# QQ vs rednote

The clearest difference is rating: rednote at 4.9 against QQ's 2.7. rednote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (38% vs 18%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QQ sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and rednote sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

rednote holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: rednote has 269K ratings behind it against 9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of QQ's written reviews are positive against 38% of rednote's.

QQ ships an update every 2 weeks, rednote every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | QQ | rednote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qq/id444934666/reviews) | **[4.9 (269K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rednote/id741292507/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9K | **269K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.3% of reviews | **37.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #80 | **#15** |
| Size | 826 MB | 445 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/292374531) | [Xingin](https://appshunter.io/developer/708264912) |

## What reviewers say

### QQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qq/id444934666)

**Currently charting:** #80 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through instant messaging, voice, and video calls. Share files, stay updated on social feeds, and manage payments. Enjoy games and customize your profile with various themes and decorations.

**Highlights:** Instant messaging, Voice and video calls, File transfer, Social feed updates, Mobile payments, Gaming center, Profile customization

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1个月黄钻（自动续费） | $1.49 | per month |
| 超级会员 | $2.99 | per month |
| 6元金豆套餐 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月黄钻 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1个月超级会员 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3个月超级会员 | $8.99 | one-time |
| 6个月超级会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 12个月QQ会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 会员158元宝石 | $22.99 | one-time |
| 1980秀币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 12个月超级会员 | $34.99 | one-time |
| 会员288元宝石 | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Good for communicating with friends in China
- 🤝 Useful for business connections
- 🔒 Robust privacy features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Difficult to register with non-Chinese phone numbers
- 🤖 Excessive AI-driven features and notifications
- 💸 Intrusive advertising
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to send/receive images and files
- Inconsistent UI and UX across platforms
- Connectivity issues for overseas users

**Requested features**

- Add English language support
- Improve account recovery process
- Provide more customization options


### rednote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rednote/id741292507)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #37 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with a global community to share your daily life, from hobbies and interests to personal experiences. Discover inspiration and build connections through authentic and helpful interactions.

**Highlights:** Share daily life moments, Connect with global users, Discover diverse content, Authentic self-expression, Helpful life tips, Inclusive community

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 42 薯币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 70薯币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 105薯币 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 210薯币 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 350薯币 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 476 薯币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 476薯币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 672薯币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 679薯币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 693薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 686薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 700薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 686 薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 756薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1386 薯币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 3626 薯币 | $74.90 | one-time |
| 10486 薯币 | $219.00 | one-time |
| 13986 薯币 | $299.99 | one-time |
| 18193薯币 | $399.99 | one-time |
| 52493薯币 | $1000.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Amazing app with great features
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💕 Welcoming and supportive community
- 🌍 Opportunity to connect with diverse cultures
- 🎨 Excellent platform for creative expression

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Lack of translation options for non-Chinese users
- 🚫 Strict content moderation and censorship
- 🤖 Aggressive recommendation algorithm
- 🔒 Privacy concerns and data collection
- 🔥 High data and storage consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inability to load images and videos consistently
- Unexpected account bans or restrictions
- Inconsistent behavior across different devices
- Sync issues between mobile and desktop versions

**Requested features**

- Add comprehensive translation capabilities
- Improve transparency around content moderation
- Provide more control over recommendation settings
- Enhance privacy protections for user data
- Optimize app performance and reduce resource usage


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QQ free?

QQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is rednote free?

rednote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, QQ or rednote?

rednote is rated higher. QQ averages 2.7 out of 5 from 9K ratings, while rednote averages 4.9 from 269K ratings.

### Do QQ or rednote have ads?

QQ shows ads; rednote does not.

### Which is updated more often, QQ or rednote?

QQ ships an update every 2 weeks, and rednote every 4 days. Most recently, QQ was updated on September 25, 2026 and rednote on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, QQ or rednote?

QQ currently peaks at #80 in the App Store charts, and rednote at #15. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*