The 10 Most Downloaded Free Apps in China in 2025
An overview of the most downloaded free apps in China, from AI assistants and super-apps to social discovery, commerce, and everyday services.
China’s mobile ecosystem operates very differently from Western markets. Google Play does not operate in mainland China, Android downloads are spread across multiple local app stores, like Huawei AppGallery and Tencent MyApp, and consolidated download figures are rarely published.
Even so, by looking at long-term app store trends, iOS China rankings, and usage data across major platforms, it is possible to identify the apps that consistently dominate downloads and daily usage.
As we get ready to begin 2026, below is a ranked overview of the most downloaded free apps in China, along with the primary role each plays in the digital lives of Chinese users.
1. Doubao (豆包)
Primary role: AI assistant & productivity tool
Doubao, developed by the company behind Douyin (TikTok), ByteDance, has rapidly become one of the most downloaded apps in China. Its popularity reflects how quickly Chinese users adopt AI tools when they offer immediate, practical value.
Why it matters:
AI assistants are becoming everyday utilities for search, writing, summarization, and problem-solving.
2. Tencent Yuanbao (腾讯元宝)
Primary role: AI assistant within Tencent’s ecosystem
Tencent’s AI assistant has quickly gained traction, supported by Tencent’s extensive platform ecosystem.
Why it matters:
AI adoption in China is being driven by major platform players, accelerating mainstream usage.
3. WeChat (微信)
Primary role: Messaging & digital infrastructure
WeChat remains the most essential app in China. Beyond messaging, it integrates payments, mini-programs, services, customer support, and commerce.
Why it matters:
For many users and brands, WeChat functions as a replacement for websites, CRMs, and customer service systems.
4. Douyin (抖音)
Primary role: Short-form video discovery
Douyin plays a central role in content consumption and discovery, shaping opinions, preferences, and purchasing behavior.
Why it matters:
Short-form video is a key discovery channel for products, travel, food, and lifestyle experiences.
5. Xiaohongshu (小红书 / Little Red Book)
Primary role: Social discovery & trust-building
Xiaohongshu is widely used for research and recommendation, combining social content with search and commerce signals.
Why it matters:
Peer-generated content strongly influences decision-making, particularly in lifestyle and travel categories.
6. Taobao (淘宝)
Primary role: E-commerce marketplace
Taobao remains one of China’s most widely used shopping platforms, deeply integrated into everyday purchasing habits.
Why it matters:
Discovery, comparison, and transaction often happen within the same platform.
7. Alipay (支付宝)
Primary role: Payments & service infrastructure
Alipay has evolved beyond payments to include financial services, utilities, travel, healthcare, and memberships.
Why it matters:
It enables seamless execution of transactions and services, reducing friction between intent and completion.
8. Meituan (美团)
Primary role: Local services & on-demand lifestyle platform
Meituan is a central platform for food delivery, hotel bookings, local deals, and everyday services.
Why it matters:
Local consumption decisions are heavily influenced by visibility, reviews, and availability within Meituan.
9. Didi (滴滴出行)
Primary role: Ride-hailing & mobility
Didi remains China’s dominant ride-hailing platform, widely used in urban and travel contexts.
Why it matters:
Mobility platforms influence where users go and, indirectly, where they spend.
10. Amap (高德地图)
Primary role: Navigation & location-based discovery
Amap is China’s leading mapping and navigation app, used for driving, public transport, walking, and nearby discovery.
Why it matters:
Maps play an important role in real-time discovery of restaurants, shops, attractions, and services.
What This List Reveals About Chinese Online Behavior
Taken together, this list reinforces a fundamental reality of the Chinese digital landscape: China is mobile-first and increasingly app-first.
For most Chinese users, the smartphone is not just the primary device; it is the default interface for daily life. Messaging, payments, discovery, research, booking, and post-purchase engagement all happen inside apps, often without ever touching a traditional website.
Mobile-First Has Evolved Into App-First
While many markets can still be described as “mobile-first,” China has moved a step further.
In practice:
- Discovery happens inside apps (Douyin, Xiaohongshu)
- Research happens inside apps (social feeds, reviews, maps)
- Transactions happen inside apps (WeChat, Alipay, Taobao, Meituan)
- Post-purchase engagement happens inside apps (mini-programs, memberships, customer service)
The apps themselves are not just channels, they are complete environments.
Why Apps Often Matter More Than Websites
Websites still play an important role in China, particularly for:
- Brand credibility
- Search engine visibility
- Long-form content
- Cross-border access
However, for many users, websites are supporting assets, not primary touchpoints.
In contrast, apps offer:
- Persistent login and identity
- Integrated payments
- Native notifications
- Location awareness
- Seamless offline-to-online experiences
- Lower friction than mobile web
As a result, many users complete their entire journey — from discovery to conversion — without leaving the app ecosystem.
Super-Apps Reduce the Need for Browsing
Platforms like WeChat and Alipay further reduce reliance on websites by offering mini-programs that function as lightweight apps within the app.
From the user’s perspective:
- No downloads
- No new accounts
- No switching contexts
From the platform’s perspective:
- Data continuity
- Payment integration
- Higher retention
This is why many Chinese brands prioritize mini-program development and in-app presence over standalone mobile websites.
Search, Social, and Maps Are App-Based
Another key insight from the Top 10 list is that search itself is fragmented across apps.
Users search for:
- Products and experiences on Xiaohongshu
- Trends and inspiration on Douyin
- Locations and nearby services on Amap
- Prices and availability on Taobao or Meituan
Traditional web search plays a role, but it is only one piece of a much larger discovery ecosystem.
What This Means for Brands
The dominance of apps in China does not mean websites are irrelevant, but it does mean that a website alone is rarely enough.
Effective China strategies typically require:
- Strong presence on relevant apps
- Platform-native content, not repurposed global assets
- Integration with payment and service ecosystems
- Clear paths from discovery to execution inside apps
Brands that approach China with a website-first mindset often struggle to gain traction, while those that understand the app-centric nature of the market are better positioned to capture attention, trust, and conversion.
Want to know more about marketing in China? → Book a Strategy Call
- Raise awareness with China's most popular social media: Chinese Social Media
- Establish credibility with a Chinese website: Website for China
- Explore a 360-degree approach to Chinese marketing: Chinese Marketing