TikTok’s street to changing into a brilliant app

Though TikTok is broadly described as a social media large, it’s been steadily shifting past that class. Over time, the video app added TikTok Store, a map for native discovery, strong search, video games, and a lot extra. Now, it has not too long ago added lodge reserving capabilities and is pursuing a fintech license.

It seems that TikTok is taking steps to evolve into what’s known as a “tremendous app,” a single platform the place customers can do rather more than simply watch and share movies, and truly deal with a variety of wants in a single vacation spot.

The tremendous app mannequin is huge in China with apps like WeChat, which is sort of like Fb, WhatsApp, Apple Pay, and an app retailer all rolled right into a singular platform. In fact, there’s the query of whether or not a brilliant app mannequin would work exterior of China, however that doesn’t imply TikTok gained’t attempt.

As a substitute of switching between apps, TikTok is working to develop into the app that folks use for many of their digital actions. After taking its largest leap with TikTok Store, the corporate has utilized the identical playbook to latest developments.

Resort and attraction reserving

Earlier this month, TikTok launched TikTok GOa approach for customers to find and guide motels, sights, and experiences instantly inside its app within the U.S. TikTok GO surfaces lodging and issues to do via movies, search, and site pages. When customers discover one thing they’re enthusiastic about, they’ll view particulars, examine availability, and full a reserving.

As a substitute of directing customers to third-party web sites after they arrive throughout a vacation spot or suggestion in a video, TikTok has began positioning itself as a one-stop platform the place viral journey content material can drive bookings and income.

Whereas folks have already been utilizing TikTok as a search engine and substitute for Google, this newest step places TikTok in additional direct competitors with Google’s core companies, Search and Google Maps, as a result of it’s working to not solely be the app the place you uncover locations, but additionally the platform the place you buy that journey.

Funds

Just a few weeks in the past, Reuters reported that TikTok had utilized to Brazil’s central financial institution for approval to function as a monetary expertise firm providing lending and fee providers.

The corporate is in search of two licenses. The primary would enable it to supply pay as you go accounts so customers can retailer funds, obtain cash, and make funds. The second license would authorize it to function as a direct credit score supplier, permitting it to lend its personal capital or operate as a platform that connects debtors and lenders.

The transfer marks a major approach that TikTok is branching out past a social media platform and right into a digital ecosystem. By aiming to carry monetary providers into its app, TikTok is trying to enhance person engagement, open new income streams, and place itself to compete with fintech startups and e-commerce platforms.

TikTok Store

It’s broadly identified that one in every of TikTok’s largest leaps past social media was the launch of TikTok Store. TikTok started testing TikTok Store in 2021 and launched it within the U.S. in 2023. Since then, the corporate has been capable of efficiently compete with Amazon, Shein, and different on-line marketplaces.

In accordance with eMarketer, TikTok Store grew its US gross sales by 407.0% in 2024 and one other 108.0% in 2025 to succeed in $15.82 billion. As of final 12 months, the corporate accounted for 18.2% of complete social commerce within the US, with that quantity anticipated to succeed in 24.1% by 2027.

Moreover, TikTok started difficult digital marketplaces even additional with the launch of TikTok Shop gift cards late final 12 months. TikTok Store has additionally not too long ago expanded into luxury retailafter initially primarily being identified for affordable items.

Music

TikTok’s reputation has influenced the music trade and the way folks uncover new music, and the corporate tried to capitalize on this by launching a streaming service known as TikTok Music in 2023 to tackle platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, however ended up shutting it down a 12 months later.

The corporate stated it might give attention to driving music listening and proceed partnering with music streaming providers slightly than competing with them. TikTok hasn’t fully deserted its music ambitions, nevertheless, as the corporate not too long ago launched a function that lets Apple Music subscribers play full songs within the app after discovering them on their “For You” feed.

Search and Maps

TikTok has launched a strong search expertise that surfaces maps, native hashtags, and even reviews to assist customers uncover trending eating places, journey places, retailers, and native experiences. It has additionally added extra detailed details about locations and eating places on devoted pages, permitting customers to rapidly see issues like opening hours, star scores, worth ranges, and extra.

TikTok was already consuming into Google’s Search enterprise when it first launched, because it rapidly surfaced movies that includes commentary and visuals of restaurant meals and locations. Nonetheless, customers should still have wanted to show to Google Search to discover a place’s actual location or to learn critiques. Over the previous few years, nevertheless, TikTok has more and more eradicated that want by integrating detailed details about locations proper inside its app.

Microdramas

Whereas TikTok is understood for user-generated leisure, the corporate has additionally begun embracing microdramas by launching an in-app Minis part and a devoted standalone app for bite-sized TV exhibits that may be watched in a sequence of one-minute episodes. Whereas TikTok already competes with streaming giants like Netflix for customers’ consideration, its transfer into scripted exhibits places it in much more direct competitors with them.

It’s price noting that TikTok first took strides into leisure with the launch of live-streaming and help for longer movies, a major transfer away from its preliminary give attention to 15-second movies.

Video games

TikTok has additionally launched a series of casual games in its app to get customers to spend much more time on its platform and have interaction with others in DMs. The addition of video games marked TikTok’s ongoing effort to go from a social media platform to an all-in-one leisure platform the place you can’t solely scroll via movies, but additionally problem buddies to easy-to-play video games.