty, and home categories.

Content Innovation: Continuous iteration of filters and AR effects sustains user creativity.

User Reviews:

Irreplaceable in visual social networking, though algorithmic recommendations contribute to "information bubbles."

A well-established e-commerce ecosystem, though quality control and post-purchase experiences require improvement.