In this article, we bring you the best Chinese Apps Alternatives, In an unexpected move, the Indian administration recently banned 59 Chinese apps that posed a threat to the privacy of crores of Indian users. In addition, the administration stated that this move would protect the sovereignty of Indian cyberspace. For years, security specialists have been clamoring about the immense privacy risk and cautioning users not to use Chinese Apps.
Both Apple and Google have already complied with the orders and have removed the apps from their respective app marketplace. So if you are viewing for an alternative to the Banned Chinese Apps, then you have come to the right place.
The Best Chinese Apps Alternatives in 2021
This article delivers you the 23 the best Chinese apps Alternatives for TikTok, UC Browser, SHEIN, and more.
1. Google Duo — Mi Video Call Alternative
While Mi Video Call is not functioning in India, the government has still banned the app. It looks many were sideloading the Mi Video Call APK from other forums. Anyway, if you are utilizing the Mi Video Call app, you should move to a secure video-calling to protect your privacy.
In this regard, Google Duo is 1 of the best apps for video calling and a compelling alternative to Mi Video Call. Google Duo is end-to-end encrypted, so no one can obtain your video feed or know who you are calling to. Besides that, now Duo supports up to 32 users in a group video call that is amazing.
Having stated that, Mi Video Call is particularly popular for remote access while video calling. This trait is not available on Duo or any other video calling app. If you plan to use this trait, you can very well download TeamViewer, which allows you to control the mobile phones of other users. But as far as video calling is regarded, Duo is simply the best solution bar none.
Download Google Duo (Android | iOS)
2. Solid Explorer — ES File Explorer Alternative
The latest year, ES File Explorer was removed from the Play Store, but you would be shocked to find that many consumers still use it. There are modded variants of ES File Explorer possible, and some are still using the last working version. That stated, with the recent ban on ES File Explorer, the Indian administration has taken an official stand against the app. Therefore, if you are still using it on your Android device, I would recommend moving to Solid Explorer. It is a modern file management app and has been lauded for its clean UI and UX.
In addition, the application is very feature-rich, just like ES File Explorer. No matter what you want– FTP server, Trash Bin, LAN/SMB, Cloud integration, dark mode– everything is possible at your disposal. You can also add folders to the home screen, which is an added advantage. That said, keep in thought, the free version of the app shows a banner ad at the bottom, but it is not intrusive at all. Viewing all the points, Solid Explorer is a great file manager and stands head and shoulder above ES File Explorer.
Download Solid Explorer (Android)
3. Clone App — Parallel Space Alternative
Parallel Space was a famous Chinese app for creating dual space for apps like WhatsApp and Messenger. Essentially, it was cloning the apps and running them on a separate user profile. That stated, the app has now been blocked by the Indian govt on account of suspicious data collection activity. Therefore, if you are out on a limb and looking for an alternative to Parallel Space, I would recommend you move to Clone App. It has been produced by Arty Product, which is based out of the US.
Not to state, unlike Parallel Space, Clone App doesn’t serve intrusive ads, and it’s completely free. 1 major criticism of Parallel Space was that it used to slow down smartphones because it was very resource-intensive. Nevertheless, with Clone App, you won’t have such a jarring experience as it’s quite light on the resources. Furthermore, Clone App brings dark mode, support for WhatsApp, colorful mode, and much more.
Download Clone App (Android)
4. Microsoft Office — WPS Office Alternative
The Indian government hasn’t banned WPS Office, but for the record, you should know that it’s a Chinese app and developed by Kingsoft, a Beijing-based company. You would be in for a shock when you find out that Cheetah Mobile– developer of several dodgy Android apps which led to its removal from the Play Store– is a subsidiary of Kingsoft. Not to mention, ads are the main problem on WPS Office. So any consumer who values privacy or wants a good office experience should not use WPS Office.
You’ve got several other office suite apps that offer a similar level of compatibility with different file formats. Among them, Microsoft Office is my personal preference, and it’s a perfect alternative to WPS Office. It is a one-stop app for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, and more. You do not need to install individual apps, so that is amazing.
Other than that, it’s entirely free, and there are no ads whatsoever that make it even a better WPS Office replacement. And if you require a built-in document scanner, OCR feature, and PDF converter into one app, then MS Office has you covered. All-in-all, Microsoft Office is a powerful office suite, and it’s as feature rich as WPS Office.
Download Microsoft Office (Android | iOS)
5. Greenify – DU Battery saver Alternative
DU Battery saver has been a serial wrongdoer when it comes to privacy. No app that claims to increase your battery can do so by cleaning RAM or clearing apps. If you clean your app more frequently, it’s going to decrease battery life because re-launching apps consume more battery.
The only types that can increase battery life are the ones that take advantage of Android’s system-level doze mode and stop apps from working in the background. 1 of the best apps that do this is Greenify.
Greenify brings highlights like Aggressive Doze and Doze on the Go to maximize your mobile phone battery life. It automatically recognizes the apps that are misbehaving and consuming the most power and puts them in hibernation when you’re not using them. And now the app runs without root permissions, which is great.
If there were previously not enough reasons for not using DU Battery saver, the fact that it highlights in the list of 52 apps that pose a national security warning has put it over the line. Uninstall the application right now and use Greenify if you want to increase your smartphone’s battery life.
Download Greenify (Android)
6. Google News – (Alternative for UC News and NewsDog)
Both UC News and NewsDog are 1 of the most popular news apps in India. But they also highlight in the list of 52 apps released by Indian Intelligence agencies. Thankfully, there are several great news apps that you can use to replace these apps. My preference is the Google News app. Not just it gets you the latest news, but it further shows you multiple sources for the same story so you can form your own opinion.
The application itself is light and works without any hiccups, even on budget devices. I also like its clean UI and reading experience. Another good alternative is Apple News. Unhappily, it’s only available on iOS devices and that too in limited countries. If you favor curating your news sources like me, use RSS Reeders. You can use Feedly, Inoreader, or any other app of your choice.
The conclusion is that no matter what Chinese app alternative you use for news, you should axe the UC news app.
Download Google News (Android | iOS)
7. Candy Camera – BeautyPlus Alternative
While we’ve not received any privacy concerning news for BeautyPlus, it is based in China, and giving it access to all your private photos might not be a good thing. If, for this cause or a reason of your own, you want to get rid of BeautyPlus, Candy Camera is your best option.
It’s 1 of the best selfie camera apps, and you get all the traits such as beautifying filters, slimming effects, whitening effects, and effects of applying makeup, including lipstick, blush, eyeliner, mascara, and more. Every filter will make you look gorgeous, and you will capture selfies that are ready to be shared across social media websites like Facebook. If you catch a ton of selfies, this is the ideal app for you.
Download Candy Camera (Android | iOS)
8. WhatsApp – WeChat Alternative
WeChat is the app that is used in China. Over the years, it has grown an operating system in itself, enabling users to pay, shop, make calls, and more. WeChat is even famous outside China, and millions of people use it daily. But it’s no secret that the Chinese administration heavily monitors messages on WeChat and censors anything that it considers harmful. WeChat owns its servers in China, so all the data is easily accessible to the Chinese state.
In a recent statement published on CitizenLab, it wrote, “WeChat communications conducted entirely among non-China-registered accounts are subject to pervasive content surveillance”. This removes any allusions that consumers had about WeChat only being used for surveillance on Chinese people. The report moreover states that even the documents and images sent on the app undergo content surveillance.
This is unacceptable, and if you are utilizing WeChat, it’s high time that you delete that spyware from your phone. The best application to replace WeChat is WhatsApp. It’s end-to-end protected and is used by almost everyone in the world. If you are not satisfied with WhatsApp and want a no-nonsense secure chatting app, you should download and use Signal.
Signal highlights the state of the art end-to-end encryption powered by open-source Signal Protocol. No one can see your messages or listen to your calls, not even the people working at Signal. Whatever app you choose to use, just delete WeChat because it is monitoring all your files and messages.
Download WhatsApp (Android | iOS)
9. ProtonVPN – TurboVPN Alternative
TurboVPN is a free-of-cost VPN app that has quickly garnered wide popularity because of no speed limitation and no data limit. It’s run by an organization called Innovative Connecting, which is based out of Singapore. Nevertheless, if you look closely, the company has extensive roots in China, as revealed by Security Affairs. On top of that, the privacy plan of TurboVPN is sketchy at best, and I wouldn’t trust it.
Therefore if you want an alternative to this Chinese VPN app, then I would recommend ProtonVPN. It is a free VPN without any data limit and offers a good selection of VPN servers worldwide. While there is some limitation in data speed, I’ve found that it works quite well without much throttling.
As the organization is headquartered in Switzerland, you are protected by the EU’s strong privacy laws. Plus, ProtonVPN recently open-sourced its VPN tool, which makes it 1 of the most trusted VPNs out there.
Download ProtonVPN (Android | iOS)
10. Files by Google (Alternative to SHAREit, Xender)
ShareIt began as a file transfer application, but now it has pivoted to a content program like Helo and ShareChat. As a result, the application has moved from its primary goal and now mostly caters to content creators. I found several inappropriate contents on its app in my short usage, and I would not suggest it for anything, let alone file transfer.
Furthermore, Xender has been bloated with too many traits like social media downloader and Game Center. Not to state, the constant ads and popup make the experience worse.
Aside from that, ShareIt was found with 2 security vulnerabilities last year that allowed attackers to download content from a user’s device by evading the device authentication mechanism. Simultaneously with that, data like Facebook tokens and cookies were also transferred. Therefore if you want an alternative to these Chinese apps like SHAREit, I have only 1 recommendation: Files by Google.
It can work as your file manager too, and you can seamlessly receive and send files without any ad or content notification. Files by Google are also pretty fast and can go up to 150Mbps while transferring files.
Download Files by Google (Android)
11. Google Chrome – (Alternative to UC Browser, APUS Browser, DU Browser and CM Browser)
UC Browser, controlled by Alibaba Group of China, is the second most popular web browser across India and China, but it has had several security and privacy controversies in the past few years. In 2015, Citizen Lab published a comprehensive study that underlined glaring security vulnerabilities and privacy gaps within the application. The report concluded that privately identifiable information of consumers was sent to Umeng, an Alibaba analytics tool, without any encryption.
Moreover, precise location data were also transmitted to AMAP, an Alibaba mapping tool in China. UC Browser published a new build quickly to correct those issues, but after further evaluation, Citizen Lab stated several of the issues were still not settled. Moreover, UC Browser came under the Indian government’s scanner for alleged data theft in 2017 after the University of Toronto flagged the DNS retention issue.
Not to state, UC Browser was removed from the Play Store in 2017 for misleading promotions. Therefore if you want to browse the internet without anyone monitoring your internet activity, then you should move to a secure web browser. When it gets to privacy concerns, the Chinese app CM Browser is not behind either. It has been flagged by Indian agencies many times as a threat to national privacy.
Google Chrome is 1 of the best web browsers for both smartphones and desktops and hence a worthy alternative for these Chinese apps. Google takes security and privacy severely and continuously updates Chrome to protect users from harmful websites and malware.
That stated, Google uses your data for targeting ads. If you want to limit that, you should check out privacy-focused browsers like Firefox Focus or Brave Privacy Browser for greater privacy controls.
Download Google Chrome (Android | iOS)
12. Hola — WeMeet Alternative
Among the 59 Chinese apps which the Indian government banned, WeMeet is one. It’s a famous social video app that allows users to video call strangers. Sure, it sounds like a strange concept, but it was quite popular among its users. Having stated that, the app is no longer available in India, so you are better off looking for a replacement. I would suggest Hola, which is a random video chatting app, and it’s based out of the US.
The application has some unique features similar to WeMeet. You can begin with an audio call for 30 seconds, and for that period, you’ll be completely anonymous. Past that, the video supplies will be enabled for both participants. You can pick the gender of your choice, give interest and preferences for better matching, and play games with strangers. The great part is that you can also chat in foreign languages with its real-time translation. To end, Hola is a fun social video app, and you can use it in place of WeMeet.
13. Triller (Alternative to TikTok / Likee / Kwai / Vigo / VMate)
Among the various issues with TikTok, privacy has been a major concern for many users. Just lately, four US senators urged the FTC to investigate TikTok because it failed to take down videos made by children under the age of 13 — a violation of their 2019 agreement.
Moreover, the advocacy group alleged that TikTok failed to protect the privacy of minors. Aside from that, many users are suspicious of apps based out of China because of obvious privacy reasons. TikTok, which ByteDance– a Beijing-based company, controls — has been accused of sharing user data with China.
Specialists are particularly alarmed by China’s National Intelligence Law (2017) that mandates corporations to comply with intelligence-gathering operations if asked by the Chinese administration. Talking about Kwai and Likee, both applications have Chinese roots and are known for hosting inappropriate content on their platform.
Therefore if you want to remain on the safe side, you can move to Triller, which is similar to TikTok. It’s a social video program, and the company is based out of California. Simply like TikTok, you can create professional-looking videos and share them in moments. You can lip-sync, take up challenges, and build amazing music videos. The program is pretty popular among celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Rita Ora, Kevin Hart, etc. In addition, Triller comes with more than a hundred filters and has an AI-based video-editing algorithm to create unique videos in seconds.
What is more, you get access to top trending tracks on Triller, just like TikTok. And if you liked Duet on TikTok, then you have group videos on Triller where you can collaborate with anyone on the internet. I would tell Triller is a promising alternative to TikTok, and you can give it a shot. Note that, despite similarities, I have not considered Dubsmash because it had a data breach in 2019 that compromised over 162 million accounts.
Download Triller (Android | iOS)
14. Microsoft Outlook — Mail Master Alternative
Mail Master has been banned by the Indian administration for its Chinese roots and having a sketchy privacy policy. It was an email application with support for multiple services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and more. Now with the application gone, you can use Microsoft Outlook as a suitable Mail Master alternative. Microsoft Outlook does not just support its in-house email service Outlook but further works with Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and other POP, IMAP, SMTP email configurations.
And the great part about Outlook is that it connects your calendar too– no matter which service you are using. Aside from that, Microsoft Outlook has an intelligent algorithm that creates automated reminders for future tasks. That’s wonderful, right? Not to mention, the user interface of Outlook is near-perfect as Microsoft has been revamping all its mobile phone apps based on Fluent Design. You’ve got dark mode, swipeable functions, deep integration with Microsoft Office, and more. Overall, Outlook is an excellent alternative to not just Mail Master but for any email app.
Download Microsoft Outlook (Android | iOS)
15. ShareChat – Helo Alternative
Helo is a Chinese app that has had a huge success in the Indian market. It’s a social media program for discovering viral content and sharing them with buddies and communities. The catch behind Helo’s success is its extremely curated content for regional audiences. The app provides its service in more than 14 Indian languages, and it’s currently 1 of the top-ranking apps on the Play Store.
Nevertheless, a recent survey done by an Indian consulting group confirmed that Helo and other Chinese apps seek excessive personal info from users. Helo requires access to the camera and microphone even when such access is not required. It poses a large threat to user privacy, and one must be vigilant about it.
Therefore if you wish to enjoy regional content without compromising your privacy, you can give a shot at ShareChat. The application is based out of India, and it offers content in 15 regional languages, which is great. Moreover, the app has a strict content policy so that inappropriate content remains at bay.
Download ShareChat (Android | iOS)
16. SD Maid — Clean Master and DU Cleaner Alternative
Clean Master is 1 of those Cheetah Mobile apps that was earlier thrown out of the Play Store. And now the Indian administration has officially banned the app in the country. If you’re still using this Chinese app, I would strongly suggest moving to SD Maid.
It’s a complete system cleaning tool that enables you to deep scan your internal storage and SD card. After that, you can delete useless files and folders with just one tap. You can further remove both system and user-installed apps seamlessly. I love SD Maid because there are no ads– not even small banners, unlike Clean Master, which was essentially adware.
Moreover, SD Maid brings CorpseFinder that safely cleans up files and folders of applications that are no longer installed. Along with that, you can further find duplicate files and remove them altogether. Surely, SD Maid doesn’t have a process killer like Clean Master, but that is a great thing. The process modern Android works now, you should truly not kill background processes. It does more harm than good. Overall, SD Maid is a good alternative to Clean Master, and you should give it a try.
Download SD Maid (Android)
17. Adobe Scan – CamScanner Alternative
CamScanner is s famous document scanner app, and it’s run by INTSIG, a Chinese corporation based in Shanghai. Last year, it was removed from the Playstore after Kaspersky found a Trojan Horse module inside the CamScanner app. The researchers stated that “Trojan downloader can download malicious modules depending on what its creators are up to at the moment”.
Next, the malicious code was removed, and the application was back on Play Store. Nevertheless, we have seen this pattern from many Chinese apps, including ES File Explorer and shady publishers like CM and DU.
Therefore if you want to stay away from such malicious incidents that go behind the scene, you can move to a more secure and better alternative. But my favorite is Adobe Scan, followed by Microsoft Office Lens.
You can pick any 1 of them, and I am sure you won’t be disappointed. You get batch mode, crisp scannings like CamScanner, OCR, Edge detection, and many more advanced features.
Download Adobe Scan (Android | iOS)
18. Screen Recorder No Ads — DU Recorder Alternative
DU Recorder is 1 of the 59 Chinese apps that the Indian administration has banned. It was famous for sharp screen recording, live streaming integration, video editing tools, and more. Nevertheless, just like other Chinese apps, it was marred by too many ads, which made the experience from bad to worse. So if you are viewing for the best DU Recorder alternative, I would suggest Screen Recorder – No Ads. As the name implies, it’s truly a clean application without any bloatware, ads, or unnecessary features.
You can choose your preferred resolution, draw on the video, trim clips, pause the recording, and do much more. For me, the great part about Screen Recorder No Ads is that it can even record the internal audio, which is generally not found on many screen recording apps. It was the 1st app to bring this highlight on Android 10. Simply put, if you require a DU Recorder alternative without any ads or bloatware, then Screen Recorder No Ads is great out there on Android. As for iOS, I would strongly suggest Record it!.
Download Screen Recorder No Ads (Android)
Download Record it (iOS)
19. Norton App Lock – (Alternative to AppLock and DU Privacy)
AppLock is another famous Chinese app for locking apps behind a PIN, password, or fingerprint. It is run by DoMobile and registered in Hong Kong, outside of mainland China. Nevertheless, we can’t rule out privacy implications as its privacy policy says that “According to the needs of specific features, we may read (probably not save) your photos, media, and files, use the mobile camera and microphone”.
You are letting the app read your internal storage and have access to the camera and microphone. For me, it looks too invasive for an app locker.
Therefore if you want a secure alternative to AppLock, then I would highly suggest Norton App Lock. It has been developed by the famous antivirus provider, Norton Labs which is run by Symantec, headquartered in Arizona, US. Similar to AppLock, you can place a PIN, password, or fingerprint to lock your apps. Nevertheless, the best part about Norton App Lock is that, unlike AppLock, it’s ad-free and offers a clean experience.
Download Norton App Lock (Android)
20. Myntra (Alternative for ROMWE, ClubFactory, and SHEIN)
Both ROMWE and SHEIN trait on the national security threat list release by Indian Intelligence agencies. If you’re using them to buy clothes, you should stop doing that, at least until the security issues are resolved.
I recommend Myntra as it has a large collection of merchandise and gives heavy discounts. I use it for buying bags, clothes, and accessories. But you do not have to stick to it. For replacing these Chinese shopping applications, you can also use Amazon, Lifestyle, Bewakoof, and more.
Download Myntra (Android | iOS)
21. KineMaster – VivaVideo Alternative
VivaVideo is a famous application for editing videos on your mobile phone. But you should not be utilizing it if you value your privacy. The application asks too various permissions that a video editing app does not require.
The Indian administration itself had blocked this app back in 2017 for spying on Indian users. Talking about its replacement, you can pick any good video editor app. If you are viewing for a quick and simple video editor, you should download Quick.
It is made by the people at GoPro and enables you to use its built-in themes to create awesome videos with a few taps. If you are viewing for a full-fledged video editor, I recommend you use KineMaster on Android and LumaFusion on iOS. Both these apps allow extensive features and enable you to edit your videos just the way you like them.
Both bring pro editing traits like multi-level timeline, support for video, image, text, and audio, and precise editing tools such as trim, color LUT filters, precise audio controls, cut, and more.
And while KineMaster is also obtainable on iOS, as a video editor on iPhone, I favor LumaFusion as it feels more refined and native to the iOS program. But since LumaFusion is paid, you can proceed with KineMaster if you want.
Download KineMaster (Android | iOS)
22. Avast Antivirus – Virus Cleaner Alternative
Most applications that claim to be virus cleaner on Android and iOS devices are just a place to serve your ads and acquire your data to sell it. And now that Virus Cleaner is prominently highlighted in the report (mentioned above) as a threat to security, it is time to let go of this one.
I always state that common sense will help you more than anti-virus software on your mobile phone. But, if you do not trust yourself and want an anti-virus and anti-malware app, I recommend the Avast security app. Avast has always been at the vanguard of virus protection and gives a really good Android and iOS app.
It sends signals when spyware or adware-infected apps are downloaded onto your device. It also secures your device against phishing attacks from emails, phone calls, infected sites, or SMS messages. And there is a built-in VPN for providing extra security and privacy.
If you do not want Avast, I can wholeheartedly recommend Bitdefender Mobile Security. It scans for malware and provides you security reports. It also gives security recommendations for defending your device. Like Avast, it has a built in VPN for giving extra privacy when browsing the internet.
Download Avast Antivirus (Android | iOS)
23. Keepsafe – Vault-Hide Alternative
We all have private videos and photos, and sometimes, hiding them behind an app-lock password is not enough. Sometimes, we require to remove them from our regular library and save them in a vault. Vault-Hide is an application that lets you do that. Nevertheless, in a new advisory by Indian Intelligence Agencies, Vault-Hide is among the 52 apps that are red-flagged for privacy concerns. You do not want a Chinese app to have access to your private photos.
This is more problematic than other applications as we usually use it to save our most private memories. If you do not want your private data to be snooped upon, you should change Vault-Hide for Keepsafe. Keepsafe uses cipher AES-256 encryption, counted among the most secure in the world. It gives the same security as offered by banking apps.
You get encrypted back-ups, military-grade encryption, and your data is inaccessible even by Keepsafe employees. The corporation is based in the USA, so you get all the data protection given by the country’s laws. Keepsafe is utilized by more than 75 million users and has 1 of the highest ratings on both the App Store and Play Store. It’s the ideal Chinese app alternative to replace Vault-Hide.
Download Keepsafe (Android | iOS)
Record of Chinese Apps Banned by The Indian State
1. TikTok
2. Shareit
3. Kwai
4. UC Browser
5. Baidu map
6. Shein
7. Clash of Kings
8. DU battery saver
9. Helo
10. Likee
11. YouCam makeup
12. Mi Community
13. CM Browers
14. Virus Cleaner
15. APUS Browser
16. ROMWE
17. Club Factory
18. News dog
19. Beauty Plus
20. WeChat
21. UC News
22. QQ Mail
23. Weibo
24. SelfieCity
25. QQ Music
26. QQ Newsfeed
27. Bigo Live
28. Xender
29. Mail Master
30. Parallel Space
31. Mi Video Call — Xiaomi
32. WeSync
33. ES File Explorer
34. Viva Video — QU Video Inc
35. Meitu
36. Vigo Video
37. New Video Status
38. DU Recorder
39. Vault-Hide
40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio
41. DU Cleaner
42. DU Browser
43. Hago Play With New Friends
44. Cam Scanner
45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
46. Wonder Camera
47. Photo Wonder
48. QQ Player
49. Vmate
50. Sweet Selfie
51. Baidu Translate
52. We Meet
53. QQ International
54. QQ Security Center
55. QQ Launcher
56. U Video
57. V fly Status Video
58. Mobile Legends
59. DU Privacy
Also, Check :
Protect Your Privacy with Safest Chinese Apps Alternatives
So those are the Alternatives that we suggest in place of popular Chinese apps. As we passed through the article, we can notice that many Chinese apps have underlying security and privacy issues that are never fixed, intentionally or otherwise. Not to mention, many applications have been thrown out of the Playstore for such violations in the past.
Therefore if you want to securely use your mobile phone, you can utilize the Chinese apps alternatives mentioned in this article. Anyway, that is all from us. If you got the article informative, then do comment down below and let us know.