What is the RedNote app?
Learn what the RedNote app is, why it’s popular, and if you can use it to monetize content.
We’ll discuss:
- What is RedNote?
- How many people use RedNote?
- Is RedNote like TikTok?
- Is RedNote Xiaohongshu?
- Who owns RedNote?
- Is RedNote free?
- How to download the RedNote app
- Is the RedNote app available in English?
- Do you need a Chinese phone number to use RedNote?
- Can you download video on RedNote?
- How to delete your RedNote account
- Can you make money on RedNote?
What is RedNote?
RedNote is a social media and ecommerce app released in 2013. Initially referred to as “China’s answer to Instagram,” it’s since been adopted globally.
Content-wise, the RedNote app displays a mixture of text-, photo-, video-, and shopping-based content. Users often describe it as a mash-up of Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter, with a little Pinterest and Amazon thrown in too.
The app’s main purpose is to host bite-sized, engaging content on topics like food, animals, fashion, and more. It features filters and effects like other social media platforms, but leans more toward ecommerce.
Posts can feature direct links to products, letting users browse and complete purchases in-app. Content is split into three handy sections: “Follow,” “Explore,” and “Nearby.” There’s also a dedicated “For You” tab, plus browsable content categories.
The app supports live streaming, but this function is only available to users with a valid Chinese ID — users outside of China can watch live streams, but can’t host.
How many people use RedNote?
RedNote has more than 300 million active monthly users. These numbers were last verified in January 2025.
Is RedNote like TikTok?
Some users have drawn comparisons between TikTok and RedNote. While they’re both social media platforms that deliver short-form content to a younger demographic, they’re pretty different. RedNote launched three years before TikTok, and leans more into ecommerce.
RedNote also has more noticeable content restrictions than TikTok. The Wall Street Journal reported that “politically sensitive” content is censored for Chinese users, while the app’s definition of “revealing” clothes appears more conservative than TikTok’s.
Finally, TikTok is a more “localized” app than RedNote. The former balances local content with global, trending videos, while the latter is still broadly focused on the Chinese market.
Is RedNote Xiaohongshu?
As RedNote is a Chinese app, it has a different name in its home country: Xiaohongshu. This translates to “Little Red Book,” which is a similar, albeit less catchy title. So, if you think RedNote looks familiar, it probably is — you’ve just seen it advertised or used under the Xiaohongshu name.
Who owns RedNote?
RedNote is owned by Xingyin Information Technology.
Is RedNote free?
Like most other social media apps, RedNote is free to download and use. In-app purchases are possible, but aren’t required to publish or engage with content.
How to download the RedNote app
The RedNote app is available for iOS and Android. If you’re a desktop user, you can access a scaled-back version of RedNote via the Xiaohongshu website.
Once you have the app, you can sign up for an account, verify your details, log in, and start browsing and creating content.
Is the RedNote app available in English?
If you download the RedNote app outside of China, the navigation features should appear in English. Unless originally written in English, video titles, descriptions, and additional tools may remain in Traditional Chinese or Simplified Chinese.
Do you need a Chinese phone number to use RedNote?
You don’t need a Chinese phone number to access and use RedNote. However, certain features are only accessible for users in China.
Can you download video on RedNote?
RedNote’s sharing options include a “Save to album” button, which downloads files to your device’s gallery. However, this only works if the creator allows downloads.
How to delete your RedNote account
If you’d like to delete your RedNote account, just head to your account settings, click “Account Security,” then “Account Cancelation.” You’ll need to confirm your phone number and validate a one-time code before finishing the deletion process.
Can you make money on RedNote?
RedNote users can make money from live streams, storefronts, brand partnerships, and affiliate marketing.
- Live streams: Users based in China with more than 1,000 followers can receive virtual gifts when hosting live streams. These gifts can then be converted into real currency. Registered non-Chinese companies may qualify if they have a Chinese representative with a valid ID.
- Storefronts: Users can sell products directly in the app, from which RedNote takes a small cut. As with live streams, storefronts are only available to users who can verify their account with a valid Chinese ID.
- Brand partnerships: Users outside of China can join RedNote’s official brand partnership portal, Dandelion. To gain access, you’ll need a valid ID and at least 1,000 followers. From there, brands can reach out and request sponsored content for a fixed fee.
- Affiliate marketing: You can’t post external links on RedNote, but if you’re part of an affiliate marketing program, you can still offer discount codes.
Wrapping up on RedNote
RedNote is popular with curious social media users, but its full monetization suite is only available to users with a valid Chinese ID. This means it doesn’t have the same global appeal as platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
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