9 Most Popular Mobile Apps In China

Snap Inc SNAP shares may finally be settling into a groove following several volatile days in its first week on the public market.

With more than 158 million daily active users, U.S. investors are well aware of Snapchat’s position as one of the most popular mobile apps in the country. But despite Snapchat’s popularity, the biggest market in the world remains off-limits. The Chinese government has banned its citizens from using U.S. mobile apps while in China.

Related Link: 3 Apps That May Be The Snapchat Of The East

Instead, a number of domestic Chinese companies have the largest mobile market in the world cornered. Here’s a look at the nine most popular Chinese apps and some of their recognizable American counterparts.

1. WeChat

If you think Snapchat’s 158 million users is impressive, WeChat’s 700 million-plus user-base is mind-blowing. The WeChat app is owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent and is most similar to Facebook Inc FB’s WhatsApp.

2. QQ

QQ is also owned by Tencent. Because it has been around for quite a while, it may be the most recognizable Chinese internet brand. The mobile app is most similar to Yahoo Inc. YHOO.

3. Mobile Baidu

Baidu Inc (ADR) BIDU is well known as the dominant search engine in China. Its mobile app has a 90 percent market share and is obviously most similar to Alphabet Inc GOOGL’s Google app.

4. Taobao

Taobao is the top mobile shopping app in China. The app is owned by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA and is most similar to eBay Inc EBAY.

5. UC Browser

UC Browser is the top internet browser of choice for Chinese mobile users. The UC Browser app is also owned by Alibaba and is similar to Apple Inc. AAPL’s Safari.

6. QQ Browser

UC Browser’s top competition in China is Tencent’s QQ Browser. The browser’s second-place standing makes is most similar to Google Chrome in the U.S.

7. Tencent Video

In recent years, the Tencent Video app surpassed popular video platform YouKu in terms of mobile market share. Sitting atop the throne of mobile video makes Tencent Video the YouTube of China.

8. Sogou Mobile

Sogou is Baidu’s biggest rival when it comes to mobile search engine market share. The app is owned by Sohu.com Inc SOHU, and its position as second fiddle to Baidu makes it most similar to Microsoft Corporation MSFT’s Bing.

9. 360 Security

360 Security is the most popular antivirus and memory management app in China. The app is owned by Qihoo 360 Technoloy Co Ltd QIHU and is similar to PSafe’s DFNDR app in the U.S.

Disclosure: the author is long BABA.

Image: Sinchen.Lin, Flickr