TikTok quietly launches a standalone TikTok Shop app

TikTok has launched a standalone TikTok Shop app in four Southeast Asian markets, giving its shopping service a dedicated place beyond the main social media app. The move could help it attract more shoppers and compete directly with established online retailers.

Available on iOS and Android in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, the app offers personalised recommendations, shopping through livestreams and short videos, exclusive deals, in-app checkout, order tracking and customer support. TikTok has not said whether it will expand the launch, including to the United States, where it would also compete with retailers such as Walmart and Target.