TikTok has announced the closure of its Instagram competitor, TikTok Notes, scheduled for May 8. The photo-sharing application began testing last year in Canada, Australia, and Vietnam.
The company is in the process of informing TikTok Notes users about the decision to discontinue the app and is guiding them towards Lemon8, also owned by ByteDance. This move is expected since both apps offer similar functionalities.
In an official statement to TechCrunch, a TikTok spokesperson mentioned they are eager to incorporate feedback from TikTok Notes into Lemon8. The goal is to create a dedicated platform for the community to share and enjoy photo content, enhancing the overall TikTok experience.
While no specific reason was provided for the shutdown, it is speculated that TikTok Notes did not achieve significant user engagement. Consequently, the company has chosen to promote Lemon8, which had approximately 12.5 million global monthly active users as of December 2024.
In a notification sent to TikTok Notes users, TikTok explained that the decision to close the app “was not made lightly.” Users are encouraged to download and save their TikTok Notes data and explore Lemon8 for sharing creativity. TikTok highlighted that Lemon8 is a lifestyle app with similar experiences to TikTok Notes but offers additional features.
Lemon8 launched in Japan in 2020 and later expanded to other regions, including the U.S. and Southeast Asia. The app resembles Instagram and Pinterest by allowing users to share slideshows and photo collections, and browse content through “Following” and “For You” feeds. Furthermore, it offers creative tools like filters, effects, stickers, and text templates.
While promoting Lemon8 as a replacement for TikTok Notes, ByteDance has also positioned it as an alternative to TikTok in light of a possible U.S. ban. Last November, the company enabled users to access Lemon8 directly with their TikTok accounts and introduced the ability to cross-share photo content between the platforms. This strategy aims to transition creators to the new platform seamlessly, should TikTok be banned.
Currently, TikTok continues to endorse Lemon8 within its app as it approaches a new ban deadline set for April 5.
