Snap Inc (NYSE: 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.
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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 (NASDAQ: 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. (NASDAQ: YHOO).
3. Mobile Baidu
Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ: 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 (NASDAQ: GOOGL)’s Google app.
4. Taobao
Taobao is the top mobile shopping app in China. The app is owned by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: BABA) and is most similar to eBay Inc (NASDAQ: 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. (NASDAQ: 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 (NASDAQ: SOHU), and its position as second fiddle to Baidu makes it most similar to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: 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 (NYSE: QIHU) and is similar to PSafe’s DFNDR app in the U.S.
[“Source-benzinga”]
