Compare software

Douyin vs Loops: catalog facts
Douyin	Loops
Best for: Watching and posting Chinese short videos on a computer	Best for: Sharing and watching short videos on the fediverse instead of a corporate platform
Free Free to watch; a wallet supports in-app top-ups.	Free Free to use, with no ads, and the server can be self-hosted.
Windows, macOS, Web	Android, iOS, Web, Self-hosted
Large catalogue of Chinese video content Usable in a browser without installing anything All 3 strengths for Douyin Large catalogue of Chinese video content Usable in a browser without installing anything Desktop client and live streams	Federates with Mastodon and other ActivityPub services Following and For You feeds without ads All 4 strengths for Loops Federates with Mastodon and other ActivityPub services Following and For You feeds without ads Official apps for Android and iOS as well as a web version Server can be self-hosted
Interface mostly in Chinese Login needed for likes, history and uploads All 3 limitations for Douyin Interface mostly in Chinese Login needed for likes, history and uploads Centralised, algorithm-driven feed	Much smaller creator base than commercial short-video apps Running an instance takes server administration skills
Downloadable app, Web application	Downloadable app, Web application, Self-hosted
Not open source	Open source
License: Proprietary	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Needs internet	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Douyin douyin.com Catalog checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Loops joinloops.org Catalog checked September 23, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.