Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Lemon8 Review
A lifestyle photo and review network with built-in editing tools
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Lemon8 suits people who like reading and posting photo-led content on beauty, fashion, travel and food, especially with in-app editing. The trade-offs are advertising, fairly broad data collection and close ties to the TikTok ecosystem.
Best for: People looking for beauty, fashion, travel and food ideas in photo-and-text posts
Skip it if: People who want to limit data collection and personalised advertising
Pros
- Free, with an interface in six App Store languages (including English, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indonesian, Malay, Thai)
- High ratings: 4.6/5 on the US App Store and Google Play, each from 280,000+ ratings
- In-app suite for writing, photo and video editing with templates, stickers, filters and fonts
Cons
- The App Store label lists identifiers used for tracking, plus location and search history linked to you
- The privacy policy link redirects to TikTok's policy, which does not name Lemon8
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- Hashtags and an interest-based feed for discovery
More cons
- In January 2025 Lemon8 was included in the suspension of ByteDance apps in the US (per Wikipedia)
Best for
- Creators who want to edit photos, add text and post within one app
Skip it if
- Anyone who only wants private sharing with close friends
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
Lemon8 is a social network for photo and text posts about lifestyle topics such as beauty, fashion, travel and food. Per Wikipedia, it launched in Japan in May 2020 as Sharee, modelled on Xiaohongshu, and reached the US and UK in February 2023. The terms say the service is provided by Heliophilia Pte. Ltd. with affiliates including TikTok Inc. and TikTok Pte. Ltd.; the App Store lists TikTok Pte. Ltd. as the seller.
Per the App Store description, the For You section recommends posts based on interests, and the in-app suite lets you compose text and edit photos and videos with a library of templates, stickers, filters and fonts. Hashtags help posts get discovered. Since November 2024 Lemon8 has integrated with TikTok so users can link profiles and find followers. The community guidelines say users under 16 are not eligible for For You and age-restricted content is limited to viewers 18 and over.
Pricing and business model
The app is free and the App Store lists no in-app purchases. The terms say Lemon8 and/or TikTok may earn revenue from ads, sponsorships and data, and that users generally get no share. The real cost is therefore advertising and data rather than money.
Privacy and regulatory context
The App Store label lists identifiers used for tracking, with location, contact info, content, search history and usage data linked to you. Lemon8's privacy policy link redirects to TikTok's policy, which does not name Lemon8. Per Wikipedia, in January 2025 the Texas governor banned Lemon8 on state government devices, and on 19 January 2025 it was included in the suspension of ByteDance apps in the US after the Supreme Court ruling.
More analysis
Who it fits
Lemon8 fits if you like photo-and-text content in the style of Xiaohongshu or Pinterest and want to post within the app. For private sharing with close friends, Locket or Yope fit better; for short video, TikTok remains the main option.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
The App Store lists the app as Free with no in-app purchases shown. The terms say Lemon8 and/or TikTok may earn revenue from ads, sponsorships and data.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Not applicable: the pages consulted show no paid Lemon8 plan.
Privacy
Lemon8's privacy policy link redirects to TikTok's policy (updated 8 July 2025); that text does not name Lemon8, so its exact scope is unclear. It says it collects account information, user content, contacts (if synced), usage and device data and approximate location (precise with permission), and uses data to personalise ads. Lemon8's terms (effective 20 November 2024) say the service is provided by Heliophilia Pte. Ltd. together with affiliates including TikTok Inc. and TikTok Pte. Ltd. The App Store label lists identifiers as used to track you, and location, contact info, user content, search history, identifiers, usage data and diagnostics as linked to you. The community guidelines give a minimum age of 13 (varying by region), and users under 16 are not eligible for the For You feed.
Lemon8 alternatives
7.0/10Visual discovery: search ideas, save Pins to boards and shop from them
6.7/10Threads
Meta's text-based social network, built on Instagram accounts
Frequently asked questions
Is Lemon8 free?
Yes. The App Store lists it as Free with no in-app purchases.
Does Lemon8 support Vietnamese?
Yes. The App Store lists Vietnamese alongside English, Indonesian, Japanese, Malay and Thai, and the website has a Vietnamese version.
Who owns Lemon8?
The terms name Heliophilia Pte. Ltd. with affiliates such as TikTok Inc. and TikTok Pte. Ltd.; Wikipedia describes Heliophilia as a Singapore company affiliated with ByteDance.
What is the minimum age for Lemon8?
The community guidelines say 13 and older, or other ages in some regions. TikTok's policy says that in Vietnam parental approval is required under 16.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.0
- Features
- 7.0
- Value for money
- 8.0
- Performance
- 7.0
- Support
- 5.0
- Privacy & security
- 4.5
Why this score
A 4.6/5 rating on the US App Store and Google Play, composing and editing tools sit inside the app, and the interface is offered in six languages.
Why this score
A For You feed, hashtags, photo and video editing with templates, stickers and filters, messaging, and since November 2024 profile linking with TikTok. The scope centres on lifestyle photo content, narrower than general-purpose networks.
Why this score
Free with no paid tier seen; in exchange the app carries advertising and the terms say users generally receive no share of revenue.
Why this score
App Store 4.6/5 (283,385 ratings) and Google Play 4.6/5 (304,769 ratings); version 15.2.0 (6 November 2026) followed 15.1.0 (30 October 2026) within a week, showing regular updates. No independent performance data was found.
Why this score
The website offers community guidelines, terms and law enforcement guidelines, and Google Play lists a contact email ([email protected]). No help center or chat channel was found.
Why this score
The App Store label lists identifiers used for tracking and many data types linked to you (location, search history, content); the policy redirects to TikTok's, which says data is used to personalise ads. Age assurance and clear community guidelines partly offset this.
What users say
- App Store (United States)4.6/5 · 283,385
- App Store (Vietnam)4.7/5 · 17,877
- Google Play4.6/5 · 304,769
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial website (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedTerms of Service (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedCommunity GuidelinesNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedPrivacy policy (redirects to TikTok)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: Lemon8Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- TikTok Pte. Ltd. (ByteDance)
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- Launched
- 2020
- Category
- Social
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Templates
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- Vietnamese
- English
- Japanese
- Indonesian
- Thai
Integrations
- TikTok
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Update.Latest update date of the TikTok privacy policy that Lemon8 redirects to.
- Update.Lemon8 is included in the suspension of ByteDance apps in the US after the Supreme Court ruling (per Wikipedia).
- Feature.New terms take effect; from November 2024 Lemon8 begins integrating with TikTok to link profiles and find followers.
Full change history (6)
- Launch.Launches in the US and UK (February 2023).
- Update.Reaches 1 million downloads (March 2022).
- Launch.Launched in Japan as Sharee (May 2020), modelled on Xiaohongshu.
About the author
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