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What is Lemon8, and how do you use it?

Learn what the Lemon8 app is, how it works, and why you should use it.

Epidemic Sound

• 7 min read
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TL;DR: Lemon8 is a social media platform powered by TikTok. While Lemon8’s main focus is photo-first lifestyle content, users can also publish short-form video. Users often describe Lemon8 as a mixture of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.

We’ll cover:

What is Lemon8?

Lemon8 is a lifestyle-based social media platform that allows creators to share photos and short videos. Content is divided into clear categories, making it easier for users to find what they want.

Two friends hanging out in the woods

What are the different Lemon8 categories?

Lemon8 supports a range of browsable content categories. They include:

  • Food
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Home
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Wellness
  • Relationships
  • Cars
  • Photography
  • Pets
  • Reading
  • Outdoors

It’s worth noting that Lemon8’s categories may vary depending on location.

Is Lemon8 owned by ByteDance?

ByteDance is the parent company of both Lemon8 and TikTok.

Is Lemon8 like TikTok?

Lemon8 and TikTok look and feel similar, as they’re sibling apps — the For You Page is the most notable comparison. However, TikTok’s main focus is video content, whereas Lemon8 places more emphasis on still images.

Is Lemon8 like Instagram?

Lemon8 and Instagram are similar in a few ways. Both apps let users share photo and video content with captions, comments, hashtags, likes, saves, and location information. Some users view Lemon8 as a hybrid of Instagram and Pinterest.

Is Lemon8 an app?

Lemon8 is available as a free app. If you’re using an Apple device, you can download Lemon8 via the App Store for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. If you’re an Android user, you can download Lemon8 through the Google Play Store. 

Lemon8 web login is possible through your browser, but its full capabilities are tucked away in the app version. For that reason, we’ll refer to it as an app from here.

Cutting branches with scissors

How old is Lemon8?

Lemon8 was first released in Japan back in 2020. The app gained steam in Western markets three years later, when it became available in the UK and the US. Lemon8’s popularity surged further in late 2024, when TikTok integration was announced.

Where is Lemon8 available?

The Lemon8 app is currently available to download in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, and the US. Access to the desktop version is also restricted to the above countries.

Is Lemon8 replacing TikTok?

Given how wildly successful TikTok is, it’s hard to believe that ByteDance would push an app to straight-up replace its flagship product. Lemon8 serves a different purpose than TikTok, making the user experience and expectations pretty different. There’s no real Lemon8 vs. TikTok debate — both have earned their place.

How do I monetize Lemon8?

There’s no direct route to content monetization on Lemon8. However, reports claim that ByteDance has paid several influencers from the UK and the USA to post content on the platform. Third-party brand partnerships and affiliate marketing also help creators get paid for their work on Lemon8.

A man with a suitcase walking through a field

Can I go live on Lemon8?

No, you can’t go live on Lemon8.

Does Lemon8 have ads?

Lemon8 features targeted advertising across search results, the video feed, and the For You Page. The app supports ads covering objectives for traffic, app promotion, lead generation, and sales. Brands and businesses can advertise on Lemon8 via TikTok Ads Manager.

Is Lemon8 worth considering for my brand’s content placement?

Influencer partnerships, sponsored content, affiliate marketing drives, user-generated content, and more can help your brand stand out on Lemon8. That’s on top of the built-in advertising model we discussed above.

How does the Lemon8 algorithm work?

Like TikTok, Lemon8 doesn’t publicly disclose how its algorithm works. That said, reports suggest that it’s similar to the TikTok algorithm. This means that the algorithm analyzes your activity to curate and improve your Lemon8 experience.

Can you download video on Lemon8?

At the moment, there’s no button or option to download video from Lemon8 to your device. However, you can save content to a private, in-app collection like you would on other social media platforms.

A man on a skateboard

Is Lemon8 getting banned?

No, there is no Lemon8 ban. However, some users have worried that the app may be removed from their devices, the App Store, and the Google Play Store. This is likely due to ongoing developments between TikTok and the US, which led to a brief TikTok suspension in early 2025.

How do you use Lemon8?

Now that you know all the basics, let’s run through how to use Lemon8.

Sign up

  1. Download the Lemon8 app, then open it on your device.
  2. Log in with a valid TikTok account. If you don’t have a TikTok account, you’ll need to create one.
  3. Fill in your profile details. This includes personal information like your date of birth and preferred pronouns, plus platform-specific details like your profile picture, display name, and bio.
  4. Choose your interests from the available categories.
  5. Start using Lemon8!

Browse content

  • Browse the For You Page as you would on an app like TikTok or Pinterest, scrolling up and down.
  • Click on a piece of content to view it. Videos are marked with a handy “Play” button, which you’ll spot in the right-hand corner of the thumbnail. If the content is an image carousel, swipe to the side to view the next image.
  • Save, like, comment, share, and more while viewing your chosen content. If you like what you see, follow the account.
  • Filter by specific categories toward the top of the screen.
  • Search for specific content by clicking the “Search” icon. You can filter your search by account, hashtags, posts, and top-performing content.
  • Browse content from the accounts you follow. This option sits next to the For You Page at the top of the screen.
A man standing in front of a mountain range on an overcast day

Create content

  1. Click the yellow “+” button at the bottom of the For You Page. This will open your device’s camera reel. You may have to adjust your device’s access settings.
  2. Choose between photo and video content. Select the files from your device, or hit the “Camera” icon at the bottom of the screen to shoot new footage. If you’ve chosen multiple photos, you can publish them as a carousel.
  3. Once you’re happy with your choices, press “Next.” Now you can add templates, tags, text, and stickers. You can also retouch and cutout effects to enhance your content, plus brighten and crop your selections. There are more options available for photo content than for video.
  4. Click “Next” again to add the finishing touches. Write a catchy headline, captions, hashtags, and location information here.
  5. Tap the “View” icon in the top-right corner to preview how your content looks. If something seems wrong, you can go back and change it.
  6. Leave the “Download all photos” option checked if you’d like to save your content locally, and then press “Post.”

You can’t truly unlink Lemon8 from TikTok, as you need a TikTok account to log in. However, you can stop your Lemon8 content from appearing on TikTok.

If you’d like to do this, just head to your Lemon8 profile, hit the “Settings” icon, then select “Show content on TikTok.” Uncheck this option to stop your content from appearing in others’ TikTok search results.

Wrapping up on Lemon8

Now that we’ve peeled back the details on Lemon8, it’s time for you to test the app and see if it’s right for you or your brand.

Whether you’re a solo influencer or part of a wider brand team, Lemon8 can help tie your content strategy together. As Lemon8 is similar to other popular social media apps, you’ll be able to align the visuals with your other channels.

But the music? While Lemon8 has its own music selection, it might not match your other content’s vibe. You need a unified sound. An instantly recognizable sonic brand. Epidemic Sound’s got you covered.

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An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound today.

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