The TikTok Shop got a standalone app in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, with versions for iOS and Android. The news was identified by social media consultant Matt Navarra and reported by TechCrunch on Thursday (5), allowing consumers to shop without relying on TikTok's main interface.
The app brings together product discovery, videos, livestreams and payments in an environment dedicated to e-commerce. Until then, the TikTok Shop shopping experience was mainly integrated into the social network.
Making a separate platform available puts TikTok Shop in a position closer to that of traditional marketplace apps such as Amazon and Temu, though it keeps videos and personalized recommendations as part of the shopping experience.
What the new app offers shoppers
According to the descriptions published on the App Store and on Google Play, the app allows users to explore personalized recommendations, follow product demonstrations in short videos and buy directly during livestreams.
The platform also offers checkout within the app, order tracking and access to customer service 24 hours a day. Among the announced benefits are exclusive offers, free shipping conditions and advantages on the first purchase.
The difference compared with the traditional TikTok lies in how the experience is organized: instead of finding products while browsing social content, consumers can go directly to an app focused on shopping, while keeping the discovery features through videos and creators.
For now, the availability identified is restricted to the four Asian markets. The reports did not find the app in the United States and United Kingdom stores, and TikTok has not announced an international expansion timeline.
The company also did not respond to the requests for comment sent by TechCrunch and The Verge. The exact date on which the app began to be made available in each country remains unknown.
