ByteDance
Content platforms and apps (TikTok, Douyin, CapCut, Lark)
ByteDance makes apps for creating and watching content, such as TikTok and CapCut worldwide and Douyin and Toutiao in China, plus workplace and shopping products.
What makes it different
TikTok is available only outside China.
In China the same kind of app runs as Douyin, a separate product.
How big it is
How big is ByteDance?
150,000Employees2026
~120Office cities2026
How the business works
Start with content, then extend.
- 1Content and creator apps
- 2Rivals such as musical.ly
- 3Shopping, work and games
Feeds came first; shopping, workplace tools and games were added later.
Who owns it
CEO: Rubo Liang
Who it competes with
Key moments
- 2012ByteDance founded in a four-bedroom apartment
- 2016Douyin launches in China
- 2017TikTok launches outside mainland China
- 2017ByteDance acquires musical.ly
- 2021Liang Rubo to succeed founder as CEO
Sources
Every number on this page comes from ByteDance's own reports.
Full profile
The rest of the story is in the app.
What ByteDance tracks4 metrics
Employees
Cities with ByteDance employees
People who use TikTok
Results, quarter by quarterwith a chart
Revenue
Profit
Margin
The full timeline12 moments
2019
2020
2023
ByteDance vs Tencentside by side
Revenue
Profit
People
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